There is provided a chain conveyor apparatus that realizes an accumulation operating environment that allows metallic articles to be readily and temporarily dammed up and retained at an accumulation position. Reduced power is required to operate the conveyor chain. Articles are attracted to and retained on the conveyor by using the magnetic force of magnet pieces. Attraction detaching pieces are built in rows of synthetic resin link modules to detach and release the articles. A projection driving mechanism is provided along a straight area on an inner circumferential side of the conveyor chain to project the attraction detaching pieces in and out of a loading surface of the rows of synthetic resin link modules.