The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for guiding
continuous materials. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus
comprises first and second conveyors, each comprising a continuous
conveyor belt carried by a set of pulleys including a drive pulley and an
idler pulley. The conveyor belts have opposing inner surfaces that are
oriented to travel substantially parallel to one another to sandwich
continuous materials therebetween. The ratio of the diameters of the
idler pulleys to the drive pulleys is greater than about 8:1. In another
embodiment of the invention, a chopper is provided. The chopper comprises
a cutting roll and a cot member defining a nip region therebetween. The
cutting roll has an axis of rotation that is aligned substantially
parallel to an axis of rotation of a cot member. The small turning radii
permit the conveyor belts to extend within the nip region.