An apparatus removing material accumulated on the exterior surfaces of adjacent heat exchanger plates arranged side-by-side in a spaced relationship in a bulk material heat exchanger and a bulk material heat exchanger incorporating the apparatus is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus develops vibratory shock waves through each coil to dislodge material that has accumulated on the surfaces of the heat exchanger plates. In another aspect, the apparatus translates each heat exchanger plate in a sequential back-and-forth motion to create a shearing effect in material that has accumulated between the adjacent surfaces of heat exchanger plates. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a driven cam and a cam follower, where the cam or cam follower includes a profile to achieve the desired motion of each heat exchanger plate.