Patent ID: 7530455

Claim:
A belt module, comprising: an intermediate section extending from a first side edge to a second side edge and having a top conveying surface and a bottom surface; a first plurality of link ends, the first link ends having a pair of side walls defining a transverse thickness, the first link ends extending from the intermediate section in a direction of belt travel, the first link ends being disposed in pairs connected by an elongate plate having a surface that is coplanar with the top conveying surface; a second plurality of link ends, the second link ends having a pair of side walls defining a transverse thickness, the second link ends extending from the intermediate section in a direction opposite to the first plurality of link ends, the second link ends being disposed in pairs connected by an elongate plate having a surface that is coplanar with the top conveying surface, the pairs of second link ends having openings defined therebetween for receiving the pairs of first link ends when adjacent modules are intercalated; wherein the pairs of first link ends are capable of fitting into the openings between the pairs of second link ends of an adjacent module when the modules are intercalated to form a belt, at least one of the first link ends of the module and at least one of the second link ends of an adjacent module being disposed proximate to each other with respect to the transverse direction.