Die cutter blanket

A die cutter blanket for use with an annular anvil having an axially extending channel of a given transverse width dimension in the surface thereof comprising:

• a plastic sheet member having an outer work surface and opposing longitudinal edges forming a first layer exhibiting edge curl at the longitudinal edges and having first and second ends terminating in first and second transverse edges;
• a second layer of different plastic sheet material than the first layer having a different greater rate of shrinkage during curing than the first layer and molded to the first layer to minimize the edge curl during the curing of the second layer;
• interengaging interdigitating locking fingers molded one piece monolithic and integral with at least one of the first and second layers at the ends of the first and second layers for securing the ends together and for securing the sheet members to the anvil, the locking fingers being located spaced from the outer work surface, the interdigitating configuration of the fingers being arranged to lock the fingers to each other.

A die cutter blanket for use with an annular rotating anvil having an axially extending channel of a given transverse width dimension in the surface thereof comprising:

• a first plastic outer sheet member having first and second ends, the outer sheet member for wrapping about the anvil and having an outer peripheral work surface defined by a longitudinal edge which extends about the anvil during the wrapping and a transverse linear edge at each of said first and second ends, the outer sheet member having an inner surface;
• a second plastic inner sheet member having first and second ends, the second inner sheet member being attached to the inner surface of the outer sheet member for reinforcing and supporting the outer sheet member on the anvil during die cutting a product on said outer peripheral work surface, the second sheet member being formed of a harder plastic material than said outer sheet member, and
• a female locking element depending from one of the first and second ends of said second sheet member and a male locking element depending from the other of said first and second ends of said second sheet member, the male and female elements being molded one piece monolithic with the second sheet member and spaced from the outer peripheral work surface for interdigitated interlocking engagement and for securing the blanket to the anvil channel.