JP2004337388A

JP2004337388A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: JP2004337388A
Application number: JP2003138159A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Yasuyuki Okuda; 泰之奥田; Hiroaki Harada; 拓明原田
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2003-05-16
Filing date: 2003-05-16
Publication date: 2004-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-16
Also published as: JP4173769B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article which achieves a gentle touch on the skin of the users while resisting the spillage of the excrements and the humors. <P>SOLUTION: The absorbent article 1 has a back side part, a crotch part and a belly side part and a solid guard 7 erected on the skin surface side of users is provided along the side part of an absorbent. The solid guard 7 is formed with an elastic member 71 being stretched between two sheets 72a and 72b. The crotch part has a part where the elastic member 71 is securely bonded only on one 72b of the two sheets. The solid guard 7 has the elastic member 71 fixed being stretched on a sheet 72 for the solid guard and has strong bonding parts 71b and 71b, in which the elastic member 71 is bonded more firmly on the sheet 72 for the solid guard than that is done at the crotch part C, at the back side part A or at the belly side part B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、肌に対してやさしい風合いを有し、かつ高い防漏性を有する立体ガードを備えた吸収性物品に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術及び発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来、吸収性物品は漏れ防止性能を高める目的で、着用者の肌に向かって起立する立体ガードを吸収体の側部に沿って配する技術が数多く提案されてきた。
【０００３】
例えば、特許文献１、２には、弾性部材をシート部材に伸長状態で接着固定することによってギャザーを形成し、股下部から排泄物が漏れるのを防ぐために立体ガードと肌の間の隙間を生じさせないようにすることに関する技術が開示されている。
しかし、従来の立体ガードは、弾性部材のシート部材への固定を強固なものとするために、比較的多量の接着剤が使用されており、そのため、着用者の肌に優しい感触を与えるという観点からは改良の余地があった。
また、特許文献３には、自由端と固定端との間に中空部を複数設け、各中空部内に弾性部材を配置したバリヤカフスが記載されている。このバリヤカフスにおいては、中空部内を弾性部材が移動してバリヤカフスの身体に対するフィット性が悪化したり、隣接する中空部間を仕切るシール部の存在により、身体に与える感触が悪くなる恐れがある。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開昭６２−２５０２０１号公報
【特許文献２】
特開昭６３−１２７０５号公報
【特許文献３】
国際公開ＷＯ９５／０７０６３
【０００５】
従って、本発明の目的は、着用者の肌にやさしい感触を与え、かつ排泄物や体液が漏れ難い吸収性物品及びそのような吸収性物品の製造に好ましく用いられる立体ガード用伸縮部材の製造方法を提供することにある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、背側部、股下部及び腹側部を有し、着用者肌面側に起立する立体ガードを吸収体の側部に沿って備える吸収性物品であって、前記立体ガードは、立体ガード用シートに弾性部材が伸長状態で固定されて形成されており、前記背側部又は前記腹側部に、前記弾性部材が前記立体ガード用シートに、前記股下部におけるよりも強く接着された強接着部を有する吸収性物品を提供することにより前記目的を達成したものである。
【０００７】
また、本発明は、背側部、股下部及び腹側部を有する吸収性物品の立体ガード形成用いられる立体ガード用伸縮部材の製造方法であって、立体ガード用シートを連続的に搬送しつつ、該立体ガード用シートにおける、前記背側部及び／又は腹側部に対応する部位に接着剤を間欠的に塗工する工程、弾性部材を連続的に搬送しつつ該弾性部材に連続的又は間欠的に接着剤を塗工する工程、及び前記弾性部材の接着剤塗工部が前記立体ガード用シートにおける前記股下部に対応する部位に少なくとも配されるようにして、該弾性部材を該立体ガード用シート上に固定する工程を具備する立体ガード用伸縮部材の製造方法を提供することにより前記目的を達成したものである。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明をその好ましい実施形態に基づき図面を参照しながら説明する。
本発明の実施形態としての使い捨ておむつ１は、図１及び図２に示されるように、液透過性の表面シート２、液不透過性の裏面シート３、及びこれら両シート２，３間に介在する液保持性の吸収体４を有しており、実質的に縦長に形成されている。使い捨ておむつ１は、長手方向に順に背側部Ａ、股下部Ｂ及び腹側部Ｃを有している。背側部Ａ、股下部Ｂ及び腹側部Ｃは、使い捨ておむつを長手方向に３等分して各々１／３の領域に区分したときの各領域であり、中央に位置する股下部Ｂの前後に背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃが位置している。背側部Ａの左右両側縁にはファスニングテープ８が設けられ、腹側部Ｃの外表面側には、それを止着するランディングテープ部（図示せず）が設けられている。
本実施形態のおむつ１は、背側部Ａを、着用者の背中側に配して着用することができると共に背側部Ａを着用者の腹側に配して着用することもできる。
【０００９】
吸収体４は、表面シート２及び裏面シート３により挟持・固定されており、吸収体の周縁部におけるウエスト部５の一方とレッグ部６には、おむつ着用者に各部位をフィットさせるためのウエスト部弾性部材５１及びレッグ弾性部材６１が配設されている。
【００１０】
使い捨ておむつ１の長手方向左右両側には、それぞれ立体ガード７が形成されている。各立体ガード７は、立体ガード用シート７２に弾性部材７１が伸長状態で固定されて形成されている。詳細には、図２に示すように、立体ガード用シート７２が、表面シート２の両側縁の外方から内方に亘るように配設されており、立体ガード用シート７２は、そのおむつ幅方向内側の縁部から所定幅の部分が折り返されて２層構造となった部分を有している。本実施形態においては、前記２層構造部分を構成する、立体ガード用シート７２の折り返し部分７２ａとその折り返し部分７２ａを除く該シート７２の他の部分７２ｂとの間に弾性部材７１が伸張状態で固定されて、弾性伸縮するギャザーを備えた立体ガード７が形成されている。尚、弾性部材７１を挟む両側のシートは、本実施形態におけるように一枚のシートを折り返して形成した２枚のシートであっても良いが、不連続（別体）の２枚のシートであっても良い。
【００１１】
本実施形態における立体ガード用シート７２は、ヒートシール、接着剤等の公知の接合手段により、おむつ長手方向に亘って直線状に表面シート２上に固定されており、その直線状の固定部により立体ガード７の固定端７３が形成されている。前記シート７２は、固定端７３よりも幅方向外方に位置する部分が表面シート２又は裏面シート３上に固定されており、また、おむつの長手方向両端部７ａ，７ａにおける該固定端７３よりもおむつ幅方向中央側に位置する部分が表面シート２側に伏倒されて固定されている〔図２（ｂ）参照〕。
【００１２】
本実施形態における弾性部材７１は、股下部Ｂの長手方向全域に亘り伸縮性を発現するように伸長状態で配設固定されている。したがって、股下部においては立体ガード全体が着用者肌側に向かって起立するようになっている。尚、本実施形態では、弾性部材７１の長手方向両端部は背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃに存在して、股下部Ｂでの立体ガード７の起立性を確実にしている。立体ガード７は、着用時に長手方向の一側縁側が起立可能な部分であり、図１中に７１ａで示す部分と７１ｂ，７１ｂで示す両部分とからなる。尚、本実施形態のおむつ１は左右対称の構成である。
【００１３】
立体ガード７は、背側部Ａ、股下部Ｂ及び腹側部Ｃのそれぞれにおいて、弾性部材７１が立体ガード用シート７２に接着固定されており、図１に示すように、背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃのそれぞれに、その弾性部材７１が、股下部Ｂにおけるよりも強く立体ガード用シート７２に接着固定された強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂを有している。
より詳細には、立体ガード７は、背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃそれぞれにおける、股下部Ｂ側からそれぞれの領域に若干入り込んだ部位に強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂを有しており、これら両強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂにおいて弾性部材７１が相対的に強く接着固定されている一方、両強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂ同士間の領域７１ａにおいては、その全域に亘って、前記両強接合部７１ｂ，７１ｂそれぞれにおけるよりも相対的に弱い接着力で接着固定されている。
【００１４】
弾性部材７１を、強接着部７１ｂにおいて、股下部Ｂにおけるよりも強く立体ガード用シート７２に接着固定する方法としては、例えば、以下の方法が挙げられる。
（１）強接着部に用いる接着剤として、股下部に用いる接着剤とは種類の異なる、相対的に接着力の強い接着剤を用いる方法。
ここで、接着剤の種類が異なるとは、主要な接着成分が異なる場合が挙げられる。尚、本発明において強接着部又は股下部に用いる接着剤としては、各種公知の接着剤が挙げられ、例えばスチレン系（ＳＥＢＳ系、ＳＢＳ系、ＳＩＳ系）ホットメルト、オレフィン系ホットメルト等が挙げられる。強接着部に用いる接着剤と股下部に用いる接着剤との組み合わせの一例としては、強接着部にスチレン系ホットメルト接着剤を用い、股下部にオレフィン系ホットメルト接着剤を用いる。
【００１５】
（２）弾性部材７１と立体ガード用シート７２との接着に用いる接着剤の、該弾性部材の単位長さ当たりの重量が、股下部Ｂよりも強接着部７１ｂにおいて高くなるようにする方法。
具体的には、弾性部材７１には連続的に接着剤を塗布し、かつ立体ガード用シート７２のおむつ背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃに相当（対応）する部位に別途接着剤を塗布する方法が挙げられる。
（３）上記（１）の方法と上記（２）の方法とを併用する方法。
【００１６】
背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃのそれぞれに、弾性部材７１が、股下部Ｂにおけるよりも強く立体ガード用シート７２に接着固定された強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂを有しており、股下部Ｂを含む、強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂ間の領域７１ａにおいては相対的に弱い接着力となっている。
このため、股下部Ｂを含む前記領域７１ａには、強い接着力による細かく強いギャザーが形成されず、大きなギャザーが形成される傾向にあり、着用者の肌に対して優しく当接する。また、硬さが減じられることにより、柔らかい風合いが得られる。これらの効果は前記（２）の方法を採用することによってより顕著となる。その一方で、強接着部７１ｂにおいては、弾性部材７１が立体ガード用シート７２に強固に固定されているため、着用時又は着用中に立体ガード７が伸縮しても、強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂ間の領域７１ａにおいて弾性部材７１が立体ガード用シート７２から剥離することが効果的に防止される。このため、立体ガード７の着用者への良好な当接性が着用中安定に保たれ、排泄物の漏れも良好に防止される。
【００１７】
肌に対するやさしい感触と防漏性の維持の観点から、強接着部７１ｂにおける接着剤の坪量が２〜２０ｇ／ｍ^２で、股下部Ｂにおける接着剤の坪量が１〜５ｇ／ｍ^２であることが好ましい。
【００１８】
また、前記（２）の方法を用いる場合には、強接着部における立体ガード７での接着剤坪量が２〜２０ｇ／ｍ^２であり、股下部Ｂにおいては弾性部材７１の単位長さ当たりの接着剤重量が０．００５〜０．０４ｇ／ｍであることが、同様の理由から好ましい。
【００１９】
接着剤の坪量は、立体ガードの単位面積中に含まれる接着剤の重量であり、以下のようにして測定することができる。
図５に示すように、立体ガード７の長手方向の各領域７１ｂ，７１ａ，７１ｂから、弾性部材７１が接着固定されている部分を含み且つ該各弾性部材７１が立体ガード用シート７２に接着された状態のままの所定幅のサンプル切り出して、重量Ｗ１を測定する。各サンプルを、接着剤が溶解可能な有機溶剤（クロロホルム、トルエン等）で洗浄し接着剤を洗い流す。その後弾性部材、立体ガード用シートを取り出して有機溶剤を蒸発させた後、サンプルの重量Ｗ２を測定する。重量Ｗ２とＷ１の差（Ｗ２−Ｗ１）をサンプル中の接着剤の重量とし、これをサンプルの面積で除して坪量（ｇ／ｍ^２）を算出する。このとき、切り出す部位の立体ガード幅は各サンプルで同じとする。各サンプルの幅は、強接着部における接着剤塗工領域の幅（隣接する弾性部材間に接着剤が塗工されていない部分がある場合には該部分も含めた幅）とする。
また、弾性部材の単位長さ当たりの接着剤の重量を測定するには、立体ガード７から、弾性部材が接着されている部分のみ（若干近傍の立体ガード用シート部材を含むことは許容する）を切り出し、上述と同じ測定方法によって行う。
【００２０】
本発明の吸収性物品の製造方法を、その好ましい実施形態を示して説明する。
本実施形態の製造方法においては、以下のようにして立体ガード用伸縮部材を製造する。
【００２１】
先ず、図３に示すように、立体ガード用シート原反７０を所定方向（図中の矢印方向）に連続的に搬送しつつ、該原反７０における、おむつの背側部Ａに対応する部位Ａ’及びおむつの腹側部Ｃに対応する部位Ｃ’に、それぞれ第１の接着剤７５，７６を間欠的に塗工する。第１の接着剤７５，７６の間欠塗工は、原反７０の流れ方向に接着剤を連続的に塗工した後に、その接着剤の連続的な塗工部上に重ねるようにして行っても良い。間欠塗工に先立ち接着剤を塗工しておく方法は、特に、油剤を含む弾性部材やタルクが付着している天然ゴム製の弾性部材を用いる場合にシート材に対する接着力を効果的に高められるため好ましい。尚、前記油剤としては、シリコン系油剤、炭化水素系油剤、およびそれらの混合物等が挙げられ、油剤を含む弾性部材の形成素材としては、ウレタン樹脂等が挙げられる。
【００２２】
また、立体ガード用シート原反７０に固定すべき、立体ガード形成用の弾性部材７１を連続的に搬送しつつ、原反７０に重ねていない状態の弾性部材７１に対して連続的又は間欠的に第２の接着剤７７を塗工する。弾性部材７１に対する第２の接着剤７７の塗工は、各種公知の方法により行うことができるが、例えばコームガン９が好ましく用いられる。
そして、第２の接着剤７７を塗工した弾性部材７１を、その接着剤塗工部７８が立体ガード用シート原反７０における、おむつ股下部Ｂに対応する部位Ｂ’に少なくとも配されるように立体ガード用シート原反７０上に配置し、次いで、該原反７０の一側縁から所定幅の部分を折り返して、その折り返し部７２ａとその折り返し部７２ａが重ねられる部位７２ｂとの間に弾性部材７１を固定する。尚、折り返し部７２ａの先端部７９は、所望によりヒートシール等により固定しても良い。
【００２３】
このようにして得られる立体ガード用伸縮部材７’は、個々のおむつに対応する所定形状に切断すると共に、第１接着剤の塗布部がそれぞれ背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃに位置するようにおむつの他の構成部材に固定することにより、上述した構成の使い捨ておむつ１を効率的に製造することができる。この製造例においては、図３に示すように、第２接着剤の塗工部７８が、第１接着剤７５，７６の塗工部間に亘っている。
尚、このような製造方法に用いる第１及び第２接着剤は、同じ種類でも異なる種類のものであっても良い。第１接着剤の塗工に先立ち塗布する接着剤と第１接着剤との間についても同様である。
【００２４】
本発明のおいて、強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂを設ける部位は、弾性部材７１の両端部が位置する部位に限られない。例えば、本実施形態のおむつ１においては、弾性部材７１が、強接着部７１ｂ，７１ｂよりも更におむつ長手方向の外方まで延びており、その延在部分は立体ガード用シート７２に固定されずに実質的に伸張状態が解除されている。
また、背側部Ａ又は腹側部Ｃにおいて所定以上の起立性を要しない場合，極端には股下部Ｂにおいてのみ伸縮性を必要とする場合の設計においては、背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃの長手方向ほぼ全域にわたって弾性部材７１を配し、かつ背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃの股下部Ｂよりの領域のみで弾性部材を接着固定しても、股下部Ｂにおいては上述の効果が得られる。
【００２５】
本実施形態においては、立体ガード７は、背側部Ａ及び腹側部Ｃにおいておむつ幅方向内側に伏倒して接着固定したが、おむつ幅方向外側に伏倒して接着固定しても構わない。しかし、漏れ防止性能の点からは内側に倒して固定した形態が好ましい。
【００２６】
また、後述するように弾性部材７１を股下部Ｂにおいて比較的弱く接着することを容易にして上述した効果を得られること、及び、あらゆる装着状態において立体ガード７の起立性を確実なものとしつつ肌への装着感を良好なものとするために、立体ガード７は、低モジュラスのものを高伸張率で配設してあることが好ましい。具体的には、以下の通りである。
【００２７】
立体ガード７は、使い捨ておむつ１に１００％以上の伸張率（おむつ配設状態における伸長率）で配設されていることが好ましく、特に１００〜３００％の伸張率、とりわけ１３０〜２００％の伸張率で配設されていることが好ましい。おむつ配設状態における立体ガード７の伸長率は以下のようにして測定される。
【００２８】
〔おむつ配設状態の伸長率〕
おむつ長手方向の中央部に位置する部分が含まれるようにおむつから立体ガード（固定端と自由端との間の帯状部分）７を切り出し、最大に伸張させた時点（図１に示すおむつ配設状態における長さまで伸張させた時点）での、長手方向に離間した２地点間の区間Ｈの長さをＨ、その後伸張を開放し、自然状態、即ち、切り出した立体ガードが自然に縮んだ状態において測定した前記区間Ｈの長さｈとしたとき、下記式（１）で表される。
伸張率（％）＝（Ｈ―ｈ）／ｈ ×１００（１）
自然状態での長さｈは、平らな面を持つ板などの上で負荷をできるだけかけずにギャザーによる凹凸を最小限にして測定する。区間の前記長さＨとしては２００ｍｍ程度設けることが好ましい。
【００２９】
また、立体ガード７は、おむつ非固定状態（おむつに固定されていない状態、即ちおむつから立体ガードを切り出した状態をいう）で伸張させたとき、おむつ配設状態における伸張率（％）から３０％減じた伸張率（おむつ配設状態伸長率−３０％）で定義される実効伸長率における引張荷重が２０〜１２０ｃＮ、特に５０ｃＮ〜１００ｃＮであることが好ましく、伸張率が２０％から前記実効伸張率までの間の引張荷重増加率が１．０（ｃＮ／％）以下、特に０．７（ｃＮ／％）以下であることが好ましい。
【００３０】
実効伸張率、即ちおむつ配設状態の伸張率（％）から３０％減じた地点で評価する意味は、伸張率（％）に対する立体ガードの荷重曲線、すなわち伸張応力を測定する際、それ以上の伸張率では構成部材の伸張荷重が含まれることが多く、立体ガードとしての物性値以上の荷重曲線となりやすく、正味の立体ガードの物性ではないためである。
また、おむつ装着時におむつはＵ字形状に湾曲し、その中に配された立体ガードはおむつのＵ字形状の外周より小さいＵ字状の軌線となるため、おむつ配設状態の伸張率まで伸張することはほとんどないために、おむつ配設状態の伸張率から減じた地点で評価することは実質的な装着状態での立体ガードの挙動を表すには妥当な地点であるといえる。
【００３１】
〔おむつ非固定状態の伸張特性〕
実効伸長率における引張荷重、及び引張荷重増加率は、以下のようにして求められる。
おむつ１から、立体ガード（固定端と自由端との間の帯状部分）７を切り出して試験片とし、該試験片を、テンシロン引っ張り試験機〔（株）オリエンテック社製、ＲＴＣ−１１５０Ａ〕のチャック間に固定して長手方向に、速度３００ｍｍ／ｍｉｎ、ロードセル５ｋｇの条件で伸張させ、その伸張過程における伸張率及び対応する引張荷重をプロットして、伸張率及び引張荷重の関係曲線〔横軸；伸長率（％），縦軸；引張荷重（ｃＮ），図４参照〕を得る。尚、図４中、曲線▲１▼が好ましい立体ガードの関係曲線の例である。
【００３２】
得られた関係曲線から、伸張率が２０％のときと実効伸張率のときの各々の引張荷重の値を読み取る。また、伸張率が２０％から実効伸張率までの関係曲線の勾配、即ち〔引張荷重（実効伸張率時）−引張荷重（２０％時）〕／〔実効伸張率（％）−２０％〕を算出し、その値を、伸張率が２０％から実効伸張率までの間の引張荷重増加率（ｃＮ／％）とする。
尚、試験片は、おむつ長手方向の中央部に位置する部分が含まれるように切り出し、また、自然状態、即ち切り出した立体ガードのギャザーが自然に縮んだ状態で、平らな面を持つ板などの上で、負荷をできるだけかけずに立体ガードを平らにした場合の長さが少なくとも７０ｍｍ以上となるように切り出す。好ましくは、おむつ配設状態の伸張率を測定した後のものを使用する。伸張開始時の試験片の初期長（自然状態における長さ，伸張率０％）は５０ｍｍとし、該試験片をおむつに配設された状態における伸張率となるまで伸張させる。
【００３３】
立体ガード形成用の弾性部材７１は、従来公知のものが使用できるが、低モジュラスのものを使用することが上述の低モジュラスの立体ガード７を得ることができるので好ましい。
【００３４】
また、立体ガード用シート７２の基材としては、撥水性の不織布が好ましい。また、一部若しくは全体を液不透過性のフィルム材との複合材とし、肌と接触する面に不織布を配する構造とすることもできる。
【００３５】
また、表面シート２，裏面シート３、吸収体４、ウエスト部弾性伸縮部材５１及びレッグ弾性伸縮部材６１の材料としては各種周知のものを使用することができる。
【００３６】
以上、好ましい実施形態について説明したが、本発明は、上述した実施形態に制限されず、本発明の趣旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変更が可能である。例えば、上述した実施形態においては一つの立体ガードに配された複数本の弾性部材７の何れもが立体ガード用シートに同様の態様で固定されていたが、複数本の弾性部材７の内の一部の弾性部材のみが、上記実施形態において説明した態様で立体ガード用シートに固定されていても良い。
また、本発明の吸収性物品は、使い捨ておむつに限定されるものではなく、ナプキン、生理用ショーツ等にも適用可能である。
【００３７】
【発明の効果】
本発明の吸収性物品は、着用者の肌に優しい感触を与え、かつ排泄物や体液が漏れ難いものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】図１は、本発明の吸収性物品の一実施形態としての使い捨ておむつを平面状に拡げた状態を示す平面図である。
【図２】図２は、図１の使い捨ておむつの部分断面図であり、図２（ａ）は図１のＸ−Ｘ線断面図、図２（ｂ）は図１のＹ−Ｙ線断面図である。
【図３】図３は、本発明の吸収性物品の製造に好ましく用いられる立体ガード用伸縮部材の製造方法の一例を説明するための図である。
【図４】図４は、おむつ非固定状態における立体ガードの伸張率と伸張応力（荷重）との関係を示すグラフである
【図５】図５は、立体ガードの各部における接着剤の坪量の測定方法を説明するための図である。
【符号の説明】
１使い捨ておむつ
２表面シート
３裏面シート
４吸収体
５ウエスト部
６レッグ部
７立体ガード
７１弾性部材
７２立体ガード用シート
Ａ背側部
Ｂ股下部
Ｃ腹側部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a three-dimensional guard having a gentle texture to the skin and having a high leak-proof property.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
Conventionally, for the purpose of enhancing the leak prevention performance of an absorbent article, many techniques have been proposed in which a three-dimensional guard that stands up to the wearer's skin is arranged along the side of the absorber.
[0003]
For example, in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, a gather is formed by adhesively fixing an elastic member to a sheet member in an extended state, and a gap is formed between the three-dimensional guard and the skin to prevent excrement from leaking from the crotch. There is disclosed a technique for preventing such a situation.
However, in the conventional three-dimensional guard, a relatively large amount of adhesive is used in order to firmly fix the elastic member to the sheet member, and therefore, a viewpoint of giving a gentle touch to the wearer's skin. Had room for improvement.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a barrier cuff in which a plurality of hollow portions are provided between a free end and a fixed end, and an elastic member is disposed in each hollow portion. In this barrier cuff, there is a possibility that the elastic member moves in the hollow portion to deteriorate the fit of the barrier cuff to the body, or the touch given to the body is deteriorated by the presence of the seal portion that partitions between the adjacent hollow portions.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-62-250201 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-63-12705 [Patent Document 3]
International Publication WO95 / 07063
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that gives a gentle feel to the skin of a wearer and that does not easily leak excrement or body fluid, and a method of manufacturing an elastic member for a three-dimensional guard that is preferably used for manufacturing such an absorbent article. Is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is an absorbent article including a back part, a crotch part and an abdomen part, and a three-dimensional guard that stands on the wearer's skin side along the side of the absorber, wherein the three-dimensional guard is: An elastic member is fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet in an extended state and is formed, and the elastic member is more strongly adhered to the three-dimensional guard sheet at the dorsal side or the abdominal side than at the crotch part. The object has been achieved by providing an absorbent article having a strong adhesive portion.
[0007]
Further, the present invention is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional guard elastic member used for forming a three-dimensional guard of an absorbent article having a back part, a crotch part, and a belly part, while continuously conveying a three-dimensional guard sheet. A step of intermittently applying an adhesive to a portion corresponding to the back side and / or the abdomen in the three-dimensional guard sheet, continuously or continuously with the elastic member while continuously transporting the elastic member. Applying the adhesive intermittently, and the adhesive applied portion of the elastic member is arranged at least in a portion corresponding to the crotch portion of the three-dimensional guard sheet, so that the elastic member is The object has been achieved by providing a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional guard stretchable member including a step of fixing on a guard sheet.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a disposable diaper 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, and a sheet interposed between these two sheets 2, 3. It has a liquid-retaining absorbent 4 which is formed and is substantially vertically elongated. The disposable diaper 1 has a back portion A, a crotch portion B, and an abdomen portion C in order in the longitudinal direction. The back part A, the crotch part B and the abdomen part C are each area when the disposable diaper is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction and each is divided into 1/3 areas. A dorsal part A and a ventral part C are located in front and back. Fastening tape 8 is provided on both left and right edges of the back part A, and a landing tape part (not shown) for fixing the fastening tape 8 is provided on the outer surface side of the abdomen part C.
The diaper 1 of the present embodiment can be worn with the back side A arranged on the back side of the wearer and also with the back side A arranged on the abdomen side of the wearer.
[0009]
The absorbent body 4 is sandwiched and fixed between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. One of the waist parts 5 and the leg part 6 at the peripheral edge of the absorbent body have a waist for fitting each part to a diaper wearer. A part elastic member 51 and a leg elastic member 61 are provided.
[0010]
A three-dimensional guard 7 is formed on each of the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the disposable diaper 1. Each of the three-dimensional guards 7 is formed by fixing an elastic member 71 to a three-dimensional guard sheet 72 in an extended state. In detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 is disposed so as to extend from the outside to the inside on both sides of the top sheet 2, and the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 has a diaper width. A portion having a predetermined width is folded back from the inner edge in the direction to form a two-layer structure. In this embodiment, the elastic member 71 is extended between the folded portion 72a of the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 and the other portion 72b of the sheet 72 excluding the folded portion 72a, which constitutes the two-layer structure portion. A three-dimensional guard 7 having a fixed and elastically elastic gather is formed. The sheets on both sides of the elastic member 71 may be two sheets formed by folding one sheet as in the present embodiment, but may be two discontinuous (separate) sheets. There may be.
[0011]
The three-dimensional guard sheet 72 in the present embodiment is fixed on the top sheet 2 linearly in the diaper longitudinal direction by a known joining means such as a heat seal or an adhesive, and is fixed by the linear fixing portion. The fixed end 73 of the three-dimensional guard 7 is formed. The portion of the sheet 72 located outside the fixed end 73 in the width direction is fixed on the top sheet 2 or the back sheet 3, and the sheet 72 is located at both ends 7 a, 7 a in the longitudinal direction of the diaper. The portion located on the center side in the width direction of the diaper is fixed to the top sheet 2 side down (see FIG. 2B).
[0012]
The elastic member 71 in the present embodiment is disposed and fixed in an extended state so as to exhibit elasticity over the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the crotch portion B. Therefore, in the crotch part, the entire three-dimensional guard stands up toward the wearer's skin. In the present embodiment, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member 71 are present in the back part A and the abdominal part C, thereby ensuring the standing of the three-dimensional guard 7 in the crotch part B. The three-dimensional guard 7 is a portion that can stand on one side edge in the longitudinal direction when worn, and includes a portion indicated by 71a and both portions indicated by 71b and 71b in FIG. Note that the diaper 1 of the present embodiment has a symmetric configuration.
[0013]
In the three-dimensional guard 7, an elastic member 71 is adhesively fixed to a three-dimensional guard sheet 72 at each of the back part A, the crotch part B, and the abdomen part C. As shown in FIG. The elastic member 71 has strong bonding portions 71b, 71b that are bonded and fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 more strongly than the crotch portion B on each of the abdominal side portions C.
More specifically, the three-dimensional guard 7 has strong adhesive portions 71b, 71b at portions of the back portion A and the abdomen portion C slightly entering the respective regions from the crotch portion B side. While the elastic member 71 is relatively strongly bonded and fixed in the strong bonding portions 71b, 71b, in the region 71a between the strong bonding portions 71b, 71b, the two strong bonding portions 71b, 71b are adhesively fixed with a relatively weaker adhesive force than in each of the cases.
[0014]
As a method of bonding and fixing the elastic member 71 to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 at the strong bonding portion 71b more strongly than at the crotch portion B, the following method is exemplified.
(1) A method of using an adhesive having a relatively strong adhesive force, which is different from the adhesive used for the crotch portion, as the adhesive used for the strong adhesive portion.
Here, the case where the kind of the adhesive is different means that the main adhesive component is different. In the present invention, examples of the adhesive used for the strong adhesive portion or the crotch include various known adhesives, such as styrene (SEBS, SBS, and SIS) hot melts and olefin hot melts. Can be As an example of a combination of the adhesive used for the strong bonding portion and the adhesive used for the crotch portion, a styrene hot melt adhesive is used for the strong bonding portion, and an olefin hot melt adhesive is used for the crotch portion.
[0015]
(2) A method in which the weight of the adhesive used for bonding the elastic member 71 and the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 per unit length of the elastic member is higher in the strongly bonded portion 71b than in the crotch portion B.
Specifically, an adhesive is continuously applied to the elastic member 71, and an adhesive is separately applied to portions corresponding to (corresponding to) the diaper back A and the abdomen C of the three-dimensional guard sheet 72. Method.
(3) A method in which the method (1) and the method (2) are used in combination.
[0016]
An elastic member 71 is provided on each of the back side A and the abdominal side C. The elastic member 71 has strong bonding portions 71b, 71b which are bonded and fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 more strongly than in the crotch portion B. And the region 71a between the strong bonding portions 71b, 71b has a relatively low bonding force.
For this reason, in the region 71a including the crotch portion B, fine and strong gathers due to strong adhesive force are not formed, and large gathers tend to be formed, and the region 71a gently contacts the wearer's skin. In addition, a soft texture is obtained by reducing the hardness. These effects become more remarkable by employing the method (2). On the other hand, in the strong bonding portion 71b, since the elastic member 71 is firmly fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72, even if the three-dimensional guard 7 expands and contracts during or during wearing, the strong bonding portions 71b, 71b The elastic member 71 is effectively prevented from peeling off from the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 in the region 71a therebetween. Therefore, good contact of the three-dimensional guard 7 with the wearer is maintained stably during wearing, and leakage of excrement is also well prevented.
[0017]
From the viewpoint of maintaining a gentle touch to the skin and maintaining leakproofness, the basis weight of the adhesive in the strongly bonded portion 71b is ² to 20 g / m ² , and the basis weight of the adhesive in the crotch B is 1 to 5 g / m ² . Preferably, there is.
[0018]
When the method (2) is used, the basis weight of the adhesive in the three-dimensional guard 7 in the strongly bonded portion is ² to 20 g / m ² , and the crotch B has a unit length of the elastic member 71 per unit length. Is preferably 0.005 to 0.04 g / m for the same reason.
[0019]
The basis weight of the adhesive is the weight of the adhesive contained in a unit area of the three-dimensional guard, and can be measured as follows.
As shown in FIG. 5, each of the three-dimensional guard 7 includes a portion to which the elastic member 71 is bonded and fixed, and each of the elastic members 71 is bonded to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 from the respective regions 71 b, 71 a, 71 b in the longitudinal direction. A sample having a predetermined width is cut out in the same state, and the weight W1 is measured. Each sample is washed with an organic solvent capable of dissolving the adhesive (chloroform, toluene, etc.) to wash off the adhesive. Thereafter, the elastic member and the three-dimensional guard sheet are taken out and the organic solvent is evaporated, and then the weight W2 of the sample is measured. The difference between the weights W2 and W1 (W2−W1) is defined as the weight of the adhesive in the sample, and this is divided by the area of the sample to calculate the basis weight (g / m ² ). At this time, the three-dimensional guard width of the portion to be cut out is the same for each sample. The width of each sample is the width of the adhesive-coated region in the strongly bonded portion (when there is a portion where the adhesive is not coated between adjacent elastic members, the width including the portion is also included).
Further, in order to measure the weight of the adhesive per unit length of the elastic member, only the portion where the elastic member is bonded from the three-dimensional guard 7 (it is acceptable to include a slightly nearby three-dimensional guard sheet member). And cut out by the same measuring method as described above.
[0020]
The manufacturing method of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments.
In the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the three-dimensional guard elastic member is manufactured as follows.
[0021]
First, as shown in FIG. 3, while continuously transporting the three-dimensional guard sheet raw material 70 in a predetermined direction (the direction of the arrow in the figure), a portion of the raw material 70 corresponding to the back side A of the diaper. First adhesives 75 and 76 are intermittently applied to A ′ and a portion C ′ corresponding to the abdominal portion C of the diaper, respectively. The intermittent coating of the first adhesives 75 and 76 is performed by continuously applying the adhesive in the flow direction of the raw material 70 and then overlapping the continuous application portion of the adhesive. Is also good. The method of applying the adhesive prior to the intermittent coating is particularly effective when using an elastic member containing an oil agent or an elastic member made of natural rubber to which talc is attached, in order to effectively increase the adhesive force to the sheet material. Is preferred. Examples of the oil include silicone-based oils, hydrocarbon-based oils, and mixtures thereof. Examples of the material for forming the elastic member including the oil include urethane resins.
[0022]
Further, while continuously transporting the elastic member 71 for forming the three-dimensional guard, which is to be fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet raw material 70, the elastic member 71 not overlapping the raw material 70 is continuously or intermittently moved. Is applied with a second adhesive 77. The application of the second adhesive 77 to the elastic member 71 can be performed by various known methods. For example, a comb gun 9 is preferably used.
Then, the elastic member 71 coated with the second adhesive 77 is arranged such that the adhesive coated portion 78 is disposed at least in a portion B ′ corresponding to the diaper crotch B in the three-dimensional guard sheet raw material 70. Is placed on the three-dimensional guard sheet material 70, and then a portion having a predetermined width is folded from one side edge of the material 70, and between the folded portion 72a and the portion 72b where the folded portion 72a is overlapped. The elastic member 71 is fixed. The tip 79 of the folded portion 72a may be fixed by heat sealing or the like, if desired.
[0023]
The three-dimensional guard elastic member 7 'obtained in this manner is cut into a predetermined shape corresponding to each diaper, and the application portions of the first adhesive are positioned on the back part A and the abdomen C, respectively. By fixing the diaper to other components, the disposable diaper 1 having the above-described configuration can be efficiently manufactured. In this manufacturing example, as shown in FIG. 3, the coated portion 78 of the second adhesive extends between the coated portions of the first adhesives 75 and 76.
The first and second adhesives used in such a manufacturing method may be of the same type or different types. The same applies to the area between the adhesive applied before the application of the first adhesive and the first adhesive.
[0024]
In the present invention, the portions where the strong bonding portions 71b are provided are not limited to the portions where both ends of the elastic member 71 are located. For example, in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the elastic member 71 extends further outward in the diaper longitudinal direction than the strongly bonded portions 71b, 71b, and the extended portion is not fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet 72. The extended state is substantially released.
In the case where the back portion A or the abdominal portion C does not need to be more than a predetermined amount of uprightness, or in the case where the elasticity is required only in the crotch portion B, the back portion A and the abdominal portion are required. Even if the elastic member 71 is arranged over substantially the entire region in the longitudinal direction of C and the elastic member is adhered and fixed only in the region from the crotch B of the back part A and the abdominal part C, the above-described effect is obtained in the crotch B. Is obtained.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional guard 7 is folded down and inwardly fixed in the diaper width direction at the back portion A and the abdominal portion C, but may be glued down and fixed outwardly in the diaper width direction. However, from the viewpoint of leak prevention performance, a form in which the sheet is tilted inward and fixed is preferable.
[0026]
Further, as described later, the elastic member 71 can be relatively weakly adhered to the crotch portion B to obtain the above-described effect, and the solid guard 7 can be reliably raised in any mounting state. In order to improve the feeling of wearing on the skin, it is preferable that the three-dimensional guard 7 has a low modulus and a high elongation. Specifically, it is as follows.
[0027]
The three-dimensional guard 7 is preferably disposed on the disposable diaper 1 at an elongation rate of 100% or more (elongation rate in a diaper installation state), particularly 100 to 300% elongation rate, particularly 130 to 200% elongation. Preferably, they are arranged at a ratio. The extension rate of the three-dimensional guard 7 in the diaper arrangement state is measured as follows.
[0028]
[Elongation rate when diapers are installed]
The three-dimensional guard (band-shaped portion between the fixed end and the free end) 7 is cut out from the diaper so as to include the portion located in the center of the diaper in the longitudinal direction, and is extended to the maximum (the diaper arrangement shown in FIG. 1). The length of the section H between two points separated in the longitudinal direction at the time of extension to the length in the state) is H, and then the extension is released, and the natural state, that is, the cut out three-dimensional guard is naturally contracted. Is expressed by the following equation (1), where h is the length h of the section H measured in.
Elongation rate (%) = (Hh) / h × 100 (1)
The length h in the natural state is measured on a flat plate or the like while minimizing load due to gathers and minimizing unevenness due to gathers. The length H of the section is preferably set to about 200 mm.
[0029]
Further, when the three-dimensional guard 7 is extended in a diaper non-fixed state (a state in which the three-dimensional guard is not fixed to the diaper, that is, a state in which the three-dimensional guard is cut out from the diaper), the extension rate (%) in the diaper arrangement state is 30%. It is preferable that the tensile load at the effective elongation defined by the elongation rate reduced by 30% (elongation rate in the diaper arrangement state−30%) is 20 to 120 cN, particularly 50 cN to 100 cN, and the elongation is 20% to the effective elongation. The rate of increase in tensile load up to the rate is preferably 1.0 (cN /%) or less, particularly preferably 0.7 (cN /%) or less.
[0030]
The meaning of evaluating at the point obtained by subtracting 30% from the effective extension rate, that is, the extension rate (%) in the diaper arrangement state, is that when measuring the load curve of the three-dimensional guard with respect to the extension rate (%), that is, when measuring the extension stress, This is because the extension rate often includes the extension load of the component member, and tends to have a load curve that is equal to or greater than the physical property value of the three-dimensional guard, and is not the net physical property of the three-dimensional guard.
In addition, when the diaper is mounted, the diaper is curved into a U-shape, and the three-dimensional guard disposed therein has a U-shaped trajectory smaller than the outer periphery of the U-shaped diaper. Since there is almost no stretching, it can be said that evaluation at a point reduced from the stretching rate in the diaper arrangement state is an appropriate point for expressing the behavior of the three-dimensional guard in a substantially worn state.
[0031]
[Extension characteristics of the diaper unfixed state]
The tensile load and the rate of increase of the tensile load in the effective elongation are determined as follows.
From the diaper 1, a three-dimensional guard (a band-shaped portion between the fixed end and the free end) 7 is cut out to be a test piece, and the test piece is used for a Tensilon tensile tester [RTC-1150A, manufactured by Orientec Co., Ltd.]. It is fixed between the chucks and stretched in the longitudinal direction under the conditions of a speed of 300 mm / min and a load cell of 5 kg, and the stretching rate and the corresponding tensile load in the stretching process are plotted to obtain a relation curve between the stretching rate and the tensile load [horizontal axis Elongation rate (%), vertical axis; tensile load (cN), see FIG. 4]. In FIG. 4, a curve {circle around (1)} is an example of a preferable relationship curve of the three-dimensional guard.
[0032]
From the obtained relationship curve, the value of each tensile load when the elongation is 20% and when the elongation is the effective elongation is read. Also, the gradient of the relation curve from the extension rate of 20% to the effective extension rate, that is, [tensile load (at the effective extension rate) −tensile load (at the time of 20%)] / [effective extension rate (%)-20%] Calculate and set the value as the tensile load increase rate (cN /%) between the elongation rate of 20% and the effective elongation rate.
The test piece was cut out so as to include a portion located in the center of the diaper in the longitudinal direction, and a plate having a flat surface in a natural state, that is, a state in which the cut-out guard gathers naturally shrunk. Then, the solid guard is cut out so as to have a length of at least 70 mm or more when the solid guard is flattened without applying a load as much as possible. Preferably, the one after measuring the elongation rate of the diaper provided state is used. The initial length (length in a natural state, elongation rate 0%) of the test piece at the start of stretching is 50 mm, and the test piece is stretched until it reaches the elongation rate in a state where the test piece is placed in a diaper.
[0033]
As the elastic member 71 for forming the three-dimensional guard, a conventionally known elastic member can be used, but it is preferable to use a material having a low modulus since the above-mentioned three-dimensional guard 7 having a low modulus can be obtained.
[0034]
The base material of the three-dimensional guard sheet 72 is preferably a water-repellent nonwoven fabric. Further, it is also possible to adopt a structure in which a part or the whole is made of a composite material with a liquid impermeable film material, and a nonwoven fabric is arranged on a surface which comes into contact with the skin.
[0035]
As the material of the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, the absorber 4, the waist elastic member 51, and the leg elastic member 61, various well-known materials can be used.
[0036]
Although the preferred embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, all of the plurality of elastic members 7 arranged on one three-dimensional guard are fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet in the same manner, but among the plurality of elastic members 7, Only some of the elastic members may be fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet in the manner described in the above embodiment.
Further, the absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to disposable diapers, but can be applied to napkins, sanitary shorts, and the like.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
The absorbent article of the present invention gives a gentle touch to the wearer's skin and does not easily leak excrement or body fluid.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a disposable diaper as an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention is spread in a plane.
2 is a partial sectional view of the disposable diaper of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 (a) is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 (b) is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for producing a three-dimensional guard elastic member preferably used for producing the absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the elongation rate and the extension stress (load) of the three-dimensional guard in a non-fixed state of the diaper. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the basis weight of the adhesive in each part of the three-dimensional guard. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a measuring method of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disposable diaper 2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorber 5 Waist part 6 Leg part 7 Three-dimensional guard 71 Elastic member 72 Three-dimensional guard sheet A Back part B Crotch part C Abdominal part

Claims

An absorbent article having a back part, a crotch part and an abdominal part, and including a three-dimensional guard standing on the wearer's skin side along the side part of the absorber,
The three-dimensional guard is formed such that an elastic member is fixed to the three-dimensional guard sheet in an extended state, and the elastic member is formed on the three-dimensional guard sheet on the three-dimensional guard sheet. An absorbent article having a strongly bonded portion which is also strongly bonded.

^2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the basis weight of the adhesive in the strongly bonded portion is ² to 20 g / m ² , and the basis weight of the adhesive in the crotch is 1 to 5 g / m ² .

3. The absorption according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the adhesive used for bonding the elastic member and the three-dimensional guard sheet per unit length of the elastic member is higher in the strongly bonded portion than in the crotch portion. 4. Products.

The fixing between the elastic member and the three-dimensional guard sheet at the crotch part is fixed by an adhesive coated on the elastic member side, and the fixing between the elastic member and the three-dimensional guard sheet at the strong bonding portion is performed by three-dimensional. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the absorbent article is fixed by an adhesive applied to the guard sheet side.

The basis weight of the adhesive in the strong bonding portion is ² to 20 g / m ² , and the weight of the adhesive in the crotch portion per unit length of the elastic member is 0.005 to 0.04 g / m. The absorbent article according to claim 3 or 4.

A method of manufacturing an elastic member for a three-dimensional guard used for forming a three-dimensional guard of an absorbent article having a back part, a crotch part, and a ventral part,
A step of intermittently applying an adhesive to a portion of the three-dimensional guard sheet corresponding to the back side and / or the abdomen while continuously conveying the three-dimensional guard sheet; A step of continuously or intermittently applying an adhesive to the elastic member while transporting the elastic member, and an adhesive-coated portion of the elastic member being disposed at least in a portion corresponding to the crotch portion in the three-dimensional guard sheet. Fixing the elastic member on the three-dimensional guard sheet as described above.