Variable width drive openings for conveyor belt

A variable spaced flat wire conveyor belt system comprising:

• a plurality of spaced tractive rods;
• a plurality of rows of flat wire wickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting said plurality of spaced tractive rods, each said wicket having a uniform thickness dimension throughout a width of the conveyor belt;
• each of said rows of wickets defining a plurality of drive links and a plurality of support links disposed in between said plurality of drive links, said plurality of drive links comprising at least a plurality of first drive links, a plurality of second drive links, and a plurality of third drive links, each of said drive links having a longitudinal height and a transverse spacing;
• and
• at least one drive sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth configured to engage the plurality of drive links;
• wherein said plurality of first drive links have a first height and a first transverse spacing defining a first drive opening, said plurality of second drive links have a second height and a second transverse spacing defining a second drive opening, and said plurality of third drive links have a third height and a third transverse spacing defining a third drive opening;
• wherein said second drive opening and said third drive opening are progressively greater, respectively, than said first drive opening.