Abstract: An improved conveyor belt is provided including an overlay element with a variable loop count over at least a portion of a transverse width of the belt, and preferably with a variable loop count from one side edge of the conveyor belt to the other side of the conveyor belt, thereby minimizing the frictional contact between the overlay elements and minimizing the excess loop density on the side of the belt defining the inner radius of the turn. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of overlay elements, each of the overlay elements including a plurality of linking bends, and a plurality of transverse rods extending laterally across the conveyor belt. Each of the overlay elements are positioned relative to one another such that their linking bends are intermeshed with linking bends of immediately adjacent overlay elements and the intermeshed linking bends receive one of the transverse rods thereby operatively connecting the adjacent overlay elements.