Abstract: A paster which serves to apply a film of adhesive material to the underside of a running web of flexible material, such as tipping paper in a filter cigarette maker, has a roller which supplies successive increments of the film to the underside of the running web and cooperates with a biasing device which rides on the web and urges certain portions of the underside of the web against the roller. The length of the area of contact between the biasing device and the upper side of the running web is less than the width of the web. This renders it possible to prevent or to minimize undesirable flow of adhesive laterally beyond the marginal zones of the web as well as into perforations which are customarily provided in webs of tipping paper.