Mixing and plasticating machine having a filling device with a separating wall, where the filling device is arranged on a housing of the machine, and method related thereto

A mixing and plasticating machine (100) for continuous conditioning processes, having a housing (10), in which a hollow interior (18) is formed that is delimited by the inner peripheral surface of the housing (10) and extends in the longitudinal direction of the mixing and plasticating machine (100), having a screw shaft (12) extending at least in some sections in the axial direction through the interior (18) of the housing (10), which screw shaft rotates during operation in the interior (18) of the housing (10) and simultaneously moves translationally back and forth in the axial direction, having a drive, which rotates the screw shaft (12) during operation, and having a filling device (36) arranged on the housing (10), for feeding at least one starting material to be mixed and plasticated into the interior (18) of the housing (10), wherein the filling device (36) extends through a cut-out (42) that extends through the a housing wall (40) or is connected to a cut-out (42) that extends through the housing wall (40), wherein

• the filling device (36) comprises at least two cavities (54, 54′) that each extend over the height of the filling device (36), which cavities are separated from one another by at least one separating wall (52, 52′) and
• wherein i) between a gearbox flange (38) and end of the housing (10) connected upstream therewith, or ii) in an upstream end of the housing (10),
• a seal (56) sealing the screw shaft (12) with respect to an inner peripheral surface of the housing (10) is provided;
• and in the housing (10), at least one relief channel (58) is provided that extends from the inner peripheral surface of the housing (10) in some sections into the housing (10) and is connected to an upstream end of the filling device (36), the relief channel (58) extending from the upstream end of the filling device (36), when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the housing, (10) at least in some sections in a direction of the seal (56).