JP2012152506A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article capable of exhibiting sufficient absorption performance without disturbing the swelling of SAP and the expansion of an absorber associated with this.SOLUTION: The absorbent article includes the absorber 22A containing a fluff pulp and a super absorbent polymer, and an absorber cover sheet 50A for covering the surface S1, the side faces S3, S4 and the rear face S2 of the absorber 22A. The absorbent article is constituted of a stretchable sheet 58A in which the part covering at least the side faces S3, S4 of the absorber 22A is made of a stretchable material among the absorber cover sheet 50A.

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent article including an absorbent body including fluff pulp and a superabsorbent polymer, and an absorbent-encapsulated sheet that encapsulates the front surface, both side surfaces, and the back surface of the absorbent body.

  Conventionally, as an absorbent body constituting an absorbent article, an absorbent body including fluff pulp and a super absorbent polymer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “SAP”) has been used.

  Fluff pulp is excellent in immediate absorbency (absorption rate) although its absorption per unit volume is small. On the other hand, SAP is inferior to fluff pulp in terms of absorption speed, but has a large absorption amount per unit volume, and can absorb about 50 times the volume of water. Therefore, an absorbent body combining fluff pulp and SAP can be gradually transferred to SAP after the wearer absorbs and traps the excrement in fluff pulp even if the wearer excretes a large amount of excrement at a time. It is. That is, the absorber has a feature that it is excellent in both absorption speed and absorption amount.

  In the absorbent body, granular and powdery SAP is prevented from leaking outside the absorbent article, and the absorbent body is encapsulated with tissue or the like for the purpose of preventing the absorbent body from being deformed. ing. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, there is known an absorbent article in which the front surface S1, the side surfaces S3, S4, and the back surface S2 of the absorbent body 122 are encapsulated by tissue 150 (upper tissue 152 and lower tissue 154). (See Patent Document 1 or 2).

  In the absorbent article as described above, in order to prevent the absorber from being deformed as described above, the tissue 150 is placed against the surface S1, the side surfaces S3, S4 and the back surface S2 of the absorber 122 as shown in FIG. 2B. A configuration in which the absorbent body 122 is tightly wrapped and tightly wrapped with the tissue 150 is common.

  By the way, in recent years, in addition to basic functions such as excellent excretion absorbability and no leakage, absorbent articles have been required to improve the feeling of wear and appearance when worn. Therefore, it has been proposed to reduce the thickness of the relatively bulky absorber among the constituent members of the absorbent article (see Patent Document 3). By reducing the thickness of the absorbent body, the absorbent article can be easily fitted to the wearer's body, and the absorbent article fits in the wearer's clothes. Therefore, a feeling of wearing improves. Moreover, when the absorbent article fits in the wearer's clothes, the absorbent article becomes inconspicuous when viewed from outside the clothes. Therefore, the appearance when worn is also improved.

JP-A-11-33056 JP 2003-284743 A JP 2004-24569 A

  However, if the absorber is made thin, the amount of the absorbent material is reduced, and the absorption amount of the absorber may be insufficient. As a method of maintaining the absorption amount even in a thin absorbent body, a method of increasing the SAP ratio in the absorbent body and reducing the fluff pulp ratio is conceivable. According to this method, since the bulky fluff pulp can be reduced, the absorber can be thinned. Moreover, the absorption amount of the whole absorber can also be maintained by increasing the ratio of SAP with a large absorption amount. Therefore, the absorber can be thinned while maintaining the absorption amount of the entire absorber.

  However, when SAP absorbs excreta, its volume swells up to about 50 times. Therefore, when the form which tightly wraps the absorbent body with tissue or the like as in the absorbent article described in Patent Document 3, there are problems as listed below.

  First, 1) Since the absorbent body is firmly encapsulated by tissue or the like, there is a problem that SAP swelling is hindered and it is difficult to sufficiently exhibit the SAP absorption performance. On the contrary, 2) the tissue encapsulating the absorbent body may be broken or the joint part joining the tissue may be peeled off due to the expansion of the absorbent body accompanying the swelling of SAP. In the case of 2), there is a problem that the absorber is not completely encapsulated by the tissue or the like, and the effect of wrapping the absorber with the tissue (the effect of preventing the absorber from losing its shape) is reduced. It was. The problems 1) and 2) are expected to become more apparent as the absorber becomes thinner and the amount and ratio of SAP increase.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, can prevent the absorber from being deformed, and does not interfere with the swelling of the SAP and exhibits sufficient absorption performance. The absorbent article which can be provided is provided.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the present inventors have encapsulated both side edges of the absorber in the sheet material (absorber-encapsulated sheet) that encapsulates the absorber. The above-mentioned problem is solved by configuring the sheet material having stretchability so that the absorbent encapsulating sheet expands in response to the swelling of the absorbent body as the SAP swells. The present invention has been completed. Specifically, the following absorbent articles are provided by the present invention.

[1] An absorber including fluff pulp and a highly water-absorbing polymer, and an absorber encapsulating sheet encapsulating the front surface, both side surfaces, and the back surface of the absorber, and at least the absorption among the absorber encapsulating sheets. An absorbent article in which the portions enclosing both side surfaces of the body are made of an elastic sheet made of an elastic material.

[2] The absorbent article according to [1], wherein the stretchable sheet is a stretchable nonwoven fabric.

[3] The absorbent article according to [2], wherein a portion other than the portion constituted by the stretchable nonwoven fabric in the absorbent encapsulated sheet is constituted by a non-stretchable hydrophilic sheet.

[4] The absorbent-encapsulated sheet includes an upper sheet that encapsulates the surface of the absorbent body, and a lower sheet that encapsulates both side surfaces and the back surface of the absorbent body, and the upper sheet is non-stretchable. The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [3], which is configured by a non-stretchable sheet made of a material, and wherein the lower sheet is configured by the stretchable sheet.

[5] The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the absorbent encapsulating sheet is entirely composed of the stretchable sheet.

[6] The absorber encapsulating sheet includes an upper sheet that encapsulates the surface of the absorber, a lateral sheet that encapsulates both side surfaces of the absorber, and a lower sheet that encapsulates the back surface of the absorber. Any one of [1] to [3], wherein the upper sheet and the lower sheet are made of a non-stretchable sheet made of a non-stretchable material, and the lateral sheet is made of the stretchable sheet. Absorbent article as described in 1.

  The absorbent article of the present invention can prevent the absorber from being deformed, and can exhibit sufficient absorption performance without impeding SAP swelling.

It is a schematic plan view which shows typically one Embodiment of the absorbent article of this invention, and expand | deploys an absorbent article and shows the state seen from the top sheet direction. FIG. 1B is a schematic end view schematically showing an A-A ′ cut end surface of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view schematically showing a state in which the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1A is developed and viewed from the cover sheet direction. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically embodiment of the absorber in the absorbent article shown to FIG. 1A, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. It is a schematic end view which shows typically the B-B 'cut end surface of the absorber and absorber covering sheet shown to FIG. 1D. It is a schematic end view which shows typically the B-B 'cut end surface of the absorber shown in FIG. 1D in the state which absorbed excretion, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically embodiment of the absorber in the conventional absorbent article, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. FIG. 2B is a schematic end view schematically showing a C-C ′ cut end surface of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 2A. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically another embodiment of the absorber in the absorbent article of this invention, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. FIG. 3B is a schematic end view schematically showing a D-D ′ cut end surface of the absorber and the absorber encapsulating sheet shown in FIG. 3A. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically another embodiment of the absorber in the absorbent article of this invention, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. FIG. 4B is a schematic end view schematically showing E-E ′ cut end faces of the absorber and the absorber encapsulating sheet shown in FIG. 4A. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically further another embodiment of the absorber in the absorbent article of this invention, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. FIG. 5B is a schematic end view schematically showing F-F ′ cut end faces of the absorber and the absorber encapsulating sheet shown in FIG. 5A. It is a schematic plan view which shows typically another embodiment of the absorber in the absorbent article of this invention, and an absorber encapsulating sheet. FIG. 6B is a schematic end view schematically showing a G-G ′ cut end surface of the absorber and the absorber encapsulating sheet shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view schematically showing a part of the modified example of the absorbent body and the absorbent encapsulating sheet shown in FIG. 6A in an enlarged manner.

  Hereinafter, the form for implementing the absorbent article of this invention is concretely demonstrated by the example of a tape-type disposable diaper. However, the present invention broadly encompasses absorbent articles (for example, pants-type disposable diapers, urine-absorbing pads, etc.) having the invention-specific matters, and are not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, about the member of the same form, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in drawing, The description is abbreviate | omitted in this specification.

[1] Basic configuration of the absorbent article of the present invention:
The present invention relates to an absorbent article including an absorbent body 22A such as the absorbent article 1A shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and an absorbent encapsulating sheet 50A that encapsulates the absorbent body 22A. As shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E, the absorbent article of the present invention encloses an absorbent body 22A containing fluff pulp and a highly water-absorbing polymer, and the surface S1, both side surfaces S3, S4 and the back surface S2 of the absorbent body 22A. The absorber encapsulating sheet 50A is provided.

[1-1] Absorber:
The “absorber” is a member that absorbs and holds a wearer's excrement (such as urine), and is constituted by an absorbent material. In the case of a normal absorbent article, the type of absorbent material is not limited as long as it has the property of absorbing excrement such as urine. However, the absorber used for the absorbent article of the present invention needs to contain both fluff pulp and a superabsorbent polymer. This is because the absorbent article is excellent in both absorption speed and absorption amount.

  “Fluff pulp” is pulp defibrated into cotton. The pulp to be defibrated may be wood pulp or non-wood pulp. As a wood pulp, the pulp derived from a conifer is preferable. However, pulp derived from hardwood, straw, bamboo, kenaf or the like can also be used.

  “Superabsorbent polymer” is a hydrophilic polymer having a cross-linked structure, and has a water absorption of 10 times or more of its own weight, and is difficult to separate even under pressure (Super Absorbent Polymer: hereinafter referred to as “SAP”). ).

  Examples of the SAP include conventionally known SAPs, such as A) starch-based (starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymer, saponified starch-ethyl acrylate graft copolymer, etc.); B) cellulose-based (sodium carboxy Cross-linked products of methyl cellulose, etc.); C) Synthetic resin systems (acrylic acid (salt) polymers, cross-linked products of polyvinyl alcohol-maleic anhydride reactant, etc.) can be used. These can be used alone or in admixture of two or more. Among the SAPs, it is preferable to use sodium polyacrylate having high water absorption performance.

There is no particular limitation on the amount of fluff pulp. However, it is preferable to set it as 50-250 g / m < ² >. By setting it as 50 g / m < ² > or more, the absorbent article excellent in immediate absorbency (absorption rate) can be comprised. On the other hand, an absorber can be reduced in thickness by setting it as 250 g / m < ² > or less. In order to obtain these effects more reliably, the amount of fluff pulp is more preferably 50 to 150 g / m ² .

  The amount of SAP is not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to set it as 80-500 mass parts (fluff pulp: SAP = 1: 0.8-5) with respect to 100 mass parts of fluff pulp. By setting it as 80 mass parts or more, even if it reduces the amount of fluff pulp, the absorption amount of the whole absorber is hard to fall. On the other hand, by setting it as 500 mass parts or less, the absorption rate of an absorber is hard to fall extremely. When it is desired to obtain these effects more reliably, it is more preferable to use 120 to 500 parts by mass (fluff pulp: SAP = 1: 1.2 to 5).

  In addition, as long as the absorber used in this invention contains fluff pulp and SAP, it may further contain other absorbent materials. As other absorbent materials, hydrophilic sheets such as tissue, absorbent paper, and non-woven fabric subjected to hydrophilic treatment can be used.

  The arrangement form of SAP and fluff pulp in the absorbent body is as follows: A) SAP is dispersed inside the fluff pulp mat, and B) SAP is arranged in layers between the mats in a laminate in which a plurality of fluff pulp mats are laminated. It is possible to adopt a form such as.

  The thickness of the absorber is not particularly limited. However, it is preferably 1 to 6 mm. By setting the thickness to 1 mm or more, the absorbent body can exhibit sufficient absorption performance. On the other hand, an absorber can be made thin by setting it as 6 mm or less. In order to obtain these effects more reliably, the thickness of the absorber is more preferably 1 to 3 mm.

  The planar shape of the absorber is not particularly limited. The same shape as a conventionally well-known absorbent article can be employ | adopted. For example, a rectangular absorber 22A as shown in FIG. 1D, an hourglass-type absorber 22B as shown in FIG. 6A, and the like can be given. The “hourglass type” means a planar shape when the hourglass is viewed from the front side. That is, when the absorber is viewed in plan, it indicates a shape in which both end portions in the longitudinal direction are wide and the central portion in the longitudinal direction is constricted and narrowed.

[1-2] Absorber-encapsulated sheet:
The “absorber-encapsulated sheet” is a sheet material that encapsulates the absorber for the purpose of preventing the absorber from being deformed.

  At least a part of the absorbent-encapsulated sheet needs to have liquid permeability in order to cause the absorbent to absorb excrement such as urine. A perforated sheet having holes formed in a sheet material made of a liquid-impermeable material is also liquid-permeable and can be used as an absorber-encapsulating sheet. However, normally, the same material as the hydrophilic sheet exemplified in the section of the absorbent body and the liquid-permeable sheet described later in the section of the top sheet is used.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the absorber-encapsulating sheet 50A encapsulates the front surface S1, the side surfaces S3, S4, and the back surface S2 of the absorber 22A. "Surface" refers to the surface of the outer surface of the absorbent body that faces the wearer's crotch when the absorbent article is used. Usually, it is the surface facing the top sheet. “Back surface” refers to the surface of the outer surface of the absorbent body that faces away from the wearer's crotch when the absorbent article is used. Usually, it is the surface facing the back sheet. “Both side surfaces” refers to the surfaces of the outer surface of the absorbent body that face the outer side (right side and left side) in the width direction of the absorbent article.

  The absorber encapsulating sheet only needs to encapsulate at least the front surface, both side surfaces, and the back surface of the absorber. However, as shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E, in addition to the front surface S1, the two side surfaces S3, S4, and the back surface S2 of the absorber 22A, both end surfaces S5, S6 of the absorber 22A may be encapsulated. The “both end surfaces” refer to surfaces of the outer surface of the absorbent body that face the front side or the rear side in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the width direction) of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is mounted.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, the both ends of the laminated | stacked absorber covering sheet 50A are joined by the junction part 62, and are sealed. Thereby, it encapsulates so that both end surfaces S5 and S6 of absorber 22A may not be exposed.

[2] Characteristic configuration of the absorbent article of the present invention:
In the case of a conventional absorbent article, as shown in FIG. 2B, the absorbent encapsulating sheet (tissue 150) is disposed in close contact with the front surface S1, both side surfaces S3, S4 and the back surface S2 of the absorbent body 122, and the tissue 150 is disposed. In general, a form in which the absorbent body 122 is tightly wrapped is generally used. However, when this form is applied to an absorber having a high SAP ratio such as a thin absorber, the swelling of the SAP may be hindered or the absorbent encapsulated sheet may be broken due to the swelling of the absorbent accompanying the swelling of the SAP. There is.

  Therefore, in the absorbent article of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, at least a portion that encloses both side surfaces S3 and S4 of the absorber 22A is made of a stretchable material. The elastic sheet 58A is used.

  With the structure as described above, as shown in FIG. 1F, even if the absorbent body 22A expands as the SAP swells, the elastic sheet 58A expands and deforms so as to follow the shape of the expanded absorbent body 22A. To do. Therefore, 1) the swelling of the SAP is hindered, and the SAP absorption performance cannot be fully exhibited. 2) The absorbent encapsulating sheet 50A is broken by the expansion of the absorbent 22A accompanying the swelling of the SAP. Such defects can be effectively prevented.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, in the state before the SAP is wetted and swollen, the absorbent-encapsulated sheet 50A (in this case, the lower sheet 54A, ie, the stretchable sheet 58A) absorbs as shown in FIG. 1B. The absorber 22A is pressed down so as to be in close contact with both side surfaces S3 and S4 of the body 22A. Accordingly, there is an effect of preventing the absorber 22A from being deformed. On the other hand, when the SAP wets and swells due to excrement such as urine and the absorbent body expands along with this, the stretchable sheet 58A is expanded and stretched by the expanded absorbent body 22A as shown in FIG. 1F. That is, since the elastic sheet 58A is deformed so as to follow the shape of the expanded absorbent body 22A, the swelling of the SAP and the accompanying expansion of the absorbent body 22A are not hindered.

  An “elastic sheet” is a sheet material made of an elastic material. For example, an elastic nonwoven fabric formed from elastomer fibers, a film made of elastomer, a sheet made of rubber, and the like can be mentioned. Examples of the elastomer include urethane elastomers, ester elastomers, and metallocene PE elastomers. Examples of the rubber include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, urethane rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber.

  Moreover, you may comprise an elastic sheet from several material. For example, it may be a nonwoven fabric sheet in which stretched rubber is disposed and fixed between layers of a plurality of nonwoven fabric sheets to impart elasticity.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, it is only necessary that at least the portions encapsulating both side surfaces of the absorbent body in the absorbent body-encapsulated sheet are made of an elastic sheet made of an elastic material. As long as such a configuration is adopted, the constituent material of the portion other than the portion encapsulating both side surfaces of the absorber (for example, the portion encapsulating the front and back surfaces of the absorber) is not particularly limited. About these parts, you may be comprised with the non-stretch sheet | seat and may be comprised with the stretch sheet | seat.

  As for the absorbent article of this invention, as shown to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, at least the part which encloses side surface S3, S4 of absorber 22A among the absorber encapsulating sheet 50A is comprised with the elastic nonwoven fabric. Is preferred. In the illustrated form, the stretchable sheet 58A is composed of a stretchable nonwoven fabric. In the present invention, an elastomer film, a rubber sheet, or the like can be used as the stretchable sheet. However, it is preferable to use a perforated sheet having a large number of holes and imparting liquid permeability as the stretchable sheet. Such a perforated sheet may cause particulate SAP to leak from the hole. On the other hand, since the stretchable nonwoven fabric itself has liquid permeability, it does not need to be a perforated sheet, and SAP leakage can be effectively prevented.

  Moreover, the absorbent article of this invention is comprised by the non-stretchable hydrophilic sheet about parts other than the part comprised by the elastic nonwoven fabric among 50A of absorber covering sheets, as shown to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E. It is preferable. If it is such a sheet | seat, since excrement will transfer to an absorber smoothly, absorption of the excrement by an absorber will not be prevented.

  As the non-stretchable hydrophilic sheet, a hydrophilic sheet such as tissue conventionally used as an absorbent encapsulating sheet or a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric used as a top sheet can be used.

  Moreover, the form of the envelope of the absorber is not particularly limited. For example, the following forms can be mentioned.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the absorbent-encapsulating sheet 50B covers the upper sheet 52A encapsulating the surface of the absorbent 22A and the side surfaces S3 and S4 of the absorbent 22A. The horizontal sheets 56A and 56B to be wrapped and the lower sheet 54A for covering the back surface S2 of the absorber 22A. The upper sheet 52A and the lower sheet 54B are made of a non-stretchable sheet made of a non-stretchable material. It is preferable that the sheets 56A and 56B are constituted by an elastic sheet 58B. Such a form can minimize the amount of use of an expensive stretch sheet compared to a non-stretch hydrophilic sheet such as tissue, and can reduce raw material costs.

  Moreover, in the absorbent article of this invention, as shown to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, the absorber covering sheet 50A encloses the surface of the absorber 22A, the upper sheet 52A, and the side surfaces S3 and S4 of the absorber 22A. And the lower sheet 54A encapsulating the back surface S2, the upper sheet 52A is preferably composed of a non-stretchable sheet 60A made of a non-stretchable material, and the lower sheet 54A is preferably composed of a stretchable sheet 58A. . In such a form, the number of sheets constituting the absorber encapsulating sheet 50A is two, and the number of members and the number of joints are small compared to the form shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Therefore, it can manufacture more simply than the form shown to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

  Furthermore, in the absorbent article of the present invention, it is preferable that the absorbent encapsulating sheet 50C is entirely composed of the stretchable sheet 58C as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In such a form, since the front surface S1, the back surface S2, and the side surfaces S3 and S4 of the absorber 22A are all encapsulated by the elastic sheet 58C, the absorber encapsulating sheet 50C is rich in elasticity. Therefore, even if the absorbent body 22A expands greatly as the SAP swells, the possibility that the absorbent-encapsulated sheet 50C is broken is further reduced.

  The form shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B is a form in which the absorber encapsulating sheet 50C is configured by one stretchable sheet 58C, and the absorbent body 22A is wrapped by the one stretchable sheet 58C. In such a form, the number of members and the number of joints are smaller than those shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E. Therefore, it can manufacture more simply than the form shown to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E.

  In addition, the form in which the absorber encapsulating sheet is entirely composed of the stretchable sheet is not limited to the form illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and may be the form illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In the form shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the absorber encapsulating sheet 50D is composed of two sheets, an upper sheet 52B and a lower sheet 54A, as in the forms shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E. In this example, not only the lower sheet 54A but also the upper sheet 52B is constituted by the elastic sheet 58D.

  Each of the above forms is a form using a rectangular absorber. However, the configuration of the present invention can be applied not only when a rectangular absorbent body is used, but also when an hourglass type absorbent body 22B is used as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, for example.

  In the form shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the longitudinal center portion of the hourglass-shaped absorber 22 </ b> B is bound toward the center in the width direction. In this portion, the absorber encapsulating sheet 50E is not in close contact with the side surfaces S3 and S4 of the absorber 22B, and spaces 64A and 64B are formed. Accordingly, the absorbent body width of the crotch portion is narrow, and it is easy to fit the wearer's body. Further, when the SAP swells, the expanded absorbent body 22B is accommodated in the spaces 64A and 64B, and the elastic sheet 58A expands even when the absorbent body 22B expands larger than the spaces 64A and 64B. Therefore, the possibility that the absorber encapsulating sheet 50E is broken can be minimized.

  However, in the same form as the form shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the absorber encapsulating sheets 50 </ b> E constituting the spaces 64 </ b> A and 64 </ b> B may be partially joined.

  For example, in the form shown in FIG. 6A, the absorbent encapsulating sheet 50E is formed with linear joining portions 66A and 66B extending outward in the width direction from the side edges E1 and E2 of the absorbent body 22B. It is the form which joined the absorber covering sheet 50E in the constricted part of 22B. Moreover, the form shown to (b) figure of FIG. 6C forms the linear joining parts 68A and 68B which go to the front-back direction along the side edges E1 and E2 of the absorber 22B in the absorber covering sheet 50E, and absorbs it. This is a form in which the absorber encapsulating sheets 50E are joined to each other at the constricted portion of the body 22B. Further, the form shown in FIG. 6C (c) is formed by intermittently forming substantially rectangular joint portions 70A and 70B along the side edges E1 and E2 of the absorber 22B on the absorber encapsulating sheet 50E. This is a form in which the absorber encapsulating sheets 50E are joined to each other at the constricted portion of the body 22B. Also in these forms, the expanded absorbent body 22B can be accommodated in the spaces 64A and 64B as in the form shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[3] Other:
What is necessary is just to comprise about the other part of the absorbent article of this invention similarly to a conventionally well-known absorbent article. Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1A (tape-type disposable diaper) illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C will be described as an example.

  In the absorbent article 1A shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, the absorbent body 22A is covered with the top sheet 18 on the front surface side and with the back sheet 20 on the back surface side. That is, the absorber 22A is disposed between the top sheet 18 and the back sheet 20.

[3-1] Top sheet:
A top sheet is a sheet-like member arrange | positioned so that the surface (surface of the side which opposes a wearer's skin at the time of mounting | wearing of an absorbent article) of an absorber may be coat | covered. Since it is necessary to allow the wearer's urine or the like to pass therethrough, at least a part (all or a part) of the wearer's urine is made of a liquid-permeable material.

  Examples of the liquid permeable material include woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, and porous film. Among these, it is preferable to use a nonwoven fabric made of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, aliphatic polyamide, etc., which has been subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

  As said nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric manufactured by manufacturing methods, such as air through (card hot air) and card | curd embossing, can be used conveniently. The hydrophilic treatment can be performed by applying, spraying, impregnating, etc., a surfactant to the raw cotton of the nonwoven fabric.

  The top sheet is “at least partially” made of a liquid-permeable material. Although the position is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the portion overlapping the arrangement position of the absorber in the crotch portion is made of a liquid-permeable material when viewed in plan.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, it is not necessary that the entire surface on the side facing the wearer's skin is covered with the top sheet. For example, in a tape-type disposable diaper, a top sheet made of a liquid-permeable material is disposed at the center in the width direction of the absorbent article, and a breathable water-repellent material is provided on the side edge (side flap portion) in the width direction of the absorbent article. The form which arrange | positions the side sheet | seat which consists of is often used. At this time, it is preferable to use a nonwoven fabric sheet obtained by a method such as card embossing or spunbond, particularly a highly waterproof nonwoven fabric sheet such as SMS or SMMS, as the air-permeable and water-repellent material.

[3-2] Backsheet:
The back sheet is a sheet-like member arranged to cover the back surface of the absorbent body (the surface on the side facing away from the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is mounted). The back sheet is made of a liquid-impermeable material because it is necessary to prevent the wearer's urine from leaking outside the absorbent article.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the arrangement position of a back seat | sheet. From the viewpoint of preventing leakage of urine absorbed by the absorbent body, it is preferable that the back sheet is disposed so as to cover at least the position where the absorbent body is disposed.

  Examples of the liquid impermeable material include a liquid impermeable film made of a resin such as polyethylene. Among these, it is preferable to use a microporous polyethylene film. This microporous polyethylene film is a film in which a large number of fine pores of 0.1 to several μm are formed, and is liquid-impermeable but has moisture permeability. Therefore, it is possible to prevent stuffiness inside the absorbent article while ensuring leakage resistance.

  In a tape-type disposable diaper, a form in which a cover sheet 24 is bonded to the outer surface side of the back sheet 20 as shown in FIG. 1C is often used. This cover sheet is used to reinforce the back sheet and improve the feel (tactile feeling) of the back sheet.

  Examples of the material constituting the cover sheet include woven fabric and non-woven fabric. Especially, it is preferable to use the dry nonwoven fabric and wet nonwoven fabric which consist of thermoplastic resins, such as polyethylene, a polypropylene, and polyester.

[3-3] Various elastic materials:
In the absorbent article of the present invention, it is preferable to arrange an elastic material such as a leg elastic material in addition to the waist elastic material.

  A leg elastic material is an elastic material for forming a leg gather. In the case of a tape-type disposable diaper, a form in which a plurality of left and right pairs of linear elastic materials are arranged in a straight line parallel to at least the crotch part 4 as in the leg elastic material 40 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C is often used.

  As elastic materials, flat rubber made of natural rubber and thread rubber made of elastic yarn of synthetic rubber (urethane rubber, etc.), elastic net, elastic film, elastic foam (urethane foam, etc.), etc. are preferably used. be able to.

  The stretchable material is fixed in the stretched state in order to exert a sufficient stretch force without exerting an excessive tightening force on the wearer. The stretchable material can be fixed by, for example, adhesion using a hot melt adhesive, other highly fluid adhesive, heat sealing, heat sealing, or ultrasonic welding.

  “Fixed in the stretched state” means that the stretchable material is bonded, fixed, or the like to the sheet material to be fixed in a state where the stretchable material is stretched to 120% or more. Among them, the elongation rate is preferably 200 to 400%, and more preferably 250 to 350%. Note that the “stretch rate” indicates a percentage of the length of the stretchable material in the stretched state with respect to the length (original size) of the stretchable material in the non-stretched state.

  In the case of a tape-type disposable diaper, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a stretched linear elastic material is sandwiched between the top sheet 18 (or side sheet 19) and the back sheet 20 (or cover sheet 24). The leg elastic member 40 can be disposed by a method such as fixing.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, an extended planar elastic material (such as an elastic foam) is sandwiched between the top sheet 18 (or side sheet 19) and the back sheet 20 (or cover sheet 24). The waist stretchable material 42 can be disposed by a method such as fixing to the waist.

[3-4] Solid gathering:
A three-dimensional gather can be comprised according to the conventional absorbent article. As shown to FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C, it is preferable to provide the left-right paired three-dimensional gather 26 (26a, 26b) arrange | positioned at the both sides of absorber 22A.

  In the case of a tape-type disposable diaper, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a form in which the three-dimensional gather 26 is configured by a part of the side sheet 19 including the water-repellent sheet 32 is often used.

  In this case, the stretched three-dimensional gather stretchable material 36 may be sandwiched and fixed between the layers of the water-repellent sheet 32. As the water-repellent sheet, it is preferable to use a non-woven sheet obtained by a method such as card embossing or spunbond, particularly a non-woven sheet such as SMS or SMMS having high waterproofness.

  Examples of the three-dimensional gathers include inward gathers, outward fall gathers, C-fold gathers and Z-fold gathers in which bent portions and folded portions are formed in a part of the height direction. Among these, inward gathers such as the three-dimensional gathers 26A and 26B shown in FIGS. 5B and 5D are preferable in terms of high leakage prevention.

[3-5] Fastening tape:
In the case of a tape-type disposable diaper, in order to fix the front body 2 and the back body 6 arranged so as to extend from the left and right side edges 6a and 6b of the back body 6 as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. Those provided with the fastening tape 11 are preferably used.

  The fastening member of the fastening tape is not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to use a mechanical fastener (planar fastener) that has a high fastening force and does not easily reduce the fastening force even after a plurality of detachments. The absorbent article 1A shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C has a hook material 47 of a mechanical fastener attached as a fastening member 46 in the vicinity of the tip of the fastening tape 11. On the other hand, the front body 2 is provided with a front patch 13 made of a loop material 48 of a mechanical fastener.

  The number of fastening tapes is not particularly limited, and an appropriate number of fastening tapes may be attached according to the dimensions of the wearer's body shape (specifically, around the waist, around the legs, etc.). In general, a pair of disposable diapers for infants (one each on the left and right) is attached, and a pair of disposable diapers for adults (two on the left and two on the left) are attached.

  The absorptive article of the present invention is used as an absorptive article for infants or adults such as elderly people and persons with disabilities who need care, more specifically as a pants-type disposable diaper, a tape-type disposable diaper, and a urine pad. be able to.

1A: Absorbent article, 2: Front body, 4: Crotch, 6: Back body, 6a, 6b: Side edges, 11: Fastening tape, 13: Front patch, 18: Top sheet, 19: Side sheet, 20 : Back sheet, 22A, 22B: Absorber, 24: Cover sheet, 26, 26a, 26b: Three-dimensional gather, 32: Water-repellent sheet, 36: Three-dimensional gather elastic material, 40: Leg elastic material, 42: Waist elastic material, 46: Fastening member, 47: Hook material, 48: Loop material, 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D, 50E :: Absorbent encapsulating sheet, 52A, 52B: Upper sheet, 54A, 54B: Lower sheet, 56A, 56B: Horizontal sheet, 58A, 58B, 58C, 58D: stretchable sheet, 60A: non-stretchable sheet, 62: joint, 64A, 64B: space, 66A, 66B, 68A, 6 B, 70A, 70B: junction, 122: absorber, 150: tissue, 152: upper tissue, 154: lower tissue, S1: front surface, S2: back surface, S3, S4: side surface, S5, S6: end surface, E1, E2: Side edge.

Claims (6)

An absorber comprising fluff pulp and a superabsorbent polymer, and an absorber encapsulating sheet for encapsulating the front surface, both side surfaces and the back surface of the absorber;
The absorbent article in which the part which encapsulates at least the both sides | surfaces of the said absorber among the said absorber encapsulating sheet is comprised with the elastic sheet which consists of elastic materials.   The absorptive article according to claim 1 in which the portion which encloses at least both sides of said absorber among said absorber encapsulating sheets is constituted by elastic nonwoven fabric.   The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein a part other than the part constituted by the stretchable nonwoven fabric in the absorbent encapsulated sheet is constituted by a non-stretchable hydrophilic sheet. The absorber encapsulating sheet is composed of an upper sheet encapsulating the surface of the absorber, and a lower sheet encapsulating both side surfaces and the back surface of the absorber,
The upper sheet is composed of a non-stretchable sheet made of a non-stretchable material,
The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which said lower sheet is constituted by said elastic sheet.   The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which all of said absorber enveloping sheet is constituted by said elastic sheet. The absorber encapsulating sheet comprises an upper sheet that encapsulates the surface of the absorber, a lateral sheet that encapsulates both sides of the absorber, and a lower sheet that encapsulates the back surface of the absorber,
The upper sheet and the lower sheet are composed of a non-stretch sheet made of a non-stretch material,
The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which said horizontal sheet is constituted by said elastic sheet.

Images