Patent ID: 8505715

Claim:
A conveyor chain for conveying articles, comprising a sequence of links, each link having a link width defining a support surface for the articles to be conveyed, and wherein each link is hinged to a preceding link in the chain by means of a pin having a first axis and is pivotable with respect to the preceding link by a sleeve having a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, said sleeve being coaxially rotatable with respect to a gudgeon which is coaxial to the second axis and crossed by the pin, a first plate fixed relative to said sleeve and extending along the link width, said first plate forming at least part of said support surface and defining a seat, said gudgeon being coupled with a second plate disposed in the seat and flush with said support surface, wherein the second plate and the coupling thereof with the gudgeons is such that the second plate associated with one of said links of said sequence of links extends to cover a gudgeon of a subsequent link of said sequence of links when the one of said links and subsequent link are substantially planar.