Patent ID: 7357384

Claim:
A sample positioning device for a microtome comprising: a sample holder; a drive system connected to the sample holder for moving the sample holder, the drive system including a rotatably mounted spindle and a nut running along the spindle for applying force along a drive axis to move the sample holder through a range of positions; a position element mounted for travel with the nut; an indicating means operatively associated with the position element for signaling a user that the sample holder is in a zero-position with respect to the range of positions associated with the drive axis; and a transfer means for connecting the position element to the indicating means when the sample holder is in the zero-position, wherein the transfer means mechanically connects the position element to the indicating means, and wherein the transfer means includes a plunger actuated by the position element when the sample holder is in the zero-position, and a pivotable lever connected to the plunger for rotation about a pivot point in response to actuation of the plunger, the lever being connected to the indicating means.