Abstract:
The novelty perforating machine perforates paper, such as paper money and similar paper or paperlike sheet material, in a manner that the original purpose of the paper is not lost, but when it is held to the light, a light pattern representing the novelty is seen. Thus, a paper money bill can be perforated with a selected pattern to form a novelty item, such as an outline picture of the area in which the perforating machine is situatuated.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of US Provisional Application 60/120,251 filed Feb. 16, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a machine which perforates paper, such as paper money and similar paper or paperlike sheet material, in a manner that the original purpose of the paper is not lost, but when it is held to the light, a light pattern representing the novelty is seen. Thus, a paper money bill can be perforated with a selected pattern to form a novelty item, such as an outline picture of the area in which the perforating machine is situated. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Paper currency is a well known monetary medium, and is the intention of this invention to utilize common paper currency and change it into a novelty without destroying the paper money value thereof. 
     Deforming coinage into novelties is known, but when so deformed, the coinage no longer has its monetary value. Perforating is known, but perforating paper monetary units such as dollar bills to add the function of being a novelty item, is new. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be said in essentially summary form that it is directed to a novelty perforating machine wherein one or more cutters are actuated at the same time or successively to perforate a pattern of holes in a paper monetary unit so that the perforations therein create a novelty pattern without destroying the monetary value. 
     It is thus a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a novelty perforating machine which perforates a pattern of holes in a paper monetary unit so that the paper monetary unit becomes a memorabilia in novelty as well as paper money. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to punch a series of holes in a paper monetary unit by moving a single cutter relative to the paper monetary unit to successively cut the holes. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to have such a perforating machine which has a memory therein which provides control of perforating to perforate any one of a selected group of holes representing different memorabilia so that the same perforating machine and setup can do the perforating of different punch patterns to represent different memorabilia. 
     It is a further purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a novelty perforating machine which has a plurality of punches therein so that, when selected ones of the plurality of punches are actuated, they reduce the memorabilia of punch pattern holes in one stroke. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a novelty perforating machine which does not require the addition of supplies thereto because the buyer of the novelty memorabilia supplies his own material, preferably in the form of paper money, to serve as the carrier for the memorabilia. 
     Other purposes and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, including the drawings, specification and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first preferred embodiment of the novelty perforating machine. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the X-Y positioning assembly within the machine case of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of a preferred X-Y driver. 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the bill carrier in the open position. 
     FIG. 5 a view of the bill carrier fully inserted into the X-Y platform. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the punching mechanism wherein a plurality of punches are simultaneously employed. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view, with parts broken away and parts taken in section, as seen generally along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the novelty perforating machine of this invention wherein it is generally indicated at  10 . The machine has a base  12  which includes various mechanisms and controls. The top of the base terminates at top surface  14  on which some of the mechanism  16  is located so that the user of the machine can observe its operation. Transparent cover  18  protects the mechanism. Back panel  20  is mounted on base  12  and extends at least up to eye level to attract potential customers. Attention attracting devices such as lights  22  are mounted on the back panel to attract customers. Other attracting devices such as colorful signs or sound can also or alternatively be employed. 
     The purpose of the machine  10  is to receive paper money, such as a dollar bill, and perforate it. Paper money acceptor  24  is mounted on the front of the machine and opens so that paper money, such as dollar bill  26  can be placed therein (see FIG.  4 ). The paper money acceptor also serves as a carrier which moves the dollar bill into the operative position in the machine. The base  12  also carries a coin acceptor  28  of conventional style so that a coin may be inserted to actuate the mechanism  16  of the machine. 
     As seen in FIG. 5, the paper money carrier  24  is dovetail shaped. It is pulled out in FIG. 4, and the cover  30  is open. The cover  30  has an opening  32  therein. The support plate  34  under the paper money  26  also has an opening therein in which is positioned backup material  42 . The support plate  34  is secured to the two dovetail guides on each side of the paper money carrier. In FIG. 2, the front of the paper money carrier  24  is shown open and even with the front of platform  36  into which it slides. In use, the dollar bill  26  is put in place, and the cover  30  is closed thereon to clamp the dollar bill around the edges. Handle  38  is used to thrust the carrier  24  back in its dovetails in the platform  36 . When it is fully inserted, it is locked in place and is over the phantom area  40 , which is the active area of perforation. The base  42  under the active area is of suitable material to cooperate with a punching stylus, such as a hard rubber mat. 
     Positioning motor  44  is connected to position the front-to-back location of the platform  36 , such as through screw  46 . The perforator  48  is carried on perforater carrier  50 , which is mounted for movement in the X direction on screw  52 . X-motor  54  drives the screw. Perforator  48  may be a mechanical punch with a backup die or with a resilient backup mat. Perforator  48  may be a laser cutter, in which case the backup is open or laser resistant. 
     The positioning of the perforator can be selected to choose a desired pattern of perforations. For example, the buyer of the novelty memorabilia may have a selection of different perforating configurations which form the memorabilia. A selector switch  56  can choose a selected configuration from memory  58 . The memory  58  can be updated from computer  59  which can be remotely programmed. The memory  58  supplies the position information to X-Y actuator  60 , which actually appropriately drives the motors. In the usual system, position correction feedback is also employed. In order to assure that all is in order to begin perforation, a paper money sensor  62  and a coin acceptor output  64  are connected to the actuator  60  so that the system can operate only when these conditions are also met. 
     The buyer of the novelty perforated money places his bill  26  in position and closes the cover  30 . He moves the carrier  24  into position. He selects the perforating configuration and places a coin in the acceptor  28 . It is thus ready for perforation. The perforator carrier  50  moves to position, and its perforator  48  is actuated to perforate a small hole into the bill  26 . Successive repositionings, in accordance with the selected pattern program from memory  58 , of the perforator carrier  50  together with the perforator  48  provide the perforated pattern in the bill, which thereupon serves as memorabilia. When perforating is done, the paper money can be removed from the machine for retention. 
     The perforating machine  10  of FIGS. 1 through 5 is one example of the manner in which the novelty perforations can be accomplished in the paper money to create a memorabilia item. In that example, a single mechanical punch or laser perforator is employed, and the paper money is moved laterally with respect to the perforator for successive perforations. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the perforation is accomplished by a perforator  70  by which a plurality of perforations are accomplished at the same time. A piece of paper money  72  is inserted into carrier  74 . The carrier with the paper money is thrust into the perforator  70 . The perforator comprises three parallel plates. The top plate is pin carrier  76 , which carries a plurality of pins  78  (see FIG.  7 ). The pins are aligned with the holes in die plate  80 . Thus, when the paper money  72  is positioned therebetween, the pin carrier is brought down with respect to the die plate to punch out holes where there are pins  78 . The pins are positioned so as to create a memorabilia image in the money  72 . When the pins are raised out of the paper money  72 , they are withdrawn through stripper plate  82  to pull the punch pins free of the paper money. When the pin carrier  76  is returned to its upper position after the punching, the carrier  74  can be withdrawn and the paper money removed. 
     The memorabilia or perforated novelty has a configuration which corresponds to the number of active punch pins  78 . The pin carrier  76  may be generic and have punch pins inserted only into those holes where punching is desired. On the other hand, for each punching operation, those pins for which punching is required may be individually selected, in accordance with the manner in which the pins are mounted or driven. Perforations may be made in dollar bills and other paper money in selected patterns which create memorabilia. 
     This invention has been described and it is presently contemplated best embodiment, and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.