Inspectable modular conveyor

Claim 1

A conveyor belt comprising in combination: a plurality of like modules, each of said modules including a first plurality of link ends of like width, a second plurality of link ends each of said like width, and an intermediate section integrally formed with and joining said first and second plurality of link ends; said link ends of each said modules being releasably engaged between link ends of an adjacent module except for individual link ends disposed at the extreme sides of said module; a pivot rod for pivotally connecting said modules at engaged link ends; said link ends of each of said modules being of a width substantially less than the spacing between confronting link ends along the pivotal axes thereof to provide a substantial space between confronting link ends thereby to expose for inspection and cleaning a substantial portion of the pivot rod connecting adjacent modules; said modules being arranged in staggered relation with a side edge of each module being disposed intermediate the side edges of an adjacent pivotally connected module; a spacer means positioned between at least one pair of confronting link ends along each pivot rod, said spacer means extending along the direction of the pivotal axis and in engagement with the confronting surfaces of said pair of link ends, thereby to maintain the spaced confronting relation between the other connected link ends for exposure of the interconnecting pivot rod; and the link ends associated with said spacers being resilient to permit lateral movement of a module relative to an adjacent connected module along the pivotal axis to expose normally concealed portions of the interconnecting pivot rod.