Apparatus for separating a web material

An apparatus for separating a web material at a line of weakness, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a bedroll having a circumference, the bedroll being disposed such that the web material passes around at least a portion of the circumference of the bedroll in a direction of travel, wherein the bedroll is disposed generally transverse to the direction of travel of the web material,
• the bedroll comprising a shell and a bedroll chop off assembly, the bedroll chop off assembly comprising at least one web pin having a distal portion and at least one bedroll blade having a distal portion and a serrated web contacting edge, the bedroll blade being disposed to extend axially along the bedroll in a direction generally transverse to the direction of travel of the web material, wherein the distal portions of the at least one bedroll blade and the at least one web pin are capable of extending beyond the shell of the bedroll,
• first rotating means for rotating the bedroll blade at a first circumferential velocity,
• b) a chop off roll disposed proximate and generally parallel to the bedroll, the chop off roll comprising at least one pin pad capable of circumferentially interfering with the at least one web pin, the chop off roll further comprising at least two chop off roll blades disposed to extend axially along the chop off roll in a direction generally transverse to the direction of travel of the web at a chop off roll blade spacing, the at least two chop off roll blades being capable of rotationally meshing with the at least one bedroll blade,
• second rotating means for rotating the at least two chop off roll blades at a second circumferential velocity, wherein the second circumferential velocity is distinct from the first circumferential velocity, and
• means for synchronizing the rotation of the bedroll blades and the rotation of the at least two chop off roll blades such that the blades rotationally mesh as they pass one another at the distinct velocities.