Conveyor belt fastener and method of manufacture

CONVEYORBELTFASTENERAND METHODOFMANUFACTURE In one aspect, a conveyor belt fastener (1) is provided having a rigid body (2) made from a strip of cold-rolled or cold-drawn material such as steel. The body (2) has an upper plate portion (4), a lower plate portion (6), and loop portions (8) connecting the upper and lower plate portions (4, 6). The upper and lower plate portions (4, 6) each have a variable cross-sectional thickness laterally thereacross including raised walls (44, 45) projecting outwardly and ribs (48, 49) projecting inwardly. The fastener (1) has at least one attachment member, such as a staple (20, 22), for connecting the plate portions (4, 6) to a conveyor belt end (5A, 5B) and the raised walls (44, 45) protect the staple (20, 22) once driven into the conveyor belt end (5A, 5B). A method of manufacturing a fastener (1) is also provided including longitudinally advancing a strip of material having a variable cross-sectional thickness laterally thereacross through processing equipment and forming apertures through thinner material of the strip with the processing equipment for attachment member(s) of the fastener (1).