Device for retaining and removing filaments of plastic material

A device for retaining and removing filaments of plastic material, or angel's hairs, from a flow of plastic material in form of granules, powders or flakes, the device comprising:

• a main body defining a through channel intended to be passed through by said flow of plastic material,
• a plurality of retractable elements which are carried by the main body and are movable between a retracted position, in which said retractable elements leave the through channel unobstructed, and an extracted position, in which said retractable elements protrude into the through channel so as to create a trap for trapping the filaments which flow together with said flow of plastic material along the through channel, and
• an actuating system for moving each retractable element between said retracted position and said extracted position,
• wherein the retractable elements are configured as elongated elements, each of which is slidably inserted into a respective through opening provided in the main body and having a cross-section of a shape and size corresponding to those of the cross-section of the respective retractable element, in such a manner that the displacement of each retractable element between said retracted position and said extracted position results in a sliding movement of the retractable element relative to the respective through opening, and
• wherein said plurality of retractable elements comprises:
• a first group of retractable elements, which are arranged parallel to each other, and
• a second group of retractable elements, which are arranged parallel to each other and not parallel to the retractable elements of said first group,
• in such a manner that in the extracted position the retractable elements form a net trap.