Planar drive device, and method for operating a planar drive device

A planar drive device (10) having a first platform (16) and having a second platform (18), which platforms are movable in an X-Y plane (14) on a work bench (12), wherein the first platform (16) has a frame (20), a transmission (22) and a working platform (24) for the arrangement of a work tool (28), wherein the transmission (22) permits an adjustment of the distance of the working platform (24) with respect to the X-Y plane (14), wherein the second platform (18) has a frame (30) and a drive member (32) which is coupled in terms of movement at least indirectly to the working platform (24) such that the distance of the working platform (24) from the X-Y plane (14) is adjustable by changing a distance between the two platforms (16, 18) within the X-Y plane (14), wherein, for the adjustment of the distance of the working platform (24) from the X-Y plane (14), the drive member (32) and the transmission (22) are effective in a movement plane (60) perpendicular to the X-Y plane (14), in that the drive member (32) is movable relative to the working platform (24) along a working axis (62) perpendicular to the movement plane (60), and in that a first portion (72) of the work tool (28) is connected to the drive member (32) and a second portion (74) of the work tool (28) is connected to the working platform (24) such that, by relative movement of the platforms (16, 18) in the X-Y plane (14) in a direction parallel to the working axis (62), the work tool (28) can be transferred into at least two different working states in which the first portion (72) and the second portion (74) take up different relative positions from one another.