Vorrichtung zur Deckplättchenausgabe

Vorrichtung zur Deckplättchenausgabe, die einen berührungslosen Sensor aufweist, der mit einem Deckplättchenausgabemechanismus verbunden ist, wobei die Aktivierung des Sensors den Betrieb des Ausgabemechanismus auslöst. A portable battery operated coverslip dispensing device 50 includes an optical sensor 64 . The optical sensor detects proximity, for example the proximity of a user's hand. The optical sensor is associated with a switch that operates the dispensing mechanism 8 in response to a signal from the optical sensor. When that signal has been received, the dispensing mechanism 8 moves the blade 10 through one cycle, i.e. the blade is moved from a start position (as shown in FIG. 1 ) to an extended position (at which point a coverslip has been moved to the dispensed position 60 ) and back to the start position. The dispense mechanism then stops. In order to dispense another coverslip the user must activate the optical sensor again.