Method and apparatus for trimming material from a web

A method of manufacturing an elasticised web in a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, the elasticised web having discrete elastic portions separated from one another in a machine or longitudinal direction of the elasticised web, the method of manufacturing the elasticised web comprising:

• feeding a first web supported on a support surface in a machine direction;
• partly attaching an elastic layer to the first web so as to define an undulating path along the first web in the machine direction;
• grasping an unattached portion of the elastic layer;
• holding the unattached portion elevated from the support surface;
• and
• trimming the unattached portion of the elastic layer while it is grasped, elevated and moving in the machine direction with the first web using a knife blade that protrudes through the thickness of the elevated portion of the layer toward the support surface yet spaced from the support surface to thereby cut the elastic layer into discrete portions separated from one another in the machine direction.

An apparatus for trimming material from a web, the apparatus comprising:

• a moving support surface for feeding the web held thereagainst in a machine direction;
• an elevation element for contacting and elevating material attached to or part of the web from the support surface;
• and
• a knife blade positioned to protrude through the thickness of the elevated material as it is held in the elevated position by the elevation element and yet be spaced from the support surface to thereby trim material from the web.