Microtome having means for reversing a direction of rotation

A microtome (5) comprising:

• a first shaft (9) arranged in a fixed position and capable of being driven to rotate by a hand wheel;
• a first gear wheel (11) non-rotatably mounted on the first shaft for rotation with the first shaft;
• a second shaft (10) arranged in another fixed position;
• a second gear wheel (12) non-rotatably mounted on the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft;
• a transmission unit (20) via which the first gear wheel (11) and the second gear wheel (12) are coupled to each other so that the second shaft (10) can be driven to rotate by rotation of the first shaft (9);
• and
• a shift unit for pivotably shifting the transmission unit (20) between a first position and a second position;
• wherein the first shaft (9) and the second shaft (10) are rotatable in the same direction when the transmission unit (20) is in the first position, and the first shaft (9) and the second shaft (10) are rotatable in opposite directions when the transmission unit (20) is in the second position;
• wherein the transmission unit (20) includes a first idler gear (21) and a second idler gear (22) constantly meshing with each other;
• wherein the first shaft (9) and the second shaft (10) are coupled by only one of the first and second idler gears when the transmission unit is in the first position;
• and
• wherein the first shaft (9) and the second shaft (10) are coupled by both of the first and second idler gears when the transmission unit is in the second position.