Chain conveyor for a sheet-processing printing machine; and a printing machine having the chain conveyor

A chain conveyor for a sheet-processing printing machine having conveyor chains bearing gripper systems for transporting sheets, the chains being revolvable, during operation, along closed chain tracks having at least substantially circular segment-like chain track sections, and a guide rail device for guiding the conveyor chains, comprising:

• a rail section forming part of the guide rail device, said rail section, when loaded by one of the conveyor chains, being deflectable counter to a restoring force and, at a first end of said rail section, adjoining one of the substantially circular segment-like chain track sections, said rail section having an integral connection at a second end thereof facing away from said first end thereof, to a further rail section following said second end of said first-mentioned rail section, said integral connection being a nominal bending point.

A chain conveyor for a sheet-processing printing machine having conveyor chains bearing gripper systems for transporting sheets, the chains being revolvable, during operation, along closed chain tracks having at least substantially circular segment-like chain track sections, and guide rail device for guiding the conveyor chains, comprising:

• a rail section forming part of the guide rail device, said rail section, when loaded by one of the conveyor chains, being deflectable counter to a restoring force and, at a first end of said rail section, adjoining one of the substantially circular segment-like chain track sections, said rail section having an articulating connection at a second end thereof facing away from said first end thereof, with a further rail section following said second end of said first-mentioned rail section.