Apparatus for processing a moving web of material

An apparatus for processing a moving web of material, comprising:

• a drum assembly comprising:
• an outer drum having an axis of rotation,
• a plurality of support members on which cut patches of the moving web of material are supported as the drum rotates together with said support members about said axis, and
• a cam disposed within the outer drum,
• wherein the support members and the cam cooperate with each other as the outer drum rotates relative to the cam to move the support members in an axial direction to alter the spacing between cut web patches on said support members,
• the apparatus further comprising lateral and longitudinal cutting assemblies arranged to cut entirely through the moving web of material to form a series of separate web patches on the outer drum,
• the lateral cutting assembly comprising a lateral cutting drum having a cylindrical periphery and at least one radially extending blade, said lateral cutting drum being located adjacent to the outer drum such that as each drum rotates the radially extending blade cuts the moving web of material against, or on, a laterally extending edge of one of the support members of the outer drum to cut entirely through the moving web of material on the outer drum, and
• the longitudinal cutting assembly comprising a plurality of rotating blades arranged adjacent to each other, each blade acting against an edge of one of the support members of the outer drum to cut entirely through the moving web of material on the outer drum.