JP2011136034A - Absorptive article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorptive article improving the quantity of absorption and retention by a high liquid diffusing capability, effectively and more widely using many small absorbing parts in absorbing/retaining repeatedly excreted liquid, and retaining and exhibiting such a body fitting property as to be deformed according to a complicatedly undulating skin surface to abut as a plane on the skin surface without gaps and such a motion following property as to be deformed according to the motion of a wearer's body and to keep the abutting state between the skin surface and the plane, advantages of an absorber with a special structure. <P>SOLUTION: The absorptive article includes a front surface sheet 1 on the skin abutting surface side, a rear surface sheet 7 on the non-skin abutting surface side, and an absorber 10 interposed between the sheets. The absorber is composed of a plurality of segmented small absorbing parts 3 viewed from above. The plurality of small absorbing parts are disposed on a base sheet 2 located on the non-skin abutting surface side. The base sheet has liquid communication parts which connect the plurality of small absorbing parts to one another. The liquid absorbency is higher in the liquid communication parts than in the other parts of the base sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinence pants.

  In absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, the material and structure of each member have been improved to improve its function and wearing feeling. Absorbers have also been developed with the aim of such improvements, and in recent years, various types of functional materials have been proposed in accordance with usage conditions and types of articles.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a sanitary product having a surface sheet on the skin contact surface side, a back sheet on the non-skin contact surface side, and an absorbent body made up of independent small absorbent portions interposed between both sheets. Is disclosed. This makes it possible to absorb and hold a sufficient amount of liquid, and it is highly flexible, fits very well to the undulations of the skin surface, has high follow-up performance, and can greatly improve the feeling of wearing. .

  Patent Document 2 discloses a disposable diaper including a surface sheet on the skin contact surface side, a back sheet on the non-skin contact surface side, and an absorbent body interposed between both sheets. In the absorbent body, a plurality of linear holes penetrating in the thickness direction and extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged in the longitudinal direction or the width direction. And the said front and back sheet | seat is joined so that peeling is not possible along this linear hole, and the groove part by which the said surface sheet was made concave in the cross section is formed. Thereby, the absorbed liquid is diffused in the width direction and the longitudinal direction by the grooves, and effective use in liquid retention using a wide area of the absorber can be achieved.

WO09 / 081744 pamphlet Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-51913

The applicant of the present application achieved both the absorption of a sufficient amount of liquid or the like into the absorbent body and a comfortable wearing feeling by using the absorbent article according to Patent Document 1 previously developed. On the other hand, as a result of continuing research on an absorbent article having such a divided small absorbent part, the absorption retention amount due to the improvement of the liquid diffusion performance in the absorption of repeated liquids and the like made by using it for a long time It has been found that improvement is desirable.
In view of the above points, in view of solving the problems peculiar to an absorbent article having a plurality of divided small absorbent parts, the present invention improves the absorption retention amount by high liquid diffusion performance and absorbs retention for repeated excretion and the like. In addition, it is possible to effectively use a wider number of small absorbent parts, and it is an advantage of the absorbent body having the above-mentioned specific configuration, which is adapted to the human body that deforms according to the complex undulating skin surface and makes contact with the surface without gaps It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article that maintains and exhibits the performance and the operation followability of maintaining the state of being deformed in accordance with the movement of the wearer's body and in contact with the skin surface.

Said subject has the surface sheet by the side of a skin contact surface, the back sheet by the side of a non-skin contact surface, and the absorber interposed between both sheets, The above-mentioned absorber is divided in plane view An absorbent article composed of a plurality of small absorbent parts,
The plurality of small absorbent parts are disposed on a base sheet positioned on the non-skin contact surface side, and the base sheet has a liquid communication part that connects the plurality of small absorbent parts, and the base sheet In the meantime, the liquid communication part has been solved by an absorbent article having higher liquid absorbency than other parts. Liquid absorbency refers to performance that allows the liquid to be taken in from the surface at a high rate or has excellent diffusibility.

  The absorbent article of the present invention has improved absorption retention by high liquid diffusion performance in view of solving the problems peculiar to absorbent articles having a plurality of divided small absorbent parts, and more in absorption against repeated excretion and the like. Human body compatibility that can effectively use a wide range of small absorbent parts, and that is an advantage of the absorbent body having the above-described specific configuration, deforms in accordance with the complex undulating skin surface, and makes contact with the surface without gaps, It has an excellent effect of being deformed in accordance with the movement of the wearer's body and maintaining its motion following ability to maintain the state of contact with the skin surface.

It is the partial notch expansion | deployment top view which showed the disposable diaper as one Embodiment of the absorbent article in this invention from the skin contact surface direction. It is sectional drawing of the II-II line cross section shown in FIG. It is the enlarged plan view which showed further typically the relation between the small absorption part and liquid connection part concerning the present invention. It is the enlarged plan view which showed further typically the relationship between the small absorption part and liquid connection part as another embodiment (Embodiment 2) in this invention. It is the enlarged plan view which showed further typically the relationship between the small absorption part and liquid connection part as another embodiment (Embodiment 3) in this invention. It is the enlarged plan view which showed further typically the relation between the small absorption part and liquid connection part as another embodiment (embodiment 4) in the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway developed plan view showing a disposable diaper as an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention from the skin contact surface direction. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the absorptive article of the present invention is explained based on the desirable embodiment with reference to drawings.
The disposable diaper as 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown by FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. In FIG. 2, the portion that was broken in FIG. 1 is shown in a state where it is not broken.

  The disposable diaper 100 according to the first embodiment includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 1, a vertically long absorbent body 10 including a water-absorbing polymer, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent and moisture-permeable back surface. The sheet 7 is provided and formed substantially vertically long. The absorbent body 10 is disposed between the top sheet 1 and the back sheet 7 with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction L of the diaper 100. In addition, the detailed shape etc. of the disposable diaper 100 of this embodiment are mentioned later.

  Although details regarding the materials and dimensions of the top sheet 1, the back sheet 7, the side sheet 8, the base sheet 2, and the small absorbent portion 3 will be described later, in the present embodiment, the top sheet 1 quickly absorbs excreted body fluid. However, a hydrophilic air-through non-woven fabric is used from the viewpoint of transmission to the absorbent body and from the viewpoint of good touch. Further, as the back sheet 7, a breathable moisture permeable film is used as a single layer. As the small absorption part 3, what was comprised from the pulp fiber and the superabsorbent polymer is used. As the base sheet 2, a non-woven fabric containing a liquid absorbent polymer in the sheet is used.

  In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the side in contact with the human body is referred to as the skin surface side or skin contact surface side or surface side, and the opposite side is referred to as the non-skin surface side or non-skin contact surface side or back surface side. . In addition, the direction positioned on the front side of the human body when worn is referred to as the front, and its end is referred to as the front end, and the direction positioned on the rear is referred to as the rear, and the end is referred to as the rear end. Moreover, the normal line direction of the surface or back surface of an absorbent article is called thickness direction, and the quantity is called thickness. Further, a direction having a relatively long length in a plan view of the absorbent article is referred to as a longitudinal direction, and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is referred to as a width direction. The longitudinal direction typically coincides with the front-rear direction of the human body when worn.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The absorbent body 10 of the present embodiment is vertically and horizontally so that a large number of independent small absorbing portions 3 on the skin contact surface side of the base sheet 2 have predetermined gaps s and r (see FIG. 1) with respect to each other in the natural state. Arranged in the direction. In the present embodiment, the small absorbers 3 have a checkered arrangement that matches the adjacent small absorbers 3 when the small absorbers 3 are projected vertically and horizontally. That is, when a large number of small absorbing portions are projected in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, the projected images are arranged so as to overlap in any direction. In addition, the arrangement can be appropriately selected according to the use and function, and is not particularly limited. For example, the arrangement is a staggered arrangement (the above-mentioned projected image is arranged with a substantially half-pitch shift in the longitudinal direction and / or the width direction). May be.
The small absorbing portion 3 has a rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction in plan view and a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction in the cross section, but this shape is not particularly limited in the present invention. Arbitrary shapes can be employed. In the present embodiment, the small absorbent portion 3 is composed of pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, and the outline thereof may not be a regular shape as shown in the figure. It is preferable that Moreover, it is preferable that the vertical and horizontal arrangements of the small absorbent portions 3 are not limited to the above and are appropriately determined according to the application.

  The small absorbent portion 3 is rectangular in the cross section in the width direction, and the area of the front surface 3a on the skin contact surface side and the area of the back surface 3b on the non-skin contact surface side are the same. In the cross section, the side surface 3c is substantially orthogonal to the back surface 3b. Each small absorption part 3 is being fixed to the base sheet 2 in the whole surface of the back surface 3b. The fixing portion t may be formed by, for example, hot embossing, ultrasonic embossing, etc., in addition to various adhesives / adhesives such as hot melt adhesives and acrylic adhesives.

  Since the absorbent body 10 of the present embodiment is composed of a group of a large number of independent small absorbent parts 3, “body compatibility” that fits the undulation of the skin surface is significantly increased as compared with a normal large absorbent body. In addition, “movement following” is very good because it follows the movement of the wearer well and prevents a partial gap from occurring on the skin. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve both such good deformability and good absorption and retention of liquid and the like that are not affected by the deformation. The action of the absorbent body 10 composed of the plurality of divided small absorption portions will be described in detail later.

Good body compatibility and followability can be obtained by the absorbent body 10 having a plurality of fractionated small absorption portions 3. On the other hand, the amount of absorption of the absorbent body 10 having the fractionated small absorption portion 3 gradually decreases by repeating excretion from the first excretion. This is because the liquid is not easily transferred due to the small absorption parts 3 being separated from each other, so that the liquid permeability is lowered. In particular, the liquid is sufficiently transferred from the excretion part (q _{c in} FIG. 1) to other parts. It may be possible that this is not done. Then, for example, the use range of the absorption part in the range q ₁ indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 remains, but according to the present embodiment, the liquid communication part w applied to the base sheet 2 described below. As a result, the reduction in the amount of absorption can be suppressed, and the use of the small absorption portion 3 in a wider area, for example, in a wider area in the range q ₂ can be realized. The excretion part x is a part directly receiving excretion of urine, loose stool, menstrual blood, or vaginal discharge and the vicinity thereof.

  Here, the further characteristic in the disposable diaper 100 of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail based on FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the small absorbent portion and the liquid communication portion according to the present invention, in which the nine small absorbent portions 3 and the base sheet are modeled in order to explain the movement of the liquid in three vertical and three horizontal directions. It is. The top sheet 1, the back sheet 7, and the side sheet 8 are not shown, and the Y direction in the figure is called the longitudinal direction and the X direction is called the width direction. Moreover, the alphabet which represents the thing of the position in the absorption part 3 is attached | subjected below by the left alignment from the upper left in the figure, respectively. Note that the path of the liquid communication part w is simplified for the sake of explanation, and does not necessarily have the same shape as illustrated in the implementation of the present invention. In the figure, the arrows connecting the small absorption parts indicate the path of liquid transfer. The liquid transfer path is not limited in the direction of the arrow. Further, the arrows indicating the paths are also illustrated by extracting a part of the liquid transfer paths in the present invention, avoiding the complication of the figure.

The path of the liquid communication part w in FIG. 3 has an 8-letter shape connected by lines so as to connect all nine small absorption parts in plan view. Moreover, the liquid connection part should just exist inside the outer edge part of the said base sheet, More preferably, it exists inside the outer edge part of the absorber 10. FIG. In this embodiment, it arrange | positions inside the outer edge part of the absorber 10 comprised by the small absorption part 3. FIG. When the liquid communication part extends over the periphery of the base sheet and outside the periphery of the absorbent body, the liquid communication part has the effect of spreading the liquid over the entire small absorbent part, less material or Even in a thin and small-sized absorber, the entire absorber can be effectively used. On the other hand, when the liquid connecting portion exists only inside the peripheral edge portion of the absorber, it is possible to suppress leakage. In the present embodiment, the liquid communication part w is configured to contain the liquid absorbent polymer in the base sheet 2, in other words, from the part that does not contain the liquid absorbent polymer in the base sheet or contains less than the liquid communication part w. Absorbability is enhanced. Details thereof will be described later. By doing in this way, for example, the small absorption part e in the center and the eight small absorption parts around it are communicated by the liquid communication part, in other words, the small absorption part is straddled by the liquid communication part. Exhibits a good diffusional absorption effect. When excretion is made in the small absorption part e, the liquid is absorbed and held by the small absorption part e if the excretion is small. However, in the case of excretion exceeding the absorption holding amount or absorption speed of the small absorbent part e, the liquid moves so as to overflow from the back surface 3b of the small absorbent part or the valley m between the absorbent parts to the base sheet 2. It will be. At this time, the liquid in contact with the back sheet 7 that is liquid-impermeable in the base sheet with no particular difference in liquid connectivity gradually loses its place, and the liquid is hardly diffused to the surrounding small absorption part. If it causes reversal, it can cause stickiness when worn.
However, the liquid communication part w is arranged on the base sheet 2 in the present embodiment along a route that connects the divided absorption parts 3 to each other. Therefore, when a large amount of liquid is excreted in the small absorbent part e as described above, the liquid is drawn into the back surface 3b without saturating the liquid in the small absorbent part e, and in the base sheet 2 far from the skin surface of the wearer. The liquid is transferred at the liquid communication part so that the dry feeling when worn is not impaired. Furthermore, the transferred liquid is guided by the liquid communication part w, and if it is modeled, the paths e ₁ , e ₂ , e ₃ to the adjacent small absorption parts a, b, c, d, f, g, h and i, respectively. , E ₄ , e ₅ , e ₆ , paths a ₁ , c ₁ , g ₁ , i ₁ , and the liquid is absorbed and held widely throughout the entire small absorption part. Thus, even if there is a large amount of excretion exceeding the absorption amount with only one small absorption part, sufficient liquid retention is shown and the liquid is not reversed. Furthermore, if the behavior of the disposable diaper as a whole is not limited to the excretion point q ₁ (see FIG. 1), for example, the excretion peripheral region q ₂ spreading in the longitudinal direction can be effectively used in absorption retention (see FIG. 1). ) In particular, in the disposable diaper, the liquid can be distributed to the small absorbent part 3 in the longitudinal direction having an area, and the part can be effectively used. Therefore, even if there is repeated excretion in the vicinity of the excretion part, due to the action of the liquid communication part w of the base sheet 2 described above, the liquid is effectively diffused and transferred to the periphery thereof, and the amount of absorption is unlikely to decrease. . On the other hand, since the liquid communication part w is not joined to the entire surface of the small absorbent part, the liquid does not stay there, and the liquid is guided to another small absorbent part that is still dry. As a result, in addition to the above-described good body suitability and followability, a comfortable wearing feeling with no liquid remaining on the skin contact surface side is achieved even when worn for a long time. Incidentally, q _1, q ₂ showing a use region of the small absorber unit 3 described above is a region shown schematically in describing the present invention do not necessarily the invention which is interpreted as limiting.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid communication part w is a part of the base sheet 2 where the liquid absorbency is increased from the periphery thereof, specifically, a part containing more liquid absorbable polymer than the periphery thereof, and the absorption part It functions as a route that connects the three. In the present embodiment, the absorption amount per unit area of the liquid communication part w of the base sheet 2 is set lower than the absorption amount per unit area of the small absorption part 3 in consideration of the function as the communication path. Moreover, the liquid absorptive polymer which forms the liquid communication part w may be unevenly distributed only on the skin contact surface side of the base sheet 2.

Although the size of the small absorbent portion 3 according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited, considering the use in a sanitary napkin, the area in plan view is 10 to 900 mm ² , especially depending on the absorbent article to be incorporated. 50 to 450 mm ^2, in the diaper 150~4000mm ^2, especially 550～1500Mm ² is more preferable.

The effect obtained by arranging a large number of divided small absorbing portions employed in the present embodiment on the base sheet in a specific arrangement will be described in more detail. First, it can be suitably adapted to a skin surface that bends extremely complicatedly. For example, when a disposable diaper is placed from the excretion point to the buttocks, it is curved in the longitudinal direction along the roundness of the buttocks, but the included conventional absorbent body is generally much higher in rigidity than other members. You may bend. In relation to this buckling deformation, the internal absorber is difficult to enter the crack, and a large gap may open here. That is, it is difficult to achieve both the buckling in the longitudinal direction and the bending in the width direction, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient fit. Then, urine or the like easily migrates through the space that has been ruptured, which may cause leakage in the back direction at bedtime.
On the other hand, if it is the disposable diaper 100 to which the absorbent body of the present embodiment is applied, a so-called corrugated shape or hyperbolic parabolic surface that fits moderately into the crack while gently curving and adapting to the roundness of the buttocks. It deforms into a shape and fits almost without leaving a gap in the cleft. Thereby, the very favorable compatibility which contact | abuts almost without a gap from the excretion point vicinity to a buttocks is implement | achieved. And even when the wearer turns over or walks, it follows the movement of the skin surface, so that the gap is not opened and good fit is maintained. Since the disposable diaper of this embodiment is excellent in the flexibility of a form, for example, the irregular crease by a wearer's movement and a wearing state is hard to generate | occur | produce, and said favorable body compatibility is obtained from the wear initial stage. Further, for example, even when folded in diaper pack packaging or folded into three folds during individual packaging of napkins, folded creases are less likely to remain, and there is little discomfort during wearing. Furthermore, the excretory fluid does not flow irregularly or concentrate on the folded wrinkles, and stable absorption performance can be expressed. In the present invention, the order of liquid absorbency can be evaluated by the rate of liquid uptake from the surface or the liquid diffusibility.
[Method of evaluating liquid absorption]
(1): 5 g of the small absorption and 5 g of the liquid connecting part w of the base sheet 2 are removed. (2): Nylon woven fabric (mesh opening 255, sold by Sanriki Manufacturing Co., Ltd., product name: nylon net, standard: 250 × mesh width) × 30m) is cut into a rectangle with a width of 10 cm and a length of 40 cm, folded in half at the center in the longitudinal direction, and heat sealed at both ends to create two nylon bags with a width of 10 cm (inner dimensions 9 cm) and a length of 20 cm, Measure the mass.
(3): Each measurement sample (1) is put in a nylon bag of known mass prepared in (2).
(4): The nylon bag containing the sample is immersed in physiological saline (0.9 mass% sodium chloride water) adjusted to 25 ° C.
(5): After 30 minutes from the start of soaking, the nylon bag is taken out from the physiological saline, suspended in a vertical state for 1 hour, and drained.
(6): Measure the mass after draining and subtract the mass of the nylon bag to calculate the mass of the small absorbent part and the liquid communication part w after swelling (7)
: When the value of (6) is large, the liquid absorption is high
[Liquid diffusivity evaluation method]
(1): The base sheet is taken out from the absorbent article and cut into the liquid communication part w and other parts.
(2): Remove the liquid communication part w to a size of 1 cm × 10 cm (if w is small and does not become 1 cm × 10 cm from one sheet, cut it out from multiple sheets and connect them to the size To do). Cut the liquid communication part w in the same way.
(3): 5 g of liquid was injected into one of the four corners of the rectangle in (2), and the distance from the injection point to the point where the liquid spread 5 minutes after the end of the liquid injection, or the liquid farthest from the injection point spread Then measure the distance from the injection point.
(4): If the distance of (3) is W and other than W and W is longer, W is more diffusive.
[Evaluation method of liquid drawability]
(1): The base sheet is taken out from the absorbent article and cut into the liquid communication part w and other parts.
(2): Remove the liquid communication part w to a size of 1 cm × 10 cm (if w is small and does not become 1 cm × 10 cm from one sheet, cut it out from multiple sheets and connect them to the size To do). Cut the liquid communication part w in the same way.
(3): An acrylic plate with a cylindrical injection part is placed on W of (2), and a weight is further placed on the acrylic plate, and 5 g / m ^{2 with} respect to the center of the absorber. Apply load. The injection part provided on the acrylic plate has a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter of 7 mm, and the acrylic plate has a central axis in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and the central axis of the cylindrical injection part coincides with the cylindrical injection part. A through hole having an inner diameter of 7 mm is formed so as to communicate between the inside and the surface sheet facing surface of the acrylic plate. Next, the acrylic plate is arranged so that the central axis of the cylindrical injection portion coincides with the central portion of the absorber in plan view, and 3 g of liquid is injected from the cylindrical injection portion and absorbed. The time (seconds) from when the liquid reaches the surface of w until the total amount of 3 g is absorbed is measured.
(4): Measure (3) at sites other than the liquid communication part w in (2), and if the absorption time is faster, the liquid drawability is high.

The thickness of the base sheet 2 and the concentration distribution of the liquid absorbent polymer are not particularly limited, but considering the use in baby diapers, the thickness of the base sheet 2 other than the liquid communication part is 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The thickness of the liquid communication part w is preferably 1.5 to 3 mm. Further, the base sheet 2, it is preferable that the high concentration region forming the liquid contact portion abundance of the absorbent polymer is 50 g / m ² to 150 g / m ^2, at a non-high concentration region other than the liquid contact portion is 0 g / it is preferably ^{m 2} ~50g / m ^2. Further, it is preferable that the base sheet 2 has a lower absorption amount per unit area than the small absorbent portion 3.
Moreover, when the utilization in a sanitary napkin is considered, it is preferable that thickness other than the liquid communication part of the base sheet 2 is 0.5-1 mm, and the thickness of the liquid communication part w is 1-5 mm. Further, the base sheet 2, it is preferable that the high concentration region forming the liquid contact portion abundance of the absorbent polymer is ^{5g / m 2 ~20g / m 2} , at a non-high concentration region other than the liquid contact portion is 0 g / it is preferably ^{m 2} ~5g / m ^2. Moreover, it is preferable that the base sheet 2 has a lower amount of absorption per unit area than the small absorbent portion 3. The method for measuring the thickness and concentration distribution of the base sheet is as follows.
[Thickness measurement]
Only the base sheet 2 is taken out, a weight is placed on an acrylic plate having a size of 5 cm × 5 cm, and a load of 2.5 g / cm 2 is applied. The apparatus uses a KEYENCE LK080 class 2 laser displacement meter. The measurement was performed at 23 ± 2 ° C. and humidity 50 ± 5%, the number of measurement points was an average of 5 points, and when the measurement value fluctuated 20% or more, the data was deleted and another measurement value was added.
[Measurement of concentration distribution of water-absorbing polymer]
1: The base sheet is cut with scissors at a high concentration region (liquid connecting portion) of the polymer and other regions (non-high concentration region).
2: About the base sheet after the cutting, each of the high concentration region (liquid communication part) and the other region (non-high concentration region) is put in a mesh bag of known mass (mass is _Wi , _Wi '), The mass is measured, and the initial masses W _ii , W _ii ′ of the high-concentration region (liquid communication part) containing the mesh bag and the other region (non-high-concentration region) containing the mesh bag are measured.
3: After immersing the above 2 together with the mesh bag in an excessive amount of physiological saline for 1 hour, hang it for 30 minutes, and then suspend the mesh bag in a high concentration area (liquid communication part) and the other area in the mesh bag (non-high) Concentration region) Each mass W _iii , W _iii ′ is measured.
4: The absorption amount of the high concentration region and a non-high concentration region _{(W iii -W ii -2W i)} / (W ii -W i), (W iii '-W ii'-2W i ') / (W ii ′ −W _i ′) is calculated and used as the absorption amount of each region.
The measurement was performed in advance after storing the absorber in an environment of 20 ° C. and 65% RH for 24 hours or more. Further, the measurement was performed at five points, and the average value of three points excluding the upper and lower two of the measurement values was used as a representative value.

FIG. 4 is a more schematic model of the relationship between the small absorbent part and the liquid communication part w as another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the present invention in three vertical and three horizontal parts, a total of nine absorbent parts 3 and a base sheet. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the same, and is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except for the route of the liquid communication part w. Liquid contact portion w in this embodiment is a path along the longitudinal direction of the troughs m _1. The liquid communication part w along the valley part m ₁ overlaps with the side edge part of the small absorption part 3 at the part in contact with the small absorption part 3, and the width (h ₃ ) of the liquid communication part of the base sheet 2 is small. It is narrower in the width direction than the arrangement width (h ₂ ) of the absorber 3. In other words, there is an overlapping portion between the liquid communication part and the small absorption part, and each small absorption part is straddled by the liquid communication part. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid communication part is unevenly distributed, and the total area (At) of the part that overlaps the small absorbent part 3 is the part of the total area (At) of the liquid communication part w in the base sheet 2 that does not overlap therebetween. In the portion where the liquid communication portion w of the base sheet 2 and the small absorbent portion 3 overlap each other, the area (Ac) of the portion of the small absorbent portion 3 that overlaps with the central small absorbent portion is the end thereof. It is smaller than the area (Al) of the overlapping part at the side side small absorption part. In this embodiment, even if a large amount of excretion is made in the small absorption part e, the liquid exceeding the absorption amount is surrounded by the small communication parts a, b, c, d, and f by the liquid communication part w in this embodiment. , G, h and i. Moreover, in this embodiment, the liquid communication part w is a path extending in the longitudinal direction, and is easier to guide the liquid in the longitudinal direction than in the first embodiment. From the above, the absorbent body of the present embodiment is preferentially liquid diffusion in the longitudinal direction due to the high liquid permeability effect of the liquid connecting part, and the liquid is quickly absorbed in the small absorbent parts a, c, g and i can be transported to each other, and the liquid is efficiently transmitted to the small absorption parts of each other. In addition, the liquid connecting portion swells by absorbing the liquid and plays a role of a barrier for the liquid flowing in the width direction. With these effects, it is possible to suppress the liquid leakage from the excretion part in the width direction of the product and to prevent lateral leakage. Therefore, the absorbent body of the present embodiment is preferably used for absorbent articles having a narrow crotch width and a wide width in the width direction other than the crotch section, specifically diapers and the like. Note that the center of the small absorbent portion is defined as a central portion obtained by dividing the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the small absorbent portion into three parts.

FIG. 5 is a more schematic model of nine absorbent parts 3 and a base sheet in total, three vertical and three horizontal relations between a small absorbent part and a liquid communication part w as another embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the present invention. FIG. In the present embodiment, the small absorbent portion 3 has a shape that is wide in the lateral direction, and the path of the liquid communication portion w is different from the form shown in FIG. 3, but the other configuration is the same as the form shown in FIG. The same. In the present embodiment, the liquid communication part w is a path along the trough m _{1 in the} longitudinal direction and the trough m ₂ in the width direction. The liquid communication part w along the valley parts m ₁ and m ₂ overlaps with the side edge part of the small absorbent part 3 at the part in contact with the small absorbent part 3. In this embodiment, even if a large amount of excretion is made in the small absorption part e, the liquid exceeding the absorption amount is surrounded by the small communication parts a, b, c, d, and f by the liquid communication part w in this embodiment. , G, h and i. Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid communication part w is a path extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and is easier to guide the liquid to all the small absorption parts in the vicinity than in the first embodiment. From the above, the absorber of the present embodiment can guide the liquid in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and can transmit the liquid to all the longitudinal and lateral directions of the absorber, so that the utilization efficiency of the absorber is high. Therefore, menstrual blood, etc. that has been doted out at a time can be absorbed instantly, and when used as a sanitary napkin, it can be used for nighttime on days when there is a lot of excretion, or for a long time when used as a diaper. preferable.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the relationship between the small absorbent part and the liquid communication part w as another embodiment (Embodiment 4) of the present invention, three vertical and three horizontal, a total of nine absorbent parts 3 and a base sheet. FIG. In the present embodiment, the small absorption portions a, b, c, g, h, and i are wide in the lateral direction, and the small absorption portions d, e, and f are narrow in the horizontal direction. Moreover, although the path | route of the liquid communication part w differs from the form shown in FIG. 3, other structures are the same as the form shown in FIG. Liquid contact portion w In this embodiment, first was connected with a straight line and a small absorption portion a and the small-absorbing portion i and the first liquid contact portion w ₁ and the small-absorbing portion c by connecting with straight small absorber g 2 a liquid contact portion w ₂ is a path intersecting the small absorber e. Moreover, the width in the width direction of the first liquid communication part w ₁ and the second liquid communication part w ₂ is made narrower than the arrangement width of the small absorption part 3. In this way, for example, even if a large amount of excretion is made in the small absorption part e, the liquid exceeding the absorption amount is reduced by the liquid communication parts w ₁ and w ₂ in the present embodiment. And i, and the small absorption parts b, d, f and h are difficult to contact. From the above, when the absorbent body in the present embodiment is applied to an article in which the left and right feet are arranged in the small absorbent portions d and f, for example, the width of the crotch portion can be reduced, and the width of the crotch portion can be reduced. You can wear narrow clothes, etc., there are few fashion restrictions, and it is difficult to restrict foot movement. Therefore, it does not hinder the movement while guiding a large amount of liquid other than the crotch, and when used as a sanitary napkin, it is used at daytime on days when there is a lot of excretion, and when used as a diaper, it is active when it is old It is preferably used for a pants type or the like.
In addition, since the liquid can be quickly diffused throughout the absorbent body, the liquid can be easily taken in from the surface of the absorbent article, and the liquid hardly remains on the surface sheet. Therefore, for example, it is also suitable for products that require a fast excretion rate and a quick dry feeling, such as light incontinence liners and diapers for nocturnal enuresis. In addition, when using this absorbent body, there is a risk of leakage in the product width direction. Therefore, by devising the shape and number of so-called diaper solid gathers, or, for example, on the end side of the product width direction By arranging an elastic member on the side edge of the small absorbent part (a, d, g or c, f, i), and making a device such that each small absorbent part rises from the back sheet to the skin surface side, etc. It is desirable to combine measures against side leakage.

  As the superabsorbent polymer contained in the small absorbent part 3, a polymer that can absorb and retain a bodily fluid more than 5 times its own weight and can be gelled is preferable. The shape is not particularly limited and may be spherical, massive, grape-like, powdery or fibrous. The particle size is preferably 1 to 1000 μm, more preferably 10 to 500 μm. Examples of such superabsorbent polymers include polyacrylic acid and salts thereof, and polyacrylate graft polymers such as starch, crosslinked carboxylmethylated cellulose, polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid or alkali metal acrylates. Coalescence can be mentioned. As the polyacrylic acid salt, a sodium salt can be preferably used. In addition, a comonomer such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2- (meth) acryloylethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate or styrenesulfonic acid is added to acrylic acid. A copolymer copolymerized within a range not deteriorating the performance of the superabsorbent polymer can also be preferably used.

  The constituent material of the small absorbent portion 3 is not particularly limited, but a fiber material, a porous body, a combination thereof, or the like can be used. Examples of fiber materials include natural fibers such as wood pulp, cotton and hemp, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, single fibers made of synthetic resins such as polyvinyl alcohol resin, and these resins. A composite fiber containing two or more kinds, or a semi-synthetic fiber such as acetate or rayon can be used. When using a fiber made of a synthetic resin, the fiber may be a heat-shrinkable fiber whose shape changes with heat. For example, the fineness is increased by heat, but the fiber length is shortened, and the fineness is hardly changed by heat, but the length occupied by the apparent fiber is shortened by changing the shape to a coil shape. May be. As the porous body, sponge, non-woven fabric, aggregate of superabsorbent polymer (aggregate of superabsorbent polymer and fiber) and the like can be used.

  When the superabsorbent polymer is contained in the small absorbent part 3, the proportion of the superabsorbent polymer in the weight of the small absorbent part 3 is preferably 5 to 95% by weight. When the absorbent body 10 is used as an absorbent body of an article used for absorbing a sanitary napkin or a liquid of low excretion such as light incontinence, the ratio of the superabsorbent polymer to the weight of the small absorbent portion 3 is 10 -30 wt% is preferred. When the absorbent body 10 is used as an absorbent body of an article used for absorbing a high excretion amount liquid such as a disposable diaper, the ratio of the superabsorbent polymer to the weight of the small absorbent portion 3 is 50 to 80% by weight. Preferably there is.

  Regardless of whether the small absorbent portion 3 contains or does not contain a superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent body 10 has a retained amount of a 0.9 wt% sodium chloride aqueous solution of 0.1 g / g or more, particularly 1 g / g or more. It is preferable from the point that even if the base sheet 2 expands and contracts, stable absorption performance is exhibited. In order to realize such a holding amount, as a constituent material of the small absorbent portion 3, fibers having high hydrophilicity and high capillary force (for example, pulp, rayon, etc.) and do not sag even when wet (not plasticized or It is advantageous to use a combination of synthetic fibers (which do not reduce wet strength) and superabsorbent polymers. Moreover, the manufacturing method of the small absorption part 3 is not specifically limited, It is the same as a hole by spraying the mixture of a pulp and a water absorbing polymer toward the base sheet 2 from the type | mold with the same shape as a small absorption part. A small absorption part having a shape can be produced on the base sheet. Regarding the formation processing of such a small absorption part and the method of installing it on the base sheet, it is possible to refer to WO091081744 pamphlet.

As the base sheet 2 to which the small absorption part 3 is fixed, a sheet having a function of drawing and diffusing excreted liquid is used. As a sheet | seat which has such a function, the nonwoven fabric and film which contain the fiber which has hydrophilic property, or was processed with the hydrophilic oil etc., a porous body, etc. are mentioned, for example. These sheets may be in a single layer state or may have a multilayer structure in which a plurality of layers are laminated to form a single sheet. Especially, the sheet | seat which has a stretching property is preferable, and can use it without a restriction | limiting especially as the material. As such a sheet, for example, a three-dimensional network is formed in the structure by means of a nonwoven fabric (elastic nonwoven fabric) containing fibers containing elastic resin as a constituent fiber, a film containing elastic resin (elastic film), or foaming. And an elastic porous body made of an elastic resin. As the elastic nonwoven fabric, the elastic film, and the elastic porous body, those known in the technical field can be used. The basis weight of the base sheet 2 is preferably 5 to 50 g / m ² , particularly preferably 10 to 30 g / m ² . In addition, the shape of a base sheet may be comprised only by the liquid connection part.

  Although the manufacturing method of a base sheet is not specifically limited, like the small absorption part 3, the mixture of a pulp and a water absorbing polymer is made into the non-skin from the type | mold with the same shape as the shape of the site | part with a high water absorbing polymer density | concentration. It can produce by spraying toward the sheet | seat of the contact surface side.

When a stretchable material is used as the base sheet 2, the degree of stretchability measured by the following method is 60% or more, particularly 80% or more. From the point that the properties are particularly good. The expansion / contraction rate is measured by the following method. Measurement is performed in a tensile mode using a tensile compression tester RTC-1210A (Toyo Orientech Co., Ltd.). First, the base sheet 2 is cut into a width of 25 mm and a length of 150 mm, and a measurement piece is collected. Set the test piece between the air chucks attached to the tensile and compression tester with an initial sample length (distance between chucks) of 100 mm, and the chuck attached to the load cell (rated output 5 kg) of the tensile and compression tester at a speed of 300 mm / min. Raise the measurement piece. When the measurement piece extends 50% of the initial sample length, that is, 50 mm, the moving direction of the chuck is reversed, the chuck is lowered at a speed of 300 mm / min, and returned to the position of the initial sample length. During this operation, the relationship between the load detected by the load cell and the elongation of the measurement piece is recorded on a chart, and the expansion / contraction rate is obtained from the following formula (1) based on this chart.
Expansion / contraction rate = recovery elongation / maximum elongation length (= 50 mm) (1)
Here, the recovery elongation is defined as the chuck moving distance from the maximum extension length when the zero load is recorded for the first time when the chuck is lowered from the maximum extension length (= 50 mm). In addition, when a measurement piece is less than the above-mentioned size, it measures by the following method.
<Test specimen> When the length of the sheet in the chuck-to-chuck direction is Lmm, the length of the gripping part is Smm, and the width is Cmm, the test specimen (L + 2S) has a length ratio of L: C = 3: 5. ) Cut to a size of mm × Cmm and collect a measurement piece.
<Test> A test piece was set on a tensile / compression tester at a distance L between chucks, and the test piece was raised to 100 × (L / 30) mm / min until the measurement piece was extended by 50% of the initial sample length. Thereafter, the moving direction of the chuck is reversed, the chuck is lowered at a speed of 100 × (L / 30) mm / min, and returned to the initial sample length position. It calculates with the following formula (2).
Stretch rate = Recovery elongation / Maximum elongation length (= L / 2mm) (2)

  Specifically, for example, when the disposable diaper 100 shown in FIG. 1 is extended in the longitudinal direction, the small absorbent parts 3, 3, 3,... Are separated in the longitudinal direction, that is, the interval r is increased. On the other hand, the width direction of the disposable diaper 100 approaches so that it may contract, and the space | interval s becomes narrow. In this way, the small absorbent parts 3, 3, 3... Maintain the cooperation related to the transmission of the liquids and the like while the absorbent body 10 is deformed as a whole, and exhibit a good absorption retention of the liquids and the like. In the present invention, the liquid communication means that when an extension force is applied to the absorbent body, the small absorption parts come close to or come into contact with each other, and a liquid or the like can be transmitted between the small absorption parts. The distance (gap s, r) between the small absorption parts in a state where such an extension force is applied is not particularly limited, but it approaches 0 to 30 mm due to a general extension force (for example, 100 cN / 25 mm) generated at the time of wearing. Is preferable, and it is more preferable to approach 0-10 mm. Furthermore, it is more preferable that it is close to 0 to 5 mm.

Hereinafter, the disposable diaper 100 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated in more detail with reference to FIG. In addition, in FIG. 1, the surface sheet 1 of the longitudinal direction center part of the disposable diaper 100 is notched.
The diaper 100 has an hourglass shape with a central portion in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the crotch portion as a whole. The top sheet 1 and the back sheet 7 respectively extend outward from the left and right side edges and the front and rear ends of the absorbent body 10. The top sheet 1 is smaller in the width direction S than the back sheet 7 in the width direction. The diaper 100 is an unfolded diaper, and a pair of fastening tapes FT are attached to both side edges at one end in the longitudinal direction L. Further, a landing tape LT is attached on the back sheet 7 at the other end.

  The diaper 100 includes a three-dimensional gather that can rise above the widthwise side edge of the absorbent body 10. That is, on each side of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction L, a sheet material (side sheet) 60 for forming a three-dimensional gather having the elastic member 6 is arranged to form a three-dimensional gather. Further, on one side of the diaper 100 in the longitudinal direction L, a pair of left and right leg elastic members 8 and 8 (two in the first embodiment) for forming leg gathers are arranged, and leg gathers are arranged. Is formed. The leg elastic members 8 for forming the leg gathers are arranged in a substantially linear shape in an extended state in the leg flaps extending outward from both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 10.

  One or a plurality of the gather elastic members 6 (three in the first embodiment) are fixed to one side edge of the sheet material 60 for forming a three-dimensional gather. The sheet material 60 is joined to the surface sheet 1 along the longitudinal direction L of the diaper 100 at positions outside the left and right side edges of the absorbent body 10 in the width direction S. The rising base end portion 61 of FIG. The sheet material 60 extends outward from the rising base end portion 61 in the width direction S of the diaper 100, and is joined to the back sheet 7 at the extended portion. The sheet material 60 is bonded onto the topsheet 1 at the front and rear end portions in the diaper longitudinal direction L.

  As the sheet material 60 for forming a three-dimensional gather, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent and moisture-permeable material is preferably used. Examples of the sheet material 60 include a liquid impermeable or water repellent porous resin film, a liquid impermeable or water repellent nonwoven fabric, or a laminate of the porous resin film and the nonwoven fabric. Examples of the nonwoven fabric include thermal bond nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, SMS nonwoven fabric, and SMMS nonwoven fabric. The basis weight of the sheet material 60 is preferably 5 to 30 g / m <2>, more preferably 10 to 20 g / m <2>.

As the top sheet 1, various kinds of conventionally used diapers of this type can be used, and there is no limitation as long as it can transmit liquid such as urine. For example, synthetic fiber or natural fiber And woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and porous sheets. As an example of the surface sheet 1, a core-sheath structure type (including side-by-side type) composite fiber using polypropylene or polyester as a core component and polyethylene as a sheath component is formed into a web by carding, and then nonwoven fabric by an air-through method (predetermined thereafter) And may be subjected to hole opening treatment). From the viewpoint of high liquid permeability (dry feeling), an apertured sheet made of polyolefin such as low density polyethylene can also be preferably used.
As the back sheet 7, various kinds of conventionally used diapers of this type can be used, and liquid-impermeable or water-repellent and moisture-permeable ones are preferably used. As the back sheet 4, for example, a sheet that can be used as the above-described sheet material 60 for forming a three-dimensional gather can be used. Further, the width of the back sheet 7 is set to be approximately the same as the width of the absorbent body, and is disposed on the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent body. You may provide a laminated body etc. with a film as a sheet | seat which comprises the external shape of a diaper.
The non-skin contact surface is a surface that is directed toward the clothing side (the side opposite to the wearer's skin side) when the diaper is worn. Hereinafter, the term skin contact surface may be used, and the skin contact surface is a surface directed toward the wearer's skin when the diaper is worn.

  The diaper 100 of 1st Embodiment can be used similarly to a normal expansion | deployment type diaper. This diaper 100 is deformed in accordance with the complex undulating skin surface by using a stretchable sheet as the base sheet, by combining the high absorption amount and the high absorption speed by the action of the divided small absorption part 3. In addition, it has human body compatibility that makes contact with a surface without a gap, and movement followability that deforms in accordance with the movement of the wearer's body and maintains the contact state with the skin surface.

  The top sheet 1 is preferably made of a soft material that is liquid-permeable and hits the skin. For example, a non-woven fabric made of natural fibers such as cotton or a non-woven fabric made of various synthetic fibers subjected to hydrophilic treatment can be used. The back sheet is preferably made of a liquid-impermeable sheet material. The back sheet 7 may be water vapor permeable as required. Specifically, in order to obtain sufficient water vapor permeability, a film made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene in which fine powder made of a filler such as calcium carbonate is dispersed is stretched and a porous film having fine holes is used. preferable. Examples of the side sheet 8 include a nonwoven fabric, a film sheet, and paper. From the viewpoint of leakage prevention, it is preferable that the side sheet 8 is formed of a liquid non-permeable or hardly permeable hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a leakage-proof film sheet, or the like. One sheet may be used, or two or more sheets may be combined with a functional sheet.

  The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the present invention can be applied to this type of absorbent article, for example, disposable diapers, incontinence pads, incontinence liners, and the like. Moreover, it is effective not only for menstrual blood but also urine, orimono, loose stool, and the like. In addition to the top sheet 1, the small absorbent portion 3, the back sheet 7, and the side sheet 8, members may be appropriately incorporated in accordance with applications and functions. In addition, the material of the top sheet 1, the small absorbent part 3 and the back sheet 7 of the sanitary napkin of the above embodiment, the conditions in the manufacturing method, and the dimensional terms of the product are not particularly limited, and are used in ordinary sanitary napkins and the like. Various materials can be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Top sheet 2 Base sheet 3 Small absorption part 6 Gather elastic member 7 Back surface sheet 8 Leg elastic member FT Fastening tape LT Landing tape 10 Absorbent body 100 Sanitary napkin

Claims (6)

It has a surface sheet on the skin contact surface side, a back sheet on the non-skin contact surface side, and an absorbent body interposed between both sheets, and the absorbent body is divided into a plurality of small parts separated in plan view. An absorbent article constituted by an absorbent part,
The plurality of small absorbent parts are disposed on a base sheet positioned on the non-skin contact surface side, and the base sheet has a liquid communication part that connects the plurality of small absorbent parts, and the base sheet The liquid communication part is an absorbent article having higher liquid absorbency than the other parts.   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the liquid communication part contains a liquid absorbent polymer.   The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid communication part extends in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and is arranged so as to straddle between small absorbent parts spaced apart in the width direction.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an absorption capacity per unit area of the liquid communication part of the base sheet is lower than an absorption capacity per unit area of the small absorption part.   The total area (At) of the liquid communication part in the base sheet is smaller than the total area (As) of the part that does not overlap between the small absorption parts. The absorbent article of Claim 1. The absorbent body has a central small absorbent portion located from the center in the product width direction and a side small absorbent portion located outward in the width direction, and the liquid communication portion of the base sheet and the central small absorbent portion overlap each other. The absorptivity according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an area (Ac) of a portion that is present is smaller than an area (Al) of a portion that overlaps the liquid communication part of the base sheet and the side part absorption part. Goods.

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