Abstract: In a plate belt conveyor for steep conveying in the overlapping region of adjacent plates (5, 6), a pocket (15) is provided which is formed by a seam (12) and an upward projecting leg (8) of the lower rear plate end as well as a roof-like arch (9) projecting over the seam (12) and the leg (8) with downward directed leg (10) of the front upper plate end. The rising flank of the seam (12) is concentrically formed with respect to the chain fulcrum (14) in such a manner that when the leading plate (6) is angled relative to the trailing plate (5), the pocket (15) firstly remains closed and opens only on a further angling of the plate.