Different types of concrete mixer
There are many classification standards for concrete mixer. Concrete mixer can be divided into dry mix plant and wet mixing plant depending on whether a central mixer is used. It can be also divided into stationary concrete plant and mobile concrete plant depending on whether can be moveable.
Twin shaft concrete mixer for concrete plant
Twin-shaft mixers, known for their high intensity mixing, and short mixing times. These mixers are typically used for high strength concrete, RCC and SCC, typically in batches of 2–6 m3 (2.6–7.8 cu yd).
Vertical axis concrete mixers
Vertical axis concrete mixers, most commonly used for precast and prestressed concrete. This style of mixer cleans well between batches, and is favoured for coloured concrete, smaller batches (typically 0.75–3 m3 or 0.98–3.92 cu yd), and multiple discharge points. Within this category, the pan mixers are losing popularity to the more efficient planetary (or counter-current) mixers, as the additional mixing action helps in production of more critical concrete mixes (colour consistency, SCC, etc.).
Drum concrete mixers
Drum mixers (reversing drum mixer and tilting drum mixers), used where large volumes (batch sizes of 3–9 m3 or 3.9–11.8 cu yd) are being produced. This type of mixer is capable of high production outputs.
Non-Tilting Drum Mixers
Non- tilting drum mixers are not allowed to tilt and the drum rotates about its horizontal axis. For the discharge of concrete a chute is arranged in inclined position which will receives the concrete mix from drum and discharges out. In this case, the drum is opened at two ends and consists blades insides when materials are poured through one end and mix is collected through another end.
Reversing Drum concrete Mixers
Reversing drum mixers are similar to non-tilting type mixers but in this case reversal of rotation takes place for different action. The drum has two openings, one end is for pouring materials and other end is for discharge of mix. The drum rotates about its horizontal axis. The rotation of drum takes place in one direction for mixing and in opposite direction for discharging. Two different set of blades are arranged for mixing and discharging. They are suitable for dry concrete mixes.
Continuous Concrete Mixers
Continuous mixer, the name itself telling its duty that the loading, mixing and discharging of mix is continuously done until the work is complete or work break occurs. The loading of materials is done continuously by screw feeders. Continuous mixtures are used for very large projects such as dams, bridges, construction of high rise buildings, etc.
Self-loading concrete mixers
elf-loading concrete mixers are unique machines designed to batch, mix and transport concrete. They consist of a rotating drum mounted on an operator-driven cab-mounted chassis frame fitted with a loading bucket. The operator of the self-loading concrete mixers batches and introduces the ingredients required for mixing concrete (cement, stone aggregates etc.) into the drum using the loading bucket. The drum is usually reversible type, tilt type or a combination of both. A predetermined volume of water is discharged to the drum via a water dispensing unit. The mixture is rotated at mixing speeds within the drum until the concrete discharges via a fitted chute. Self-loading concrete mixers are suited for construction sites where concrete batching plants are unavailable, underfoot conditions are not suited for concrete transit mixer trucks or labor availability is scarce or constrained. Applications include urban and rural construction, concrete pavement maintenance, bridge and tunnel construction, township-level highways construction, foundation construction, national defense facilities, construction of high-speed railways, etc.