JP6829017B2 - Absorbent article manufacturing equipment, manufacturing method and absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for producing an absorbent article having a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid permeable back sheet, and an absorber arranged between them.

Conventionally, absorbent articles such as disposable diapers (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “diapers”) that induce the discharged body fluid (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “liquid”) to be absorbed by an absorber are widely known. The absorber is an absorbent body mainly made of pulp and a super absorbent polymer (hereinafter, also referred to as “SAP”) wrapped with a covering member such as a tissue or a non-woven fabric. The discharged body fluid is required to be efficiently absorbed by using the entire absorber.

Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus for producing an absorbent article in which a recess is formed by pressing an absorber with a roll and a liquid is widely diffused in the recess to efficiently absorb the liquid. It is disclosed.

JP-A-2015-112268

However, in the manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the absorber is squeezed by the convex portion of the roll, the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent body, that is, the covering member, the top sheet, or the like may be torn. was there. This is because, for example, the protruding portion of the convex portion of the roll presses the SAP constituting the absorbent body, so that a strong load is applied to the seat portion sandwiched between the SAP and the convex portion of the roll. It depends. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the shape of the convex portion of the roll.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing tearing of a sheet portion laminated on an absorbent body when an absorber is squeezed.

The manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a manufacturing apparatus for producing an absorbent article provided with an absorber, and the manufacturing apparatus has a convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface and presses the absorber with the convex portion. A rotating member configured to form a recess in the absorber is provided, and in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the convex portion is opposite to the rotation direction of the first side surface portion and the first side surface portion. A second side surface portion located on the side, a normal line to the outer peripheral surface that passes through the first intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the first side surface portion, and a first normal line on the opposite side of the first intersection point. The distance between the end point of the side surface portion and the perpendicular line drawn from the outer peripheral surface is the normal line with respect to the outer peripheral surface and passes through the second intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the second side surface portion, and the side opposite to the second intersection. It is characterized in that it is longer than the distance from the perpendicular line drawn from the end point of the second side surface portion to the outer peripheral surface.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a manufacturing apparatus for producing an absorbent article provided with an absorber, and the manufacturing apparatus has a convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface and presses the absorber with the convex portion. A rotating member is provided so as to form a concave portion in the absorber, and in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the convex portion is a first side surface portion and a rotation direction of the rotating member from the first side surface portion. An angle formed by a normal line to the outer peripheral surface, which is a normal line to the outer peripheral surface and passes through the first intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the first side surface portion, and a first side surface portion. Is a normal to the outer peripheral surface, and is characterized in that it is larger than the angle formed by the normal line passing through the second intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the second side surface portion and the second side surface portion.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a manufacturing apparatus for producing an absorbent article provided with an absorber, and the manufacturing apparatus has a convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface and presses the absorber with the convex portion. A rotating member is provided so as to form a concave portion in the absorber, and in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the convex portion is a first side surface portion and a rotation direction of the rotating member from the first side surface portion. A second side surface portion located on the opposite side of the body is provided, and the volume squeezed by the second side surface portion is smaller than the volume squeezed by the first side surface portion with respect to the absorber. Is.

The absorbent article according to the present invention is an absorbent article manufactured by using the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and the recess has two side portions and a bottom portion sandwiched between the two side portions. The cross section of the recess in the front-rear direction of the absorber is characterized in that the cross-sectional areas of the two side portions are different.

The manufacturing method according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article provided with an absorber, and the shape corresponding to the convex portion is absorbed as the rotating member having the convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface rotates. In the step of squeezing the absorber so as to be formed on the body, in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the convex portion is the first side surface portion and the rotation direction of the rotating member from the first side surface portion. A step of squeezing with a second side surface located on the opposite side so that the volume squeezed by the second side surface is less than the volume squeezed by the first side surface with respect to the absorber. It is characterized by including a step of forming a recess in the absorber.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent body from being torn when the absorber is squeezed.

It is a perspective view seen from the front side in the appearance of an example of the diaper which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a stretched diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the top sheet side. It is a perspective view of the manufacturing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is the figure for demonstrating the state that the absorber is squeezed by two rolls. It is a cross-sectional view when the absorber is squeezed by two rolls, (a) is a cross-sectional view in the MD direction, and (b) is a cross-sectional view in the CD direction. FIG. 5A is a schematic view of an enlarged cross-sectional shape of the circular VI portion in FIG. 5A, for explaining the details of the convex portion. It is a cross-sectional view in the MD direction when the absorber is squeezed by a roll, (a) is before squeezing, (b) is at the start of squeezing, and (c) is when a convex portion forms a concave portion (d). Indicates the state when the convex portion starts to separate from the concave portion after the concave portion is formed, and (e) represents the state when the convex portion completely separates from the concave portion. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the MD direction for explaining how the absorber and the top sheet are squeezed by two rolls according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic plan view of the absorber portion shown in FIG. 3 viewed from the top sheet side, and is a diagram for explaining a recess formed in the absorber. 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views, FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view in the Xa-Xa direction, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view in the Xb-Xb direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the cross-sectional shape of the convex part, (a) is the example of the convex part which provided the protruding part on the top surface part, (b) is the example of the convex part which was formed by the curved surface. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the concave part which concerns on the modification of this invention, and is the cross-sectional view in the Xb-Xb direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing when the absorber is squeezed by two rolls which concerns on the modification of this invention, and is sectional drawing in the MD direction of FIG. 5A.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. However, the present invention is not limited to the aspects of the present embodiment.

In addition, in the description of this specification and claims, a "recess" is referred to as referring to a groove formed by compressing an absorber by embossing. The part of the absorber where the recess is formed has a higher density than the other parts.

Further, in the description of the present specification, the MD direction represents the transport direction of the absorber in the process of manufacturing the absorber, and the CD direction represents the direction orthogonal to the MD direction.

The manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a roll having a convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface, and the convex portion has a first side surface portion and a first side surface portion in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the roll. It is configured to include a second side surface portion located on the side opposite to the rotation direction of the roll. In addition, in an example of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the volume squeezed by the second side surface portion is smaller than the volume squeezed by the first side surface portion with respect to the absorber. With this configuration, when the absorber is squeezed by the protruding portion of the convex portion of the roll, product defects such as tearing of the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent body can be suppressed, and as a result, the yield in diaper manufacturing can be improved. It has become.

<Overview of diapers>
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. The diaper 10 according to the present embodiment is a deployable disposable diaper, and has a front body region 10F, a back body region 10R, and an inseam region 10C connecting the front body region 10F and the back body region 10R. Further, when worn, the front body area 10F and the back body area 10R form an opening 10W around the waist that surrounds the wearer's waist portion. Similarly, a pair of left and right leg-circumferential openings 10L that surround the thighs of both legs of the wearer are formed by the lower end of the front body region 10F and the back body region 10R and the inseam region 10C.

When worn, the front body area 10F is located on the ventral side of the wearer, and the back body area 10R is located on the back side of the wearer. When worn, the inseam region 10C covers the wearer's inseam, and the wearer's legs are passed through the pair of left and right leg-circumferential openings 10L. Therefore, the leg circumference opening 10L is located at any of the thighs from the bases of both legs of the wearer.

The virtual line P extends from the ventral side to the dorsal side in the central part of the diaper through the inseam part. Specifically, for example, if the waist side of the diaper is defined as the upper side and the inseam side as the lower side, the virtual line P extends along the surface of the diaper and in the vertical direction, and on the back side via the inseam portion. Also extends in the vertical direction.

At the left and right end edges of the back body area 10R of the cover sheet 11 located on the outside of the diaper 10, when worn, they are overlapped with the left and right end edges of the front body area 10F and connected to form an opening 10L around the legs. A pair of left and right fastening tapes 10A to be obtained are adhered to each other. The fastening tape 10A is repeatedly peelably joined to the front patch sheet 10B adhered to the cover sheet 11 of the front body region 10F.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the diaper 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the stretched diaper 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the top sheet 14 side. It is a figure. The absorber 13 of FIG. 2 and the diaper 10 of FIG. 3 are shown in a partially broken state for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the diaper 10 in the present embodiment is, in order from the outside, a cover sheet 11 formed of a thin non-woven fabric in order to obtain a good feel, and a liquid-impermeable back sheet (back sheet). It has a laminated structure in which 12, a absorber 13, a liquid-permeable top sheet (surface sheet) 14, and a pair of three-dimensional gathers (side sheets) 15 composed of hydrophobic sheet members are laminated. It is something that is.

A pair of notches 11N forming an opening around the leg 10L are formed on both the left and right sides of the inseam region 10C of the cover sheet 11. A pair of rubber threads 16 for forming gathers around the legs are adhered between the cover sheet 11 and the pair of three-dimensional gathers 15 in an stretched state.

The back sheet 12 is joined to the cover sheet 11, the absorber 13 is arranged between the back sheet 12 and the top sheet 14, and the top sheet 14 is joined to the back sheet 12 via the absorber 13. .. Further, in the area of the back sheet 12 corresponding to the upper end portion of the back body region 10R, the area extends along the width direction of the back sheet 12 and has elasticity to give the wearer an appropriate wearing feeling around the waist. Sheet 10D is joined.

The absorber 13 of the present embodiment, which is located under the top sheet 14, is a mat-like body in which an absorbent main body 17 mainly composed of pulp and SAP is wrapped with a covering member (core wrap) 18 such as a tissue or a non-woven fabric. is there. The seam formed by wrapping the absorbent body 17 with the covering member 18 is formed, for example, on the upper surface of the absorbent body 13 so as to extend in the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. The absorber 13 of the present embodiment has an elongated shape so as to extend to the front body, inseam, and back body. Here, assuming that the front body portion to the back body portion are in the front-back (up-down) direction and the direction orthogonal to the front-back (up-down) direction is the left-right direction, the absorber 13 of the present embodiment is a rectangular body having different front-back (up-down) left-right lengths. (In FIGS. 2 and 3, the front-back (up-down) length is longer than the left-right length). The shape of the absorber 13 of the present embodiment is not limited to this, and for example, a substantially square shape having the same front-rear (up-down) left-right length and a rounded front-back (up-down) end corner. , Includes various shapes such as elliptical ones extending back and forth (up and down), circular ones, etc. Further, a pair of arc-shaped notches may be formed in the inseam portion of the absorber 13 so as to correspond to the pair of leg-circumferential openings 10L. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of recesses 20 are continuously formed on the surface of the absorber 13 and arranged in an oblique lattice pattern. The recess 20 is formed by squeezing the absorber 13 with the manufacturing apparatus 100 described later. By continuously forming the recesses 20, air can pass through to the ventral side or the dorsal side, and air permeability can be ensured. Further, by providing the recess 20 in the absorber 13, the discharged body fluid can be rapidly diffused and efficiently absorbed by using the entire absorber. Further, the recess 20 is easily bent, and the fit of the diaper 10 can be improved.

The pair of three-dimensional gathers 15 are provided along the front-rear direction of the absorber 13, and of the side edges extending in the front-rear direction of the absorber 13, one side edge has a substantially linear shape and the other side edge. A notch portion 15N is formed in the vicinity of the inseam. The inner portion of the pair of three-dimensional gathers 15 is not joined to the top sheet 14, and the three-dimensional gathers 15 include a free end at a side edge portion having a substantially linear shape. As shown in FIG. 3, a thread rubber 19 which is an elastic member acting on a tensile force is arranged at the free end of the three-dimensional gather 15 in a stretched state along the front-rear direction of the absorber 13. The pair of three-dimensional gathers 15 can stand up along the both side edges of the absorber 13 in the worn state by the thread rubber 19.

Next, the details of the manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment for squeezing the absorber 13 of the absorbent article 10 will be described.

<Manufacturing equipment>
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a state in which the absorber 13 is squeezed by two rolls. FIG. 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view in the MD direction, and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view in the CD direction when the absorber is squeezed. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an enlarged cross-sectional shape of the circular VI portion in FIG. 5A, and is a diagram for explaining the details of the convex portion 31. The broken line in FIG. 6 represents the outer peripheral surface 30E of the first roll 30.

The manufacturing apparatus 100 for manufacturing the diaper 10 according to the present embodiment includes a first roll (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “rotating member”) 30 and a second roll (second rotating member) 40 that rotates together with the first roll 30. , Is configured. The first roll 30 has an outer peripheral surface 30E and a convex portion 31 protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface 30E, and the absorber 13 is squeezed by the convex portion 31 to form a concave portion 20 in the absorber 13. It is composed. The second roll 40 has an outer peripheral surface 40E and is configured to pinch the absorber 13 by rotating with the first roll 30. In Figure 4, the rotation axis of the first roll 30 and X _30, the rotation shaft of the second roll 40 and X _40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the convex portion 31 extends along a second direction different from the first direction in an intersecting state with respect to the first convex portion 31a extending along the first direction and the first convex portion 31a. The second convex portion 31b and the like are included. That is, the first convex portion 31a and the second convex portion 31b are formed in a grid pattern. The first roll 30 squeezes the absorber 13 with the first convex portion 31a to form the first concave portion 20a described later in the absorber 13, and squeezes the absorber 13 with the second convex portion 31b to form the absorber 13. It is configured to form the second recess 20b described later (see FIG. 9 described later).

Moving on to FIG. 6, in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis X ₃₀ of the first roll 30, the convex portion 31 is on the side opposite to the rotation direction B of the first roll 30 from the first side surface portion 311S and the first side surface portion 311S. A second side surface portion 312S located and a top surface portion 310T connecting between the first side surface portion 311S and the second side surface portion 312S are provided. The convex portion 31 is configured such that the shape corresponding to the first side surface portion 311S, the top surface portion 310T, and the second side surface portion 312S is sequentially formed on the absorber 13 as the first roll 30 rotates. .. Further, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 31 has a volume V ₂ squeezed by the _second side surface portion 312S smaller than the volume V ₁ squeezed by the first side surface portion 311S with respect to the absorber 13. It is configured in. In the present embodiment, the shape of the top surface portion 310T is rounded as shown in FIG. 6, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape may be flat.

Here, in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis X ₃₀ of the first roll 30, the intersection of the outer peripheral surface 30E and the first side surface portion 311S is the first intersection 321P, and the intersection of the second side surface portion 312S and the outer peripheral surface 30E is the first. The two intersections 322P, the intersection of the first side surface portion 311S and the top surface portion 310T is the third intersection point 323P, and the intersection of the top surface portion 310T and the second side surface portion 312S is the fourth intersection point 324P. Further, the straight line passing through the first intersection 321P and tangent to the first side surface portion 311S is the first straight line 331L, the straight line passing through the third intersection 323P and tangent to the top surface portion 310T is passing through the second straight line 332L and the second intersection 322P, and the second side surface portion. The straight line tangent to 312S is defined as the third straight line 333L, and the straight line passing through the fourth intersection 324P and tangent to the top surface portion 310T is defined as the fourth straight line 334L. Further, the normal line for the outer peripheral surface 30E and passing through the first intersection 321P between the outer peripheral surface 30E and the first side surface portion 311S is the first normal line 341NL, and the normal line for the outer peripheral surface 30E and the outer peripheral surface 30E. The normal line passing through the second intersection 322P with the second side surface portion 312S is defined as the second normal line 342NL. Further, the end point of the first side surface portion 311S on the opposite side of the first intersection 321P, that is, the perpendicular line drawn from the third intersection 323P to the outer peripheral surface 30E is on the side opposite to the first perpendicular line 351NL and the second intersection 322P. The end point of the two side surface portions 312S, that is, the perpendicular line drawn from the fourth intersection 324P to the outer peripheral surface 30E is defined as the second perpendicular line 352NL. Let α be the angle formed by the first normal line 341NL and the first side surface portion 311S, and let β be the angle formed by the second normal line 342NL and the second side surface portion 312S. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis X ₃₀ of the first roll 30, the angle formed by the first straight line 331L and the second straight line 332L on the convex portion 31 side is the first angle γ. Of the angles formed by the third straight line 333L and the fourth straight line 334L, the angle on the convex portion 31 side is defined as the second angle δ. In the present embodiment, the distance L1 between the first normal line 341NL and the first vertical line 351NL is longer than the distance L2 between the second normal line 342NL and the second vertical line 352NL. Further, in the present embodiment, the angle α is larger than the angle β.

In the present invention, the corner portion formed by the first side surface portion 311S and the top surface portion 310T has an obtuse angle or is chamfered. In the present embodiment, the first angle γ is an obtuse angle, which is larger than the second angle δ. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion between the first side surface portion 311S and the top surface portion 310T has an angle, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be rounded. That is, the connecting portion between the first side surface portion 311S and the top surface portion 310T may include a curved surface. Further, in the present invention, the shape of the convex portion 31 includes a curved surface at the end of the convex portion 31 formed in a grid pattern on the first roll 30 or near the intersection of the first convex portion 31a and the second convex portion 31b. It may be. As described above, it is preferable that the portion of the convex portion 31 that can come into contact with the absorber 13 is formed of a curved surface in order to obtain the effect that the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent main body 17 is not easily torn.

<Manufacturing method>
The diaper 10 according to the present embodiment is manufactured by, for example, a manufacturing method including the following steps.
(1) First, the absorbent main body 17 composed of pulp and SAP is wrapped with a covering member 18 to generate a continuous mat-shaped absorbent body 13.
(2) Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first roll 30 rotates in the B direction and the second roll 40 C in the continuous absorber 13 flowing in the A direction from the upstream in the MD direction. It is pinched by rotating in the direction, and the continuous absorber 13 is embossed. By this embossing, the recess 20 is formed in the continuous absorber 13. That is, the manufacturing apparatus 100 squeezes the absorber 13 so that the shape corresponding to the convex portion 31 is formed on the absorber 13 as the first roll 30 rotates. At the time of this squeezing, the volume V ₂ squeezed by the _second side surface portion 312S of the convex portion 31 is smaller than the volume V ₁ squeezed by the first side surface portion 311 S of the convex portion 31 with respect to the absorber 13. As described above, the recess 20 is formed in the absorber 13.
(3) Next, the continuous absorber 13 after embossing is flowed downstream in the MD direction, cut to the length required for one diaper by a cutting device, and the top sheet 14, back sheet 12, and cover sheet are cut. After being joined to 11 mag, the diaper 10 is manufactured.

Step (2) will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the MD direction when the absorber is squeezed with a roll. 7 (a) shows before pressing, FIG. 7 (b) shows at the start of pressing, FIG. 7 (c) shows when the convex portion 31 forms the concave portion 20, and FIG. 7 (d) shows the convex portion 31 after forming the concave portion 20. FIG. 7 (e) shows the state when the convex portion 31 is completely separated from the concave portion 20 when it starts to separate from the concave portion 20. 7 (a) to 7 (e) focus on one cross section of the convex portion 31 and omit the other cross section of the convex portion 31 and the second roll 40 for convenience of explanation.

According to the present embodiment, since the distance L1 is longer than the distance L2 as shown in FIG. 6, the inclination of the first side surface portion 311S with respect to the outer peripheral surface 30E is gentle. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c), when the sheet portion (covering member 18 in the present embodiment) laminated on the absorbent body 17 is squeezed, the sheet portion is locally applied. It is possible to gradually squeeze the sheet portion with the first side surface portion 311S of the convex portion 31 without pulling. Therefore, the convex portion 31 can be softly contacted with the sheet portion and pressed, and the possibility of the sheet portion being torn can be reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, since the first angle γ is an obtuse angle as shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 31 comes into contact with the sheet portion as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c). At that time, the convex portion 31 can be brought into contact with the sheet portion more softly.

Further, since the SAP in the absorber 13 is squeezed (pushed open) by the first side surface portion 311S, the SAP moves away from the squeezed place, and the convex portion 31 and the SAP are the sheet portion. As a result of reducing the amount of sandwiching, it is possible to reduce the load (seat damage) given to the seat portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress tearing of the sheet portion during squeezing.

In order to reduce the load applied to the sheet portion sandwiched between the SAP and the convex portion 31, the amount and time for compressing the SAP constituting the absorbent main body 17 should be as small as possible. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the distance L2 is shorter than the distance L1, and the convex portion 31 has a volume V ₂ squeezed by the _second side surface portion 312S squeezed by the first side surface portion 311S. It is configured to be less than the volume V ₁ . With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (e), the SAP is formed in the portion of the convex portion 31 located on the opposite side of the rotation direction B (the right portion of the convex portion 31 in FIG. 6). It is possible to reduce the amount and time of compression. Therefore, the load applied to the seat portion can be reduced and tearing can be suppressed. Further, since it is possible to shorten the time for compressing the SAP, the SAP can be quickly released from the compressed state, and as a result of preventing the SAP from being compressed and the absorber 13 from becoming hard, the diaper 10 is released. It is possible to prevent it from becoming hard. Therefore, it is possible to improve the wearing feeling of the diaper 10.

In the present embodiment, since the angle α is larger than the angle β as shown in FIG. 6, the inclination of the first side surface portion 311S with respect to the outer peripheral surface 30E becomes gentle, and the volume squeezed by the second side surface portion 312S. It is feasible that V ₂ is less than the volume V ₁ squeezed by the first side surface 311S. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same effect as described above by configuring the angle α to be larger than the angle β.

According to the present inventor, it is preferable that the first angle γ is about 100 degrees to about 150 degrees and the second angle δ is about 90 degrees to about 135 degrees in order to effectively exert the effect of the present invention. discovered. Further, in the relationship between the first roll 30 and the second roll 40, the height (thickness) of the convex portion 31 in the radial direction of the first roll 30 is preferably 3 mm to 15 mm, more preferably 5 mm to 8 mm.

In the present embodiment, the recess 20 is formed by pressing the absorbent body 17 and the covering member 18, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recess 20 may be formed by pressing the absorbent body 17 and the covering member 18 (that is, the absorber 13) and the top sheet 14 in a laminated manner (see FIG. 8 described later). ..

When the absorber 13 and the top sheet 14 are laminated and squeezed, the pre-divided (for example, cut) absorber 13 and the top sheet 14 are joined together and squeezed. May be good. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the MD direction for explaining how the absorber 13 and the top sheet 14 are squeezed by two rolls according to another embodiment of the present invention. The top sheet 14 is continuous as shown in FIG. Each of the plurality of absorbers 13 is laminated in advance to form a mat, and is cut into one piece of the diaper 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of absorbers 13 are joined (for example, bonded) to the continuous top sheet 14 at regular intervals.

As shown in FIG. 8, the stack of the plurality of absorbers 13 and the continuous top sheet 14 flows in the A direction, and the first roll 30 and the second roll 40 of the manufacturing apparatus 100 flow as in the above embodiment. Is squeezed with. As a result, the absorber 13 and the top sheet 14 are squeezed together, and the recess 20 is formed in the laminated body of the absorber 13 and the top sheet 14. Even in the case of this pressing, since the convex portion 31 of the first roll 30 has a shape as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above embodiment. A back sheet 12, a cover sheet 11, and the like are joined to the squeezed absorber 13 and the top sheet 14, and cut to a required length to produce one diaper 10.

Next, the details of the recesses provided in the absorber 13 of the absorbent article manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing apparatus will be described.

<Recess formed in the absorber>
FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the absorber 13 portion shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the top sheet 14 side, and is a diagram for explaining the recess 20 formed in the absorber 13. 10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views in FIG. 9, FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view in the Xa-Xa direction, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view in the Xb-Xb direction. FIG. 10A corresponds to the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 5B. In FIG. 10B, the first side portion 201S and the second side portion 202S, which will be described later, are represented by hatching with diagonal lines (the same applies to FIG. 12 described later).

On the top sheet 14 side of the absorber 13, as shown in FIG. 9, a first concave portion 20a extending along a third direction corresponding to the first direction of the first convex portion 31a and a second convex portion 31b A second recess 20b extending along a fourth direction corresponding to the two directions is formed. The first recess 20a and the second recess 20b are each composed of a plurality of grooves arranged in parallel with each other.

In the present embodiment, the recess 20 is not formed up to the end of the absorber 13 in the width direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 9), but is formed along the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 9) of the absorber 13. It is formed in a band shape. The region of the absorber 13 in which the recess 20 is formed is defined as the recess forming region N1, and the regions at both ends of the absorber 13 in which the recess 20 is not formed in the width direction are designated as the recess non-forming region N2. By providing the recess non-forming region N2, it is possible to suppress liquid leakage from both ends in the width direction of the inseam region 10C. In the present embodiment, the recess non-forming region N2 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, even if the recess 20 is provided up to the end in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 9) of the absorber 13. Needless to say, it's good. Therefore, the present invention may have a configuration in which the recess non-forming region N2 is not provided. In addition, the present invention allows a mode in which the recess 20 is not formed up to the end portion of the absorber 13 in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 9, when the end portion in the front-rear direction is formed, it is possible to improve the air permeability and the prevention of stuffiness.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the recess 20 is the first recess 20a that extends inclined toward one side (in FIG. 9, on the right side) in the width direction of the absorber 13, and the other side (in FIG. 9). It is composed of a second recess 20b extending so as to be inclined to the left side). The position of the virtual line P on the absorber 13 extends from the upper end of the front body portion toward the lower end of the back body portion. Specifically, when the absorber 13 has an elongated shape, the virtual line P extends in the front-rear direction of the absorber 13, as shown in FIG. The recess 20 extends inclined with respect to the virtual line P. That is, the first recess 20a is inclined to one side at an angle ε and the second recess 20b is inclined to the other side at an angle ζ with respect to a direction along the side side with the virtual line P as an axis, for example, a front-back direction. To do. The angle ε and the angle ζ may be the same or different. Further, in FIG. 9, the plurality of first recesses 20a are inclined at the same angle and are arranged at regular intervals. That is, the first recesses 20a are arranged in parallel and at regular intervals, but the present invention is not limited to this, and includes those in which the spacing between the recesses 20 is not constant and those in which the inclination angles of the recesses 20 are different. The same applies to the second recess 20b.

Moving on to FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), the recess 20 is sandwiched between the two side portions of the first side portion 201S and the second side portion 202S, and the first side portion 201S and the second side portion 202S. It has a bottom 200B. As shown in FIG. 10B, the cross-sectional areas of the first side portion 201S and the second side portion 202S are different in the cross section of the absorber 13 in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the first side portion 201S is wider than the cross-sectional area of the second side portion 202S.

Since the recess 20 is formed by being squeezed by a roll, the density of the first side portion 201S, the second side portion 202S, and the bottom portion 200B is higher than the density of the non-formed portion of the recess 20 in the absorber 13. It's getting higher. Further, the densities of the first side portion 201S and the second side portion 202S are lower than the densities of the bottom portion 200B, respectively. That is, the first side portion 201S or the second side portion 202S each includes a medium density region higher than the density of the non-formed portion of the recess 20 and lower than the density of the bottom 200B of the absorber 13. In this medium density region, since the absorbent body 13 is compressed from the non-formed portion of the recess 20, the distance between the fibers constituting the absorbent body 13 is appropriately shortened, and the capillary force is increased to absorb the liquid. Will be improved. Therefore, according to the diaper 10 according to the present embodiment, the discharged body fluid is easily absorbed in the recess 20, and the liquid can be efficiently absorbed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the cross-sectional area of the first side portion 201S can be made different from the cross-sectional area of the second side portion 202S, it is possible to improve the absorption efficiency at an arbitrary location of the recess 20. ..

<Modification example>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified or modified without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, the structure of the diaper according to the above embodiment is not limited to the deployable type as described above, and as long as it is a diaper including the constitution of the absorbent article specified in the claims. The configuration may be. For example, the present invention can be applied to pants-type disposable diapers, urine pads, and the like. Further, the present invention is particularly effective for the absorber 13 having a large proportion of SAP, that is, the effect of suppressing the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent body 17 from being torn when the absorber 13 is squeezed. It is especially effective.

In addition, the shape pattern of the convex portion 31 of the first roll 30 according to the above embodiment is not limited to this. 11A and 11B are views showing an example of the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 31, FIG. 11A is an example of a convex portion 31 having a protruding portion 33 provided on a top surface portion 310T, and FIG. 11B is a curved surface. This is an example of the convex portion 31. The shapes shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) correspond to the shapes shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recess 20 according to the modified example of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view in the Xb-Xb direction in FIG. FIG. 12 shows the shape of the concave portion 20 formed when the absorber 13 is squeezed by the convex portion 31 shown in FIG. 11 (a).

As shown in FIG. 11A, the top surface portion 310T further includes a protrusion 33. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the bottom portion 200B is provided with a recessed portion 21 corresponding to the protruding portion 33.

With the shape pattern of FIG. 11A, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above embodiment. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, since the bottom surface portion 200B is provided with the recessed portion 21, the fibers constituting the top sheet 14, the covering member 18, and the absorbent main body 17 are occluded and joined to each other. Can be strengthened.

In the shape pattern of FIG. 11B, since the shape of the first side surface portion 311S of the convex portion 31 is formed so as to bulge in the direction opposite to the rotation direction B, the absorber 13 is made looser than in the above embodiment. Can be squeezed into. Further, since the shape of the second side surface portion 312S of the convex portion 31 is formed so as to be recessed on the rotation direction B side, the absorber 13 is formed in the portion of the convex portion 31 located on the side opposite to the rotation direction B. It is possible to further reduce the amount and time of squeezing the SAP. Therefore, from the above embodiment, the possibility that the sheet laminated on the absorbent body 17 is torn is further reduced. Further, since the SAP is formed so as to be recessed, the SAP can be released from the compressed state more quickly than in the above embodiment, and as a result, the SAP is prevented from being compressed and the absorber 13 is prevented from becoming hard. As a result, the diaper 10 Can be prevented from becoming hard.

Further, in the above embodiment, the absorber 13 is sandwiched between the first roll 30 having the convex portion 31 and the second roll 40 having no convex portion 31, but this is not the case. In the present invention, for example, the absorber 13 may be sandwiched between the first roll 30 having the convex portion 31 and the second roll 40 having the convex portion 41 described later.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the manufacturing apparatus according to the modified example of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 in the MD direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the manufacturing apparatus 100 has an outer peripheral surface 40E, a convex portion 41 for pinching that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 40E and has a shape corresponding to the convex portion 31, and together with the first roll 30. A second roll 40 configured to pinch the absorber 13 between the convex portion 31 and the convex portion 41 for pinching by rotating may be further provided.

With this configuration, the absorber 13 is squeezed from both the top sheet 14 side and the back sheet 12 side. Therefore, by not concentrating the pressure on one side, the amount of elongation of the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent body 17 is increased. It becomes possible to suppress the possibility that the sheet portion is torn. In FIG. 13, the shape of the convex portion 31 of the first roll 30 and the shape of the convex portion 41 of the second roll 40 correspond to each other, but in the present invention, the shape of the convex portion 31 of the first roll 30 is matched. Those that do not correspond to the shape of the convex portion 41 of the second roll 40 are also allowed.

Further, in the above embodiment or the above modification, the convex portion 31 of the first roll 30 and the convex portion 41 of the second roll 40 each have a top surface portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the top surface portion is not limited thereto. It may be composed of only the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion without having.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of recesses 20 are continuously formed on the surface of the absorber 13 to form an oblique grid-like arrangement pattern, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, for example, the plurality of recesses 20 may be formed intermittently on the surface of the absorber 13, and the arrangement pattern of the recesses 20 is, for example, a polygonal arrangement pattern such as a triangle or a hexagon, or a straight line. It may be various arrangement patterns such as a pattern in which shapes, curves, or wavy shapes are arranged side by side.

In the above embodiment, the recess 20 is formed on the top sheet 14 side of the absorber 13, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the back sheet 12 side of the absorber 13 and the top sheet 14 of the absorber 13 as shown in FIG. Recesses 20 may be formed on the side and the back sheet 12 side.

In addition to the above embodiment, when the first roll 30 is heated and the absorber 13 is squeezed, the fibers constituting the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent main body 17 are stretched by applying heat to the squeezed portion. Of course, by making it easier, it is possible to make the sheet portion laminated on the absorbent main body 17 more difficult to tear.

10 Diaper 10A Fastening tape 10B Front patch sheet 10F Front body area 10R Back body area 10C Inseam area 10W Waist circumference opening 10L Leg circumference opening 11 Cover sheet 11N, 15N Notch 12 Back sheet (back sheet)
13 Absorber 14 Top sheet (surface sheet)
15 Three-dimensional gather 16, 19 Thread rubber 17 Absorbent body 18 Covering member 20 Recess 20a First recess 20b Second recess 21 Recess 21 Recess 30 First roll (rotating member)
30E, 40E Outer peripheral surfaces 31, 41 Convex 31a First convex 31b Second convex 33 Protruding 40 Second roll (second rotating member)
100 Manufacturing equipment 200B Bottom 201S 1st side 202S 2nd side 310T Top surface 311S 1st side surface 312S 2nd side surface 321P 1st intersection 322P 2nd intersection 323P 3rd intersection 324P 4th intersection 331L 1st straight line 332L 2 straight line 333L 3rd straight line 334L 4th straight line 341NL 1st normal line 342NL 2nd normal line 351NL 1st vertical line 352NL 2nd vertical line

Claims (11)

A manufacturing device for manufacturing an absorbent article equipped with an absorber.
The manufacturing apparatus includes a rotating member having a convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface and configured to press the absorber with the convex portion to form a concave portion in the absorber.
In the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member,
The convex portion includes a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion located on the side opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating member from the first side surface portion.
The angle formed by the normal to the outer peripheral surface and passing through the first intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the first side surface portion and the first side surface portion is the normal to the outer peripheral surface. It is larger than the angle formed by the normal line passing through the second intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the second side surface portion and the second side surface portion.
The convex portion includes a first convex portion extending along the first direction and a second convex portion extending along a second direction different from the first direction in an intersecting state with respect to the first convex portion. Including
An intersecting region where the first convex portion and the second convex portion intersect is formed in the convex portion.
A manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the first convex portion and the second convex portion are formed in an oblique lattice pattern. In the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member,
The convex portion further includes a top surface portion connecting between the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corner portion formed by the first side surface portion and the top surface portion has an obtuse angle or is chamfered. The convex portion is configured so that the shape corresponding to the first side surface portion, the top surface portion, and the second side surface portion is sequentially formed on the absorber as the rotating member rotates.
In a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the first straight line passing through the first intersection and contacting the first side surface portion and the third intersection point between the first side surface portion and the top surface portion pass through the top surface portion. Of the angles formed by the second straight line in contact with each other, the first angle on the convex side is an blunt angle.
A third straight line in which the first angle passes through the second intersection and is in contact with the second side surface portion, and a fourth straight line that passes through the fourth intersection of the top surface portion and the second side surface portion and is in contact with the top surface portion. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the angle formed by is larger than the second angle on the convex portion side. The rotating member presses the absorber with the first convex portion to form a first concave portion in the absorber, and presses the absorber with the second convex portion to form a second concave portion in the absorber. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the manufacturing apparatus is configured to form. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first angle is 100 degrees to 150 degrees, and the second angle is 90 degrees to 135 degrees. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the top surface portion further includes a protruding portion. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the convex portion includes a curved surface. The absorber is provided with a convex portion for squeezing that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface and has a shape corresponding to the convex portion, and by rotating together with the rotating member, the convex portion and the convex portion for squeezing form the absorber. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising a second rotating member configured to squeeze. An absorbent article manufactured by using the manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .
The recess has two sides and a bottom sandwiched between the two sides.
An absorbent article characterized in that the cross-sectional areas of the two side portions are different in the cross section of the recess in the front-rear direction of the absorber. An absorbent article manufactured by using the manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 .
The recess has two sides and a bottom sandwiched between the two sides.
In the cross section of the recess in the front-rear direction of the absorber, the cross-sectional areas of the two sides are different.
An absorbent article characterized in that a recess corresponding to the protrusion is provided on the bottom. A method for producing an absorbent article equipped with an absorber.
It is a step of squeezing the absorber so that a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the convex portion is formed in the absorber as the rotating member having the convex portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface rotates. In a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating member, the convex portion includes a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion located on the side opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating member from the first side surface portion. The angle formed by the normal line to the outer peripheral surface and passing through the first intersection of the outer peripheral surface and the first side surface portion and the first side surface portion is the normal line to the outer peripheral surface. a normal line passing through the second intersection of the second side surface portion and the outer peripheral surface there, the second side portion, an angle greater than that form, the steps of squeezing,
It includes,
The convex portion includes a first convex portion extending along the first direction and a second convex portion extending along a second direction different from the first direction in an intersecting state with respect to the first convex portion. Including
An intersecting region where the first convex portion and the second convex portion intersect is formed in the convex portion.
A manufacturing method characterized in that the first convex portion and the second convex portion are formed in an oblique lattice pattern.

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