JP5346573B2 - Method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, capable of surely integrating a surface sheet and an absorbent body. <P>SOLUTION: The method includes a process of holding the surface sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5A between an embossing roll 1 and an anvil roll 2, integrating them and forming an embossed groove part 61b. As the embossing roll 1, the one provided with pressurizing members 31a and 31b whose height is lower than a projection part 11b on a position on the front side or rear side in the rotating direction of the roll 1 in the projection part 11b is used. When forming the embossed groove part 61b extending in a roll axial direction, (a) an upper absorbing core 5c is pressurized by the pressurizing member 31a before forming the embossed groove part 61b when the upper absorbing core 5c is positioned more on the front side than the embossed groove part 61b, and (b) the upper absorbing core 5b is pressurized by the pressurizing member 31b after forming the embossed groove part 61b when the upper absorbing core 5b is positioned more on the rear side than the embossed groove part 61b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins.

  Conventionally, in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, in order to improve adhesion to the body and leakage prevention, it is known that the absorbent body protrudes in a convex shape from the central part or from the central part to the buttocks. . It is also known to form a groove formed by compacting the topsheet and the absorber on the skin contact surface side in order to improve leakage prevention and wearability. For example, in Patent Document 1, a medium-high part that is narrower than the absorbent body and protrudes in a convex shape is formed on the skin contact surface side of the absorbent body, and the middle-high part includes a front part and a rear part of the absorbent article. The absorbent article which consists of the front middle-high part and back middle-high part which are provided in the part separately is described. The front middle high part and the rear middle high part are each surrounded by a groove.

  However, the absorbent article described in Patent Document 1, that is, the front middle high part and the rear middle high part are arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and the surface sheet and the absorbent body are consolidated between both middle high parts. In the absorbent article in which the groove formed is formed, in particular, in the groove located between the middle and high portions, the top sheet to be joined and integrated with the absorber that supports the middle and high portions from below is provided. , It tends to float from the surface of the absorber. As a result, the moldability of the groove may be reduced. If the bonding strength is increased too much for the purpose of preventing floating, the surface sheet may be cut off.

  Various measures have been proposed for the formability of the grooves. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a method in which a step is formed on a pressure surface of a pressure roll used for forming a groove to provide a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion, and the groove is formed using the pressure roll. Yes. Patent Document 3 describes a method for defining a difference in size between the existence region of the widthwise embossed groove extending in the width direction of the absorbent article and the size of the existence region of the longitudinal embossing groove extending in the longitudinal direction within a specific range. Yes. However, the methods described in these documents cannot effectively prevent the surface sheet from floating in the groove located between the two middle and high portions disposed at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.

JP 2006-239162 A JP 2000-14701 A JP 2003-265519 A

  Therefore, this invention relates to providing the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent article which can integrate a surface sheet and an absorber reliably.

The present invention supplies an overlapped body of a topsheet and an absorbent body between an embossing roll formed with a protruding portion extending in the axial direction and an anvil roll disposed to face the embossing roll, and the topsheet And a manufacturing method of an absorbent article including a step of forming an embossed groove by integrating the absorber and
The absorber includes a lower step and an upper step protruding from the base surface of the lower step toward the topsheet,
As the embossing roll, the one provided with a pressing member having a height lower than that of the protrusion at the front or rear position of the protrusion in the rotation direction of the roll,
The absorptivity which performs the following operation (a) or (b) when forming the embossed groove portion extending in the roll axial direction by pressing and integrating the top sheet and the lower step portion with the protrusion and the anvil roll. A method for manufacturing an article is provided.
(A) When the upper absorbent core is positioned in front of the embossed groove, the upper absorbent core is pressed together with the topsheet by the pressing member before forming the embossed groove.
(B) When the upper absorbent core is located on the rear side of the embossed groove, the upper absorbent core is pressed together with the topsheet by the pressing member after the embossed groove is formed.

In addition, the present invention provides a suitable apparatus for carrying out the above method,
Between the embossing roll formed with the projecting portion extending in the axial direction and the anvil roll disposed to face the embossing roll, the top sheet protruded from the base surface of the lower step portion and the lower step portion to the top sheet side. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising a step of supplying an overlapped body with an absorbent body including an upper stage portion, and forming an embossed groove portion by integrating the topsheet and the absorbent body,
An absorptive material in which a pressing member having a height lower than that of the protruding portion for pressing the upper step portion is provided at a position on the front side or the rear side in the rotation direction of the roll in the protruding portion of the embossing roll. An apparatus for manufacturing an article is provided.

  In the present invention, since the embossing roll is provided with a pressing member that presses the upper step portion of the absorbent body around the protruding portion, the surface sheet and the lower step portion are integrated by the protruding portion to emboss. When the groove portion is formed, the tension applied to the top sheet by the upper member being compressed and deformed by the pressing member is reduced, and the top sheet and the lower step can be reliably integrated.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. First, the outline of the absorbent article manufactured according to this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a sanitary napkin (hereinafter also referred to as a napkin) which is an example of an absorbent article manufactured using the apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The napkin 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is substantially vertically long, having a top sheet 4 that forms a skin facing surface, a back sheet 9 that forms a non-skin facing surface, and an absorbent body 5 interposed between both sheets 4 and 9. belongs to. The absorbent body 5 has an absorbent core 5A having a two-stage structure having a lower stage and an upper stage. That is, the absorbent core 5A includes a lower absorbent core 5a as a lower step located on the lower side (that is, the back sheet side), and a plurality (two in FIG. 2) as upper steps protruding from the base surface of the lower step to the surface sheet. And the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c. The lower stage part and the upper stage part in the absorbent core 5A may be manufactured integrally with each other, or may be superposed after the lower stage part and the upper stage part are manufactured separately.

  Each of the two upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c is smaller in size than the shape of the lower absorbent core 5a in plan view. The two upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c are arranged in series in the longitudinal direction in the center region in the width direction of the napkin 20 and at intervals. The lower absorbent core 5a and the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c are each wrapped in a base sheet (not shown), or the entire absorbent core 5A composed of the lower absorbent core 5a and the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c is a base. The absorber 5 is formed by being wrapped in a sheet (not shown). Thus, the absorber 5 in this embodiment has two raised parts along the longitudinal direction.

  The napkin 20 has a middle-high portion 50 that protrudes on the skin-facing surface side in the central region in the width direction. The middle / high part 50 includes a front middle / high part 51 and a rear middle / high part 52 which are provided separately. “Front” and “rear” refer to directions positioned on the front side and the rear side of the wearer's body when the napkin 20 is attached.

  The front middle high part 51 and the rear middle high part 52 are arranged in series at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the napkin 20. Both the front middle high portion 51 and the rear middle high portion 52 extend in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 20. Further, both the front middle high portion 51 and the rear middle high portion 52 are narrower than the width of the napkin 20. In the plan view of the napkin 20, both the front middle high part 51 and the rear middle high part 52 are substantially oval. The front middle-high part 51 and the rear middle-high part 52 are each comprised from the upper absorbers 5b and 5c which form the upper stage part of the absorption core 5A mentioned above.

  The napkin 20 has an annular front embossed groove 61 formed so as to surround substantially the entire area of the front middle high portion 51 at the position of the periphery of the front middle high portion 51. The front embossing groove 61 is formed by consolidation of the topsheet 4 and the lower absorbent core 5a by embossing, which will be described later, at the peripheral edge of the upper absorbent core 5b. The front embossed groove portion 61 includes a front groove portion 61a and a rear groove portion 61b located at the front edge portion and the rear edge portion of the front middle high portion 51, respectively, and side groove portions 61c located at the left and right side edge portions of the front middle high portion 51. , 61c. These groove portions are smoothly connected to each other to form a substantially closed shape. Both the front groove portion 61 a and the rear groove portion 61 b extend in the width direction of the napkin 20. The lateral groove 61c extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 20.

  Further, the napkin 20 has a substantially U-shaped rear embossing groove 62 formed so as to surround both side edges and the rear edge of the rear middle high part 52 at the position of the peripheral edge of the rear middle high part 52. . The rear embossing groove 62 is formed by consolidating the topsheet 4 and the lower absorbent core 5a by embossing, which will be described later, at the peripheral edge of the upper absorbent body 5c. The rear embossed groove portion 62 includes a rear groove portion 62b located at the rear edge portion of the rear middle high portion 52 and side groove portions 62c and 62c located at the left and right side edge portions of the rear middle high portion 52. These grooves are smoothly connected to each other. The rear groove 62b extends substantially in the width direction of the napkin 20. The side groove 62c extends in the substantially longitudinal direction of the napkin 20.

  Thus, the napkin 20 has the front groove part 61a, the rear groove part 61b, and the rear groove part 62b which extend in the width direction.

  Further, the napkin 20 also has a rear outer peripheral emboss groove 63 that surrounds the rear emboss groove 62. The rear outer peripheral embossed groove 63 is substantially U-shaped, and its two ends are connected to the front embossed groove 61 described above. Thus, a closed region is formed, and the rear embossed groove 62 exists in the closed region.

  As the surface sheet 4 in the napkin 20, for example, a nonwoven fabric or a perforated film which is a sheet material having liquid permeability can be suitably used. As the back sheet 9, a water-repellent sheet material made of, for example, a liquid-impermeable film or a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven fabric is used. The back sheet 9 may have water vapor permeability. As the base sheet, for example, a fiber sheet having water permeability such as tissue paper and nonwoven fabric can be used. The absorbent core 5A is made of, for example, a mixture of wood pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer particles.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an apparatus suitably used for manufacturing the napkin 20 described above. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG. In FIG. 4, for the sake of simplicity, a pressing member described later is omitted from the drawing. The manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4 has the compression molding mechanism part 3 provided with the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2 arrange | positioned facing this. The embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2 rotate in opposite directions. The absorbent core 5 </ b> A is conveyed while being placed on the base sheet 6. The base sheet 6 is bent by passing through the bending device F, and covers the entire absorbent core 5A to form the absorbent body 5. The absorbent body 5 joins with the top sheet 4 guided and conveyed by the guide roll 7 to form a superposed body C of both. The superposed body C passes between the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2, and the embossed groove portion including the front embossed groove portion 61 is formed on the napkin 20 by the consolidation of the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5. Formed. These embossed grooves are formed in a concave shape from the surface sheet 4 side toward the absorber 5.

  The embossing roll 1 includes an embossing convex portion that is a projection for forming an embossing groove on the napkin 20 on the peripheral surface of the roll 1. The embossing roll 1 has a plurality of embossing protrusions corresponding to each embossing groove in the napkin 20, but for convenience, only a part of the embossing protrusions 1a is shown in FIGS. ing. The embossing convex part 1a shown in these figures is for forming the front embossing groove part 61 in the napkin 20 shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. The embossing convex part 1a has a complementary shape with the front embossing groove part 61. As described above, the front embossed groove 61 is a substantially closed annular shape, and includes a front groove 61a, a rear groove 61b, and side grooves 61c and 61c. Therefore, the embossing convex part 1a which makes a complementary shape with the front embossing groove part 61 is a substantially closed annular shape, and is a front convex part (not shown) and a rear convex part corresponding to the front groove part 61a and the rear groove part 61b. It is comprised from the side convex parts 12a and 12a which are the site | parts corresponding to the part 11b and the side groove part 61c.

  In the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the base sheet 6 is fed out from an original fabric (not shown) of the base sheet 6. The base sheet 6 is a continuous belt-like continuous body. The extended base sheet 6 is guided by the guide roll 8 to change its direction, and the absorbent core 5A is arranged on the one surface at a predetermined interval. As described above, the absorbent core 5A is composed of the lower absorbent core 5a and the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c (see FIG. 2). The absorbent core 5A can be manufactured using a fiber stacker known in the technical field. The absorbent core 5 </ b> A disposed on the base sheet 6 is encased in the base sheet 6 while being conveyed to the base sheet 6. For covering the absorbent core 5 </ b> A with the base sheet 6, for example, a sheet folding device F known in the technical field is used without particular limitation. On the absorbent core 5 </ b> A covered with the base sheet 6, a continuous body of the top sheet 4 is arranged. The continuous body of the surface sheet 4 is drawn out from a raw fabric (not shown) and has a long belt shape like the base sheet 6. The entire absorbent core 5A is not only covered by the base sheet 6, but the lower absorbent core 5a and the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c are separately wrapped by the base sheet 6 to form the absorbent core 5A. May be.

  The long stacked body C having the base sheet 6, the absorbent core 5 and the top sheet 4 passes between the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2, and is embossed to be described later and integrated. To do. In the integrated product C ′ formed between the two rolls 1 and 2, an original fabric made of a continuous body of the back sheet 9 conveyed by the guide roll 10 is arranged on the lower surface side. Then, further processing is performed according to a conventional method in the downstream process, and finally the napkin 20 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured.

  In the present embodiment, the embossing roll is formed so that the surface sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 are reliably joined to each other in the embossing groove of the napkin 20, particularly in the embossing groove located between the front middle high part 51 and the rear middle high part 52. 1 has one of the characteristics in that a specific processing is applied. In detail, as shown in FIG. 5, the embossing roll 1 includes a front side and a rear side in the rotational direction R of the roll 1 in the rear convex part 11 b that is a part extending in the axial direction of the roll 1 among the embossed convex parts 1 a. The first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b are adjacent to the rear protrusion 11b at the side position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the embossing roll 1 viewed from the axial direction. Both the first pressing member 31 a and the second pressing member 31 b are provided along the rear convex portion 11 b and extend in the axial direction of the roll 1. The 1st press member 31a is located in the outer side of the ring in the substantially cyclic | annular embossing convex part 1a, and is arrange | positioned adjacent to the back convex part 11b. On the other hand, the 2nd press member 31b is located in the inside of the ring in the substantially cyclic | annular embossing convex part 1a in the embossing roll 1, and the back convex part which is a site | part extended in the axial direction of the roll 1 among the embossing convex parts 1a. It is arranged adjacent to 11b. The 1st press member 31a is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the site | part near the back groove part 61b among the upper absorption cores 5c. On the other hand, the 2nd press member 31b is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the site | part near the back groove part 61b among the upper absorption cores 5b.

  In each of the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b, the first pressing surface 32a and the second pressing surface 32b, which are surfaces facing the anvil roll 2, are smooth and gently convex curved surfaces. As the shapes of the first pressing surface 32 a and the second pressing surface 32 b in plan view, appropriate shapes are selected according to the shapes of the front embossing groove 61 and the rear embossing groove 62 in the napkin 20. The shape of the first pressing surface 32a and the second pressing surface 32b can be, for example, the shape of the hatched area indicated by reference numerals 32a 'and 32b' shown in FIG. The hatched areas indicated by reference numerals 32a 'and 32b' shown in the figure indicate the parts pressed by the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b in the manufacturing process of the napkin 20.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the top sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 are integrated using the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2. This figure is a cross-sectional view of the rolls 1 and 2 cut along the axial center and viewed from the axial direction. As shown in the figure, the heights of the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b are lower than the height of the rear protrusion 11b with reference to the base surface B of the embossing roll 1. The heights of the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b are the front and rear of the rear groove 61b in a state where the rear groove 11b is formed by consolidation of the topsheet 4 and the absorber 5 by the rear protrusion 11b. The two upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c are positioned so as to be deformed by being pressed by the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b. In a state where the rear groove portion 61b is formed, if the heights of these members 31a and 31b are low enough that the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b do not contact the top sheet 4, a desired effect can be obtained. Not. In order to achieve a desired effect, the difference in height between the first pressing member 31a and the second pressing member 31b and the rear protrusion 11b is 5 to 75% of the thickness of the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c, particularly 10 It is preferable that it is -50%.

  The 1st press member 31a and the 2nd press member 31b are comprised from the material with high rigidity which can make the absorber 5 press-deform. For example, the 1st press member 31a and the 2nd press member 31b may be metal like the embossing convex part 1a. Moreover, since the embossing roll 1 is generally heated and used, from the viewpoint of preventing the absorber 5 from being thermally damaged when the absorber 5 is pressed by these pressing members 31a and 31b, These pressing members 31a and 31b are preferably made of a heat insulating material. As such a material, for example, ceramic or hard rubber having high heat resistance can be used.

  8A to 8E show a process of joining and integrating the top sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 over time.

  In the operation start state of the apparatus, the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2 are heated to a predetermined temperature. Then, when the embossing roll 1 and the anvil roll 2 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, the first pressing member 31 a first absorbs the upper portion via the top sheet 4 as shown in FIG. The core 5c is pressed. By this pressing, the upper absorbent core 5c is deformed and its thickness is reduced. The deformed upper absorbent core 5c has an upper surface inclined toward the end of the core 5c (the end on the upper absorbent core 5b side). And the surface sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 are also inclined along this inclined shape.

  When the rotation of both rolls proceeds, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the first pressing member 31a maintains the state of pressing the upper absorbent core 5c, and at the position between the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c, The top sheet 4 and the lower absorbent core 5a are pressed and consolidated by the rear protrusion 11b and the anvil roll 2. By pressing and heating by this pressing, the top sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 (here, the lower absorbent core 5a and the base sheet 6) are joined and integrated to form the rear groove 61b (see FIG. 1). In this case, the surface sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 are inclined along the inclined shape of the inclined upper absorbent core 5c as described above. Therefore, when the rear groove portion 61b is formed, the surface sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 are formed. The tension applied to the sheet 6 is reduced compared to the case where they are not inclined (that is, when the upper absorbent core 5c is not pressed). Further, since the upper absorbent core 5c crushed by pressing is constrained by the first pressing member 31a so as not to return to its original shape, the top sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 are subjected to reaction force (compression) from the upper absorbent core 5c. (Restoring power) is not received. As a result, it is possible to successfully join and integrate the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 and to form the rear groove 61b resulting therefrom, and to effectively prevent the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 from peeling off.

  When the rotation of both rolls further proceeds, as shown in FIG. 8C, the state in which the first pressing member 31a presses and deforms the upper absorbent core 5c via the top sheet 4 is maintained, and the rear protrusion 11b. The second pressing member 31b presses the upper absorbent core 5b through the surface sheet 4 while maintaining the state in which the lower absorbent core 5a is consolidated through the surface sheet 4. By this pressing, the upper absorbent core 5b is deformed and its thickness is reduced. The deformed upper absorbent core 5b has an upper surface inclined toward the end of the core 5b (the end on the upper absorbent core 5c side).

  As shown in FIG. 8D, when the rotation of both rolls further proceeds, the first pressing member 31a is separated from the top sheet 4, and the pressing state of the upper absorbent core 5c by the member 31a is released. . As a result, the upper absorbent core 5c tries to return to the thickness before the pressing. As a result, the tension of the top sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 located between the two upper absorbent cores 5c slightly increases. However, since the pressing state to the upper absorbent core 5b by the first pressing member 31a is maintained, the tension of the top sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 positioned between the two upper absorbent cores 5c is suddenly increased. It does not rise and remains low. As a result, the joined state between the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 (lower absorbent core 5a) is reliably maintained in the rear groove 61b.

  When the rotation of both rolls further proceeds and the state shown in FIG. 8E is reached, the rear protrusion 11b is separated from the surface sheet 4, and the formation of the rear groove 61b is completed. However, the pressing state to the upper absorbent core 5b by the second pressing member 31b is maintained. Therefore, the tension | tensile_strength of the surface sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 between the back groove part 61b and the upper absorption core 5b is still maintained low. During this time, in the rear groove portion 61b, the top sheet 4 or the like melted by heat is solidified. During the solidification, the pressing state to the upper absorbent core 5b by the second pressing member 31b is maintained. Therefore, the members are firmly fused in the rear groove 61b. Therefore, joining between each member in the back groove part 61b is performed reliably.

  As described above, the rear groove portion 61b of the front embossed groove portion 61 of the napkin 20 is formed. Thereafter, other portions of the front embossed groove 61 are formed according to a conventional method, and other embossed grooves in the napkin 20 are also formed.

  In the above process, it is preferable to form each embossed groove after spraying water on the absorbent core 5A. By spreading the water, the binding force between the wood pulp contained in the absorbent core 5A and the top sheet 4 is increased, and thereby it is possible to more effectively prevent the top sheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 from being separated at each embossed groove. Because it becomes.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, among the annular embossed convex portions 1a of the embossing roll 1, the first pressing member 31a is positioned at the front and rear positions in the rotational direction of the roll 1 in the rear convex portion 11b. And by providing the 2nd press member 31b, the tension | tensile_strength added to the surface sheet 4 and the base sheet 6 can be reduced, and the reaction force resulting from the upper absorption cores 5b and 5c being compressed can be suppressed. Thereby, in the front embossed groove 61 in the napkin 20, the rear groove 61b, which is a part where the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 are easily peeled, can be successfully joined.

  Furthermore, when forming the front groove 61a shown in FIG. 1 or forming the rear embossed groove 62 of the front embossed groove 61 of the napkin 20, the above technique is applied to apply the top sheet 4 and the absorbent body. 5 can be successfully joined. That is, in the formation of the front groove portion 61 a in the front embossed groove portion 61, a front convex portion that is an embossed convex portion for forming the front groove portion 61 a in the embossing roll 1 (not shown, this front convex portion is in the axial direction of the roll 1. The members similar to the pressing members described above may be disposed at the front and rear positions in the rotation direction of the roll 1. Similarly, in the formation of the rear embossed groove 62, the topsheet 4 and the absorbent body 5 are easily peeled at the rear groove 62 b (see FIG. 1) that is a portion extending in the width direction of the napkin 20 in the rear embossed groove 62. Therefore, what is necessary is just to distribute | arrange the member similar to the press member mentioned above in the embossing convex part for forming the back groove part 62b in the embossing roll 1 in the position of the front side of the rotation direction of this roll 1, and a rear side.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment. For example, in the embodiment described above, in forming the rear groove 61b (see FIG. 1) in the front embossed groove 61, the pressing member presses the two upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c of the absorbent core 5A separately. A plurality of the pressing members press both of the two upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c. Instead, the pressing member presses only one of the upper absorbent cores 5b and 5c. Only one may be provided. The same applies to the formation of the front groove 61 a in the front embossed groove 61 and the formation of the rear groove 62 b in the rear embossed groove 62.

Moreover, although the said embodiment is an example of manufacture of the absorbent article provided with the absorber 5 by which two upper absorption cores 5b and 5c were arranged in series at predetermined intervals along the conveyance direction of the absorber 5, The present invention can also be applied to the manufacture of an absorbent article including an absorbent body in which only one upper absorbent core is formed. In this case, the surface sheet and the lower absorbent core are pressed and integrated by a protrusion (embossing protrusion) provided in the circumferential surface of the embossing roll and extending in the axial direction of the roll, and the anvil roll. When the embossed groove extending in the axial direction is formed, the following operation (a) or (b) may be performed.
(A) When an upper absorption core is located in the front side of a roll rotation direction rather than an embossing groove part, before forming an embossing groove part, an upper absorption core is pressed with a surface sheet with a pressing member.
(B) When the upper absorbent core is located behind the embossed groove portion in the roll rotation direction, the upper absorbent core is pressed together with the topsheet by the pressing member after the embossed groove portion is formed.
In the case of (a), a pressing member is provided at a position on the front side in the rotation direction of the roll as seen from the protrusion. In the case of (b), a pressing member is provided at a position on the rear side in the rotation direction of the roll as seen from the protrusion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sanitary napkin as an example of an absorbent article manufactured according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged main part of the compression molding mechanism 3 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part when the embossing roll shown in FIG. 3 is viewed from the axial direction. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the napkin showing a portion pressed by the first pressing member and the second pressing member in the manufacture of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion pressed by the first pressing member and the second pressing member in the manufacture of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the axial direction of the roll. FIGS. 8A to 8E are process diagrams sequentially showing the process of integrating the topsheet and the absorbent body in the manufacture of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Embossing roll 1a Embossing convex part 2 Anvil roll 3 Compression molding mechanism part 4 Top sheet 5 Absorber 5a Lower absorption core 5b, 5c Upper absorption core 6 Base sheet 9 Back sheet 11b Back convex part 20 Sanitary napkin 31a, 31b Press Member 61b Rear groove

Claims (5)

A superposed body of a topsheet and an absorbent is supplied between an embossing roll formed with a protruding portion extending in the axial direction and an anvil roll arranged to face the embossing roll, and the topsheet and the absorbent And a method of manufacturing an absorbent article including a step of forming an embossed groove by integrating
The absorbent body includes a lower step portion and first and second upper step portions protruding from the base surface of the lower step portion toward the topsheet,
The first and second upper stage portions are arranged in series at a predetermined interval along the conveying direction of the absorber,
As said embossing roll, what is provided with the 1st press member and the 2nd press member in which the height is lower than this projection part in the position of the front side and the back side of the rotation direction of this roll in said projection part, respectively Use
As a 1st press member and a 2nd press member, what used the opposing surface with the said anvil roll is a convex curve,
Prior to forming the embossed groove extending in the roll axis direction by pressing and integrating the top sheet and the lower step by the protrusion and the anvil roll, the first upper step is pressed together with the top sheet by the first pressing member. And after forming the said embossing groove part, the manufacturing method of the absorbent article which presses a 2nd upper step part with the said surface sheet with a 2nd press member.   The method for producing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the embossed groove is formed after water is sprayed on the absorbent body.   The manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 1 or 2 which heats the said embossing roll when integrating the said surface sheet and a lower step part. Between the embossing roll formed with the projecting portion extending in the axial direction and the anvil roll disposed to face the embossing roll, the top sheet protruded from the base surface of the lower step portion and the lower step portion to the top sheet side. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising a step of supplying a superposed body with an absorbent body including first and second upper stage portions, and forming an embossed groove portion by integrating the topsheet and the absorbent body. ,
The first and second upper stage portions are arranged in series at a predetermined interval along the conveying direction of the absorber,
A first pressing member having a height lower than that of the protruding portion for pressing the first upper portion at the front and rear positions in the rotation direction of the roll in the protruding portion of the embossing roll , and the second A second pressing member having a height lower than that of the protruding portion for pressing the upper step portion is provided,
The first pressing member and the second pressing member are both absorbent article manufacturing apparatuses in which a surface facing the anvil roll is a convex curved surface.   The said press member is a manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent article of Claim 4 which has heat insulation.

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