Rotary die cutter

A rotary die cutting apparatus, comprising a rotatably mounted plate cylinder having die cutting means thereon, said die cutting means comprising a die cutting pattern including cutting edges lying both parallel and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said plate cylinder, a rotatably mounted cooperating anvil cylinder spaced from said plate cylinder, contacting bearer plates on said cylinders for maintaining said cylinders a fixed distance apart during rotation of said cylinders about their respective longitudinal axes, an anvil plate of substantially uniform thickness removably secured along the periphery of said anvil cylinder and disposed adjacent said pattern, the clearance between said anvil plate and said die cutting means being determined by the thickness of said anvil plate, whereby an interference fit as well as a gap may be provided as said clearance depending on the thickness of said anvil plate for respectively effecting a clear-through die cut and a partial die cut of at least one web arranged for movement between said cylinders, and whereby any contact between said die cutting means and said anvil cylinder is avoided by means of said anvil plate.