Apparatus for placing particles in a pattern onto a substrate

An apparatus comprising:

• a) a rotary screen comprising a side wall defining an interior chamber, the side wall having a plurality of perforations for passing decorative components;
• b) a blade extending proximate the rotary screen for directing the decorative components to pass through the perforations in the side wall of the rotary screen;
• c) a sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the rotary screen so as to receive and deliver the decorative components to the rotary screen substantially along the blade;
• d) a feeder system disposed within and extending substantially through the interior chamber of the rotary screen for distributing the decorative components substantially across the rotary screen, wherein the feeder system comprises (i) a feed pipe having at least one opening, (ii) a worm gear disposed within and extending substantially along the feed pipe and (iii) a plurality of brush elements disposed along the worm gear;
• and
• e) a frame, the feed pipe being adjustably mounted to the frame.

An apparatus comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) a rotary screen comprising a side wall defining an interior chamber, the side wall having a plurality of perforations for passing decorative components, the screen being mounted to the frame;
• and
• c) a flexible sheet disposed within the rotary screen so as to receive decorative components on a side of the sheet opposite the side wall and deliver the decorative components to the rotary screen, the sheet comprising a distal end portion which contacts the side wall and a proximal end portion mounted spaced from the side wall.

An apparatus comprising:

• a) a rotary screen comprising a side wall defining an interior chamber, the side wall having a plurality of perforations for passing decorative components;
• b) a blade extending proximate the rotary screen for directing the decorative components to pass through the perforations in the side wall;
• and
• c) a decorative component removal system disposed within the interior chamber of the rotary screen wherein the decorative component removal system comprises a manifold operably connected to a vacuum source comprising at least one opening for drawing decorative components into the manifold.

An apparatus comprising:

• a) a rotary screen comprising a side wall defining an interior chamber, the side wall having a plurality of perforations for passing decorative components;
• b) a blade extending proximate the rotary screen for directing the decorative components to pass through the perforations in the side wall of the rotary screen;
• and
• c) a sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the rotary screen so as to receive and deliver the decorative components to the rotary screen substantially along the blade, wherein the sheet is flexible and is mounted to a mounting device, the mounting device being horizontally and vertically adjustable.

An apparatus comprising:

• a) a rotary screen comprising a side wall defining an interior chamber, the side wall having a plurality of perforations for passing decorative components;
• b) a blade extending proximate the rotary screen for directing the decorative components to pass through the perforations in the rotary screen;
• c) an adjusting mechanism attached to the blade;
• and
• d) a frame,
• wherein the rotary screen and blade are mounted to the frame in such a manner that the blade is positioned within the interior chamber of the rotary screen so as to deliver decorative components through the perforations in the rotary screen, and
• wherein the adjusting mechanism permits the blade to pivot about a point off center of the rotary screen, whereby the blade moves into and out of engagement with the side wall.