Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
  • A61F13/15764—Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
  • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
  • B65H23/28—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H37/00—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations
  • B65H37/04—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H37/00—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations
  • B65H37/06—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations for folding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
  • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
  • B65H45/22—Longitudinal folders, i.e. for folding moving sheet material parallel to the direction of movement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/45—Folding, unfolding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
  • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
  • B65H2301/512—Changing form of handled material
  • B65H2301/5124—Stretching; Tentering
  • B65H2301/51242—Stretching transversely; Tentering
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
  • B65H2701/17—Nature of material
  • B65H2701/171—Physical features of handled article or web
  • B65H2701/1716—Elastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
  • B65H2701/18—Form of handled article or web
  • B65H2701/186—Several articles or webs processed together
  • B65H2701/1864—Superposed webs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2801/00—Application field
  • B65H2801/57—Diaper manufacture

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a conveyor configured to convey a continuous stretchable web, and a method of manufacturing an absorbent article.
• a method of manufacturing an absorbent article such as a pants-type diaper, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner is implemented in an assembly line, in general.
• a continuous web including a continuum of top sheets and a continuum of bottom surface sheets to form absorbent articles is conveyed under tension in a web conveyance direction by a conveyor (for example, see PTL 1) .
• component members such as a gather (elastic member) and a waterproof film are placed on the web being conveyed under tension in the web conveyance direction.
• a web with stretchable component members, such as a gather and a waterproof film, arranged thereon sometimes extends or shrinks in a cross direction (a web width direction) perpendicular to the web conveyance direction.
• a cross direction a web width direction
• the web during conveyance is often asymmetrical with respect to the center line that bisects the width of the web, and sometimes shrinks toward the center in the web width direction.
• a conveyor has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
• the conveyer includes an endless belt configured to rotate between multiple pairs of rollers, a drive mechanism configured to rotate thebelt, and a suctionmechanism configured to suck the web down onto the belt through multiple suction holes formed in the belt.
• the suction mechanism causes the web to stick to the belt through the suction holes.
• the inventors have discovered that once a web shrinks toward the center in the width direction, the web is stuck to the belt in the shrunken state. Consequently, the web has one or more creases therein in some cases . Such creases need to be smoothed out to avoid manufacturing defects.
• the present invention is aimed to provide a conveyor and a method of manufacturing an absorbent article which are capable of surely smoothing out a crease generated in a stretchable web even when the crease is generated in the web.
• the present invention has the following aspects.
• a conveyor for conveying a continuous stretchable web in a conveyance direction comprising a conveying mechanism for conveying the web in a conveyance plane; and a press mechanism for pressing the web in at least one of the center or side edge region of the web, to deflect the web off the conveyance plane and cause the web to be stretched in the cross direction.
• a method of manufacturing absorbent articles comprises conveying, in a conveyance plane, a continuous web to be processed by a plurality of processes into the absorbent article.
• the web has, in a cross direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction, a center region and side edge regions on opposite sides of the center region.
• the method further comprises pressing the web in at least one of the center or side edge region of the web, to deflect the web off the conveyance plane.
• a aspect of the present invention provides a conveyor that conveys a long stretchable web, comprising a press mechanism configured to press the web in at least a center region in a cross direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the web, or at least side edge regions located in positions shifted from the center region toward both side edges of the web in the cross direction, wherein the press mechanism is provided in a position shifted from a conveyance plane of the web when viewed along a surface of the web in the cross direction.
• a conveyor and a method of manufacturing an absorbent article which are capable of surely smoothing out a crease generated in a stretchable web even when the crease is generated in the web.
• FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway, perspective view showing an absorbent article according to one or more embodiments.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a relevant part of a method of manufacturing absorbent articles according to one or more embodiments.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a relevant part of a conveyor according to one or more embodiments.
• Fig. 4 is a side view of a press mechanism of the conveyor of FIG. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a front view of the press mechanism.
• FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a press board of the press mechanism.
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a press mechanism according to a Modified Example 1.
• FIGs. 8A and 8B are front views of a press mechanism according to a Modified Example 2.
• FIG. 9 is a front view of a press mechanism according to a Modified Example 3.
• Fig. 10 is a front view of a press mechanism according to a Modified Example 4.
• Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the absorbent article 1.
• the absorbent article l is a disposable pants-type diaper for adults.
• the absorbent article 1 mainly includes a top sheet 2, a back sheet 3, an absorber 4 and a waterproof sheet 5.
• the top sheet 2 is adapted to come into contact with the skin of a person to wear the absorbent article 1 (hereinafter, "wearer") .
• the top sheet 2 is made of a liquid permeable sheet such as a nonwoven fabric or a perforated plastic film.
• the back sheet 3 is provided outside the top sheet 2 (on the side farther from the wearer) .
• the back sheet 3 is made of a nonwoven fabric or the like.
• the absorber 4 is provided between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, for absorbing excretion discharged from the wearer.
• the absorber 4 is made of a mixture of g pulp and superabsorbent polymer particles, or the like.
• the waterproof sheet 5 is provided between the back sheet 3 and the absorber 4, for blocking the permeation of the excretion from the wearer to the outside of the absorbent article 1.
• the waterproof sheet 5 is made of a liquid impermeable sheet.
• the absorbent article 1 is provided with the top sheet 2, the absorber 4, the waterproof sheet 5 and the back sheet 3 in order, from the skin side of the wearer.
• the absorbent article 1 thus configured includes, in combination, a front waistline portion 10 to be fitted to the front waist of a wearer, a back waistline portion 20 to be fitted to the back waist of the wearer, and a crotch portion 30 to be fitted to the crotch of the wearer.
• leg-surrounding openings 40 into which the legs of the wearer are inserted are formed on both sides of the crotch portion 30.
• the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20 are joined together by joint portions 50, and thereby form a waist opening to be fit around the body of the wearer.
• a waist gather 6A made of a stretchable rubber strand or the like is provided to an entire peripheral edge of the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20.
• the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20 may be provided with the waist gather 6A, or may themselves be made of a stretchable sheet.
• the crotch portion 30 is provided between the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20.
• Leg gathers 6B made of stretchable rubber strands or the like are provided on both sides of the crotch portion 30.
• the crotch portion 30 may be provided with the leg gathers 6B, or may itself be made of a stretchable sheet.
• Fig. 2 which is a diagram for explaining a relevant part of the absorbent article manufacturing method.
• the method of manufacturing absorbent articles includes at least a waistline forming step Sl, an absorber transferring step S2, a leg-surrounding forming step
• gathers are placed between a web 7A and a web 7B, and thereby a web 7 prepared to form the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20 is formed.
• the web 7 (webs 7A, 7B) during conveyance is stretchable in a width direction CD (cross direction) perpendicular to a conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the web 7 is asymmetrical with respect to a center line CL that bisects a width in the width direction CD of the web 7 and extends in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• a crotch portion member 3OA to form the crotch portion 30 is transferred onto the web 7, more specifically, between the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20 after the waistline forming step Sl .
• the crotch portion member 3OA includes the back sheet 3 and the absorber 4.
• the leg-surrounding openings 40 are formed by cutting the web 7 (webs 7A, 7B) after the absorber transferring step S2.
• the formation of the leg-surrounding openings 40 does not necessarily involve cutting only the web 7A and the web 7B, but may involve cutting, together with the web 7A and the web 7B, the back sheet 3 constituting the crotch portion member 3OA.
• the absorber transferring step S2 and the leg-surrounding forming step S3 may be performed in the reverse order .
• the web 7 is folded into two parts along a folding line extending in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7 by bringing a side edge 1OA of the front waistline portion 10 toward a side edge 2OA of the back waistline portion 20, after the leg-surrounding forming step S3.
• the folding line is the center line CL.
• the folding line is not necessarily the center line CL, and may be shifted from the center line CL toward either of the side edge 1OA and the side edge 2OA.
• the folded parts of the web 7 are joined together in joint regions 5OA through ultrasonic treatment or heat treatment after the folding step S4.
• the joint region 5OA extends in the conveyance direction MD across an imaginary line SL that indicates a to-be-cut position and extends in the width direction CD.
• the absorbent article 1 is manufactured.
• the method of manufacturing absorbent articles includes conveying steps between the steps (Sl to S6) .
• the web 7 to be processed into the absorbent article 1 is conveyed by a conveyor 100, which will be described later.
• the conveying step is performed before each of the process steps (Sl to S6) in which the web 7 is processed.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a relevant part of the conveyor 100 according to one or more embodiments.
• the conveyor 100 conveys the web 7 under tension in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the conveyor 100 includes at least a press mechanism 110 and a conveyor mechanism 120. A configuration of the press mechanism
• the conveyor mechanism 120 is provided on the opposite side of the web 7 from the press mechanism 110.
• the conveyor mechanism 120 is provided downstream of the press mechanism 110 in the conveyance direction MD.
• the conveyor mechanism 120 includes a belt 121, a drive unit 122, a suction unit 123 and an edge press unit 124.
• the belt 121 is an endless belt configured to rotate around plural rollers (for example, a driving roller 122A and an unillustrated roller) while having the web 7 placed thereon.
• the belt 121 is provided with multiple suction holes 121A through which the web 7 is sucked.
• the drive unit 122 rotates the belt 121.
• the drive unit 122 rotates the belt 121.
• the drive unit 122 includes two or more rollers (unillustrated) and the driving roller 122A.
• the drive unit 122 includes a motor configured to rotate the driving roller 122A through a shaft, and the like .
• the suction unit 123 sucks air through the suction holes 121A which will be described later. In other words, the suction unit 123 causes the web 7 during conveyance to stick to the belt 121.
• the edge press unit 124 presses the side edges 1OA and 2OA of the web 7 against the belt 121.
• the edge press unit 124 includes a first press portion 124A arranged along the side edge 1OA of the web 7 and a second press portion 124B arranged along the side edge 2OA of the web 7.
• the first press portion 124A and the second press portion 124B are coupled to each other with a pipe 125.
• Fig. 4 is a side view of the press mechanism 100 as seen in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a front view of the press mechanism 100 as seen in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a press board 111 of the press mechanism.
• the press mechanism 110 is provided on the opposite side of the web 7 from the conveyor mechanism 120.
• the press mechanism 110 is located close to the belt 121 rotating around the drive unit 122 , and upstream of the conveyor mechanism 120 in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the press mechanism 110 is provided in a position shifted from a conveyance plane R in which the web 7 is to be conveyed by the belt 121. More specifically, the press mechanism 110 is located below the conveyance plane R defined by belt 121.
• the press mechanism 110 presses downward the web 7 in a center region C in the width direction CD of the web 7 and/or in at least one of side edge regions S located in positions shifted from the central region C toward the side edges in the width direction CD of the web 7.
• the side edge regions S are located on opposite sides of the center region as seen in the cross direction CD.
• the press mechanism 110 presses downward the side edge regions S, except for the side edge 1OA and the side edge 2OA of the web 7, and therefore is not in contact with any of the side edges (the side edge 1OA or the side edge 20A) .
• the press mechanism 110 includes a press board 111.
• the press board 111 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or the like .
• the press board 111 is bent when viewed along the surface of the web 7 in the width direction CD.
• the press board 111 is fixed through a fixed frame 112 to a support bar 113 extending in the width direction CD.
• the press board 111 includes a press face 11 LA. to be in contact with the web 7.
• the press face HlA is in a straight-line form when viewed along the surface of the web 7 in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7 (i.e., viewed in a direction perpendicular to the support bar 113) .
• the press board 111 has a width (w) in the width direction CD which becomes larger, more particularly, gradually larger, from an upstream side to a downstream side in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7. More precisely, a downstream side width (wl) in the press board 111 is larger than an upstream side width (w2) in the press board 111. It should be noted that the downstream side width (wl) in the press board 111 is larger than the width of the web 7, and therefore, as best seen in FIG. 3, is located above the edges 1OA, 2OA of the web 7 to flatten out the edges 1OA, 20A when the web 7 emerges from under the press board 111.
• the press mechanism 110 is provided in the position shifted from the conveyance plane R of the web 7 when viewed along the surface of the web 7 in the width direction CD, and presses the center region C and the side edge regions S. Unlike the case where the web 7 is not pressed, such pressing deflects the web 7 off the conveyance plane R and causes the web 7 during conveyance to be stretched toward outer sides in the width direction CD when passing under the press mechanism 110. Therefore, even when a crease is generated in the web 7 during conveyance, such crease is surely smoothed out. It should be noted that the center region S of the web 7 is deflected further away from the conveyance plane R than the side edge regions S of the web.
• any crease in the web 7 is smoothed out by the press mechanism 110 before the web 7 reaches the conveyor mechanism 120, and thus the edge press unit 124 presses the side edges 1OA and 20 A of the web 7 which has no crease. In this way, the web 7 can be conveyed surely in a state free from any crease.
• the edge press unit 124 provided in the conveyor mechanism 120 has a first press unit 124A, a second press unit 124B and a pipe 125.
• the first press unit 124A and the second press unit 124B press the side edges 1OA and 2OA of the web 7 toward the belt 121.
• the side edges 1OA and 2OA of the web 7 are pressed toward the belt 121 by the edge press unit 124. In this way, the web 7 can be surely conveyed in a state free from any crease in the conveyor mechanism 120 as well.
• the performing of the conveying step before (immediately before, in particular) each of the process steps (Sl to S6) in which the web 7 is processed enables the process to be applied to the web 7 having no crease.
• the conveying step can surely reduce manufacturing defects of the absorbent articles 1 and prevent the manufacturing line from stopping.
• the press face HlA is in a straight-line form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the web 7 is stretched to be in a planar state immediately before each process (e.g., any of S1-S6) .
• the process is applied to the web 7 which has been tuned into and then kept in the planar state by the press face 11 IA. Consequently, manufacturing defects of the absorbent articles 1 can be reduced more surely.
• the conveyor 100 includes the conveyor mechanism 120 in addition to the press mechanism 110.
• the conveyor mechanism 120 can surely prevent the web 7 after passing under the press mechanism 110 from shrinking toward the center in the width direction CD.
• the edge press unit 124 presses the side edge 1OA and the side edge 2OA of the web 7 against the belt 121, whereby the stretchable web 7 can be more surely prevented from shrinking toward the center in the width direction CD.
• creases can be more surely prevented from occurring in the web 7.
• the width (w) of the press board 111 in the width direction CD is larger on the downstream side than on the upstream side.
• the press mechanism 110 may be modified as follows .
• the description will be provided mainly for the differences from the foregoing description, with the same or similar reference signs denoting the same or similar elements.
• a configuration of a press mechanism 210A according to a Modified Example 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 7 which is a perspective view showing the press mechanism 210A according to the Modified Example 1.
• the press mechanism 110 includes the press board 111.
• the press mechanism 210A includes a body roller 114 in a cylindrical shape, as shown in Fig. 7.
• the body roller 114 is attached to a shaft 115 extending in the width direction CD of the web 7.
• the body roller 114 may be configured to rotate or not to rotate along with conveyance of the web 7.
• the body roller 114 is a passive roller that follows the movement of the web 7.
• the body roller 114 is an actively driven roller that may rotate with, or against, the conveyance of the web 7 for varying crease smoothing effects .
• the body roller 114 includes a press face 114A to be in contact with the web 7.
• a configuration of a press mechanism 210B according to a Modified Example 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 8A and 8B which are front views of the press mechanism 210B according to the Modified Example 2.
• the press mechanism 110 presses downward a whole surface including the center region C and the side edge regions S of the web 7.
• the center regions C are regions including the center portion of the width direction CD of the web 7.
• the side edge regions S are regions with which the press mechanism 210B is not in contact.
• the press mechanism 210B does not necessarily have to press downward only the center region C of the web 7, and, instead, may press downward only the side edge regions S as shown in
• FIG. 8B While it is shown in FIG. 8B that the edges of web
• edges 1OA, 20A are not in contact with the press mechanism 210B, in some unshown embodiments, at least one of the edges of the web 7 is in contact with the press mechanism 210B.
• the web 7 is stretchable. Therefore, when a force is applied to an arbitrary region in the width direction of the web 7, a tension can be applied to the web 7.
• a location of the web 7 relative to the conveyor 100 is decided based on a centerline in the width direction of the web 7. Accordingly, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 (b) , applying a force to the edge portions (side edges 1OA and 20A) of the outside in the width direction of the web 7 prevents the edge portions from shrinking in the inside of the width direction. Thus, the web 7 to be conveyed is stabilized.
• the press mechanism 210B may be formed of only the body roller 114, or may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above.
• the body roller 114 may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above.
• the body roller 114 may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above.
• the press board 111 is used together in the same press mechanism 210B, e.g., by arranging the press board 111 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8A and, at the same time, arranging two body rollers 114 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8B.
• the press board 111 can be upstream or downstream of the body rollers 114.
• Other arrangements are within the scope of this disclosure.
• the press face HlA is in the straight-line form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the press face 114A is in a curved form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7, as shown in Fig. 9.
• Bending points HlB and lllC are formed on the press face 114A in cross sectional surface seen from the conveyance direction MD of the web 7. Since the web 7 is conveyed at least two points (bending points HlB and 111C) of the web 7 are supported, it is possible to prevent the web 7 from traveling in a meandering manner. Moreover, the press mechanism 210C may be formed of only the body roller 114 or only the press board 111 as described above .
• a configuration of a press mechanism 210D according to a Modified Example 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 10 which is a front view of the press mechanism 210D according to the Modified Example 4.
• the press face HlA is in the straight-line form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the press face 114A is bent when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7, as shown in Fig. 10.
• the press mechanism 210D includes a center press face 211 and a pair of side edge press faces 212.
• the center press face 211 presses the center region C.
• the pair of the side edge press faces 212 are located next to the center press face 211, more specifically, at both sides of the center press face 211 in the width direction CD of the web 7, and press the side edge regions S, respectively.
• the side edge press faces 212 are each extends from an end 212A of the center press face 211, obliquely away from the web 7 (upward, in short) when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.
• the press mechanism 210D may be formed of only the body roller 114 or may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above.
• the absorbent article 1 has been described as including the front waistline portion 10, the back waistline portion 20 and the crotch portion 30.
• the absorbent article 1 is not limited to this configuration, but may be formed entirely as a single portion. In this case, needless to say, a different method of manufacturing such an absorbent article is employed.
• the conveyor 100 used in the manufacturing of a pants-type disposal diaper.
• the conveyor 100 is not limited to such use.
• the conveyor 100 may be used to manufacture another product such as an open-type disposal diaper, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner, for example.
• the conveyor 100 maybe used for the conveyance of any web 7 that is stretchable in the width direction CD of the web, not necessarily for the manufacturing of the absorbent article 1.
• the conveyor 100 may be used between steps other than the steps described with respect to Fig. 2.
• theconveyor 100 is not limited to such use .
• a single conveyor 100 may be provided for each or both of the webs.
• multiple conveyors 100 may be provided between any two of the process steps.
• press mechanism 110 has been described as the one pressing the web 7 downward, but it is not limited to this configuration.
• the press mechanism 110 may press the web 7 upward, for example.
• the press mechanism 110 has been described as the one located below the belt 121, which is in contact with the web 7, when viewed in the axial direction of the drive unit 122, but it is not limited to this configuration. Instead, the press mechanism 110 may be located above the belt 121, for, e.g., pressing the web 7 upward.
• the press mechanism 110 has been described as the one pressing the side edge regions S, except for the side edge 1OA and the side edge 2OA, but it is not limited to this configuration.
• the press mechanism 110 may press the side edge regions S including the side edge 1OA and the side edge 2OA, apparently.
• the conveyor and method of manufacturing absorbent article of the present invention is capable of surely smoothing out a crease generated in a stretchable web even when the crease is generated in the web, it is useful in manufacturing technology for absorbent articles.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
• Advancing Webs (AREA)
• Registering, Tensioning, Guiding Webs, And Rollers Therefor (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=42666588

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (16)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2010
  • 2010-02-26 JP JP2010042183A patent/JP5615001B2/ja active Active
  • 2010-03-02 AU AU2010221062A patent/AU2010221062A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-03-02 MA MA34209A patent/MA33150B1/fr unknown
  • 2010-03-02 WO PCT/JP2010/053737 patent/WO2010101280A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-03-02 KR KR1020117023125A patent/KR20110124794A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-03-02 BR BRPI1006550A patent/BRPI1006550A2/pt active Search and Examination
  • 2010-03-02 EP EP10748871A patent/EP2403791A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-03-02 CA CA2753293A patent/CA2753293A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-03-02 MX MX2010002487A patent/MX2010002487A/es unknown
  • 2010-03-02 US US12/715,939 patent/US20100219224A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-03-02 NZ NZ595086A patent/NZ595086A/xx unknown
  • 2010-03-02 RU RU2010107553/12A patent/RU2010107553A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-03-02 CN CN2010800101322A patent/CN102341328A/zh active Pending
• 2011
  • 2011-09-02 CL CL2011002141A patent/CL2011002141A1/es unknown
  • 2011-09-06 ZA ZA2011/06489A patent/ZA201106489B/en unknown
  • 2011-09-29 CO CO11127851A patent/CO6501180A2/es active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events