Method and apparatus for fixing rigid decorative elements on a substrate, and carrier strip with decorative elements

A method for transferring decorative rigid bodies from a carrier strip onto a substrate, which comprises the steps of:

• moving a decorative rigid body accommodated by the carrier strip into a transfer position;
• exerting a force onto the decorative rigid body so as to expel the decorative rigid body from the carrier strip;
• bringing an engagement feature of a tractor mechanism into engagement with a corresponding feature of the carrier strip;
• and
• urging the carrier strip forward by means of the tractor mechanism so as to move a next decorative rigid body accommodated by the carrier strip into the transfer position, wherein a motion of the tractor mechanism is reciprocating.

A process of applying decorative rigid bodies accommodated in a carrier strip onto a substrate, which comprises the steps of:

• moving a decorative rigid body accommodated by the carrier strip into a transfer position;
• exerting a force onto the decorative rigid body so as to expel the decorative rigid body from the carrier strip and accomplishing a transfer of the decorative rigid body by a piston acting upon individual ones of the decorative bodies when in the transfer position;
• bringing an engagement feature of a tractor mechanism into engagement with a corresponding feature of the carrier strip;
• and
• urging the carrier strip forward by means of the tractor mechanism so as to move a next decorative rigid body accommodated by the carrier strip into the transfer position, wherein a motion of the tractor mechanism is reciprocating, wherein when the piston moves towards the decorative rigid body, to be transferred next, the carrier strip is held in place, and when the piston is retracted after the transfer has been accomplished, the carrier strip is moved to a position where the piston has access to the decorative rigid body next transferred.

A process of applying decorative rigid bodies accommodated in an upside-down orientation in a carrier strip onto a substrate, which comprises the steps of:

• providing the decorative rigid bodies with a hot-melt adhesive provided on upper sides;
• positioning the carrier strip above an intermediate sheet;
• forcing out individual ones or groups of the decorative rigid bodies of the carrier strip;
• bringing the decorative rigid bodies into contact with the intermediate sheet to adhere to the intermediate sheet and to be released from the carrier strip;
• positioning the intermediate sheet with the decorative rigid bodies attached thereto on the substrate;
• and
• applying at least one of heat or pressure to a surface of the intermediate sheet facing away from the substrate in order to melt the hot-melt adhesive, thereby adhering the decorative rigid bodies to the surface of the substrate upon cooling of the hot-melt adhesive.