A kneading apparatus has a housing and first and second rotary shafts mounted in the housing in parallel to one another for undergoing rotation about respective axes in opposite directions at unequal speeds to one another for kneading an object. The first and second rotary shafts have respective first and second stirring members arranged helically at a predetermined helical pitch and at predetermined angular pitch intervals, with the second stirring members being arranged with an inverse helix from that of the first stirring members. Side blocking plates disposed in the housing partially block the kneaded object and move it between the first and second rotary shafts. The side blocking plates are spaced apart from one another to provide a space above the first and second rotary shafts such that the kneaded object can pass through the space in the axial direction of the first and second rotary shafts.

An apparatus for containing and mixing a load of liquids and solids is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated tank, which includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The apparatus further includes an elongated rotatable shaft within the tank. At least one blade is connected to the shaft and is configured to mix the liquids and solids when the shaft is rotated. The apparatus also includes a shaft support configured for maintaining the shaft in a rotatable manner within the tank. The shaft support is selectively moveable in a manner permitting the shaft to move in an upward direction from the lower portion toward the upper portion, and in a downward direction from the upper portion toward the lower portion. An is contained with the tank for moving the shaft support in the upward direction and in the downward direction.

A double shaft paddle mixer, including a barrel chamber, and a first paddle screw and a second paddle screw. The first paddle screw is provided with first paddles and the second paddle screw is provided with second paddles. The barrel chamber includes a crushing zone and a mixing zone. The crushing zone is partly separated from the mixing zone by a partition member. A first inlet is connected to the crushing zone and a second inlet is connected to the mixing zone and an outlet connected to the mixing zone. The double shaft paddle mixer can be part of an arrangement and part of a method for producing paste.