Abstract: An upright mixing machine has one or more rotary vertical mixing tools having blades beneath a gear case for transmissions which orbit and/or rotate the tools. The gear case has an upper section which is rotatably installed in a housing, and a lower section which can be separated from the upper section to be thereupon lowered by an elevator for the purpose of convenient inspection of bearings, seals, gears and/or other parts which necessitate frequent inspection, cleaning, other maintenance or replacement. The elevator also serves to raise and lower a vessel for batches of material or materials to be mixed by the mixing tool or tools. At least one section of the gear case has one or more observation windows which are accessible for observation and manipulation of parts within the respective section not later than upon detachment of the lower section from and its lowering beneath the upper section.

Abstract: A kneading machine with a charging opening leading to a kneading chamber, in which two axially parallel kneading tools can be driven in opposite directions at different rotational speeds, has at least three such kneading chambers which are disposed next to each other and an aperture which connects their internal spaces. The material to be kneaded can be conveyed through this aperture, which extends transversely of the shafts of the kneading tools from one kneading chamber to the next, so that the material is continuously treated until it reaches in the last kneading chamber an evacuating opening and preferably an evacuating worm which is mounted at such location and by means of which the material is ultimately evacuated from the machine. In this manner, the advantages of a kneading machine with shafts for kneading tools which are journalled at both ends are combined with the advantages of continuous treatment of the material to be kneaded.