A conveyor belt is provided that includes a first lateral end, a second lateral end, a plurality of rods, and a plurality of links. The plurality of rods are spaced apart from one another and each extends from the first lateral end to the second lateral end. The plurality of links interconnect the plurality of rods and include a first link coupled to two adjacent rods of the plurality of rods at the first lateral end. The first link includes a tail that extends laterally outward past an outermost portion of the plurality of rods.

A modular metal-wire conveyor belt constructed of belt rows having an interior article-supporting wire-mesh section flanked by tension links at opposite side edges. Hinge rods through the article-supporting sections and the tension links in adjacent belt rows join adjacent modules at hinge joints into an endless belt loop. Some of the hinge rods have blocking structure at the inner sides of the tension links to maintain the belt's width constant. Other hinge rods are devoid of blocking structure and have rod caps on one end that can be removed to allow the rod to be pulled out of the hinge joint to open the belt for servicing. The article-supporting wire- mesh section can define a flat or a curved top.

Conveyor belt modules and a modular conveyor belt constructed of those modules. The belt modules comprise a plurality of thin metal links attached to a crossbar at spaced locations. The metal links extend along lines oblique to the length of the crossbar from a first loop to a second loop. Belt rows include one or more of the belt modules sandwiched between tension links. Hinge rods connect adjacent belt rows together through aligned first and second loops and first and second rod holes in the tension links of adjacent belt rows to form the conveyor belt. The links can be formed of bent wire or stamped and bent sheet metal. Intermediate portions of the links can be planar or curved.