CN108430409B - Method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

In the manufacture of an absorbent article having wing sections, a member or a semi-finished product of the absorbent article is conveyed so that the direction of the width direction of the absorbent article is the conveying direction, and the manufacturing efficiency is improved. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article comprising a main body and wing sections (2b, 2b) extending to both sides of the main body. The method comprises the following steps: a conveying step of conveying the plurality of absorbent article blanks such that a width direction of the absorbent article blanks is a conveying direction; a bonding step in which a single release sheet (5) is bonded via an adhesive so as to straddle wing corresponding portions (2bp ) of two adjacent semi-finished products (P6, P6) of the two absorbent articles adjacent in the conveying direction, the wing corresponding portions corresponding to the two adjacent wing portions; and a cutting step of cutting the one release sheet into two release sheets between the two adjacent flap corresponding portions by cutting the intermediate product of the two adjacent absorbent articles into the shape of the absorbent article.

Description

Method for manufacturing absorbent article

Technical Field

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

Background

An absorbent article having wing portions protruding to both sides as in a sanitary napkin is known. In the manufacture of such an absorbent article, a member or a semi-finished product of the absorbent article is conveyed so that a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is a conveying direction. This is considered to be because the absorbent article has a shape that is substantially bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the central axis in the longitudinal direction, and therefore, in order to manufacture the bilaterally symmetrical absorbent article, a mode of conveying the finished product in the longitudinal direction, which is the direction of the central axis thereof, is easier to manufacture than a mode of conveying the finished product in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

For example, in the methods for manufacturing absorbent articles disclosed in patent documents 1 to 3, the absorbent articles are manufactured by conveying members or semi-finished products of the absorbent articles so that the longitudinal direction of the absorbent articles is the conveying direction. When the intermediate product of the absorbent article is conveyed in the longitudinal direction, the wing portions on both sides can be easily folded inward in the width direction by a folding stack (japanese: セーラー) or the like.

In the production of such an absorbent article having wing portions projecting to both sides, the absorbent article is generally produced by setting the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article as the transport direction, and not setting the width direction of the absorbent article as the transport direction.

However, it is considered that in the manufacture of absorbent articles having wing portions projecting to both sides, the number of absorbent articles manufactured per unit length in the conveying direction can be increased. In this way, there is room for improvement in manufacturing efficiency in a manufacturing method in which the direction of the width of the absorbent article is set as the transport direction.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2000-51272

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent application No. 2001-8965

Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-113591

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an absorbent article having wing portions protruding to both sides, the method being capable of improving manufacturing efficiency by conveying members and semi-finished products of the absorbent article so that a direction of the width direction of the absorbent article is a conveying direction.

Means for solving the problemsTable (A table)

The method for manufacturing the absorbent article of the present invention is as follows.

(1) A method for manufacturing an absorbent article including a main body and wing portions extending to both sides of the main body, the method comprising: a conveying step of conveying the plurality of absorbent article blanks such that a width direction of the absorbent article blanks is a conveying direction; a bonding step of bonding one release sheet with an adhesive so as to straddle wing corresponding portions of the semi-finished products of the two absorbent articles adjacent in the conveying direction, the wing corresponding portions corresponding to the two adjacent wing portions; and a cutting step of cutting the one release sheet into two release sheets between the two adjacent flap corresponding portions by cutting the intermediate product of the two adjacent absorbent articles into the shape of the absorbent article.

In the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention, when the release sheet is disposed at the two adjacent flap corresponding portions (portions to be the flap portions by cutting) of the intermediate products of the two adjacent absorbent articles, one release sheet is bonded, and the intermediate product is cut and the one release sheet is cut to form two release sheets. Thus, the two release sheets can be bonded at a time without adding a cutting step dedicated to the release sheet. Further, when the end of the wing section and the end of the release sheet are aligned, when the release sheet is peeled off when the absorbent article is used, the release sheet can be peeled off from the outer edge end of the absorbent article, and the release sheet is unlikely to come into contact with the inside of the absorbent article, so that the hygiene of the inside of the absorbent article can be maintained. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention, the intermediate product of the absorbent article is cut, whereby a structure in which the ends of the release sheet and the ends of the wing portions are aligned can be easily formed. Thus, the work efficiency of forming the release sheet having a desired structure can be improved.

(2) The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the above (1), wherein the attaching step includes the steps of: coating an adhesive on one surface of the release sheet; and attaching the release sheet to the two adjacent flap corresponding portions so that one surface of the release sheet extends across the two adjacent flap corresponding portions.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention, the adhesive is applied to the release sheet, and the release sheet is attached to the flap corresponding portion. Therefore, as compared with the case where the adhesive is applied to the flap corresponding portion and then the release sheet is attached to the applied portion, the release sheet only needs to be aligned, and the alignment of the adhesive can be eliminated. This can improve the work efficiency of forming the release sheet including the application of the adhesive.

(3) The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the above (2), wherein the step of applying the adhesive to one surface of the release sheet includes the steps of: the adhesive is applied so as to straddle the two adjacent flap corresponding portions when the release sheet is partially stuck across the two adjacent flap corresponding portions.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention, the adhesive can be formed across the two adjacent flap corresponding portions by simply attaching the release sheet. That is, the adhesive can be disposed at once in the two adjacent blade corresponding portions. This can improve the work efficiency of forming the release sheet.

(4) The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the above (1), wherein the attaching step includes the steps of: coating adhesive on the corresponding parts of the two adjacent wings; and attaching the release sheet to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions so that the release sheet covers the adhesive of the adjacent two flap corresponding portions.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention, when the release sheet is disposed at the two adjacent flap corresponding portions, the release sheet can be attached to one another. This improves the work efficiency of forming the release sheet, including the application of the adhesive.

(5) The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the above (4), wherein the step of applying the adhesive to the two adjacent flap corresponding portions includes the steps of: and a step of applying the adhesive so as to straddle the two adjacent wing-corresponding portions.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present aspect, the adhesive may be applied so as to straddle the two adjacent flap corresponding portions. That is, the adhesive can be applied to the adjacent two blade corresponding portions at a time. This can improve the work efficiency of forming the release sheet.

(6) The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of the above (1) to (5), wherein the adhesive interposed between the release sheet and the portion corresponding to the wing portion is present at least up to the outer edge end portion of the wing corresponding portion.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present aspect, the adhesive is present up to the outer edge end of the flap corresponding portion, that is, the region to which the adhesive is applied is present in a relatively wide range in the flap corresponding portion. Therefore, even if the area to which the adhesive is applied is slightly deviated, a desired amount of the adhesive can be applied, and the application of the adhesive can be controlled relatively easily. This improves the work efficiency of forming the release sheet, including the application of the adhesive. Further, since the adhesive exists up to the outer edge end of the wing portion, the wing portion can be hardly peeled off when the wing portion is folded back after the absorbent article is attached.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, in the manufacture of an absorbent article having wing portions protruding to both sides, when the direction of the width direction of the absorbent article is set as the conveyance direction, it is possible to convey the members and the semi-finished products of the absorbent article so that the direction of the width direction of the absorbent article is set as the conveyance direction, thereby improving the efficiency of the manufacture.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing an absorbent article according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a view showing an absorbent article according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a view showing an absorbent article according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic overall view of the apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic overall view of the apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a schematic overall view of the apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a process of forming a release sheet of an absorbent article according to the embodiment.

Detailed Description

First, the absorbent article of the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 1, 2, and 3 are views showing the absorbent article 2, and specifically show a plan view, a bottom view, and an exploded perspective view of the individual package 1 of the absorbent article 2 in a state of being unfolded (opened). Referring to fig. 1, 2, and 3, the individual package 1 is composed of an absorbent article 2 and a package sheet 3, and the absorbent article 2 is detachably fixed to the substantially rectangular package sheet 3. The absorbent article 2 has a longitudinal direction L, a width direction W, and a thickness direction H, and the upper side facing in fig. 1 and 2 is the front side of the absorbent article 2, and the lower side facing is the rear side of the absorbent article 2. Since the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 2 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the package sheet 3 and the width direction W of the absorbent article 2 coincides with the width direction of the package sheet 3, the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W are used in common for the absorbent article 2 and the package sheet 3 as follows.

The absorbent article 2 is a sanitary napkin in the present embodiment, and has extensibility in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the extensibility in the longitudinal direction L is higher than the extensibility in the width direction W. Here, the extensibility refers to a property that when a stretching force is applied to a certain article, the shape of the article is extended in that direction. In this case, when the stretching force is removed, the shape of the article may be substantially restored to the original shape, or may be close to the original state but not completely restored to the original state. The absorbent article 2 may have stretchability in the longitudinal direction L. The stretchability is a property in which the shape of an article is elongated in the direction when a tensile force is applied to the article, and the shape of the article is substantially restored to the original shape when the tensile force is removed. It may also mean having elasticity. The extensibility and stretchability may be embodied as the characteristics of the material, or may be embodied by the shape of the material or a combination with other materials. The elongation and the degree of elongation of stretchability mean, for example, that the tensile elongation (elongation at break) is at least 3% or more.

The absorbent article 2 includes a main body 2a extending in the longitudinal direction L and a pair of wing portions 2b, 2b extending to both sides of the main body 2 a. In the main body 2a, a region in which the volume of the absorbent material is larger than the volume of the peripheral region or a region in which the thickness of the absorbent article 2 is thicker than the thickness of the peripheral region is provided slightly forward of the center in the longitudinal direction L and at the center in the width direction W, and a region in contact with the excretory opening, that is, an excretory opening contact region is set here, and hereinafter, a region that becomes the center of the absorption function is referred to as an absorption center region STA. The excretory opening is in this embodiment a vaginal opening. The main body 2a also has a compression portion 26 formed so as to surround the absorption center region STA. In the present embodiment, a plurality of central compressed portions 26a formed in an open shape and scattered in a region overlapping the absorption center region STA and slightly widened rearward, side compressed portions 26b formed so as to sandwich the central compressed portion 26a on both sides in the width direction W, a front compressed portion 26c formed slightly forward of the central compressed portion 26a, and a rear compressed portion 26d formed rearward of the central compressed portion 26a are formed. The pair of wing portions 2b, 2b are formed at substantially the same position in the longitudinal direction L of the absorption center region STA. That is, the pair of wing portions 2b, 2b are formed as follows: in the longitudinal direction L, the positions of both end portions (roots) of the pair of wing portions 2b, 2b substantially overlap the positions of both end portions of the absorption center region STA, and the positions of the center portions of the pair of wing portions 2b, 2b substantially overlap the positions of the center portions of the absorption center region STA.

The absorbent article 2 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 21, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 22, and an absorbent body 20 disposed between the top sheet 21 and the back sheet 22. The compressed portion 26 is formed by compressing the top sheet 21 and the absorbent body 20. In the present embodiment, the front sheet 21, the back sheet 22, and the absorber 20 are formed to be substantially integrally stretchable.

The front sheet 21 has a front portion 21a and a rear portion 21b with a center line WCL extending along the width direction W and passing through the center portion in the longitudinal direction L of the absorption center region STA (or the wing portions 2b, 2b) as a boundary. The front portion 21a is a portion substantially free from extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and extensibility in the width direction W. The rear portion 21b is a portion having higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than extensibility in the width direction W, and in the present embodiment, is a portion having higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and substantially no extensibility in the width direction W. Thus, the front portion 21a has no extensibility, and the rear portion 21b has extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and no extensibility in the width direction W. Similarly to the rear portion 21b, the front portion 21a may have a higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W. The rear portion 21b may have stretchability in addition to extensibility. As a method of imparting extensibility, for example, gear stretching treatment can be cited, and in this case, extensibility can also be imparted. In the present embodiment, the front sheet 21 has not only extensibility but also stretchability at the rear side portion 21 b.

The back sheet 22 has a front portion 22a and a rear portion 22b with the center line WCL as a boundary. The front portion 22a is a portion substantially free from extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and extensibility in the width direction W. The rear portion 22b is a portion having higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than extensibility in the width direction W, and in the present embodiment, is a portion having relatively high extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and substantially no extensibility in the width direction W. Thus, the front portion 22a has no extensibility, and the rear portion 22b has extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and no extensibility in the width direction W. Similarly to the rear portion 22b, the front portion 22a may have a higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W. The rear portion 22b may have stretchability or elasticity in addition to extensibility. As a method of imparting extensibility, for example, gear stretching treatment can be cited, and in this case, extensibility can also be imparted. In the present embodiment, the back sheet 22 has not only extensibility but also stretchability at the rear side portion 22 b.

The absorber 20 includes an absorber main body portion 20m and a carrier sheet 20n joined to a surface of the absorber main body portion 20m on the back sheet 22 side. The absorber body 20m has a front portion 20ma and a rear portion 20mb with the center line WCL as a boundary, and has a large volume portion 20K having a larger volume than its surrounding portion in a region extending across the front portion 20ma and the rear portion 20mb and substantially overlapping the absorption center region STA. The front side portion 20ma and the large volume portion 20K are portions substantially free from extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and extensibility in the width direction W. The rear portion 20mb excluding the large volume portion 20K is a portion having higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than extensibility in the width direction W, and in the present embodiment, is a portion having relatively high extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and substantially no extensibility in the width direction W. Therefore, the front side portion 20ma and the large volume portion 20K have no extensibility, and the rear side portion 20mb other than the large volume portion 20K has extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and extensibility in the width direction W. As a method of imparting extensibility, for example, a method of forming a plurality of slits 20S extending in the width direction W in the absorbent body portion 20m so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction L can be cited. Thus, when the absorbent body 20m is tensioned rearward in the longitudinal direction L, the slits 20S are expanded in the longitudinal direction L to exhibit extensibility. The shape of the slit 20S may be a linear shape (this embodiment), a wave-line shape, or the like. The slits 20S may be arranged in a staggered manner in the rear portion 20mb, or in a staggered manner in a virtual rhombic small area (this embodiment) in which the slits 20S are arranged in a staggered manner in the rear portion 20 mb. The slit 20S may have a shape having a gap, such as a circular or elliptical (preferably, having a long diameter in the width direction W) opening.

The slide sheet 20n has a front portion 20na and a rear portion 20nb bordering on the center line WCL. The front portion 20na is a portion substantially free from extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and extensibility in the width direction W. The rear portion 20nb is a portion having higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than extensibility in the width direction W, and in the present embodiment, is a portion having relatively high extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and substantially no extensibility in the width direction W. Therefore, the front portion 20na has no extensibility, and the rear portion 20nb has extensibility in the longitudinal direction L and no extensibility in the width direction W. Similarly to the rear portion 20nb, the front portion 20na may have a higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W. The rear portion 20nb may have stretchability in addition to extensibility. As a method of imparting extensibility, for example, a method of using a sheet having extensibility in a predetermined direction and no extensibility in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction as the rear side portion 20nb can be cited, and particularly, stretchability can be imparted even in the case of using a sheet having stretchability in a predetermined direction and no stretchability in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The front portion 20na and the rear portion 20nb may be the same sheet, or may be formed of two types of sheets having different extensibility (or stretchability). In the present embodiment, a sheet having no stretchability or stretchability in any direction is used for the front portion 20na of the carrier sheet 20n, and a sheet having stretchability in a predetermined direction and no stretchability in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is used for the rear portion 20nb of the carrier sheet 20 n.

Therefore, in the absorbent body 20, the absorbent body main body portion 20m and the carrier sheet 20n are overlapped, whereby extensibility can be exhibited in a portion on the rear side of the absorbent article 2 (except for a region where the bulky portion 20K is located in a plan view). In particular, in the present embodiment, the absorbent body 20 can exhibit stretchability in a portion on the rear side of the absorbent article 2 (except for the region where the bulky portion 20K is located in a plan view) due to the stretchability of the carrier sheet 20 n. The absorbent body 20m exhibits extensibility only by the plurality of slits 20S, but is not necessarily sufficient in contractibility and is therefore not sufficient in stretchability. Therefore, by attaching the stretchable carrier sheet 20n to the absorbent body 20m, stretchability is imparted to the absorbent body 20. When the slits 20S are formed in the absorbent body 20m, the carrier sheet 20n is not easily cut by the cutter due to its stretchability, and therefore, has a function of reinforcing the absorbent body material so as not to deform.

In the absorbent article 2, the front sheet 21 and the back sheet 22, which are the extensible sheets, are superposed on the extensible absorbent body 20, so that extensibility can be exhibited in a portion on the rear side of the absorbent article 2 (except for a region where the bulky portion 20K is located in a plan view). This can improve the wearing feeling of the absorbent article 2 as described later. In particular, in the present embodiment, the front sheet 21, the back sheet 22, and the absorber 20 of the absorbent article 2 have stretchability, and therefore stretchability can be exhibited in a portion on the rear side of the absorbent article 2 (except for a region where the bulky portion 20K is located in a plan view). This can further improve the wearing feeling of the absorbent article 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the absorbent body 20 (the rear portion 20mb +20nb) and at least one of the front sheet 21 (the rear portion 21b) and the back sheet 22 (the rear portion 22b) may overlap each other while having at least extensibility (preferably extensibility), and the entirety may exhibit extensibility (preferably extensibility) in a predetermined region of the absorbent article 2.

The main body 2a of the absorbent article 2 includes a plurality of fixing portions 6 fixed to the garment contacting surface thereof, specifically, the garment contacting surface of the back sheet 22. The plurality of fixing portions 6 extend along the width direction W of the absorbent article 2 and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 2. Each wing section 2b of the absorbent article 2 includes a fixing section 4 fixed to the garment contacting surface thereof, specifically, the garment contacting surface of the back sheet 22. The outer edge end 4e of the fixed portion 4 on the outer side in the width direction W partially overlaps the outer edge end 22e of each wing portion 2b in the width direction W.

The absorbent article 2 is fixed to the wrapping sheet 3 via the plurality of fixing portions 6 and the pair of fixing portions 4, 4. However, the package sheet 3 has the release sheet 7 at a portion in contact with the plurality of fixing portions 6, and has the pair of release sheets 5, 5 at a portion in contact with the pair of fixing portions 4, and the absorbent article 2 is fixed to the package sheet 3 in a releasable manner. Thus, the absorbent article 2 is peeled from the wrapping sheet 3 at the time of use, and is again fixed to the clothing of the wearer by the plurality of fixing portions 6 and the pair of fixing portions 4. The outer edge end 5e of the release sheet 5 on the outer side in the width direction W partially overlaps the outer edge end 22e of each wing portion 2b in the width direction W, and therefore overlaps the outer edge end 4e of the fixing portion 4 on the outer side in the width direction W.

The absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are folded inward at the positions of a plurality of folding lines FLV extending parallel to the width direction W in a state where the absorbent article 2 is fixed to the wrapping sheet 3. The plurality of folding lines FLV are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction L. In the present embodiment, the plurality of folding lines FLV are three folding lines FLV1, FLV2, FLV3 in this order from the rear side of the absorbent article 2, and are folded in the order of the position of the folding line FLV1, the position of the folding line FLV2, and the position of the folding line FLV 3.

The absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are folded at the positions of a plurality of folding lines FLV extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L, for example, after being folded at the positions of a plurality of folding lines FLV parallel to the width direction W in a state where the absorbent article 2 is fixed to the wrapping sheet 3. The plurality of folding lines FLT are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction W. In the present embodiment, the plurality of folding lines FLT are two folding lines FLT1, FLT2, and are folded in order of the position of folding line FLT1 and the position of folding line FLT 2.

Here, for example, the plurality of folding lines FLV and the plurality of folding lines FLT are set so that the absorbent article 2 is positioned such that the plurality of folding lines FLV and the plurality of folding lines FLT do not pass through the inside of the absorbent central region STA. In the present embodiment, the absorption center region STA is set to be disposed in the region surrounded by the folding lines FLV2 and FLV3 and the folding lines FLT1 and FLT 2. This can prevent the absorption force of the liquid from being lowered and the liquid from leaking to the outside due to the folding of the absorber or the like in the absorption center region STA.

After the absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are folded at the positions of the folding lines FLV1, FLV2, FLV3, the vicinities of both ends in the width direction W of the folding lines FLV2, FLV3 of the wrapping sheet 3 are heat-sealed to form joined portions. Thereby, the absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are fixed in a folded state. When the folded state is developed as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the two ends in the width direction W of the folding line FLV2 of the wrapping sheet 3 and the two side portions in the longitudinal direction L across the folding line FLV2 are a pair of joining portions 31, 31. The two ends in the width direction W of the folding line FLV3 of the wrapping sheet 3 and the two side portions in the longitudinal direction L across the folding line FLV3 are a pair of joining portions 32, 32. Both end portions in the width direction W of one outer edge end portion 3T1 in the longitudinal direction L of the wrapping sheet 3 are a pair of joining portions 33, 33. The pair of engaging portions 33, 33 overlaps the pair of engaging portions 31, 31.

Further, the adhesive section 30 is disposed on one side of the absorbent article 2 at one outer edge end 3T1 in the longitudinal direction L of the wrapping sheet 3. When the absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are folded inward at the positions of the folding lines FLV1, FLV2, and FLV3, the adhesive section 30 is stuck to the facing wrapping sheet 3, and the folded state is further fixed.

On the front side in the longitudinal direction L, the one end portion 2T1 of the absorbent article 2 is formed to be smaller than the one outer edge end portion 3T1 of the wrapping sheet 3 by a predetermined length. When the absorbent article 2 and the wrapping sheet 3 are folded, the end portion 2T1 of the absorbent article 2 can be prevented from protruding outside the outer edge end portion 3T1 of the wrapping sheet 3. On the other hand, the other end portion 2T2 of the absorbent article 2 is formed to be longer than the other outer edge end portion 3T2 of the wrapping sheet 3 by a predetermined length on the rear side in the longitudinal direction L. When the absorbent article 2 and the package sheet 3 are folded, the amount of the package sheet 3 used can be reduced. At this time, the end portion 2T2 of the absorbent article 2 is wrapped inside and does not protrude outside the wrapping sheet 3.

An auxiliary sheet (not shown) for assisting the diffusion of the liquid may be further provided between the top sheet 21 and the absorbent body 20. In this case, the auxiliary sheet has the same outer shape as the absorber main body portion 20m and the slits 20S, and the auxiliary sheet can be extended in the longitudinal direction L by the slits 20S.

As the materials of the top sheet 21, the absorbent body 20m, the carrier sheet 20n, the back sheet 22, the fixing sections 4 and 6, and the release sheets 5 and 7, known materials generally used in the absorbent article 2 can be used. Examples of the material of the top sheet 21 include nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, synthetic resin films having liquid-permeable pores formed therein, and composite sheets thereof. Examples of the nonwoven fabric include natural fibers, regenerated fibers, inorganic fibers, and synthetic resin fibers. Examples of the material of the absorbent body portion 20m include pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, and absorbent polymers. Examples of the material of the auxiliary sheet include nonwoven fabric, pulp fiber, and synthetic fiber. The carrier sheet 20n may be a synthetic resin film having stretchability in one axial direction. Particularly, a synthetic resin film having stretchability in one axial direction and having no stretchability in another axial direction orthogonal to the one axial direction is preferable. Examples of the material of the back sheet 22 include a nonwoven fabric subjected to water repellent treatment, a synthetic resin film, a composite sheet of a nonwoven fabric and a synthetic resin film, and an SMS nonwoven fabric. As the material of the fixing portions 4 and 6, a binder such as styrene-butadiene copolymer can be used. Examples of the material of the release sheets 5 and 7 include a material obtained by coating a silicone-based release material on a base material of paper or a resin sheet. The adhesive used for joining the top sheet 21, (the auxiliary sheet) the absorbent body 20m, the carrier sheet 20n, and the back sheet 22 may be any known material commonly used in the absorbent article 2, and for example, a thermoplastic adhesive may be used. As the material of the packaging sheet 3, a known material generally used for packaging the absorbent article 2 can be used. Examples thereof include resin films, paper, and nonwoven fabrics.

The absorbent article described in patent document 1 has the spreading zones distributed over the entire range from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction, and spreads as the body of the underwear wearer moves. However, it is considered that such an absorbent article receives the movement of both legs when the underwear wearer walks, and the front side and the rear side of the absorbent article deform, respectively, and the absorbent article may twist, and the absorption center region of the absorbent article may separate from the excretory opening, that is, the absorbency may be adversely affected.

On the other hand, the absorbent article 2 of the present embodiment has no extensibility in the front region (closer to the center line WCL) and the absorption center region STA, which is a region of a large volume portion in a plan view, and has extensibility in a portion other than the absorption center region STA in the rear region (closer to the center line WCL). That is, in one absorbent article 2, the extensibility is changed substantially in the front side region and the rear side region. Therefore, when the absorbent article 2 is fixed to underwear by the fixing portions 4, 4 of the wing portions 2b, the region on the front side of the absorbent article 2 and the absorption center region STA can be maintained in contact with the body of the underwear wearer, and the portion of the region on the rear side other than the absorption center region STA can be extended in accordance with the movement of the body. Specifically, the load applied to the absorbent article 2 along with the movement of both legs when the underwear wearer walks can be released or absorbed by the elongation deformation of the portion of the rear side region other than the absorption center region STA. At this time, since the absorption center region STA and the front region do not stretch, the absorption center region STA can be stably brought into close contact with the body of the underwear wearer, and the absorption center region STA can be stably brought into close contact with the excretory opening (vaginal opening). This is because the front region and the absorption center region STA do not have extensibility, and thus deformation such as twisting of the rear region is not substantially transmitted to the front region. The reason for this is that since the region on the front side is originally less affected by the movements of both legs, it is easy to stably adhere to the body, and thus a wider region having no extensibility is secured in such a region on the front side, and the ability to prevent transmission of deformation from the region on the rear side can be improved. In particular, since the extensible rear region extends to both outer sides in the width direction W of the absorption center region STA and to the center line WCL, this portion functions as a torsion fulcrum on the further rear side, and deformation is less likely to be transmitted to the absorption center region STA. In this way, in the absorbent article 2, the front region and the rear region can perform different behaviors according to the movement of the underwear wearer, and thus both the absorption property and the wearability can be achieved. The above-described conclusion can be similarly applied to a case where each member has no extensibility and is stretchable. In the present embodiment, the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin, but may be another absorbent article as long as the absorbent article has flaps extending to both sides of the main body.

Next, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 4, 5, and 6 show an example of the structure of the apparatus 400 for manufacturing the individual packages 1 including the absorbent articles 2. The manufacturing apparatus 400 can also be regarded as a manufacturing apparatus for the absorbent article 2 packaged by the packaging sheet 3. Referring to fig. 4 to 6, the manufacturing apparatus 400 includes an absorber forming unit 400A, a 1 st blank forming unit 400B, a 2 nd blank forming unit 400C, an absorbent article forming unit 400D, and a packaging unit 400E.

The manufacturing apparatus 400 conveys the absorbent article 2, the material constituting the absorbent article 2, and the like, and has a conveyance direction (MD direction), a cross-sectional direction (CD direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction and along the conveyance plane, and a vertical direction (TD direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction and the cross-sectional direction. The "upstream side in the conveying direction" is simply referred to as "upstream side", the "downstream side in the conveying direction" is simply referred to as "downstream side", the "upper side in the vertical direction" is simply referred to as "upper side", and the "lower side in the vertical direction" is simply referred to as "lower side".

The manufacturing apparatus 400 conveys the absorbent article 2 and the members (examples: absorbent body, top sheet, back sheet) constituting the absorbent article 2 as follows. The absorbent article 2 is conveyed so that the width direction W of the absorbent article 2 is along the conveyance direction (MD direction) and the longitudinal direction L is along the transverse direction (CD direction). The members constituting the absorbent article 2 are conveyed so that a width corresponding direction (a direction which becomes the width direction W when the absorbent article 2 is completed) corresponding to the width direction W of the absorbent article 2 is along the conveyance direction (MD direction), and a length corresponding direction (a direction which becomes the length direction L when the absorbent article 2 is completed) corresponding to the length direction L of the absorbent article 2 is along the transverse direction (CD direction).

Hereinafter, in the process of conveying the absorbent article 2, since the conveying direction overlaps with the width direction W and the width corresponding direction, the transverse direction overlaps with the length direction L and the length corresponding direction, and the vertical direction overlaps with the thickness direction H and the thickness corresponding direction, the conveying direction is also used as the width direction W and the width corresponding direction, the transverse direction is used as the length direction L and the length corresponding direction, and the vertical direction is used as the thickness direction H and the thickness corresponding direction.

Referring to fig. 4, the absorber forming unit 400A is an apparatus for continuously forming absorbers, and the like, and includes a fiber stacking apparatus 110, a carrier sheet supply apparatus 120, a pressing apparatus 130, a slit forming apparatus 140, a cutting apparatus 150, and conveyor belts 133, 143.

The fiber stacking apparatus 110 is an apparatus for forming a fiber stack in which fiber materials are stacked, and includes a rotary drum 111, a pattern plate 112 detachably held on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary drum 111, a material feeder 113 for feeding the fiber stacking material to the pattern plate 112, and a conveyor belt 115 for conveying the formed fiber stack.

A negative pressure chamber 111N to which a negative pressure is applied and a positive pressure chamber 111P to which a positive pressure is applied are formed in the inner space of the rotary drum 111. Further, a plurality of through holes (not shown) communicating with the negative pressure chamber 111N and the positive pressure chamber 111P are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 111. The die plate 112 has a plurality of grooves (not shown) formed continuously along the outer peripheral surface. The groove has substantially the same shape as the absorber 20, and the longitudinal direction of the groove is parallel to the width direction (transverse direction) of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 111, and the width direction of the groove is parallel to the circumferential direction (conveying direction) of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 111. The groove has air permeability and can communicate with the negative pressure chamber 111N or the positive pressure chamber 111P by rotation of the die plate 112. The groove can receive the fiber laminated material, whereby a fiber laminated body having an outer shape of the absorber can be formed. The region of the groove corresponding to the absorption center region STA of the absorber 20 becomes deeper than the other regions of the groove, whereby the volume of the portion of the absorber 20 that absorbs the center region STA becomes larger. The material feeder 113 feeds a fiber laminate material such as pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, and absorbent resin onto the die plate 112 of the rotating drum 111 in a scattered state, and deposits the fiber laminate material in the grooves of the die plate 112, thereby forming a fiber laminate in the grooves.

The roller WR1 has a continuous auxiliary sheet SS in the form of a continuous sheet, and the continuous auxiliary sheet SS is fed to the conveyor belt 115 by being rewound by the downstream conveyor roller 117 or the like. The bonding device 114 is used to apply an adhesive (for example, thermoplastic resin) to one face of the continuous auxiliary sheet SS before being fed to the conveying belt 115. The conveyor belt 115 integrally conveys a laminate (absorbent member P1) in which the continuous auxiliary sheet SS and the fiber laminate are laminated while integrally sucking the laminate by the suction device 116.

In the slide feeder 120, the roller WR2a has an extensible and stretchable continuous sheet-like continuous slide CS1 that becomes the rear portion 20nb of the slide 20n, and the continuous slide CS1 is fed to the conveyor belt 115 by rewinding the continuous slide CS1 with the downstream conveyor roller 122 and the like. However, the continuous carrier sheet CS1 may be provided with stretchability by a gear stretching process. The roller WR2b has a continuous sheet-like carrier sheet CS2 that becomes the portion 20na on the front side of the carrier sheet 20n, and the continuous carrier sheet CS2 is supplied to the conveyor belt 115 by rewinding the continuous carrier sheet CS2 by the conveyor roller 122 on the downstream side or the like. The adhesive device 121 applies an adhesive (for example, thermoplastic resin) to one surface of the continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS2 before being fed to the conveyor belt 115. The conveying roller 122 presses and attaches one surface of the continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS2 to the absorber member P1 being conveyed by the conveyor belt 115. The conveyor 115 conveys a laminate (absorber member P2) in which continuous carrier sheets CS1 and CS2 are laminated on the absorber member P1.

The pressing device 130 includes a pressing roller 131 and an anvil roller 132 disposed to face each other. On the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 131, a large number of convex portions are periodically formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface except for a region corresponding to the absorption center region STA of the absorber 20. The pressing roller 131 and the anvil roller 132 nip the absorber member P2 and press the absorber member P2 with a large number of protrusions, forming the absorber member P2 to a desired thickness. However, a portion corresponding to the absorption center region STA of the absorber 20 is shaped into a relatively large volume (thick wall). The conveyor belt 133 conveys the formed absorbent body member P2 to the slit forming device 140.

The slit forming device 140 includes an anvil roll 141 and a cutter roll 142 disposed to face each other. A plurality of cutters for forming slits 20S of the absorber are formed in a predetermined region of the outer peripheral surface of the cutter roller 142 corresponding to a portion of the portion 20mb on the rear side of the absorber main body portion 20m other than the absorption center region STA. One of the cutters has a linear shape extending along the circumferential direction of the cutting roller 142. The plurality of cutters are arranged in the predetermined region in a dispersed manner in the circumferential direction and the width direction of the cutter roller 142. In the present embodiment, a plurality of linear cutters extending in the circumferential direction are arranged in a staggered manner in a small region of an imaginary rhombus, and the rhombus regions are arranged in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction and the width direction in the predetermined region. The anvil roller 141 and the cutter roller 142 form the absorber member P3 by nipping the absorber member P2, thereby forming a desired plurality of slits 20S in a predetermined region of the absorber member P2 from the continuous auxiliary sheet SS side of the absorber member P2 with a plurality of knives. At this time, the slit forming device 140 does not form the slit S on the continuous slides CS1, CS 2. The conveyor belt 143 conveys the absorber member P3 to the cutting device 150.

The cutting apparatus 150 includes a cutter roll 151 and an anvil roll 152 disposed to face each other. When the absorber member P3 is supplied, the cutter roller 151 and the anvil roller 152 suck the absorber member P3 to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 152 and convey the same, and the absorber member P3 is cut in the transverse direction by the cutting cutter of the cutter roller 151, whereby the absorber member P3 separated from each other is formed into the shape of the absorber 20. The absorber member P3 may be substantially referred to as an absorber. The cutting device 150 transfers the respectively separated absorbent body members P3 from the anvil roller 152 to the conveying roller 164.

The 1 st semi-finished product forming unit 400B is a device for forming the 1 st semi-finished product, and the like, and includes a conveying roller 164, a conveying belt 165, a gear stretching device 160, and a compressing device 170.

The roller WR3 has a continuous sheet-like continuous surface sheet TS to be the surface sheet 21, and the continuous surface sheet TS is wound back by the downstream gear stretching device 160 or the like, thereby supplying the continuous surface sheet TS to the gear stretching device 160. The gear stretching device 160 includes a pair of gear rollers 161 and 162 arranged to face each other. Wavy teeth are formed at predetermined pitches along the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of gear rollers 161 and 162. However, in the present embodiment, of the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of gear rollers 161 and 162, teeth are formed only in the region corresponding to the rear portion 21b of the front sheet 21, and teeth are not formed in the region corresponding to the front portion 21a of the front sheet 21. The continuous surface sheet TS is stretched by rotating the gear roll 161 and the gear roll 162 at the same peripheral speed to mesh the teeth with each other, and passing the continuous surface sheet TS between these meshed teeth (gear stretching process), and the stretched and stretchable continuous sheet is formed. This causes the portion TS1 of the stretched continuous front sheet TS corresponding to the rear portion 21b of the front sheet 21 to exhibit stretchability. In addition, the portion TS2 corresponding to the front portion 21a does not exhibit stretchability. The adhesive device 163 applies an adhesive (for example, a thermoplastic resin) to one surface of the continuous sheet TS, which is a stretchable and stretchable continuous sheet after stretching.

The conveyor belt 165 conveys the stretched continuous-surface sheet TS, which is supplied from the gear stretching device 160 and has one surface coated with an adhesive, in the conveying direction. The conveying roller 164 presses and adheres the separated absorber member P3 transferred from the anvil roller 152 to one surface of the continuous surface sheet TS on the conveying belt 165, thereby forming the absorber member P3 with the continuous surface sheet TS, that is, the 1 st semi-finished product P4. The conveyor belt 165 conveys the 1 st semi-finished product P4 to the compression device 170.

The compressing device 170 includes a compressing roller 171 and an anvil roller 172 disposed to face each other. A convex portion having a shape corresponding to the compressed portion 26 of the absorbent body 20 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the compression roller 171. The compression roller 171 and the anvil roller 172 form the compression part 26 in the 1 st semi-finished product P4 by nipping the 1 st semi-finished product P4 and pressing the 1 st semi-finished product P4 with the convex part having the shape of the compression part. The compressing device 170 transfers the compressed 1 st semi-finished product P4 to the 2 nd semi-finished product forming unit 400C.

The 2 nd semi-finished product forming unit 400C is a device for forming the 2 nd semi-finished product, and the like, and includes a gear stretching device 180, a pair of conveying rollers 185, 186, and conveying belts 184, 187.

The roller WR4 has a continuous back sheet BS in a continuous sheet form serving as the back sheet 22, and feeds the continuous back sheet BS to the gear stretching device 180 by winding back the continuous back sheet BS by the gear stretching device 180 on the downstream side or the like. The gear stretching device 180 includes a pair of gear rollers 181, 182 disposed to face each other. Wavy teeth are formed at predetermined pitches along the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of gear rollers 181, 182. However, in the present embodiment, of the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of gear rollers 181 and 182, teeth are formed only in the region corresponding to the rear portion 22b of the back sheet 22, and teeth are not formed in the region corresponding to the front portion 22a of the back sheet 22. The continuous back sheet BS is stretched by meshing the teeth of the gear roll 181 and the gear roll 182 at the same peripheral speed, and passing the continuous back sheet BS between the meshed teeth (gear stretching process), and the continuous back sheet BS is formed into a stretchable and stretchable continuous sheet. This allows the portion BS1 of the stretched continuous back sheet BS corresponding to the rear portion 22b of the back sheet 22 to exhibit stretchability. In addition, the section BS2 corresponding to the front section 22a does not exhibit stretchability.

The conveyor belt 184 conveys the 1 st semi-finished product P4 supplied from the compression device 170 to between a pair of conveyor rollers 185, 186. The bonding device 183 applies an adhesive to the upper side surface of the 1 st semi-finished product P4 conveyed by the conveyor belt 184. The pair of conveying rollers 185 and 186 are disposed facing each other, and press and adhere the continuous back sheet BS supplied from the gear stretcher 180 to the upper surface of the 1 st semi-finished product P4 having the adhesive applied to one surface thereof, thereby forming the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 as an absorbent member including the continuous front sheet TS and the continuous back sheet BS. The conveyor belt 187 conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 to the absorbent article forming unit 400D.

The absorbent article forming unit 400D is an apparatus for forming the absorbent article 2, and includes a back fastening portion forming device 190, a periphery sealing device 200, a spreader device 210, a wing fastening portion forming device 220, a periphery cutting device 230, and conveyor belts 194, 213, and 224.

The roller WR5 has a continuous sheet-like continuous release sheet CT serving as the release sheet 7, and the continuous release sheet CT is fed to the back surface fixing section forming device 190 by winding back the continuous release sheet CT by the back surface fixing section forming device 190 on the downstream side or the like. The adhesive device 195 applies an adhesive to one surface of the continuous release sheet CT before being supplied to the back-surface-fixed-portion forming device 190 to form a plurality of fixed portions 6. The back fixing portion forming device 190 includes a cutter roller 191 and an anvil roller 192 disposed to face each other, and a press roller 193 further disposed to face the anvil roller 192. When the adhesive-coated continuous release sheet CT is supplied between the cutter roller 191 and the anvil roller 192, the back surface fixing section forming apparatus 190 sucks and conveys the continuous release sheet CT to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 192, and cuts the continuous release sheet CT by the cutting blade of the cutter roller 191, thereby forming the release sheet 7 having the plurality of fixing sections 6. The back fixed portion forming device 190 conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 in the conveying direction while sandwiching the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 between the anvil roller 192 and the pressing roller 193, and presses and adheres the release sheet 7 to the upper side of the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 to form the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 with the release sheet 7, i.e., the 2 nd semi-finished product P6. The conveyor belt 194 conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 to the perimeter seal 200.

The periphery sealing device 200 includes a heating roller 201 and an anvil roller 202 disposed facing each other. The heating roller 201 can heat the outer peripheral surface, and a concave portion having a similar shape slightly smaller than the outer shape of the absorbent article 2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, when the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface, the portion of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 facing the concave portion is not in contact with the outer circumferential surface and is therefore not heated, and the portion of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 facing the outside of the concave portion is in contact with the outer circumferential surface and is therefore heated. Thus, when the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 is supplied between the heating roller 201 and the anvil roller 202, the periphery sealing device 200 heats the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 on the outer peripheral surface except the concave portion, thereby heat-sealing the outer edge end portion of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 in such a manner as to be rimmed in accordance with the shape of the absorbent article 2, forming the heat-sealed 2 nd semi-finished product P6.

The spreader 210 includes a plurality of sets of paired spreader rolls 211, 212 arranged to face each other. In the present embodiment, 3 sets of the pair of spreading rolls 211 and 212 are provided, and these spreading rolls 211 and 212 are arranged in the conveying direction. The pair of expander rolls 211, 212 mainly expands the portion of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 having the slit 20S in the transverse direction. That is, the pair of widening rollers 211, 212 mainly widen the portions of the 2 nd semifinished product P6 corresponding to the rear side portion 21b of the topsheet 21, the rear side portion 20mb of the absorber main body portion 20m, and the rear side portion 20nb of the carrier sheet 20n in the transverse direction. The extent of the spread is the extent to which the slits 20S are slightly opened. Immediately after the slits 20S are formed by the cutter, the slits 20S may be regularly cut or partially uncut, and the purpose of widening is to make the slits 20S regularly cut. The pair of spreading rolls 211 and 212 are used to spread the slits little by little without excessive spreading or cracking, and to spread the slits 20S with good balance as a whole.

The roller WR6 has a continuous sheet-like continuous release sheet FT serving as the release sheet 5, and the continuous release sheet FT is fed to the flap-securing-portion forming device 220 by winding back the continuous release sheet FT by the flap-securing-portion forming device 220 on the downstream side or the like. The adhesive device 225 applies an adhesive to one face of the continuous release sheet FT before being supplied to the flap fixing portion forming device 220 to form two fixing portions 4. The wing fixing portion forming device 220 includes a cutter roll 221 and an anvil roll 222 disposed to face each other, and a pressing roll 223 further disposed to face the anvil roll 222. When the adhesive-applied continuous release sheet FT is supplied between the cutter roller 221 and the anvil roller 222, the flap fixing portion forming device 220 sucks and conveys the continuous release sheet FT to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 222, and cuts the continuous release sheet FT with the cutting blade of the cutter roller 221, thereby forming the release sheet 5 having two fixing portions 4. Specifically, one fixing portion formed on one release sheet 5 is used as two adjacent wing portions of two adjacent absorbent articles in a roughly half-divided manner. The flap-fixing-portion forming device 220 conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 in the conveying direction while sandwiching the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 between the anvil roller 222 and the pressing roller 223, presses and adheres the release sheet 5 to the upper side of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6, and forms the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 with the release sheet 5, i.e., the 2 nd semi-finished product P7. The conveyor belt 224 conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 to the peripheral cutting device 230.

The periphery cutting device 230 includes a cutter roll 231 and an anvil roll 232 disposed to face each other. When the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 is supplied between the cutter roller 231 and the anvil roller 232, the periphery cutting device 230 sucks and conveys the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 232, and cuts the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 by the cutting cutters of the cutter roller 231, thereby forming the absorbent articles separated from each other. The peripheral cutting device 230 transfers the respective separated absorbent articles from the anvil roll 232 to the transfer device 240.

The packaging unit 400E is an apparatus or the like for forming the individual packaged bodies 1, and includes a transfer apparatus 240, folding apparatuses 250, 260, 270, a transverse sealing apparatus 280, a transverse cutting apparatus 290, a direction switching apparatus 300, a folding apparatus 310, and a sealing apparatus 320.

The roller WR7 has a continuous packaging sheet 3A in a continuous sheet form serving as the packaging sheet 3, and the continuous packaging sheet 3A is fed to the transfer roller 242 by rewinding the continuous packaging sheet 3A by the downstream conveying roller 245 and the like. The adhesive device 244 applies an adhesive (for example, thermoplastic resin) to one surface of the continuous packaging sheet 3A before being supplied to the transfer roller 242. The transfer device 240 includes a pair of transfer rollers 241 and 242 disposed to face each other. The transfer roller 241 sucks and conveys the absorbent article to the outer peripheral surface, and transfers the absorbent article from the periphery cutting device 230 to the transfer roller 242. At this time, the transfer roller 241 does not attract the surrounding portion other than the shape of the absorbent article, and removes the portion (black arrow) to perform a disposal process. The transfer roller 242 sucks and conveys the absorbent article to the outer peripheral surface, and winds the continuous wrapping sheet 3A from the outside of the absorbent article so that the outside of the absorbent article is in contact with one surface of the continuous wrapping sheet 3A, thereby forming an individually wrapped member P8 as the absorbent article with the continuous wrapping sheet 3A. The transfer roller 242 transfers the individual packaging member P8 to the conveying belt 243. The conveyor belt 243 conveys the individual package members P8 to the folding device 250.

Folding device 250 folds individual package member P8 along folding line FLV1 of individual package 1 to form individual package member P8 while conveying individual package member P8 by conveyor 251. Specifically, the central portion and the distal portion in the transverse direction (the side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of fig. 6 toward the paper surface) of the individual package member P8 are pressed by the holding roller 253, and the portion on the near side in the transverse direction (the side in the direction perpendicularly away from the paper surface of fig. 6) of the individual package member P8 is folded by the folding member 252 (folding stack) along the folding line FLV 1.

Folding device 260 folds individual package member P9 along folding line FLV2 of individual package 1 to form individual package member P10 while conveying individual package member P9 by conveyor 261. Specifically, the portion on the far side from the center in the cross direction of individual package member P9 is pressed by holding roller 263, and the portion on the near side from the center in the cross direction of individual package member P9 is folded along folding line FLV2 by folding member 262 (folding stack).

The folding device 270 folds the individual package member P10 along the folding line FLV3 of the individual package 1 while conveying the individual package member P10 by the conveyor 271 to form an individual package member P11. Specifically, the portion near the center in the transverse direction of individual package member P10 is pressed by holding roller 273, and the portion near the far side in the transverse direction of individual package member P10 is folded along folding line FLV3 by folding member 272 (folding stack).

The cross sealing device 280 includes a pair of pressing rollers 281, 282 disposed to face each other. The plurality of individual package members P11 continuously fed from the folding device 270 can be regarded as a tubular continuous packaging sheet 3A in which a plurality of absorbent articles aligned in the feeding direction are wrapped. The pair of pressing rollers 281 and 282 seal the portions of the tubular continuous packaging sheet 3A between two adjacent absorbent articles in the transverse direction, thereby forming the joint portions 31 to 33 (fig. 1). At this time, the rear joint portions 31 to 33 for the front individual package member P11 and the front joint portions 31 to 33 for the rear individual package member are formed simultaneously with respect to the two individual package members P11 adjacent in the conveying direction. That is, the joint portions 31 to 33 are formed on the front and rear sides of the absorbent article by two seals (fig. 1). Examples of the sealing method include thermal welding by heating.

The transverse cutting device 290 includes a cutter roller 291 and an anvil roller 292 disposed facing each other, and the cutter roller 291 and the anvil roller 292 nip the individual package member P11 to cut the cylindrical continuous packaging sheet 3A in which a plurality of absorbent articles are wrapped at the joints 31 to 33, thereby forming individual package members P11 and P12 which are independent of each other.

The direction switching device 300 includes a pair of conveyor belts 301, 302, a hold-down device 304, and a conveyor belt 305. The pair of conveyor belts 301, 302 are disposed facing each other, and the upper conveyor belt 302 extends longer in the conveying direction. The pair of conveyor belts 301, 302 convey the individual package member P12 in the conveying direction while gripping the individual package member P12 between the pair of conveyor belts 301, 302, and only the upper conveyor belt 302 conveys the individual package member P12 to the hold-down device 304 while sucking the individual package member P12 by the suction device 303 from the middle. The hold-down device 304 presses the individual package member P12 that has reached the end of the upper conveyor belt 302 onto the conveyor belt 305 disposed therebelow. After the conveyor belt 305, the conveying direction turns 90 degrees.

The folding device 310 includes a conveying belt 311, a bending member 312 (folding stack), and a bending member 313 (folding stack). The conveying belt 311 is used to convey the individual package members P12. The bending member 312 folds a portion of the individual package member P12 on the far side in the cross-sectional direction (the side facing the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of fig. 6) during conveyance along the folding line FLT1 of the individual package 1 to form an individual package member P13. The bending member 313 folds a portion on the near side in the transverse direction (the side in the direction perpendicularly away from the paper surface of fig. 6) of the individual package member P13 during conveyance folded (or being folded) by the bending member 312 along the folding line FLT2 of the individual package 1 to form an individual package member P14.

The sealing device 320 includes a pair of conveyor belts 323, 324, and a cutter roller 321 and an anvil roller 322.

The roller WR8 has a continuous sheet-like continuous belt TP for guiding the belt 9, and the continuous belt TP is fed to the cutter roller 321 and the anvil roller 322 by being wound back by the cutter roller 321, the anvil roller 322, and the like on the downstream side. The pair of conveyor belts 323 and 324 are disposed facing each other, and the lower conveyor belt 324 extends longer in the conveying direction. The pair of conveyor belts 323 and 324 conveys the individual package member P14 in the conveying direction while holding the individual package member P14 between the pair of conveyor belts 323 and 324, and only the lower conveyor belt 324 conveys the individual package member P14 to the end of the conveyor belt 324 from the middle. The cutter roller 321 and the anvil roller 322 attract and convey the continuous belt TP to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 322, and at the same time, the continuous belt TP is cut by the cutter of the cutter roller 321, and the guide belt 9 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 322. Then, the guide belt 9 on the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 322 is pressed against a predetermined position on the upper surface of the individual package member P14 on the conveying belt 324, forming an individual package P15.

Next, a method for manufacturing the individual package 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 4 to 6 and 7 to 11. Here, since the individual package 1 is the absorbent article 2 wrapped with the wrapping sheet 3, the present manufacturing method may also be referred to as a method of manufacturing the wrapped absorbent article 2.

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, the manufacturing method includes an absorber forming step, a 1 st blank forming step, a 2 nd blank forming step, an absorbent article forming step, and a packaging step.

First, an absorber forming step is described with reference to fig. 4 and fig. 7 (a) to 7 (C). In the fiber laminating apparatus 110, when the fiber laminated material is supplied from the material supplier 113 by rotating the rotary drum 111 in the direction of the arrow by a driving mechanism (not shown), the fiber laminated material is accumulated in the groove of the die plate 112 communicating with the negative pressure chamber 111N, and the fiber laminated body 50 is formed in the groove. The fiber laminate 50 is substantially an absorbent body because it has a shape in which single absorbent bodies are continuously connected in the circumferential direction. The portion 50a corresponding to the absorption center region STA of the absorber 20 is larger in volume than its surrounding portion, and is formed thick. Next, when the die plate 112 reaches the positive pressure chamber 111P together with the fiber laminated body 50, the fiber laminated body 50 is separated from the die plate 112.

On the other hand, the continuous auxiliary sheet SS in the form of a continuous sheet is rewound from the roller WR1 and conveyed while being tensioned in the conveying direction by the conveyor belt 115. An adhesive is applied to one side of the continuous auxiliary sheet SS. The fiber laminate 50 released from the template 112 is stuck to one surface of the continuous auxiliary sheet SS on the conveyor belt 115. As a result, as shown in fig. 7 (a), an absorbent member P1 in which the fiber laminate 50 is laminated on the continuous auxiliary sheet SS is formed. The absorber member P1 is substantially an absorber. The absorbent body member P1 is attracted by the conveyor belt 115 and conveyed in the conveyance direction, particularly in a state where tension is applied to the continuous auxiliary sheet SS.

Next, in the slide sheet supplying device 120, the continuous slide sheet CS1 (stretchable) in a continuous sheet form is wound back from the roller WR2a, and the continuous slide sheet CS2 (non-stretchable) in a continuous sheet form is wound back from the roller WR2b, and these are supplied in a state where tension is applied in the conveying direction by the conveyor belt 115. At this time, since the conveying direction is orthogonal to the direction capable of stretching, the continuous slide CS1 does not extend during the conveying process. The continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS2 are coated on one side with an adhesive. The continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS2 are pressed by the conveyor belt 115 at one surface against the upper surface of the absorber member P1 during conveyance, whereby the continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS2 are stuck to the absorber member P1. At this time, the continuous slide CS1 was directly stuck in a non-extended state. As a result, as shown in fig. 7 (B), an absorbent member P2 in which continuous carrier sheets CS1 and CS2 are laminated on an absorbent member P1 is formed. The absorber member P2 is substantially an absorber. The absorbent body member P2 is conveyed while being tensioned in the conveyance direction by the conveyor belt 115, and is supplied to the pressing device 130.

Next, in the pressing device 130, the absorbent body member P2 conveyed by the conveyor belt 115 is nipped and pressed by the pressing roller 131 and the anvil roller 132. Thereby, the absorbent body member P2 is formed to a desired thickness and adjusted to a desired fiber density (desired volume). However, the portion corresponding to the absorption center region of the absorber is formed to be large in volume (thick) so that the absorption force is not excessively reduced. The pressed absorbent body member P2 is substantially an absorbent body, but is conveyed in a state where tension is applied in the conveying direction by the conveyor belt 133, and is supplied to the slit forming device 140.

Next, in the slit forming device 140, the absorber member P2 conveyed by the conveyor belt 133 is nipped by the anvil roller 141 and the cutter roller 142, and a plurality of slits 20S are formed. The absorber member P3 is substantially an absorber. As a result, as shown in fig. 7 (C), an absorbent member P3 having a plurality of slits 20S is formed. At this time, the plurality of slits 20S are formed in the region of the absorber member P1 (the fiber laminated body 50+ the continuous auxiliary sheet SS) corresponding to the portion 20mb on the rear side of the absorber main body portion 20m excluding the absorption center region STA, and are not formed in the continuous carrier sheets CS1, CS 2. The absorbent member P3 is conveyed while being tensioned in the conveyance direction by the conveyor belt 143, and is supplied to the cutting device 150. At this time, since the direction in which the continuous carrier sheet CS1, the fibrous laminated body 50, and the continuous auxiliary sheet SS can be extended is orthogonal to the conveying direction, the continuous carrier sheet CS1, the fibrous laminated body 50, and the continuous auxiliary sheet SS are not extended during the conveying process.

Next, in the cutting device 150, the absorbent body member P3 conveyed by the conveyor belt 143 is sucked to and conveyed by the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 152, and is cut by the cutting blades of the cutter roller 151, thereby forming the absorbent body member P3 separated into the shape of the absorbent body 20. The absorber member P3 is an absorber. The absorber member P3 is transmitted to the conveying roller 164.

Next, the first intermediate product forming step 1 will be described with reference to fig. 4 to 5 and (D) of fig. 7. In the gear stretching device 160, the continuous sheet-like continuous surface sheet TS is wound back from the roller WR3, and subjected to gear stretching treatment by the gear stretching device 160 to be formed into an extensible and stretchable continuous sheet. The continuous surface sheet TS immediately after being rewound from the roller WR3 can be referred to as a raw material continuous sheet for forming the continuous surface sheet TS having extensibility and the like. In the continuous front sheet TS, stretchability is exhibited in a section TS1 corresponding to the rear section 21b of the front sheet 21, and stretchability is not exhibited in a section TS2 corresponding to the front section 21 a. The stretched continuous surface sheet TS is applied with an adhesive on one surface and is fed in a state where tension is applied in the feeding direction by the feeding belt 165. At this time, since the conveying direction is orthogonal to the direction in which the continuous surface sheet TS can expand and contract, the continuous surface sheet TS does not extend during the conveyance. On the conveyor 165, the surface of the absorbent member P3 on the continuous auxiliary sheet SS side, which is supplied from the conveyor roller 164, is pressed against one surface of the non-stretched continuous-surface sheet TS, and the absorbent members P3 are bonded to the non-stretched continuous-surface sheet TS. As a result, as shown in fig. 7 (D), the absorbent member P3 with the continuous-surface sheet TS, i.e., the 1 st semi-finished product PA4, is formed. The 1 st semi-finished product P4 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 165 with tension applied thereto in the conveying direction, and is supplied to the compressing device 170. However, the "1 st semifinished product" refers to an article in which the continuous-surface sheet TS is joined to the absorbent member P3 (absorbent body), and other processing such as compression may be performed.

Next, in the compression device 170, the 1 st semi-finished product P4 conveyed by the conveyor belt 165 is nipped by the compression roller 171 and the anvil roller 172, and the compression part 26 is formed. Thereby, the 1 st half-finished product P4 having the compressed portion 26 is formed. The 1 st semi-finished product is conveyed while being tensioned in the conveying direction by the conveying belt 184, and is supplied to the 2 nd semi-finished product forming unit 400C.

Next, the 2 nd half-finished product forming step will be described with reference to fig. 5 and 8 (a). In the gear stretcher 180, the continuous back sheet BS wound back from the roll WR4 is subjected to gear stretching by the pair of gear rolls 181 and 182, and is formed into an extensible and stretchable continuous sheet. The continuous back sheet BS immediately after being rewound from the roller WR4 can be referred to as a raw material continuous sheet for forming the continuous back sheet BS having extensibility or the like. In the continuous back sheet BS, stretchability is exhibited in a portion BS1 corresponding to the rear portion 22b of the back sheet 22, and stretchability is not exhibited in a portion BS2 corresponding to the front portion 22 a. The stretched continuous back sheet BS is fed while being tensioned in the conveying direction between the pair of conveying rollers 185 and 186. At this time, since the conveying direction is orthogonal to the direction in which the back sheet BS can be stretched, the continuous back sheet BS does not stretch during the conveyance. The 1 st semi-finished product P4 having the adhesive applied to its upper side is fed from the conveyor belt 184 to between a pair of conveyor rollers 185 and 186. Then, the continuous back sheet BS is pressed against the upper surface of the 1 st half-finished product P4 in a non-stretched state between the pair of conveying rollers 185 and 186, and the continuous back sheet BS is attached to the 1 st half-finished product P4 in a non-stretched state. Thereby, as shown in fig. 8 (a), a 2 nd semi-finished product P5 with a continuous back sheet BS is formed. However, the compression section 26 is not shown in the figures following fig. 8 (a). The 2 nd semi-finished product P5 is conveyed while being tensioned in the conveyance direction by the conveyor belt 187, and is supplied to the absorbent article forming unit 400D. However, the "2 nd half product" refers to an article in which the continuous back sheet BS is joined to the 1 st half product, and other processing such as attaching a release sheet or heat sealing may be performed.

Next, an absorbent article forming process will be described with reference to fig. 5 and fig. 8 (B) to 8 (C), and fig. 11. In the back fixed part forming apparatus 190, the continuous release sheet CT wound back from the roller WR5 is coated with an adhesive in a predetermined shape on one surface, and cut into a predetermined size by the cutter roller 191 and the anvil roller 192 to become the release sheet 7. The release sheet 7 is fed between the anvil roll 192 and the press roll 193. The 2 nd half-finished product P5 is fed from the conveyor belt 187 between the anvil roller 192 and the press roller 193. Then, the release sheet 7 is pressed against the upper surface of the 2 nd semi-finished product P5 between the anvil roll 192 and the pressing roll 193, and the release sheet 7 is stuck to the 2 nd semi-finished product P5. Thus, as shown in fig. 8 (B), a 2 nd semi-finished product P5 with the release sheet 7, i.e., a 2 nd semi-finished product P6, is formed. However, in the figures following fig. 8 (B), the release sheet 7 is not shown, and only the fixing portion 6 of the adhesive applied to the release sheet 7 is shown. The 2 nd half-finished product P6 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 194 with tension applied thereto in the conveying direction, and is supplied to the periphery sealing device 200.

In the periphery sealing apparatus 200, the 2 nd half-finished product P6 conveyed by the conveyor belt 194 is fed between the heating roller 201 and the anvil roller 202, and is heated by the heating roller 201 to be heat-sealed so as to be rimmed in accordance with the shape of the absorbent article 2. Thereby forming a heat-sealed 2 nd semi-finished product P6. An absorber is housed in the heat-sealed interior. The heat-sealed 2 nd half-finished product P6 is conveyed in a state where tension is applied in the conveying direction by the tenter device 210.

In the tenter 210, the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 fed from the peripheral sealing device 200 is fed between the paired sets of tenter rollers 211 and 212, and is stretched in the transverse direction little by the paired sets of tenter rollers 211 and 212, respectively, and the slits 20S are cut in order. This enables the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 to be smoothly expanded and contracted reliably. The 2 nd semi-finished product P6 is conveyed to the wing fixing portion forming device 220 in a state where tension is applied in the conveying direction by the conveying belt 213.

In the flap fixing portion forming device 220, the continuous release sheet FT in a continuous sheet form wound back from the roller WR6 is coated with an adhesive on one surface, and cut into a predetermined size by the cutter roller 221 and the anvil roller 222 to become the release sheet 5. A fixing portion 4 formed of an adhesive is provided on one surface of the release sheet 5. The release sheet 5 is fed between the anvil roller 222 and the press roller 223. The 2 nd half-finished product P6 is fed from the conveyor belt 213 to between the anvil roller 222 and the press roller 223. Here, in the 2 nd half-finished product P6, wing corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp corresponding to the wing portions 2b, 2b are present on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction. Further, two adjacent flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp of the two adjacent 2 nd semi-finished products P6, P6, that is, the flap corresponding portion 2bp on the upstream side of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is opposed to the flap corresponding portion 2bp on the downstream side of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 on the upstream side in the conveying direction. At this time, the release sheet 5 is disposed so as to face the upper surfaces of the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp of the adjacent two second semi-finished products P6, P6. Thus, as shown in fig. 11 (a), the release sheet 5 is disposed so as to face the upper surfaces of the wing corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp corresponding to the adjacent two wing portions belonging to the different 2 nd semi-finished product P6 of the adjacent two 2 nd semi-finished products P6, P6. In other words, the release sheet 5 is pressed against the upper surfaces of the adjacent two wing corresponding portions 2bp and 2bp between the anvil roll 222 and the pressing roll 223 via the fixing portions 4, and the release sheet 5 is adhered to the 2 nd semi-finished product P6. Thereby, as shown in fig. 8 (C) and 11 (B), the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 with the release sheet 5 is formed. The 2 nd semi-finished product P7 is conveyed to the peripheral cutting device 230 while being tensioned in the conveying direction by the conveyor belt 224.

That is, in the present embodiment described above, after the adhesive agent to be the fixing portion 4 is applied to one surface of the continuous release sheet FT to be the release sheet 5, the release sheet 5 is attached to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp so that one surface (the surface to which the adhesive agent is applied) of the release sheet 5 obtained by cutting the continuous release sheet FT into a predetermined size spans the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2 bp.

Thus, the release sheet 5 coated with the adhesive was attached to the tab corresponding portions 2bp, 2 bp. Therefore, as compared with the case where the adhesive is applied to the tab corresponding portion 2bp and then the release sheet 5 is attached to the applied portion, the release sheet 5 only needs to be aligned, and the alignment of the adhesive can be eliminated. This improves the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5 including the application of the adhesive.

In the present embodiment described above, the adhesive applied to the continuous release sheet FT to be the release sheet 5 is applied to one surface of the continuous release sheet FT so that the adhesive extends over the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp when the release sheet 5 is attached over the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2 bp.

In this way, since the adhesive can be formed to span the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp and 2bp by simply attaching the release sheet 5, the adhesive, that is, the fixing portion 4 can be formed by disposing the adhesive at the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp and 2bp at a time. This can improve the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5.

In the periphery cutting device 230, the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 conveyed by the conveyor belt 224 is conveyed while being attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller 232, and is cut by the cutting blades of the blade roller 231, respectively, to become the absorbent article 2, which is the 2 nd semi-finished product P7 separated into the shape of the absorbent article 2. At this time, as shown in fig. 11 (C), the half-finished products P7, P7 of the two adjacent absorbent articles are cut into the shape of the absorbent article 2, whereby one release sheet 5 is cut into two release sheets 5, 5 between the two adjacent flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2 bp. The absorbent article 2 is transferred from the anvil roll 232 to the transfer device 240.

In this way, in the present embodiment, when the release sheet 5 is disposed at 2bp and 2bp of the two adjacent flap corresponding portions (portions to become the flap portions 2B by cutting) of the 2 nd semifinished products P6 and P6 of the two adjacent absorbent articles, one release sheet 5 is stuck ((B) of fig. 11), and one release sheet 5 is cut simultaneously with the cutting of the 2 nd semifinished product P6 to make two release sheets 5 ((C) of fig. 11). Thus, the two release sheets 5 can be bonded at a time without adding a cutting step dedicated to the release sheet 5. Further, if the end of the release sheet 5 is aligned with the end of the wing section 2b, when the release sheet 5 is peeled off when the absorbent article 2 is used, the release sheet 5 can be peeled off from the outer edge end 5e of the release sheet overlapping the outer edge end of the absorbent article 2, and the release sheet 5 is unlikely to come into contact with the inside of the absorbent article 2, so that the hygiene inside the absorbent article 2 can be maintained, which is preferable. In the manufacturing process described above, the 2 nd half-finished product of the absorbent article is cut, whereby the structure in which the end portions of the release sheet 5 and the end portions of the wing portions 2b are aligned can be easily formed. In this way, the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5 having a desired configuration can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the adhesive as the fixing portion 4 interposed between the release sheet 5 and the portion 2bp corresponding to the flap portion is present at least up to the outer edge end of the flap corresponding portion 2 bp. Thus, the adhesive exists up to the outer edge end of the tab corresponding portion 2bp, that is, the region coated with the adhesive exists in a relatively wide range of the tab corresponding portion 2 bp. Therefore, even if the area to which the adhesive is applied is slightly deviated, a desired amount of the adhesive can be applied, and the application of the adhesive can be controlled relatively easily. This improves the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5 including the application of the adhesive. Further, since the adhesive exists up to the outer edge end of the wing section 2b, the wing section 2b can be made less likely to peel off when the wing section 2b is folded back after the absorbent article 2 is attached.

Next, the packaging step will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 6 and fig. 8 (D) to 10. In the transfer device 240, the continuous sheet-like continuous wrapping sheet 3A wound back from the roller WR7 is coated with an adhesive on one surface and wound into the transfer roller 242. On the other hand, the absorbent article conveyed from the periphery cutting device 230 is sucked to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 241 and conveyed, and is transferred to the transfer roller 242. Then, one surface of the continuous packaging sheet 3A is pressed against the upper surface of the absorbent article at the transfer roller 242, and the continuous packaging sheet 3A is attached to the absorbent article 53 (i.e., the absorbent article 2). As a result, as shown in fig. 8 (D), an individually wrapped component P8 is formed as an absorbent article with the continuous wrapping sheet 3A attached. The individual package member P8 is conveyed to the folding device 250 by the conveying belt 243 in the conveying direction.

In the folding device 250, the individual package member P8 shown in fig. 9 (a) conveyed by the conveyor 243 in the conveying direction is folded along the folding line FLV1 of the individual package 1 while being conveyed by the conveyor 251, and as shown in fig. 9 (B), the individual package member P9 is formed. However, details of the absorbent article 53 are omitted in the figures following fig. 9 (a).

Next, in the folding device 260, the individual package member P9 conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveyor belt 251 is folded along the folding line FLV2 of the individual package 1 while being conveyed by the conveyor belt 261, and as shown in fig. 9 (C), the individual package member P10 is formed.

Next, in the folding device 270, the individual package member P10 conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveyor 261 is folded along the folding line FLV3 of the individual package 1 while being conveyed by the conveyor 271, and as shown in fig. 9 (D), the individual package member P11 is formed.

The folding devices 250 and 260 described above fold the absorbent body 20, the top sheet 21, and the back sheet 22 of the absorbent article 2 at portions having high extensibility. Since the portions having high extensibility are low in rigidity and are easily bent, the folding devices 250 and 260 can be easily and reliably folded when the absorbent body 20, the front sheet 21, and the back sheet 22 are folded. As a result, defects such as misalignment of the folded position can be suppressed, and the occurrence of situations such as distortion or dimensional variation in the finished product when the absorbent article is finally completed can be prevented.

In the cross sealing device 280, the portions of the cylindrical continuous packaging sheet 3A between the absorbent articles adjacent to each other are sealed in the transverse direction by a pair of pressing rollers 281 and 282 of the cross sealing device 280, and the joint portions 31 to 33 (fig. 1) of the individual packaging member P11 are formed. However, the sealing is performed twice in order to seal the front and the rear in the transport direction of the absorbent article, respectively.

In the transverse cutting device 290, the individual package members P11 fed from the transverse sealing device 280 are cut into the joint portions 31 to 33 in the transverse direction. Thereby, as shown in fig. 10 (a), an individual package member P12 is formed.

In the direction switching device 300, the individual package member P12 cut by the lateral cutting device 290 is conveyed in the conveying direction while being gripped between the pair of conveyor belts 301 and 302, and is conveyed to the end of the conveyor belt 302 only by the upper conveyor belt 302 from the middle. The individual package member P12 reaching the end of the upper conveyor belt 302 is pushed down onto the conveyor belt 305 disposed therebelow by the pusher 304. The conveyor 305 conveys the individual package members P12 to the folding device 310. At this time, the conveyance direction is turned by 90 degrees, and the absorbent article 2 is conveyed in the longitudinal direction. In this case, since the absorbent article 2 is wrapped by the wrapping sheet 3, the extensible member is not stretched during conveyance.

In the folding device 310, the individual package member P12 conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveyor 311 is folded along the folding line FLT1 of the individual package 1 while being conveyed by the conveyor 311, and becomes an individual package member P13. That is, as shown in fig. 10 (B), in the individual package member P12, for 3 portions 3a, 3B, 3c arranged in the transverse direction divided by the folding lines FLT1, FLT2, the portion 3a overlaps the portion 3B, and one end portion 3e1 in the transverse direction of the individual package member P12 is located on the portion 3B. The individual package member P13 is folded along the folding line FLT2 of the individual package 1, and becomes the individual package member P14. That is, as shown in fig. 10 (C), in individual package member P13, portion 3C overlaps portion 3a on portion 3b, and the other end 3e2 in the transverse direction of individual package member P13 is located on portion 3 a.

In the sealing device 320, the individual package member P14 is gripped and conveyed by the conveyor belts 323 and 324. The continuous tape TP wound back from the roller WR8 is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter roller 321 and the anvil roller 322 to become the leader tape 9. The guide belt 9 is fed to the individual package members P14 on the conveying belt 324. The guide tape 9 is stuck from the anvil roller 322 to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the individual package member P14, and becomes an individual package P15 as shown in fig. 10 (D).

The packaged absorbent article is manufactured as described above.

In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article of the present embodiment, the direction (direction in which extensibility is relatively low) that becomes the width direction W of the absorbent article 2 when the absorbent article 2 is completed is set to the direction in which extensibility of the extensible continuous sheet such as the fiber laminate 50, the absorbent member such as the continuous carrier sheet CS, the continuous top sheet TS, and the continuous back sheet BS is low, and the absorbent member and the extensible continuous sheet are conveyed with this direction as the conveying direction. Thus, the absorbent member and the extensible continuous sheet have relatively low extensibility in the conveyance direction, and therefore, the state in which each of the absorbent member and the extensible continuous sheet is extended when stretched in the conveyance direction during conveyance can be suppressed. As a result, in the processing step of the absorbent member and the extensible continuous sheet, the processing position in the conveyance direction can be stabilized, and the occurrence of situations such as distortion of the finished product or dimensional variations when the absorbent article is finally completed can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, when the release sheets 5 are disposed at the two adjacent flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp of the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 of the two adjacent absorbent articles, one release sheet 5 is attached, and the 2 nd semi-finished product P6 is cut to form the absorbent article 2 and the one release sheet 5 is cut to form two release sheets 5. Thus, the two release sheets 5 can be bonded at a time without adding a cutting step dedicated to the release sheet 5. In this way, the work efficiency of forming the release sheet having a desired configuration can be improved, and thus the efficiency of manufacturing can be improved.

In addition, as a preferred mode in the present embodiment, in the formation of the fixing portion 4 (adhesive) and the release sheet 5, the adhesive may be applied to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp first, and then the release sheet 5 may be attached to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp so that the release sheet 5 covers the adhesive of the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2 bp. In this embodiment, when the release sheet 5 is disposed at 2bp and 2bp of the adjacent two flap corresponding portions, the attachment of one release sheet 5 can be performed. This improves the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5 including the application of the adhesive, and thus improves the manufacturing efficiency. In this case, when the adhesive is applied to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp and 2bp without applying the adhesive to the release sheet 5, the adhesive may be applied so as to straddle the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp and 2 bp. In this case, the adhesive can be applied to the adjacent two flap corresponding portions 2bp, 2bp at a time, and the work efficiency of forming the release sheet 5 can be improved, so that the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the manufacturing apparatus 400 described above and the manufacturing method using the manufacturing apparatus 400, as long as the present invention includes the steps related to the formation of the release sheet 5, the formation of the fixing portion 4, and the formation of the wing portion 2b, the devices thereof, and other steps and devices thereof. The specific structure of the absorbent article 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has, for example, the above-described release sheet 5, fixing portion 4, and wing portions 2 b.

Description of the reference numerals

400. A manufacturing device; 400A, an absorber forming unit; 400B, a 1 st semi-finished product forming unit; 400C, a 2 nd semi-finished product forming unit; 400D, an absorbent article forming unit; 400E, a packaging unit; SS, continuous auxiliary sheet; CS1, serial slide; CS2, serial slide; TS, continuous surface sheet; BS, continuous backsheet; CT, continuous stripping; FT, continuous release sheet; TP, continuous belt; P1-P3, an absorbent member; p4, 1 st semi-finished product; P5-P7 and the No. 2 semi-finished product; P8-P14, an independent packaging member; p15, individual package.

Claims (6)

1. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article including a main body portion and wing portions continuously extending from the main body portion to both sides of the main body portion,

the method comprises the following steps:

a conveying step of conveying a plurality of absorbent article semi-finished products in which a continuous front sheet extending in a conveying direction, a plurality of absorbent members aligned in the conveying direction, and a continuous back sheet extending in the conveying direction are stacked, such that a width direction of the absorbent article semi-finished products is the conveying direction, the plurality of absorbent article semi-finished products having the same orientation in a longitudinal direction;

a bonding step of bonding one release sheet with an adhesive so as to straddle wing corresponding portions of the semi-finished products of the two absorbent articles adjacent in the conveying direction, the wing corresponding portions corresponding to the two adjacent wing portions; and

and a cutting step of cutting the continuous front-surface sheet and the continuous back-surface sheet of the intermediate product of the two adjacent absorbent articles into the shape of the absorbent article, thereby cutting the single release sheet into two release sheets between the two adjacent flap corresponding portions and forming two adjacent flap portions.

2. The method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1,

the adhering step includes the following steps:

coating an adhesive on one surface of the release sheet; and

the release sheet is attached to the adjacent two wing corresponding portions so that one surface of the release sheet extends across the adjacent two wing corresponding portions.

3. The method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 2,

the step of applying an adhesive to one surface of the release sheet includes the steps of:

the adhesive is applied so as to straddle the two adjacent flap corresponding portions when the release sheet is partially stuck across the two adjacent flap corresponding portions.

4. The method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1,

the adhering step includes the following steps:

coating adhesive on the corresponding parts of the two adjacent wings; and

the release sheet is attached to the two adjacent flap corresponding portions so as to cover the adhesive of the two adjacent flap corresponding portions.

5. The method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 4,

the step of applying the adhesive to the corresponding portions of the adjacent two flaps includes the steps of:

the adhesive is applied across the adjacent two wing corresponding portions.

6. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

the adhesive interposed between the release sheet and the portion corresponding to the wing portion is present at least up to the outer edge end of the portion corresponding to the wing.

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