Abstract: A filter-dryer unit has an agitator having an agitator arm provided with gas discharge nozzles directed at the bottom wall, which includes a liquid discharge filter element, of the vessel of the filter-dryer unit. High pressure, high velocity gas is discharged through the nozzles to break up and remove the heel, consisting of finished product not expelled by agitator action. Product particles from the heel, after the heel has been broken up, are removed by agitator action and by the pressure of the gas discharged through the nozzles, through a standard product discharge opening. A separator/filter unit is provided to separate particles from the gas being discharged through the vessels discharge opening. The agitator arm is provided with a nozzle directed at the side wall of the vessel to remove any residual product on the side wall and a nozzle directed at an angle to the side wall to facilitate removal of the heel adjacent the side wall.