JP6431412B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, pan liners and the like.

For example, urine is often urinated repeatedly while wearing an incontinence pad, which is an example of an absorbent article. Therefore, if the surface sheet that forms the skin facing surface is composed of fibers or sheets that have been hydrophilized with a hydrophilic oil agent, the hydrophilicity decreases due to repeated urination, and urine flows on the surface of the surface sheet. Side leakage is likely to occur.
As a technique for preventing side leakage, a technique is known in which openings are provided in the surface sheet on both sides of the absorbent article, and the liquid that has flowed through the surface is absorbed by the partially exposed absorber (Patent Document 1). reference).
In addition, as another side leakage prevention technique, a technique (see Patent Document 2) for forming raised portions protruding on the skin side of the wearer on both sides of the absorbent core, and a large amount of water-absorbing polymer are locally disposed. A technique for forming a region along the longitudinal direction of an absorbent core (see Patent Documents 3 to 5) is also known.

JP 2009-82358 A Special table 2003-523780 gazette Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-045556 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-0119127 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-283369

In the technique of Patent Document 1, when the liquid diffuses in the absorbent core and reaches the portion having the opening of the surface sheet, the absorption of the liquid through the opening is suppressed, so that side leakage is likely to occur. Become. Since the absorbent core has the same configuration in the width direction except that the absorbent core has a raised portion, the technique of Patent Document 2 may cause a lateral leakage when the liquid gets over the raised portion or diffuses in the absorbent core. There is.
In the technique of Patent Document 3, since the region where a large amount of the water-absorbing polymer is locally disposed is only in a part of the thickness direction of the absorbent core, the liquid moves laterally through the region. It is easy and it cannot be said that side leakage suppression is sufficient. In Patent Documents 4 and 5, the region where a large amount of the water-absorbing polymer is arranged is located at the end in the width direction of the absorbent core. Will result.

  Therefore, the subject of this invention is providing the absorbent article excellent in the side-leakage suppression effect.

  The present invention is an absorbent article comprising a skin facing surface, a non-skin facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between both surfaces, the absorbent core comprising a fiber material and a water absorbent polymer, and worn A long region in the direction along the front-rear direction of the person, and in the width direction, a central region, a pair of intermediate regions located on both sides of the central region, and side portions located further outside each of the pair of intermediate regions The intermediate region is a portion having a raised portion protruding from the upper surface of each of the central region and the side region on the skin facing surface side, and the fiber density of the intermediate region is the central region The intermediate region extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core, and has a high polymer region in which a part of the water-absorbing polymer is locally present in a part of the width direction. In the high polymer region, the water-absorbing polymer absorbs the absorption. Over the entire core in the thickness direction are present, it is to provide an absorbent article.

  According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the liquid flow beyond the high polymer region is effectively suppressed, and an excellent side leakage suppressing effect is obtained.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken plan view showing an incontinence pad according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.2 (a) is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1, FIG.2 (b) is an absorptive core which shows the cross section of the absorptive core extracted from the cross section of the incontinence pad shown to Fig.2 (a). FIG. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are explanatory diagrams of the function and effect of the present invention. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are explanatory views of a preferred method for manufacturing the absorbent core of the incontinence pad shown in FIG.

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
An incontinence pad 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as incontinence pad 1) as an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention includes a skin facing surface P, a non-skin facing surface Q, and these as shown in FIG. An absorptive core 41 is provided between both surfaces P and Q. The absorbent core 41 forms the absorbent body 4 together with the core wrap sheet 49 that wraps the absorbent core 41.
More specifically, the incontinence pad 1 forms a surface sheet 2 that forms a skin facing surface P that faces the wearer's skin when worn, and a non-skin facing surface Q that faces the clothing side such as shorts when worn. A back sheet 3 and an absorbent body 4 disposed between the two sheets 2 and 3 are provided, and a part of the absorbent body 4 is an absorbent core 41. The absorbent body 4 may not have the core wrap sheet 49, and in that case, the absorbent core 41 itself becomes the absorbent body 4. The non-skin facing surface Q of the incontinence pad 1 is provided with an adhesive portion (not shown) for fixing the incontinence pad 1 to the inner surface of clothing such as shorts.

  As the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, those similar to those conventionally used in the technical field can be used without particular limitation. For example, as the top sheet 2, a single layer or multilayer nonwoven fabric having a liquid permeability, a perforated film, or the like can be used. As the back sheet 3, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent resin film, a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used. Moreover, a water-repellent nonwoven fabric having a high water pressure resistance such as a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminated nonwoven fabric can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the incontinence pad 1 has a long shape in a direction along the wearer's front-rear direction, and the absorbent body 4 and the absorbent core 41 correspond to the incontinence pad 1 along the wearer's front-rear direction. It has a long shape in the longitudinal direction X. The top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 are joined to each other at the peripheral edge 11 of the incontinence pad 1 at portions extending outward from the peripheral edge of the absorbent body 4. For this joining, a known joining method such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, high-frequency sealing, or adhesion using an adhesive can be used. Moreover, it is preferable that the surface sheet 2 and the absorber 4 and the absorber 4 and the back surface sheet 3 are also joined to each other by a pattern-coated adhesive such as dots, spirals, and stripes.

The absorbent core 41 in the incontinence pad 1 includes a fiber material and a water-absorbing polymer.
As the fiber material, various materials conventionally used for absorbent bodies of absorbent articles such as incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers and the like can be used without particular limitation, and pulp fibers are preferable. Examples of the pulp fiber include wood pulp such as softwood kraft pulp and hardwood kraft pulp, and natural cellulose fiber such as non-wood pulp such as cotton pulp and straw pulp. Moreover, the modified pulp etc. which are obtained by chemically processing natural fiber natural fibers, such as crosslinked pulp, may be contained. These pulp fibers can be used individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types. The fibrous material does not include fibrous materials made of fibrous water-absorbing polymers or inorganic materials. Moreover, the absorptive core may contain the fiber and synthetic fiber which consist of synthetic fibers, such as polyolefin, in addition to a pulp fiber. Moreover, it is preferable that the ratio of the pulp fiber in a fiber material is 90-100 mass%, More preferably, it is 95-100 mass%, More preferably, it is 100 mass%. Moreover, you may mix | blend a deodorizer, an antibacterial agent, etc. with an absorptive core other than a fiber material and a water absorbing polymer as needed.

As the water-absorbing polymer, various kinds of conventionally used absorbent bodies for absorbent articles such as incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers and the like can be used without particular limitation. For example, polyacrylic acid soda, ( (Acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymer, crosslinked polyacrylic acid soda, (starch-acrylic acid) graft polymer, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymer and saponified product thereof, potassium polyacrylate, and polyacrylic Cesium acid etc. are mentioned, These 1 type can be used individually or in mixture of 2 or more types. As the water-absorbing polymer, particles are usually used, but fibers may be used. The particulate water-absorbing polymer includes an amorphous type, a block type, a bowl type, a spherical particle agglomeration type, a spherical type and the like due to the difference in shape, and any type can be used.
The water-absorbing polymer is preferably capable of holding 15 times or more of its own weight, more preferably 20 times or more of its own weight, and even more preferably 30 times or more of its own weight.

  The core wrap sheet 49 is used for the purpose of preventing leakage of the forming material of the absorbent core 41 or improving the shape retention of the absorbent core 41. As the core wrap sheet 49, a water-permeable sheet material made of a fiber material, for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like is used. The core wrap sheet may cover the entire absorbent core 41 with a single sheet, or may cover the entire absorbent core 41 by combining two or more sheets. For example, the sheet that covers the skin facing surface P side of the absorbent core 41 and the sheet that covers the non-skin facing surface Q side may be separate sheets. The thickness may be the same or different.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the absorbent core 41 in the incontinence pad 1 has a central region 42, a pair of intermediate regions 43 located on both sides of the central region 42, and a pair of intermediate regions in the width direction Y. 43 has a side region 44 located further outside. The side regions 44 in the incontinence pad 1 are formed at both ends in the width direction Y of the absorbent core 41.
The intermediate region 43 is a portion having a protruding portion 43u protruding from the upper surfaces 42u and 44u of the central region 42 and the side region 44 on the skin facing surface P side which is the upper side in FIG.
Further, the fiber density of the intermediate region 43 is lower than the fiber density of the central region 42 and the side region 44 located on both sides of the intermediate region 43.

The fiber density is the mass (g) of the fiber material contained in the unit volume (cm ³ ) of the absorbent core, and the fiber densities of the central region 42, the intermediate region 43, and the side regions 44 are preferably It is measured by the following method.
[Measurement method of fiber density]
The fiber density is measured in accordance with JIS K 7223 (1996), which is used for measuring the centrifugal retention amount (water absorption amount). Specifically, the measurement is performed according to the following procedures (1) to (4).
(1) Nylon woven fabric (manufactured by Sanriki Manufacturing Co., Ltd., product name: nylon net, standard: 250 mesh) is cut into a rectangle with a width of 10 cm and a length of 40 cm, and folded in half at the center in the longitudinal direction. Both ends of this are heat-sealed to produce a nylon bag having a width of 10 cm (inner dimension: 9 cm) and a length of 20 cm.
(2) 1.00 g of each of the fiber material and the absorbent polymer itself and the absorbent core itself are weighed from the absorbent core, and each of them is placed uniformly in the bottom of the produced nylon bag. Measure the volume of the absorbent core only before putting it in. The sample of an absorptive core cuts out the range over the whole region of the thickness direction of an absorptive core. The volume of the absorbent core was measured by measuring the thickness of the absorbent core under a load of 1 kPa by placing a plate on the absorbent body including the core wrap sheet. It is calculated by multiplying the area of the absorber that becomes 00 g. The intermediate region 43 has a high polymer region 43a, and the fiber density of the intermediate region 43 is measured for portions other than the high polymer region 43a.

(3) The nylon bag containing the sample is immersed in a physiological saline (0.9 mass% sodium chloride aqueous solution) adjusted to 25 ° C., and the nylon bag is taken out of the physiological saline one hour after the start of the immersion, for one hour. After hanging in a vertical state and draining, it is dehydrated using a centrifugal dehydrator (Kokusan Co., Ltd., model H-130C special model). The dehydration condition is 143 G (800 rpm) for 10 minutes.
(4) After dehydration, the mass of each sample of the fiber material, the water absorbent polymer and the absorbent core is measured, and the relationship between the mass of each sample of the fiber material, the water absorbent polymer and the absorbent core before and after soaking From this, the content of the fiber material is calculated.
Then, the fiber density is calculated from the calculated content of the fiber material and the volume of the absorbent core measured before dipping. The following describes how to establish simultaneous equations for calculating the content of the fiber material contained in 1.00 g of the absorbent core.
x + y = 1.00
ax + by = Z
(However, a is a constant indicating how many times the amount of 1.00 g of fiber material has increased when the amount of fiber retained is measured when only the fiber material is measured. A constant indicating how many times the 1.00 g of the water-absorbing polymer has increased, Z represents the value of the 1.00 g centrifugal retention amount of the absorbent core, and x and y represent 1.00 g of the absorbent core sample. Represents the mass of each of the fiber material and water-absorbing polymer contained.)
Measurement of the fiber density for each of the central region 42, the intermediate region 43 and the side region 44 by the above-described method is performed five times for each part (n = 5). The value of each one point is deleted, and the average value of the remaining three points is taken as the measured value. The five measurements may be performed using a plurality of absorbent articles, for example, five absorbent articles.
In addition, the measurement of the mass of each sample before immersion is performed at a temperature of 23 ± 2 ° C. and a humidity of 50 ± 5%, and the measurement is performed after storing the sample in the same environment for 24 hours or more.

Moreover, the intermediate | middle area | region 43 is extended in the longitudinal direction X of the absorptive core 41, as shown in FIG. The central region 42 and the side regions 44 located on both sides of the intermediate region 43 also extend along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent core 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the intermediate region 43 has a high polymer region 43a in which a large amount of water-absorbing polymer is locally present in a part of its width direction. The water-absorbing polymer is present throughout the thickness direction Z of the absorbent core 41.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the incontinence pad 1 has a wearable core 41 having two raised portions 43u and 43u. It has the protruding part 12 which protrudes toward the skin side.

The incontinence pad 1 of the present embodiment can be used by being placed on the inner surface of a crotch portion of clothing such as shorts in the same manner as a conventional incontinence pad.
According to the incontinence pad 1, as shown in FIG. 3A, the liquid N urinated on the central area 42 passes through the top sheet 2 and passes through the central area 42 until the amount of urination reaches a certain amount. Absorbed in. Then, when the total amount of urination exceeds a certain level with respect to the absorption capacity of the central region 42, the liquid N urinated on the central region 42 is expanded in the width direction of the absorbent core 41 as shown in FIG. The intermediate region 43 having a relatively low fiber density forms ridges 43u on both sides of the central region 42. The portion 43u is in contact with or close to the portion 43u, so that the liquid is easily drawn into the central region 42, and a step d produced near the boundary between the central region 42 and the raised portion 43u (see FIG. 2 (a)). Since this also functions as a leak-proof wall, the liquid flowing on the top sheet 2 is efficiently absorbed into the intermediate region 43.
In addition, the incontinence pad 1 has a high polymer region 43a over the entire region in the thickness direction of the absorbent core 41 in the intermediate region 43 forming the raised portion 43u, and the water-absorbing polymer in the region 43a swells. In order to suppress the diffusion of the liquid to the outside of the high polymer region 43a, the absorption capacity inside the high polymer region 43a is sufficiently used without waste.
When the absorption capacity inside the high polymer region 43a approaches saturation, as shown in FIG. 3C, the liquid easily flows out over the high polymer region 43a. Since the region 44 exists, unlike the case where the high polymer region 43 a is provided at the end of the absorbent core 41, liquid leakage hardly occurs in that case.
Thus, according to the incontinence pad 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid flow beyond the high polymer region is effectively suppressed, and an excellent side leakage suppression effect is obtained.
Such an effect is also exerted when the fiber density of the intermediate region 43 is not lower than the fiber density of the side region 44 located outside the intermediate region 43. If it is lower than each of the central region 33 and the side region 44 located on both sides, the liquid is more easily drawn into the absorbent body by the capillary force, so that the side leakage suppressing effect is further improved.

The intermediate region 43 in the incontinence pad 1 of the present embodiment has a low density lower than that of the central region 42 and the side region 44 on both sides of the high polymer region 43a, as shown in FIG. 2 (b). It has areas 43b and 43c. The above-described effect is also exhibited when the intermediate region 43 has such a low-density region (43b or 43c) on only one of the two sides sandwiching the high polymer region. It is preferable to have a low density region 43b inside the polymer region 43a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the low density regions 43b and 43c are provided on both sides of the high polymer region 43a as in the present embodiment, the liquid flows out over the high polymer region 43a. Sometimes, the liquid is effectively sucked into the low density region 43c and the side region 44 through the low density region 43c outside the high polymer region 43a, and further lateral leakage occurs through the surface of the topsheet 2 It is preferable because it becomes difficult.

As for the absorptive core 41 in the incontinence pad 1 of this embodiment, the fiber density of the side part area 44 is higher than the fiber density of the center area 42. In the present invention, the fiber density of the side region 44 may be the same as the fiber density of the central region 42, or the fiber density of the side region 44 may be lower than the fiber density of the central region 42. As in the present embodiment, the fiber density of the side area 44 is made higher than the fiber density of the central area 42, the side area 44 is higher than the central area 42, and the central area 42 is higher than the intermediate area 43. As a result, the deviation of the absorbent body 4 can be concentrated in the central area 42 to reduce the deviation of the side area 44, and the liquid can be easily drawn into the central area 42, thereby effectively suppressing the lateral leakage of the liquid. Can do.
The ratio of the fiber density in the side area 44 to the fiber density in the central area 42 (the former / the latter) is preferably 3 or less, more preferably 2 or less, and preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1. 5 or more, preferably 1.1 or more and 3 or less, more preferably 1.5 or more and 2 or less.

As shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent core 41 in the incontinence pad 1 has a front end edge 41 a (one end edge) and a rear end edge 41 b (the other end edge) extending generally along the width direction Y at both ends in the longitudinal direction X. And has a pair of side edges 41 s and 41 s extending substantially along the longitudinal direction X at both ends in the width direction Y. In the absorbent core 41 of the incontinence pad 1, the front end edge 41 a and the rear end edge 41 b have a curved shape that is convexly curved outward.
As shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent core 41 in the incontinence pad 1 has a raised portion 43u and a high polymer region 43a from the front edge 41a (one edge) to the rear edge 41b located at both ends in the longitudinal direction X, respectively. (The other end edge).

It is from the central region to the side region in the entire region in the longitudinal direction that the ridge 43u and the high polymer region 43a, particularly the high polymer region 43a, extend from one end edge to the other end edge in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent core 41. From the viewpoint of suppressing the diffusion of the liquid.
However, in the present invention, it is not essential that the raised portions 43u and the high polymer regions 43a are formed over the entire length of the absorbent core 41. For example, the intermediate region 43 having the high polymer region 43a and the central region 42 and the side region 44 located on both sides of the intermediate region 43 are only the excretory part facing part C where the wearer's liquid excretion part is arranged in the widthwise central part when worn. May be formed from the excretory part facing part C to any one of the front part A and the rear part B, or a part of the front part A to a part of the rear part B It may be formed over.

  The intermediate region 43 having the high polymer region 43a and the central region 42 and the side region 44 located on both sides thereof are formed over a length of 30% to 100% of the entire length in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent core 41. Preferably, the absorbent core 41 is formed over a length of 50% to 100% of the entire length in the longitudinal direction X.

From the viewpoint of more surely achieving one or more of the effects described above, the absorbent core 41 preferably has the following configuration.
The fiber density of the intermediate area 43 is preferably 0.9 or less, more preferably 0.75 or less, and preferably 0.2 or more, more preferably, the ratio (the former / the latter) to the fiber density of the central area 42. Is 0.3 or more, preferably 0.2 or more and 0.9 or less, more preferably 0.3 or more and 0.75 or less.
The fiber density in the intermediate region 43 is preferably 0.02 g / cm ³ or more, more preferably 0.028 g / cm ³ or more, and preferably 0.04 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0.035 g. / cm ³ or less, and preferably 0.02 g / cm ³ or more 0.04 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0.028 g / cm ³ or more 0.035 g / cm ³ or less. The fiber density of the central region 42 is preferably 0.03 g / cm ³ or more, more preferably 0.035 g / cm ³ or more, and preferably 0.1 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0.08g / cm ³ or less, and preferably 0.03 g / cm ³ or more 0.1 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0.035 g / cm ³ or more 0.08 g / cm ³ or less.

The fiber density of the intermediate region 43 is preferably 0.9 or less, more preferably 0.75 or less, and more preferably 0.13 or more, with respect to the fiber density of the side region 44 (the former / the latter). Preferably they are 0.28 or more, Preferably they are 0.13 or more and 0.9 or less, More preferably, they are 0.28 or more and 0.75 or less. The fiber density of the side region 44 is preferably 0.033 g / cm ³ or more, more preferably 0.038 g / cm ³ or more, and preferably 0.15 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0. 1 g / cm ³ or less, and preferably 0.033 g / cm ³ or more 0.15 g / cm ³ or less, more preferably 0.038 g / cm ³ or more 0.1 g / cm ³ or less.

Further, from the viewpoint of preventing liquid movement through the high polymer region 43a, the high polymer region 43a has a water-absorbing polymer content of preferably 70% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, more preferably It is 80 mass% or more and 100 mass% or less. The content of the water-absorbing polymer is a percentage of the mass of the water-absorbing polymer contained in the high polymer region 43a to the total mass of the water-absorbing polymer and the fiber material contained in the region 43a. .
In the high polymer region 43a, the basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer is 170 g / m ² or more, more preferably 200 g / m ² or more, and preferably 1200 g / m ² or less, more preferably 1000 g / m ² or less. It is preferably 170 g / m ² or more and 1200 g / m ² or less, more preferably 200 g / m ² or more and 1000 g / m ² or less.

On the other hand, the central region 42 and the side region 44 each have a water-absorbing polymer content of preferably 20% by mass to 60% by mass, and more preferably 30% by mass to 50% by mass.
Further, the content of the water-absorbing polymer in the portion other than the high polymer region 43a in the intermediate region 43 is preferably 20% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less, and more preferably 30% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less. For these regions, the content of the water-absorbing polymer was also expressed as a percentage of the mass of the water-absorbing polymer contained in each region to the total mass of the water-absorbing polymer and the fiber material contained in the region. Is.
The content of the water-absorbing polymer in the portions 43b and 43c other than the high polymer region 43a in the central region 42, the side region 44, the high polymer region 43a, and the intermediate region 43 is measured by the following method.
[Measurement method of water-absorbing polymer content]
In the same manner as the method for measuring the fiber density of the fiber material described above, the mass of the fiber material, the water-absorbent polymer and the absorbent core before and after the immersion is obtained for each portion, and the above-mentioned simultaneous equations x + y = 1.00 , Ax + by = Z, the content of the water-absorbing polymer in each part is determined.
By measuring the mass of the fiber material and the mass of the water-absorbing polymer contained in each part, the content of the water-absorbing polymer in each part can also be determined. The mass before immersion and the mass without immersion are measured at a temperature of 23 ± 2 ° C. and a humidity of 50 ± 5%, and are measured after storing the sample in the same environment for 24 hours or more before the measurement.

In the absorbent core 41 of the incontinence pad 1 of the present embodiment, the high polymer region 43a is formed of only a water-absorbing polymer. The high polymer region 43a in the present invention may be a mixture of a water-absorbing polymer and a fiber material such as pulp fiber, but is preferably formed of only a water-absorbing polymer. When formed with only the water-absorbing polymer, gel blocking is likely to occur, and the high polymer region 43a that has absorbed the liquid functions as a layer that more reliably prevents the movement of the liquid. As a result, the liquid flow beyond the high polymer region 43a as shown in FIG. 3C occurs after the inside of the high polymer region 43a has been absorbed to near saturation, without causing liquid leakage. The amount that can be absorbed increases.
In addition, although the fiber material such as pulp fiber is not present in the form formed only of the water-absorbing polymer, it includes a case where a small amount of pulp fiber or the like that may be inevitably mixed in the manufacturing method is mixed. . For example, when the content of the water-absorbing polymer in the high polymer region 43a is 90% by mass or more, it is formed of only the water-absorbing polymer.

The thickness t2 of the central region 42 and the thickness t4 of the side region 44 are preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, respectively, with respect to the thickness t3 of the intermediate region 43. Is 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more, preferably 50% or more and 80% or less, more preferably 60% or more and 70% or less.
Further, when the intermediate region 43 has the low density regions 43b and 43c on both sides of the high polymer region 43a, it is preferable that the thickness of the inner low density region 43b and the thickness of the outer low density region 43c are the same. The expression that the thickness is the same includes a case where the thickness of the inner low density region 43b is 95% or more and 100% or less of the thickness of the outer low density region 43c. When the thicknesses are different, the water-absorbing polymer in the high polymer region 43a only needs to cover the entire region in the thickness direction of the larger thickness.

The thickness of the low density areas 43b and 43c in the central area 42, the side area 44, and the intermediate area 43 is measured by the following method.
[Method for measuring thickness of each region]
The thickness is measured using a peacock precision measuring instrument (model R1-C), which is a micrometer having two parallel pressure surfaces (a fixed pressure surface and a movable pressure surface), and the diameter of the probe movable pressure surface is 5 mm. The pressure is measured at 1 kPa. A 20 mm × 20 mm plate is placed on the test piece, the measuring element movable pressurizing surface is operated at a speed of 2 mm / s, applied to the plate, and the value immediately after stabilization is read.

  Regarding the length of the absorbent core 41 in the width direction Y, the length L2 of the central region 42 is preferably 25% or more, more preferably 35% or more of the length L of the absorbent core 41 in the same direction Y. Also, it is preferably 65% or less, more preferably 55% or less, and preferably 25% or more and 65% or less, more preferably 35% or more and 55% or less. Further, the length L2 of the central region 42 is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and preferably 80 mm or less, more preferably 60 mm or less, and preferably 15 mm or more and 80 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm. It is 60 mm or less.

  Regarding the length in the width direction Y of the absorbent core 41, the length L3 of the intermediate region 43 is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 10% or more of the length L in the same direction Y of the absorbent core 41. It is preferably 25% or less, more preferably 20% or less, preferably 5% or more and 25% or less, more preferably 10% or more and 20% or less. Further, the length L3 of the intermediate region 43 is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and preferably 20 mm or less, more preferably 15 mm or less, and preferably 3 mm or more and 20 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm. It is 15 mm or less.

Regarding the length in the width direction Y of the absorbent core 41, the length L5 of the high polymer region 43a is preferably 20% or more and 80% or less, more preferably 30% or more and 60% of the length L3 of the intermediate region 43. In addition, it is preferably 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less.
Regarding the length in the width direction Y of the absorbent core 41, the length of the low density region 43b inside the high polymer region 43a is preferably 10% or more and 40% or less of the length L3 of the intermediate region 43, more preferably. Is 20% or more and 35% or less, and preferably 1 mm or more and 8 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less.
Regarding the length in the width direction Y of the absorbent core 41, the length of the low density region 43c outside the high polymer region 43a is preferably 10% or more and 40% or less of the length L3 of the intermediate region 43, more preferably. Is 20% or more and 35% or less, and preferably 1 mm or more and 8 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less.

  Regarding the length of the absorbent core 41 in the width direction Y, the length L4 of the side region 44 is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 20% of the length L of the absorbent core 41 in the same direction Y. Or more, preferably 30% or less, more preferably 25% or less, and preferably 10% or more and 30% or less, more preferably 20% or more and 25% or less. The length L4 of the side region 44 is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 8 mm or more, preferably 30 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less, and preferably 5 mm or more and 30 mm or less, more preferably It is 8 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

  The high polymer region 43 a is preferably formed in a layer shape extending along the thickness direction Z of the absorbent core 41. As described above, the high polymer region 43 a is a region in which the water-absorbing polymer exists over the entire area in the thickness direction Z of the absorbent core 41. In the high polymer region 43a, the range in which the water-absorbing polymer is distributed is 90% or more of the thickness t3 of the intermediate region 43 of the absorbent core 41, preferably 95% or less, and more preferably 100%. . When the thicknesses of the low basis weight portions 43b and 43c on both sides sandwiching the high polymer region 43a are different, the thickness of the thicker low basis weight portion is defined as the thickness t3 of the intermediate region 43.

  The manufacturing method of the absorbent core 41 of the incontinence pad 1 described above will be described. First, a stacking drum that has a concave portion for accumulation on the outer peripheral surface and rotates in one direction, and an absorbent core is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the stacking drum. A fiber stack 41 ′ as shown in FIG. 4A is manufactured using a fiber stacking apparatus (not shown) provided with a duct for supplying the material in a scattered state. The stacked fiber body 41 ′ shown in FIG. 4A has thick portions 44 ′ at both ends in the width direction along the axial length direction of the stacking drum, and the inner side in the width direction separated from the thick portion 44 ′. In addition, a through-hole 43a ′ penetrating the stacked fiber body 41 ′ is provided. In order to obtain such a stacked fiber body 41 ′, a recess for forming the thick portion 44 ′ is provided at the bottom of the stacking recess provided with a large number of pores functioning as suction holes, and the stacking A non-breathable member is disposed in a portion other than the concave portion at the bottom of the concave portion, and a material for forming an absorbent core such as a fiber material or a water-absorbing polymer is not deposited on the portion where the non-breathable member is disposed. The stacked body 41 'is a mixed stacked body of a fiber material and a water-absorbing polymer, but in the case of manufacturing an absorbent core that does not include a water-absorbing polymer in a portion other than the high polymer region, It may be a pile of only fiber materials such as pulp fibers.

And as shown in FIG.4 (c), as shown in FIG.4 (c), after filling the water absorption polymer a by arbitrary means to penetration part 43a 'of obtained piled-up body 41', as shown in FIG.4 (b), The fiber stack 41 ′ is introduced between the first roll 51 having the convex portions 52 and 54 and the concave portion 53 on the peripheral surface and the second roll 55 having a smooth surface, and the center of the fiber stack 41 ′ By compressing the area corresponding part 42 'and the side area corresponding part 44', the absorbent core 41 having the above-described configuration is obtained. The central region corresponding portion 42 ′ of the fiber stack 41 ′ is pressurized between the convex portion 52 of the first roll 51 and the peripheral surface of the second roll 55, and becomes the central region 42 of the absorbent core 41. The side region corresponding portion 44 ′ of the fiber stack 41 ′ is pressurized between the convex portion 54 of the first roll 51 and the peripheral surface of the second roll 55, and the side region 44 of the absorbent core 41. It becomes. The intermediate region corresponding portion 43 ′ of the stacked fiber body 41 ′ is not compressed by being positioned between the concave portion 53 of the first roll 51 and the peripheral surface of the second roll 55, or compared with the central region corresponding portion 42 ′. And weakly compressed. Thereby, the intermediate region corresponding portion 43 ′ becomes the intermediate region 43 of the absorbent core 41.
In addition, it is preferable to perform the filling process of the water absorbing polymer shown in FIG.4 (b) in the state which coat | covered the lower side of the laminated body 41 'with the core wrap sheet, and the laminated body shown in FIG.4 (c) It is preferable to perform 41 'press process in the state which coat | covered the lower side of pile fiber 41' with the core wrap sheet | seat (not shown). You may perform a press process in the state which coat | covered the upper and lower sides of piled-up body 41 'with the core wrap sheet | seat (not shown).

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention can be variously deformed. For example, the skin facing surface may be formed from a composite sheet in which a leak-proof side sheet made of a water-repellent nonwoven fabric or the like is bonded to both sides of a liquid-permeable central sheet. Moreover, an absorbent article may have a pair of wing parts on both the left and right sides of the excretion part facing part, or a rear flap part that extends greatly on the left and right sides of the rear part.
Further, the fiber density in the intermediate region of the absorbent core may be the same as the fiber density in the side region, or may be higher than the fiber density in the side region.

  In addition to the incontinence pad, the absorbent article of the present invention may be other absorbent articles such as panty liners (saurimono sheets) and sanitary napkins.

1 Incontinence pad (absorbent article)
2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorber 41 Absorbent core 42 Central region 43 Middle region 43a High polymer region 43b Low density region (inner low density region)
43c Low density region (outside low density region)
43u protuberance 44 side area 44
49 Core wrap sheet 11 Peripheral part 12 Raised part 51 First roll 55 Second roll

Claims (6)

An absorbent article having a skin facing surface, a non-skin facing surface and an absorbent core disposed between both surfaces,
The absorbent core includes a fiber material and a water-absorbing polymer, has a long shape in a direction along the wearer's front-rear direction, and in the width direction, a central region, a pair of intermediate regions located on both sides of the central region , And a pair of side regions located on the outer side of each of the intermediate regions, and the intermediate region has a raised portion protruding from the upper surface of each of the central region and the side regions on the skin facing surface side. Part that has
The fiber density of the intermediate area is lower than the fiber density of the central area,
The intermediate region extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core, and has a high polymer region in which a large amount of the water-absorbing polymer is locally present in a part of the width direction. Is an absorbent article in which the water-absorbing polymer is present throughout the thickness direction of the absorbent core.   The absorptive article according to claim 1 in which said middle field has a low density field where fiber density is lower than said central field and said side field on each of both sides which sandwich said high polymer field.   The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber density in the side region is higher than the fiber density in the central region.   4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the high polymer region has a content of the water-absorbing polymer of 70% to 100%.   The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which said high polymer field is formed only with said water absorption polymer.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the high polymer region extends from one end edge to the other end edge located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core.

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