Patent ID: 8220375

Claim:
Apparatus for forming perforations in a wrapping film, the apparatus comprising a free-wheeling support bar for contacting a driven roller effectuating the unrolling of film stock across a pliable surface thereof, wherein the free-wheeling support bar counter-rotates with respect to the rotation of the driven roller; a plurality of needle points disposed in a predetermined pattern around the circumference of the free-wheeling support bar such that as the free-wheeling support bar counter-rotates against the driven roller the plurality of needle points pierce through the wrapping film into the pliable surface of the driven roller, creating perforations in the wrapping film; and a perforation member disposed along a central portion of the free-wheeling support bar, the perforation member comprising a plurality of separate rings, each ring including a predetermined number of needle points removably attached to the outer surface thereof, with a plurality of locking elements associated with the needle points in a one-to-one relationship, each locking element for separately holding its associated needle point in place along the outer surface of the perforation member, and each ring including a top member and a bottom member, with the predetermined number of needles disposed therebetween in a manner such that the needle points extend beyond the outer periphery of the ring, with each needle being L-shaped and the bottom member of each ring including a plurality of apertures, each aperture for receiving a leg of each L-shaped needle and holding the needle in place when the top and bottom members are joined together.