The invention relates to a device for rapping a row of collector electrodes in an electrostatic precipitator, the collector electrodes consisting of strip plates suspended from their upper ends with respect to their longitudinal extension. The aim of the invention is to provide a device for rapping a row of collector electrodes which guarantees an even supply of impact energy to the electrode plates and allows a high cleaning efficiency during rapping and a free thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction of the plates. This aim is achieved in that a gap is defined between the side of every collector electrode facing away from the rapping device and the subsequent anvil. An elastic spring element having a predetermined spring rate is arranged in said gap and is connected only on one side, either to the collector electrode or to the anvil, and is suitable to allow a substantially free oscillation of the collector electrodes between the anvils after an impact momentum.