Method and Apparatus for Cutting a Substrate

A method comprising the steps of:

• advancing a substrate in a machine direction to a rotary cutting apparatus, the rotary cutting apparatus comprising a cutting roll and an anvil roll;
• rotating the cutting roll about a first longitudinal axis;
• rotating the anvil roll about a second longitudinal axis adjacent to the cutting roll, wherein the anvil roll is positioned relative to the cutting roll such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with the second longitudinal axis;
• placing the rotary cutting apparatus in a first configuration by moving the second longitudinal axis to a first position;
• cutting the substrate with the rotary cutting apparatus in the first configuration;
• placing the rotary cutting apparatus in a second configuration by moving the second longitudinal axis to a second position;
• and
• advancing the continuous substrate through the rotary cutting apparatus in the second configuration without cutting the continuous substrate.

A method comprising the steps of:

• rotating a cutting roll about a first longitudinal axis;
• rotating an anvil roll about a second longitudinal axis, wherein the anvil roll is positioned relative to the cutting roll such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with the second longitudinal axis, wherein the first longitudinal axis is located a first minimum distance from the second longitudinal axis;
• advancing a continuous substrate in a machine direction between the anvil roll and the cutting roll with the first longitudinal axis located at the first minimum distance from the second longitudinal axis;
• cutting the continuous substrate into discrete components;
• positioning the anvil roll such that the first longitudinal axis is located a second minimum distance from the second longitudinal axis, wherein the second minimum distance is greater than the first minimum distance;
• and
• advancing the continuous substrate in the machine direction between the cutting roll and the anvil roll with the first longitudinal axis located at the second minimum distance from the second longitudinal axis, wherein the continuous substrate is not cut by the cutting roll.