Knife holder for a microtome having a vibrating knife

A knife assembly for a microtome comprising:

• a vibratory mechanism (10);
• and
• a knife holder connected to the vibratory mechanism, the knife holder including a support element (2) having a support surface (2a) for a knife and a clamping element (4) movable relative to the support element (2), the clamping element (4) having a clamping surface (4a) parallel to the support surface (2a), wherein the support surface (2a) and the clamping surface (4a) are settable at a distance from one another adaptable to a thickness of a knife to be held by the knife holder and the support surface (2a) and the clamping surface remain parallel to one another as the distance between the support surface and the clamping surface (4a) is adapted;
• wherein the support element (2) of the knife holder is fixedly joined to the vibratory mechanism, and the clamping element is movable along the support element, wherein the knife holder further includes an eccentric (6) rotatably mounted on the support element and arranged to engage the clamping element for moving the clamping element (4) along the support element in a clamping direction to clamp a knife between the support surface and the clamping surface, and a fastener (5) extending perpendicular to the clamping direction and arranged to hold the clamping element (4) and the support element (2) together, wherein the fastener (5) and the eccentric (6) are arranged between the vibratory mechanism (10) and the support surface (2a).