Patent ID: 7900545

Claim:
A microtome comprising: a knife; a specimen holder; a crank operably connected to the specimen holder for displacing the specimen holder relative to the knife; a first shaft connected to the crank, the first shaft being rotatable by rotation of the crank; a first transfer means associated with the first shaft for transmitting rotation of the first shaft; a second shaft; a second transfer means associated with the second shaft for transmitting rotation to the second shaft; a third transfer means associated with the second shaft for transmitting rotation to the second shaft; wherein the first transfer means is selectably engageable with either the second transfer means or the third transfer means to transmit rotation of the first shaft to the second shaft, whereby the second shaft is caused to rotate in an output rotational direction when the first transfer means is engaged with the second transfer means, and the output rotational direction remains the same when the rotational direction of the first shaft is reversed and the first transfer means is engaged with the third transfer means; wherein the first shaft is movable relative to the second shaft to selectably engage the first transfer means with either the second transfer means or the third transfer means; wherein the first shaft is movable relative to the second shaft in a rotary or pivoting motion to selectably engage the first transfer means with either the second transfer means or the third transfer means; and wherein the first shaft is rotatably mounted in an eccentric sleeve, and the eccentric sleeve is rotatable to selectably engage the first transfer means with either the second transfer means or the third transfer means.