JP7806401B2 - Method for manufacturing absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article and a method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

Tape-type absorbent articles are known as absorbent articles that absorb liquids such as urine and bodily fluids (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2019-97871 A

Tape-type absorbent articles are shipped folded and packaged, and are unfolded when worn. Absorbent articles are often constructed entirely in a single color (e.g., white). This presents a problem in tape-type absorbent articles, where it is difficult to determine which side of the tape is positioned.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an absorbent article in which the tape placement position is easy to recognize.

To solve the above problem, the present invention provides the tape with a first colored portion that is colored a different color from the rest of the tape and the side flap portion.

In detail, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having, in a worn state, a front body region located on the wearer's abdomen side, a crotch region located between the crotch and the crotch, and a back body region located on the back side, arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction, the article comprising an absorbent body arranged to include the crotch region, a pair of side flaps arranged in either the front body region or the back body region and extending outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction beyond the absorbent body, and tapes connected to each of the pair of side flaps and attached to the other of the front body region or the back body region for securing the absorbent article to the wearer's waist, the tapes has a base end fixed to the side flap portion, a tape base that extends outward in the width direction beyond the side flap portion and has a hook portion disposed on the skin-facing side, and a first colored portion that is disposed on the base end side of the tape base beyond the hook portion and straddles the base end, and is colored a color different from other portions of the tape and the side flap portion; a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction between the hook portion and the base end is formed on the first colored portion; and when the tape base is folded along the fold line, the first colored portion straddles both the hook portion side and the base end side across the fold line.

In the above-mentioned absorbent article, the first colored portion may be formed by coloring the non-skin-facing side of the tape.

In the above-mentioned absorbent article, the other portion of the tape may be white.

In the above-described absorbent article, the tape may have a second colored portion that is disposed at the tip of the tape base and that is colored in a color different from other portions of the tape and the side flap portions.

In the above-mentioned absorbent article, the first colored portion and the second colored portion may be colored the same color.

Here, the present invention can be viewed from the perspective of a method for manufacturing an absorbent article. That is, the present invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article. Specifically, the present invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article in which, when worn, a front body region located on the abdomen side of the wearer, a crotch region located between the crotch and the crotch, and a back body region located on the back side are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction, the absorbent article comprising an absorbent body arranged to include the crotch region, and a pair of side flap portions located in either the front body region or the rear body region and extending outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction beyond the absorbent body, the method for manufacturing the absorbent article comprising preparing tapes connected to each of the pair of side flap portions and attached to the other of the front body region or the rear body region to secure the absorbent article to the waist of the wearer. In the tape preparing step, a base end portion to be fixed to the side flap portion, a tape base portion extending outward in the width direction from the side flap portion and having a hook portion disposed on the skin-facing side, and a first colored portion disposed from the tape base portion on the base end side of the hook portion to the base end and colored in a color different from other portions of the tape and the side flap portion may be formed, and a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction between the hook portion and the base end may be formed on the first colored portion, and when the tape base is folded along the fold line, the first colored portion may straddle both the hook portion side and the base end side across the fold line.

In the step of preparing the tape in the above-mentioned method for manufacturing an absorbent article, a second colored portion may be formed at the tip of the tape base, and colored a different color from the other portions of the tape and the side flap portions, and the first colored portion and the second colored portion may be colored the same color.

This invention makes it easy to identify the position of the tape on an absorbent article.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the embodiment in an unworn state, taken along the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin-facing side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin-facing side. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment, showing the side flap portions folded. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a sheet member for forming a tape of a diaper according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of a method for determining whether an absorbent article is defective. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a diaper manufacturing apparatus.

Hereinafter, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

<Embodiment>
In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of an "absorbent article" in this application, hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") is the direction connecting the front body portion, which faces the wearer's abdomen, and the back body portion, which faces the wearer's back. Between the front body portion (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body portion (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch portion, which is positioned under the wearer's crotch (facing the crotch), is located. Furthermore, when the diaper is worn on a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is the skin-facing side, and the side opposite the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. Furthermore, a view from the thickness direction is a planar view.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to this embodiment. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which corresponds to the crotch area covering the wearer's genitals when worn; a front body region 1F, which is located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the wearer's front body; and a back body region 1R, which is located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the wearer's back body. Tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the left and right edges of the back body region 1R, and can be attached to front patches 2F, which are attached to the face of the front body region 1F facing away from the wearer. When the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patches 2F with the front body region 1F positioned on the wearer's abdominal side and the back body region 1R positioned on the wearer's back, the diaper 1 is secured to the wearer's body, encircling the wearer's abdominal circumference and thighs. Because the diaper 1 is secured to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can stand and walk around while wearing the diaper 1.

The diaper 1 has an absorbent body, capable of absorbing and retaining liquid, located primarily near the crotch region 1B. To prevent gaps from forming between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin that could serve as a liquid leakage path, the diaper 1 also has leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in areas surrounding the wearer's legs (thighs), three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR located inward in the width direction of the diaper 1 from the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, and waist gathers 3R in areas surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, and waist gathers 3R adhere closely to the wearer's skin due to the elastic force of the elastic members. Therefore, liquid excreted from the wearer's genitals is absorbed by the absorbent body of the diaper 1 without leaking out. The elastic member may be selected from thread-like or strip-like rubber, etc., as appropriate.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when not worn, taken along the widthwise centerline of the longitudinal axis. Figure 4 is a plan view of the diaper 1 when stretched, viewed from the skin-facing side. Note that in Figures 4 and subsequent figures, the dashed line C1 represents the centerline of the diaper 1 in the widthwise direction. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms the outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member with a roughly rectangular appearance, with constrictions 4KL and 4KR at the positions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constrictions 4KL and 4KR are located in the areas where the wearer's thighs are located (leg-surrounding regions 10L and 10R shown in Figure 4). The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the back sheet 5 (described later) and to improve the feel. For example, to prevent leakage of body waste, a nonwoven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin can be used as the cover sheet. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, but may also have a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

The diaper 1 comprises a backsheet 5, an absorbent body 6C, and a topsheet 7, which are layered in this order on the wearer-facing surface of the cover sheet 4. The backsheet 5, the absorbent body 6C, and the topsheet 7 are all sheet-like components with a generally rectangular appearance, and are layered in this order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. Like the cover sheet 4, the backsheet 5 is a sheet formed from a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin to prevent leakage of body waste. The backsheet 5 is preferably made of a moisture-permeable material to prevent stuffiness while the diaper 1 is being worn. The topsheet 7 is a sheet-like component that is positioned on the wearer's skin side so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent body 6C. The topsheet 7 is liquid-permeable in part or in its entirety. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, liquid excreted by the wearer passes through the topsheet 7, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, into the absorbent body 6C, and is absorbed therein. For example, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, or porous film can be used as the material for the top sheet 7. The top sheet 7 may be hydrophilic. The absorbent body 6C is disposed in the crotch region 1B.

The backsheet 5, absorbent body 6C, and topsheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's genitals are covered with the cover sheet 4, which is made up of the backsheet 5, absorbent body 6C, and topsheet 7 laminated together, the longitudinal ends of the backsheet 5, absorbent body 6C, and topsheet 7 are positioned on the wearer's ventral and dorsal sides. In other words, the wearer's genitals are covered by the absorbent body 6C from the ventral to dorsal sides. Therefore, whether the wearer is facing belly down or back down when excreting liquid, the excreted liquid will come into contact with the absorbent body 6C via the topsheet 7.

The diaper 1 also includes elastic members 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, which are disposed between the cover sheet 4 and the back sheet 5 and are stretchable in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The elastic members 4SL, 4SR are provided in an appropriate number (three in this embodiment) determined according to the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are disposed at both widthwise end portions of the crotch region 1B, including the leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R, which are the areas of the diaper 1 where the wearer's thighs are located. The leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R are disposed at both widthwise end portions of the crotch region 1B. The regions where the elastic members 4SL, 4SR are disposed are the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR.

The diaper 1 also has long, strip-shaped side sheets 8L, 8R. The side sheets 8L, 8R are liquid-impermeable sheets provided on the long sides of the top sheet 7. Like the cover sheet 4, the side sheets 8L, 8R have constrictions 8KL, 8KR in the areas where the wearer's thighs are located (leg-surrounding regions 10L, 10R shown in Figure 4). Elastic members 8EL, 8ER are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the side sheets 8L, 8R to form the standing gathers 3BL, 3BR. When the diaper 1 is worn, i.e., when the diaper 1 is U-shaped in side view, the side sheets 8L, 8R are drawn longitudinally by the contractile force of the elastic members 8EL, 8ER and rise from the top sheet 7, forming the standing gathers 3BL, 3BR that prevent liquid leakage.

The cover sheet 4 is provided with an elastic member 4C, which prevents a gap from forming between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference, and is located inward in the width direction of the diaper 1 from the elastic members 4SL and 4SR, along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The elastic member 4C is provided according to the elastic force (contractile force) required by the design of the diaper 1.

The elastic members 9ER for forming the waist gathers 3R are provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 at a position further back than the end of the absorbent body 6C. The elastic members 9ER are provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 with their longitudinal direction, which is the direction of stretch, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Therefore, when the tapes 2L, 2R provided on both the left and right sides of the elastic members 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdominal side of the wearer, the elastic members 9ER exert a contractile force to tightly fit the diaper 1 to the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference.

The absorbent body 6C has a structure in which granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure that can absorb and retain water, is held in the gaps between short fibers made of cellulosic fibers such as pulp, rayon, or cotton, or short fibers made of synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate that have been hydrophilically treated. Therefore, in the absorbent body 6C, the volumetric change of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing liquid basically occurs within the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gaps. Therefore, when viewed as a whole, it can be said that the expansion rate of the absorbent body 6C's thickness after absorbing liquid is not as great as the expansion rate of the absorbent resin itself.

In this embodiment, SAP particles refer to a granular resin composition containing SAP. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein encompasses both compositions consisting solely of SAP and compositions containing SAP as the main component, with other substances contained to the extent that they do not adversely affect water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to make the particle surface hydrophobic), unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP, etc.

Next, the tapes 2L, 2R provided in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described using Figures 4 and 5. Figure 5 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state, viewed from the non-skin-facing side. Note that the elastic members 4C, 4SR, 4SL, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment includes a pair of side flaps 11L, 11R located in the rear body region 1R and extending outward in the width direction of the diaper 1 beyond the absorbent body 6C. In this embodiment, the side flaps 11L, 11R are comprised of a cover sheet 4 forming the exterior surface of the diaper 1 and side sheets 8L, 8R joined to the skin-facing side of the cover sheet 4 to form the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. The diaper 1 also includes tapes 2L, 2R connected to the pair of side flaps 11L, 11R, respectively, and attached to a front patch 2F located in the front body region 1F to secure the diaper 1 around the wearer's waist.

The tapes 2L, 2R have base ends 20L, 20R fixed to the side flap portions 11L, 11R and tape base portions 21L, 21R extending outward in the width direction beyond the side flap portions 11L, 11R. The base ends 20L, 20R and tape base portions 21L, 21R are formed from a single sheet material such as nonwoven fabric. The base ends 20L, 20R are positioned between the cover sheet 4 and side sheets 8L, 8R that make up the side flap portions 11L, 11R, and are bonded to at least one of the cover sheet 4 and the side sheets 8L, 8R with an adhesive. This connects the tapes 2L, 2R to the side flap portions 11L, 11R. Furthermore, hook portions 22L, 22R are positioned on the skin-facing side of the tape bases 21L, 21R. The hook portions 22L, 22R are engageable with the front patch 2F. The front patch 2F has loops formed on its surface that can engage with the hook portions 22L, 22R. The hook portions 22L, 22R engage with the loop portions of the front patch 2F, thereby adhering the tapes 2L, 2R to the front body region 1F of the diaper 1. Note that the front patch 2F may not be disposed in the front body region 1F, and the hook portions 22L, 22R may be able to engage with the cover sheet 4 of the front body region 1F.

The tapes 2L, 2R have first colored portions 23L, 23R (shown by dotted hatching in Figures 4 to 6) that are positioned on the tape bases 21L, 21R closer to the base ends 20L, 20R than the hook portions 22L, 22R of the tape bases 21L, 21R. Furthermore, fold lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 are formed on the first colored portions 23L, 23R between the hook portions 22L, 22R and the base ends 20L, 20R. When the tape bases 21L, 21R are folded along the fold lines FL1, FR1, the first colored portions 23L, 23R straddle both the hook portions 22L, 22R and the base ends 20L, 20R, separated by the fold lines FL1, FR1. The first colored portions 23L, 23R are colored a different color from the other portions of the tapes 2L, 2R and the side flap portions 11L, 11R. In this embodiment, the other portions of the tapes 2L, 2R and the side flap portions 11L, 11R are white. The first colored portions 23L, 23R may be colored, for example, blue, red, or green. Therefore, the first colored portions 23L, 23R in the base ends 20L, 20R are visible from the skin-facing side of the diaper 1 through the side sheets 8L, 8R, and are visible from the non-skin-facing side of the diaper 1 through the cover sheet 4. The first colored portions 23L, 23R are formed by coloring the non-skin-facing sides of the tapes 2L, 2R.

The diaper 1 is shipped with the tape bases 21L, 21R of the tapes 2L, 2R folded toward the skin along fold lines FL1, FR1, and the side flaps 11L, 11R folded toward the skin along fold lines FL2, FL2 (shown by two-dot chain lines in Figures 4 to 7). The fold lines FL2, FR2 extend longitudinally of the diaper 1, and the side flaps 11L, 11R are folded toward the skin along the fold lines FL2, FR2. When the absorbent body 6C is hourglass-shaped, as in this embodiment, the fold lines FL2, FR2 are defined on the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 6C in the crotch region 1B.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the diaper 1, viewed from the skin-facing side, with the side flap portions 11L, 11R folded along fold lines FL2, FR2. As shown in Figure 6, the side flap portions 11L, 11R are folded toward the skin-facing side of the diaper 1. In the state shown in Figure 6, the first colored portions 23L, 23R of the diaper 1 are visible.

When wearing a tape-type diaper 1, the wearer must unfold the diaper and pinch the tape with their fingers to secure the diaper 1 to the wearer. The diaper 1 is substantially entirely white, but when the side flap portions 11L, 11R are folded, the first colored portions 23L, 23R, which are colored a color other than white, are visible, making it easier to identify the positions of the tapes 2L, 2R. This makes it easier to identify the positions of the tapes 2L, 2R in the diaper 1 of this embodiment.

Furthermore, the first colored portions 23L, 23R straddle both the hook portions 22L, 22R and the base ends 20L, 20R, separated by the fold lines FL1, FR1. Therefore, when the side flap portions 11L, 11R are unfolded and the tapes 2L, 2R are folded along the fold lines FL1, FR1, the first colored portions 23L, 23R are visible from the skin-facing side of the diaper 1. This makes it easy to recognize the positions of the tapes 2L, 2R in the diaper 1 even when the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is unfolded.

In addition, in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the tapes 2L, 2R are disposed at the tip end of the tape bases 21L, 21R and have second colored portions 24L, 24R that are colored a different color from the other portions of the tapes 2L, 2R and the side flap portions 11L, 11R. The first colored portions 23L, 23R and the second colored portions 24L, 24R are colored the same color. The second colored portions 24L, 24R are portions that are pinched with the fingers when adhering the tapes 2L, 2R to the front body region 1F. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the second colored portions 24L, 24R are provided at the portions of the tapes 2L, 2R that are pinched with the fingers, making these portions easily recognizable.

Next, we will explain the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. The method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is characterized by the process of preparing the tapes 2L and 2R. Therefore, the process of preparing the tapes 2L and 2R will be explained below.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the sheet member S used to form tapes 2L and 2R. Tapes 2L and 2R are formed by cutting the sheet member S into the shape of a tape. The dotted lines in Figure 7 indicate the cutting lines of the sheet member S, and by cutting the sheet member S along these dotted lines, multiple tapes 2L and 2R can be formed from a single sheet member. A cutting device equipped with a cutter roll and anvil roll can be used to cut the sheet member S. Figure 7 shows the sheet member S viewed from the skin-facing side with tapes 2L and 2R connected to side flap portions 11L and 11R. Tapes 2L and 2R are formed alternately along the longitudinal direction of the sheet member S.

As shown in Figure 7, a hook sheet 30 is attached to the widthwise center of the sheet member S. The hook sheet 30 becomes the hook portions 22L, 22R in the tapes 2L, 2R obtained by cutting the sheet member S.

As shown in Figure 7, colored portions 31 are provided on both widthwise sides of the hook sheet 30 of the sheet member S. The colored portions 31 are formed by coloring the back side of the sheet member S in the state shown in Figure 7, i.e., the side that faces away from the skin when the tapes 2L and 2R are connected to the side flap portions 11L and 11R. The colored portions 31 become the first colored portions 23L and 23R and the second colored portions 24L and 24R in the tapes 2L and 2R after the sheet member S is cut.

In the process of preparing the tapes 2L, 2R, the sheet member S is cut along the dotted lines to form the base ends 20L, 20R, the tape bases 21L, 21R with the hook portions 22L, 22R, and the first colored portions 23L, 23. After the tapes 2L, 2R are cut, fold lines FL1, FR1 are formed. The fold lines FL1, FR1 extend in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 between the hook portions 22L, 22R and the base ends 20L, 20R and are formed on the first colored portions 23L, 23. This allows the first colored portions 23L, 23R to straddle both the hook portions 22L, 22R and the base ends 20L, 20R, with the fold lines FL1, FR1 as the boundary, with the tape bases 21L, 21R folded along the fold lines FL1, FR1.

Furthermore, in the process of preparing the tapes 2L, 2R, second colored portions 24L, 24R can be formed at the tip ends of the tape bases 21L, 21R and colored a different color from the other portions of the tapes 2L, 2R and the side flap portions 11L, 11R. The first colored portions 23L, 23R and the second colored portions 24L, 24R are colored the same color. The manufacturing method for the diaper 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to manufacture a diaper in which the placement positions of the tapes 2L, 2R are easily recognizable.

Next, we will explain the method for determining whether an absorbent article is defective (hereinafter referred to as the "determination method") in the manufacturing method for absorbent articles according to this embodiment. Figure 8 is a flowchart outlining the determination method according to this embodiment. In the determination method according to this embodiment, first, the diaper 1 is photographed from the skin-facing side while being transported in a fixed direction in an unfolded state as shown in Figure 4 (step S101). In this step S101, the positions of the outer widthwise ends of the tape bases 21L, 21R, i.e., the positions of the outer widthwise ends of the second colored portions 24L, 24R, are photographed.

In step S102, the process following step S101 determines whether the tapes 2L and 2R are positioned in the predetermined positions by determining the positions of the widthwise outer ends of the second colored portions 24L and 24R based on the image data acquired in step S101. If it is determined in step S102 that the tapes 2L and 2R are positioned in the predetermined positions (Yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103. If it is determined that the tapes 2L and 2R are not positioned in the predetermined positions (No in step S102), the process proceeds to step S104. In step S103, fold lines FL1 and FL2 are formed on the first colored portions 23L and 23R, and the tape bases 21L and 21R are folded toward the skin-facing side of the diaper 1 along the fold lines FL1 and FR1. Note that the fold lines FL1 and FR1 may be formed in advance on the tape bases 21L and 21R. On the other hand, in step S104, the diaper 1 is rejected as a defective product in which the tapes 2L and 2R are determined not to be positioned in the predetermined positions.

In step S105, the step following step S103, the diaper 1 is photographed from the skin-facing side as it is transported in a fixed direction with the tape bases 21L, 21R folded along the fold lines FL1, FR1. In this step S105, the first colored portions 23L, 23R folded along the fold lines FL1, FR1 are photographed.

In step S106, the process following step S105 determines whether the tape bases 21L, 21R are folded into the predetermined shape by determining whether the shape of the folded first colored portions 23L, 23R is the predetermined shape based on the image data acquired in step S105. For example, if the folded first colored portions 23L, 23R are not the predetermined shape (in this embodiment, if they are not rectangular), it can be determined that the tape bases 21L, 21R are not folded into the predetermined shape. If it is determined in step S106 that the tape bases 21L, 21R are folded into the predetermined shape (Yes in step S106), the diaper 1 is determined not to be defective, and the determination by this determination method is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S106 that the tape bases 21L, 21R are not folded into the predetermined shape (No in step S106), the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, diapers 1 that are determined to be defective because the tape bases 21L, 21R are not folded in the specified shape are rejected.

In the diaper 1, if the tape bases 21L, 21R are not folded into the specified shape, for example, if the hook portions 22L, 22R are bent, the hook portions 22L, 22R may lift up from the front patch 2F when worn, resulting in insufficient adhesion of the hook portions 22L, 22R. Alternatively, the hook portions 22L, 22R may bend and peel off the front patch 2F, resulting in improper adhesion of the hook portions 22L, 22R. Thus, if unintended fold lines are formed in the tape bases 21L, 21R, there is a risk that the hook portions 22L, 22R will not be properly attached. If the hook portions 22L, 22R are not properly attached, the diaper will be unable to follow the wearer's movements, resulting in gaps between the diaper and the wearer's skin, which can lead to urinary incontinence and other problems. The assessment method according to this embodiment makes it possible to eliminate defective diapers that have fold lines formed on the tape bases 21L, 21R that were not anticipated in the design, thereby enabling the manufacture of diapers that can prevent urinary leakage, etc.

Next, the determination method according to this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing device for diapers 1. The manufacturing device M used in the manufacturing method for diapers 1 includes a conveying line M1, a control unit M2, an imaging device M3, a defective product discharge unit M4, an imaging device M5, and a defective product discharge unit M6. The conveying line M1 is a conveyor that transports diapers 1 in a fixed direction. The diapers 1 are transported on the conveying line M1 with the skin side facing up.

The control unit M2 controls the imaging devices M3 and M5 and has a functional unit that determines whether a diaper 1 is defective based on the image data acquired from the imaging devices M3 and M5. First, the imaging device M3 captures an image of the diaper 1 from the skin-facing side (step S101). Next, the control unit M2 determines whether the tapes 2L and 2R are positioned in the predetermined positions based on the image data acquired from the imaging device M3 (step S102). Next, the diaper 1D determined to be defective is removed from the conveying line M1 through the defective product removal unit M4 (step S104). The defective product removal unit M4 may have a known configuration, mechanism, or the like. Note that the control unit M2 may control the defective product removal unit M4, or a separate control unit may be provided to control the defective product removal unit M4.

Diapers 1 that are not discharged from the defective product discharge section M4 and remain on the conveying line M1 have their tape bases 21L, 21R folded toward the skin-facing side of the diaper 1 along fold lines FL1, FR1 by a folding mechanism (not shown). Downstream of this folding mechanism are an imaging device M5 and a defective product discharge section M6. The imaging device M5 photographs the diaper 1 from the skin-facing side (step S105). Next, the control section M2 determines whether the tape bases 21L, 21R are folded into the predetermined shape along fold lines FL1, FR1 based on the image data acquired from the imaging device M5 (step S106). Diapers 1D determined to be defective are then removed from the conveying line M1 via the defective product discharge section M6 (step S107). The defective product discharge section M6 may have a configuration similar to that of the defective product discharge section M4. The control unit M2 may control the mechanism of the defective product discharge unit M6, or a separate control unit may be provided to control the defective product discharge unit M6. In this way, the determination method according to this embodiment makes it possible to reject defective diapers and manufacture diapers that can prevent urinary leakage, etc.

Furthermore, the above-described determination method makes it possible to determine whether the diaper 1 is folded along the fold lines FL2, FR2. For example, when the diaper 1 is being transported on the transport line M1, the diaper 1 is photographed from the skin-facing side, and based on the photographed data, it is possible to determine whether the diaper 1 is folded into a predetermined shape along the fold lines FL2, FR2. Diapers 1 that are not folded into a predetermined shape along the fold lines FL2, FR2 can then be rejected as defective.

<Other embodiments>
Next, other embodiments will be described. In the diaper 1 according to the above embodiment, the side flap portions 11L, 11R are arranged in the rear body region 1R, and the tapes 2L, 2R connected to the side flap portions 11L, 11R are attached to the front body region 1F and secured around the wearer's waist. However, the diaper 1 is not limited to this. For example, the diaper 1 may have the side flap portions 11L, 11R arranged in the rear body region 1R, and the tapes 2L, 2R connected to the side flap portions 11L, 11R are attached to the rear body region 1R and secured around the wearer's waist.

The first colored portions 23L, 23R may be formed by coloring the skin-facing side of the tapes 2L, 2R. The second colored portions 24L, 24R may be formed by coloring the skin-facing side of the tapes 2L, 2R. The first colored portions 23L, 23R and the second colored portions 24L, 24R may be colored different colors.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1....Diaper 1B....Crotch region 1F....Front body region 1R....Back body region 2F....Front patch 2L, 2R....Tapes 3BL, 3BR....3D gathers 3R....Waist gathers 4....Cover sheet 4KL, 4KR....Constrictions 4C, 4SL, 4SR, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER....Elastic member 5....Back sheet 6C....Absorbent body 7....Top sheet 8....Side sheets 10L, 10R....Leg-surrounding regions 11L, 11R... Side flap portions 20L, 20R... Base end portions 21L, 21R... Tape base portions 22L, 22R... Hook portions 23L, 23R... First colored portions 24L, 24R... Second colored portions 30... Hook sheet 31... Colored portions FL1, FR1, FL2, FR2... Fold line S... Sheet member M... Manufacturing device M1... Conveyor line M2... Control units M3, M5... Imaging devices M4, M6... Defective product discharge unit

Claims (3)

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article in which a front body region located on the abdomen side of a wearer in a worn state, a crotch region located between the crotch of the wearer, and a back body region located on the back side are provided in this order in a longitudinal direction,
The absorbent article comprises:
an absorbent body disposed including the crotch region;
a pair of side flap portions disposed in one of the front body region or the rear body region and extending outward in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction beyond the absorbent body;
Equipped with
The method for manufacturing the absorbent article includes:
preparing a tape connected to each of the pair of side flap portions and attached to the other of the front body region or the back body region to secure the absorbent article around the waist of the wearer;
In the step of preparing the tape,
a base end portion fixed to the side flap portion;
a tape base portion extending outward in the width direction from the side flap portion and having a hook portion disposed on the skin-facing side;
a first colored portion disposed across the tape base portion toward the base end portion from the hook portion and colored in a color different from other portions of the tape and the side flap portion;
Forming
A fold line is formed on the first colored portion between the hook portion and the base end portion, the fold line extending in the longitudinal direction;
In a state where the tape base is folded along the folding line, the first colored portion straddles both sides of the folding line, namely, the hook portion side and the base end side,
The method further includes a step of determining whether the absorbent article is defective after connecting the tape to each of the pair of side flap portions,
The step of determining defective products includes:
a base photographing step of photographing the absorbent article from the skin side, the absorbent article being transported in a certain direction with the tape base folded along the folding line toward the skin side of the absorbent article;
a folding position determination step of determining whether the shape of the folded first colored portion is a predetermined shape based on the photographing data acquired in the base photographing step, thereby determining whether the tape base has been folded into the predetermined shape;
Including,
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article. In the step of preparing the tape, a second colored portion is formed, which is disposed at the tip end of the tape base and colored in a color different from other portions of the tape and the side flap portion;
The first colored portion and the second colored portion are colored the same color.
A method for manufacturing the absorbent article according to claim 1. The step of determining defective products includes:
a tip photographing step of photographing a position of an outer end of the second colored portion in the width direction of the absorbent article before the base photographing step and before the tape base is folded along the fold line to the skin-facing side of the absorbent article;
a tape splicing position determination step of determining whether the tape is disposed at a predetermined position by determining the position of an outer end of the second colored portion in the width direction based on the photographed data acquired in the leading end portion photographing step;
Including,
A method for manufacturing the absorbent article according to claim 2.