Apparatus and method for slitting a sheet of web material

An apparatus for slitting a sheet of web material, comprising:

• a frame;
• at least one first circular blade member fixedly arranged on a corresponding at least one first blade carrier supported on a first shaft in the frame;
• at least one second circular blade member arranged on a corresponding at least one second circular blade carrier supported on a second shaft in said frame for axial engaging movements with said at least one first circular blade member, said at least one second circular blade member being biased by a circular elastomeric biasing member having an elastic modulus bonded to a material layer having a higher elastic modulus to restrain movement of said elastomeric biasing member radially away from said second circular blade member, said high modulus material layer being seated in a recess formed in said at least one second blade carrier so that a portion of said elastomeric biasing member protrudes axially from said recess towards an inactive face of said at least one second blade member for continuous biasing contact with said inactive face of said at least one second blade member;
• and,
• means for urging the at least one second blade member into axial engagement with said at least one first blade member for slitting said web such that a spring force profile of the elastomeric binding member is generally linear about a circumference of the elastomeric biasing member.