Abstract: A chain conveyor for the transport of mass flows of cigarettes or other rod-shaped commodities has a series of identical links which are articulately connected to each other by alternating vertical and horizontal chain pins. The upper portions of the vertical pins carry platforms having supporting surfaces for the commodities, and each vertical pin further carries roller followers serving to track vertically spaced-apart portions of a guide surface which can have one or more non-linear portions, such as convex portions. The leading and trailing portions of successive platforms are interdigitated in such a way that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can be inclined relative to each other as well as that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can turn relative to each other about the axes of the respective vertical pins. Portions of the horizontal pins can extend into a channel between the vertically spaced-apart portions of the guide surface.