Receiver-puncturing device with translating puncturing devices

Apparatus for selectively puncturing a moving receiver, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of puncturing devices, each comprising two parallel puncturing wheels and a pressure wheel, the puncturing wheels and the pressure wheel arranged so that force can be applied between the puncturing wheels and the pressure wheel to puncture the moving receiver, whereby two puncturing areas and a chad area arranged laterally between the puncturing areas are defined;
• a drive mechanism for rotating the puncturing wheels or pressure wheel of two or more of the plurality of puncturing devices so that the rotating puncturing wheels engage the moving receiver to puncture the moving receiver parallel to its feed direction in the puncturing areas, whereby one or more proto-chads are defined on the moving receiver;
• a transport mechanism for selectively moving the plurality of puncturing devices across the feed direction of the moving receiver along a transport axis;
• and
• a controller for receiving a job specification including two or more specified puncture locations and causing the transport mechanism to laterally position two or more of the plurality of puncturing devices to puncture the moving receiver in the two or more specified puncture locations.