A splicing apparatus for replacing an expiring web from an expiring roll of web material with a replenishing web from a replenishing roll of web material, said apparatus comprising: first and second platens (4401, 4402) disposed in a spaced manner from one another so as to define a passageway between the first and second platens, wherein said expiring web is directed between said platens through said passageway, and wherein said platens are adapted for displacement toward and away from one another in a reciprocating manner (4414, 4415); an adhesive member attached to the replenishing web in facing relation to said second platen, wherein said adhesive member is adapted to engage and attach said replenishing web to said expiring web; a die member having a cutting portion and a clamping portion; retaining means attached to said first platen for initially attaching said die member to said first platen in a releasable manner while clamping said replenishing web to said first platen with the clamping portion of said die member; and a pad member disposed on said second platen in facing relation to said first platen and adapted to engage and urge toward said first platen the expiring web transitting the passageway between the platens when said platens are displaced toward one another so that a first surface of said expiring web is placed in intimate contact with said pad member and a second opposed surface of said expiring web is placed in contact with said adhesive member and said die member's cutting edge so as to sever said expiring web and attach said expiring web's outfeeding end to the replenishing web via said adhesive member in splicing the expiring and replenishing webs together, and wherein said retaining means releases said die member from said first platen thereby freeing said replenishing web from said first platen and attaches said die member to said second platen for engaging and clamping a severed infeeding end of said expiring web to said second platen. first and second platens (4401, 4402) disposed in a spaced manner from one another so as to define a passageway between the first and second platens, wherein said expiring web is directed between said platens through said passageway, and wherein said platens are adapted for displacement toward and away from one another in a reciprocating manner (4414, 4415); an adhesive member attached to the replenishing web in facing relation to said second platen, wherein said adhesive member is adapted to engage and attach said replenishing web to said expiring web; a die member having a cutting portion and a clamping portion; retaining means attached to said first platen for initially attaching said die member to said first platen in a releasable manner while clamping said replenishing web to said first platen with the clamping portion of said die member; and a pad member disposed on said second platen in facing relation to said first platen and adapted to engage and urge toward said first platen the expiring web transitting the passageway between the platens when said platens are displaced toward one another so that a first surface of said expiring web is placed in intimate contact with said pad member and a second opposed surface of said expiring web is placed in contact with said adhesive member and said die member's cutting edge so as to sever said expiring web and attach said expiring web's outfeeding end to the replenishing web via said adhesive member in splicing the expiring and replenishing webs together, and