JP2014104261A - Absorbent article, and production method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape type disposable diaper in which the touch of solid gathers is softened, and to provide an absorbent article and a production method for the same.SOLUTION: In an absorbent article in which solid gathers 60 rising up from a surface along a blockade position of excrement are extended, a softening embossing finish is applied at least to a skin side component part on a raised part edge side in the gather nonwoven fabric of the solid gathers, and waveform unevenness 90 formed by the softening embossing finish is solved by extending along a direction where the solid gathers extend.

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a flexible three-dimensional gather and a method for manufacturing the same.

  At present, most absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins are provided with three-dimensional gathers that rise from both sides of the surface in the width direction. By providing such a three-dimensional gather, the lateral movement of excrement is blocked by the three-dimensional gather, and so-called side leakage is prevented. Some disposable diapers have a three-dimensional gather on the waist side of the surface in order to prevent leakage from the waist.

  Almost many three-dimensional gathers adopt a basic structure in which a nonwoven fabric (hereinafter referred to as a gathered nonwoven fabric) is contracted and raised by an elastic elastic member (hereinafter referred to as a gather elastic elastic member) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). More specifically, the gathered nonwoven fabric extends along the cut-off position of excrement, and has a base portion that is attached to the outside of the cut-off position of the article, a main body portion that protrudes from the base portion, and the main body portion. The both ends of the extending direction of the blocking position are fixed on the surface of the article in a lying state, and the rising part is formed with the portion between the lying portions of the main body being unfixed. Yes. And the main-body part of a gathered nonwoven fabric is turned back, and it is set as the two-layer structure, and the gather elastic elastic member is fixed in the extending | stretching state in the interruption | blocking position extension direction between the layers of the at least front-end | tip part of a standing part.

JP 2010-154928 A JP 2001-25485 A JP-A-9-253130 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-312695

  Since the three-dimensional gather is not only in contact with the skin but also a rubbing part, the softness of the touch is extremely important. However, as far as the present inventor knows, there is no suggestion that the hardness of the touch of the three-dimensional gather is regarded as a problem or a proposal for improving the flexibility. For example, as described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to loosen the contact by making the skin contact portion of the three-dimensional gather into a planar shape, but the hardness of the touch of the three-dimensional gather is not improved.

  Therefore, a main problem of the present invention is to soften the touch of a three-dimensional gather.

The present invention that has solved the above problems is as follows.
<Invention of Claim 1>
In the absorbent article in which a three-dimensional gather that rises from the surface along the blocking position of excrement is extended,
The three-dimensional gather is to make a gathered nonwoven fabric contract by a gather elastic elastic member and to stand up,
Softening embossing is given to the skin side component part at least of the rising portion tip side of the gathered nonwoven fabric,
A tape-type disposable diaper characterized by that.

(Function and effect)
Various methods such as reducing the fiber weight of gathered non-woven fabrics and thinning the fibers are conceivable as a method for softening the texture of the three-dimensional gathers. If it is made thinner, the strength will be lowered, and it will be difficult to ensure the liquid blocking property and strength required for a three-dimensional gather.
On the other hand, when softening embossing is given to a gathered nonwoven fabric, highly flexible can be achieved, suppressing the liquid barrier property and intensity | strength fall which are request | required of a three-dimensional gather. Here, the term “softening embossing” means that there is no fiber fusion to maintain the uneven shape of the emboss, and the softness (JIS L 1913: 2010 “41.5 ° cantilever method”) Means embossing, which means that Therefore, softening embossing does not exclude heating at the time of embossing, but even if heated, it must be below the melting point of the fiber, and the uneven shape is formed by fusing the fibers like heat embossing. Maintaining (hardening embossing) is not included. The term “embossing” does not include drilling.
When softening embossing is applied to a nonwoven fabric, irregularities are formed without fiber fusion, and the bending resistance of the nonwoven fabric itself, possibly due to fiber bending due to the formation of irregularities, and the change in fiber structure due to stretching and shrinkage of the nonwoven fabric itself And the softness of the skin is remarkably improved by the reduction of the skin contact area and the improvement of the compression recovery property due to the formation of irregularities. Moreover, compared to simply reducing the fiber basis weight or making the fibers thinner, the liquid barrier properties and strength reduction required for the three-dimensional gathers are less.

<Invention of Claim 2>
The tape-type disposable diaper according to claim 1, wherein the softening embossing is double-sided embossing in which the gathered nonwoven fabric is processed into a corrugated shape.

(Function and effect)
The double-sided embossing in which the nonwoven fabric is processed into a corrugated shape (a shape having a continuous wavy cross section such as a corrugated sheet) is particularly preferable because the degree of decrease in liquid blocking property is small and the degree of decrease in bending resistance is large. .

<Invention of Claim 3>
The tape-type disposable diaper according to claim 2, wherein the corrugated irregularities formed by the softening embossing are extended along a direction in which the three-dimensional gather extends.

(Function and effect)
Since the nonwoven fabric formed in the corrugated shape has a certain direction of flexibility, in the case of a gathered nonwoven fabric, if the corrugated irregularities extend along the extending direction of the solid gather, the solid gather will correspond to the body shape Therefore, it is easy to follow and deform, and it is preferable that the material itself has a soft touch and the contact with the skin at the time of wearing becomes flexible. In addition, the movement of excrement in the direction over the three-dimensional gather is also prevented by the unevenness.

<Invention of Claim 4>
The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the corrugated irregularities formed by the softening embossing are formed such that a wave height is higher toward a tip end side of the three-dimensional gather.

(Function and effect)
By adopting such a shape, a softer touch can be obtained at a portion that is more likely to come into contact with the skin, and movement of excrement in a direction over the three-dimensional gather can be more effectively prevented.

<Invention of Claim 5>
A tape-type disposable diaper with a fastening tape that protrudes from both sides of the dorsal side and is locked to the outer surface of the ventral side,
The gathered nonwoven fabric has a region where the fastening tape is joined, and the joined region of the fastening tape is not subjected to the softening nonwoven fabric processing,
The absorbent article of any one of Claims 1-4.

(Function and effect)
In a tape type disposable diaper, the surface of the fastening tape on the front side is often attached to a gathered nonwoven fabric, and in such a form, the strength of the gathered nonwoven fabric affects the fastening strength of the fastening tape. Since the softening embossing employed in the present invention does not mean that the strength of the gathered nonwoven fabric does not decrease, if the softening embossing is applied to the joining area of the fastening tape in the gathered nonwoven fabric, the fastening strength of the fastening tape may be reduced. is there. Therefore, it is preferable not to reduce the attachment strength of the fastening tape without applying the softening embossing to the joining region of the fastening tape in the gathered nonwoven fabric.

<Invention of Claim 6>
In addition to the exterior nonwoven fabric constituting the back of the article, the outer periphery of the article has a portion where the exterior nonwoven fabric and the gathered nonwoven fabric are joined,
In the joint region with the exterior nonwoven fabric in the gathered nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is applied,
In a region other than the joining region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is applied,
In the joint region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is not performed,
The absorbent article of any one of Claims 1-5.

(Function and effect)
In some absorbent articles such as tape-type disposable diapers and pad-type disposable diapers, the outer nonwoven fabric constituting the back of the article is provided, and the outer nonwoven fabric and the gathered nonwoven fabric are joined to the peripheral edge of both sides of the article. There is something to have. In such a structure, the outer nonwoven fabric can be softened and embossed to soften the outer surface of the product. However, when the gathered nonwoven fabric is also softened and embossed, The bonding area with the nonwoven fabric becomes too flexible, and the touch is very flexible, but the stiffness is weak and the fit may be reduced. Therefore, as described above, the region other than the joining region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric is subjected to softening embossing, but the joining region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric is not subjected to softening embossing. In addition, it is preferable to suppress the stiffness of the peripheral edge of the article while improving the touch of the article front and back.

<Invention of Claim 7>
In the absorbent article production line, a gathered elastic elastic member is bonded to a gathered nonwoven fabric fed from a roll to form a three-dimensional gather, and the three-dimensional gather rises from the surface of the absorbent article along the excrement blocking position. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
Before the gathering process of the gather elastic elastic member, the gathered nonwoven fabric is subjected to softening embossing by sandwiching at least one roll between a pair of rolls that are embossed rolls having an uneven pattern on the outer peripheral surface. ,
The manufacturing method of the absorbent article characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Function and effect)
By such a manufacturing method, the absorbent article of the invention of claim 1 can be manufactured. As described above, since the embossing for softening does not have fiber fusion for maintaining the uneven shape of the emboss, the method of winding a nonwoven fabric that has been processed in advance into a roll and setting it in the production line reduces the unevenness, Although there is a possibility of disappearing, if a softened embossing process is performed on the gathered nonwoven fabric inline as described above, such a risk is reduced.

<Invention of Claim 8>
The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein a water repellent is supplied to the uneven pattern of the embossing roll and the water repellent is transferred from the uneven pattern of the embossing roll to the gathered nonwoven fabric during the softening embossing.

(Function and effect)
When softening embossing is used, the liquid barrier property of the nonwoven fabric is inevitably lowered. Therefore, it is desirable to compensate for this decrease in liquid barrier properties with a water repellent. In this case, the water-repellent agent is selectively applied to the site where the improvement of the waterproof property of the gathered nonwoven fabric is desired by simultaneously performing the concavo-convex pattern formation and the water-repellent agent transfer through the embossing roll concavo-convex pattern as described above. The liquid blocking property can be improved without waste.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there are advantages such as a soft touch of the three-dimensional gather.

It is a top view in the state where the diaper was developed showing the inner surface of a tape type disposable diaper. It is a top view in the state where the diaper was developed showing the outer surface of a tape type disposable diaper. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of embossing. It is an embossing roll schematic diagram of waveform embossing. It is a comparative photograph which shows the state before and behind waveform embossing. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the softening embossing range of a side part solid gather. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the softening embossing range of a side part solid gather. It is a principal part top view which shows the softening embossing area | region of a side part solid gather. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view which shows the softening embossing area | region. It is a manufacturing flow of a tape type disposable diaper.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1-7 has shown an example of the tape type disposable diaper, the code | symbol X in the figure has shown the full width of the diaper except a fastening tape, the code | symbol L has shown the full length of the diaper, The dot pattern portion indicates the application portion of the hot melt adhesive except for the vertical stripe portion in FIG.

  This tape-type disposable diaper is a portion that extends from the lower abdomen along the center in the width direction through the crotch to cover the buttocks, and a liquid-permeable top sheet that forms the body side surface, and the outer surface side An absorbent main body 10 that is a part where the absorbent element 50 is interposed between the liquid-impermeable sheet located in the liquid-impervious sheet, and a part that extends to the front side and the rear side of the absorbent main body part 10 respectively, and It has a ventral end flap portion EF and a dorsal end flap portion EF which are portions that do not have the absorbent element 50.

  Moreover, this tape-type disposable diaper has a pair of side flap parts SF and SF extending laterally from the side edge of the absorber, and the fastening tape 13 is provided on the side flap parts SF and SF on the back side. Are provided.

  More specifically, the entire outer surface of the absorbent main body 10 and the side flap portions SF, SF is formed by the exterior nonwoven fabric 12. In particular, in the absorbent main body 10, a liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is fixed to the inner surface side of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 with an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive, and an absorbent element is further disposed on the inner surface side of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11. 50, the intermediate sheet 40, and the top sheet 30 are laminated in this order. The top sheet 30 and the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 are rectangular in the illustrated example, have slightly larger dimensions in the front-rear direction and the width direction than the absorbent element 50, and are eaten from the side edges of the absorbent element 50 in the top sheet 30. The peripheral edge that protrudes and the peripheral edge that protrudes from the side edge of the absorbent element 50 in the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 are fixed by a hot melt adhesive or the like. The liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is made of a moisture-permeable polyethylene film or the like and is formed to be slightly wider than the top sheet 30.

  Further, on both sides of the absorbent main body 10, side three-dimensional gathers 60, 60 projecting (standing) on the skin side of the wearer are provided, and the gathered nonwoven fabric forming the side three-dimensional gathers 60, 60. 62 and 62 are fixed in a range from the both side portions of the top sheet 30 to the inner surfaces of the side flap portions SF and SF.

Hereinafter, the material and the characteristic part of each part are demonstrated in order.
(Exterior nonwoven fabric)
The exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is a portion that supports the absorbent element 50 and is attached to the wearer. The exterior nonwoven fabric 12 has an hourglass shape in which the center portions in the front-rear direction on both sides are confined, and this is a portion into which a wearer's leg is placed.

  Although the kind of exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is not specifically limited, A water-repellent thing is suitable. Non-woven fabric fibers are not particularly limited, for example, synthetic fibers such as polyethylene or polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, natural fibers such as cotton, and two or more of these Can be used, such as mixed fibers and bicomponent (composite) fibers. The production method of the nonwoven fabric is not particularly limited, and the web forming method can be a dry method, a wet method, a spunbond method, a melt blown method, an airlaid method, and the fiber bonding method is not particularly limited. Methods (immersion method, spray method), thermal bond method (air-through method, heating calendar method, ultrasonic method), needle punch method, spunlace method (hydroentanglement method), etc. can be employed.

However, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a nonwoven fabric composed of a spunbond layer (SS nonwoven fabric, SSS nonwoven fabric), and a nonwoven fabric having a meltblown layer between the spunbond layers (SMS nonwoven fabric, SMMS nonwoven fabric, SSMS nonwoven fabric, SSMMS nonwoven fabric) in that both the touch and strength can be achieved. And the like are preferred. In addition to using a single nonwoven fabric, a plurality of nonwoven fabrics can be used. In the latter case, the nonwoven fabrics are preferably bonded to each other with a hot melt adhesive or the like. When these long fiber nonwoven fabrics are used, the fiber basis weight is preferably 10 to 30 g / m ² , particularly 13 to 18 g / m ² . The thickness is preferably 0.10 to 0.50 mm, particularly preferably 0.15 to 0.25 mm.

  A sheet other than the nonwoven fabric can be used in place of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12, and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 can be omitted.

  The exterior nonwoven fabric 12 can be subjected to softening embossing similar to that of a side solid gather 60 described later on the whole or a part thereof.

(Liquid impervious sheet)
The material of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is not particularly limited. For example, the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is substantially made of an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, a laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating a nonwoven fabric on a polyethylene sheet, or a waterproof film. Non-woven fabrics that ensure liquid impermeability (in this case, liquid impervious sheets are composed of waterproof films and non-woven fabrics). Of course, in addition to this, a liquid-impermeable and moisture-permeable material that has been used and used in recent years from the viewpoint of preventing stuffiness can also be exemplified. As the sheet of the material having liquid impermeability and moisture permeability, for example, an inorganic filler is kneaded in an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and the sheet is formed, and then stretched in a uniaxial or biaxial direction. Examples of the microporous sheet obtained in this way can be given. In addition, non-woven fabric using micro-denier fiber, strengthening leak-proofing by reducing the voids of the fiber by applying heat or pressure, and applying water-absorbing resin or hydrophobic resin or water repellent. A sheet that is liquid-impermeable without using a film can also be used as the liquid-impermeable sheet 11.

(Top sheet)
The top sheet 30 is sufficient if it has liquid permeability, and for example, a porous or non-porous nonwoven fabric or a porous plastic sheet can be used. In the case of using a nonwoven fabric, the raw fiber is not particularly limited. For example, synthetic fibers such as olefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyesters and polyamides, recycled fibers such as rayon and cupra, natural fibers such as cotton, etc. A fiber etc., the mixed fiber in which 2 or more types were used from these, a bicomponent (composite) composite fiber, etc. can be used. The production method of the nonwoven fabric is not particularly limited, and the web forming method can be a dry method, a wet method, a spunbond method, a melt blown method, an airlaid method, and the fiber bonding method is not particularly limited. Methods (immersion method, spray method), thermal bond method (air-through method, heating calendar method, ultrasonic method), needle punch method, spunlace method (hydroentanglement method), etc. can be employed. However, the spun lace method is a preferable processing method for obtaining flexibility and drapeability, and the thermal bond method is for obtaining bulkiness and softness.

  The top sheet 30 may be composed of a single sheet or a laminated sheet obtained by bonding two or more sheets. Similarly, the top sheet 30 may be composed of one sheet or two or more sheets in the planar direction.

(Intermediate sheet)
An intermediate sheet (also referred to as a second sheet) 40 can be provided between the top sheet 30 and the absorbent element 50 in order to move excrement that has passed through the top sheet 30 to the absorbent body and prevent reversal. This intermediate sheet 40 not only improves the absorption performance by the absorber by quickly transferring the excrement to the absorber, but also prevents the excretion of the absorbed excrement from returning from the absorber, making the top sheet 30 surface feel better To do. The intermediate sheet 40 can be omitted.

  The intermediate sheet 40 can be appropriately selected from the same materials as the top sheet 30 and used. The intermediate sheet 40 is preferably bonded to the top sheet 30. When heat embossing or ultrasonic welding is used for the bonding, the material of the intermediate sheet 40 preferably has the same melting point as the top sheet 30.

  The intermediate sheet 40 in the illustrated form is arranged in the center shorter than the width of the absorbent element 50, but may be provided over the entire width. The length in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate sheet 40 may be the same as the entire length of the diaper, may be the same as the length of the absorbent element 50, or may be within a short length range centered on the region that receives the liquid.

(Side three-dimensional gather)
In order to prevent urine and loose stool that travels laterally on the top sheet 30 and prevent side leakage, the excrement blocking position (on the side of the absorber or its Side solid gathers 60 rising from the surface along the vicinity) are provided.

  The side three-dimensional gather 60 includes a gathered nonwoven fabric 62 and an elongated gather-gathered elastic elastic member 63 fixed to the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 in a stretched state along the front-rear direction. As the gather / gather elastic member 63, rubber thread or the like can be used, and the elongation rate at the time of fixation (meaning a natural length of 100%) can be about 200 to 260%. . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of gather elastic elastic members 62 can be provided in addition to a plurality of each.

  The inner surface of the gathered non-woven fabric 62 has a fixing start end in the width direction on the side portion of the top sheet 30, and a portion on the outer side in the width direction from the fixing start end is on the side portion of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 and the outer side in the width direction. The base 65 is fixed to the side of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 positioned by a hot melt adhesive or the like.

  The body portion 66 on the inner side in the width direction from the base portion 65 in the three-dimensional gather is a lying portion 67 in which both end portions in the product front-rear direction are fixed in a lying state on the top sheet 30, and the portion in between is not fixed (free). The rising portion 68 is the same. The main body portion 66 is formed by being folded back at the tip and pasted by a hot melt adhesive, and a gather elastic elastic member 63 extends along the front-rear direction at a rising portion 68 between the layers. . When the diaper is worn, the diaper is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the side, and the contraction force of the gather elastic elastic member 63 acts, so that the rising portion 68 of the side three-dimensional gather 60 rises and closely contacts the legs. As a result, so-called side leakage from around the legs is prevented.

  Both ends in the front-rear direction of the main body portion of the three-dimensional gather 60 are folded back to the body side from the base end side portion extending from the width direction outer side portion to the width direction inner side and the end edge of the base end side portion in the width direction center side. When fixed in a folded state having a tip end portion extending outward in the width direction to form the overlaid portion, the rising portion is as shown in FIG.

  The type of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is not particularly limited, but in the normal case, a water-repellent material is used in order to ensure liquid blocking properties. Non-woven fabric fibers are not particularly limited, for example, synthetic fibers such as polyethylene or polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, natural fibers such as cotton, and two or more of these Can be used, such as mixed fibers and bicomponent (composite) fibers. The production method of the nonwoven fabric is not particularly limited, and the web forming method can be a dry method, a wet method, a spunbond method, a melt blown method, an airlaid method, and the fiber bonding method is not particularly limited. Methods (immersion method, spray method), thermal bond method (air-through method, heating calendar method, ultrasonic method), needle punch method, spunlace method (hydroentanglement method), etc. can be employed. Moreover, in order to make the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 water-repellent, a water-repellent agent such as silicon or paraffin can be applied to the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 when or before assembling the diaper.

However, a nonwoven fabric (SMS nonwoven fabric, SMMS nonwoven fabric, SSMS nonwoven fabric, SSMMS nonwoven fabric) having a meltblown layer between the spunbond layers is preferable in that both touch and liquid barrier properties can be achieved. In addition to using a single nonwoven fabric, a plurality of nonwoven fabrics can be used. In the latter case, the nonwoven fabrics are preferably bonded to each other with a hot melt adhesive or the like. When these long fiber nonwoven fabrics are used, the fiber basis weight is desirably 8 to 30 g / m ² , particularly 13 to 18 g / m ² . The thickness is preferably 0.10 to 0.50 mm, particularly preferably 0.15 to 0.25.

(Plane gathering)
Each side flap portion SF, SF is elastic around the leg made of thread rubber or the like between the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 and the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 on the outer side in the width direction in the vicinity of the fastening start end of the secured portion of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62. The stretchable member 64 is fixed in a state of being stretched along the front-rear direction, whereby the leg-around portions of the side flap portions SF, SF are configured as a planar gather. The leg elastic member 64 can be disposed between the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 in the side flap portion SF. In addition to providing a plurality of leg elastic members 64 on each side as shown in the drawing, only one elastic member 64 can be provided on each side.

(Absorption element)
The absorption element 50 is a part that absorbs and holds liquid such as urine and loose stool. The absorbent element 50 includes an absorbent body 56 and a packaging sheet 58 that wraps at least the back and side surfaces of the absorbent body 56. The packaging sheet 58 can be omitted. The absorbent element 50 can be adhered to the inner surface of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 via an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive on the back surface.

(Absorber)
The absorber 56 can be formed of an aggregate of fibers. As this fiber assembly, a filament assembly obtained by opening as necessary a synthetic fiber tow (fiber bundle) such as cellulose acetate, in addition to those obtained by stacking short fibers such as cotton-like pulp and synthetic fibers Can also be used. The fiber basis weight can be set to, for example, about 100 to 300 g / m ² when cotton-like pulp or short fibers are stacked, and in the case of a filament aggregate, for example, about 30 to 120 g / m ^2. Can do. The fineness in the case of a synthetic fiber is 1-16 dtex, for example, Preferably it is 1-10 dtex, More preferably, it is 1-5 dtex. In the case of a filament aggregate, the filament may be a non-crimped fiber, but is preferably a crimped fiber. The crimped degree of the crimped fiber can be, for example, 5 to 75, preferably 10 to 50, and more preferably about 15 to 50 per inch. Further, a crimped fiber that is uniformly crimped is often used.

(Superabsorbent polymer particles)
The absorbent body 56 preferably includes superabsorbent polymer particles. In particular, at least in the liquid receiving region, the superabsorbent polymer particles (SAP particles) are dispersed substantially throughout the thickness direction with respect to the aggregate of fibers. Is desirable.

  If there is no SAP particle in the upper part, the lower part, and the middle part of the absorber 56, or if there is very little, it cannot be said that the "absorbed throughout the thickness direction". Therefore, “distributed in the entire thickness direction” means “distributed unevenly in the upper part, the lower part, and / or the middle part of the aggregate of fibers in addition to the form“ uniformly ”distributed in the entire thickness direction. However, it is still included in the form of being dispersed in the upper, lower and middle portions. Further, a form in which some SAP particles do not enter the fiber assembly and remain on the surface thereof, and a form in which some SAP particles pass through the fiber assembly and are on the packaging sheet 58 are also excluded. It is not something.

  Superabsorbent polymer particles include “powder” in addition to “particles”. As the particle diameter of the superabsorbent polymer particles, those used in this type of absorbent article can be used as they are, and those having a particle size of 1000 μm or less, particularly 150 to 400 μm are desirable. The material of the superabsorbent polymer particles can be used without any particular limitation, but those having a water absorption of 40 g / g or more are suitable. High-absorbent polymer particles include starch-based, cellulose-based, and synthetic polymer-based starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymers, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymers, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose crosslinks. Or an acrylic acid (salt) polymer can be used. As the shape of the superabsorbent polymer particles, a commonly used granular material is suitable, but other shapes can also be used.

  As the superabsorbent polymer particles, those having a water absorption rate of 40 seconds or less are preferably used. When the water absorption speed exceeds 40 seconds, so-called reversion in which the liquid supplied into the absorber 56 returns to the outside of the absorber 56 is likely to occur.

The basis weight of the superabsorbent polymer particles can be appropriately determined according to the amount of absorption required for the use of the absorber 56. Therefore, although it cannot be said unconditionally, it can be set to 50 to 350 g / m ² . If the amount of polymer is less than 50 g / m ^2, it is difficult to secure the absorption amount. When it exceeds 350 g / m ² , not only the effect is saturated, but also the sensation of incongruity due to the excess of the superabsorbent polymer particles is given.

(Packaging sheet)
When the packaging sheet 58 is used, as a material thereof, a crepe paper such as tissue paper, a nonwoven fabric, a polylaminated nonwoven fabric, a sheet having small holes, or the like can be used. However, it is desirable that the superabsorbent polymer particles be a sheet that does not escape. When a nonwoven fabric is used in place of the crepe paper, a hydrophilic SMMS (spunbond / meltblown / meltblown / spunbond) nonwoven fabric is particularly suitable, and polypropylene, polyethylene / polypropylene, etc. can be used as the material. The fiber basis weight is preferably 5 to 40 g / m ² , particularly 10 to 30 g / m ² .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the packaging sheet 58 may wrap only the back surface and the side surface of the layer in addition to the form for wrapping the entire absorbent body 56. Although not shown, only the upper and side surfaces of the absorbent body 56 are covered with crepe paper or a nonwoven fabric, and the lower surface is covered with a liquid-impermeable sheet such as polyethylene, and the upper surface of the absorbent body 56 is covered with crepe paper or a nonwoven fabric. For example, the lower surface may be covered with a liquid-impermeable sheet such as polyethylene (each of these materials is a component of the packaging sheet). If necessary, the absorbent body 56 may be sandwiched between two upper and lower sheets or disposed only on the lower surface, but this is not desirable because it is difficult to prevent the movement of the superabsorbent polymer particles.

(Fastening tape)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the fastening tape 13 includes a sheet base material that forms a tape attachment portion 13 </ b> C fixed to a side portion of the diaper and a tape main body portion 13 </ b> B protruding from the tape attachment portion 13 </ b> C. And a locking portion 13A for the abdomen side provided at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the tape main body portion 13B in the sheet base material, and the tip side from this locking portion 13A is a knob. The tape attachment portion 13C of the fastening tape 13 is sandwiched between the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 forming the inner layer and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 forming the outer layer in the side flap portion, and is bonded to both sheets 62 and 12 by a hot melt adhesive. . Moreover, 13 A of latching parts are joined to the sheet | seat base material with the adhesive agent so that peeling is impossible.

  In the baby diaper, among the dimensions of the tape attachment portion 13C, the length X1 of the diaper in the width direction is preferably 10 to 50 mm, particularly 20 to 40 mm, and the length Y1 in the front-rear direction is 20 to 100 mm, particularly It is preferable that it is 40-80 mm. Of the dimensions of the tape body 13B, the length of the diaper in the width direction is preferably 30 to 80 mm, particularly 40 to 60 mm, and the length (height) in the front-rear direction is 20 to 70 mm, particularly 25 to 25 mm. 50 mm is preferred. In addition, when a part or all of the fastening tape 13 has a substantially tapered shape, for example, and the length in the front-rear direction and the length in the width direction are not constant, the numerical range is determined by an average value. The fastening tape 13 may have a symmetrical shape such as a rectangular shape. However, if the fastening tape 13 is a convex shape composed of a wide attachment portion and an elongated tip side portion, the grip portion on the tip side portion can be easily picked and This is preferable because the tension between the bases of this region acts over a wide range.

  As the locking portion 13A, a hook material (male material) of a mechanical fastener (surface fastener) is suitable. The hook material has a large number of engaging projections on the outer surface side thereof. The shape of the engaging protrusion is (A) Le-shaped, (B) J-shaped, (C) Mushroom-shaped, (D) T-shaped, (E) Double J-shaped (J-shaped And the like may be any shape. Of course, an adhesive layer can also be provided as a locking portion of the fastening tape 13.

Moreover, as a sheet | seat base material which forms from a tape attachment part to a tape main-body part, although a nonwoven fabric, a plastic film, a polylamination nonwoven fabric, paper, and these composite materials can be used, a fineness of 1.0-3.5 dtex, basis weight A spunbond nonwoven fabric, air-through nonwoven fabric, or spunlace nonwoven fabric having a thickness of ^{20 to} 100 g / m ² and a thickness of 1 mm or less is preferred.

  When the diaper is mounted, the fastening tape is locked at a suitable position on the outer surface of the abdominal side F with the back side flap portion SF overlapped with the outside of the abdominal side flap portion SF. The position and size of the fastening portion of the fastening tape 13 can be arbitrarily determined. In diapers for infants, the locking location is a rectangular range of 20 to 80 mm in the front-rear direction and 150 to 300 mm in the width direction, and the distance in the height direction between the upper edge and the ventral upper edge is 0 to 60 mm, particularly 20 to 50 mm. And the center in the width direction of the product.

  When the fastening tape 13 is attached so that the tape attachment portion 13C of the fastening tape 13 overlaps the boundary line between the back end flap portion EF and the absorbing element 50, the fastening tape 13 is placed between the attachment portions of the left and right fastening tapes 13 when the diaper is attached. This is preferable because the back end portion of the absorbent element 50 is firmly pressed against the body by the tension acting on the body. Moreover, if the attachment part of the fastening tape 13 is too far from the back side end part (rear end part) of the diaper, the tension acting between the tape attachment parts 13C of the left and right fastening tapes 13 when the diaper is mounted is on the back side of the diaper. Since it does not reach the end, a gap is likely to occur between the back end of the diaper and the body surface. Therefore, the length in the front-rear direction of the back end flap portion EF is preferably the same as or shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the tape attachment portion 13 </ b> C of the fastening tape 13.

(Target sheet)
It is preferable to provide a target sheet 12T having a target for facilitating the locking at the locking position of the fastening tape 13 on the ventral side F. As the target sheet 12T, when the hook portion is the hook material 13A, a target sheet 12T can be used in which a large number of loop yarns are formed on the surface of a sheet base material made of a plastic film or nonwoven fabric so that the hook material engagement protrusions are entangled. In the case of an adhesive material layer, a sheet base material made of a plastic film having a smooth surface that is rich in adhesiveness can be used. Further, when the fastening portion of the fastening tape 13 on the ventral side F is made of a nonwoven fabric, for example, when the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 of the illustrated form is made of a nonwoven fabric, and the fastening portion of the fastening tape 13 is a hook material 13A, The target sheet 12T can be omitted, and the hook material 13A can be entangled with the nonwoven fabric of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 and locked. In this case, the target sheet 12T may be provided between the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 and the liquid-impermeable sheet 11.

(End flap)
The end flap part is a part that extends to the front side and the rear side of the absorbent main body part 10 and does not have the absorbent element 50, and the front side extension part is the ventral end flap part EF. The rear extended portion is the back end flap portion EF.

  The length in the front-rear direction of the back end flap EF is preferably the same as or shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the attachment portion of the fastening tape 13 for the reason described above. If it is too close, a gap is likely to occur between the back end of the diaper and the body surface due to the thickness and stiffness of the absorbent element 50, so that it is preferably 10 mm or more.

  The length in the front-rear direction of the ventral end flap portion EF and the back end flap portion EF is preferably about 5 to 20% of the length L in the front-rear direction of the entire diaper. In diapers for infants, 10-60 mm, In particular, a thickness of 20 to 50 mm is appropriate.

(Back elastic sheet)
In the illustrated form, a belt-like back-side elastic sheet 70 that elastically expands and contracts in the width direction is provided between the fastening tapes 13 to improve the fit in the diaper back side. Both end portions of the back-side elastic sheet 70 are preferably extended to a portion that overlaps with the attachment portions of both fastening tapes 13, but may be separated to the center in the width direction. The back-and-forth stretchable sheet 70 has a front-rear dimension that is approximately the same as the front-rear dimension of the attachment portion of the fastening tape 13, but may have a dimensional difference of about ± 20%. In addition, when the back side elastic sheet 70 is arranged so as to overlap the boundary line between the back side end flap portion EF and the absorbent element 50 as shown in the figure, the back side end portion of the absorbent element 50 is firmly pressed against the body. Therefore, it is preferable. The back side elastic sheet 70 may use a sheet-like elastic elastic member such as a rubber sheet, but it is preferable to use a nonwoven fabric or paper from the viewpoint of air permeability. In this case, a sheet-like elastic stretchable member having air permeability such as a stretchable nonwoven fabric can be used. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet base 71 such as two nonwoven fabrics is bonded to an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. It is preferable that the elastic elastic member 72 such as a perforated sheet, net, or elongated (thread-like or string-like) is fixed between the two sheet base materials 71 while being stretched along the width direction. Used for. As the sheet base material 71 in this case, the same material as the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 can be used. It is preferable that the elastic expansion / contraction member 72 has an extension ratio of about 150 to 250%. In addition, when an elongated (stretch or string-like) member is used as the elastic elastic member 72, it is preferable to provide about 5 to 15 members having a thickness of 420 to 1120 dtex at intervals 72d of 3 to 10 mm.

  In addition, it is preferable that a part of the elastic expansion / contraction member 72 is arranged so as to cross the absorbent element 50 as shown in the figure because the fitting property of the absorption element 50 is improved, but in this case, the elastic expansion / contraction member 72 is used. If the contraction force is prevented from acting on a part or all of the overlapping portion by means such as cutting, the back end of the absorbent element 50 does not contract in the width direction, so that the fit is further improved.

  The elastic elastic member 72 may be fixed over the entire length of the sheet base material 71 in the longitudinal direction of the sheet (width direction of the diaper), but in order to prevent the sheet from shrinking or curling when attached to the diaper body, In the range of about 5 to 20 mm at the end in the front-rear direction (diaper width direction), it is preferable that the contraction force does not work or the elastic elastic member 72 does not exist.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the back-side stretchable sheet 70 is sandwiched between the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 on both sides in the width direction of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11, and is liquid-impermeable at a portion overlapping the liquid-impermeable sheet 11. Although provided so that it may be pinched | interposed between the permeable sheet 11 and the absorption element 50, you may provide between the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12, and it provides on the outer surface of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12. Alternatively, it may be provided between the top sheet 30 and the absorbent element 50. Further, the back-side elastic sheet 70 may be provided on the top sheet 30. In this case, the back-side elastic sheet 70 may be provided on the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 on both sides in the width direction of the liquid-impermeable sheet 11. When the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is formed by stacking a plurality of sheet base materials, the entire back-side stretchable sheet 70 may be provided between the sheet base materials of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12.

(Flexibility of three-dimensional gathers)
Characteristically, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, at least the skin-side constituent portion on the leading end side of the rising portion 68 of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 of the side three-dimensional gather 60 is subjected to softening embossing, 90 is formed. That is, the region where the unevenness 90 is formed in the figure is the softening embossing region. As a technique for softening the touch of the side three-dimensional gather 60, various techniques such as reducing the fiber basis weight of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 and thinning the fiber are conceivable. However, if the fiber basis weight is simply reduced, the liquid blocking property is lowered. It is difficult to ensure the liquid blocking property and strength required for the side three-dimensional gather 60, for example, when the fiber is simply thinned, the strength is lowered. On the other hand, when softening embossing is given to the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, highly flexible can be achieved while suppressing the liquid blocking property and strength reduction required for the side three-dimensional gather 60.

  Softening embossing has no fiber fusion to maintain the uneven shape of the emboss, and the softness (meaning according to the “41.5 ° cantilever method” of JIS L 1913: 2010) decreases with the formation of the unevenness. Embossing, and the bending resistance after processing is preferably about 15 to 40 mm, more preferably 20 to 35 mm. Softening embossing can be heated at the time of embossing, but even if heated, it must be below the melting point of the fiber. Specifically, in the case of a non-woven fabric of olefin fiber, the heating temperature can be 0 to 100 degrees.

  When such softening embossing is applied to a nonwoven fabric, irregularities 90 are formed without fiber fusion, possibly due to fiber breakage due to the formation of irregularities, and changes in the fiber structure due to stretching and shrinkage of the nonwoven fabric itself. In addition to a decrease in the bending resistance, the softness of the skin is remarkably improved due to the reduction of the skin contact area and the improvement of the compression recovery property due to the formation of irregularities. Moreover, compared to simply reducing the fiber basis weight or making the fibers thinner, the liquid barrier property and strength reduction required for the side three-dimensional gather 60 are less.

As embossing, the following uneven | corrugated formation method (a drilling process is not included) can be employ | adopted, for example, and double-sided embossing is preferable at a point with a high softening effect especially.
-Single-sided embossing As shown in FIG. 8A, a nonwoven fabric 80 is sandwiched between an embossing roll 81 (engraving roll) having an uneven pattern on the outer peripheral surface and an elastic roll 82 (rubber roll, etc.), thereby forming irregularities on the nonwoven fabric 80. Processing.
-Double-sided embossing As shown in FIG. 8 (b), a nonwoven fabric is provided between the male embossing roll 83a having a male pattern unevenness and the female embossing roll 83b having a female pattern unevenness combined with the male pattern unevenness. The process which forms an unevenness | corrugation in the nonwoven fabric 80 on both sides of 80. The steel match embossing in which both embossing rolls 83a and 83b are steel rolls corresponds to this, but includes one in which one roll is formed of a material other than steel.
・ Tip to tip
As shown in FIG. 8C, the nonwoven fabric 80 is sandwiched between a pair of embossing rolls 84a and 84b having the same concavo-convex pattern and rotating in the same phase, and sandwiching only the portion where the convexity and convexity are combined. This is a process that forms unevenness on the surface, and the processing does not produce a difference in the uneven shape of the processed product.

  The uneven shape formed on the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 (the same applies to the exterior nonwoven fabric 12) is not particularly limited, and a form in which a large number of dot-shaped concave portions or convex portions such as circles and polygons are formed at predetermined intervals in the processing region is also possible. Although the degree of decrease in the liquid barrier property is small, the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is corrugated (corrugated sheet) as shown in FIGS. And the like in which the wavy cross section is continuous, and the undulations appear as irregularities 90 on the front and back surfaces. As shown in FIG. 9, such wave machining includes a male embossing roll 85 in which a large number of streak-like convex portions 85 p extending around the entire circumference are formed at predetermined intervals in the axial direction, and each convex streak 85 p of the male embossing roll 85. It can be formed by double-sided embossing using a female embossing roll 86 in which a large number of groove-like recesses 86d extending around the entire circumference are formed at predetermined intervals in the axial direction.

FIG. 10 shows the state of the nonwoven fabric 80 before and after the corrugated double-side embossing in the SMS nonwoven fabric 80 having a fineness of 2 dtex and a fiber basis weight of 17 g / m ^2. It can be seen that the fiber breakage caused by. Moreover, although it is difficult to understand from the figure, along with the formation of the unevenness, an increase in the bulk due to the change in the fiber structure of the nonwoven fabric 80 itself has also occurred. Table 1 shows the measurement results of bending resistance before and after processing (JIS L 1913: 2010 “41.5 ° cantilever method”) and compression resilience RC of KES (Kawabata Evaluation SYSTEM).

The size of the unevenness formed by embossing may be determined as appropriate, but in the case of dot-like unevenness, the area of the bottom of the recess or the top of the protrusion is preferably about 0.50 to 3.00 mm ² , and the center interval Is preferably about 3.00 to 5.00 mm. In the case of the corrugated irregularities 90, the wave height α (apparent nonwoven fabric thickness; see FIG. 10) is preferably about 0.25 to 0.60 mm, particularly about 0.30 to 0.45 mm, and the interval λ (wave (Refer to FIG. 10) is preferably 0.30 to 2.00 mm, and more preferably about 0.40 to 0.60 mm. In particular, as shown in FIG. 12A, the corrugated unevenness 90 has a higher wave height toward the tip of the side three-dimensional gather 60, and a softer touch can be obtained at a portion that is more likely to come into contact with the skin. It is preferable because movement of excrement moving in the direction over the side solid gather 60 can be more effectively prevented. As can be seen from this form, the size of the irregularities 90 may not be the same.

  In addition, since the nonwoven fabric formed in the corrugated shape has a certain direction of flexibility, in the case of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, the corrugated unevenness 90 extends in the direction in which the side solid gather 60 extends (in the case of the side solid gather 60, the article). When it is extended along the front-rear direction (see FIG. 14) (that is, the cross section in the width direction has a waveform), the side three-dimensional gather 60 is easily deformed following the body shape, and the material itself is flexible. It is preferable because the contact with the skin at the time of wearing becomes flexible together with the touch. Needless to say, the corrugated irregularities may extend along other directions.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12, the softening embossing is applied to at least the skin-side component 62 f (the non-skin side is indicated by reference numeral 62 n) at the leading end 68 of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, As long as the unevenness 90 is formed, the entire gathered nonwoven fabric is processed as shown in FIG. 11 (a) to form the unevenness 90, and the form not applied to other regions as shown in FIG. 11 (b) You can also

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the rising portion 68 (the diagonally rising portion on the right in the drawing), the lying portion 67 (the obliquely rising portion on the left in the drawing), and the base portion 65 (the crossing portion) shown in FIG. Of these, only the entire rising portion 68 can be used as a softening embossing region, or only the entire rising portion 68 and the fallen portion 67 can be used as a softening embossing region.

  In particular, in the case of a tape-type disposable diaper having a region where the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is joined to the fastening tape 13 as shown in the figure, the strength of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 affects the mounting strength of the fastening tape 13, so that FIG. As shown by vertical stripes in the corrugated region 91 by the softening embossing, it is preferable not to reduce the attachment strength of the fastening tape 13 without performing the softening embossing in the joining region of the fastening tape 13 in the gathered nonwoven fabric 62.

  Moreover, while providing the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 which comprises the back surface of a diaper like illustration form, the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 and the gather nonwoven fabric 62 are joined to the diaper peripheral part (in the case of an illustration, since it is the side part solid gather 60, both sides). In the structure having the formed portion, as described above, the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 can be softened and embossed to form the unevenness 90 in order to soften the touch of the outer surface of the product. However, as shown in FIG. 11A, if the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is also softened and embossed, the joining region 12S of the outer nonwoven fabric 12 and the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 on both sides of the diaper becomes too flexible, and the touch is extremely high. Although it is flexible, the stiffness is weak and the fit may be reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 14, the joining region 12 </ b> S of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 with the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is subjected to softening embossing, and other than the joining region 12 </ b> S with the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12. The area of the diaper is subjected to softening embossing, and the joint area 12S of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 with the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is not subjected to softening embossing, thereby improving the touch of the diaper front and back surfaces together. It is preferable to suppress a decrease in stiffness at the peripheral edge.

  On the other hand, when softening embossing is performed on the gathered nonwoven fabric, the liquid blocking property is inevitably lowered. Therefore, the skin-side component 62f and the non-skin-side component of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 are adopted as shown in FIG. Rather than embossing both sides 62n to form unevenness 90, as shown in FIGS. 11 (b), 12 (a) and 12 (b), only the skin side component 62f of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is flexible. It is also one preferred form that the embossing is performed to form the irregularities 90 and the non-skin side component 62 is not subjected to the softening embossing. Thereby, while acquiring the softening effect of the touch by the skin side structural part of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, the non-skin side structural part 62n can suppress a liquid-blocking fall.

<Example of manufacturing method>
FIG. 15 shows an example of a manufacturing method of the above-mentioned disposable diaper, and the black arrow in the drawing shows application of the hot melt adhesive. The production line of this production method includes an absorbent element production part 100, a front side production part 110, a back side production part 130, and an assembly / finishing part 140. Hereinafter, each part will be described in order.

  In the absorbent element manufacturing part 100, a strip-shaped packaging sheet 58 is unwound from an unillustrated raw roll and transported along the longitudinal direction, and then the absorbent body 56 is intermittently disposed in the widthwise intermediate portion on the packaging sheet 58 in the flow direction. I will put it on. In the illustrated embodiment, after the roll pulp 56F is crushed by the garnet cylinder 101 and mixed with the superabsorbent polymer particles 56P, the absorbent body 56 obtained by stacking in a predetermined shape by the stacking drum 102 is placed on the packaging sheet 58. It is configured to supply. The absorbent body 56 placed on the packaging sheet 58 is sandwiched between the pair of press rolls 103 and pressed together with the packaging sheet 58, and then protrudes to both sides of the absorbent body 56 in the width direction (CD direction). Is folded on the upper side of the absorbent body 56 by the packaging sheet sailor 104, the absorbent body 56 is wrapped by the packaging sheet 58, and is crimped by the packaging sheet pressure roller 105. The absorbent body 56 wrapped in the packaging sheet 58 is then intermittently cut in the line flow direction at a position between the absorbent bodies 56 by the absorbent element cutter device 106, and the individual absorbent elements 50 (the absorbent body 56 is packed into the packaging sheet). The absorbent element 50 is supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140.

  On the other hand, in the front side production part 110, elements on the front side with respect to the absorbent element 50 are assembled and supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140. More specifically, after the belt-shaped sheet base material is fed out from a raw roll (not shown) and transferred along the longitudinal direction, the slitter 111 divides each of the left and right gathered nonwoven fabrics 62 into each gathered nonwoven fabric 62. The gather elastic elastic member 63 is fed out and pasted in a stretched state, and the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is folded back so as to sandwich the gather elastic elastic member 63 by the three-dimensional gather sailor 112 to form a three-dimensional gather 60, which is supplied to the tape applicator. To do. In this part, before the gathering process of the gather elastic elastic member, the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is sandwiched between a pair of rolls 119 in which at least one roll is an embossing roll having a concavo-convex pattern on the outer peripheral surface, and softened embossing The flexible side three-dimensional gather 60 described above is formed by processing (the detailed description is omitted because it has been described above). Since softening embossing does not have fiber fusion to maintain the embossed uneven shape, the method of winding a pre-processed nonwoven fabric on a roll and setting it on the production line may reduce or eliminate the unevenness. However, if the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is softened and embossed inline as in the illustrated example, such a risk is reduced.

  At this time, as shown in the drawing, the water repellent 119x is supplied to the uneven pattern of the embossing roll, and the water repellent 119x is transferred from the uneven pattern of the embossing roll to the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, thereby making the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 water repellent. It is one preferred form to impart. When softening embossing is used, the liquid barrier property of the nonwoven fabric is inevitably lowered. Therefore, it is desirable to compensate for the decrease in the liquid barrier properties with the water repellent 119x. In this case, the water-repellent agent 119x is selectively applied to a portion where the waterproofing property of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 is desired by simultaneously performing the concave-convex pattern formation and the water-repellent agent transfer through the embossing roll concave-convex pattern as described above. It can be applied, and the liquid blocking property can be improved without waste. This water repellent coating can be applied to the water-repellent nonwoven in order to compensate for the decrease in the liquid barrier property due to the softening embossing or to the non-water-repellent nonwoven.

  In addition, a belt-like hook base material is continuously pasted along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction while feeding the belt-like sheet base material from a raw roll (not shown) and transported along the longitudinal direction. Both ends in the width direction (CD direction) of the material are pressure-bonded by a tape embossing roll 113 to form a tape 13 base material 13T, and then divided into two in the CD direction by a wavy cutting line by a tape round cutter 114. A continuous band of the fastening tape 13 (in a state where the inner tape 13 is continuous in the vertical direction) is formed, and these are supplied to the tape applicator 115.

  In the tape affixing device 115, the fastening tape 13 continuous band is cut into individual fastening tapes 13 by the cutter unit 116, the fastening tape 13 is affixed to a separately supplied solid gather, and then the fastening tape 117 is used to fasten the fastening tape. The inner surface of 13 is folded back on the base of the three-dimensional gather, and the folded portion is affixed to the three-dimensional gather with a hook material, and then pin embossing 118 is performed as necessary to join the hook material and the fastening tapes 13 and 14 together. Reinforce.

  Next, the three-dimensional gather to which the fastening tape 13 is attached is attached to the laminate of the top sheet 30 and the intermediate sheet 40. More specifically, while the strip-shaped intermediate sheet 40 is fed out from a raw roll (not shown) and transported along the longitudinal direction, a plurality of openings are formed by the perforating roll 121, while the strip-shaped top is formed from the raw roll (not shown). The sheet 30 is fed out, and the intermediate sheet 40 after perforation is bonded to the top sheet 30 by the intermediate sheet laminating roll 122 to form a laminate of the top sheet 30 and the intermediate sheet 40, and then the surface of the top sheet 30 of the laminate is formed. The solid gather 60 to which the fastening tape 13 is attached is pasted. In the illustrated embodiment, the flat gather elastic elastic member 64 is further fed out and pasted on the back surface of the three-dimensional gather 60 in an expanded state, and then supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140 as a front side element. Yes.

  On the other hand, in the back side manufacturing part 130, elements on the back side of the absorbent element 50 are assembled and supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140. More specifically, while the belt-shaped outer nonwoven fabric 12 is fed out from a raw roll (not shown) and transferred along the longitudinal direction, the target sheet 12T is first attached to the outer nonwoven fabric 12, and then the liquid impermeability. After the sheet 11 is pasted, these are supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140 as elements on the back side. In particular, in the illustrated form, the target sheet 12T continuous band is cut into individual target sheets 12T by the target sheet cutter unit 131, and the target sheet 12T is attached to the outer surface of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 by the target sheet attaching roll 132, The strip-shaped liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is cut into individual liquid-impermeable sheets 11 by a liquid-impermeable sheet cutter unit 133, and the liquid-impermeable sheet 11 is packaged by a liquid-impermeable sheet attaching roll 134. The structure is affixed to the inner surface of the nonwoven fabric 12.

  Further, separately from the exterior nonwoven fabric system, the back elastic elastic member 72 is fed out to the sheet base 71 while feeding the belt-like sheet base 71 from a raw roll (not shown) and transporting it along the longitudinal direction. The sheet base material 72 is folded back so as to sandwich the back elastic elastic member 72 by the back elastic sheet sailor 135 to form a back elastic sheet, and the back elastic sheet in the back elastic sheet is attached. A part of the member 72 is finely cut by an elastic elastic member cutter 136 as necessary so that the contraction force does not act, and then intermittently cut in the line flow direction by a back side elastic sheet cutter device 137 and individually The back-side elastic sheet 70 is formed, and the back-side elastic sheet 70 is rotated 90 degrees by the turner 138 and supplied to the assembly / finishing part 140. . By omitting the back-side stretchable sheet manufacturing part, a tape-type disposable diaper without the back-side stretchable sheet 70 can be manufactured.

  Then, in the assembly / finishing part 140, the back-side stretchable sheet 70, which is also sequentially supplied, is pasted on the inner surface of the back-side element sequentially supplied from the back-side manufacturing part by the assembly drum 141, and the absorbent element is manufactured thereon. Adhering absorbent elements 50 sequentially supplied from the part. Further, the front side elements (a top sheet, an intermediate sheet, a three-dimensional gather, a fastening tape, and a semi-finished product of a flat gather elastic elastic member) supplied from the upper manufacturing part are pasted thereon, and then a CD by a leg-cutter die cutter 142. Both side edges in the direction are intermittently cut along the circumference of the legs in the flow direction, and then both sides in the CD direction are folded to the inner surface side by the side flap sailor 143 and then intermittent in the line flow direction by the product cutter device 144 To form a separate diaper DP. Although not shown, the individualized diaper DP is folded in two so that the front and rear direction center is a crease so that the surfaces meet each other, and then a predetermined number of layers are stacked and packaged in a packaging bag.

<Others>
In the above example, the application example of the softening embossing to the side three-dimensional gather 60 is shown. However, as long as it is a three-dimensional gather, the one provided in another part, for example, JP 2009-5999 A, JP 07 07 As described in JP-A-184955 and JP-A-2001-293032, the back side and the abdomen are provided along the width direction to prevent leakage from the waist, and the excrement blocking position (width) It can also be applied to a three-dimensional gather that rises from the surface along (extends in the direction).

  The present invention is not limited to the tape-type disposable diaper as in the above example as long as it is provided with a three-dimensional gather, but also used for other absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins as well as pad-type and pants-type disposable diapers. It is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Liquid impervious sheet, 12 ... Exterior nonwoven fabric, 13 ... Fastening tape, 13A ... Locking part, 13B ... Tape main body part, 13C ... Tape attachment part, 30 ... Top sheet, 40 ... Intermediate sheet, 50 ... Absorbing element 56 ... Absorber, 58 ... Packaging sheet, 60 ... Side three-dimensional gather, 62 ... Gathered non-woven fabric, 70 ... Back side elastic sheet, 12T ... Target sheet, 65 ... Base part, 66 ... Body part, 67 ... Lodging part, 68 ... rise part, 90 ... unevenness.

Claims (8)

In the absorbent article in which a three-dimensional gather that rises from the surface along the blocking position of excrement is extended,
The three-dimensional gather is to make a gathered nonwoven fabric contract by a gather elastic elastic member and to stand up,
Softening embossing is given to the skin side component part at least of the rising portion tip side of the gathered nonwoven fabric,
A tape-type disposable diaper characterized by that.   The tape-type disposable diaper according to claim 1, wherein the softening embossing is double-sided embossing in which the gathered nonwoven fabric is processed into a corrugated shape.   The tape-type disposable diaper according to claim 2, wherein the corrugated irregularities formed by the softening embossing are extended along a direction in which the three-dimensional gather extends.   The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the corrugated irregularities formed by the softening embossing are formed such that a wave height is higher toward a tip end side of the three-dimensional gather. A tape-type disposable diaper with a fastening tape that protrudes from both sides of the dorsal side and is locked to the outer surface of the ventral side,
The gathered nonwoven fabric has a region where the fastening tape is joined, and the joined region of the fastening tape is not subjected to the softening nonwoven fabric processing,
The absorbent article of any one of Claims 1-4. In addition to the exterior nonwoven fabric constituting the back of the article, the outer periphery of the article has a portion where the exterior nonwoven fabric and the gathered nonwoven fabric are joined,
In the joint region with the exterior nonwoven fabric in the gathered nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is applied,
In a region other than the joining region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is applied,
In the joint region with the gathered nonwoven fabric in the exterior nonwoven fabric, softening embossing is not performed,
The absorbent article of any one of Claims 1-5. In the absorbent article production line, a gathered elastic elastic member is bonded to a gathered nonwoven fabric fed from a roll to form a three-dimensional gather, and the three-dimensional gather rises from the surface of the absorbent article along the excrement blocking position. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
Before the gathering process of the gather elastic elastic member, the gathered nonwoven fabric is subjected to softening embossing by sandwiching at least one roll between a pair of rolls that are embossed rolls having an uneven pattern on the outer peripheral surface. ,
The manufacturing method of the absorbent article characterized by the above-mentioned.   The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein a water repellent is supplied to the uneven pattern of the embossing roll and the water repellent is transferred from the uneven pattern of the embossing roll to the gathered nonwoven fabric during the softening embossing.