CN107613922B

CN107613922B - Absorbent article and method and apparatus for manufacturing absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN107613922B
Application number: CN201680031966.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石川宜秀; 二宫彰秀; 伊藤良宏
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2015-06-03
Filing date: 2016-04-08
Publication date: 2020-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-08
Also published as: JP2016221139A; CN107613922A; WO2016194476A1; JP6019174B1

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article (1) is provided. An absorbent article (1) in an unfinished state comprising: an absorption body (10) that absorbs liquid; and a pair of stretchable belt members (30) disposed on the absorption body (10) and arranged in a width direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the absorption body (10). The absorption body (10) includes leg openings (10HL) at each side in its width direction and folding lines (L10) for folding widthwise end portions of the absorption body (10) inward in the width direction. The folded end portions of the absorbent body include portions to be fixed to which the belt members (30) are respectively fixed. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article (1) comprises: forming leg openings (10HL) in each width-direction side portion of a base sheet (13sa), the base sheet (13sa) being used to form the absorption body (10) and continuous in the longitudinal direction; and folding a widthwise end portion of the base sheet material (13sa) widthwise inwardly at a fold line (L10).

Description

Absorbent article and method and apparatus for manufacturing absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, and to a method and apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article.

Background

A disposable diaper, which is a general absorbent article, is known, and absorbs excrement such as urine.

Reference list

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent application publication No.9-10261

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a finished disposable diaper 1' of a reference example. Fig. 1B is a schematic plan view of an unfinished diaper 1', and fig. 1C is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in fig. 1B.

In the production line of the disposable diapers 1', the unfinished diapers 1' shown in fig. 1B and 1C include: the absorption body 10', the longitudinal end portions 10eLa' and 10eLb 'of the absorption body 10' being substantially V-shaped; and a pair of stretchable belt members 30 'and 30', the pair of stretchable belt members 30 'and 30' being disposed on the absorbent body 10 'and being arranged in a line in a width direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 10'. The absorption body 10' includes: an absorbent body 11', the absorbent body 11' absorbing liquid; a top sheet 13', the top sheet 13' being arranged on the skin side of the absorbent body 11 '; and a back sheet 15', the back sheet 15' being arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 11 '. A pair of strap members 30 'and 30' each have leg openings 30HL 'and a fold line L30'. Each of the folding lines L30 'is used to fold each belt member 30' in the width direction so that the width-direction end portions 30ewl 'and 30ew2' of the belt member 30 'are located widthwise inward of the folding line L30'. The belt member 30 'which has been folded at the folding line L30' is connected to the widthwise end portion 10ew 'of the absorption body 10' at the portion to be connected j30w 'of the end portion 30ew2', the end portion 30ew2 'being located outside the end portion 30ewl' in the widthwise direction. Also, the belt members 30' and 30' are connected to the substantially V-shaped end portions 10eLa ' and 10eLb ' of the absorption body 10' by, for example, welding.

In such an unfinished state, with respect to the end portions 30ewl ' and 30ewl ' of the pair of belt members 30' and 30' located on the inner side, when the end portions 30ewl ' and 30ewl ' are opened toward the width side, as shown in fig. 1B, the belt members 30' and 30' are folded in half at the substantially longitudinal center position CLL30 '. In this process, when the absorbent main body 10' is folded in half at substantially the longitudinal center position CLL10', the end portions 30ewl ' and 30ewl ' located on the widthwise inner sides together form the waist opening 1HB ' of the diaper 1', and the leg openings 30HL ' and 30HL ' of the belt members 30' and 30' are located on the widthwise sides of the absorbent main body 10', respectively. Thus, the diaper 1 'becomes a state in which it can be put on as a pull-on diaper 1', as shown in fig. 1A.

However, in the manufacture of the diaper L ', it is necessary to fold the tape member 30' in the width direction at the fold line L30', as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. However, such a folding process is a relatively high-level difficult process, which is likely to cause troubles in the production line, and particularly, when the belt member 30' has stretchability, as described above, the difficulty is further increased.

In this regard, longitudinal stretchability is generally not required for the top sheet 13' and/or the back sheet 15' constituting the absorbent body 10 '. Thus, instead of folding the belt members 30', folding the top sheet 13' or the back sheet 15 'makes the folding process more stable, which can be considered as facilitating the manufacture of the diaper 1'.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has an advantage of facilitating the manufacture of an absorbent article having: an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and a pair of stretchable belt members disposed on the absorbent main body from a skin side of the absorbent main body in a thickness direction, and disposed in a line in a width direction.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above advantages is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

a pair of stretchable belt members disposed on the absorbent main body and arranged in a width direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body;

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

a folding line for folding the widthwise end portion of the absorption body widthwise inward,

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

a corresponding one of the pair of belt members is fixed to the portion to be fixed,

the method comprises the following steps:

leg openings are formed at each widthwise side portion of the base sheet,

the base sheet is used for forming an absorption body and is continuous along a longitudinal direction; and

the widthwise end portions of the base sheet are folded widthwise inwardly on the folding lines.

Furthermore, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

the device includes:

a forming device that forms leg openings at each widthwise side portion of the base sheet,

a folding device that folds widthwise end portions of the base sheet inward in a width direction on a folding line.

Furthermore, an absorbent article is provided which comprises,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

a corresponding one of the pair of belt members is fixed to the portion to be fixed.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Advantageous effects of the invention

According to the present invention, an absorbent article can be conveniently manufactured, the absorbent article comprising: an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and a pair of stretchable belt members disposed on the absorbent main body from a skin side thereof in a thickness direction, the pair of stretchable belt members being arranged in a line in a width direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a finished disposable diaper 1' of a reference example.

Fig. 1B is a schematic plan view of an unfinished diaper 1'.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 1B.

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the finished diaper 1 according to the first embodiment, seen from the front.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 as seen from the belt member 30 side, the diaper 1 being in a plate-like state in which the diaper 1 has not yet been completed.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 as seen from the side of the absorbent main body 10.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V in fig. 3.

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in the plate-like state shown in FIG. 3; some of the attachment means of the diaper 1 are removed and the diaper 1 is unfolded so that its skin-side surface can be seen.

Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 6A.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a first process of the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of the leg opening 10 HL.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the second process.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the third process.

Fig. 11 is a view showing a fourth process.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a fifth process.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a sixth process and a seventh process

Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view for explaining the relationship between the length L10HL of the leg opening 10HL and the length L10HLN of the component when the leg opening 10HL is not formed.

Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view showing the process of the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 16A and 16B are schematic plan views of the diaper 1 in which its leg openings 10HL are formed in the top sheet 13 so as not to cross the folding line L10, and the diaper 1 is opened in the same manner as in fig. 6A.

Fig. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a diaper 1, which diaper 1 has leg openings 10HL and a fold line L10 in its back sheet 15, the diaper 1 being opened in the same way as in fig. 6B.

Fig. 18A to 18D are schematic plan views of a diaper 1 in which leg openings 10HL in the form of slits SL are formed in a top sheet 13, the diaper 1 being opened in the same manner as in fig. 6A.

Detailed Description

At least the following will be apparent from the description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

the method comprises the following steps:

leg openings are formed in each width-direction side portion of the base sheet,

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the above-mentioned folding line is provided in the base sheet in connection with the absorbent body. Also, not folding the tape member, but folding the end portion of the base sheet on the folding line will enable the portion to be fixed to be formed in the end portion. Thus, folding of the stretchable band member is not required. This can facilitate the manufacture of the absorbent article.

In this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that,

the fold line is provided in a portion of the base sheet material having a lower longitudinal stretchability than the belt member.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the above-mentioned folding line is provided in a portion of the base sheet material associated with the absorbent body, which portion has a lower longitudinal stretchability than the belt member. Therefore, the step of folding on the folding line is less likely to be affected by stretchability, which enables the folding process to be stably performed.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

When an external force of 1N per 25mm of the widthwise length is longitudinally applied to a portion contained in the base sheet, and a folding line is provided in the portion,

the elongation is 0% or more and 20% or less.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the elongation of the portion contained in the base sheet and in which the folding line is provided is within the above-described range. Therefore, the portion where the folding line is provided is difficult to stretch when folded on the folding line, which enables the folding process to be stably performed.

In this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that,

in the formation of the leg openings,

the leg opening is formed across the fold line in the width direction.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, leg openings are formed in the base sheet of the absorbent main body so as to cross the folding lines in the width direction. Therefore, the portion covering the waist of the wearer (the portion including the absorbent main body and the belt member) is more easily set to an appropriate size.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The folding is performed after the leg openings are formed.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, after the leg openings are formed, the end portions of the base sheet are folded over the folding lines. Thus, in the case where the leg opening is formed so as to cross at least the folding line, it is possible to form the leg opening in an asymmetrical shape which is not symmetrical with respect to a straight line in the longitudinal direction. This can increase the degree of freedom in selecting the shape of the leg opening.

In this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that,

the leg opening is formed in an asymmetrical shape which is not symmetrical with respect to a straight line along the longitudinal direction.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, since the leg openings are formed in an asymmetric shape, it is possible to make the leg openings fit the leg peripheries of the wearer.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The fold line is arranged at a position shifted in the width direction from a widthwise position where the longitudinal length of the leg opening is maximum.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, folding can be performed smoothly on the folding line. For example, in some cases, the guide member comes into contact with the folding line when the base sheet is folded. In this case, when the folding line is arranged at the offset position as described above, it is possible to ensure that a larger portion of the base sheet is in contact with the guide member. This enables smooth folding on the folding line.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The area of the opening portion of the leg opening located inside the folding line in the width direction is smaller than the area of the opening portion of the leg opening located outside the folding line in the width direction.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, folding can be performed smoothly on the folding line. For example, in most cases, when the base sheet is folded, the guide member comes into contact with a portion located inside the fold line in the width direction. In this case, when the relation of areas is as described above, when the guide member abuts against the base sheet, a large area of the portion of the base sheet in contact with the guide member can be secured. This enables smooth folding on the folding line.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The leg opening has a longitudinal length greater than the longitudinal length of a portion of the base sheet,

the portion is located between the leg openings adjacent in the longitudinal direction, and the portion is a portion that does not form a leg opening.

With this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the length of the leg opening is greater than the length of the portion where the leg opening is not formed. Therefore, after the base sheet is folded on the folding line, the bending rigidity of the base sheet on the folding line is likely to be reduced; thus, the base sheet may maintain its folded state. This facilitates proper handling of the folded substrate sheet.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The method further includes fixing the widthwise end portion of the second base sheet to a portion to be fixed of the widthwise end portion of the first base sheet,

the first base sheet is a base sheet for forming the absorption body,

the second base sheet is used to form the tape member and is continuous in the longitudinal direction, an

Folding is performed after fixation.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the first base sheet is folded while being fixed to the second base sheet and integrated. Therefore, the first base sheet can be folded while the second base sheet restricts undesired deformation of the first base sheet, and therefore, the first base sheet can be stably folded.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

the first base sheet is a base sheet for forming the absorption body,

a second base sheet for forming a tape member and continuous in the longitudinal direction, an

The fixing is performed after folding.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, a first base sheet is folded and then the first base sheet is fixed to a second base sheet. Therefore, the size of the apparatus for folding the first base sheet can be reduced. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The absorption body includes:

an absorbent core that absorbs liquid;

a skin-side sheet disposed on the skin side in the thickness direction of the absorbent core; and

a non-skin-side sheet disposed on the non-skin side in the thickness direction of the absorbent core, and

the first substrate sheet is a continuous sheet wherein the skin-side sheet is continuous in the longitudinal direction.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, an absorbent article can be manufactured in which the belt member is fixed on the skin-side sheet.

In such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is preferable that

The absorption body includes:

an absorbent core that absorbs liquid;

the first base sheet is a continuous sheet in which the non-skin side sheet is continuous in the longitudinal direction.

By this method for manufacturing an absorbent article, an absorbent article can be manufactured in which the belt member is fixed on the non-skin side sheet.

Furthermore, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

the device includes:

a forming device that forms leg openings in each width-direction side portion of the base sheet,

With such an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, the same working effects as those of the above-described method can be obtained.

Furthermore, an absorbent article is provided which comprises,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

With such an absorbent article, the above-mentioned folding line is provided on the absorption body. And the belt member is not folded but the end portion of the absorption body is folded on the folding line, and the portion to be fixed can be formed in the end portion. Thus, folding of the stretchable band member is not required. This enables convenient manufacture of the absorbent article.

First embodiment

The method and apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment are used in, for example, a production line of a disposable diaper 1 as an example of an absorbent article.

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the finished diaper 1 according to the first embodiment, seen from the front. Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 as seen from the belt member 30 side, the diaper 1 being in a plate-like state in which the diaper 1 has not yet been completed. Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 as seen from the side of the absorbent main body 10. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V in fig. 3.

In the final stage of the manufacturing process, the diaper 1 is in a plate-like state in which the diaper 1 is extended flat (corresponding to an unfinished state), as shown in fig. 3. More specifically, the absorption body 10 to be arranged in the crotch of the wearer is a sheet-like member having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction perpendicular to each other; its longitudinal end portions 10eLa and 10eLb each have a substantially V-shaped conical shape. The absorption body 10 includes leg openings 10HL, 10HL on both sides in the width direction and folding lines L10, L10. On the folding lines L10 and L10, the width direction end portions 10ew and 10ew of the absorption body 10 are folded inward in the width direction.

A pair of

belt members

30 and 30 arranged mainly around the waist of the wearer are arranged on the skin-side surface of the absorbent main body 10 (fig. 5), and arranged in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 (fig. 3). In this state, the end portions 30ew2 of the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 arranged outside in the width direction are respectively connected with the portions to be connected j10w (corresponding to the portions to be fixed) of the folded end portion 10ew of the absorption body 10; such connection is exemplified by fixing by hot melt adhesive or the like. The

belt members

30 and 30 are also connected to the above-described end portions 10eLa and 10eLb having a substantially V-shape by, for example, welding.

The end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 of the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 are located on the inner side in the width direction, and from such a plate-like state, the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 are opened toward the width direction side (fig. 3). At the same time, the strap member 30 is doubled over at a substantially longitudinal center position CLL 30. In this process, when the absorbent main body 10 is folded in two at the substantially longitudinal center position CLL10, the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 located on the inner side in the width direction together form the waist opening 1HB of the diaper 1, and the leg openings 10HL and 10HL of the

belt members

30 and 30 are located on the width direction sides of the absorbent main body 10, respectively. Therefore, the diaper 1 can be put on as a pull-on diaper 1 as shown in fig. 2.

The

components

10, 30 and 30 will be described below mainly with reference to the diaper 1 in the plate-like state shown in figure 3. The longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction of the absorption body 10 in a plate-like state substantially match the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction of the diaper 1 in a plate-like state, respectively. Therefore, in the following description, these directions are referred to as only the "longitudinal direction", "width direction", and "thickness direction". In the longitudinal direction, since one side is positioned on the front side of the wearer and the other side is positioned on the back side of the wearer, the one side is also referred to as "front side" and the other side is referred to as "back side". Further, in the thickness direction, the side in contact with the wearer is also referred to as "skin side", and the opposite side is also referred to as "non-skin side". The width direction is also referred to as "left-right direction".

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 shown in FIG. 3 in a sheet-like state; for the purpose of explanation, some of the connecting portions of the diaper 1 are removed and the diaper 1 is unfolded so that its skin-side surface can be seen. That is, fig. 6A is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in the following state: the longitudinal end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorption body 10 are detached from the

belt members

30 and 30; and the

belt members

30 and 30 are opened outward in the width direction. In fig. 6A, the skin side of the absorption body 10 and the skin side of the belt member 30 can be seen. Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in fig. 6A. Fig. 6A and 6B are views of a diaper 1, which diaper 1 extends in the longitudinal and width direction until its folds (e.g. creases) disappear. The same applies to fig. 3 to 5 described above and fig. 16A, 16B, 18A to 18D to be described later.

As shown in fig. 3, 5, 6A and 6B, the absorption body 10 has longitudinal end portions 10eLa and 10eLb, each of the longitudinal end portions 10eLa and 10eLb is a sheet-like member having a substantially V-shaped tapered shape when viewed from above, the absorption body 10 further comprising: an absorbent body 11; a top sheet 13 (corresponding to a skin-side sheet), the top sheet 13 covering the absorbent body 11 from the skin side; and a back sheet (corresponding to the non-skin side sheet) that covers the absorbent body 11 from the non-skin side.

These

members

11, 13, and 15 are each connected to the members adjacent in the thickness direction by a hot melt adhesive or the like. Examples of the pattern for applying the adhesive include an omega-shaped pattern, a spiral pattern, and a stripe pattern. This also applies to other adhesives to be described later.

The absorbent body 11 includes: an absorbent core 11c, the absorbent core 11c absorbing liquid; and a core wrapping sheet (not shown) for wrapping the outer surface of the absorbent core 11 c. The absorbent core 11c is composed of a liquid-absorbent material, and forms a substantially hourglass shape when viewed from above, which is an example of a predetermined shape. Examples of liquid-absorbent materials are liquid-absorbent fibers, such as pulp fibers, and liquid-absorbent particles, such as superabsorbent polymers (so-called SAP). In this example, a composition having a predetermined basis weight (g/m) is used²) A range of pulp fibers and a fiber having a predetermined basis weight (g/m)²) Mixtures of SAP in the range are used as the liquid-absorbing material. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As core wrap sheet, a liquid permeable sheet, such as tissue or nonwoven can be used. Further, the shape of the absorbent core 11c is not limited to the above-described substantially hourglass shape in plan view, but may be other shapes.

The top sheet 13 is constituted by a liquid-permeable sheet such as an air-permeable nonwoven fabric, and has a planar size in which the top sheet 13 extends beyond the longitudinal side and the width direction side of the absorbent body 11. Since the longitudinal end portions of the top sheet 13 constitute the end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorption body 10, respectively, each longitudinal end portion has a substantially V-shaped tapered shape in which the dimension in the width direction becomes smaller as it extends in the longitudinal direction toward the front side (or back side), as described above.

Also, the back sheet 15 is a sheet having a planar size in which the back sheet 15 extends beyond the longitudinal side and the width direction side of the absorbent body 11. Similar to the top sheet 13, since the longitudinal end portions of the back sheet 15 constitute the end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorption body 10, respectively, the longitudinal end portions each have a substantially V-shaped tapered shape in which the dimension in the width direction becomes smaller as it extends in the longitudinal direction toward the front side (or back side), as described above. These top sheet 13 and back sheet 15 are stacked in the thickness direction so that the substantially V-shapes formed by the end portions of the two sheets match each other. Thus, the absorbent body 11 is held between these

sheets

13 and 15.

It should be noted that an example of the raw material of the back sheet 15 can be a laminate sheet 15 having a double-layer structure, as shown in fig. 5. The laminated sheet 15 includes: a liquid-impermeable leak-proof sheet 15f such as a Polyethylene (PE) film, a polypropylene (PP) film, or the like; an outer sheet 15n, the outer sheet 15n being made of a nonwoven fabric attached on the non-skin side of the leakage-preventing sheet 15 f. However, the present invention is not limited thereto as long as the sheet is a leakage-preventing sheet. In this example, the planar dimension of the leakage-preventing sheet 15f is smaller than that of the outer sheet 15n, and therefore, the leakage-preventing sheet 15f is contained in the outer edges of the outer sheet 15n in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The leakage preventing sheet 15f and the exterior sheet 15n may have the same size.

In contrast, as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the top sheet 13 has a planar size in which the top sheet 13 extends outward in the width direction beyond the back sheet 15. Thus, the widthwise end portions 13ew and 13ew of the top sheet 13 constitute widthwise end portions 10ew and 10ew of the absorption body 10. The end portion 13ew is folded widthwise inwardly at fold lines L10 and L10 to change from the state shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B to the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The folding lines L10 and L10 are provided at predetermined widthwise positions of the top sheet 13 in the longitudinal direction. At the widthwise ends of the folded end portion 13ew, portions to be connected j10w are respectively provided for connection with the respective belt members 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the tape member 30 has widthwise end portions 30ewl and 30ew2, and the end portion 30ew2 disposed on the outer side in the widthwise direction is connected over substantially the entire longitudinal length thereof to the portion to be connected j10w by hot melt adhesive or the like. In this structure, it is not necessary to fold the end portion 30ew2 of the stretchable band member 30 which is arranged outside in the width direction. This can facilitate the manufacture of the diaper 1.

The above-described fold line L10 is provided in the portion 13out of the top sheet 13 that extends outward in the width direction beyond the back sheet 15. In addition, the longitudinal stretchability of the portion 13out providing the folding line L10 is lower than the longitudinal stretchability of the belt member 30. More specifically, in this example, the longitudinal stretchability of the top sheet 13 is lower than the longitudinal stretchability of the belt member 30 across the entire width-direction region of the top sheet 13. Therefore, in a method for manufacturing a diaper, which will be described later, the low stretchability of the top sheet 13 enables the process of folding the top sheet 13 at the folding line L10 to be performed more stably (compared to folding the belt member 30). Thus, the diaper 1 can be easily manufactured.

However, the portion 13out extending beyond in the width direction does not necessarily have low stretchability in the entire area of the portion 13 out. That is, with respect to a band-like region of a predetermined widthwise dimension, which includes the fold line L10 and extends in the longitudinal direction, the folding process can be reasonably stabilized as long as the band-like region has a low stretchability.

The stretchability mentioned above means the following features: on the one hand, when an external tensile force is exerted on the object, the object rapidly extends almost elastically from its initial unstretched length in the direction in which the external force acts; on the other hand, when the external force is released, the object contracts rapidly almost elastically until it recovers its original unstretched length (at least a length less than or equal to 1.1 times the original unstretched length). The stretchability is compared between the two sheets, for example, as follows. An equal level of external force that does not damage both sheets is applied uniformly in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction to the sheet having the initial unstretched length. The sheet stretched at a greater elongation has a higher stretchability than the sheet stretched at a smaller elongation. For example, in this example, with respect to a certain value of external force uniformly applied in the longitudinal direction 10 and in the width direction, when the external force is applied to the belt member 30 having the initial non-stretched length, the elongation of the former is larger than that of the latter when the external force is applied to the top sheet 13 having the initial non-stretched length. The above elongation (%) is a percentage value obtained by dividing the following subtraction value by the original unstretched elongation: the subtraction value is obtained by subtracting the initial unstretched longitudinal length of the sheet from the longitudinal length of the sheet to which the above-described external force is applied.

Preferably, when an external force of 1N per 25mm of the widthwise length is longitudinally applied to the portion of the top sheet 13 in which the fold line L10 is provided, the elongation of the portion is greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 20%. More preferably, the elongation is less than or equal to 10%. More preferably, the elongation is less than or equal to 5%. When the elongation is within this range, the folding process can be stabilized more reliably.

In the top sheet 13, the leg opening 10HL is formed through the top sheet 13 in the thickness direction so as to cross the folding line L10 in the width direction. Therefore, with respect to the portion 30p (see fig. 2) covering the waist of the wearer, which is constituted by the belt member 30 and the absorption body 10, the dimension S30p of the portion 30p can be set to a suitable dimension which is not excessively large or small. This will be described later.

Referring to fig. 6A and 6B and as described above, the above-described folding line L10 (on which the leg opening 10HL is disposed) is provided on the portion 13out of the top sheet 13 extending outward in the width direction beyond the back sheet 15. Therefore, the leg opening 10HL is formed on the portion 13out, which can prevent the trouble of the back sheet 15 blocking the leg opening 10 HL. Therefore, the leg opening 10HL can surely function to pass the leg of the wearer as intended.

In a state where the end portion 13ew of the top sheet 13 has not been folded at the folding line L10, as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the leg openings 10HL are formed to extend through the top sheet 13 at portions of the end portion 13ew which are inside in the width direction of the portion to be connected jl0w to which the tape member 30 is to be connected jl0 w. This can prevent the trouble caused by forming the leg opening 10HL in the portion of the top sheet 13 located outside the portion to be connected jl0w in the width direction, that is, the trouble of the belt member 30 blocking the leg opening 10 HL. Also, this can contribute to the effective function as intended of the above-described leg opening 10 HL.

The leg openings 10HL are each formed in an asymmetrical shape that is not symmetrical about the corresponding fold line L10. The asymmetric shape is determined in consideration of the peripheral shape of the wearer's leg. Thus, it can be well fitted to the periphery of the wearer's leg. Meanwhile, whether the shape of each leg opening 10HL is a symmetrical shape or an asymmetrical shape can be determined as follows: for example, in the open state shown in fig. 6A, the leg opening 10HL extends in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction until its wrinkles such as creases disappear, and then the shape of the leg opening 10HL is observed with eyes; or the shape of the cutting die of the die-cutting blade device (described later) is observed by eyes.

Preferably, the portion 13outf of the top sheet 13 extending outward in the width direction beyond the leakage preventing sheet 15f (as shown in fig. 6B) is rendered hydrophobic by, for example, applying a suitable water repellent agent thereto. This can effectively prevent the trouble of urine moving to the widthwise outer side of the top sheet 13 through the outer sheet 15n of the back sheet 15 to reach the non-skin side of the back sheet 15.

In this example, a fold line L10 is provided in the top sheet 13, as shown in fig. 5. Therefore, the portion to be connected jl0w (j30w ') can be disposed farther away from the absorbent body 11 than in the case of fig. 1C (in which the folding line L30' is provided on the belt member 30 ') introduced at the beginning of the present specification. This makes it possible to effectively prevent urine from leaking from the portion to be connected j10w (j30 w').

As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, each of the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 is a sheet-like member elongated in the longitudinal direction, and in this example, the

belt members

30 and 30 are constituted by

nonwoven fabrics

31 and 32 stacked in the thickness direction. In order to impart stretchability to the belt member 30, a plurality of

elastic cord members

35, 35 … … (e.g., elastic cords) are arranged between the two

nonwoven fabrics

31 and 32 in the longitudinal direction and are laid in the width direction 30. That is, the

elastic cord members

35, 35 … … are fixed to the

nonwoven fabrics

31 and 32 by hot melt adhesive or the like and extend in the longitudinal direction up to, for example, an elongation of 1.8 times to 4.0 times. Thus, the

belt members

30 and 30 have longitudinal stretchability.

As shown in fig. 5, a pair of

belt members

30 and 30 are arranged on the absorbent main body 10 from the skin side of the absorbent main body 10. More specifically, one of the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 is arranged on the absorption body 10 such that the skin-side surface of the belt member 30 abuts against the left side portion of the skin-side surface of the absorption body 10. Also, another belt member 30 is disposed on the absorbent body 10 such that the skin-side surface of the belt member 30 abuts against the right-side portion of the skin-side surface of the absorbent body 10. Therefore, each of the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 is a mirror image of the other about the widthwise center CLW10 of the absorbent body 10, as shown in fig. 3 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5 and as described above, the belt member 30 has width-direction end portions 30ew1 and 30ew2, and the end portion 30ew2 is located on the outer side in the width direction. The end portion 30ew2 is placed on the portion to be joined j10w from the skin side of the absorbent body 10, and the end portion 30ew2 is joined to the portion to be joined j10w over substantially the entire longitudinal length thereof by a hot melt adhesive or the like. The portion to be connected j10w is contained in the end portion 10ew of the absorbent main body 10 (the end portion 13ew of the top sheet 13) folded as described above.

As described above, the longitudinal end portions 30eLa and 30eLb of the respective belt members 30 are arranged and fixed on the widthwise half of the substantially V-shaped end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10, respectively, as shown in fig. 3. Thus, the end portions 30eLa and 30eLb of the belt member 30 are inclined so as to be disposed on the widthwise half of the substantially V-shaped end portions 10eLa and 10eLb, respectively. Thus, the longitudinal end portions 30eLa and 30eLb of the belt member 30 are attached to the respective end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorption body 10 in the thickness direction by, for example, welding at the time of arrangement.

Fig. 7 to 13 are views showing a method for manufacturing the diaper 1. Diapers 1 are manufactured on a production line using "longitudinal direction transport". In the longitudinal direction conveyance, while the unfinished product of the diaper 1 is conveyed in the conveyance direction (which is the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10), various processes and other components are sequentially performed so as to be finally manufactured into the above-described diaper 1 in a plate-like state. In fig. 7 to 13, the unfinished product is shown as a single diaper for illustrative purposes, but the actual unfinished product is in the form of a continuous body (or continuous sheet) in which the workpieces are continuous in the conveying direction.

The conveying of the unfinished products is performed by means of a belt conveyor (e.g. a suction belt conveyor) or a known conveying device (not shown), such as a conveyor roller. These conveying means are suitably used below unless otherwise stated. Also, as described above, since the conveying direction is along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10, the conveying direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction and the width direction of the absorbent main body 10. In the production line, a direction corresponding to the above-described width direction is also referred to as "CD direction".

In the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment, the diaper 1 in a plate-like state shown in the above-described fig. 6 is manufactured by the following first to seventh processes.

First processing: process for manufacturing a continuous sheet 13a of top sheet

And a second treatment: process for manufacturing a pair of

continuous parts

30a and 30a of belt members

And (3) third treatment: process for joining the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet with the

continuous sheets

30a and 30a of the pair of belt members

And fourth treatment: process for manufacturing a continuous sheet 15a of back-sheet, to which the absorbent bodies 11 are attached

And fifth processing: a process for joining the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet (to which the

continuous members

30a and 30a are connected) with the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet to which the absorbent body 11 is connected

Sixth processing: process for joining a pair of

continuous members

30a and 30a of belt members with a continuous body 10a of absorbent main body at a front end portion 10eLa and a rear end portion 10eLb

And seventh processing: process for cutting at a product pitch PI

These processes will be described below.

Treatment 1: process for manufacturing a continuous sheet 13a of top sheet

In this process, a continuous sheet 13a is manufactured, the continuous sheet 13a includes a plurality of top sheets 13 that are continuous in the longitudinal direction, and the manufactured continuous sheet 13a is conveyed in a conveying direction that is aligned with a direction in which the continuous sheet 13a is continuous. A continuous sheet 13a (shown in a right side view of FIG. 7) of the top sheet 13 includes a pair of leg openings 10HL, and width direction end portions 13ew and 13ew of the top sheet 13 are folded inward in the width direction.

More specifically, first, in this process, a liquid-permeable sheet (for example, a nonwoven fabric through which air can pass) is conveyed in the conveying direction in the form of a continuous sheet 13sa, the continuous sheet 13sa being continuous in the conveying direction, as shown in the left side view of fig. 7; the liquid-permeable sheet is the base sheet 13sa (also equivalent to the first base sheet) of the top sheet 13. A die cutter device (not shown) is disposed at a specific position in the conveying direction. Therefore, when the base sheet 13sa passes through the die cutter device, the die cutter device forms a set of leg openings 10HL and 10HL on portions of the base sheet 13sa on both sides in the CD direction (equivalent to "forming leg openings") at the product pitch P1 in the conveying direction, respectively, as shown in the center view of fig. 7. The leg openings 10HL and 10HL extend through in the thickness direction.

As shown in the center view of fig. 7, when the leg opening 10HL is formed, a virtual folding line L10 is provided on the base sheet 13sa described above. Accordingly, the die cutter device forms the leg openings 10HL such that the leg openings 10HL cross the fold lines L10 in the CD direction, respectively. Therefore, the dimension S30p described above with reference to fig. 2 can be set to a suitable dimension, neither too large nor too small; that is, the dimension S30p is the dimension of the portion 30p covering the waist of the wearer, which portion 30p is constituted by the absorption body 10 and the belt member 30 in the completed diaper 1.

The leg opening 10HL is formed at a point in time before the base sheet 13sa is folded at the folding line L10. Therefore, the leg opening 10HL of an asymmetric shape which is not symmetric with respect to a straight line in the conveying direction can be formed on the base sheet 13sa without any problem. This can increase the degree of freedom in selecting the shape of the leg opening 10 HL.

As an example of such a die cutter device, there can be provided a known device including a set of cutter rollers and anvil rollers which in this way become a cutting die. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Then, the base sheet 13sa passes through a folding device (not shown) disposed downstream of the die cutter device in the conveying direction. When the base sheet 13sa passes through the folding device, the folding device folds the end portions 13saew and 13saew in the CD direction of the base sheet 13sa inward in the CD direction (corresponding to "folding") in accordance with the fold lines L10 and L10, respectively. Therefore, the portions to be connected j10w and j10w (hatched portions in the right side view of fig. 7) of the end portions 13saew and 13saew can face the end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 (described later), the end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 being included in the ends in the CD direction of the

continuous sections

30a and 30a of the belt member. In this way, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet is manufactured.

In the folding as described above, the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet 13 is folded, but the end portion 30aew2 of the highly stretchable tape member 30 located on the outer side in the width direction is not folded. This makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the diaper 1, as described above.

As described above, the base sheet 13sa is lower in stretchability in the conveying direction (longitudinal direction of the base sheet 13sa) than the belt member 30 in the conveying direction (longitudinal direction of the belt member 30). Therefore, the process for folding the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet 13 can be stably performed as compared with the case of folding the continuous member 30a of the belt member that can be highly stretched in the CD direction. This effectively facilitates manufacture, as described above.

As an example of such a folding device, a known device including a plate member for folding, which is arranged at a specific position in the conveying direction, can be provided. That is, when the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet passes the board member for folding, the board member for folding comes into contact with the base sheet 13sa at or near the folding lines L10 and L10. Therefore, the end portions 13saew and 13saew of the base sheet 13sa are quickly folded at the folding lines L10 and L10.

In this case, after the end portion 13saew of the base sheet 13sa is folded, the base sheet 13sa is connected with the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the tape member. Therefore, the size of the plate member for folding (which is used for folding the base sheet 13sa) can be reduced as compared with the case of the reverse order of these processes. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

For more smooth folding, it is preferable that, as shown in the enlarged schematic view of fig. 8, each folding line L10 is arranged in the CD direction at a position deviated from a position Pmax at which the length of the leg opening 10HL in the conveying direction is longest. As described above, this makes it possible to ensure that when the board member for folding is brought into contact with the folding line L10 to fold the base sheet 13sa, the portion of the base sheet 13sa which is brought into contact with the board member for folding has a large area. Therefore, the sheet can be smoothly folded at the folding line L10.

In most cases, when folded, the panel member for folding abuts against the portion of the unfolded base sheet 13sa, which is disposed inside the folding line L10 in the CD direction. Therefore, in the state shown in fig. 8 before folding, when the portion of the leg opening 10HL located inside the folding line L10 in the CD direction is determined as the opening portion 10HL1, and when the portion of the leg opening 10HL located outside the folding line L10 in the CD direction is determined as the opening portion 10HL2, in order to ensure that the portion of the base sheet material 13sa which is in contact with the sheet member for folding has a large area, it is preferable that the area of the opening portion 10HL1 be smaller than the area of the opening portion 10HL 2. Meanwhile, comparing the area associated with the leg opening 10HL and determining whether the position Pmax is away from the folding line L10 can be performed as follows: for example, the diaper 1 in the opened state shown in fig. 6A is extended in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) and the width direction (CD direction) until the wrinkles (e.g., creases) of the leg openings 10HL disappear, and then the diaper 1 is observed with the eyes.

And a second treatment: process for manufacturing

continuous elements

30a and 30a of a belt element

As shown in fig. 9, this process is not upstream or downstream of the first process "the process for manufacturing the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet". This process can be performed simultaneously and in parallel with the first process. In this process, a pair of

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member are manufactured while the

continuous members

30a and 30a are conveyed in the conveying direction with a certain spacing D30a formed therebetween. The continuous member 30a of the belt member is basically constituted by a plurality of

belt members

30 and 30 … … that are continuous in the longitudinal direction.

First, as shown in the left side view of fig. 9, the stacked above-described

nonwoven fabrics

31 and 32 are conveyed from the upstream process in the form of continuous sheets 31a and 32a, which continuous sheets 31a and 32a are continuous in the conveying direction. The

nonwoven fabrics

31 and 32 are the second base sheet 30sha for forming the continuous part 30a of the belt member. A pair of

continuous members

30a and 30a of belt members are finally manufactured from the second base sheet 30 sha. Thus, the second base sheet 30sha has a dimension in the CD direction that is substantially twice the dimension in the CD direction of the continuous part 30a of the belt member.

At this stage, a plurality of

elastic cord members

35, 35 … … are arranged between the stacked two nonwoven fabric continuous sheets 31a and 32a (the second wider base sheet 30 sha); the plurality of

elastic cord members

35, 35 … … are each in the form of a continuous member 35a that is continuous in the conveying direction and extends in the conveying direction up to a certain elongation. The

continuous members

35a, 35a … … of the elastic cord members in this state are fixed to the second base sheet 30sha by hot melt adhesive or the like.

As shown in the left side view of fig. 9, first, the second substrate sheet 30sha, which is wider in this state, passes through a slitter device (not shown) arranged at a specific position in the conveying direction. The slitting device divides the wider second base sheet 30sha into two portions at the center position in the CD direction as the sheet 30sha passes through the slitting device. Thus, a pair of narrower second base sheet sheets 30sa and 30sa is produced, the dimension of the pair of second base sheet sheets 30sa and 30sa being half the second base sheet 30sha in the CD direction, as shown in the center view of fig. 9. As described above, since the

continuous members

35a, 35a … … of the elastic cord member have been arranged on each of the pair of narrower second base sheet materials 30sa and 30sa, each of the second base sheet materials 30sa, 30sa becomes the

continuous member

30a and 30a of the belt member. Thus, a pair of

continuous members

30a, 30a of the belt member are manufactured.

As an example of such a slitter device, a known device comprising a rotary blade may be provided. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Then, the already manufactured

continuous parts

30a and 30a of the pair of belt members pass through a widening device (not shown) arranged downstream of the slitting device in the conveying direction. When passing, the widening means slightly outwardly in the CD direction separate the narrower

continuous parts

30a and 30a of the belt parts. Thus, as shown in the right side view of fig. 9, a spacing D30a is formed between the

continuous members

30a, 30a of the belt members. The dimension of the spacing D30a is the same as the widthwise spacing D30 between the pair of

belt members

30 and 30 in the plate-like state of fig. 3. This is because, when subsequently merged with the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet, the end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 of the

continuous members

30a and 30a on the outer side in the CD direction are connected with the portions to be connected j10w and j10w of the folded end portions 13 new and 13 new of the continuous sheet 13a in the CD direction.

As an example of such widening means, there can be provided known means including rollers whose rotational directions are inclined outward in the CD direction with respect to the conveying direction, the rollers being disposed at positions on both sides in the CD direction, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

And (3) third treatment: process for joining a continuous sheet 13a of top sheet and

continuous members

30a, 30a of belt members

As shown in fig. 10, in this process, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the pair of

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member are connected. Therefore, the process is performed at a position where the conveying path of the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet meets the conveying paths of the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the pair of belt members. At this meeting position, the pair of continuous pieces of

tape member

30a and 30a are stacked on the skin-side surface of the continuous sheet of top sheet 13 a. Also at this stage, the end portion 30aew2 of the continuous member 30a of each tape member, which is located on the outer side in the CD direction, is disposed on the end portion 13saew of the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet, the end portion 13saew having been folded inward in the CD direction. Also, the end portion 30aew2 is connected (corresponding to "fixing") to the portion to be connected j10w of the end portion 13 new by hot melt adhesive or the like.

As an example of such a device for convergence (not shown), a device can be provided, which comprises: a guide roller that rotates while the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet abuts against an outer surface of the guide roller; and another guide roller that rotates while the continuous member 30a of the belt member abuts against an outer surface thereof. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

And fourth treatment: method for manufacturing a continuous sheet 15a of back-sheet, wherein absorbent bodies 11 are attached to the continuous sheet

This process is neither upstream nor downstream of the first process "the process for manufacturing the top sheet continuous sheet 13 a" and the second process "the process for manufacturing the pair of belt member

continuous members

30a and 30 a". This process can be performed simultaneously and in parallel with the first process and the second process. In this process, a continuous sheet 15a of back sheet is manufactured in which a plurality of

absorbent bodies

11, 11 … … are aligned and fixed at a product pitch P1 in the conveying direction.

In this process, as shown in the left side view of fig. 11, the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet 15 is conveyed in the conveying direction, which is the direction in which the continuous sheet 15a is continuous. More specifically, the outer sheet 15n associated with the back sheet 15 is conveyed in the form of a continuous sheet 15na, the continuous sheet 15na being continuous in the conveying direction. Also, the leakage preventing sheets 15f are single cut sheets, and the leakage preventing sheets 15f are discretely fixed at a product pitch P1 on the continuous sheet 15na of the outer sheet 15 n. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the leakage preventing sheet 15f may also be a continuous sheet that is continuous in the conveying direction.

The continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet passes through a rotary drum device (not shown) arranged at a specific position in the conveying direction. When the continuous sheet 15a passes through the rotating drum device, the rotating drum device arranges each individual absorbent body 11 manufactured by a setting device (not shown) on the leakage preventing sheet 15f as shown in the left side view of fig. 11. The absorbent body 11 is connected to the leakage preventing sheet 15f by a hot melt adhesive or the like. Thus, a continuous sheet 15a is manufactured, on which the plurality of

absorbent bodies

11, 11 … … are fixed, in other words, a continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet to which the absorbent bodies 11 are attached is manufactured.

As an example of such a placement device, there can be provided a known device that causes liquid absorbent material to be dispensed from a duct so as to be sucked on the bottom surface of a recess formed on the outer surface of a rotating drum, thereby manufacturing an absorbent core 11 c. As an example of such a rotary drum device, a known rotary drum including an outer surface capable of absorbing and holding the absorbing body 11 can be provided. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

And fifth processing: processing for connecting the top-sheet continuous sheet 13a (to which the belt-member

continuous members

30a and 30a are connected) and the back-sheet continuous sheet 15a (to which the absorbent body 11 is connected)

As shown in fig. 12, in this process, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet are connected, in the third process, the continuous sheet 13a is connected with the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member, and in the fourth process, the continuous sheet 15a is connected with the absorbent body 11. Therefore, the processing is performed at a position where the conveyance path of the top-sheet continuous sheet 13a meets the conveyance path of the back-sheet continuous sheet 15 a. At the position of meeting, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet are stacked so that the non-skin-side surface of the continuous sheet 13a abuts against the skin-side surface of the continuous sheet 15 a. The continuous top sheet 13a and the continuous back sheet 15a are joined together by hot melt adhesive or the like. Thus, a continuous body 10a of absorption bodies is manufactured in which the plurality of

absorption bodies

10, 10 … … are continuous in the conveying direction. Subsequently, the stacked body 1a (in which the

continuous members

30a and 30a are arranged on the continuous body 10 a) is conveyed in the conveying direction.

Sixth processing: process for joining the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt members and the continuous body 10a of the absorption main body at positions corresponding to the front end portion 10eLa and the rear end portion 10eLb of the absorption main body 10

As shown in the left side view of fig. 13, in this process, from the above-described fifth process, the stacked body 1a is conveyed, the stacked body 1a being constituted by the continuous body 10a of the absorption body and the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member. Also, connecting portions ja and jb are formed on the stacked body 1a at positions corresponding to the front end portion 10eLa and the rear end portion 10eLb of the absorption main body 10, respectively. Thus, at this position, the continuous body 10a of the absorption body is connected with the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member.

Such joining process is performed by, for example, a known heat seal device (not shown) including an emboss roller and an anvil roller. That is, when the above-mentioned stacked body 1a passes through the position of the heat seal device in the conveying direction, the continuous body 10a and the

continuous members

30a, 30a are sandwiched together in the thickness direction between the projections on the outer surface of the emboss roller and the outer surface of the anvil roller at positions corresponding to the front end portion 10eLa and the rear end portion 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10, respectively. Therefore, the continuous body 10a and the

continuous members

30a and 30a are connected by pressing means such as welding. As a trace of connection, substantially V-shaped connection portions ja and jb are formed in the stacked main body 1a at positions corresponding to the front end portion 10eLa and the rear end portion 10 eLb.

In this example, as shown in fig. 14, the length L10HL of the leg opening 10HL is larger than the length L10HLN of the portion where the leg opening 10HL is not formed, compared with the length in the conveying direction. Therefore, since the bending rigidity at the folding line L10 is reduced, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet is likely to keep its state folded at the folding line L10. Therefore, the heat sealing device can stably perform the connection process.

And seventh processing: process for cutting at a product pitch P1

In this process, during the conveyance of the above-described stacked body 1a in the conveyance direction (the stacked body 1a having the substantially V-shaped connecting portions ja and jb formed in the sixth process) (left side view of fig. 13), the stacked body 1a is cut at the product pitch P1 of the diapers 1 (right side view of fig. 13). At the same time, the substantially triangular slice T, T … … is removed in the vicinity of the substantially V-shaped connecting portions ja and jb, as shown in the right side view of fig. 13. Thus, the diaper 1 shown in fig. 3 is manufactured in a plate-like state.

Such a process for cutting and removing can be performed by a known cutter device including a cutter roll and an anvil roll (not shown). However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Second embodiment

Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view for illustrating the process steps for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to the second embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, as shown in fig. 7 and 10, after the end portions 13saew and 13saew in the CD direction of the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet 13 are folded inward in the CD direction on the folding lines L10 and L10, the end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 of the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the tape member are stacked on the portions to be connected j10w and j10w of the folded end portions 13saew and are connected thereto by hot melt adhesive or the like. In this regard, in the second embodiment, first, the end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 are stacked on the portions to be connected j10w of the end portions 13saew and 13saew, and are connected (corresponding to fixation) with the portions to be connected by hot melt adhesive or the like, as shown in the left side view of fig. 15. Then, as shown in the right side view of fig. 15, the end portions 13saew and 13saew are each folded inward in the CD direction on the folding line L10. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above mainly in this point. The remaining configuration is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, only the effects will be described, and a more detailed description will be omitted.

That is, by the manufacturing method according to the second embodiment, the end portions 13 new and 13 new of the base sheet 13sa are folded with the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet being connected and integrated with the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member. Therefore, the base sheet 13sa can be folded, and the

continuous members

30a and 30a of the tape member restrict undesired deformation of the base sheet 13 sa. Therefore, the base sheet 13sa can be stably folded.

In the example of fig. 15, the process of forming the leg opening 10HL on the base sheet 13sa is performed before connecting with the

continuous parts

30a and 30a of the belt member. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the process for forming the leg opening 10HL may be performed after the base sheet 13sa is connected to the

continuous members

30a, 30 a. That is, when the process for forming the leg opening 10HL is performed before the folding process, the process for forming the leg opening 10HL and the process for connecting the base sheet 13sa and the

continuous members

30a and 30a may be performed in an arbitrary order.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments will be provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to the embodiments. It is understood that various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and equivalents thereof fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the following variations may be made.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in fig. 6A, the leg opening 10HL is formed in the top sheet 13 of the absorbent main body 10 so as to cross the folding line L10 in the width direction (CD direction). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The leg opening 10HL may be formed so as not to cross the folding line L10. That is, as shown in fig. 16A, on the end portion 13ew (the end portion 13ew has been folded on the folding line L10), the leg opening 10HL may be formed to be included in a portion between the folding line L10 and the portion to be connected j10 w. Or as shown in fig. 16B, on the top sheet 13, the leg opening 10HL may be formed to be included in a portion between the folding line L10 and the absorbent body 11.

However, regarding the portion 30p (refer to fig. 2) covering the waist of the wearer constituted by the belt member 30 and the absorption body 10, in order to enable the dimension S30p of the portion 30p in the CD direction to be set to an appropriate dimension not to be excessively large or small, it is preferable that the leg opening 10HL be formed so as to straddle the folding line L10 in the width direction (CD direction), as shown in fig. 6A.

In the above-described embodiment, the width direction end portions 13ew and 13ew of the top sheet 13 are used as the width direction end portions 10ew and 10ew of the absorption body 10, and therefore, the end portion 30ew2 of the belt member 30, which is located on the outer side in the width direction, is connected from the skin side to the portion-to-be-connected j10w, the portion-to-be-connected j10w being provided in the end portion 13ew of the top sheet 13. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Fig. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a diaper 1, which diaper 1 is opened in the same manner as in fig. 6B. As shown in fig. 17, in this example, when the widthwise end portion 10ew of the absorption body 10 is unfolded, the back sheet 15 has a planar size in which the back sheet 15 extends outwardly beyond the top sheet 13 in the widthwise direction. In this case, the width direction end portion 15ew of the back sheet 15 serves as the width direction end portion 10ew of the absorption body 10. Therefore, in this case, the leg openings 10HL and 10HL are formed in the portions 15out and 15out of the back sheet 15 extending outward beyond the top sheet 13 in the width direction. In addition, fold lines L10 and L10 are provided at the widthwise sides of the back sheet 15 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Here, in the back sheet 15, the longitudinal stretchability of the portion where the folding lines L10 and L10 are provided is lower than the longitudinal stretchability of the belt member 30. In this example, the longitudinal stretchability of the back sheet 15 is lower than the longitudinal stretchability of the belt member 30 across the entire width direction of the back sheet 15. The width direction end portions 15ew and 15ew of the back sheet 15 are folded widthwise inwardly on the fold lines L10 and L10. In addition, a portion to be connected j10w for connection with the

belt members

30 and 30 is provided in the folded end portions 15ew and 15 ew.

In this example, the outer sheet 15n of the back sheet 15 extends outward in the width direction beyond the leakage preventing sheet 15f, and the leg opening 10HL is formed through this extended portion. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the leakage preventing sheet 15f and the exterior sheet 15n may have the same width-directional dimension. In this case, the leg opening 10HL is formed through these

sheets

15f and 15 n. In this example, the leakage preventing sheet 15f extends outward beyond the top sheet 13 in the width direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The top sheet 13 may extend beyond the leakage preventing sheet 15 f. However, the former case is more preferable because the leakage preventing sheet 15f can reliably prevent urine from reaching the non-skin side of the back sheet 15.

Needless to say, in manufacturing the diaper 1 shown in fig. 17, instead of the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet, the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet is subjected to a process for forming the leg openings 10HL and a process for folding the end portions in the CD direction. In this case, however, regardless of whether the manufacturing method according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment is adopted, it is preferable that the end portions 15aew and 15aew in the CD direction of the continuous sheet 15a are folded inward in the CD direction after the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet are connected; this is because the diaper 1 can be manufactured quickly. Other configurations can be easily derived from the description of the above-described first and second embodiments, and therefore the description thereof is omitted,

in the above embodiment, the pair of

continuous members

30a and 30a of the belt member are connected to the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet, wherein the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body has not been manufactured yet. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, after the continuous body 10a of the absorption body is manufactured, the

continuous members

30a, 30a of the belt member can be connected with the end portions 13sae w and 13sae w of the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet of the continuous body 10 a.

In the above-described embodiment, after the leg opening 10HL is formed on the base sheet 13sa of the top sheet, the end portions 13saew and 13saew in the CD direction of the base sheet 13sa are folded. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, after folding, the leg opening 10HL may be formed to include this folding line L10. In this case, the leg openings 10HL are formed, each leg opening 10HL having a shape symmetrical about a straight line in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction).

In the above-described embodiment, the leg opening 10HL is formed in an asymmetric shape that is asymmetric with respect to a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Leg(s)The partial opening 10HL may be formed in a symmetrical shape. In the above embodiment, the leg openings 10HL are formed by die cutting by a cutting die such as a die cutter device. That is, the shape of the cut piece when the leg openings 10HL are formed is the same as each leg opening 10 HL. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, in some cases, the leg opening 10HL may be in the form of a slit SL, in other words, a cutting line SL, such as a straight line, a curved line, a zigzag line, or a wavy line. In this case, no dicing is generated when the leg opening 10HL is formed. Fig. 18A to 18D show the leg opening 10HL in the form of the above-described four slits SL. Fig. 18A to 18D each show a diaper 1, which diaper 1 is opened in the same manner as in fig. 6A. In the example of fig. 18A, the slits SL are in the form of oblique straight cut lines SL inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the absorption body 10 by not 0^oAt a certain angle. In the example of fig. 18B, the slits SL are in the form of arc-shaped cut lines SL in the longitudinal direction. In the example of fig. 18C, the slits SL are in the form of zigzag cut lines SL in the longitudinal direction. In fig. 18D, the slits SL are in the form of wavy cut lines SL in the longitudinal direction. In these examples of fig. 18A to 18D, the leg openings 10HL as the slits SL are formed in asymmetrical shapes each not symmetrical with respect to a straight line in the longitudinal direction and formed across the folding line L10 in the width direction.

In the above embodiment, the belt member 30 is made by stacking two

nonwoven fabric sheets

31, 32. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the belt member 30 may be made of one nonwoven fabric sheet, or may be made by stacking three or more nonwoven fabric sheets. Also, the belt member 30 may be made of a woven fabric or film, not a nonwoven fabric.

Reference number table

1 disposable diaper (absorbent article), 1HB waist opening, 1a stacked body,

10 absorbent body, 10ew end portion, 10eLa end portion, 10eLb end portion,

10HL leg openings, 10HL1 opening portions, 10HL2 opening portions,

10a continuous body of absorbent main body,

11 an absorbent body, 11c an absorbent core,

13 top sheet (skin side sheet), 13ew end portion, 13out portion, 13outf portion,

13a continuous sheet of the top sheet,

13sa base sheet (first base sheet), 13 new end portion,

15 back sheet (non-skin-side sheet), 15ew end portion, 15out portion,

15a, 15a continuous sheet of back-sheet, 15aew end portions,

15f a leakage-preventing sheet, 15n an outer sheet, 15na an outer sheet,

30 strap members, 30ewl end portions, 30ew2 end portions, 30p end portions, 30eLa end portions, 30eLb end portions,

30a continuous piece of strap member, end portions 30aew1, end portions 30aew2,

a second base sheet of narrower 30sa, a second base sheet of wider 30sha,

31 nonwoven fabric, 31a continuous sheet of nonwoven fabric,

32 nonwoven, 32a continuous sheet of nonwoven,

35 elastic cord member, 35a continuous member of elastic cord member,

the fold line of L10, the part to be connected (the part to be fixed) of j10w,

the SL slit (leg opening),

a ja-junction, a jb-junction, a T-slice,

substantially longitudinally centered position of CLL10, substantially longitudinally centered position of CLL30,

CLW10 center, Pmax position.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

a respective one of the pair of belt members is fixed to the portion to be fixed,

the method comprises the following steps:

leg openings are formed in each width-direction side portion of the base sheet,

the base sheet is used for forming an absorption body and is continuous along the longitudinal direction; and

2. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

when an external force of 1N per 25mm of the widthwise length is longitudinally applied to the portion which is included in the base sheet and provided with the folding lines,

the elongation is 0% or more and 20% or less.

4. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

in the formation of the leg openings,

the leg opening is formed across the fold line in the width direction.

5. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

the folding is performed after the leg openings are formed.

6. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

7. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

8. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

9. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

the portions of the base sheet are located between the leg openings adjacent in the longitudinal direction, and are portions that do not form leg openings.

10. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

the method further includes fixing a width-direction end portion of the second base sheet on a portion to be fixed of a width-direction end portion of the first base sheet,

the first base sheet is a base sheet for forming the absorption body,

Folding is performed after fixation.

11. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein:

the first base sheet is a base sheet for forming the absorption body,

The fixing is performed after folding.

12. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 10 or 11, wherein:

the absorption body includes:

an absorbent core that absorbs liquid;

a non-skin-side sheet disposed on a non-skin side in a thickness direction of the absorbent core,

13. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 10 or 11, wherein:

the absorption body includes:

an absorbent core that absorbs liquid;

14. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

the device comprises:

15. An absorbent article is provided which is capable of absorbing a body fluid,

an absorbent article in an unfinished state comprising:

an absorption body that absorbs liquid; and

the absorption body includes, on each side in the width direction:

a leg opening; and

the folded end portion includes a portion to be secured,

a respective one of the pair of belt members is fixed to the portion to be fixed.