US 12,064,990 B2
Methods and apparatus for applying decorative elements to workpieces
Hannes Kostner, Absam (AT); Claus Haaser, Wattens (AT); Elias Faccinelli, Innsbruck (AT); Franz Kaltenecker, Jenbach (AT); Thomas Boettger, Brandenberg (DE); Franz Schwanniger, Innsbruck (AT); and Herbert Margreiter, Bruck am Ziller (AT)
Assigned to D. Swarovski KG, Wattens (AT)
Appl. No. 17/597,451
Filed by D. Swarovski KG, Wattens (AT)
PCT Filed Jul. 10, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/069678
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/005243, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19185868 (EP), filed on Jul. 11, 2019; application No. 19185873 (EP), filed on Jul. 11, 2019; and application No. 19185878 (EP), filed on Jul. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250407 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. B32B 41/00 (2006.01); A44C 27/00 (2006.01); B44B 9/00 (2006.01); B44C 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC B44B 9/00 (2013.01) [A44C 27/00 (2013.01); B44C 1/18 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus (1) for automatically applying a decorative element (2) to a workpiece (3), wherein the decorative element (2) is a faceted element, a pearl, or a bead, the apparatus comprising:
an element applicator (30) configured to apply the decorative element (2) in an application direction at an application location;
a moveable support (470) for supporting the workpiece (3), the support (470) being moveable by translation and/or rotation along and/or about an axis transverse to the application direction;
a control arrangement configured to:
determine, or receive information relating to, an element location at which the decorative element (2) is to be applied to the workpiece (3);
cause relative translation and/or rotation between the support (470) and the element applicator (30) along and/or about an axis transverse to the application direction to align and/or orient the application location with the element location; and
cause the element applicator (30) to apply the decorative element (2) at the element location of the workpiece (3); and
a workpiece carrier system (11) comprising a plurality of holders (12) each configured to hold a workpiece (3) and a carrier (14) configured to carry the plurality of holders (12),
wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a workpiece presentation area for presenting workpieces (3) on the workpiece carrier system (11) and a working area in which the element applicator (30) applies decorative elements (2) to the workpiece (3),
wherein the moveable support (470) comprises a connecting feature configured to engage with a corresponding or complementary connecting feature of each holder (12) to allow manipulation of each holder (12), and
wherein the moveable support (470) is moveable between the workpiece presentation area and the working area to retrieve a holder (12) holding a workpiece (3) from the carrier (14) of the workpiece carrier system (11) and to transport the workpiece (3) from the workpiece presentation area to the working area.