A conveyor unit for a transport system of articles including a first conveyor chain and a second conveyor chain, located one downstream from the other in a direction of transport. The first and the second conveyor chain each comprise two conveyor sub-chains, which are arranged in such a way that a region of overlap is formed between a conveyor sub-chain of the first conveyor chain and a conveyor sub-chain of the second conveyor chain. During the transfer from the first conveyor chain onto the region of overlap and from there onto the second conveyor chain the article is always supported by at least one conveyor sub-chain. A velocity of at least one conveyor sub-chain therein is such that an alteration of a state of motion of the article is achievable within the conveyor element. Furthermore a transport system for articles is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of conveyor elements.