Makina opera atatu, omwe amadziwikanso kuti atatu-roll mill, ndi makina opangira zodzikongoletsera kuti ape mitundu yosiyanasiyana ya zinthu monga inki yosindikizira ndi utoto. Choncho, amagwiritsidwa ntchito kwambiri popanga zodzoladzola, inki, chakudya, zakumwa ndi zina zotero. The madzi gawo adzakhala bwino kudzera angapo kudula ndi akupera. Kwenikweni, pali mipukutu itatu yopingasa pamakina: feeder, pakati ndi apron. Makina odzikongoletsera akayamba kugwira ntchito, mipukutu itatu imazungulira mbali ina ndi liwiro losiyana, momwe kukameta ubweya wambiri kumapangidwira. Ndi mphamvu yometa ubweya wambiri, gawoli lidzasakanizidwa, loyengedwa, lomwazika kapena lopangidwa mogwira mtima.