Abstract: A rotary cutter rolls on the surface of a wrapped roll and is moved toward the end of the roll while being biased toward the center of the roll. As the cutter reaches the unsupported end of the wrapper, it penetrates the wrapper, cutting the entire wrapper crimp and heads as a unit from the end of the roll. A core plug removing apparatus uses a spear that is inserted within the core plug and a tab protrudes to engage the inside surface of the core plug. As the spear is removed, the tab forcibly pulls the core plug free of the core of the roll. The entire apparatus can be shifted from a removal station to a discharge station where the heads, wrapper crimp and cut plug are removed to a platen. The platen has a slot with an abutment end. A pusher then pushes the heads and wrapper crimp off the platen while the core plug is trapped by the abutment end and is separated from the heads. The heads are then collected in a separate receptacle from the core plug.