Abstract: An apparatus for treating a plurality of particles, such as ammonium sulfate, with a coating, such as a wax, to prevent caking of the particles. The apparatus includes a feed chute, a diffuser and an exit chute. An applicator is mounted adjacent a base of the diffuser for spraying the coating downwardly away from the diffuser into a predefined pattern The exit chute includes a deflector for intersecting a curtain of particles falling from the diffuser and for redirecting the particles into the predefined pattern of the coating. A heating element is mounted to the deflector for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the deflector thereby preventing accumulation of the coating on the deflector.

Abstract: A method of treating granules with a coating utilizing an apparatus having a feed chute, a diffuser mounted adjacent the feed chute, a spray nozzle, and an exit chute having a deflector disposed below the diffuser and spray nozzle. The method comprises the steps of: feeding the granules into the feed chute; intersecting the granules with an angled wall of the diffuser to create a curtain of granules falling about a base of the diffuser; spraying the coating from the spray nozzle downwardly away from the diffuser toward the deflector of the exit chute in a predetermined conical pattern; and intersecting the granules with the deflector to redirect the granules into the conical pattern of the coating for treating each of the granules with the coating. The subject invention provides a method of efficiently treating a large throughput of granules with an appropriate amount of coating.