Apparatus and Method for Coating Particulate Material

An apparatus for coating a particulate material comprising:

• a mixer having a defined mixing chamber;
• means for directing a quantity of particulate material into the mixing chamber;
• an agitator provided in the mixing chamber, the agitator having
• a shaft mounted for rotation within the mixing chamber,
• a plurality of arms projecting radially outward from the shaft, and
• a plurality of paddle blades, one of the blades positioned on the ends of each of the projecting arms;
• the blades formed such that during rotation of the shaft the particulate material in the mixing chamber is directed in a rotational direction, a radially inward direction and an axial direction within the mixing chamber;
• a material feed system communicating with the mixing chamber, the feed system having
• a coating feed for delivery of a first coating material into the mixing chamber during rotation of the agitator and mixing by the rotating paddle blades;
• a polymer feed for delivery of a polymer material into the mixing chamber during rotation of the agitator and mixing of the coated particulate material;
• a reaction feed for delivering a reaction material for causing a chemical drying reaction between the colorant feed and the polymer feed creating an encapsulated particulate material;
• and
• means for discharging the encapsulated particulate material from the mixing chamber.