WO2016084248A1 - Sheet member production method and sheet member production device - Google Patents

Abstract

A production method for sheet members for absorbent articles, said method having: a processing step in which a sheet member is processed such that a first section stretched in a prescribed direction and a second section not stretched more than the first section are alternately arranged relative to the prescribed direction; and a printing step in which an image is printed on the sheet member by discharging ink droplets from an ink discharge device and causing same to hit the processed sheet member.

Description

Sheet member manufacturing method and sheet member manufacturing apparatus

The present invention relates to a sheet member manufacturing method and a sheet member manufacturing apparatus.

In a paper diaper as an absorbent wearing article, a pattern or a letter is attached to the outer member of the diaper in order to improve the design on the appearance or make it easy to distinguish the front and rear of the diaper. When manufacturing such a diaper, it is common to comprise a diaper using the base material sheet on which images, such as a character, were printed beforehand. For example, in Patent Document 1, a predetermined color design is printed on the entire area of an interior sheet (base material sheet) that covers the back surface of a paper diaper so that the color design can be viewed from the outside of the diaper. An invention relating to a disposable diaper capable of giving an impression like underwear is described.

JP 2003-70838 A

Inkjet printing is known as a method for printing an image with good image quality on a diaper. In inkjet printing, an ink droplet is ejected from a printing device and landed on a base sheet (for example, a nonwoven fabric) that forms a diaper, whereby an image is printed on a landing portion of the ink droplet. In consideration of using such a base sheet as a diaper, it is necessary that the printed image has sufficient friction resistance or the like. However, since non-woven fabrics are generally composed of intertwined fibers, ink droplets ejected from a printing apparatus are unlikely to enter the inside of the non-woven fabric. For this reason, the ink is easily detached from the surface of the printed image, and there is a possibility that the fixing property and the friction resistance of the ink may be insufficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet member on which an image having good ink fixing properties and friction resistance is printed. .

The main invention for achieving the above object is:
A method for manufacturing a sheet member according to an absorbent article, wherein the first portion extended in a predetermined direction and the second portion not extended beyond the first portion are alternately arranged with respect to the predetermined direction. A sheet member comprising: a step of processing a sheet member; and a step of printing an image on the sheet member by discharging ink droplets from an ink discharge device and landing on the processed sheet member. It is a manufacturing method of a member.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet member on which an image having good ink fixability and friction resistance is printed.

It is a schematic perspective view of the underpants type diaper 1 as an example of the absorbent article which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the diaper 1 of the unfolding state from the skin side. It is a schematic perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the diaper 1 of an unfolding state. It is a schematic side view of the production line LM which manufactures the exterior sheet 7 which comprises the diaper 1. 3 is a side view for explaining the configuration of the stretched portion 10. FIG. FIG. 6 is an AA arrow view of FIG. 5. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of region B in FIG. It is a figure explaining the state of 9 A of low extensibility continuous sheets to which the extending | stretching process was given. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a heating unit 20. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the blower outlet. 2 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a printing unit 30. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a head unit 32 of a printing unit 30. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the image G before and behind contraction. FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are cross-sectional views of the nonwoven fabric for explaining the state when ink droplets land on the nonwoven fabric. It is process explanatory drawing after the production | generation of the exterior continuous sheet 7A until completion of the diaper 1. FIG.

At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A method for manufacturing a sheet member according to an absorbent article, wherein the first portion extended in a predetermined direction and the second portion not extended beyond the first portion are alternately arranged with respect to the predetermined direction. A sheet member comprising: a step of processing a sheet member; and a step of printing an image on the sheet member by discharging ink droplets from an ink discharge device and landing on the processed sheet member. Manufacturing method of member.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, by performing ink jet printing on the stretched sheet member, ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection device penetrate into the sheet member from the stretched portion. It becomes easy to fix the ink on the sheet member, and the ink can permeate into the sheet member to improve the friction resistance.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, the sheet member has a structure having a gap between a plurality of intertwined fibers, and the gap in the region where the first portion of the sheet member is formed is It is desirable that the gap is wider than the gap in the region where the second portion is formed.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, an area in which a gap between fibers is partially widened is formed on the sheet member. Therefore, an ink droplet discharged to the area in which the gap between fibers is widened. While colliding with fibers and splitting, they pass through the gap and proceed in the thickness direction of the sheet member. As a result, the ink easily adheres to the inside of the sheet member, and the fixing property and friction resistance of the ink can be further improved. Further, since the area where the gap is widened throughout the sheet member is a part, it is easy to suppress the ink droplet from penetrating the sheet member.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, between the processing step and the printing step,
It is desirable to have a heating process for heating the sheet member.

According to such a method for producing a sheet member, since the voids widened in the stretching process are further easily expanded by heating the sheet member, the ink easily penetrates into the sheet member, and the ink fixing property is increased. And the friction resistance can be further improved.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, it is preferable that in the heating step, heated air is jetted onto the sheet member to allow the heated air to penetrate in the thickness direction of the sheet member.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, the gap widened in the stretching process becomes a flow path of the heated air, and the heated air easily flows through the thickness direction of the sheet member. As a result, the inside of the sheet member is efficiently heated and the voids are more likely to be widened, so that it is possible to further improve the ink fixing property and friction resistance.

In this sheet member manufacturing method, it is preferable that the image is printed on a surface of the sheet member on which the heated air is jetted.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, the ink fixing property is further improved by ejecting ink enemies onto the surface on which the air gap of the sheet member is more easily expanded by blowing heated air. be able to.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, the first portion is formed to extend in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, and on the surface on at least one side of the front surface and the back surface side of the sheet member, It is desirable that one portion is discontinuous in a partial region in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, it is possible to make the boundary between the first part subjected to the stretching process and the second part not subjected to the stretching process inconspicuous.

A method for manufacturing such a sheet member, wherein the image is printed on a surface of the sheet member where the first portion is discontinuous in a partial region in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. Is desirable.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, a difference in coloring or the like between the image formed in the region of the first portion and the image formed in the second portion is less noticeable, and the image quality of the printed image is deteriorated. It can suppress that it looks like.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, it is desirable to heat the sheet member in the processing step.

According to such a method for producing a sheet member, it is possible to increase the effect of the stretching process by suppressing the sheet member by heating and to suppress the breakage of the sheet member during the stretching process.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, it is desirable that the printing surface of the sheet member is disposed on the outermost surface of the absorbent article.

According to such a method for producing a sheet member, an image is formed on the outermost surface of the absorbent article (diaper), so that the image is easily visible. In addition, since the printed surface of the image has good friction resistance, even when it is formed on the outermost surface of the absorbent article, the image quality is unlikely to deteriorate.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, after printing an image on the sheet member, a sheet member having a higher extensibility than the sheet member is bonded to the surface opposite to the printing surface of the sheet member in an expanded state. It is desirable to have a joining process.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, a composite sheet member having stretchability can be generated. Further, when the sheet members are bonded to each other, bonding failure due to ink can be suppressed by bonding on the surface opposite to the image printing surface, and the bonding strength of the composite sheet member can be kept strong.

In this method of manufacturing a sheet member, between the printing step and the joining step,
It is desirable to have a drying step of drying the printing surface of the sheet member.

According to such a method for manufacturing a sheet member, the image (ink) printed on the sheet member is quickly dried, thereby facilitating the handling of the sheet member and adding ink to an apparatus for manufacturing the sheet member. Can be prevented from adhering.

Moreover, it is a sheet | seat member manufacturing apparatus which manufactures the sheet | seat member which concerns on an absorbent article, Comprising: The 1st part extended | stretched to the predetermined direction and the 2nd part not extended | stretched rather than the said 1st part are related to the said predetermined direction. An extension processing unit that processes the sheet members so as to be alternately arranged; and a printing unit that prints an image on the sheet member by discharging ink droplets and landing on the processed sheet member. The sheet member manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above is clarified.

According to such a sheet member manufacturing apparatus, it is possible to generate a sheet member in which ink is easily fixed and the printed surface has good friction resistance.

=== Embodiment ===
First, a basic structure of a pants-type diaper 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “diaper 1”) as an example of an absorbent article formed by the sheet member according to the present embodiment will be described, and then a sheet member production line LM Will be described.

<Basic structure of diaper 1>
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pant-type diaper 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the unfolded diaper 1 as seen from the skin side. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the exploded diaper 1 in an exploded state. In the following description, when the diaper 1 is attached to the wearer, the side that should be located on the skin side of the wearer is simply referred to as “skin side”, and on the other hand, the side that is located on the non-skin side of the wearer. The power side is simply called the “non-skin side”.

Diaper 1 is a so-called two-piece diaper. That is, the diaper 1 has an absorbent main body 3 that absorbs excreted fluid such as urine as a first component. And the non-skin side surface of the absorptive main body 3 is provided, and it has the planar view substantially hourglass-shaped exterior sheet 7 which makes the exterior of the diaper 1 as a 2nd component.

The absorbent main body 3 has an absorbent core 3c that absorbs excretory fluid. The absorptive core 3c is formed by molding liquid absorptive fibers such as pulp fibers and liquid absorptive granular materials such as superabsorbent polymers into a predetermined shape (for example, a rectangular shape). The skin side surface of the absorbent core 3c is provided with a liquid-permeable top sheet 4 such as a nonwoven fabric so as to cover the surface. Similarly, the non-skin side surface of the absorbent core 3c is provided with the surface. A liquid-impermeable leak-proof sheet 5 such as a film is provided so as to cover the entire surface.

The exterior sheet 7 is a flexible sheet having a substantially hourglass shape in plan view in the unfolded state of FIG. 2, and the sheet 7 has a thickness direction, a longitudinal direction, and a width direction as three directions orthogonal to each other. ing. The exterior sheet 7 is divided into three portions 7f, 7b, and 7c with respect to the longitudinal direction. That is, the exterior sheet 7 is formed on an abdominal side portion 7f disposed on the wearer's belly side, a back side portion 7b disposed on the wearer's back side, and a crotch portion 7c disposed on the wearer's crotch. It is divided.

As shown in FIG. 3, a so-called laminate sheet having a two-layer structure is used for the exterior sheet 7. That is, the exterior sheet 7 is a composite sheet having an inner layer sheet 8 that forms an inner layer facing the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn, and an outer layer sheet 9 that forms an outer layer facing the non-skin side when the diaper 1 is worn. is there. The inner layer sheet 8 and the outer layer sheet 9 are bonded together by adhesion or welding while being overlapped in the thickness direction. In this example, the joining portion between the inner layer sheet 8 and the outer layer sheet 9 is welded with a predetermined joining pattern (not shown) formed by discontinuous dispersion.

As the material for the inner layer sheet 8, a stretchable sheet 8 having stretchability in the width direction of the diaper 1 is used. On the other hand, as the material for the outer layer sheet 9, low stretchability is low in the width direction of the diaper 1. An extensible sheet 9 is used. And in the state where the stretchable inner layer sheet 8 is stretched in the width direction to a predetermined stretch ratio such as 2.5 times the natural length (hereinafter also referred to as the stretched state), the stretch is also low stretch in the state stretched in the width direction. The sheet 8 and 9 are superposed on the outer layer sheet 9 and fixed integrally with the above-mentioned bonding pattern.

Therefore, when the stretched state is released, the inner layer sheet 8 shrinks in the width direction of the diaper 1 based on its own stretchability. At this time, the low stretchable outer layer sheet 9 has a plurality of hooks. The diaper 1 is bent in the width direction, whereby the outer layer sheet 9 quickly follows the contraction of the inner layer sheet 8 to shorten the entire length in the width direction. As a result, in an unloaded state where no external force acts on the diaper 1, the outer sheet 7 is shortened in the width direction as a whole, and the outer surface of the outer sheet 7 is caused by bending of the outer layer sheet 9. It is in a state where there are multiple wings. However, when an external force is applied to the exterior sheet 7 in the width direction, the exterior sheet 7 can be stretched approximately elastically until the wrinkle is fully extended, whereby the exterior sheet 7 of the diaper 1 It has become a specification with elasticity.

Incidentally, the term “stretchability” as used herein refers to the property that when an external force of tension is applied, it stretches approximately elastically in the direction of the external force and contracts approximately elastically when the external force is released. is there.

Note that the stretchable sheet 8 desirably satisfies the following conditions. That is, in the state where both ends in the longitudinal direction of the belt-like sheet having a short dimension of 25 mm are equally gripped with the total length of 25 mm in the short direction, the both ends are each 1.0 (N) as a power point. The elongation (%) when pulled in the longitudinal direction by an external force is an arbitrary value in the range of 50% to 300%, and the residual elongation strain (%) that remains without contracting after the external force is released and contracted However, it is preferable that the value is an arbitrary value in the range of 0% to 40%. More preferably, the elongation rate is an arbitrary value in the range of 70% to 200%, and the residual elongation strain is an arbitrary value in the range of 0% to 30%. Incidentally, the above-mentioned elongation rate (%) is the natural length L0, which is the length of the belt-like sheet at the time of no load before being pulled, from the length L1 of the belt-like sheet when pulled with an external force of 1.0 (N). Is a percentage notation value of a division value (= ΔL1 / L0) obtained by dividing a subtraction value ΔL1 (= L1−L0) obtained by subtracting by the natural length L0. The residual elongation strain (%) is a subtracted value ΔL2 (= L2) obtained by subtracting the natural length L0 before pulling from the length L2 after releasing the external force of 1.0 (N). -L0) is a percentage of the division value (= ΔL2 / ΔL1) obtained by dividing the natural length L0 by the subtraction value ΔL1 (= L1−L0) obtained by subtracting the natural length L0 from the length L1 when pulled by the external force. It is a written value.

Further, the “low stretch sheet 9” is a stretch sheet lower than the stretch sheet 8 described above. That is, the stretch rate (%) when an external force of a predetermined amount of tension is applied is lower than the stretch rate (%) of the stretchable sheet 8 described above. Note that the low-extensible sheet 9 desirably satisfies the following conditions. That is, in the state where both ends in the longitudinal direction of the belt-like sheet having a short dimension of 25 mm are equally gripped with the total length of 25 mm in the short direction, the both ends are each 1.0 (N) as a power point. The elongation (%) when pulled in the longitudinal direction by an external force is preferably an arbitrary value in the range of 0% to 20%. More preferably, the elongation rate is an arbitrary value in the range of 0% to 10%.

In the present embodiment, the stretchable sheet 8 and the low-extensible sheet 9 are made of nonwoven fabric. However, the stretchable sheet 8 and the low stretchable sheet 9 may be composed of other sheets such as woven fabric.

About the specific example of the nonwoven fabric which can be utilized for the elastic sheet 8, it is appropriate to perform a gear stretching process or the like on a nonwoven fabric having a thermoplastic elastomer fiber exhibiting substantially elasticity and a thermoplastic resin fiber exhibiting substantially inelasticity. Examples of the nonwoven fabric subjected to various stretching treatments. That is, by performing such stretching treatment, if the substantially inelastic thermoplastic resin fibers contained in the nonwoven fabric are plastically deformed or the joints between the fibers are destroyed, the substantially elastic properties of the thermoplastic elastomer fibers can be reduced. The non-woven fabric can be changed to a structure that hardly inhibits general stretch deformation, whereby the stretchability of the non-woven fabric is expressed and the stretchable sheet 8 can be used.

Since such a stretchable sheet 8 is configured in a state where a plurality of fibers are randomly entangled, when viewed microscopically, the stretchable sheet 8 has a structure having a plurality of voids between the fibers. . And on the surface, there are a portion where the fibers are intertwined closely and a portion where the fibers are intertwined roughly. In other words, the stretchable sheet 8 has a structure having a density. Therefore, even when both ends of the elastic sheet 8 are gripped equally in the lateral direction and pulled in the longitudinal direction, the entire region in the lateral direction does not extend evenly, and is partially dense. Becomes larger, and a portion where the gap becomes larger is generated.

Specific examples of the nonwoven fabric that can be used for the low-extension sheet 9 include spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, and spunbond nonwoven fabric made of fibers such as PE, PP, polyester, and polyamide. The so-called SMS nonwoven fabric, air-through nonwoven fabric and the like can be exemplified. The fiber structure is not limited to a single fiber made of a single thermoplastic resin as described above. The low-extension sheet 9 also has a structure having a plurality of voids between entangled fibers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the absorbent main body 3 is joined at the joint portion J on the skin side of the exterior sheet 7. And the exterior sheet | seat 7 to which the absorptive main body 3 was attached is folded in half by the crotch part 7c, and the abdominal side part 7f and the back side part 7b are overlapped. Then, in this overlapped state, the abdomen side portion 7f and the back side portion 7b are joined at the respective end portions 7eW in the width direction, so that the waist opening HB as shown in FIG. It is made into the form of the underpants type diaper 1 in which the leg periphery opening parts HL and HL were formed.

In the pants-type diaper 1 of the present embodiment, an image G composed of predetermined characters, patterns, characters, etc. is printed on the exterior sheet 7 (see FIG. 1). The image G improves the design on the appearance of the diaper 1 and allows the user to visually recognize information about the diaper 1 (for example, information indicating the product name and the front and back of the diaper 1). .

<Method for manufacturing exterior sheet 7>
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a production line LM for producing the exterior sheet 7 constituting the diaper 1. The production line LM uses as a material a continuous sheet 8A of the stretchable sheet 8 (hereinafter also referred to as a stretchable continuous sheet 8A) and a continuous sheet 9A of a low stretchable sheet 9 (hereinafter also referred to as a low stretchable continuous sheet 9A). Thus, a continuous sheet 7A in which the exterior sheet 7 is continuous in the width direction (hereinafter also referred to as an exterior continuous sheet 7A) is generated. The production line LM includes a transport mechanism CV, a stretching unit 10, a heating unit 20, a printing unit 30, a drying unit 40, and a sheet member joining unit 50.

The transport mechanism CV is a transport unit that continuously transports the stretchable continuous sheet 8A (interior sheet 8), the low-extension continuous sheet 9A (exterior sheet 9), or both along a predetermined transport path. As the transport mechanism CV, for example, a transport roller, a suction belt conveyor having a suction holding function on a belt surface as a placement surface, or the like is used. In the transport mechanism CV of the present embodiment, the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is transported in a line in the transport direction while aligning the direction corresponding to the width direction of the diaper 1 with the transport direction. Similarly, the stretchable continuous sheet 8A is also transported in a line in the transport direction while aligning the direction corresponding to the width direction of the diaper 1 with the transport direction.

In the following description, the above-described transport direction set on the production line LM is also referred to as “MD direction”. The MD direction can be different depending on the type of the sheet, and even the same sheet can be different depending on the conveyance place. One of the two directions orthogonal to the MD direction is referred to as “CD direction”, and the other is referred to as “Z direction”. The CD direction is a direction parallel to the width direction of each sheet, and is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The Z direction is a direction parallel to the thickness direction of each sheet.

(Elongation processing part 10)
In the production line LM, first, a process of stretching a part of the region by the stretching unit 10 is performed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9 </ b> A transported along the MD direction (conveying direction). FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the stretched portion 10. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of region B in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the state of the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A that has been stretched.

The stretching unit 10 includes a corrugated roll mechanism 11 and a transport roller 12. The low extensibility continuous sheet 9A fed out from the raw fabric roll is conveyed at a predetermined conveyance speed in the MD direction by the conveyance mechanism CV and the conveyance roller 12, and in the meantime, the corrugated roll mechanism 11 is applied to the low elongation continuous sheet 9A. Stretching is performed. The corrugated roll mechanism 11 has a pair of upper and lower corrugated rolls 11U and 11D that rotate around a rotation axis along the CD direction with their outer peripheral surfaces facing each other. As shown in FIG. 5, on the outer peripheral surfaces of the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D, crests 11m and troughs 11v are alternately formed along the rotation direction, and the crests 11m and troughs 11v are respectively It extends in the CD direction (that is, the direction of the rotation axis). However, as shown in FIG. 6, the peak portion 11m of one corrugated roll 11U extends continuously in the CD direction, whereas the peak portion 11m of the other corrugated roll 11D has a predetermined position Pk in the CD direction. , Pk, the peak 11m is discontinuous with respect to the CD direction. In addition, the notch may be provided in the peak portion 11m on the corrugated roll 11U side, and the notch may be provided in the peak portion 11m on the corrugated roll 11D side.

In the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D of the present embodiment, the pitch Pv in the rotational direction of the valley portion 11v and the pitch Pm in the rotational direction of the mountain portion 11m have the same length. When the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D are rotating, the crests 11m and the troughs 11v are slightly spaced so that the crests 11m of one corrugated roll enter the troughs 11v of the other corrugated roll. With each other. In this state, the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A passes along the MD direction between the rotating corrugated rolls 11U and 11D (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A passes between the corrugated rolls in the state where the peak portions 11m and the trough portions 11v of the pair of corrugated rolls 11U and 11D mesh with each other in the region B of FIG. Represents. The low-extension continuous sheet 9A that is passing is that of the other corrugated roll (corrugated roll 11U) that enters one of the corrugated rolls 11m and 11m of the corrugated roll (corrugated roll 11D) and the valley 11v therebetween. It is deformed into a three-point bend by the mountain portion 11m. At this time, the portion 9A2 that contacts the top surface of the peak portion 11m of one corrugated roll (corrugated roll 11D) in the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A is in contact with the top surface so as not to be relatively movable, and thus is not easily stretched. On the other hand, the portion 9A1 between two adjacent 9A2 and 9A2 is extended based on the intrusion of the mountain portion 11m. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, in the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, the stretched first portions 9A1 and the second portions 9A2 that are not stretched more than the first portions 9A1 are alternately arranged in the MD direction. It is processed as follows. And in the area | region of 1st part 9 A1, the fiber which comprises the nonwoven fabric of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A is partially extended or cut | disconnected by the above-mentioned extending | stretching process. Thereby, the intertwined fibers are partially loosened to widen the gaps formed between the fibers, and the flexibility of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A can be increased.

On the other hand, FIG. 7B shows a state in which the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A passes between the pair of corrugated rolls 11U and 11D at the predetermined position Pk where the cutout is provided in the CD direction in the region B of FIG. The state of is expressed. As shown in FIG. 6, since the peak portion 11m of the corrugated roll 11D is cut out in the region of the predetermined position Pk, the low stretch continuous sheet 9A passing through the region is the peak portion 11m of the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D. Without being sandwiched between them, it is conveyed straight in the MD direction as shown in FIG. 7B. Therefore, in the region at the predetermined position Pk, the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A is not stretched, and the first portion 9A1 is formed so as to be interrupted at the predetermined position Pk in the CD direction, as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, it is possible to print an image having a good image quality while improving the ink fixing property of the printing part by partially stretching the low-extension continuous sheet 9A as a printing medium. It becomes. In the following description, in the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, the surface on the side stretched by the corrugated roll 11D in which the crest 11m has a notch is referred to as “processed surface A” for convenience, and the processed surface A is The surface on the opposite side (that is, the surface stretched by the corrugated roll 11U) is referred to as “processed surface B” for convenience (see FIG. 5).

Further, a heater may be incorporated in at least one of the pair of upper and lower corrugated rolls 11U and 11D of the stretch processing unit 10 to adjust the temperature of the peak portion 11m of the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D. If it does in this way, the fiber of the nonwoven fabric which comprises 9A of low extensibility continuous sheets can be softened by the heating of the peak part 11m. As a result, the fibers are easily stretched, so that the effect of the stretching process in the first portion 9A1 can be further increased, and the breakage of the low-stretchable continuous sheet 9A that can occur during stretching can be suppressed. Further, since the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is preheated before the heat treatment (heating unit 20) described later, the temperature of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is suppressed from rapidly increasing in the heating unit 20. The At this time, if the heaters are incorporated in both the corrugated rolls 11U and 11D to heat the front and back surfaces of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, the temperature change of the nonwoven fabric can be made more uniform.

(Heating unit 20)
The stretchable low-stretch continuous sheet 9A is conveyed downstream in the MD direction, and subsequently subjected to heat treatment by the heating unit 20. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the heating unit 20. The heating unit 20 of the present embodiment is a linear conveyance type drying apparatus that heats the low-extension continuous sheet 9A while conveying the low-extension continuous sheet 9A along the MD direction. The heating unit 20 includes a drying chamber 21, a conveyance support roller 22, a plurality of air outlets 23, and a pressure chamber 24.

The drying chamber 21 is a member that partitions a drying region around the conveyance path of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. The inside of the drying chamber 21 is kept at a high temperature, and the low-extension continuous sheet 9 </ b> A is heated in the drying chamber 21. The conveyance support roller 22 is a rotating roller that conveys the low-extension continuous sheet 9 </ b> A in the drying chamber 21 while supporting it. The conveyance support roller 22 may be rotated by a driving force of a motor, or may be rotated passively by contacting the low-extension continuous sheet 9A.

The air outlet 23 is a part that blows out heated air. In the heating unit 20 of FIG. 9, a plurality of outlets 23 are provided for the pressurizing chamber 24 for supplying heated air, and uniform heated air is supplied from each of the outlets 23 toward the low-extension continuous sheet 9 </ b> A. Can be blown out. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the air outlet 23. The blower outlet 23 has a slit-like opening 231 in which an opening having a width W in the MD direction extends in the CD direction. In addition, a narrowed portion 232 and a rectifying portion 233 that serve as a flow path for the heated air are formed inside the air outlet 23. The heated air supplied from the pressurizing chamber 24 flows from the heated air supply hole 23h into the throttle portion 232, moves to the rectifying portion 233 side while being squeezed through the flow path, is rectified, and is then ejected from the opening portion 231. The Thereby, the blower outlet 23 can spray heating air to the whole area | region of the width direction (CD direction) of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A.

In the heating unit 20 of the present embodiment, heated air is sprayed from the lower side to the upper side in the thickness direction on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. That is, heated air is sprayed from the processing surface A side of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A (see FIGS. 4 and 9). The sprayed heated air flows so as to penetrate the low-extension continuous sheet 9A in the thickness direction, and heats the inside of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. In addition, when heated air penetrates the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A which consists of a nonwoven fabric, the space | interval (space | gap) between the intertwined fibers becomes a flow path of heated air. In this embodiment, since the said space | gap is expanded by the extending | stretching process by the extending | stretching process part 10, heated air is easy to flow through a nonwoven fabric. Thereby, the space | gap of a nonwoven fabric is expanded more. In particular, on the processed surface A side of the nonwoven fabric to which the heated air is sprayed, the voids are likely to spread. However, the heating unit 20 may be arranged so that heated air is ejected from the upper side to the lower side in the thickness direction of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A.

In addition, the drying chamber 21 of the heating unit 20 is provided with a suction port (not shown) for sucking heated air that has penetrated the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. The heated air sucked from the suction port may be discharged to the outside, or may be circulated and blown out again from the outlet 23. When circulating the heated air, it is desirable to provide various filters (dehumidification filter, particle filter, chemical filter, etc.) in the circulation path. When the suction port sucks the heated air that has passed through the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, the heated air easily passes through the low-extension continuous sheet 9A.

(Printer 30)
The low-extension continuous sheet 9A subjected to the heat treatment is conveyed downstream in the MD direction, and the image G is printed by the printing unit 30. The printing unit 30 of the present embodiment is an ink jet printing apparatus that ejects ink droplets from a large number of nozzles Nz and forms an image G by ink droplets (dots) landed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A.
FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the printing unit 30. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the head unit 32 of the printing unit 30. The printing unit 30 includes a head unit 32, a transport roller 33, and a printing control unit 34. In the following description, the surface of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A facing the head unit 32 may be referred to as a “printing surface”.

The head unit 32 is an ink discharge unit that has a plurality of nozzles Nz arranged in the CD direction and discharges ink droplets from each nozzle Nz. The head unit 32 is provided for each color of ink (cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, black ink). A plurality of (here, four) head units 32 are arranged side by side along the MD direction. Each head unit 32 has a plurality (four in this case) of heads 321 arranged in a staggered pattern along the CD direction, and each head 321 has a plurality of nozzles Nz arranged in the CD direction. . Thereby, each head unit 32 can discharge ink to the whole area | region of the width direction of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A. The head unit 32 may be capable of discharging a plurality of colors of ink. Moreover, the head unit 321 of the head unit 32 may be one, and may be three or more. Further, the ink droplet ejection method by the head 321 may be a piezoelectric method using a piezoelectric element, a thermal method using a heater, or another method.

The conveyance roller 33 is a rotation roller that conveys the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. The conveyance roller 33 supports the low extensibility continuous sheet 9 </ b> A in the thickness direction, so that the interval between the nozzle Nz of the head unit 32 and the low extensibility continuous sheet 9 </ b> A is maintained. The transport roller 33 is disposed at a position not facing the nozzle Nz of the head unit 32. This is because the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, which is a printing medium, is a nonwoven fabric, and ink droplets may pass between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the transport roller 33 may be disposed at a position between the head units 32 and 32 in the MD direction, and thus the interval between the transport rollers 33 arranged adjacent to each other in the MD direction. By shortening, it becomes easy to suppress the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A from being bent during conveyance.

The printing control unit 34 is a control unit that controls the operation of the printing unit 30. For example, the print control unit 34 controls the ejection timing, the ejection amount, and the like of the ink droplets ejected from each nozzle Nz of the head unit 32 by controlling the head unit 32.

By the way, in the sheet member joining portion (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, when the stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A in the MD direction are pasted together, As the continuous sheet 8A contracts in the MD direction (width direction of the diaper 1; see FIG. 2), the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A contracts in the MD direction while forming a plurality of wrinkles. In consideration of the shrinkage, the printing unit 30 prints the image G on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the image G before and after contraction. The upper diagram of FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the final image G after contraction. The lower diagram of FIG. 13 is an image G printed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, and is an explanatory diagram of the image G before contraction. For example, when the expansion ratio of the stretchable continuous sheet 8A is 1.5 times, an image G (see the lower diagram) is generated by expanding the image G to be printed (see the upper diagram) by 1.5 times in the MD direction. At the same time, the image G stretched in the MD direction is inkjet printed on the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A. The image G (see the figure below) expanded in the MD direction may be generated by the print control unit 34, or may be generated by an external image processing apparatus and transmitted to the print control unit 34.

Since the printing unit 30 performs printing using the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A having a small stretch rate as a printing medium, it is easy to form a good image G. Assuming that inkjet printing is performed using the stretchable continuous sheet 8A as a printing medium, the stretchable continuous sheet 8A is stretched during transport, so that a gap (gap) between the fibers on the surface is likely to widen. As a result, the deviation of the landing positions of the ink droplets may increase, or the ink droplets may pass through the back side of the stretchable continuous sheet 8A, making it difficult to print an image G with good image quality. On the other hand, the low-stretch continuous sheet 9A has a smaller gap between the fibers than the stretchable continuous sheet 8A, and the surface is easily maintained in a uniform state. The image quality of the image G can be made favorable.

On the other hand, when ink jet printing is performed on a nonwoven fabric having a relatively small gap (gap) between fibers, such as the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, ink droplets that have landed on the printing surface side tend to stay on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, and the printing medium Ink drops may be difficult to fix. Therefore, in the production line LM of the present embodiment, partial stretching is performed by subjecting the low-extension continuous sheet 9A to stretching processing by the stretching processing unit 10 and heating processing by the heating unit 20 before performing inkjet printing. In addition, the fixability of the ink droplets is improved by widening the gap between the fibers.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a non-woven fabric for explaining the state when ink droplets land on the non-woven fabric. FIG. 14A shows the behavior of ink droplets when inkjet printing is performed on a low-extension continuous sheet 9A that has not been subjected to stretching or the like as a comparative example. In the case of FIG. 14A, the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the nonwoven fabric are stopped by the intertwined fibers, and the ink droplets overlap the surface of the nonwoven fabric. That is, it is difficult for ink droplets to enter the inside of the nonwoven fabric. Therefore, when the surface (printing surface) on which the image G is printed is rubbed, there is a possibility that the ink overlapping the surface may be easily detached. Considering the use as the diaper 1, there is a possibility that the user may touch the printing surface. Therefore, it is inappropriate to use the sheet member on which the image G is easily peeled off as described above as the material of the diaper 1. It is. Further, when ink droplets accumulate on the surface of the printing surface, it takes time to dry the ink, and the apparatus constituting the production line LM in the process in which the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is conveyed downstream from the printing unit 30 in the MD direction. There is a possibility that the ink which is not dried adheres to (for example, the sheet member joint portion).

On the other hand, FIG. 14B shows the behavior of ink droplets when ink jet printing is performed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A subjected to stretching processing or the like in the present embodiment. In the case of FIG. 14B, since the gap (gap) between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric is widened as described above, the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the nonwoven fabric can easily enter the inside of the nonwoven fabric through the widened gap. . Then, the fibers sequentially collide with the fibers of the nonwoven fabric while proceeding in the thickness direction from the surface of the nonwoven fabric to the opposite surface, and adhere to the fibers while being split at the collision portion. That is, the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the nonwoven fabric adhere to the fibers inside the nonwoven fabric while gradually reducing its size. Accordingly, it is difficult for ink droplets to remain on the surface of the nonwoven fabric, and the friction resistance is improved. Further, since the size of the ink droplet is gradually reduced inside the nonwoven fabric (because the amount of ink is reduced), the ink is easily dried. Thereby, the fixability of the ink with respect to a nonwoven fabric can be improved. In FIG. 14B, the ink droplets that have entered the inside of the nonwoven fabric are drawn so as to maintain a spherical shape, but the ink droplets that actually permeate the inside of the nonwoven fabric are attached to the entangled fibers and shaped. However, the spherical shape is not always maintained.

On the other hand, if the gap between the fibers is too wide, problems such as ink droplets penetrating the sheet member may occur as in the case of the stretchable continuous sheet 8A, and the image quality may deteriorate. However, as described with reference to FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the entire region of the low-extension continuous sheet 9 </ b> A is not stretched, but a part of the region is stretched. Specifically, the stretching process is performed in the region of the first portion 9A1 that is intermittently arranged along the MD direction. Therefore, the gap between the fibers is mainly widened in the region of the first portion 9A1, and since it is suppressed that the gap is unnecessarily widened throughout the sheet, the ink droplet penetrates the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. It is difficult for problems to occur.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first portion 9A1 to be stretched is notched at the predetermined position Pk in the CD direction, so that the image quality of the printed image G is suppressed from deteriorating. If notches are not provided at the predetermined position Pk, the first portions 9A1 and the second portions 9A2 are alternately arranged in a striped pattern along the MD direction on the surface of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. Will be formed. That is, the region of the first portion 9A1 in which the ink droplets easily penetrate into the nonwoven fabric by the stretching process and the region of the second portion 9A2 in which the ink droplets are less likely to penetrate into the nonwoven fabric than the first portion 9A1 are in order. Will be formed. In this case, the difference in ink color and texture between the first portion 9A1 and the second portion 9A2 becomes conspicuous, and there is a risk of giving the user an impression that the image quality of the image G has deteriorated. However, in the present embodiment, since the first portion 9A1 is cut out at the predetermined position Pk, the boundary between the first portion 9A1 and the second portion 9A2 can be made inconspicuous. That is, the first portion 9A1 and the second portion 9A2 are unlikely to appear as if they are completely formed in a striped pattern, and the difference in coloration of the ink is less noticeable. Therefore, giving the user an impression that the image quality of the image G has deteriorated is suppressed.

Such an effect tends to appear when inkjet printing is performed on the surface (processed surface A) that is stretched by the corrugated roll 11D in which the ridge 11m is cut out at the predetermined position Pk. Therefore, the production line LM of the present embodiment is configured such that ink droplets are ejected to the processed surface A side of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. This makes it easy to print an image G with good image quality.

Furthermore, since heated air is blown to the processing surface A side in the heating unit 20, the gap between the fibers is more easily spread on the processing surface A side than on the processing surface B side, so that the ink is fixed. Cheap. Therefore, by performing ink jet printing on the processed surface A side, it is possible to further improve the ink fixing property and the friction resistance. Of course, it is also possible to perform ink jet printing on the processed surface B side, and even in that case, it is possible to improve the fixing property and friction resistance of the ink.

(Drying part 40)
The drying unit 40 is provided on the downstream side in the MD direction of the printing unit 30 and dries the ink of the image G printed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. The configuration of the drying unit 40 is basically the same as the configuration of the heating unit 20 (see FIG. 9). That is, the drying unit 40 includes a drying chamber, a conveyance support roller, a plurality of air outlets, and a pressure chamber (all not shown). Since the function and configuration of the drying unit 40 are substantially the same as those of the heating unit 20, a detailed description of the structure of the drying unit 40 is omitted here.

In the drying section 40, drying air is blown against the printing surface (that is, the processed surface A side) of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A to pass in the thickness direction, thereby drying the ink that has penetrated into the nonwoven fabric. Since the amount of ink adhering to the fiber is larger as it is closer to the printing surface, the ink is easily dried by disposing the air outlet on the printing surface side of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A. The drying air is a gas for drying the ink forming the image G. The drying air is here dehumidified heated air, but it may be heated air or unheated dehumidified air.

Further, the drying unit 40 may be other than the linear conveyance type drying apparatus as shown in FIG. For example, while holding the low-extension continuous sheet 9A on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum, the low-extensibility can be obtained by sucking the drying air ejected from the plurality of outlets arranged around the drum into the drum. A drum-type drying device that allows drying air to pass in the thickness direction of the continuous sheet 9A may be used. In such a drum-type drying apparatus, since drying is performed in a state where the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, it is easy to suppress bending of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A being conveyed. Become.

By quickly drying the image G formed on the low-extension continuous sheet 9A by the drying unit 40, the low-extension continuous sheet 9A can be easily handled, and the transport mechanism CV is provided in the downstream area in the MD direction of the printing unit 30. It is possible to effectively suppress the ink from adhering to the transport roller and the sheet member joining portion 50.

(Sheet member joint 50)
The low-extensible continuous sheet 9A on which the image G is printed and the printed surface is dried is joined to the stretchable continuous sheet 8A in the thickness direction in the sheet member joining portion 50. The sheet member joining portion 50 of the present embodiment is an ultrasonic welding apparatus having an anvil roller 51 and an ultrasonic horn 52 (see FIG. 4).

On the anvil roller 51 of the sheet member joint portion 50, a stretchable continuous sheet 8A that is stretched in the MD direction at a predetermined stretch ratio (for example, 2.5 times the natural length) and a stretched state in the MD direction ( 9A of low extensibility continuous sheet | seats of the state which gave tension | tensile_strength of the grade which does not deform plastically are supplied. The stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A are wound around the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 51 in a state where the stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A are overlapped in the thickness direction. The extensible continuous sheet 9A is welded when passing through the ultrasonic horn 52, and the exterior continuous sheet 7A is generated.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the stretchable continuous sheet 8A is joined to the surface opposite to the printing surface (the surface on which ink droplets are ejected) of the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A. Thereby, poor welding due to ink can be suppressed, and the bonding strength between the stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A can be kept strong. The printing surface of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is disposed on the opposite side of the stretchable continuous sheet 8A, so that the printing surface of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is the non-skin side of the exterior sheet 7 of the diaper 1, that is, Since it is arranged on the outermost surface (outermost surface) of the diaper 1 (see FIG. 3), the image G of the exterior sheet 7 of the diaper 1 can be visually recognized in a colorful manner. As described above, since the image G printed by the ink jet printing of the present embodiment has good friction resistance, even if the printing surface is arranged on the outermost surface of the diaper 1, the image is not easily deteriorated and a problem arises. Hateful.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A are superimposed on the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 51, the low stretchable continuous sheet 9A is set to the inside (anvil roller 51 side). The elastic continuous sheet 8A is on the outside (the ultrasonic horn 52 side). Thereby, since the ultrasonic horn 52 does not touch the printing surface of the low-extension continuous sheet 9A, ink contamination of the ultrasonic horn 52 can be suppressed.

FIG. 15 is a process explanatory diagram from the generation of the exterior continuous sheet 7A to the completion of the diaper 1. The production line LM forms an opening in the exterior continuous sheet 7A that serves as a leg-hole opening HL (see FIG. 1). This opening is formed by being punched from the exterior continuous sheet 7A by an annular cutter blade (not shown). Next, the exterior continuous sheet 7A that has been conveyed in the stretched state is contracted in the MD direction. Thereby, wrinkles are formed on the outer surface of the exterior continuous sheet 7A. Next, the absorptive main body 3 is attached between the leg openings HL of the exterior continuous sheet 7A, and the exterior continuous sheet 7A is folded in two. An end seal portion (end portion 7eW in FIG. 1) is formed by welding in the CD direction from the leg opening HL of the exterior continuous sheet 7A folded in half, and the exterior continuous sheet 7A is divided and separated at the end seal portion. Part becomes diaper 1.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. Further, the present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

In the above-described embodiment, a so-called line printer type in which a head unit is fixed is used as an inkjet printing apparatus. However, a serial type inkjet in which a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in the MD direction reciprocates in the CD direction. A printing device may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the low-extension continuous sheet 9A is a printing medium, but the printing medium is not limited to this. Inkjet printing may be performed on other nonwoven fabrics such as the stretchable continuous sheet 8A and the exterior continuous sheet 7A, and inkjet printing may be performed on a printing medium other than the nonwoven fabric (for example, woven fabric). Moreover, although the sheet | seat (low-extension continuous sheet 9A) which comprises the underpants type diaper 1 was a to-be-printed medium, with respect to the sheet | seat which comprises other absorbent articles (for example, sanitary napkins, an incontinence pad, etc.) Ink jet printing may be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the drying air is passed from the printing surface side in the thickness direction of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A, but the drying air may be passed from the opposite surface. However, the closer to the printing surface, the greater the amount of ink attached to the fibers. Therefore, it is advantageous for drying to pass the drying air from the printing surface side.

In the production line LM described in the above-described embodiment, a step of preheating the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A may be provided before the step of heating the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A by the heating unit 20. The rapid temperature change of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A can be suppressed by heating the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A stepwise. For example, it is possible to efficiently preheat the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A by providing a heater on a transport roller or the like constituting the transport mechanism CV on the upstream side of the heating unit 20 in the transport direction. Moreover, the temperature of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A can be made uniform by heating the back side and the front side of the low extensibility continuous sheet 9A in the preheating step.

1 disposable diapers (absorbent articles, diapers),
3 Absorbent body, 3c Absorbent core,
4 Top sheet,
5 Leak-proof sheet,
7 exterior sheet, 7A exterior continuous sheet,
7f ventral side, 7b dorsal side, 7c crotch, 7eW end,
8 inner layer sheet (elastic sheet), 8A elastic continuous sheet,
9 outer layer sheet (low extensibility sheet), 9A low extensibility continuous sheet,
9A1 first part, 9A2 second part,
10 Stretched processing part,
11 corrugated roll mechanism, 11U corrugated roll, 11D corrugated roll,
11v valley, 11m mountain,
12 transport rollers,
20 heating section,
21 drying chamber, 22 transport support roller,
23 Air outlet,
231 opening, 232 restrictor, 233 rectifier, 23h heated air supply hole,
24 pressurized chamber,
30 printing department,
32 head units, 321 heads,
33 transport roller, 34 print controller,
40 Drying section,
50 sheet member joint,
51 anvil roller, 52 ultrasonic horn,
J joint,
LM production line,
CV transport mechanism,
Nz nozzle

Claims (12)

1. A method for producing a sheet member according to an absorbent article,
   A processing step of processing the sheet member so that the first portion extended in a predetermined direction and the second portion not extended from the first portion are alternately arranged in the predetermined direction;
   A printing step of printing an image on the sheet member by ejecting ink droplets from an ink ejection device and landing on the processed sheet member;
   The manufacturing method of the sheet | seat member characterized by having.
2. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 1, Comprising:
   The sheet member is a structure having a gap between a plurality of intertwined fibers,
   The sheet member manufacturing method, wherein the gap in the region where the first part is formed in the sheet member is wider than the gap in the region where the second part is formed.
3. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 1 or 2,
   Between the processing step and the printing step,
   It has a heating process which heats the said sheet member, The manufacturing method of the sheet member characterized by the above-mentioned.
4. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 3,
   In the heating step, heated air is sprayed onto the sheet member to allow the heated air to penetrate in the thickness direction of the sheet member.
5. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 4,
   The sheet member manufacturing method, wherein the image is printed on a surface of the sheet member on which the heated air is jetted.
6. A method for producing a sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   The first portion is formed to extend in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction,
   The sheet member is characterized in that the first portion is discontinuous in a partial region in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction on at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the sheet member. Manufacturing method.
7. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 6,
   The method of manufacturing a sheet member, wherein the image is printed on a surface of the sheet member where the first portion is discontinuous in a partial region in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction.
8. A method for producing a sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   The sheet member manufacturing method, wherein the sheet member is heated in the processing step.
9. A method for producing a sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   A printing method of the sheet member, wherein the printing surface of the sheet member is disposed on the outermost surface of the absorbent article.
10. A method for producing a sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    After the image is printed on the sheet member, the sheet member has a joining step of joining a sheet member having a higher extensibility than the sheet member in a stretched state on a surface opposite to the printing surface of the sheet member. A method for manufacturing a sheet member.
11. It is a manufacturing method of the sheet member according to claim 10,
    Between the printing process and the joining process,
    It has a drying process which dries the printing surface of the said sheet member, The manufacturing method of the sheet member characterized by the above-mentioned.
12. A sheet member manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet member according to an absorbent article,
    A stretching portion that processes the sheet member so that first portions that are stretched in a predetermined direction and second portions that are not stretched more than the first portion are alternately arranged in the predetermined direction;
    A printing unit that prints an image on the sheet member by discharging ink droplets and landing on the processed sheet member;
    An apparatus for manufacturing a sheet member, comprising:

Images