A conveyor belt configured for a direction of travel, the conveyor belt including a plurality of connecting rods; and a spiral overlay; wherein each of the connecting rods has a flattened oblong cross section. In addition, a method a manufacturing a connector rod for a conveyor, belt includes providing a connector rod having a circular cross section; rolling the connector rod along a longitudinal axis thereof, and thereby producing a flattened oblong cross section.

The present invention pertains to a friction transmission belt that includes a core cable. The core cable includes a cord comprising: a core yarn containing high elastic-modulus fibers; and a plurality of sheath yarns that are disposed around the core yarn and that contain low elastic-modulus fibers. The cord is twisted and the proportion of the average diameter of the sheath yarn to the average diameter of the core yarn is 0.2 to 0.4.

The present invention pertains to a friction transmission belt that includes a core cable. The core cable includes a cord comprising: a core yarn containing high elastic-modulus fibers; and a plurality of sheath yarns that are disposed around the core yarn and that contain low elastic-modulus fibers. The cord is twisted and the proportion of the average diameter of the sheath yarn to the average diameter of the core yarn is 0.2 to 0.4.

The present invention pertains to a friction transmission belt that includes a core cable. The core cable includes a cord comprising: a core yarn containing high elastic-modulus fibers; and a plurality of sheath yarns that are disposed around the core yarn and that contain low elastic-modulus fibers. The cord is twisted and the proportion of the average diameter of the sheath yarn to the average diameter of the core yarn is 0.2 to 0.4.

The present invention pertains to a friction transmission belt that includes a core cable. The core cable includes a cord comprising: a core yarn containing high elastic-modulus fibers; and a plurality of sheath yarns that are disposed around the core yarn and that contain low elastic-modulus fibers. The cord is twisted and the proportion of the average diameter of the sheath yarn to the average diameter of the core yarn is 0.2 to 0.4.

In accordance with various embodiments, a multifunction belt is disclosed. The multifunction belt includes a plurality of cables. The plurality of cables includes at least one tension supporting cable configured to resist tension and a first signal conducting cable configured to conduct electricity. The multifunction belt also includes a coating applied to the plurality of cables.

In accordance with various embodiments, a multifunction belt is disclosed. The multifunction belt includes a plurality of cables. The plurality of cables includes at least one tension supporting cable configured to resist tension and a first signal conducting cable configured to conduct electricity. The multifunction belt also includes a coating applied to the plurality of cables.