Patent ID: 7540653

Claim:
A mixing machine, comprising: a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a shaft receiving opening extending upwardly therein; a rotatable mixing shaft having a lower portion extending below the head and an upper portion within the shaft receiving opening; an upwardly facing bearing shoulder within the shaft receiving opening; an upper bearing member disposed within the shaft receiving opening and about the mixing shaft, the upper bearing member supported by the upwardly facing bearing shoulder; a gear system in the head for effecting planetary movement of the mixing shaft, the gear system including a gear member disposed about an upper end of the mixing shaft and linked to the upper end of the mixing shaft for effecting rotation of the mixing shaft, the gear member including a shaft portion that extends downwardly into the shaft receiving opening and is supported by an upper side of the upper bearing member, the shaft supported by the gear member; an upper seal located at least partially in the shaft receiving opening and positioned above the upper bearing member, the upper seal including a radially inner lip that is biased against an outer surface of the shaft portion of the gear member.