JP2001276120A - Absorptive article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorptive article able to deal with a high-speed production and provided with excellent product performance. SOLUTION: This absorptive article comprises an absorptive body 3 for housing and retaining excrement and a liquid-impermeable outer layer part 2 elasticized in the part corresponding to the leg and/or girth of a wearing person, which are laminated and bonded together. The absorptive body 3 is formed of an absorber 20 and a top sheet member enclosing the absorber 20 in the lateral direction. Both longitudinal ends of the absorptive body 3 are covered with the extended part at least subjected to water repellent treatment of the outer layer part 2, whereby both the ends of the absorptive body 3 is integrated to the outer layer part 2. The top sheet member 21 has a central nonwoven fabric arranged in the lateral center extending over the whole longitudinal length and water-repellent side nonwoven fabrics bonded to both sides thereof. The top sheet member 21 has a length equal to or slightly larger than the length of the absorber 20 and a width larger than the width of the absorber 20 and less than 3 times or less of it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article used for infants, adults and incontinent persons, for example, a disposable diaper, and more particularly to a waist opening and a leg opening. The present invention relates to a disposable diaper and a method for producing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-40267, a conventional disposable diaper is located between a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and these two sheets. A diaper is formed from the absorbent body, a stretchable elastic member is disposed on a side flap of the diaper to form a gather, and fastening members are disposed on both side edges of the side flap so that the diaper can be stretched. In general, a so-called flat type diaper intended to improve fit and leakproofness is generally used. In recent years, as flat type diapers, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-250201, besides those provided with a barrier cuff inside leg gathers, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-18240
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2 (1999) -2002, there is known an absorber in which a flap portion around an absorber is made water-repellent to enhance a leakage prevention effect.

[0003] Such a flat type diaper is continuously manufactured as a belt-shaped diaper web, and most of the length of the absorber coincides with the flow direction of the diaper web as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-22619. It is processed by the so-called "longitudinal flow" method.

[0004] The problem in manufacturing disposable diapers is that the width of the web is reduced by stretching the gathers at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the diaper web. is there. Also, the step of stretching the elastic member in the orthogonal direction is one of the factors that hinder high-speed production, and increasing the elongation rate lowers productivity. Shrinking of the width of the web causes a reduction in the processing accuracy of the product in the step of disposing the fastening tape in the diaper web state, the round cutting step of the leg portion, and the folding step.

[0005] Here, the elongation rate of a commercially available flat type disposable diaper waist gather is 130-1.
The elongation rate of the leg gather is about 200%, while the elongation rate is about 50%. Therefore, it is wise to process the waist gather having a small elongation ratio, that is, a small stretching stress and a small width shrinkage, in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction (the “longitudinal flow” method). At a stretch rate of the waist gather that is on the market, shrinking of the web width cannot be a major problem during processing.

[0006] Recently, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-77304 has been proposed.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-122, a pair of left and right side flaps are joined and fixed to each other in an abdominal region and a dorsal region to form a pair of leg openings and one waist opening. , Pants-type diapers). The pants-type diaper has a leg opening and a waist opening formed to be stretchable, and is configured to fit the wearer's body shape. Such pants-type diapers can usually be worn by the wearer in a standing position, and are useful for toilet training to promote infant `` diaper separation '' or for incontinent persons or adults. Have been.

[0007] Pants-type diapers are more difficult to produce at high speed than flat type diapers. This is because the pants-type diaper has the function of increasing the elongation rate of gathers arranged adjacent to the opening in order to improve the fit and the fit of the opening, as well as complicating the processing steps. , It must be bigger than a flat type diaper. The stretch rate of the waist gather must be 50% or more larger than that of the flat type diaper, and the stretch rate of the leg gather needs to be around 200%. This is not to say that, as in the case of a flat-type diaper, either elastic stress is small and the step of stretching the elastic member does not pose a problem in manufacturing. Therefore, the elastic stress of the elastic member for waist gather or leg gather,
Acting in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the diaper web, the width of the diaper web is reduced in accordance with the stretching stress.
Holding and bonding the elastic member against the expansion and contraction stress of the elastic member and maintaining the width of the diaper web are problems in pants-type diaper processing.

Some proposals have been made on a method of manufacturing such a pants-type diaper, and the diapers are continuously manufactured as a belt-like web like the flat type. They are basically disclosed in JP-A-57-77304 and JP-A-1-292.
102, etc., in which the longitudinal direction of the absorber is perpendicular to the flow direction of the web, a "cross-flow" method, and the longitudinal direction of the absorber, as seen in JP-A-2-4364. "Longitudinal flow" method in which the flow direction of the web is set as the direction of web flow, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-195555 and 3-205.
053 and JP-A-3-231660, etc., the flow direction of the diaper main body including the absorber is matched with the longitudinal direction of the absorber, while the flow direction of the waistband is changed to the longitudinal direction of the absorber. , The diaper main body is turned 90 ° in the horizontal direction and placed on the above-mentioned band-shaped body, as represented by the “vertical-horizontal flow” method.

[0009]

The problem in the above-mentioned processing method is as follows. (1) The method of "longitudinal flow" The pants-type diaper manufactured by this method has a flat diaper with a stretchable side panel attached to the diaper body. Could be speeded up.

However, in order to develop elasticity in the waist side portion of the pants, the elastic side panels to be arranged are indispensable as pants-type diapers, but are expensive and unsuitable as disposable products. Was. Also,
Since the gather formed adjacent to the opening is not continuous over the circumference of the opening, a gap is formed between the wearer and the pants-type diaper, and excrement often leaks.

(2) Method of "cross-flow" In cross-flow, the waist gathers are joined in the flow direction, so that they are not affected by the stretching stress, and the web is continuously inserted by the leg gathers. Can be reduced in comparison with the case where the leg gathers are intermittently arranged in the vertical direction.

However, it is needless to say that it is effective to dispose a three-dimensional barrier cuff in the disposable diaper to prevent leakage from the crotch of the wearer. It was difficult to attach the three-dimensional barrier cuff with the.

(3) Method of "vertical-horizontal flow" Vertical-horizontal flow is a method that incorporates a portion where vertical flow is good and a portion where horizontal flow is good. That is, an elastic member having a high elongation rate is stretched in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the flow direction, and the formed longitudinally-flowed article is turned over by 90 ° in the horizontal direction, and the elastic member is stretched in the transverse direction. A high-speed production was aimed at by forming a set web and integrating them.

However, the reversal object according to the prior art has not been improved to improve the high-speed productivity. That is, in the case of "vertical-horizontal flow" as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-31135, a diaper main body including a top sheet and a back sheet formed by vertical flow and an absorber disposed between these two sheets. Is inverted. In the object to be reversed in this proposal, since the flaps extend around the absorber in the diaper body, it is not easy to handle the flap portion of the diaper body after being individually divided, and the diaper body is not covered with the back web. It had to be adhered in a state where it was broken or turned up when it was adhered to. This is also due to the fact that there was no method for applying an adhesive with the same size as the diaper body. Furthermore, it has been extremely difficult to reverse-transfer a diaper body having the same length as the pitch of the back web without any gap.

In the case of "vertical-horizontal flow" disclosed in JP-A-5-31136, a three-dimensional barrier cuff constituted by an elastic member and a breathable nonwoven fabric is inverted. Since the three-dimensional barrier cuff, which is an object, is made of a breathable nonwoven fabric, it is extremely difficult to hold and invert the three-dimensional barrier cuff which is in an extensible state after cutting the breathable member in terms of high-speed production. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article capable of coping with high-speed production and having excellent product performance, and a method of easily and continuously producing the absorbent article.

[0017]

The present inventors have conducted various studies on the structure of an absorbent article (particularly a disposable diaper) and its productivity. As a result, the absorbent article was formed into an elastic member by the rigidity of the absorber. It has been found that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by configuring so that the contraction force is supported and adopting the manufacturing method of “vertical-horizontal flow” or “vertical-vertical flow”.

The present invention has been made based on the above findings, and has an absorbent main body for containing and holding excrement, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer in which the circumference of the leg and / or the waist of the wearer is elasticized. And an absorbent article, wherein the absorbent body is composed of an absorbent body and a top sheet member wrapping the absorbent body in a width direction thereof, and both ends of the absorbent body in a longitudinal direction thereof. The portion is covered by at least a water-repellent extending portion of the outer layer portion, whereby both end portions of the absorbent main body and the outer layer portion are integrated, and the top sheet member has a length equal to the length thereof. A central nonwoven fabric is disposed at the center in the width direction over the entire length in the direction, and a water-repellent side nonwoven fabric is joined to both sides, and the length of the top sheet member is equal to or longer than the length of the absorber. Slightly longer, the width of the above absorber Is to provide an absorbent article which is characterized in that less and 3 times larger than.

The present invention also provides a preferred method for producing the above-mentioned absorbent article of the present invention, comprising: a) a step of continuously producing an absorbent body with its longitudinal direction as a flow direction (longitudinal flow); ) A step of continuously unwinding the central nonwoven fabric and the side nonwoven fabric constituting the top sheet member with the length direction in the product form as a flow direction (longitudinal flow); D) positioning the two side non-woven fabrics with respect to the central non-woven fabric such that one side edge portion is laminated on each of both side edges of the central non-woven fabric; and e) 2 Joining the side non-woven fabric and the central non-woven fabric of the strip at a laminated portion to form a top sheet member wider than the width of the absorber; and f) rolling up the absorber with the top sheet member. Therefore, a step of continuously forming a longitudinally flowing absorbent main body web is provided, and on the other hand, g) the outer nonwoven fabric, the film and the cover nonwoven fabric constituting the outer layer portion are moved in the width direction in the product form in the flow direction (lateral flow). And h) laminating the outer nonwoven fabric, film and cover nonwoven fabric,
A step of interposing an elastic member for elasticizing the outer layer portion on the outer layer portion to form a continuous laterally flowing outer layer portion web, further comprising: i) separating the absorbent main body web into individual absorbent main bodies. And j) an adhesive for joining the absorbent body and the outer layer web to the individual absorbent body or a portion of the outer layer web where the absorbent body is to be joined. K) inverting the individual absorbent bodies arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction by 90 °, and bonding the absorbent bodies to the outer layer web at another predetermined interval via the adhesive; Forming a cross-flow diaper web; 1) providing leg openings at predetermined intervals in the diaper web where the absorbent body is not disposed; and m) making the diaper web parallel to its flow direction. Side edges coincide and absorb Folding the diaper web in two so that the non-located side of the flexible body forms the outer surface of the diaper web; and n) locating the leg openings in the folded diaper web. Joining the overlapped outer layer portions at each other, and o) cutting individual portions of the diaper web adjacent to the joined portions to obtain individual pants-type diapers. And a method for producing an absorbent article characterized by the following.

Further, the present invention provides, as another preferred method for producing the above-mentioned absorbent article of the present invention, a) a step of continuously producing an absorbent body with its longitudinal direction as a flow direction (longitudinal flow). B) a step of continuously winding the central nonwoven fabric and the side nonwoven fabric constituting the top sheet member in the product form in the length direction as the flow direction (longitudinal flow); and c) dividing the side nonwoven fabric into two. D) positioning the two side non-woven fabrics with respect to the central non-woven fabric such that one side edge portion is laminated on each of both side edges of the central non-woven fabric; A) joining two side nonwoven fabrics and a central nonwoven fabric at the laminated portion to form a topsheet member wider than the width of the absorber; and f) winding up the absorber with the topsheet member. G) continuously forming a longitudinally flowing absorbent main body web, while g) forming at least the film and the cover non-woven fabric constituting the outer layer portion in the longitudinal direction in the product form in the flow direction ( H) continuously unwinding the film and the cover non-woven fabric while stretching an elastic member forming at least a leg gather between the film and the cover non-woven fabric. Forming an outer layer web, further comprising: i) dividing the absorbent body web into individual absorbent bodies and arranging them at predetermined intervals; j) individual absorbent bodies or outer layers. Applying an adhesive for joining the absorbent main body and the outer layer web to a portion of the partial web where the absorbent main body is to be joined; k) separating the individual absorbent main bodies arranged at predetermined intervals, Joining the outer layer web at a predetermined interval via the adhesive to form a longitudinally flowing diaper web; 1) joining a fastening tape used when worn to the diaper web; m) Before or after the step of bonding the tape, a step of providing a pair of leg notches on both sides of the absorbent body in the diaper web; and n) cutting the continuous diaper web to a predetermined length to obtain individual pieces. A step of obtaining a flat type diaper.

[0021]

According to the absorbent article of the present invention, in the pants-type diaper, it is easy to make the entire periphery of the opening elastic and to arrange the three-dimensional barrier cuff. Also,
The entire periphery of the absorber can be subjected to a water-repellent treatment, so that there is no danger of excrement leaking to the outside of the diaper. Furthermore, since both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body are separated from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the product, there is no fear of bleeding leakage or polymer leakage during use.

Further, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the absorbent article of the present invention can solve the problem of high-speed production with respect to the step of stretching an elastic member to be stretched on the absorbent article and the influence of stretching stress. Since the configuration is taken into account, the absorbent article can be manufactured without impairing its productivity.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a pants-type disposable diaper which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a pants-type disposable diaper which is an embodiment of the absorbent article according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a developed plan view showing a state where the side seal portion is peeled off and developed, FIG. 2 is a developed plan view showing the pants-type disposable diaper shown in FIG.
(A) is a plan view showing the absorbent body of FIG. 1, (b)-
(F) is X ₁ -X ₁ , X ₂ -X ₂ , X
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of _3- X ₃ , Y ₁ -Y ₁ , and Y ₂ -Y ₂ , FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an absorber used for the absorbent body of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an absorbent body of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a top sheet member used for the present invention, partially cut away.

The pants-type disposable diaper 1 of this embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 1, an absorbent body 3 for containing and holding excrement, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer 2 having elasticized around the leg and / or waist of the wearer are mainly laminated and joined. In FIG. 1, the side seal portions 52A and 50A, 52A and 52A of the abdomen 52 and the back 50, respectively, are provided.
A and 50A are shown in a developed state after being peeled off.

Thus, in the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the absorbent main body 3 includes an absorbent body 20 and a top that wraps the absorbent body 20 in the width direction. Both ends of the absorbent body 3 in the longitudinal direction are covered with at least the water-repellent extending portions 4A and 4B of the outer layer portion 2,
Thereby, both end portions of the absorbent main body 3 and the outer layer portion 2 are integrated. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
The top sheet member 21 has a central nonwoven fabric 23 disposed at the center in the width direction over the entire length in the length direction, and water-repellent side nonwoven fabrics 22A and 22B joined to both sides. Is the length of the absorber 2
The length is equal to or slightly longer than zero, and the width is larger than the width of the absorber 20 and is three times or less.

The pants-type disposable diaper 1 of this embodiment will be further described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the longitudinal end portion of the absorbent main body 3 constitutes the outer layer portion 2. The outwardly extending portions 4A and 4B of the outer layer nonwoven fabric 4 longer than the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 3 are covered with the diaper 1 by being folded back toward the body surface side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer layer portion 2 has an outer surface of the diaper 1 and an outer nonwoven fabric 4 forming a waist folded portion 4A, a liquid impermeable film 5, and a side in contact with the wearer's skin. It is composed of three sheets of the cover nonwoven fabric 6 to be formed.

The outer layer 2 can be expanded and contracted by an elastic member disposed therein. The elastic member 7A constituting the abdominal half of the diaper 1 and the elastic member 7B constituting the dorsal half are used to elasticize at least a portion along the leg opening between the film 5 and the cover nonwoven fabric 6. , And each constitutes a leg gather.
Elastic members 8A and 8B are arranged between the outer nonwoven fabric 4 and the cover nonwoven fabric 6 to make the waist opening elastic, and constitute waist gathers, respectively. Further, elastic members 9A and 9B are arranged between the film 5 and the cover nonwoven fabric 6 similarly to the leg gathers, and each constitutes a waist gather. The waist gathers (elastic members 9A, 9B) are effective for maintaining the pants-type diaper in a suitable position and state for the wearer during wearing.

On the outer layer 2 constructed as described above,
As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent main body 3 is placed, and the extended portions 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> B of the outer nonwoven fabric 4 are folded toward the body so as to cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 3. The extended portions 4A and 4B of the outer nonwoven fabric 4 are preferably subjected to a water-repellent treatment so that the excrement of the absorbent main body 3 does not leak during wearing. Thereby, the water-repellent treatment over the entire circumference of the excretion point is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 3, the absorbent body 3 has an absorber 20 (see FIG. 4) wrapped in a top sheet member 21 (see FIG. 5). The absorbent main body 3 includes a first three-dimensional (barrier) cuff 24A and a second three-dimensional (barrier) cuff 25A. The first three-dimensional cuff 24A has a fixed end and a free end with respect to the central nonwoven fabric 23. And a first elastic member 24 at the free end, and the first three-dimensional cuff 24
Both ends in the longitudinal direction of A are fixed to the central nonwoven fabric 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the absorber 20 has an hourglass shape that matches the body shape of the wearer. That is,
The absorber 20 is basically formed by cutting out a crotch portion 51 of a rectangular absorber. The absorbent 20 is preferably composed mainly of defibrated pulp and used in combination with a high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer, and the periphery thereof is covered with a mount. In addition, a mixture obtained by subjecting a mixture of cellulose fiber, thermoplastic resin, and high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer to heat treatment is preferable. In the absorbent body 20 in which several layers are stacked, the position of the high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer may be any of the upper layer, the middle layer, and the lower layer, or may be mixed with the pulp. . In addition, it is preferable that the arrangement position of the polymer in the longitudinal direction of the absorber 20 is scattered only at the central portion in the longitudinal direction. The high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer preferably has a property of absorbing and retaining a liquid 20 times or more its own weight and has a gelling property. As such a high-molecular-weight water-absorbing polymer, starch-acrylic acid ( Salt) graft copolymer, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymer, cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic acid (salt)
Polymers and the like are preferred.

As shown in FIG. 5, the top sheet member 21 is formed by joining side non-woven fabrics 22A and 22B and a central non-woven fabric 23 that allows excrement to pass therethrough.
The first elastic members 24, 24 forming the first three-dimensional cuffs 24A, 24A and the second three-dimensional cuffs 25A, 25A for preventing leakage of excrement from the crotch while the pants-type diaper 1 is worn. The second elastic members 25 to be formed are stretched.

The first elastic members 24, 24 are stretched at places where the side non-woven fabrics 22A, 22B are folded and formed into a bag shape, and separate from the central non-woven fabric 23 when worn to form a three-dimensional weir. Further, the second elastic members 25, 25
Are stretched along the folding imaginary lines 26, 26 when the absorbent body 20 is rolled up by the top sheet member 21 in the width direction, and a side edge portion in the crotch region of the absorbent main body 3 is formed on the outer layer portion 2. Not glued. Therefore, the side edge portion is the folded virtual line 26 of the top sheet member 21,
Forming a second solid cuff 25A, 25A along 26;
Effective in preventing leakage. Thus, the elastic member 7A,
Leg gather by 7B, first solid cuff 24A, 2
4A and the second three-dimensional cuffs 25A, 25A, 3
A heavy leak barrier is formed.

The side nonwoven fabrics 22A and 22B in the top sheet member 21, and the cover nonwoven fabric 6 and the outer nonwoven fabric 4 in the outer layer portion 2 are preferably water-repellent nonwoven fabrics and woven fabrics. 23 is preferably a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, porous film or the like. When the outer nonwoven fabric 4 of the outer layer portion 2 is water repellent and the side nonwoven fabrics 22A and 22B of the top sheet member 21 are water repellent, the entire periphery surrounding the excretion point that is hydrophilic is surrounded by the water repellent material. As a result, the characteristics of accommodating the excrement in the diaper 1 are improved.

The elastic members 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9
As A, 9B, 24, and 25, thread rubber, flat rubber, ribbon-shaped elastic body, heat-shrinkable material, water-absorbing shrinkable fiber, and the like,
There is no particular limitation as long as each has elasticity that can be extended and contracted.

The pants-type diaper 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be configured so that the outer layer nonwoven fabric 4 in the outer layer portion 2 is omitted and the film 5 forms the outer surface of the pants-type diaper 1 for the purpose of cost reduction. In that case, it is preferable that a waist sheet is additionally arranged at the waist portion to form a soft waist gather like a cloth without sandwiching the film 5.

Since the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of this embodiment is configured as described above, it has the following excellent product performance. First, the triple crotch gathers are arranged at the crotch part of the product, that is, the entire circumference of the leg opening is made elastic, and the first and second three-dimensional cuffs 24A are provided around the excretion point. And 25A are easy to arrange.

Further, the entire circumference (the outer nonwoven fabric 4 of the outer layer portion 2 and the side nonwoven fabrics 22A and 22B of the top sheet member 21) surrounding the excretion point at the time of wearing can be easily water-repellent. The leak-proof effect of
There is no danger of excrement leaking out of the diaper 1. Furthermore, since both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorber 20 are separated from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the product (diaper 1) (see FIG. 1),
No bleeding or polymer leakage during use.

Next, a flat type disposable diaper which is another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a partially cutaway flat-type disposable diaper including an absorbent main body and an outer layer portion.

In the flat type disposable diaper 101, the outer layer 102 is formed by disposing a curved leg gather elastic member 105 and a waist gather elastic member 106 between the film 108 and the cover nonwoven fabric 109. Have been. Above the outer layer portion 102, an absorbent body 103 equivalent to that shown in the pants-type diaper 1 is provided.
Is placed, and the waist barrier sheets 104, 104 are joined so as to cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 103, and then the fastening pieces 107, 107 are joined.

The flat-type disposable diaper 101 described above has the same effects as the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of the above embodiment.
Is made water-repellent on the entire circumference, and the absorbent body 103
Since the three-dimensional gathers (three-dimensional barrier cuffs) provided in the pocket form a pocket structure, the excrement storage characteristics are improved as compared with the conventional flat diapers.

Next, the method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention will be described.
One embodiment of the method for manufacturing the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 to 9 each show a main part of an embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a processing flow of No. 1 and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a processing flow of the pants-type disposable diaper web 401. FIG.
The materials used are the same as those described for the above-mentioned product (pants-type disposable diaper 1), and thus description thereof is omitted.

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the top sheet member web 201 is formed by the following vertical flow method. The continuous side nonwoven fabric web 202 is unwound with the longitudinal direction when placed on the pants-type diaper set as the flow direction (longitudinal flow). The side nonwoven fabric web 202 becomes two strips of nonwoven web 202, 202 through a slitter 205.

Two side nonwoven webs 202, 20
Adjacent to the opposing side edges of the hot melt adhesive 2 is applied by a hot melt adhesive applicator 206.
11 and 211 are intermittently applied to form a thread-like first elastic member 2.
03 and 203 are adhered in an extended state. The side nonwoven fabric webs 202, 202 are folded back so as to wrap around the region where the first elastic members 203, 203 are bonded, and the folded portions are continuously heat-sealed by a sealer 207.

The two side nonwoven webs 202, 202 on which the first elastic members 203, 203 are stretched are run to predetermined positions through the roll 208. On the other hand, the hydrophilic central nonwoven fabric web 204 is continuously unwound with the longitudinal direction when placed on the pants-type diaper in the flow direction (longitudinal flow). A hot melt type adhesive is applied in a pattern by an application device 209 adjacent to both side edges of the central nonwoven fabric web 204. The portions 212, 212 to which the hot melt type adhesive is not intermittently applied in the flow direction are provided for forming the first three-dimensional cuff with the first elastic members 203, 203 contracted.

The surface of the central non-woven web 204 to which the adhesive is applied is in contact with the positioned side non-woven web 20.
2 and 202 to form the top sheet member web 201. Central nonwoven web 204 via seal roll 210
Then, the side nonwoven fabric webs 202 and 202 are further heat-sealed and joined to complete the top sheet member web 201.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer layer portion web 301 is formed by a lateral flow method shown in the following (1) to (8). (1) The liquid-impermeable film web 302 is continuously unwound with the width direction when placed on the pants-type diaper in the flow direction (lateral flow). (2) Continuous elastic members for leg gathers 303, 303
In the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the film web 302 with the
It swings using 4,304.

(3) The cover non-woven fabric 306 having the width direction (lateral flow) when placed on the pants-type diaper is continuously unwound. (4) With the film web 302 along the lower side of the oscillating elastic members 303, 303, a hot-melt adhesive is applied from above on the upper surface thereof by a coating device 305, and the elastic member 303, 303 is sandwiched to form a laterally flowing gather sheet web 313.

(5) On the other hand, the outer layer nonwoven web 309 is
It is unwound continuously with the width direction when placed on the pants-type diaper as the flow direction (lateral flow). (6) The elastic members 307 and 307 for waist gathers and the elastic members 308 and 308 for waist gathers are supplied in an extended state, and the hot melt adhesive is applied to the coating devices 310 and 310.
And then adhered to the outer layer nonwoven web 309.

(7) Elastic members 307, 307 and 308,
The hot melt adhesive is applied to the portion between the waist return lines 312 and 312 by the application device 311 on the stretched outer nonwoven fabric web 309 of 308. (8) Both sheets 313 and 309 are bonded together so that the elastic members 307, 307 and 308, 308 are sandwiched between the film web 302 surface of the gather sheet web 313 and the outer nonwoven fabric web 309 to form a laterally flowing outer layer web 301. I do.

The longitudinally flowing top sheet member web 201 and the laterally flowing outer layer portion web 30 formed as described above.
As shown in FIG. 9, the diaper web 401 is constructed from [1] to [12] below.

[1] The continuous top sheet member web 201 formed in the above process is
A hot melt type adhesive is continuously applied. At this time, it is preferable that a second elastic member forming a second three-dimensional cuff is additionally provided. [2] On the other hand, the hourglass-shaped absorber 403 formed via the fiber stacking device is divided into individual absorbers of a predetermined length and supplied at a predetermined pitch. The absorber 403 is a vertical flow like the top sheet member web 201.

[3] The absorber 403 is intermittently supplied and adhered to the adhesive applied surface of the top sheet member web 201. For this reason, the length of the absorber is equal to or shorter than the length of the top sheet member, and the width of the top sheet member is larger than the width of the absorber due to the winding process of both sides, so that It is preferable that the width is three times or less. At this time, the absorber 403 is located at the center of the top sheet member web 201 in the width direction.

[4] In the winding device 404, the absorber 403 is continuously wound on the top sheet member web 201 by a guide or the like to form an absorbent main body web. [5] The absorbent body web is passed through a cutting device into individual absorbent bodies 410, 410,. . And the reversing device 405
In the horizontal direction, a direction change of 90 ° is made. That is, the absorbent body 410 is turned such that its longitudinal direction coincides with the flow direction, but its width direction coincides with the flow direction.

[6] On the other hand, the continuous outer layer portion web 301 formed in the above process is applied by the coating device 406.
The outer extending portions 411, 411 of the outer layer web 301 are continuously connected to the outer main body 410, and the absorbent main bodies 410, 410,. . A hot-melt adhesive is applied in a pattern to the parts to be bonded. The pattern application of the adhesive is performed at the central portion between the adjacent cutting imaginary lines 412 and 412, and the area thereof is smaller than the area of the absorbent main body. This is to prevent the hot melt type adhesive that has come off the absorbent body from touching the wearer's skin.

[7] Absorbent bodies 410 and 41 inverted in the inversion step 405 are placed at predetermined positions on the outer layer web 301 on which the hot melt type adhesive pattern is applied.
0,. . Are supplied at predetermined intervals, and the absorbent bodies 410, 410,. . And outer layer web 301
Are joined to form a pants-type diaper web 401.

[8] The pants-type diaper web 401 is stretched by the waist flap winding device 408 such that both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 410 are covered with the extending portions 411 and 411 of the outer layer web 301. Part 41
1, 411 are wound up by a guide or the like and bonded. Since both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 410 are covered with the outer nonwoven fabric web 309 in this way, it is possible to hide a slight bonding error. [9] The pants-type diaper web 401 is formed with leg holes (leg openings) 409, 409,. . Is punched out.

Thereafter, (not shown) [10] The pants-type diaper web 401 is oriented in the flow direction so that both side edges thereof coincide with each other and the outer nonwoven fabric web 309 forms the outer surface of the diaper web 401. Folded in two. [11] Leg hole 40 of pants-type diaper web 401
9, 409,. . Are joined to each other at the place where is disposed.

[12] Locations adjacent to the joined portions of the pants-type diaper web 401 (virtual cutting lines 412 and 41)
2,. . By cutting (top), individual pants-type disposable diapers are obtained. One embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention is to manufacture a pants-type disposable diaper by a vertical-lateral flow method as described above.

According to the manufacturing method of the present invention described above, the configuration of the pants-type disposable diaper takes into account the problem of high-speed production with respect to the step of stretching the elastic member to be stretched on the diaper and the influence of the stretching stress. Therefore, the pants-type disposable diaper can be manufactured without impairing the productivity.

That is, since the elastic member is stretched along the flow direction of the web on which the elastic member is stretched, the workability with respect to the product specifications is not reduced. In addition, since the object to be reversed (that is, the absorbent body) is limited, high-speed production is excellent. That is, the substantially rectangular object to be inverted has rigid absorbers arranged at four corners thereof, so that the entire surface of the object to be inverted can be supported, and another object to be inverted is selected. Compared to the case, there is no need to worry about breakage of the ears or curling when bonding to the outer layer. In addition, although an elastic member is disposed on the absorbent body, the rigidity of the absorber is less likely to be affected by the contraction stress, thereby facilitating the handling of each absorbent body.

In the reversing step, in the conventional method, individual reversal objects are cut on a reversing machine, and 90
Due to the reversal, dimensional restrictions were imposed on the size and sticking pitch of the reversal target. However, in the method of the present invention, the cutting is performed separately from the cutting step and the reversal is performed separately from the reversing step, so that the limitation on the processing size is removed.

Next, another embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described for the case of manufacturing the flat disposable diaper. As described above, the flat type disposable diaper has a configuration in which the absorbent main body and the outer layer are laminated, and is manufactured by the following methods <1> to <5>. (Not shown)

<1> The absorbent main body is formed by the same vertical flow method as in the case of manufacturing the pants-type diaper web 401 described above. <2> The outer layer portion web is replaced with the above-mentioned pants-type diaper web 40.
1 and is formed by the same vertical flow method as in the case of the manufacture of No. 1.

<3> The absorbent body is intermittently arranged on the body-side surface of the continuous outer layer web to form a diaper web. (At this time, it is preferable to additionally attach a waist barrier sheet so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body.) <4> Cut out the legs of the diaper web, and attach a tape for fastening. It is arranged at a predetermined position. <5> Individual flat disposable diapers are obtained by dividing the absorbent body adjacent to the diaper web. As described above, another embodiment of the production method of the present invention is to produce an absorbent article by a "vertical-longitudinal flow" method in which the absorbent body is not inverted.

It is needless to say that the absorbent article of the present invention and the method for producing the same are not limited to the above Examples and Embodiments. Various modifications are possible, and various methods can be selected for implementing the manufacturing method of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, as an apparatus for applying a hot-melt adhesive in the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a spiral spray gun suitable for surface coating, a spray gun such as a curtain spray applying a melt blown method, or a similar surface coating method. Conventionally known ones such as a suitable die coater and a bead nozzle suitable for linear coating can be used. Also,
As a joining method of the above-mentioned respective constituent members, a conventionally known method such as ultrasonic wave and pressure bonding can be used in addition to a hot melt type adhesive and a heat sealer.

[0068]

The absorbent article of the present invention can be adapted to high-speed production and has excellent product performance. According to the production method of the present invention, the absorbent article of the present invention having the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. It can be manufactured easily and continuously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a developed plan view showing a state in which a side seal portion of a pants-type disposable diaper, which is an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, is peeled off and developed.

FIG. 2 is a developed plan view showing the pants-type disposable diaper shown in FIG. 1 with its outer layer part partially cut away.

3A is a plan view showing the absorbent main body of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3B to 3F are X ₁ -X ₁ and X of FIG. 3A, respectively.
_{2 -X 2, X 3 -X 3} , and a respective cross-sectional view of a _{Y 1 -Y 1, Y 2 -Y} 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an absorber used for the absorbent main body of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a top sheet member used for the absorbent main body of FIG. 3 with a part cut away.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a cutaway part of a flat disposable diaper which is another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a processing flow of a top sheet member web which is an intermediate product when manufacturing a pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a processing flow of an outer layer web which is an intermediate product when producing a pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a processing flow of a pants-type diaper web which is an intermediate product for producing a pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pants-type disposable diaper 2 Outer layer part 3 Absorbent main body 4 Outer layer nonwoven fabric 5 Film 6 Cover nonwoven fabric 20 Absorber 21 Top sheet member 22A Side nonwoven fabric 22B Side nonwoven fabric 23 Central nonwoven fabric 201 Top sheet member web 301 Outer layer web 401 Diaper web

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 15, 2001 (2001.3.1.1)
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article used for infants, adults and incontinent persons, for example, a disposable diaper, and more particularly to a waist opening and a leg opening. disposable Homme one in regarding <br/> was Ru.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0016] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent product article with a and excellent product performance can support high-speed production.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0017]

The present inventors have conducted various studies on the structure of an absorbent article (particularly a disposable diaper) and its productivity. As a result, the absorbent article was formed into an elastic member by the rigidity of the absorber. the structure formed <br/> Rukoto as contractile force is supported and finding that it is possible to achieve the above object.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention has been made based on the above findings, and has an absorbent main body for containing and holding excrement, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer in which the circumference of the leg and / or the waist of the wearer is elasticized. laminating the parts a bonded absorbent article, the absorbent body includes an absorbent body, the absorbent body, the entire length of its longitudinal direction
And a top sheet member wrapped in the width direction thereof, and both ends in the length direction of the absorbent body are covered by at least a water-repellent extending portion of the outer layer portion, whereby Both ends of the flexible main body and the outer layer portion are integrated, and the top sheet member is provided with a central nonwoven fabric at a central portion in the width direction over the entire length in the length direction, and over the entire length in the length direction. A water-repellent side non-woven fabric is formed by joining on both sides over the central non-woven fabric.
The side non-woven fabric is disposed on the surface of the absorber, and
And from both sides is disposed over the rear surface, the length of the top sheet member the length of the absorbent body and equal to or slightly more long, and 3 times or less at greater than the width of the width the absorber It is intended to provide an absorbent article characterized by the following.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0022

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0025

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0025] In Thus, in the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the absorbent body 3, an absorber 20, the absorber 20, it its length
And a top sheet member 21 wrapped in the width direction over the entire length of the outer layer 2, and both ends of the absorbent body 3 in the length direction are at least water-repellent extended portions 4 A of the outer layer 2 and 4B, whereby both ends of the absorbent main body 3 and the outer layer 2 are integrated.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 , the top sheet member 21 has a central nonwoven fabric 23 disposed at a central portion in the width direction over the entire length in the length direction, and extends over the entire length in the length direction. > Water-repellent side non-woven fabrics 22A and 22B are joined on both sides , and the central non-woven fabric 23 is
Disposed on the surface, and the side nonwoven fabrics 22A and 22B
Are disposed over the back surface from both sides of the absorbent body 20, the length of the top sheet member 21 is the absorbent body 20 of length equal to or greater than slightly longer, its width is the absorbent 2
The width is larger than the width of 0 and not more than 3 times.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0042

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, FIGS. 7 attached to one manufacturing how the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 9
This will be described with reference to FIG. 7 to 9 are FIGS.
Shows the important part of an <br/> manufacturing how the pants-type disposable diaper 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the processing flow of the top sheet member web 201, Figure 8 is an outer layer FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a processing flow of the partial web 301, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a processing flow of the pants-type disposable diaper web 401. The materials used are the same as those described for the above-mentioned product (pants-type disposable diaper 1), and thus description thereof is omitted.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0043

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Thus, the pants-type disposable garment of the above embodiment is used.
In the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 , first, as shown in FIG.
The top sheet member web 201 is formed by the following longitudinal flow method. The continuous side nonwoven fabric web 202 is unwound with the longitudinal direction when placed on the pants-type diaper set as the flow direction (longitudinal flow). The side nonwoven fabric web 202 becomes two strips of nonwoven web 202, 202 through a slitter 205.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0059

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[12] Locations adjacent to the joined portions of the pants-type diaper web 401 (virtual cutting lines 412 and 41)
2,. . By cutting (top), individual pants-type disposable diapers are obtained. <br/> manufacturing how the pants-type disposable diaper, as described above, the vertical - is to produce pants-type disposable diaper according to the method of diversion.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0060

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0060] According to the manufacturing method described above of the pants-type disposable diaper, the above configuration pants type disposable diaper, the influence of tensioning process and the stretching stress of the elastic members stretched in the diaper of high-speed production of a problem Therefore, the pants-type disposable diaper can be manufactured without impairing the productivity.

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0063

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next , one manufacturing method of the flat type disposable diaper of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. As described above, the flat type disposable diaper has a configuration in which the absorbent main body and the outer layer are laminated, and the following <1> to <5
> It is manufactured by the method shown in. (Not shown)

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0065

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

<3> The absorbent body is intermittently arranged on the body-side surface of the continuous outer layer web to form a diaper web. (At this time, it is preferable to additionally attach a waist barrier sheet so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body.) <4> Cut out the legs of the diaper web, and attach a tape for fastening. It is arranged at a predetermined position. <5> Individual flat disposable diapers are obtained by dividing the absorbent body adjacent to the diaper web. As described above, production how of the flat type disposable diapers
Is for producing an absorbent article by a "vertical-longitudinal flow" method in which the absorbent body is not inverted.

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0066

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0066] Incidentally, the absorbent material product of the present invention, the above examples
Needless to say that not limited to, absorbent articles of the present invention can be variously changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0068]

The absorbent article of the present invention exhibits, that have a and excellent product performance can support high-speed production.

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) A61F 5/44 (72) Inventor Kotaro Kawaguchi 2566-30 Nakaokamoto, Kawachi-cho, Kawachi-gun, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi Prefecture

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An absorbent body for containing and holding excrement,
An absorbent article obtained by laminating and joining a liquid-impermeable outer layer part made elastic around the wearer's leg and / or waist, wherein the absorbent main body comprises an absorbent body and a width of the absorbent body. A top sheet member that wraps the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body are covered by at least water-repellent extending portions of the outer layer portion, and thereby both ends of the absorbent body. And the outer layer portion are integrated with each other, and the top sheet member has a central nonwoven fabric disposed at a central portion in the width direction over the entire length in the length direction, and water-repellent side nonwoven fabrics joined to both sides. Wherein the length of the top sheet member is equal to or slightly longer than the length of the absorber, and the width is larger than the width of the absorber and not more than three times. . 2. The absorbent article comprises an abdominal part, a crotch part and a dorsal part, and the both sides of the abdominal part and the dorsal part are joined and fixed to form a waist opening part and a waist opening part. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a pair of leg openings is formed. 3. A first three-dimensional cuff is formed on each of the side nonwoven fabrics so as to be adjacent to a side edge of a surface in contact with a wearer's body on a central side in a width direction of the absorbent main body. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cuffs are not bonded to the central nonwoven fabric at the central portion in the length direction of the absorbent body. 4. The outer layer portion is formed by laminating two or more sheets including at least a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and at least an elastic member around the leg is stretched between the sheets. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. An elastic member is disposed on the top sheet member adjacent to both side edges along the length direction of the absorbent main body, and a second three-dimensional cuff is formed on each of the elastic members. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The absorber according to claim 1, wherein the absorber is formed in an hourglass shape having a narrower central portion in the length direction than both end portions. Absorbent articles. 7. The bonding between the absorbent main body and the outer layer portion is based on an adhesive applied to a bonding surface of the absorbent main body, and the adhesive is larger than the absorber in the absorbent main body. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the absorbent article is applied to a small area.