Mixing apparatus

A worm mixer comprising a substantially conically shaped vessel with a vertical axis defining a chamber for the mixing of materials, a cover mounted on said vessel allowing rotation of said cover and said vessel relative to each other about the vertical axis of said vessel, an elongated worm mounted to said cover at an off center location and extending within said chamber, drive means connected to said worm above said cover for rotating said worm about its axis, said worm having an upper end extending through a leadthrough of said cover sealing means sealing said leadthrough of said cover to said worm, and at least one bearing for rotatably journalling said worm about its axis near an upper end of said worm and outside of said chamber, said bearing means being mounted on the outside of said sealing means, said drive means being arranged and connected with said worm on the outside of said sealing means with respect to said chamber, the interior of said vessel being free of any gear motor and bearing serving to drive and journal said worm, said worm being journalled at its upper end exclusively outside said chamber, said sealing means comprising a stuffing box formed of a sleeve connected to said cover around said leadthrough and around a portion of said worm, a sealing package in said sleeve engaged around said worm and a pressing member connected to said sleeve for pressing said sealing package to force said sealing package against said worm, said pressing member comprising a flange above said sealing package, a deriving ring connected to said worm above said flange having a lip engaged on said flange, said drive means including gear means engaged with said worm above said deriving ring, said at least one bearing being above said deriving ring whereby any lubricant used to lubricate said at least one bearing and gear means which may leak downwardly toward said stuffing box is diverted by said deriving ring and flange.