The separator production method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a coated article winding off step of winding off, from a core, a separator original sheet which has been taken up in a coated article taking up step of winding the separator original sheet on an outer peripheral surface of the core while oscillating the core in a rotation axis direction, and the core is oscillated in the rotation axis direction in the coated article winding off step.

An apparatus (1) for controlling the unwinding of a web (2) wound on a core is disclosed. The apparatus (1) includes a turnbar (10), an actuator (20), a sensor (30), and a controller (70). The turnbar (10) includes a target location to receive the web (2). The actuator (20) is coupled to the turnbar (10) and includes an axis of movement (29). The sensor (30) measures transverse placement of the web (2) relative to the target location and transmits an input signal to the controller (70) when transverse placement of the web (2) differs from the target location. The controller (70) provides an output signal to the actuator (20 to move the turnbar (10) along the axis of movement (29) such that the web (2) maintains substantial alignment with the target location.