Quarry single-bucket excavators are the main means of mechanization of excavation and loading operations in open-cast mining. Innovative technical solutions for working equipment of a mining excavator protected by RF patents including lever working equipment (without boom) and equipment with a rotary bucket are considered. The main mechanisms of an excavator with lever working equipment that carry out working movements of the bucket are the pressure mechanism and the mechanism for moving the carrier arm, made with a rack and pinion system and having a similar design. The carrying arm movement mechanism functions as a lifting mechanism (with standard working equipment). The results achieved and the technical and economic effect in the implementation of developments are shown. The purpose of the study is to identify reserves for increasing the efficiency of operation of open-pit excavators. A kinematic analysis of the general transmission mechanism of the drives of the main mechanisms has been carried out. Dependences for the kinematic transfer functions of the lever mechanism are obtained, which determine the relationship between the speeds of working movements and the speed of digging, depending on the coordinates of the top of the cutting edge of the bucket. The use of lever working equipment in mining excavators with increased linear parameters of equipment elements (arm and carrying arm) will make it possible to switch to a face mining scheme with two sub-steps.