Paper punches have been in use for over 140 years and are designed to integrate paper sheets into ring-equipped organizers and filing systems by creating holes along the sheet edges. There are office models available for the perforation of 1 to 150 sheets of paper, and industrial models for up to 470 sheets. The widest selection of hole punches for personal organizers is maintained by Dr. Gold of Germany who is credited with creating over 150 configurations.The first patent for this product appears to have been US patent 313027 awarded to Benjamin Smith of Massachusetts in 1885 for his invention of a "Conductor's Punch".