PUNCHING DEVICE WITH GRIPPER UNIT

The invention relates to a punching device for processing samples, in particular dried samples, applied to a sample card, preferably liquids containing DNA, such as blood, saliva and the like, comprising at least one punching means with a punch and a lower die, wherein the punch is movable between a resting position at a distance from the lower die and a punching position closer to the lower die. The punching means has a receiving opening, into which a sample card from a sample card container can be introduced by means of a movable gripping unit (300) of the punching device and can be positioned in relation to the punching means, and a punching drive, which can be coupled or is coupled to the punch of the punching means and which drives the punch between the resting position and the punching position. The punching means is designed in such a way that a piece of sample punched out from the sample card can be discharged at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess of a receiving container arranged below the punching means. According to the invention, it is proposed that the gripping unit (300) comprises a sample card gripping means (310) and a receiving container gripping means (350), which are jointly movable by means of a drive unit in three mutually orthogonal main directions (X, Y, Z).