Patent ID: 7975840

Claim:
A variable spaced flat wire conveyor belt system comprising: a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire wickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting said plurality of spaced tractive rods, each said wicket having a uniform thickness dimension throughout a width of the conveyor belt; each of said row of wickets defining a plurality of first links and a plurality of second links, each of said links having a longitudinal height and a transverse spacing; and at least one sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth, said at least one sprocket comprising inner and outer peripheral edges and a smooth supporting surface extending therebetween, each said peripheral edge having a single row of sprocket teeth therearound; wherein said plurality of first links have a first height and a first transverse spacing and said plurality of second links have a second height and a second transverse spacing, said first height being substantially equal to said second height and said first spacing being less than said second spacing, and wherein said conveyor belt includes opposing first and second outer edges and at least three of said plurality of first links are disposed on at least the first and second outer edges of the flat wire conveyor belt, said first links being dimensioned for receiving said single rows of sprocket teeth therewithin.