Patent ID: 8678178

Claim:
In a modular plastic conveyor belt assembled from a multiplicity of plastic modules in module rows each made up of one or more modules, the belt adapted to travel in a direction generally perpendicular to the module rows, each module having a series of first link ends or knuckles and a series of second link ends or knuckles, the first and second link ends extending in opposite directions from one another and generally perpendicular to the width of the module rows, the link ends each having an aperture, with the apertures of a series of link ends aligned to receive a connecting rod extending through apertures of first link ends of one module row and second link ends of an adjacent module row when the link ends of the two module rows are interdigited in overlapping relationship, and the apertures of the second link ends being elongated slots to allow radius belt travel, link ends nearer an inner edge of the module row relative to said one direction of curvature being thinner in plastic material in said direction generally perpendicular to the width of the module rows, with less thickness of plastic material beyond the aperture, between the aperture and a link end tip, in one or more link ends near said inner edge as compared to the link ends at the outer edge of the module row, such that the module rows at said inner edge can collapse and nest together more closely than at the outer edge, while the link ends in the module rows are configured also to allow straight belt travel without angularity between adjacent module rows; and wherein said link ends of both said first link ends and said second link ends at the outer edge relative to said one direction of curvature are relatively heavier link ends, both wider and with greater depth of plastic material beyond the aperture as compared to said link ends nearer the inner edge, to provide greater strength at the outside of the curve.