Different Types of Concrete Mixer or Concrete Mixing Machines
A concrete mixer or a cement mixer is equipment that mixes all the ingredients constituting concrete; cement, aggregates, and water. The first concrete mixer was invented by Columbus, Ohio Industrialist Gebhardt Jaeger. This equipment mixes the proportionate ingredients inside a revolving drum to finally give a uniform and homogeneous mixture.
Figure-Concrete Mixers; Image Credit: www.aosom.com
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When concrete is mixed in smaller amounts and is consumed quickly, hand mixing is performed. But, when there is a delay in each concrete placement due to the size of the project, portable concrete mixers are used at the construction site. These mixers give the workers ample time to use the concrete before it hardens.
A concrete mixer is an essential tool used by construction companies to create concrete. Find out what makes each type unique!
Types of Concrete Mixers
Concrete mixer machines can be classified into 13 types based on several categories. They can be classified based on the:
- Working principle
- Mixing method
- Shape of concrete mixer
- Discharging method
- Miscellaneous
Concrete Mixers Based on Working Principle
Based on the working principle, concrete mixers can be classified into:
- Continuous Mixer
- Batch Mixer
1. Continuous Mixer
Continuous concrete mixers are concrete mixers where the concrete ingredients fed into the drum are mixed and discharged simultaneously and continuously out of the drum in a continuous manner until the completion of concreting work. Here, continuous feeding of ingredients takes place by using screw feeders.
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| Figure-1: Continuous Concrete Mixer; Image Credit: sitereadymixservice.com |
2. Batch Mixer
Batch mixers are concrete mixer types into which the concrete ingredients are mixed and discharged periodically, one batch after the other. It is one of the most commonly used types of concrete mixer. The drum of a batch mixer consists of blades or baffles that are fitted within it.
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| Figure-2: Batch Mixer |
Batch mixers are concrete mixer types into which the concrete ingredients are mixed and discharged periodically, one batch after the other. It is one of the most commonly used types of concrete mixer. The drum of a batch mixer consists of blades or baffles that are fitted within it.
The quality and consistency of concrete produced in a batch or drum mixer are dependent on the rotation speed and the angle of rotation of the rotation axis.
ALSO READ: How to choose the Right Concrete Mixer?
Types of Batch Mixers
Concrete drum mixers are classified into Tilting mixers, Non-tilting mixers, and Reversing Drum Mixers. Tilting mixers consist of a conical or bowl-shaped drum with vanes inside the drum. These mixers are preferred for a concrete mix that requires low workability and mixes with large aggregates. The drum is tilted for discharging the mixture.
Non-tilting mixers as the name says are not allowed to tilt and the axis of the mixer is always horizontal. A chute is inserted into the drum, or the direction of the drum is reversed or the drum is split, in order to discharge the concrete.
Reversing concrete mixers are non-tilting mixers that come with a reversing arrangement. Here, as mentioned above, the rotation direction of the concrete in the drum mixer is reversed so the discharge is taken in opposite direction.
Reversing concrete mixers are non-tilting mixers that come with a reversing arrangement. Here, as mentioned above, the rotation direction of the concrete in the drum mixer is reversed so the discharge is taken in opposite direction.
Pan type mixers
A pan-type concrete mixer consists of a cylindrical pan that contains a set of blades that facilitates, the mixing of concrete ingredients. Here, the discharge is taking place at the bottom of the pan.
Concrete Mixer Based on Mixing Method
Based on Mixing Method, concrete mixers can be classified into:
- Self-Loading Concrete Mixers
- Compulsory Concrete Mixers
1. Self-Loading Concrete Mixers
Self-loading concrete mixers are concrete mixers that have a self-loading design that permits the equipment to automatically produce and transport the concrete on-site. It is efficient equipment that loads the materials themselves and does not require any other auxiliary equipment to perform the loading activity.
The important features of self-loading concrete mixers are:
- Small Volume Characteristics
- Four wheels-driving and steering arrangement
- Concrete discharge at 290 degrees helps in convenient concrete production.
- Convenient for small and narrow construction sites
- Cost-saving equipment and method
- Ability to mix both semi-plastic and plastic concrete
Figure-3: Self-Loading Concrete Mixer
Image Credits: AIMIX GROU CO, LTD
2. Compulsory Concrete Mixers
Compulsory concrete mixers are concrete mixers that perform forced mixing of the materials through the blade in the tank. They can be used to mix dry, moist, and wet concrete mixtures. The main advantage of compulsory concrete mixers is that they give perfect mixing of the ingredients over a short period of time.
The speed of the compulsory concrete mixer is four to five times greater compared to ordinary drum concrete mixers. This speed ensures a high-quality concrete mixture.
The main advantages of compulsory concrete mixers are:
- Concrete mixing for refractory concrete mixes in metallurgical and chemical industries.
- Plastering work mortar, grout, and repair mixtures
Concrete Mixers Based on the Shape of Mixers
Based on the shape of the mixer drum, the concrete mixers are classified into:
- Pear-shaped mixer
- Drum-shaped mixer
- Cone-shaped mixer
- Vertical shaft Pan mixer
- Horizontal shaft mixer
Concrete Mixers Based on the Discharging Method
Based on the discharging method, concrete mixers can be classified into:
- Rotary or Non-Tilting Type Concrete Mixer
- Tilting-type concrete mixer
Miscellaneous Types of Concrete Mixers
Some of the common miscellaneous types of concrete mixers are:
- Twin Shaft concrete mixer
- Vertical axis concrete mixer
- Special-purpose concrete mixer
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