Web breaking apparatus

A web offset printing press (10) includes a motor and a gear train (106) for moving a web (14) along a path of movement extending through the press (10). The press (10) further includes an elongated punch member (130), a die member (30), and a pressure cylinder (112) for moving the punch member (130) back and forth between a retracted position and an extended position. The punch member (130) is spaced from the path of movement of the web (14) when in the retracted position, and extends across the path of movement of the web (14) and into an opening (122) in the die member (30) when in the extended position. The punch member (130) is moved from the retracted position to the extended position in response to detection of a fault condition by a web fault detecting assembly (100). The punch member (130) thus punches a hole (150) through the web (14) when a fault condition is detected in the web (14). The hole (150) in the web (14) enables the tension in the web (14) to tear the web (14) into separate sections (160, 162) so that lengthy sections of the web (14) do not become jammed in the press (10) when a fault condition arises.