Revolving transfer roll

An apparatus for applying to a sheet of a first material, continuously moving in a first direction, at least one discrete length of a second material, comprising:

• a revolvable roll;
• feeding means for feeding at least one continuous ribbon of said second material into circumferential engagement with said revolvable roll;
• cutting means, with at least one cutting blade, for cutting said continuous ribbon into said at least one discrete length while said ribbon is in engagement with said revolvable roll;
• at least one rotatable platen means, disposed on and perpendicularly movable with respect to the plane of rotation, and revolvable with, said revolvable roll, for rotating said at least one discrete length from a first position to a second position;
• first drive means, disposed within, and revolvable with, said revolvable roll;
• a cutting surface, strikable by said cutting means with a force sufficient to cut said ribbon, disposed on, and rotatable with, said rotatable platen means;
• means for transferring drive from said first drive means to said rotatable platen means in a plane parallel to the plane of said cutting surface;
• and
• application means for transferring said at least one discrete length from said revolving roll to said sheet whereby said cutting force is not transmitted to said first drive means.