Air distribution assembly and rotary cutting apparatus provided with such an air distribution assembly

A rotary cutting apparatus comprising:

• a rotary anvil;
• and
• a rotary cutter disposed opposite the anvil and including a hollow rotary mantle having at least one cutting member on a cylindrical outer periphery thereof, through-holes extending generally radially through the mantle;
• and an air distribution mechanism comprising:
• a first air distribution part affixed to the mandrel coaxially therein for rotation therewith, and
• a second air distribution part arranged inside said first air distribution part, wherein the first distribution part is rotatable relative to the second distribution part,
• wherein the first and second air distribution parts define air passages for communicating selective ones of the through-holes of the mantle with an air source in response to relative rotation between the first and second distribution parts.