Planetary gear system for mixer

A food mixer having a planetary gear system. The mixer comprises a vertically extending stand housing an electric motor, a base to support the stand, an overhang arm connected to the stand, and a gear system housed in the overhang arm. The gear system includes a center shaft having a center gear mounted thereto, the center shaft being drivingly coupled to the motor and rotatable about its axis. The gear system further includes an agitator shaft having an agitator gear mounted on an end thereto, the agitator shaft being oriented generally parallel to the center shaft and located such that the agitator gear meshes with the center gear. The gear further includes a ring gear having a set of internal gear teeth, the ring gear encircling the center gear and the agitator gear whereby the agitator gear meshes with the ring gear. The gear additionally has a pair of agitator bearings located on the agitator shaft and a top bearing located on the center shaft, the top bearing being vertically displaced from and radially overlapping the pair of agitator bearings. The gear further comprises a needle bearing located near the bottom of the center shaft, whereby when the motor powers the center shaft the agitator shaft rotates and orbits about the center shaft, and wherein the needle bearing and the misaligned top bearing allow the center shaft and the agitator shaft to be placed in close proximity.