JP2004223238A - Method and device for manufacturing wearing article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a wearing article capable of improving a wearing feeling. <P>SOLUTION: This invention is related to the method for manufacturing the wearing article. The method comprises a process for supplying an elastic member F, a process for stretching the elastic member F, a process for arranging the stretched elastic member F so as to straddle over a plurality of first webs W1 divided in the conveying direction, a process for forming a slack part Wa by slacking a part of a second web W2 in the conveying direction during conveying the second web W2, a process for arranging respective first webs W1 in which the elastic member F is arranged in a non-slack part in front and rear of the slack part Wa in the second web W2, and a process for cutting the elastic member F between a plurality of the first webs W1 and W1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearing articles such as disposable diapers and pants.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In this type of wearing article, an elastic member is disposed on the surface of the sheet, for example, to form waist gathers. However, such an elastic member shrinks the absorber, so that the absorber is stiff and reduces the feeling of wearing.
[0003]
[Prior art]
As a prior art for cutting the elastic member, there is known a method in which a film sheet for gathers is sandwiched between a peripheral surface of a suction roll and a blade of a cutter of a cutter roll to cut the film sheet ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 2 discloses a method for forming a web loop.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-224627 A (Pages 2-4, FIG. 2)
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
International Publication WO00 / 04855
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A manufacturing method according to the present invention includes a step of supplying an elastic member, a step of extending the elastic member, and a step of extending the elastic member over a plurality of first webs divided in the transport direction. Arranging, forming a slack portion by slacking a part of the second web in the transfer direction while transferring the second web, and forming a slack portion before and after the slack portion in the second web, A step of arranging the first web on which the elastic member is arranged, and a step of cutting the elastic member between the adjacent plurality of first webs arranged on the non-slack portion.
[0007]
In the present invention, the folded portion may be formed by folding the slack portion formed on the second web so as to be double. Further, after disposing the first web and before and / or after cutting the elastic member, the slack portion of the second web may be stretched to separate the first webs from each other.
[0008]
In the present invention, as a method of folding the second web, a rotating device having a plurality of pads for rotating and continuously transferring the web is used, and the second web is supplied to the surface of the pad at a predetermined interval. Performing the step of: holding the second web on the surface of the pad by the pad; changing the distance between adjacent pads to which the second web is supplied; and reducing the distance between the adjacent pads. Accordingly, the method may include a step of loosening the second web between the adjacent pads to break a part of the second web, and a step of releasing the second web from the pad.
[0009]
As a manufacturing apparatus for realizing the manufacturing method of the present invention, the first web is supplied to a predetermined position in a state in which an elastic member is disposed so as to straddle a plurality of first webs divided in the transport direction. A roll, a plurality of pads that rotate and continuously transport the second web include a rotating device that is close to the roll at the predetermined position, and a cutter that cuts the elastic member; The peripheral speed of each pad of the device changes individually for each pad, and each pad of the rotating device receives the second web at a receiving position upstream of the predetermined position, and after receiving the second web, During the rotation to the position, the interval between adjacent pads is reduced, forming a slack in the second web, and at the predetermined position, the surface of the second web on the pad is placed on the surface of the pad. The first web is arranged and laminated for each, and while each pad of the rotating device rotates from the predetermined position to a transfer position downstream from the predetermined position, the interval between adjacent pads is reduced. The apparatus for manufacturing a worn article may be such that the cutter becomes larger and the cutter cuts the elastic member at a slack portion while the pad rotates from a predetermined position to the delivery position.
[0010]
As another method of folding the web, using a rotating device having a plurality of pads for continuously transferring the web by rotating around a predetermined axis, supplying the web to the surface of the pad of the rotating device; Rotating the adjacent pads supplied with the web at different speeds to change the distance between the pads to loosen the web between the pads, and folding the slack web between the adjacent pads And releasing the web from the pad.
[0011]
As the rotating device, for example, a rotating device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-338061 may be used, or a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-317576 may be used.
[0012]
In the present invention, an absorber may be arranged between the plurality of first webs from which the elastic member has been cut. In this case, no contraction force acts on the absorber, so that the absorber is not stiff.
[0013]
As the elastic member of the present invention, a material including thread rubber, flat rubber, mesh-like rubber, a film, or a thermoplastic elastic member may be employed. As a material containing a thermoplastic elastic member, a hot melt resin can be considered. The film may have a plurality of holes or slits.
[0014]
In the present invention, a light cutter may be used as a means for cutting the elastic member. The light cutter may cut the elastic member by irradiating an infrared member and an ultraviolet ray to the elastic member between the plurality of first webs. Further, the elastic member may be cut by ultrasonic waves.
[0015]
In addition, the wearing article includes a product or a semi-finished product of a wearing article such as a disposable diaper, disposable pants or a bandage. A simple substance and a laminate may be included.
[0016]
A manufacturing method according to the present invention includes a step of continuously receiving the web on each pad of a speed reduction drum in a state where the superposed webs are stretched in the flow direction; and each of the pads receiving the web after the reception. When the peripheral speed of the pad is reduced, a gap between the pads is narrowed to form a contracted portion in which the web shrinks between the pads, and the web on each pad is held to extend the holding portion. Receiving the web from the deceleration drum on the main drum and maintaining the mixed state in a mixed state in which the extended end portion (portion) and the contracted contracted portion alternately exist. And a step of pressurizing and heating a part or all of the end portion on the main drum by the pressurizing and heating means.
[0017]
Since the extended end portion (portion) of the web has a small heat capacity, by heating this end portion, the transport speed of the web can be increased, and the transport amount per unit time can be increased. In other words, the heating time for heating the end of the web can be increased according to the rate at which the end of the web is stretched, so that the heat sealing can be reliably performed even when the web transport speed is high. it can.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 show a first embodiment.
The apparatus for manufacturing a worn article shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus capable of giving a slack to a web and intermittently disposing an elastic member on at least a part of the web. For example, the apparatus for manufacturing a worn article shown in FIG. 1 includes a rotating device 1 capable of giving a slack to a second web W2 and a second roll capable of disposing an elastic member F in a portion other than a portion where the second web W2 is slackened. 12 is provided. The elastic member that crosses the slack portion of the second web W2 is cut by the cutter 4, for example, at least one of a laser, an industrial light, a blade, and scissors after crossing the slack portion. The elastic member F can be intermittently arranged on the second web W2. This intermittent is mainly caused by the second web W2 becoming loose. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the rotating device 1, the second roll 12, and the like will be described in detail.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, a supply device 3 of the elastic member F supplies the elastic member F to the surface of the first roll 11, and the elastic member F of the first roll 11 is sent to the second roll 12. The peripheral speed V2 of the second roll 12 is set to a value greater than the peripheral speed V1 of the first roll 11. Therefore, the elastic member F is stretched between the first roll 11 and the second roll 12.
[0020]
The first web W1 is supplied to the second roll 12. The second roll 12 conveys the first web W1 while sucking the first web W1 with a vacuum or the like. A large number of suction holes 12a for adsorbing the first web W1 may be provided on the surface of the second roll 12, for example. After the first web W1 is sucked and held on the surface of the second roll 12 by vacuum or the like, the web cutter 2 divides the first web W1 into a predetermined size. In “division”, the first web W1 may be cut by a predetermined length or half-cut in the transport direction. When the first web is half-cut, the first web may be cut to a predetermined length together with the elastic member F in a later step or by increasing the distance between the pads. After this division, the elastic members F are arranged so as to straddle the surface of each first web W1.
[0021]
After the elastic member F is arranged on the first web W1, the elastic member F may be cut together with the first web W1. For example, the elastic member F may be arranged on the surface of the first web W1 upstream of the web cutter 2, and the elastic member F and the first web W1 may be cut by the web cutter 2. In this case, the cutter 4 can be omitted. Before the elastic member F is cut together with the first web W1, the elastic member F and the first web W1 may be pressed by a roller having good peelability. This is because cutting of the elastic member F prevents the elastic member F from shrinking. When the elastic member F is thread rubber or flat rubber, an adhesive is applied to at least one of the elastic member F, the first web W1, and the second web. Further, an adhesive may be applied to the elastic member F. When the elastic member F is a hot melt resin, the molten resin discharged from the supply device 1 is cooled by the first roll 11. The cooling device for the first roll 11 may be water-cooled.
Further, the first roll 11 may be a porous roll. When the first roll 11 is a porous roll, air may be discharged from the inside of the first roll 11 to the outside through the holes. This air makes it difficult for the hot melt resin to adhere to the roll. Further, when the air exits the porous material, the volume of the air increases, and the heat of the roll is taken away. Therefore, the hot melt resin can be cooled. The porous roll may be made by sintering a stainless steel ball or the like.
Further, a groove or the like may be formed in the first roll 11, and the resin may be molded thereby. For example, a mesh-like (for example, lattice-like) groove is cut in the first roll 11, and a hot-melt resin is applied to the groove of the first roll 11 by a coater or the like, thereby forming a mesh-like elastic member. You may.
When a hot melt resin having a softening point lower than that of Likeler (registered trademark) is used as the elastic member, the subsequent cutting step becomes easier than that of Likeler (registered trademark).
The elastic hot melt resin is a kneaded product or a mixture containing a thermoplastic resin, a tackifier, a viscosity modifier, an antioxidant, a heat stabilizer, an ultraviolet absorber, a filler, a plasticizer, and the like.
Examples of the thermoplastic resin include olefins (EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), APAO (amorphous poly-alpha-olefin)), rubbers (SIS (styrene / isoprene / styrene copolymer), SBS (styrene -Butadiene-styrene copolymer), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene copolymer), SEPS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer)], polyamide-based and polyester-based resins. Used alone or in combination.
[0022]
The rotating device 1 for folding is arranged close to the second roll 12.
The rotating device 1 absorbs the second web W2 and transports the second web W2. _i have. Each pad 9 _i Is provided with a suction hole 10 for sucking the second web W2. The rotating device 1 continuously conveys the web W, and contacts the surface of the second roll 12 via the first web W1, the elastic member F, and the second web W2 at a contact point O (predetermined position). I have. After this another pad 9 _i In addition, by sandwiching the first web W1, the elastic member F, and the second web W2 thereon, it is possible to further enhance the close contact therebetween. The elastic member F is cut after being sandwiched between the first web W1 and the second web W2. For this reason, since the elastic member F is fixed between the webs W1 and W2, the elastic member is less likely to shrink as compared with the case where the elastic member F is arranged on one web.
[0023]
The rotating device 1 receives the second web W2 at the receiving position RP at the speed V11. Pad 9 _i At the point A where the second web W2 is received, the peripheral speed of the pad is V11. FIG. 5A is an enlarged side view of the vicinity of the point A. Pad 9 shown in FIG. _{i + 1} After receiving at least a portion of the second web W2, _{i + 1} Pad 9 adjacent to _i Until at least a part of the pad 9 receives the second web W2. _{i + 1} Moves at a substantially constant peripheral speed V11. This is because the second web W2 is not damaged.
[0024]
Each pad 9 of the rotating device 1 of FIG. _i Is the receiving position RP (pad 9 ₁ At the position V) at the speed V11, and the contact O (pad 9) ₃ ), The speed is reduced to the speed V21. Therefore, each pad 9 _i The interval between them becomes narrower from the receiving position RP to the contact point O, and accordingly, each pad 9 _i The second web W2 is loosened in the interval, and a slack portion Wa is formed.
[0025]
In the contact O shown in FIG. _i Contacts the second roll 12 via the second web W2 or the like at the speed V21 (V11> V21). The first web W1 is transferred from the second roll 12 at a peripheral speed V2. The pad 9 _i The speed V21 is set to a substantially constant speed that is the same or similar to the peripheral speed V2 of the second roll 12. That is, at least the pad 9 _i Is in contact with the second roll 12 via the second web W2 or the like, or at least the pad 9 _i While the first web W1 is arranged on the second web W2, _i Moves at a substantially constant peripheral speed V21 which is substantially equal to V2. In other words, pad 9 _i The period from when the upper second web W2 starts receiving the first web W1 to when the second web W2 finishes receiving the first web W1, _i Becomes a constant peripheral speed V21 (equal V2). This is to prevent the first web W1 and the second web W2 from shifting due to the speed difference, and to accurately transfer the first web W1 to a predetermined position on the second web W2.
[0026]
Pad 9 _{i + 1} Releases pad 9 at point B where he releases second web W2 _{i + 1} Is V31. FIG. 5B is an enlarged side view of the vicinity of the point B. Pad 9 _i Is the pad 9 next to it _{i + 1} Shortly before releasing the second web W2, the pad 9 _i Moves at a substantially constant peripheral speed V31 until the second web W2 is released (FIG. 5B). This is for minimizing the speed fluctuation of the released second web W2. For example, when the peripheral speed of the embossing roll 5 is V3, the peripheral speeds V31 and V3 are substantially equal.
[0027]
Note that the pad 9 is located near the point A in FIG. _i When the peripheral speed of the pad 9 is at the maximum or after that, _i Receives the second web W2. Pad 9 _i Pad 9 before the peripheral speed of _i When the second web W2 receives the second web W2, the interval between adjacent pads is widened, and the second web W2 may be damaged. Such a pad 9 _i The operation of the pad 9 is, for example, between the point B and the point A. _i May move at the maximum peripheral speed. In this case, the area from the point B to the point A can be treated as one area. That is, in the present embodiment, the peripheral speed of the pad may be substantially constant in at least two places.
[0028]
The folding device preferably includes an orienting portion so that the slack portion Wa in FIG. 1 is reliably slackened toward the center of the rotating device 1.
The directing portion may be, for example, a mechanism for ejecting air, a mechanism for projecting a slack portion Wa of the web toward the center of the rotating device 1, or a web for vacuuming. W may be sucked toward the center of the rotating device 1. When the directing unit is a mechanism that blows out air, the number of the directing unit may be one, but may be plural. In the case of a mechanism for projecting a slack portion, one or more directing portions 12 may be provided. By providing a plurality, the slack portion Wa can be reliably folded toward the center of the rotating device 1.
In the present embodiment, the slack portion Wa may have a shape depressed toward the center of the rotating device 1 due to the weight of the second web W2.
[0029]
Next, the folding operation will be described.
The second web W2 is the pad 9 at the receiving position RP. ₁ When held by being adsorbed on the surface of the _i Conveyed along. Pad 9 ₁ Is rotated from the receiving position RP toward the contact point O, so that the pad 9 _i The distance between them becomes smaller. As a result, a slack portion Wa is formed on the second web W2, and a folded portion Wb in which the slack portion Wa is double folded is formed.
[0030]
The rotating device for performing the "folding" is not limited to the rotating device 1 described above, and for example, a device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-545183 may be used. Since the present invention aims at disposing the elastic member intermittently on the web, the second web W2 does not need to be completely folded. Also, pad 9 _i , The second web W2 may be formed in a loop shape.
[0031]
The folded second web W2 is laminated on the first web W1 at the non-folded portion Wc before and after the folded portion Wb. That is, the elastic member F is not cut until the elastic member F is arranged and fixed between the first web W1 and the second web W2. Therefore, the stretched elastic member F hardly contracts on the second web W2. When laminating the second web W2 on the first web W1, the adjacent pads 9 near the contact O ₃ , 9 ₄ The first web W1 is not arranged in the folded portion Wb folded between the two. Therefore, as shown in FIG. ₃ , 9 ₄ 3A, only the elastic member F is exposed as shown in FIG.
[0032]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, during the period β after the first web W1 is bonded to the second web W2 and before the first web W1 is received, suction of air from the suction holes 12a of the second roll 12 is performed. It may be stopped, or air may be discharged from the suction hole 12a. This is for smoothly bonding the first web W1 to the second web W2.
[0033]
The exposed elastic member F in FIG. 3A is cut by the cutter 4.
When the elastic member F can be cut by a light cutter, the cutter 4 shown in FIG. 2 is used. The cutter 4 has a rotatable cover 41, and the cover 41 has a slit 42 formed only partially. When the cover 41 having the slit 42 rotates, infrared rays from the light source 40 are intermittently applied to the elastic member F, and the elastic member F can be cut at a predetermined pitch. When the elastic member F is cut by the cutter 4, the elastic member F is separated from the slack portion Wa, so that there is no possibility that the webs W1 and W2 are damaged by heat from the cutter 4 or the like.
[0034]
The elastic member F may be cut by pressure, heat, ultraviolet light, laser, or two or more of these. Further, the elastic member F may be cut by ultrasonic waves.
[0035]
Hereinafter, an example of cutting the elastic member F with a blade will be described.
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a cutting machine 43 which is an example of a cutter. The cutting machine 43 has a rotating roll 44 and a cutting tool 45 arranged thereon. The distance between the rotation center of the roll 44 and the center of the rotation device 1 hardly changes. The blade 45 rotates the pad 9 by rotating the roll 44. _i The elastic member F located on the slack portion Wa between them can be cut. Pad 9 _i , The rotation of the roll 44 changes. The blade 45 may have a linear shape (FIG. 11B) or a plurality of mountain shapes (saw blades) (FIG. 11C). Further, the blade 45 may reciprocate along the rotation axis direction of the roll 44.
[0036]
FIG. 11D is a diagram illustrating another cutting machine 46. The cutting machine 46 has a large roll 47 that rotates, a small roll 48 attached to the large roll 47 and rotatable, and a cutting tool 49 disposed on the small roll 48. The blade 49 of the cutting machine 46 rotates the pad 9 by rotating the large roll 47 and the small roll 48. _i The elastic member F located on the slack portion Wa between them can be cut. Pad 9 _i The rotation of the large roll 47 and the small roll 48 changes in accordance with the rotation of. As shown in FIG. 11D, when the blade 49 reaches the bottom dead center, it is preferable that the cutting edge of the blade 49 faces the center of the rotating device 1. Further, the blade 49 may be the one shown in FIG. 11B or 11C similarly to the blade 45, or may reciprocate along the rotation axis direction of the large roll 47 or the small roll 48. May be.
The small roll 48 of the cutting machine 46 may include a plurality of blades 9 as shown in FIG. The blade 49 may shear the elastic member F by reciprocating the at least one blade 49 in the rotation axis direction.
[0037]
Hereinafter, an example of cutting the elastic member F with scissors will be described.
The rotating device 1 may be provided with scissors. The second web W2 is laminated on the first web W1, and the pad 9 _i After a small gap between the pad 9 and the pad 9, the scissors (not shown) move along the axial direction of the rotating device 1. _i I got into the gap and the scissors were pad 9 _i The elastic member extending therebetween may be cut. Pad 9 _i According to the rotation of the pad 9 _i You may get in between. At least one of a cam mechanism and a link mechanism may be used to cause the scissors to perform such an operation.
[0038]
In FIG. 1, the pad 9 ₃ Is V31 (V31> V21) at the delivery position SP where the second web W2 is released. Therefore, pad 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ The interval becomes wider as it approaches the delivery position SP from the contact point O. Therefore, the tensile stress and the elongation of the elastic member F increase from the contact point O toward the delivery position SP, and the cutting by the cutter 4 in this state facilitates the cutting. At the delivery position SP, the stacked body N1 in which the webs W1 and W2 and the elastic member F are stacked in FIG. 3B is in an extended state before the folded portion Wb is folded.
Here, in the period α from the delivery position SP to the receiving position RP, the suction from the suction hole 10 may be stopped, or air may be discharged from the suction hole 10. This is for smoothly transporting the laminate N1 to the downstream.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 1, an embossing roll 5 may be provided downstream of the delivery position SP. The laminate N1 in FIG. 3B is sent to the embossing roll 5. A plurality of protrusions 51 are arranged on the embossing roll 5, and at least the elastic member F of the laminate N1 is cut by the protrusions 51. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is possible to obtain a laminate N1 in which the force of contraction of a part of the elastic member F sandwiched between the first web W1 and the second web W2 is suppressed. .
Note that the adhesive is basically not applied to the portion CP where the force of the elastic member F contracting by the embossing roll is suppressed. This is because the elastic member F is not prevented from contracting. However, some adhesive that is weaker than usual may be applied to control the contraction of the elastic member F.
[0040]
The part shown by the solid line in FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of a disposable diaper manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention. At least a part of the absorber C is fixed to a portion Wb of the laminate N1 where the elastic member F is not disposed. The end of the elastic member F may coincide with the end of the absorber C. In addition, there may be a gap between the end of the elastic member F and the end of the absorber C, or the end of the elastic member F and both ends of the absorber C may slightly overlap.
[0041]
The other end of the absorber C is connected to another laminated body N2 indicated by a two-dot chain line, the absorber C is folded into two, and a portion CP of the laminated body N1 is connected to a corresponding part of another laminated body N2. This makes it possible to manufacture continuous disposable pants. Another stacked body N2 may have the same configuration as the stacked body N1. When the absorber C is folded in two and the laminates N1 and N2 are extended in the flow direction to connect the portion CP of the laminate N1 to the corresponding portion of another laminate N2, for example, Even if the elastic member F is arranged in the portion CP, the connection can be made.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the web W2 is cut so as not to cause trimming, and the phase of one cut web W21 is shifted by approximately 1/2 with respect to the other web W22, thereby obtaining the state shown in FIG. The web W2 may be formed. As a method of shifting the phase, a method may be used in which one web passes through a dummy roll to cause a delay from the other web.
[0042]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9A, the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 6 can arrange three types of elastic members F1 to F3 on a wearing article.
[0043]
(1) Elastic member arrangement state:
First, as shown in FIG. 7, a brief description will be given of the configuration and operation of the present apparatus until the elastic member arrangement state in which the first and second elastic members F1 and F2 are arranged on the webs W1 and W2.
[0044]
This device is provided with a guide unit 23 for arranging a second elastic member F2 for legs together with a first roll 11 for arranging a first elastic member F1 for waist. The guide unit 23 can arrange the second elastic members F2 for leg gathers in a curved shape or a straight shape by reciprocating in the axial direction of the second roll 12 using a cam or a servomotor, for example. is there. The second elastic member F2 may be mechanically cut by scissors, blades, or the like provided on the roll. The structure shown in FIG. 11 may be adopted as the scissors and the knife.
[0045]
Note that the first elastic member F1 does not have to be a thermoplastic elastic member. In this case, the first elastic member F1 can be cut with scissors, a blade, or the like, like the second elastic member F2. Further, both the first and second elastic members F1 and F2 may be cut with the same scissors, blades, or the like.
In the steps up to here in the second embodiment, the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts, and the detailed description and illustration are omitted.
[0046]
The first and second elastic members F1 and F2 are sandwiched and fixed between at least one of the first web W1 and the second web W2, and then cut and arranged as shown in FIG. . Note that, as in the first embodiment, the first elastic member F1 is disposed on the surface of the first web W1 upstream of the web cutter 2, and the first elastic member F1 and the first web W1 are cut by the web cutter 2. Is also good. In this case, since only the second elastic member F2 needs to be cut in a later step, the blade length of the cutter 4 can be shortened, and the structure of the cutter 4 can be simplified.
[0047]
In a certain disposable wearing article, since the second elastic member F2 is arranged in the crotch portion G, such a portion shrinks, causing a feeling of strangeness when worn. Therefore, by cutting and contracting the second elastic member F2 of the crotch portion, the second elastic member F2 of the crotch portion can be shortened to some extent. However, since the second elastic member F2 in the crotch portion cannot be completely eliminated, a sense of incongruity may still remain.
[0048]
On the other hand, when the second elastic member F2 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10C and 10E, the second elastic member F2 can be eliminated from the crotch portion G. 10 (a), 10 (c), and 10 (e), the second web W2 is sandwiched between adjacent pads 9, and the second web W2 and the first web on the pads 9 are sandwiched. It is a figure showing the 2nd elastic member F2 which was obtained.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C, after the folded portion Wb is formed in the crotch portion G of the first web W1 and the second elastic member F2 is arranged in the non-folded portion Wc, When the second elastic member F2 straddling the adjacent pad 9 is cut, the second elastic member F2 is not disposed on the crotch portion G as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10D.
[0049]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10E, when an uncoated portion Df where the adhesive is not applied is provided in the non-folded portion Wc adjacent to the folded portion Wb, the second elastic member F2 is cut, and then the second unfolded portion Wc is cut. A portion where the elastic member F2 is not sufficiently bonded to the non-folded portion Wc shrinks (FIG. 10F). Such adjustment of the adhesive makes it possible to produce full-circle pants. In the uncoated portion Df, some adhesive may be applied. In such a case, the second elastic member F2 is not fixed to the non-folded portion Wc, but contracts slowly, and finally the second elastic member F2 can be eliminated.
[0050]
Note that the adhesive may be applied to a portion where the second elastic member F2 is disposed. As an application method, an adhesive may be annularly applied to at least one of the first web W1 and the second web W2 by a coater or the like. Further, a gun having a plurality of on-off valves may be arranged in a direction crossing the first web W1, and the opening and closing of the valves may be controlled by the speed at which the first web W1 flows and the shape to be applied. When such a gun is used, an adhesive can be applied to an arbitrary region partitioned in a matrix.
[0051]
(2) Absorber attached state:
The webs W1 and W2 in the elastic member arrangement state are formed such that the waist third elastic member F3 is arranged after the absorber C is arranged and affixed by the turn device 30, and the waist third elastic member F3 is arranged as shown in FIG. You.
[0052]
The turn device 30 includes a plurality of suction pads 30p around a drum (not shown). The suction pad 30p turns and rotates in the direction of the arrow while changing the attitude of the absorber C by 90 °.
[0053]
(3) Both ends folded:
After that, the webs W1 and W2 in the state where the absorbent body is stuck are folded back by the folding device 31 at the position of the two-dot chain line L2 shown in FIG. After the webs W1 and W2 are turned over at both ends, the leg holes Lh are cut off by the leg hole cutter 32 (FIG. 6), and the two-end folded state shown in FIG. 9A is formed. Note that the leg hole cutter 32 may be arranged on the upstream side of the turn device 30. With such a configuration, it is also possible to manufacture a disposable wearing article in which a part of the absorber C protrudes into the leg hole Lh.
[0054]
(4) Folded state:
After the folding, the webs W1 and W2 are folded in two at the folding line B by the folding device 33, and are formed into a folded state as shown in FIG. 9B. As the double folding device 33, for example, a double folding device described in US Pat. No. 3,828,367 or US Pat. No. 5,711,832 may be used.
[0055]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9B, the webs W1 and W2 in the double-folded state have ends L at both ends (portions that become ends of the individual worn articles when they are formed). After sealing (for example, heat sealing or sonic), the cut portion D indicated by the two-dot chain line is cut to form individual disposable wearing articles, for example, pants P.
[0056]
This apparatus uses the speed reduction drum 34, the main drum 37, the seal roll 35, and the cutter roll 36 shown in FIG. 6 to cut the webs W1 and W2 (hereinafter, referred to as “overlapping web W”) from the folded web P1. Formation may be performed.
[0057]
Reduction drum 34:
As described above, the web W has the elastic member, but is stretched and moved in order to facilitate the processing of arranging the absorber at a predetermined position or the processing of opening a leg hole or other processing. . However, in order to seal the web W and cut the seal portion, the position of the end L may be determined. This is because the state of the other portion of the web W does not affect the sealing process and the cutting process. In the sealing step, it is preferable that the flow speed of the web W is low in order to obtain a sufficient time for melting the web W and the like. The speed reduction drum can reduce the speed of the web W in order to obtain sufficient time to melt the web W and the like. As the deceleration drum 34, an apparatus described in JP-A-63-317576 or WO 01/44086 may be used. The deceleration drum 34 includes a plurality of pads 34p that rotate in the transport direction of the superposed web W around a drum (not shown). Each pad 34p of the reduction drum 34 receives and holds at least the end L at the receiving position RP from the upstream folding device 33 at the upstream. A portion of the web W other than the portion received by the pad 34p is located between the adjacent pads 34p. After transporting the end portion L to the transfer position SP, the end portion L is supplied to the downstream main drum 37 at the transfer position SP. While the pad 34p moves from the receiving position RP to the transfer position SP, the distance between adjacent pads 34p changes so as to be narrow.
[0058]
The pad 34p can receive the extended end L at the receiving position RP, and can keep the end L shown in FIG. 9B. For example, the end L may be held by sucking the end L, pressing the end L with a nail, or fixing the end with a pin disposed on the pad 34p. On the other hand, the interval between the adjacent pads 34p, which has spread at the receiving position RP, is reduced to the transfer position SP, and the contracted portion S excluding the end L is contracted in the transport direction X. In order to secure the holding of the end L, the contraction force of the elastic member located at the end L may be reduced by the embossing roll 38. For example, the embossing roll 38 can cut the elastic member to a predetermined length or change the elastic structure of the elastic member by at least one of heat and pressure. The embossing roll 38 is disposed between the rotation device 1 and the double folding device 33.
[0059]
Main drum 37:
The main drum 37 receives the web W from the reduction drum 34 in a mixed state in which the extended end portions L and the contracted contracted portions S are alternately present. The main drum 37 transports the web W while maintaining such a mixed state. In order to maintain the mixed state, the main drum 37 may be provided with, for example, a plurality of suction holes, and the web W may be sucked by sucking air from the suction holes.
[0060]
Seal roll 35:
The seal roll 35 can perform heat sealing by heating and pressurizing the end L of the web W (FIG. 9B). That is, the web W is pressurized by being sandwiched between the seal roll 35 and the main drum 37 and is heated by the seal roll 35. The seal roll 35 may be heat-sealed at the end L by, for example, having a heater on the roll. Further, the seal roll 35 may have a horn, and sealing may be performed by sonic.
The heat-sealed web W is cut into individual pants P by the downstream cutter roll 36.
[0061]
Pants P forming operation:
Next, a forming operation until the pants P are formed from the overlapped web W will be described.
The deceleration drum 34 continuously receives the web W on each pad 34p while the web W extends in the flow direction. Here, the pad 34p holds the end L (FIG. 9B) of the web W in an extended state.
After the reception, the peripheral speed of each pad 34p that has received the web W is reduced, so that the gap between the adjacent pads 34p is reduced. Therefore, the portion S other than the end L of the web W shown in FIG. 9B contracts in the transport direction X, and the contracted portion S is formed. On the other hand, the end portion L is held in an extended state.
[0062]
Thereafter, the main drum 37 receives the web W from the speed reduction drum 34. At this time, the web W receives the web W in a mixed state in which the end portions L in the expanded state and the contracted and contracted portions S are present alternately. The main drum 37 transports the web W downstream while maintaining the mixed state.
[0063]
During conveyance by the main drum 37, the seal roll 35 presses and heats the end L of the web W on the main drum 37.
Here, since the end portion L remains in the expanded state, the heating time for heating the end portion L is longer than that of the contracted portion S. Therefore, sealing can be reliably performed even when the web W transport speed is high.
Thereafter, the web W is divided individually by the cutter roll 36, and the pants P are formed.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, after the elastic member is sandwiched and fixed between the first web and the second web, the elastic member is cut. For this reason, the stretched elastic member hardly contracts on the second web, so that the desired gather can be obtained.
Further, according to the present invention, since the elastic member is cut between the adjacent first webs, the second web and the absorber between the first webs are not stiff.
Further, since the plurality of first webs are arranged on the second web in a state of being separated from each other, the portion where the gathers are not formed by the elastic member is not stacked because the first web is not laminated. It is thin and has good breathability, and it is hard to get stuffy after wearing.
Further, since the elastic member is cut between the first web and the first web and at the slack portion where the second web is slack, only the elastic member can be cut without damaging the web. .
[0065]
In addition, if the pad which conveys the second web at a substantially constant speed for a predetermined period from the time when the pad having slackened the second web starts receiving the first web to the time when the reception is completed, the first web can be used. It can be accurately delivered to a predetermined position on the second web.
Further, if the elastic member is cut in a state where the tensile stress of the elastic member is increased, the elastic member can be easily cut by infrared rays or the like.
[0066]
Further, if the web is conveyed in a state where the end where the web is stretched and the shrinkage where the web is shrunk are alternately mixed in the conveyance direction, and the heat sealing is performed at the end, the heating time for heating the end is increased. Therefore, the web transfer speed can be increased without impairing the reliability of the heat seal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side layout view showing a device for manufacturing a worn article according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing a step of cutting an elastic member in the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the laminate showing a state before cutting the elastic member, and a perspective view of the laminate showing a state after cutting.
FIG. 4 is a front view in which a portion of an elastic member sandwiched between both webs of the laminated body is cut away, and a front view showing a worn article.
FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a peripheral speed of a pad.
FIG. 6 is a side layout diagram illustrating a manufacturing apparatus for a worn article according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing the web in an elastic member arrangement state.
FIG. 8 is a front view showing the web in a state where the absorber is attached.
FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view showing the web in the folded state at both ends and the folded state in two.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing a method of arranging a second elastic member.
11A and 11D are diagrams illustrating an example of a cutter, FIGS. 11B and 11C are diagrams illustrating an example of a blade, and FIG. 11E is a diagram illustrating an example of a small roll. is there.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a web.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Rotating device
4: cutter
9: Pad
12: (second) roll
34: reduction drum
35: Seal roll (pressurizing and heating means)
37: Main drum
F: Elastic member
L: end
N: Wear article
S: Shrinking part
W1: First web
W2: 2nd web
Wa: loose part

Claims (10)

Supplying an elastic member;
A step of extending the elastic member;
Arranging the plurality of first webs divided in the transport direction so that the stretched elastic members straddle;
Forming a slack portion by loosening a part of the second web in the transport direction while transporting the second web;
A step of arranging the first web on which the elastic member is arranged, respectively, in a non-slack portion before and after the slack portion in the second web;
Cutting the elastic member between the plurality of first webs adjacent to each other. The step of forming the slack portion of claim 1, wherein, among a plurality of pads separated from each other whose moving speed changes individually, a first pad conveys the second web at a substantially constant speed for a predetermined period, A method of manufacturing a worn article, which is performed by creating a slack portion by reducing a distance between a pad adjacent to the first pad and a preceding pad and the first pad. In claim 1,
In the step of arranging the first web, the pad corresponding to the non-slack portion of the second web is rotated at a substantially constant speed for a certain period among a plurality of spaced apart pads whose moving speeds are individually changed. The first web is placed on the second web of the pad rotating at the constant speed,
A method of manufacturing a worn article, further comprising a step of widening an interval between the plurality of pads after disposing the first web to increase an interval between the first webs arranged in the non-slack portion. In claim 1, 2 or 3,
A method of manufacturing a worn article, further comprising a step of disposing an absorbent body between adjacent first webs from which the elastic member has been cut. In claim 1, 2, 3, or 4,
A method of manufacturing a wearing article in which a material including thread rubber, flat rubber, mesh rubber, film, or a thermoplastic elastic member is used as the elastic member. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A method of manufacturing a worn article, wherein cutting of the elastic member is performed by applying at least heat to the elastic member between the adjacent first webs. In claim 6,
A method for manufacturing a worn article in which the stress of the elastic member is increased by causing the adjacent first webs to move away from each other during conveyance, and the cutting is performed in a state where the stress is increased. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A method for manufacturing a worn article in which an elastic member between the adjacent first webs is cut with scissors. A roll for supplying the first web to a predetermined position in a state where the elastic member is disposed so as to straddle the plurality of first webs divided in the transport direction;
A plurality of pads that rotate and continuously transfer the second web, a rotating device that is close to the roll at the predetermined position,
A cutter for cutting the elastic member,
Here, the peripheral speed of each pad of the rotating device changes individually for each pad,
Each pad of the rotating device receives the second web at a receiving position upstream of the predetermined position, and after receiving the second web, while rotating to the predetermined position, an interval between adjacent pads decreases. Forming a slack in the second web,
At the predetermined position, the first web is arranged and laminated for each of the pads on the surface of the second web on the pad,
Each pad of the rotating device, while rotating from the predetermined position to the delivery position downstream from the predetermined position, the interval between adjacent pads increases,
An apparatus for manufacturing a worn article in which the cutter cuts the elastic member at a slack portion while the pad rotates from a predetermined position to the delivery position. A speed reduction drum in which the overlapped web is rotated in the web transport direction while being held by a plurality of pads, and the gap between adjacent pads changes;
A main drum that receives the web adsorbed by each of the pads from the deceleration drum and performs sealing.
Using a manufacturing apparatus having a pressurizing and heating means for pressurizing and heating the web on the main drum,
Continuously receiving the web on each pad of the deceleration drum, with the web extending in the flow direction;
After the reception, the peripheral speed of each of the pads that has received the web is reduced, so that a gap between the respective pads is narrowed and a shrink portion where the web is shrunk is formed between the respective pads. A step of holding the upper web and holding the holding portion in an extended state,
A step of receiving the web from the deceleration drum on the main drum and transporting the web while maintaining the mixed state, in a mixed state in which the extended portion and the contracted contracted portion are present alternately;
A step of pressurizing and heating a part or all of the extended portion on the main drum by the pressurizing and heating means.

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