The present invention includes a purge chamber which includes a chamber holding the interlocking solid material. An entrance port apparatus passes the interlocking solid material into the chamber where it is purged by a purging gas. An exit port apparatus passes the solid interlocking solid material from the chamber. Located within the chamber is other apparatus which move the interlocking solid material from the chamber through the exit port apparatus and other apparatus which prevent the binding of the interlocking solid material.