Web feed apparatus, for example in web printing and folding apparatus, has a pair of opposing rollers, one (28) on a fixed axis and one (22) laterally movable to define an adjustable nip gap between their peripheries. The gap is automatically set and adjusted by a setting screw (4) driven by a servo motor (60) with rotation of the screw monitors by a potentiometer sensor (64). A stop collar (52) on the screw limits axial displacement thereof to determine the set nip gap and a spring (50) urges the rollers towards each other but permits displacement under overload conditions. A rectilinear sensor (54) senses said conditions by monitoring relative displacement of the stop collar and a programmable control system processes signals from the sensors and operates the servo motor accordingly.