Add a dot matrix-like print head to a desktop printer. Instead of hitting a ribbon to mark the page, however, it strikes the page hard enough to almost puncture the page, creating perforations on the page in whatever shape or line you desire...
-- dbsousa, Jan 05 2003

Didn't someone once suggest this using lasers?
-- DrCurry, Jan 05 2003


This is generally available in commercial form. Would it be all that useful for an individual's desktop printer?
-- egnor, Jan 05 2003


I would use it all the time, but I am a massive game geek who wants to make counters and such. People buy pre-perforated paper for their printers now, though, and this printer would let you buy plain card stock and alter templates to suit you. I think you could sell it to crafts enthusiasts, to create scrapbook cutouts and stickers...
-- dbsousa, Jan 05 2003


I removed some non-working links on this page.
-- dbsousa, Jun 06 2003


I just came across this when I submitted a nearly identical idea. It would be great for stores that do a lot of their own window decorations with odd shapes (a comet with the stores name cut out of the tail was the actual problem that triggered this).

Put the needles in a row at the intake or outlet for the paper, so they can cut across it pretty fast. That way paper can be stored on a roll. Print letter, legal, banner, all from one roll.

That option on a printer would be worth several $100 to me.
-- kbecker, Jun 06 2003


Most impact (dot-matrix, daisy-wheel, belt) printers can do something quite close to this (albeit neither neatly or quickly) by simply printing the perforations and overstriking them alot. For example, print a line of "-" followed by a carriage return rather than a line feed and repeat a few dozen times. An inkjet could do similar by soaking the paper with ink in the perforation area, but it would probably take alot more.
-- dvrsn, Aug 06 2003


Can someone tell me where I can purchase one of these printers?
-- kinakreations, Mar 23 2004



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