JP2007097945A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article capable of being thin, prevented from twist, and obtaining comfortable touch. <P>SOLUTION: The absorbent article 1 comprises an absorbent layer 2 and a leak prevention layer 4 and has an absorbent body 10 including 20-70 wt.% of crimped fiber, and at least the side 21 whose surface is directly attached to a skin in the absorbent layer 2 is formed of a surface sheet 3 including 30-100% of crimped fiber, and the surface sheet 3 is bonded to the leak prevention layer 4 by heading the longitudinal direction of the material composing the surface sheet 3 toward the width direction of the absorbent body 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as panty liners, side pads, breast milk pads, and light incontinence pads.

  For absorbent articles whose main purpose is to absorb a relatively small amount of bodily fluids such as panty liners (side sheets for urinals) and side pads, in order to obtain a comfortable wearing feeling rather than ensuring a large absorption capacity In particular, it is particularly important to have a thin structure and a structure that is difficult to twist.

  Patent Document 1 listed below describes a panty liner formed by laminating a surface sheet (surface material), an absorber (absorbent material), and a back sheet (back sheet) in this order from the skin contact surface side. In the panty liner described in Patent Document 1, twisting is less likely to occur by imparting elastic return to the nonwoven fabric forming the absorbent body.

JP-A-8-24289

  However, in the panty liner described in Patent Document 1, since it is difficult to cause twisting by imparting elastic return to the nonwoven fabric forming the absorber, the thickness of the absorber is sufficient to prevent twisting sufficiently. It is necessary to thicken, and a comfortable wearing feeling cannot be obtained. Moreover, it cannot be said that the twist prevention effect is sufficient.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that can reduce the thickness and increase the effect of preventing warping, and can provide a comfortable wearing feeling.

  The present invention is an absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and a leak-proof layer and having an absorbent main body comprising 20 to 70% by weight of crimpable fibers, wherein at least the skin contact surface side of the absorbent layer is It is formed from a surface sheet, the surface sheet contains 30 to 100% by weight of crimpable fibers, and the surface sheet has a width direction of the absorbent main body in the longitudinal direction of the material constituting the surface sheet. The above object is achieved by providing an absorbent article bonded to the leak-proof layer in the direction.

  According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the thickness can be reduced and the twist prevention effect can be enhanced, and a comfortable wearing feeling can be obtained.

Hereinafter, an absorbent article of the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a panty liner 1 as an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention comprises an absorbent layer 2 and a leak-proof layer 4 and comprises 20 to 70% by weight of crimpable fibers. A main body 10 is provided.

  The absorbent main body 10 is the main body of the absorbent article, and is not directly related to the absorption capacity or leak-proof performance, and is additionally provided, for example, a fastening adhesive 52 for fastening to underwear. (Described later) and wings extending outward in the width direction (parts folded back to the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent main body so as to sandwich the underwear when worn) are not included. It is a concept. The thickness of the absorbent main body 10 is preferably 2 mm or less from the viewpoint that it is difficult to feel uncomfortable at the time of wearing.

At least the skin contact surface 21 side of the absorbent layer 2 is formed from the top sheet 3, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the absorbent layer 2 includes only one top sheet 3. Formed from. Moreover, the surface sheet 3 contains 30-100 weight% of crimpable fibers, Preferably it contains 40-70 weight%.
When the crimpable fiber contained in the top sheet 3 is less than 30% by weight, wrinkles or the like due to twisting of the top sheet 3 is likely to occur, and the twist preventing effect is significantly impaired.
The leak-proof layer 4 is formed from one back sheet 43 in the present embodiment.
The absorptive main body 10 contains 20 to 70% by weight, preferably 25 to 70% by weight of crimpable fibers as a whole, that is, as the whole of the absorbent layer 2 and the leak-proof layer 4. When the crimpable fiber contained in the absorbent main body 10 is less than 20% by weight, the twist preventing function of the crimpable fiber is not reflected in the absorbent main body 10 and the twist preventing effect is significantly impaired.

  Crimpable fibers are broadly classified into latent crimpable fibers that have a potential crimpability and obvious crimpable fibers that have a substantial crimpability. The latent crimpable fiber is a fiber that does not develop crimp before being heated, but has a property that a helical crimp is developed and contracted by heating at a predetermined temperature.

  The latent crimpable fiber is composed of, for example, an eccentric core-sheath type composite fiber or a side-by-side type composite fiber containing two types of thermoplastic polymer materials having different shrinkage ratios. The thing as described in -296325 gazette and patent 2759331 gazette is mentioned. As an example of two types of thermoplastic polymer materials having different shrinkage rates, for example, a combination of an ethylene-propylene random copolymer (EP) and polypropylene (PP) is preferably exemplified.

  The actual crimpable fiber is a fiber that has a property of manifesting a helical crimp and contracting regardless of the presence or absence of heating (for example, a fiber that has been mechanically crimped in advance).

  The topsheet 3 is joined to the leak-proof layer 4 so that the longitudinal direction of the material constituting the topsheet faces the width direction of the absorbent main body 10. In FIG. 2, the raw material 30 which comprises the surface sheet 3 is typically shown with the dashed-two dotted line, and the crimpable fiber 30A which is the constituent fiber is typically shown. The top sheet 3 has a longitudinal direction of the material 30 as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 2 and is directed to the leak-proof layer 4 in the width direction (lateral direction in FIG. 2) of the absorbent main body 10 (leak-proof layer 4). It is joined. “Toward the width direction of the absorbent main body 10” may be slightly inclined as long as it is macroscopically oriented in the width direction.

  In addition, the terms “longitudinal direction” and “width direction” mean “longitudinal direction of absorbent article” and “width direction of absorbent article”, respectively. The terms “upper surface” and “lower surface” mean “skin contact surface (side surface)” and “non-skin contact surface (side surface)”, respectively.

  The material 30 of the topsheet 3 formed from the constituent fibers including crimpable fibers is generally formed into a long sheet and then wound into a roll shape. A tension is applied to the sheet in the longitudinal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the orientation direction of the crimpable fibers 30 </ b> A in the material 30 of the top sheet 3 is oriented in the longitudinal direction D of the material 30.

  As the top sheet 3, as long as it contains 30 to 100% by weight of crimpable fibers, a liquid-permeable material usually used in the technical field can be used without particular limitation. In the case where the absorbent layer 2 is formed only from the top sheet 3 and the top sheet 3 needs to have liquid retainability as in the present embodiment, for example, various nonwoven fabrics subjected to hydrophilic treatment are used. . Moreover, in that case, from the viewpoint of the absorbability of body fluid, the non-skin contact surface is more hydrophilic than the skin contact surface in the thickness direction of the topsheet 3. desirable.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of raised portions 34 are formed on the skin contact surface 37 side of the top sheet 3 so as to protrude from the non-skin contact surface 35 side toward the skin contact surface 37 side. Is preferred. This is because, when a large number of raised portions 34 are formed on the skin contact surface 37 side of the topsheet 3, the touch and flexibility of the topsheet 3 (absorbing layer 2) can be improved.

  In addition, it is preferable that a large number of upward recesses 36 that are recessed toward the skin contact surface 37 side are formed on the non-skin contact surface 35 side of the topsheet 3. If a large number of upward recesses 36 are formed on the non-skin contact surface 35 side of the top sheet 3, the top sheet 3 and the leak-proof layer 4 are not joined in the upward recess 36 or the periphery of the upward recess 36. It is because it can be set as the structure which is not fully joined rather than it, and the improvement of the deformability and recoverability of the absorptive main body 10 can be aimed at.

As the surface sheet 3 in which the raised portion 34 is formed on the skin contact surface 37 side and the upward concave portion 36 is formed on the non-skin contact surface 35 side, for example, the surface sheet 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the surface sheet 3 includes a first fiber layer 31 on the skin contact surface 37 side and a second fiber layer 32 on the non-skin contact surface 35 side. 31 and the second fiber layer 32 are partially heat-sealed to form a heat-sealed portion (joined portion) 33, and the first fiber layer 31 is compressed at a portion other than the heat-fused portion 33. A large number of raised portions 34 having elasticity are formed. On the non-skin contact surface 35 side of the top sheet 3, a large number of upward recesses 36 are formed corresponding to the position of the heat fusion part 33.

Such a surface sheet 3 is obtained by partially heat-sealing the first fiber layer 31 and the second fiber layer 32 made of fiber aggregates in a predetermined pattern by hot embossing, and then horizontally moving the second fiber layer 32. Obtained by heat shrinking in the direction.
More specifically, the heat fusion by heat embossing includes, for example, an embossed surface (a circumferential surface of an embossing roll, etc.) in which a large number of embossed spins are regularly arranged, the first fiber layer 31 and the second fiber layer. This is performed by melting the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 31 and / or the second fiber layer 32 in the portion that is brought into pressure contact with the second fiber layer 32 side of the laminated body 32 and thermally pressed by each pin. The heat shrinkage of the second fiber layer 32 is, for example, configured by forming the second fiber layer 32 from heat-shrinkable fibers or including heat-shrinkable fibers in the second fiber layer 32, This is performed by heat-treating the second fiber layer 32 at the same time as the second fiber layer 32 is heat-sealed or after heat-sealing both.

  A large number of raised portions 34 are produced by causing the second fiber layer 32 to thermally contract in the horizontal direction, so that the portions other than the heat fusion portion 33 of the first fiber layer 31 are deformed into a convex shape. Moreover, as for the many upward recessed parts 36, when forming the heat-fusion part 33, what is located in the circumference | surroundings of the heat-fusion part 33 preliminarily crimps and gathers, and in this state, the second fiber It is formed by shrinking the layer 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, the large number of heat fusion portions 33 are regularly formed in a dotted pattern and a zigzag manner, and the distance between the heat fusion portions 33 is substantially constant.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each raised portion 34 has a dome shape, and the inside thereof is filled with the fibers constituting the first fiber layer 31. In addition, the interface between the first fiber layer 31 and the second fiber layer 32 in the portion where the raised portions 34 are formed is not bonded but is in close contact.
Each upward recess 36 is formed corresponding to the position of the heat-sealing portion 33.

  It is preferable that the 2nd fiber layer 32 contains the latent crimpable fiber. The content ratio of the latent crimpable fibers in the second fiber layer 32 is preferably 70 to 100% by weight. By using latent crimpable fibers, both heat shrinkability and elastomeric behavior can be developed simultaneously.

  In the case where the second fiber layer 32 contains fibers other than the latent crimpable fibers, the fibers include heat-bonded fibers that are not substantially thermally shrunk at the crimp start temperature of the latent crimpable fibers. Is mentioned. Specifically, there is a heat-fusible fiber that has heat-shrinkability but does not substantially heat-shrink at the crimp start temperature of the latent crimpable fiber, or a heat-fusible fiber that does not substantially have heat-shrinkability. (Hereinafter, these fibers are collectively referred to as non-heat-shrinkable fused fibers).

  The first fiber layer 31 preferably contains the non-heat-shrinkable fused fiber. Specifically, it is preferably composed of a core-sheath type or a side-by-side type heat fusion composite fiber. The first fiber layer 31 may include latent crimpable fibers included in the second fiber layer 32. Thereby, the recoverability when the first fiber layer 31 is extended in the plane direction is also improved. From these viewpoints, the amount of the latent crimpable fiber contained in the first fiber layer 31 is preferably 3 to 50% by weight, particularly 10 to 30% by weight.

  The back sheet 43 is made of a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent material. For example, a thermoplastic resin film, a water-repellent nonwoven fabric, or a laminate of the film and the nonwoven fabric can be used. In the present embodiment, a back sheet 43 made of a thermoplastic resin film having moisture permeability is used.

  The non-skin contact surface 35 side of the top sheet 3 and the skin contact surface 42 side of the leak-proof layer 4 (back surface sheet 43) are joined by an adhesive, heat seal or the like. Since a strong bonding force is required at the peripheral edge portion 10A of the absorbent main body 10, the absorbent body 10 is bonded by continuous (not continuous) heat sealing. About the other area | region, it has joined by the adhesion part 51 by an adhesive agent. Although the adhesion part 51 can also be provided entirely on the skin contact surface 42 side of the leak-proof layer 4 when viewed macroscopically, the absorbent layer 2 (surface sheet 3) and the leak-proof layer 4 are brought into direct contact with each other. In order to ensure the breathability from the moisture-permeable leak-proof layer 4, it is preferable that it is discontinuous.

  The discontinuous adhesive part 51 can be formed by, for example, applying a hot melt adhesive in a spiral pattern as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the top sheet 3 is virtually removed. Examples of the application pattern of the hot melt adhesive include a dot pattern, an Ω-shaped pattern, and a linear pattern in addition to the spiral pattern. These patterns can be formed by spiral spray coating, slot spray coating, control weave coating, gravure coating or the like of a hot melt adhesive. In particular, spiral spray coating and control weave coating are preferably used from the viewpoints of ease of control and small damage to the leak-proof layer.

  The width W1 of the bonding portion 51 (the width along the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 when the entire bonding portion 51 is considered as a unit) W1 is the width W0 of the absorbent main body 10 at the longitudinal center position of the absorbent main body 10. It is preferable that it is 40 to 100%, and it is still more preferable that it is 60 to 100%. The “longitudinal central position of the absorbent main body 10” is a central position when the absorbent main body 10 is divided into two equal parts in the longitudinal direction. It is preferable that the preferable range of the width W <b> 1 of the bonding portion 51 described above corresponds to the entire longitudinal direction of the bonding portion 51.

On the non-skin contact surface 41 side of the leak-proof layer 4, a fastening adhesive 52 for fastening to the underwear is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 5, the fastening adhesive 52 is formed of a plurality of strip-shaped adhesives extending in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. It is arranged and arranged. The number of strip-shaped pressure-sensitive adhesives is, for example, 10 to 30.
The width of the fastening adhesive 52 (the width along the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 when the entire fastening adhesive 52 is considered as a whole) W2 is the center of the absorbent body 10 in the longitudinal direction. It is preferable that it is 70 to 100% of 10 width W0, and it is preferable that it is 80 to 100%. It is preferable that the preferable range of W2 of the above-mentioned fastening adhesive 52 width corresponds to the entire longitudinal direction of the fastening adhesive 52.

  According to the panty liner 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the surface sheet 3 in the absorbent layer 2 contains a predetermined proportion of crimpable fibers, and the surface sheet 3 absorbs the long direction of the material. Since it is joined to the leak-proof layer 4 in the longitudinal direction of the main body 10, the contraction force by the crimpable fibers acts in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10. Therefore, although it is a simple and thin structure composed of the absorption layer 2 and the leak-proof layer 4, it is possible to express a quality excellent in deformation / recoverability against twisting.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the absorptive main body 10 has the two-layer structure of the absorption layer 2 consisting of only one top sheet 3 and the leak-proof layer 4 consisting of only one back sheet 43. In addition, while ensuring the thinness of the absorbent main body 10, the rigidity becomes high and the buckling deformation becomes more difficult.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the other embodiments, only points different from the above-described embodiment will be described, and the description in detail regarding the above-described embodiment will be appropriately applied to points that are not particularly described. Moreover, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the absorbent main body 10 is provided with pressing portions 53 that are formed so as to be substantially thinner than other regions on at least both sides in the longitudinal direction. It has been. It is preferable that the pressing part 53 is provided over the perimeter part 10A perimeter of the absorptive main body 10 including the both sides in the longitudinal direction. A downwardly hatched area shown in FIG. 6A indicates a position where the pressing portion 53 is formed. That is, the pressing portion 53 is provided in place of the continuous heat seal portion of the peripheral edge portion 10A of the absorbent main body 10 in the panty liner shown in FIG.

The pressing portion 53 preferably has a region where the crimpable fiber maintains a crimped state, preferably 30% or more, and more preferably 40% or more.
By having 30% or more of the region where the crimpable fiber maintains the crimped state, it is difficult for buckling deformation even in the peripheral portion 10A, and it can be deformed and recovered softly and easily. A comfortable wearing feeling can be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the pressing portion 53 can be formed from, for example, a large number of dot-shaped heat seal portions 53A. According to such a pressing portion 53, the constituent fibers of the topsheet 3 are discontinuously joined to the leak-proof layer 4, so that the constituent fibers of the topsheet 3 are not joined to the leak-proof layer 4, or Thus, there is a portion that is not sufficiently bonded to the periphery of the upward recess 36, and a region 53B in which the crimped fiber maintains the crimped state is formed. Therefore, compared with the case where the peripheral edge portion 10A of the absorbent main body 10 is joined by a general full-surface heat seal, the contraction force due to the crimpable fibers in the surface sheet 3 is expressed in the peripheral edge portion 10A of the absorbent main body 10. For this reason, the peripheral edge portion 10A of the absorbent main body 10 is difficult to be turned over, and even if it is turned up, it can be easily restored.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the absorbent layer 2 includes the absorbent sheet 22 on the non-skin contact surface 35 side of the top sheet 3. The skin contact surface side and the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent sheet 22 are preferably joined to the non-skin contact surface 35 side of the topsheet 3 and the skin contact surface 42 side of the leak-proof layer 4, respectively. However, it may not be joined.
The thickness of the absorbent sheet 22 is preferably 1/2 or less, more preferably 1/3 or less of the thickness of the topsheet 3. If the width of the absorbent sheet 22 is too wide, the shrinkage force due to the crimpable fibers in the top sheet 3 is difficult to propagate to the leak-proof layer 4, so the width of the absorbent sheet 22 is 40% or less of the width of the absorbent main body 10. It is preferable that it is 50% or less.

  Panty liners are mainly intended for absorption of ordinary items and do not require a large absorption capacity, but for example, when they are worn for a long time or used as a substitute for sanitary napkins, the absorption capacity is somewhat large. Is desired. In the panty liner of the present embodiment, the absorbent layer 2 is composed of the top sheet 3 and the absorbent sheet 22, and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent layer 2 is large. Further, when a part of the absorbent layer 2 is formed from the absorbent sheet 22, the shape retention of the entire absorbent main body 10 is also improved.

The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the absorbent article of the present invention can be applied to side pads, breast milk pads, light incontinence pads, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a panty liner as an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view along the width direction. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the directional relationship between the absorbent main body in the panty liner shown in FIG. 1 and the longitudinal direction of the material of the topsheet. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a top sheet in the panty liner shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing an adhesive portion between an absorption layer and a leak-proof layer in the panty liner shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view schematically showing the non-skin contact surface side of the leak-proof layer in the panty liner shown in FIG. 1. 6A and 6B are diagrams schematically showing a panty liner according to another embodiment, in which FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a partially enlarged view of a peripheral portion. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 1B) along the width direction of a panty liner of still another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Panty liner (absorbent article)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Absorbent main body 2 Absorbing layer 21 Skin contact surface 22 Absorbing sheet 3 Top sheet 30 Material 30A Crimpable fiber 34 Raised part 35 Non-skin contact surface 36 Upward recessed part 37 Skin contact surface 4 Leak-proof layer 41 Non-skin Contact surface 42 Skin contact surface 43 Back surface sheet 51 Adhesive part 52 Fastening adhesive 53 Pressing part

Claims (9)

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body comprising an absorbent layer and a leak-proof layer and comprising 20 to 70% by weight of crimpable fibers,
At least the skin contact surface side in the absorbent layer is formed from a surface sheet, and the surface sheet contains 30 to 100% by weight of crimpable fibers,
The said surface sheet is an absorptive article joined to the said leak-proof layer with the elongate direction of the raw material which comprises this surface sheet facing the width direction of the said absorptive main body.   The topsheet and the leak-proof layer are joined by a discontinuous adhesive portion, and the width of the adhesive portion is 40 to 100 of the width of the absorbent main body at the longitudinal center position of the absorbent main body. The absorbent article according to claim 1, which is%.   On the non-skin contact surface side of the leak-proof layer, a fastening adhesive for fastening to underwear is provided, and the width of the fastening adhesive is at the center position in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, which is 70 to 100% of the width of the absorbent main body.   The absorptive main body has pressing portions formed by pressing so that the thickness is substantially thinner than other regions on at least both sides in the longitudinal direction. The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 which has 30% or more of the field where a contractible fiber maintains a crimped state.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a number of upward concave portions that are recessed toward the skin contact surface side are formed on the non-skin contact surface side of the surface sheet.   The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which said absorption layer is formed from said one surface sheet, and said leak-proof layer is formed from one back sheet.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the absorbent main body has a thickness of 2 mm or less.   Absorption according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a number of raised portions are formed on the skin contact surface side of the surface sheet so as to protrude from the non-skin contact surface side toward the skin contact surface side. Sex goods. The said absorptive layer is equipped with the absorptive sheet in any one of Claims 1-8 provided with the thickness of 1/2 or less of the thickness of this surface sheet in the non-skin contact surface side of the said surface sheet. Goods.

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