Punching device with illuminated receiving plate

A punching device for processing samples applied to a sample card, the punching device comprising:

• a movable gripper unit;
• an image capturing device;
• at least one punching head having a punch and a lower die, wherein the punch is movable between a rest position in which it is away from the lower die and a punching position in which it is close to the lower die, and wherein the punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card is introducible by means of the movable gripper unit and is positionable relative to the punching head;
• a punching drive which is couplable or coupled to the punch of the punching head and by way of which the movement of the punch between the rest position and the punching position is driven, wherein the punching head is set up such that a sample piece punched out of the sample card can be dispensed at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess in a receiving container arranged beneath the punching head;
• a receiving plate supporting the receiving container and having a light source illuminating at least a part of the receiving plate, wherein the light source is arranged such that at least a part of the receiving container located on the receiving plate can be illuminated from the direction of the receiving plate;
• and
• an image processing device configured to use data about positioning of the receiving container relative to the image capturing device to determine an analysis set of receiving recesses of the receiving container in an analysis region being a part of the receiving container, said analysis region being changeable by moving the receiving container relative to the image capturing device,
• wherein the image processing device is further configured to detect outlines of the receiving recesses in the analysis set and to determine the positions thereof, and is further configured to detect sample pieces contained in the receiving recesses in the analysis set.