Knife holder for a microtome

Abstract

The invention relates to a knife holder for a microtome. The knife holder has a plate arranged pivotably on its base member and arranged, in its functional position covering the cutting edge of the knife, spaced apart from the cutting plane to the side of the knife holder remote from the specimen side, and at the same time spaced apart from the knife holder on the side of the cutting edge of the knife. By this arrangement of the plate, any gripping of the cutting edge of the knife can be precluded in the functional position of this plate. In advantageous embodiment examples of the invention, the pivoting mechanism for the plate is coupled to a switch which has the effect that, when the plate is pivoted out of the functional position, the motor drive of the cutting movement is locked, or that a brake precludes any movement of the knife slide or specimen slide. So that observation of section removal is possible even when the protective device is in the functional position, the plate preferably consists of a transparent material.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A knife holder for a microtome having a cutting plane, comprising: 
 a knife having a cutting edge, and    a blade guard comprising a plate,    wherein said plate is arranged on a side of said knife remote from a specimen and spaced apart from said cutting plane to the side of said cutting edge of said knife.    
     
     
         2 . The knife holder according to    claim 1   , wherein said plate extends parallel to and is spaced apart from a surface of said knife.  
     
     
         3 . The knife holder according to    claim 1   , wherein said plate comprises a transparent material.  
     
     
         4 . The knife holder according to    claim 1   , further comprising a base member, wherein said plate is arranged pivotably or displaceably on said base member.  
     
     
         5 . The knife holder according to    claim 4   , further comprising a switch, wherein said plate is coupled to said switch.  
     
     
         6 . The knife holder according to    claim 1   , wherein said plate has a functional position covering said cutting edge, in which said plate is spaced apart from said cutting edge.  
     
     
         7 . A microtome comprising a knife holder according to    claim 1   .  
     
     
         8 . The microtome according to    claim 7   , farther comprising a switch, a brake or arresting device, and a knife slide or specimen slide, wherein said switch is coupled to said brake or arresting device for said knife slide or specimen slide.  
     
     
         9 . The microtome according to    claim 8   , further comprising a circuit that includes a motorized cutting drive, wherein said switch is arranged in said circuit that includes said motorized cutting drive.  
     
     
         10 . The microtome according to    claim 8   , further comprising a control panel with switching elements thereon, wherein said switch is connected in series with said switching elements on said control panel.