Patent ID: 6837367

Claim:
A modular plastic conveyor belt comprising: a series of rows of belt modules, each row extending laterally in width from a first side edge to a second side edge, longitudinally in the direction of belt travel from a leading end to a trailing end, and in depth from a top side to a bottom side, wherein each row includes: at least one belt module forming the row; a central beam formed in each belt module and arranged laterally across the width of the row, the central beam including a leading wall and an opposite trailing wall defining a beam thickness between the walls; a plurality of laterally spaced leading hinge members extending generally longitudinally from the lending wall and forming laterally aligned holes through the leading hinge members; a plurality of laterally spaced trailing hinge members extending generally longitudinally from the trailing wall and forming laterally aligned holes through the trailing hinge members; wherein the thickness of the central beam is greater at the middle of the row than at the first and second side edges; a plurality of hinge pins extending through lateral passageways formed by the aligned holes through interleaved leading and trailing hinge members of consecutive rows to interconnect the rows into an endless conveyor belt.