the grill 60 can be operably located nearer the inlet of the throat 50 such that the grill and enmeshed threads can be removed from the throat the grill cleaned and replaced the grill 60 includes at least one and more preferably a plurality of slats or bars 62 extending across the area of the throat the slats 62 are selected to engage the threads entrained in a passing airflow therefore the slats 62 can have a cross section configured to enhance engagement with the threads the slats 62 can also have a relatively abrupt edge or leading edge to assist in retention of threads in one configuration the grill 60 has a mesh size between approximately 15 mm to 200 mm such that the threads accumulate on the grill the grill 60 is operably retained within or connected to the throat 50 such that a portion of the grill and slats 62 occlude a portion of the inlet 22 the thread capturing device 10 can include a proximity sensor 70 known in the art wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect the presence of a user within a predetermined location of the housing 20 such as the inlet 22 the proximity sensor 70 can define a detecting region or volume wherein the presence of a portion of the user within the zone is sensed and causes activation of the fan assembly 40 in one configuration the proximity sensor 70 is selected to detect a user 39 s hand within approximately 6 inches of the inlet that is the.