Mixing and/or kneading apparatus

A mixing and/or kneading machine for dough, foodstuff, or the like comprising a vat, support means for rotatably supporting said vat for rotation about a vertical axis, said vat having a bottom with an aperture therein, a closure member for said aperture, and operable means for moving said closure member between a closed position in which said closure member closes said aperture and an open position in which said closure member is displaced from a position underlying said aperture such that the contents of said vat are free to exit vertically downwardly from said aperture, said operable means comprising a bracket member underlying said vat and mounting a bearing means on which said closure member is rotatably mounted, said bearing means having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of said vat, said operable means further comprising a driving means for operating said bracket member to move said bracket member and the closure member mounted thereon downwardly and to move the bracket member and closure member about a vertical axis to its open position displaced from a position underlying such aperture, said drive means comprising a first member slidably disposed in a second member, said first member also being rotatable in said second member, a slot in one of said members and a projection in the other of said members engaging said slot, a power means for axially moving said first member, said first member being connected to said bracket member such that axial movement of said first member effects both axial and rotational movement of said first member and said bracket as said projection engages in said slot, whereby said bracket means is thereby operable to lower the closure member from its closed position and then pivot the closure member to its open position displaced from a position underlying said aperture.