SEPARATOR SYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL FILTER UNIT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a separation system for a suction device.

[0002] A suction device typically has a suction nozzle through which contaminants, especially dust particles, are sucked up from a surface to be cleaned by means of an air stream. The air stream can be generated by a fan. The contaminants can be removed from the air stream by means of a separator or a separation system and collected in a collection area.

[0003] A separation system, particularly for a handheld vacuum cleaner, typically has a tangential inlet to the inner wall of the collection area to form a vortex pre-separator. The filter (e.g., with a sieve and a lamella filter or with a microfilter-foam combination) forms a cylinder or cone inside the separator. Due to the flow pattern from outside to inside, the cross-sections become increasingly smaller downstream. The smallest cross-section is then located at the outlet of the collection area toward the fan. Furthermore, the filter surface also becomes relatively small due to the diameter decreasing inward. This can lead to a bottleneck for the suction airflow, especially if the relatively small filter surface is contaminated. As a result, the suction power of the suction device decreases. EP 2 002 775 A1 describes a vacuum cleaner with a cylindrical dust filter arranged above a collecting container.

[0004] This document addresses the technical task of providing a separation system that continues to enable high suction performance even after a relatively long period of use without emptying or cleaning.

[0005] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent patent claims, described in the following description, or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a separation system for separating contaminants from an air stream is described. The separation system can be used, for example, in a suction device (e.g., in a vacuum cleaner, in particular a handheld vacuum cleaner, or in a robot vacuum cleaner). A suction air stream can be generated through the separation system by a fan.

[0007] The separation system comprises a filter unit designed as a hollow cylinder with an air filter (in particular with a fine dust filter and / or with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter) that encloses a cylindrical collection area for contaminants. The filter unit can thus form the outer surface of a (circular) hollow cylinder. Furthermore, the outer surface can form the border or wall for the collection area for the extracted contaminants. The generatrix of the cylindrical collection area and / or the (hollow) cylindrical filter unit can be circular or oval.

[0008] The air filter can comprise a louvre filter and / or a microfilter. In particular, the air filter can have a plurality of louvres distributed around the collection area. The individual louvres can extend along the longitudinal axis of the separation system (where the longitudinal axis corresponds to the vertical axis of the cylindrical filter unit). The air filter can be designed to filter fine dust, in particular particles with a particle size between 1 µm and 20 µm, from the air stream.

[0009] The filter unit can comprise a sieve facing the collection area, which is designed to retain contaminants from the air stream having a particle size equal to or larger than a size threshold. The sieve can thus retain relatively coarse contaminants in the collection area. The air filter can be arranged between the housing wall and the sieve so that the air filter is not clogged with coarse contaminants. The air filter can be designed to retain contaminants from the air stream through the sieve, which have a particle size smaller than the size threshold. The air filter can thus remove relatively small contaminants, in particular dust, from the air stream.Due to the fact that the air filter is arranged around the collection area, in particular around the sieve, the air filter has a relatively large effective area, which makes it possible to continue to provide a high suction power even after a relatively long period of operation.

[0010] The separation system further comprises a cylindrical housing wall enclosing the filter unit. A gap, in particular an annular gap, is arranged between the housing wall and the filter unit. The gap is designed such that an air flow, in particular an air flow through the filter unit, can be generated through the gap. The air flow can be generated by a fan arranged on a (first) end face of the (circular or oval) cylindrical housing wall.

[0011] Furthermore, the separation system comprises an inlet channel extending from the housing wall to the collection area, which is designed to guide an air flow containing the contaminants from outside the separation system to the collection area. The air flow can, for example, pass from a suction port of the suction device to the inlet channel and via the inlet channel into the collection area. For this purpose, the filter unit comprises a recess, e.g., an opening, through which the inlet channel extends from the housing wall to the collection area. The recess can, for example, extend through the sieve. Furthermore, the recess can extend through a frame of the air filter (which is arranged, for example, on an end face, in particular on the upper end face of the air filter). This allows the inlet channel to be guided efficiently through the filter unit. In particular, this avoids the need to create a relatively complex recess through the fins of the air filter.

[0012] The airflow can pass from the collection area through the filter unit (in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the separation system) to filter the airflow and retain contaminants in the collection area. The airflow can then be directed out of the separation system (and to the fan) along the gap between the housing wall and the filter unit.

[0013] Thus, a separation system is described in which an internal collection area is enclosed by an external filter unit (with an air filter). The filter unit, in particular the air filter of the filter unit, can form the outer surface of the cylindrical collection area. By providing an external filter unit, a separation system with an air filter can be provided that has a relatively large effective area and therefore continues to maintain a high suction power even after a relatively long operating period.

[0014] The filter unit can have a (circular) cylindrical inner wall that faces the collection area and / or encloses the collection area. The inner wall can be formed, in particular, by the filter unit's sieve. The inlet channel can be configured to create an air flow in the collection area that runs tangentially to the inner wall of the filter unit and / or in a cyclone-like or helical manner. This can cause the air flow to circulate along the inner wall of the filter unit around the longitudinal axis of the separation system.

[0015] For this purpose, the inlet channel can have a curved segment running along the inner wall of the filter unit. This segment can extend over a certain angular range (e.g., 20° or more) around the longitudinal axis of the separation system.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, one or more guide ribs can be arranged on the inner wall of the filter unit. These guide ribs are designed to guide the air flow entering the collection area from the inlet channel in a cyclone-like and / or helical manner around the longitudinal axis of the collection area or separation system. By creating a helical air flow, particularly reliable separation of relatively large contaminants and / or hair can be achieved (without clogging the inner wall, in particular the sieve, of the filter unit).

[0017] As already explained above, the filter unit can comprise a sieve facing the collection area. The sieve can have an average pore size across its entire surface (where the average pore size corresponds, for example, to the aforementioned size threshold). At the point opposite the inlet duct, where the air flow from the inlet duct (first) encounters the sieve, the sieve can have a pore size that is smaller than the average pore size. If necessary, the sieve can be continuous or without pores at this point. This reliably prevents the accumulation of contaminants at the outlet of the inlet duct and the associated reduction in suction power.

[0018] The separation system can comprise a piston (also referred to as a disc) that is designed to be moved along the inner wall (in particular on the sieve or on the sieve surface) of the filter unit in order to detach contaminants adhering to the inner wall from the inner wall of the filter unit. The piston can have an elastic and / or annular lip that contacts the inner wall of the filter unit. Furthermore, the piston can be designed to be moved along the longitudinal axis of the collection area or the separation system from the first end face to the opposite second end face of the collection area or the housing wall. By providing a movable piston, cleaning of the filter unit can be enabled in a convenient and reliable manner.

[0019] Furthermore, the piston can be designed to compress contaminants in the collection area at the second end face. This can increase the operating time between emptyings.

[0020] The separation system can comprise a (possibly removable) piston rod that allows the piston to be moved within the collection area. Alternatively or additionally, the separation system can comprise a cable pull and / or a spring, each designed to move the piston within the collection area. This allows for cleaning of the inner surface of the filter unit in a particularly convenient manner.

[0021] The separation system can comprise a cover, in particular a flap, on the second end face of the housing wall. The second end face can be arranged at the bottom during operation of the separation system. The piston can be configured to open the cover (e.g., by pressing the piston against the cover) when the piston is moved toward the second end face, so that contaminants are removed from the collection area, in particular can fall out. This allows for particularly convenient emptying of the collection area.

[0022] The separation system can be designed such that the piston is automatically moved to the first end face before the separation system is started up. Alternatively or additionally, the separation system can be designed such that the separation system cannot be started up if the piston is not located at the first end face. This ensures reliable operation of the separation system.

[0023] The filter unit can have a recess to provide a viewing window that allows a view of the collection area from outside the housing wall. This allows for convenient monitoring of the separation system even when using an internal collection area.

[0024] As already explained above, the air filter can comprise a plurality of fins, each extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing wall. The separation system can have at least one projection on the inside of the housing wall, which projects into a space between two fins. The projection can be designed in particular as a (rigid) rib or as a (movable and / or flexible) paddle. Furthermore, the separation system can be designed such that the air filter and the housing wall can be rotated back and forth relative to one another (around the longitudinal axis of the separation system), so that the projection is moved into the spaces between different pairs of fins, thereby causing a jerk to clean at least one fin. This allows for convenient and reliable knocking off of the contaminants collected by the air filter.

[0025] According to a further aspect, a suction device is described that includes the separation system described in this document. Furthermore, the suction device may include a fan configured to effect the suction airflow through the separation system.

[0026] It should be noted that any aspects of the system described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the patent claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0027] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows different views of an exemplary separation system; Figure 2 shows different views of a separation system after compression of the collected contaminants; Figure 3 shows different views of a separation system with an open flap; Figure 4a shows an exemplary separation system with a removable piston rod; Figure 4b shows an exemplary separation system with a dirt extraction aid; Figure 4c shows an exemplary separation system with a device for emptying the fine dust area; Figure 5a shows an intake or inlet channel with a taper; Figure 5b shows an inlet channel with a tangential channel guide; and Figure 6 shows an exemplary separation system with a viewing window.

[0028] As stated at the beginning, this document deals with the provision of a separation system that enables high suction performance even after a relatively long period of operation. This can be achieved, in particular, by providing a filter unit with a relatively large effective area. This document describes a separation system in which the filter unit (with the air filter) is arranged around the collection area in order to increase the effective area of ​​the filter unit, in particular the effective area of ​​the air filter of the filter unit.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows different views of a separation system 100 having a (particularly cylindrical) housing wall 101. The top left shows a section through the inlet channel 102 and through the filter unit 103, 104, and through the housing wall 101 of the separation system 100. The bottom right shows a view of the second (lower) end face of the housing wall 101 or of the separation system 100. The bottom left and top right show different side views of the separation system 100.

[0030] The housing wall 101 encloses a collection area 105 for sucked-up contaminants. The collection area 105 is located at the center of the separation system 100. The suction air flow 121 is guided via an inlet or entry channel 102 through the housing wall 101 into the interior of the separation system 100, in particular to the collection area 105.

[0031] The filter unit 103, 104 is arranged between the (cylindrical) collecting area 105 and the (cylindrical) housing wall 101. In particular, the filter unit 103, 104 encloses the collecting area 105. Furthermore, the inlet channel 102 runs through the filter unit 103, 104, i.e., through an opening in the filter unit 103, 104, so that the intake air flow 121 can be guided directly from a suction mouth of the suction device to the collecting area 105. The air flow 121 then passes, starting from the collection area 105, through the filter unit 103, 104 (represented by the air flow 122) toward the housing wall 101. An (annular) gap 106 is provided between the housing wall 101 and the filter unit 103, 104, through which the filtered air flow 123 is guided along the housing wall 101 to the fan. The fan (not shown) is arranged on the first end face of the (cylindrical) housing wall 101 or of the separation system 100.

[0032] The filter unit 103, 104 can have the shape of a hollow cylinder, wherein the outer surface of the hollow cylinder corresponds to the effective surface of the filter unit 103, 104 (apart from the opening for the inlet channel 102). The hollow cylinder encloses the collection area 105 for the sucked-up contaminants. The filter unit 103, 104 can have a (lint) sieve 103 facing the collection area 105 and designed to retain relatively coarse contaminants (such as hair or coarse particles). Furthermore, the filter unit 103, 104 comprises an air filter 104, which is designed, for example, as a louvre filter and is designed to filter relatively fine contaminants and / or (fine) dust from the air stream 121. The contaminants filtered out by the air filter 104 can collect in a space between the screen 103 and the air filter 104.

[0033] The inlet channel 102 can run tangentially to the inner wall of the filter unit 103, 104 facing the collection area 105 such that the suction air flow 121 executes a circular and / or cyclone-like movement in the collection area 105 (around the longitudinal axis of the collection area 105). This can ensure particularly reliable separation of coarse contaminants, particularly hair. Furthermore, premature clogging of the filter unit 103, 104, particularly of the sieve 103, can be avoided. Furthermore, this can ensure that the coarse dirt is well oriented at the bottom (particularly at the lid 113) of the collection area 105 and builds up from bottom to top.

[0034] The separation system 100 can have a piston 112, by which contaminants that have accumulated in the collection area 105 can be compressed. For this purpose, the piston 112 can be guided along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical collection area 105 on the inner wall of the filter unit 103, 104. In particular, the piston 112 can be arranged to be movable from the first end face of the collection area 105 or the housing wall 101 to the opposite second end face of the collection area 105 or the housing wall 101 in order to compress the contaminants in the collection area 105. The piston 112 can be moved, for example, by means of a piston rod 111.

[0035] On the second end face, as in Fig. 2 As shown, a cover 113, in particular a flap, can be arranged, which is designed to cover the collection area 105 and / or the housing wall 101 on the second end face, so that a closed space for collecting the contaminants is created. The cover 113 can be pivotally mounted on one side on a bearing or on an axis 114, so that the cover 113 can be folded away from the second end face to open the collection area 105. The piston 112 can be designed to press against the inside of the cover 113 to open the cover 113, so that the contaminants can be removed from the collection area 105 without touching the collection area 105.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows the separation system 100 with an open lid 113. The lid 113 may have a handle 115 that allows a user to open the lid 113 without using the piston 112.

[0037] As in Fig. 4a As shown, the piston rod 111 can be configured to be connected to or separated from the piston 112 at a fastening point 401. For example, it can be possible to screw the piston rod 111 into or unscrew the piston 112. By removing the piston rod 111, a particularly compact separation system 100 can be provided.

[0038] The Fig. 4b The separation system 100 shown does not include a piston 112 for compressing and pushing out the contaminants. However, the separation system 100 may have a pull-out aid 411 on the lid 113, which is designed to convey the contaminants out of the collection area 105 when the lid 113 is opened. The pull-out aid 411 may, as shown in Fig. 4b shown, have one or more curved ribs that project into the collection area 105 when the lid 113 is closed and are pulled out of the collection area 105 (and thereby pull contaminants along) when the lid 113 is opened.

[0039] As in Fig. 4c As shown, a (wave-shaped) sealing lip 413 can be arranged on the second end face of the collection area 105, which is designed to seal the space between the sieve 103 and the air filter 104 at the second end face in order to prevent relatively large contaminants from passing past the sieve 103 to the air filter 104 during operation of the separation system 100 and clogging the air filter 104. On the other hand, the sealing lip 413 can be designed to be pushed aside, e.g., by the piston 112, in order to enable emptying of the dust that has accumulated in the space between the sieve 103 and the air filter 104. For example, the piston 112 can be pushed or pulled toward the second end face, and the piston 112 can thereby lift the sealing lip 413 from the edge of the screen 103 to clear the space between the screen 103 and the air filter 104.The lip 413 is preferably wave-shaped so that an opening between the screen 103 and the air filter 104 is exposed even when the lip 413 is lifted from the edge of the screen 103 by the piston 112. Without a wave, it could happen that the lip of the piston 112 closes the opening between the screen 103 and the air filter 104.

[0040] As in Fig. 5a As shown, the inlet channel 102 can have a taper 502 at the end facing the collection area 105, which can assist the cyclone formation of the air flow 121. Alternatively or additionally, the inlet channel 102 can have a curved segment 503 that follows the circular shape of the wall of the collection area 105 or the sieve 103 to assist the cyclone formation of the air flow 121 and / or to reduce eddies in the inlet channel 102, so that preferably short hairs are oriented in the flow direction and cannot become caught in the sieve 103.

[0041] Thus, a separation system 100 is described which has a dirt inlet, i.e., an inlet channel, 102 leading inward through the filter 103, 104. In other words, at the inlet or inlet channel 102, the dirt is first guided (without filtering) through a recess in the filter 103, 104. The sealed inlet channel 102 penetrates the filter system 103, 104 and guides all the dirt into the inner cylinder, i.e., into the collection area 105, where the coarse dirt is collected.

[0042] The inlet channel 102 is preferably designed tangentially to the inner screen wall so that, for example, short hairs do not get caught in the screen 103, but slide along the screen surface and are separated downwards. Alternatively, a straight inflow is also possible. The screen wall opposite the inlet then preferably has a particularly fine hole width or is completely closed to prevent lint or hair from getting caught in this area of ​​the screen 103 and clogging the inlet channel 102. The screen 103 is preferably designed as a film screen (e.g., made of an etched, thin metal foil), since a film screen is relatively easy to clean by means of a wiping lip (compared to a woven screen, where wiping is also possible but typically more difficult).

[0043] One or more additional guide ribs can be provided in the inlet (i.e., at the end of the inlet channel 102) or directly thereafter to further improve the tangential orientation of the incoming dirt and / or hair. A guide rib can, for example, be made of a hard plastic and / or can, for example, have one or more soft-elastic segments. The one or more soft-elastic segments can be designed such that the segments do not deform during normal operation with medium-sized particles and ensure a (where possible optimal) tangential inflow of the particles. On the other hand, the one or more segments can deform when oversized particles flow in, allowing the coarse particles to slip through. Alternatively or additionally, a tangential guide channel 503 can be provided in the separation area 105 to achieve the best possible orientation of the particles.

[0044] Coarse dirt is collected within the screen cylinder 103 in the lower region of the screen cylinder 103 (i.e., at the second end face). The tangential air flow 121 and the downwardly spiraling flow spiral ensure that the screen 103 is kept open for a relatively long operating period, and that the dirt collects and compacts in the lower region. The dirt thus builds up from bottom to top during operation. The arrangement described in this document does not allow relatively long hair to become trapped around the filter unit 103, 104 and thereby cause the filter unit 103, 104 to become clogged. On the contrary, the air flow described in this document tends to cause clumps to form at the bottom of the collection area 105, which also binds lint and fine dust.

[0045] The dirt (coarse and fine contaminants) can be emptied downwards via a flap 113. The dirt collected in the lower area can be emptied through a downward-opening flap 113. A rib 411, in particular an arched, flexible rib, can be provided to assist in removing the dirt. Lint / hair flows around it during operation. The rib 411 can initially rest against the sieve wall. When the flap 113 is opened, the rib 411 can be stretched and pulled downwards along the sieve 103 until the rib 411 is released. The dirt can then slide down the downwardly open rib 411.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, a conical, downwardly widening sieve 103 can be used to assist emptying of the dirt.

[0047] The flap 113 can be designed to be opened slowly and in a controlled manner by hand via a lever or handle 115. If necessary, a spring and / or a damper can be provided to hold the flap closed to assist in the slow opening of the flap 113. This enables reliable and convenient emptying of the collection area 105.

[0048] The separation system 100 described in this document enables airflow through the filter (screen 103 and / or lamella filter 104) from the inside to the outside. The described positioning of the filter units 103, 104 around the dirt area 105 enables a relatively large filter surface. This allows a relatively high suction power to be achieved even with a relatively high dust load (particularly with regard to fine dust) in the separation system 100.

[0049] A free annular channel 106 is arranged between the louvre filter 104 and the housing wall 101, through which the purified air 123 can flow to the fan. The annular channel 106 can be relatively narrow (e.g., 3 mm or less) (due to its relatively large circumference) while still providing a relatively large open area.

[0050] A movable unit 111, 112 can be arranged in the dirt collection area 105, which enables cleaning the screen surface, compressing the dirt, and emptying the dirt in a single operation. The operation can be divided as needed, e.g., into cleaning the screen surface and compressing the dirt without emptying the dirt.

[0051] The unit 111, 112 can comprise a rotationally symmetrical disc 112 (also referred to as a piston in this document) to which one or more lips are attached on the outside. A long plunger or rod 111 can be attached to the upper end, which projects outwards and can be operated by hand. The soft lips on the disc 112 can be designed to scrape the dirt cake off the sieve 103, thus avoiding contact of dirt with the hand. The disc 112 with the lips is preferably arranged such that the dirt is always compacted towards the discharge opening, i.e. towards the second end face. Depending on where the discharge opening is located, the dirt is compacted from top to bottom or from bottom to top.

[0052] Design variants for the actuation of the lip disc 112 are: a plunger 111 for pulling the disc 112 out of the collecting area 105; a cable pull; and / or a spring.

[0053] The lip disc 112 should be returned to its original position after actuation to enable reliable operation of the separation system 100. This can be achieved, for example, by the following measures: a return spring; retraction by negative pressure; a lock that prevents the installation of the separation system 100 in the suction device; and / or a limit switch that prevents the suction device from being switched on if the limit switch is not actuated by the plunger 111.

[0054] In the separation system 100 described in this document, the filter system 103, 104 is arranged around the dirt chamber 105, so that the dirt filling quantity is hardly visible from the outside. The separation system 100 can, as in Fig. 6 As shown, the suction device may comprise a viewing window 601 that penetrates the filter system 103, 104 and is mounted, for example, below the inlet channel 102. Alternatively or additionally, an indicator, similar to a filter change indicator in a bag-type device, may be mounted on the outside of the suction device. The fill level can be determined via changes in pressure, volume, or turbidity.

[0055] For cleaning the lamella filter 104, projections 602 can be arranged on the inside of the housing wall 101, which engage in the lamellae of the lamella filter 104 (as in Fig. 6shown). The individual projections 602 can be wedge-shaped and, if appropriate, flexible. The lamella filter 104 can be cleaned by rotating the filter insert 103, 104 back and forth relative to the housing wall 101. Preferably, several projections 602 are attached to the inside of the housing wall 101. The number is preferably selected such that all lamellae are swept over at least once during the back-and-forth rotation. Thus, even in the presence of an inlet channel 102 running through the filter unit 103, 104, reliable cleaning, in particular reliable tapping, of the lamella filter 104 can be enabled. Furthermore, the back-and-forth rotation can be effected comfortably by a user.

[0056] The measures described in this document enable high suction performance over a relatively long operating period. Furthermore, a suction device with high overall efficiency can be provided. Furthermore, relatively long cleaning cycles for the filter unit 103, 104 can be enabled. Furthermore, convenient emptying of the collection area 105 is enabled. Furthermore, the separation system 100 described in this document can be constructed in a compact manner.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed system. List of reference symbols

[0058] 100Separation system 101Housing wall 102Inlet duct 103Screen 104Air filter 105Collection area 106Gap 111Rod 112Piston 113Cover 114Shaft (cover) 115Handle 121Air flow 122Air flow (screened) 123Air flow (filtered) 401Attachment point 411Extraction aid 413Sealing lip 502Constriction (inlet duct) 503Curved segment (inlet duct) 601Window 602Protrusion (especially paddle)

Claims

1. Separation system (100) for separating impurities from an air flow (121); wherein the separation system (100) comprises - a filter unit (103, 104) embodied as a hollow cylinder with an air filter (104), which surrounds a cylindrical collection region (105) for impurities; - a cylindrical housing wall (101), which surrounds the filter unit (103, 104), so that a gap (106) is formed between the housing wall (101) and the filter unit (103, 104); and - an inlet channel (102) which runs from the housing wall (101) to the collection region (105) and is embodied to guide the air flow (121) with the impurities from outside the separation system (100) to the collection region (105); wherein the separation system (100) is embodied to guide the air flow (121) from the collection region (105) further through the filter unit (103, 104), via the gap (106), out of the separation system (100); characterised in that the filter unit (103, 104) has a recess, through which the inlet channel (102) runs from the housing wall (101) to the collection region (105).

2. Separation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein - the separation system (100) comprises a piston (112), which is embodied to be moved along an inner wall of the filter unit (103, 104), in order to release impurities adhering to the inner wall from the inner wall of the filter unit (103, 104); - the piston (112) in particular has an elastic and / or annular lip, which touches the inner wall of the filter unit (103, 104); and - the piston (112) in particular is embodied to be moved along a longitudinal axis of the collection region (105) from a first end face up to a second end face.

3. Separation system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the piston (112) is embodied to compress impurities in the collection region (105) on the second end face.

4. Separation system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 3, wherein - the separation system (100) comprises a lid (113), in particular a flap, on the second end face of the housing wall (101); and - the piston (112) is embodied to open the lid (113) when the piston (112) is moved towards the second end face, so that impurities are able to be removed, in particular are able to fall out, from the collection region (105).

5. Separation system (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein - the separation system (100) comprises a piston rod (111), which makes it possible to move the piston (112) within the collection region (105); and / or - the separation system (100) comprises a Bowden cable and / or a spring, which are embodied to move the piston (112) within the collection region (105).

6. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the filter unit (103, 104) comprises a sieve (103) facing towards the collection region (105); - the sieve (103) has an average pore size over an overall area of the sieve (103); and - the sieve (103), at a point which lies opposite the inlet channel (102) and at which the air flow (121) from the inlet channel (102) strikes the sieve (103), has a pore size that is smaller than the average pore size.

7. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the cylindrical housing wall (101) surrounds the filter unit (103, 104) in such a manner that an annular gap (106) is formed between the housing wall (101) and the filter unit (103, 104); and / or - the separation system (100) is embodied in such a manner that the air flow (123) escaping from the filter unit (103, 104) into the gap (106) runs along the housing wall (101) towards an end face of the housing wall (101).

8. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the air filter (104) comprises a lamella filter and / or a microfilter; - the air filter (104) is embodied to filter fine dust, in particular particles with a particle size between 1 µm and 20 µm, from the air flow (121); and / or - the air filter (104) has a large number of lamellae, which are arranged such that they are distributed around the collection region (105).

9. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the filter unit (103, 104) comprises a sieve (103) facing towards the collection region (105), which is embodied to hold back impurities from the air flow (121) that have a particle size that is equal to or greater than a size threshold value; - the air filter (104) is arranged between the housing wall (101) and the sieve (103); and - the air filter (104) is embodied to hold back impurities from the air flow (122) through the sieve (103) that have a particle size that is smaller than the size threshold value.

10. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter unit (103, 104) has a recess for providing a viewing window, which makes it possible to view the collection region (105) from outside the housing wall (101).

11. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the air filter (104) comprises a large number of lamellae, which extend along a longitudinal axis of the housing wall in each case; - the separation system (100), on an inner side of the housing wall (101), has at least one protrusion (602), which projects into an intermediate space between two lamellae; and - the separation system (100) is embodied in such a manner that the air filter (104) and the housing wall (101) can be twisted back and forth relative to one another, so that the protrusion (602) is moved in intermediate spaces between different lamella pairs, and in doing so causes a jerk to clean at least one lamella in each case.

12. Separation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the filter unit (103, 104) has a cylindrical inner wall, which is facing towards the collection region (105) and / or which surrounds the collection region (105); and - the inlet channel (102) is embodied to cause an airflow (121), which runs tangentially to the inner wall of the filter unit (103, 104) and / or runs in a cyclone-like or helical manner, in the collection region (105).

13. Separation system (100) according to claim 12, wherein - the inlet channel (102) has a curved segment (503) running along the inner wall of the filter unit (103, 104); and / or - arranged on the inner wall of the filter unit (102) are one or more guide ribs, which are embodied to guide the air flow (121) entering the collection region (105) from the inlet channel (102) in a cyclone-like and / or helical manner around a longitudinal axis of the collection region (105).