JP2015085654A - Apparatus of manufacturing sheet fused body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus of manufacturing a sheet fused body, which divides a belt-like sheet laminate by irradiating a laser beam to the sheet laminate and forms seal edges by fusing the edges divided in a state of being overlapped and capable of achieving high irradiation accuracy of a laser beam and providing seal edges of high quality.SOLUTION: A support member 21 (a support plate 122) has a long slit-like opening 27 capable of passing a laser beam in a width direction CD orthogonal to a conveyance direction MD of a belt-like sheet laminate. The support member 21 is arranged so as to be movable to the conveyance direction MD. An inclined plane 21P is formed on the inner surface of the support member 21. A support member adjustment pin 50 is provided so that a tip part 50a is arranged to move close to or away from the inclined plane 21P. The position or width of the opening 27 can be adjusted by bringing the tip part 50a of a pin 50 into contact with the inclined plane 21P to move the support member 21 to the conveyance direction MD.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a manufacturing process of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins, a heat roll apparatus is widely used for joining stacked sheets. As another bonding method, a method of welding using a laser beam is also known. For example, in Patent Document 1, while transporting a belt-shaped sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, deformed into a shape along the peripheral surface of a rotary roll having a laser light transmitting portion on the peripheral surface, A method for obtaining a seal edge by irradiating a laser beam to the sheet laminate from the inside of the rotating roll to fuse the sheets in the sheet laminated body is described. A form in which a part of the direction is the laser light transmitting part is also described.

JP 2010-188629 A

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the irradiation accuracy of laser light can greatly affect the quality of final products such as absorbent articles obtained using the apparatus. In particular, in an embodiment in which a part of the rotating roll in the circumferential direction is a laser light transmitting part, which is an embodiment of the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, laser light is highly accurately transmitted to the laser light transmitting part. In this case, if the position and size (width) of the laser light transmitting part is distorted for some reason, the seal edge of the manufactured product will be obtained. There is a possibility that the quality of the product may be deteriorated, for example, the width of the portion becomes different from the intended width, or the sealing edge portion has insufficient fusion strength. In the apparatus as described in Patent Document 1, a technique capable of improving the irradiation accuracy of laser light has not been provided yet.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an apparatus for forming a seal edge by irradiating a belt-shaped sheet laminate with laser light and dividing it, and fusing the divided edges in an overlapping state. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion product, which can provide a high-quality seal edge with high laser beam irradiation accuracy.

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion body having a seal edge portion fused with the edges of a plurality of sheets being overlapped, and a plurality of sheets including a laser light irradiation head and a resin material at least partially. A support member that supports one surface of the belt-shaped sheet laminate on which the sheets are stacked, and the support member has a width orthogonal to the transport direction of the belt-shaped sheet laminate through which laser light can pass. The strip-shaped sheet laminate that has a slit-like opening in the direction and is supplied and supported on the outer surface of the support member is irradiated with laser light along the opening from the support member side. And a sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus for continuously manufacturing a plurality of sheet fusion bodies having the seal edge, wherein the separation edge is fused in an overlapped state. Support member can move in the transport direction An inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the support member in a cross-sectional view along the transport direction is formed on the inner surface of the support member, and a tip portion is further separated from the inclined surface. A support member adjusting pin arranged so as to be able to come into contact; and by bringing the tip of the support member adjusting pin into contact with the inclined surface, the support member is moved in the transport direction so that the position of the opening Alternatively, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion product, the width of which can be adjusted.

  According to the sheet fusion product manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the belt-shaped sheet laminate can be irradiated with laser light with high accuracy, so that the sealing edge portion has excellent flexibility and touch and is practically sufficient. A sheet fusion product having adhesion strength can be produced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a pants-type disposable diaper manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line II in FIG. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams corresponding to FIG. 2 of the side seal part (seal edge part) on one side and the vicinity thereof in a state where the waist opening of the diaper shown in FIG. 2 is expanded. . FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a laser type bonding apparatus which is an embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the diaper continuous body (band-shaped sheet laminate) is introduced into the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cylindrical roll (supporting member) of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the cylindrical roll (supporting member) shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a part (second support part) of the cylindrical roll (support member) shown in FIG. 4 further enlarged. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part (second support part constituting the support member) of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which only the base is formed by removing the support plate from the second support portion illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the main part of the second support part shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a further main part of the second support part shown in FIG. 11. FIGS. 13A to 13D are explanatory views for explaining how the opening of the support member is adjusted by the support member adjustment pin in the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a side view of the modified example of the second support portion shown in FIG. 9 along the conveying direction of the belt-shaped sheet laminate. FIG. 15 is a perspective view (corresponding to FIG. 9) of another modification of the second support portion shown in FIG. FIG. 16: is a perspective view which shows typically the manufacturing process of a diaper continuous body (band-shaped sheet laminated body). 17 (a) to 17 (c) respectively form the side seal portion (seal edge) at the same time as the diaper continuous body (band-shaped sheet laminate) is divided using the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining a mode to do.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The sheet fusion body manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, that is, the sheet fusion body having the seal edge portion fused in a state where the edge portions of a plurality of sheets are overlapped, is, for example, FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 includes an exterior body 3 having a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4. First, the underpants type disposable diaper 1 is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaper 1 includes an absorbent main body 2 and an exterior body 3 that is disposed on the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent main body 2 and fixes the absorbent main body 2. And both side edge portions of the exterior body 3 in the ventral side portion 1A and both side edge portions of the exterior body in the back side portion 1B are joined together to form a pair of side seal portions 4, 4, a waist opening portion 8 and a pair of A pants-type disposable diaper in which leg openings 9, 9 are formed. The side seal portion 4 is a portion corresponding to the “seal edge portion fused in a state where the edge portions of a plurality of sheets overlap”.

  The side seal part 4 is mentioned as one of the main characteristic parts of the diaper 1 manufactured with the manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a cross-sectional view in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the side seal portion 4 extends (width direction of the diaper 1), a diaper continuous body 10 described later (a plurality of sheets including a resin material at least partially). The outer edge 4a of the side seal portion 4 formed by the laser beam irradiation of the belt-like sheet laminate on which the sheets are stacked) forms a convex arc shape toward the inside of the exterior body 3 (sheet fusion body). In addition, a fusion part 40 between the four sheets 31 and 32 constituting the exterior body 3 is formed on the inner side of the exterior body 3 including the outer edge 4a. The central part of the exterior body 3 in the thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) is wider than both ends (upper end and lower end). That is, the fusion part 40 is gradually widened toward the central part in the thickness direction in a cross-sectional view in the width direction of the diaper 1 (direction perpendicular to the dividing direction by the laser beam). The so-called crescent or half moon is formed. Note that the fused portion 40 shown in FIG. 2 has a crescent shape.

  In general, the side seal part is a cause that reduces the feeling of wearing of the diaper due to the presence of the fused part formed by melting and solidifying the sheet forming material, which is harder and softer than other parts of the diaper. It is a possible part. However, like the side seal part 4 of the diaper 1, if the fusion part 40 is formed in a crescent shape or a half moon shape in a sectional view in the width direction of the diaper 1, the fusion part in the conventional side seal part Thus, the ratio of the fusion | bond part 40 which exists in the corner | angular part 3S (refer FIG. 3) of the side edge part of the exterior body 3 which comprises the side seal part 4 compared with the case where it forms in the rectangular shape in the same sectional view. As a result, the flexibility and feel of the corner 3S are less likely to be impaired. Therefore, as for the diaper 1, the feeling of wear of a diaper improves compared with a conventional product. On the other hand, the central portion in the thickness direction of the side edge portion of the exterior body 3 (the corner 3S and the other surface on one surface side of the exterior body 3 shown in FIG. 3), which is a part that greatly affects the fusion strength of the side seal portion 4. Since a sufficient amount of the fusion part 40 exists in the middle part of the part sandwiched between the side 3S, the side seal part 4 has a practically sufficient fusion strength, and the diaper 1 Inconveniences such as tearing of the side seal 4 during wearing are unlikely to occur.

  Moreover, the side seal part 4 (fusion | fusion part 40) has the characteristic that it is hard to visually recognize from the outside in the wearing state or natural state (contraction state) of the diaper 1. FIG. 3 shows the side seal portion 4 (fused portion 40) in a state where the waist opening 8 is expanded when the diaper 1 is worn. In the state where the waist opening portion 8 is expanded, the side seal portion 4 is normally in a state where the fused portion 40 is exposed as shown in FIG. 3A, but the outer edge 4a of the side seal portion 4 is the exterior. It is difficult to visually recognize from the outside due to the convex arc shape toward the inside of the body 3 and the fact that the fused portion 40 is smaller than the conventional side seal portion (fused portion). In particular, the outer edge 4a of the side seal portion 4 has a convex arc shape toward the inner side of the exterior body 3, so that depending on the forming material of the sheets 31, 32, as shown in FIG. In a state where the waist opening 8 is expanded when the diaper 1 is worn, the corner 3S of the side edge of the exterior body 3 on the abdominal side 1A side and the corner of the side edge of the exterior body 3 on the back side 1B side The portion 3S may approach and the separation distance between the corner portions 3S and 3S may be reduced. Therefore, the fusion part 40 located between the two corners 3S and 3S is difficult to touch by the hand and is located on the outer side of the diaper 1 closer to the diaper 1 than the fusion part 40. Therefore, not only the feeling of wearing the diaper 1 but also the appearance is improved.

  Next, a laser type bonding apparatus 20 that is a preferred embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference mainly to the drawings after FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 (manufacturing apparatus for a sheet-fused body having a sealing edge fused in a state where the edges of a plurality of sheets are overlapped) is a lens that collects laser light 30. A support member 21 that conveys while supporting one surface of an irradiation head 312 having 311 and a belt-like sheet laminate (diaper continuum 10) in which a plurality of sheets including a resin material are at least partially stacked; Belt-type pressurization provided with an endless pressurization belt 24 (pressing member) and a plurality of (three) rolls 25a, 25b, 25c that rotate in a state where the pressurization belt 24 is bridged as pressurization means. Device 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 irradiates a continuous diaper 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) separately manufactured in advance with a laser beam to form a pair of side seal portions 4, 4 ( It is an apparatus for continuously producing a pants-type disposable diaper 1 (sheet fused body) having an exterior body 3 (sheet fused body) having a seal edge).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 of the present embodiment includes a hollow cylindrical roll 23 including an annular support member 21 that rotates around a rotation axis (arrow A direction: conveyance direction), and a hollow cylinder. An irradiation head 312 is disposed in the hollow portion of the roll 23 and irradiates the laser beam 30 toward the support member 21 that forms the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23. The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 is an apparatus in which a belt-like diaper continuous body 10 (sheet laminated body) is wound around the outer peripheral surface of an annular support member 21 and conveyed.

  The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 includes a tension adjustment mechanism (not shown) that can increase or decrease the tension of the pressure belt 24 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the support member 21 (the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23). The pressure applied to the diaper continuous body 10 (sheet laminated body) can be appropriately adjusted by the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an irradiation head 312 that irradiates the laser beam 30 toward the support member 21 that forms the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23 is provided in the hollow portion of the hollow cylindrical roll 23. The irradiation head 312 is a galvano scanner (an apparatus having a motor shaft with a mirror) that freely scans the laser light 30, and advances and retracts the laser light 30 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical roll 23 (width direction CD). The mechanism, the mechanism for moving the position (irradiation point) where the laser beam 30 hits the diaper continuum 10 on the support member 21 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23, and the spot diameter of the laser beam 30 constant on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical roll 23 It has a mechanism to make it. By having such a configuration, the laser irradiation mechanism changes the irradiation point of the laser light 30 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23 and the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction (width direction CD. Parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical roll 23). Direction.) Can be moved arbitrarily in both directions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the support member 21 forms a peripheral surface portion (contact portion with the workpiece) of the cylindrical roll 23, and a pair of annular frames that form the left and right side edges of the cylindrical roll 23. It is clamped between the bodies 22 and 22. The support member 21 is composed of a single annular member having the same length as the circumferential length of the annular frame 22, and is made of a metal having heat resistance such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or ceramics. Become.

  The support member 21 has a slit-like opening 27 that is long in the width direction of the diaper continuous body 10 (the same direction as the width direction CD of the apparatus 20), through which the condensed laser beam 30 can pass from the support member 21 side. Have. The support member 21 allows the laser light to pass through the opening 27, but does not allow the laser light to pass through the portion other than the opening 27. The opening 27 has a rectangular shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. 5A, and its longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction CD (Cross machine Direction) of the device 20, so that the circumference of the cylindrical support member 21 is A plurality are formed at predetermined intervals in the direction. 5A and 5B, the support member 21, the pressure belt 24, and the diaper continuum 10 sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 are shown for ease of explanation. 5 (a) and 5 (b), it is described as if it is moving horizontally from the left side to the right side. Actually, however, these members are shown in FIG. It is rotationally moved in a curved state corresponding to a cylindrical shape.

  Here, the width direction CD is a direction orthogonal to a machine direction (conveying direction of the diaper continuous body 10 and the diaper 1) MD (Machine Direction) along the manufacturing process of the diaper in the apparatus 20, and the diaper continuous body 10 (band-like shape). Of the sheet laminate), the width direction of the support member 21, and the rotation axis of the cylindrical roll 23. Further, “plan view” means that the object (opening 27 or the like) is viewed from the outside in the normal direction of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical roll 23 (direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the cylindrical roll 23). To do.

  In the laser-type bonding apparatus 20, the support member 21 is formed only by the pressure belt 24 (pressing member) coming into contact with the portion overlapping the opening 27 in the diaper continuous body 10 (partition planned portion 10 </ b> C shown in FIG. 5). And the pressure belt 24. Strictly speaking, therefore, the pressing force generated by being sandwiched between the members 21 and 24 is not generated in the parting portion 10C. However, the parting portion 10C that overlaps with the opening 27 itself is not sandwiched between the members 21 and 24, but the vicinity thereof, that is, the portion that overlaps with the vicinity of the opening 27 (opening edge) in the diaper continuous body 10. Is sandwiched between the members 21 and 24, and therefore does not move before and after the laser light irradiation, and therefore, the cutting edge portion generated by the division of the diaper continuous body 10 by the laser light irradiation does not move. That is, the parting planned portion 10C of the diaper continuous body 10 (portion overlapping the opening 27 in the sheet laminate) is a portion restrained by the pressing force between the members 21 and 24, and the pressing force is practically the same. It is an affected part.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 21 has a recess 28 on its outer surface (contact surface with the workpiece). A plurality of recesses 28 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21, and a slit-shaped opening 27 is formed in a region (convex part) located between two adjacent recesses 28, 28. Is formed. The opening 27 is formed in the center in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21 in the convex portion.

  Thus, when the thickness of the diaper continuous body 10 is not uniform because the concave portion 28 is formed on the outer surface of the support member 21, a relatively thick portion (for example, an absorbent main body) in the diaper continuous body 10. It is possible to introduce the diaper continuous body 10 onto the outer surface of the support member 21 so that the second arrangement region 2 is within the recess 28. Then, when the diaper continuous body 10 is introduced onto the support member 21 as such, the contact surface (the other surface 10b) of the diaper continuous body 10 with the pressure belt 24 is substantially as shown in FIG. When the pressure belt 24 is pressed against the diaper continuum 10, the portion of the diaper continuum 10 located on the convex portion where the opening 27 is formed (the division indicated by reference numeral 10C in FIG. 5). The predetermined portion and the vicinity thereof) are uniformly pressed in the thickness direction at a predetermined pressure by wrapping the diaper continuous body 10 around the support member 21 with a predetermined tension and the pressure belt 24. Thus, when the portion that has been pressed in the thickness direction from before being divided by the irradiation of the laser light is divided by irradiating the portion with the laser light, a plurality of sheets constituting the divided portion Cutting edge What is it becomes possible to more reliably fuse the, further improvement in fusion strength of the side seal portion 4 (sealing edge) is achieved.

  6 to 8 show a cylindrical roll 23 (support member 21) which is a main part of the laser-type bonding apparatus 20. The cylindrical roll 23 (apparatus 20) is supported by a pair of side plates 101 erected on the base 100. The cylindrical roll 23 has a fixed shaft 102. The cylindrical roll 23 is supported between the side plates 101 by spanning the fixed shaft 102 between the pair of side plates 101 facing each other. A bearing 106 is disposed between the cylindrical roll 23 and the fixed shaft 102, and the cylindrical roll 23 is rotatable with respect to the fixed shaft 102 by the bearing 106. The cylindrical roll 23 has a pulley 103 positioned between one frame body 22 and one side plate 101. A driving belt 104 is stretched around the pulley 103. The drive belt 104 is connected to a drive source 105 placed on the base 100. By driving the drive source 105, the rotational motion is transmitted to the pulley 103 via the drive belt 104, and the cylindrical roll 23 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the support member 21 includes the first support 111 having the above-described recess 28 and the second support that constitutes the projection located between the two adjacent recesses 28 and 28. Part 112. The first support portions 111 and the second support portions 112 are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23. 6 and 7 show a state in which a part of the first support portions 111 has been removed in order to help understanding of the internal structure of the cylindrical roll 23. Actually, the entire circumferential surface of the cylindrical roll 23 is configured by the first support portion 111 and the second support portion 112, and the inside of the cylindrical roll 23 cannot be visually recognized through the circumferential surface.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second support portion 112 constituting the support member 21 has a recess 120 on the inner surface, that is, the surface facing the irradiation head 312. The bottom of the recess 120 is open, and the slit-shaped opening 27 is exposed at the position of the opening.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first support portion 111 is provided with a plurality of suction holes 111 a that are open on the outer surface thereof, that is, on the surface facing the diaper continuous body 10. The suction hole 111 a communicates with a communication hole 111 b formed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the first support portion 111. The communication hole 111b extends in the same direction as the axial direction of the cylindrical roll 23 (width direction CD shown in FIG. 5). The communication hole 111 b is open on the side surface of the first support portion 111. Further, the second support portion 112 has a communication hole 112 b that is drilled so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the second support portion 112. The communication hole 112 b extends in the same direction as the axial direction of the cylindrical roll 23. The communication hole 112 b communicates with a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed in the wall surface of the recess 120 of the second support part 112 and opens on the side surface of the second support part 112.

  The communication hole 111b of the first support part 111 and the communication hole 112b of the second support part 112 communicate with the suction ring 130 shown in FIG. Specifically, the suction ring 130 is disposed on the side surface of the cylindrical roll 23 and is in a fixed state independently of the rotation of the cylindrical roll 23. An opening (not shown) is provided on the surface of the suction ring 130 facing the cylindrical roll 23. This opening is provided at a position communicating with the communication holes 111b and 112b. Further, this opening communicates with a suction source (not shown). Therefore, when the rotary roll 23 (supporting member 21) is rotating, only the communication holes 111b and 112b communicating with the opening of the suction ring 130 form a suction path, thereby being on the extension of the suction path. Suction is performed only from the suction holes 111a and suction holes (not shown) formed in the wall surfaces of the recesses 120. Since the suction ring 130 is provided over the irradiation range of the laser beam 30, suction is always performed in the irradiation range of the laser beam 30.

  When suction is performed from the suction hole 111a of the first support part 111, the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) that is in contact with the outer surface of the first support part 111 so as to cover the suction hole 111a is the outer surface. Therefore, the diaper continuous body 10 is fixed on the outer surface of the support member 21 at least in the irradiation range of the laser light 30, thereby further improving the processing accuracy of the diaper continuous body 10 by the irradiation of the laser light 30. This can be further enhanced. Note that a suction hole (not shown) formed in the wall surface of the concave portion 120 on the inner surface side of the second support portion 112 sucks gas generated when the diaper continuous body 10 is divided and fused by irradiation with the laser beam 30. To remove it.

  9 to 12 show a second support portion 112 that constitutes the support member 21, which is a main part of the laser type bonding apparatus 20. In this embodiment, as for the 2nd support part 112, the member which comprises the outer surface, ie, the opposing surface with the diaper continuous body 10, and other members other than that are separate bodies, and the diaper continuous body 10 and And a base plate 132 that contacts and supports the inner surface of the support plate 122.

  In the present embodiment, the support plate 122 constituting the second support portion 112 corresponds to the width of the opening 27 (the length of the direction MD) in the transport direction MD of the diaper continuous body 10, as shown in FIG. It is configured to include two plate-like members 122a and 122b arranged at intervals. These two plate-like members 122a and 122b have the same shape and the same size, and are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line (not shown) that bisects the opening 27 in the transport direction MD.

  Further, the base 132 is an isosceles trapezoidal portion in which the length (width) in the transport direction MD gradually decreases toward the tip (outside the device 20) in a side view along the transport direction MD (see FIG. 13). have. The tip of the isosceles trapezoidal shape portion of the base 132 is a smooth surface having a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction CD in plan view, and the entire tip of the base 132 is supported as shown in FIG. This is an arrangement space 132S for the plate 122 (plate-like members 122a and 122b).

  The support member 21 is movable in the conveyance direction MD of the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate). In the present embodiment, the support plate 122 (plate-like members 122a and 122b) of the second support portion 112 that constitutes the support member 21 is disposed so as to be movable in the transport direction MD in the arrangement space 132S of the base 132. . The movable range (distance) of the support plate 122 in the transport direction MD is limited to a certain range (a range in which the support member adjustment pin 50 can contact the inclined surface 21P of the support plate 122), as will be described later. The support plate 122 does not move completely away from the arrangement space 132S.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 11, and 12, the inner surface of the support member 21 is formed with an inclined surface 21 </ b> P that is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the support member 21 in a cross-sectional view along the transport direction MD. In the present embodiment, the slits on the inner surface of the support plate 122 of the second support portion 112 constituting the support member 21, more specifically, the inner surfaces of the two plate-like members 122 a and 122 b constituting the support plate 122. An inclined surface 21 </ b> P is formed in the vicinity of the shaped opening 27 (the bottom of the recess 120 on the inner surface of the second support portion 112). That is, the opening 27 is located between the two inclined surfaces 21P and 21P that are close to each other in the transport direction MD. In other words, the inclined surfaces 21P are located on both sides of the transport direction MD across the opening 27, respectively. positioned. The inclined surfaces 21P of the two plate-like members 122a and 122b extend obliquely in the direction away from the base 132, starting from the tip of the base 132 on which they are arranged.

  The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 includes a support member adjusting pin 50 in which a distal end portion 50a is detachably attached to an inclined surface 21P of the support member 21 (support plate 122). In the present embodiment, the pin 50 is a male screw member, and is supported by a pin support member 51 fixed to the concave portion 120 on the inner surface of the second support portion 112 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The pin support member 51 is provided with a through-hole 51H that penetrates the pin support member 51 in the inner and outer direction from the far side to the near side of the support plate 122, and the pin 50 (male screw member) is always penetrated. It is inserted into the opening 51H and screwed into a female screw (not shown) formed on the wall surface of the through hole 51H. By rotating the pin 50, the pin 50 can be moved along the through hole 51H in the direction from the far side to the near side to the support plate 122 or in the opposite direction.

  The support member adjustment pin 50 is disposed at the same position as the appropriate position of the opening 27 in the transport direction MD. The appropriate position of the opening 27 is an ideal position of the opening 27 as designed and capable of irradiating the diaper continuous body 10 (strip-shaped sheet laminate) with the laser beam 30 with high accuracy. In a form, it is on the center line (not shown) which bisects the base 132 to the conveyance direction MD.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the distal end portion 50a of the support member adjusting pin 50 has a tapered shape that gradually decreases in cross-section toward the distal end. Further, the taper angle α (see FIG. 13A) of the tip 50a of the pin 50 with respect to the pin axis direction is the inclination angle β of the inclined surface 21P of the support member 21 (support plate 122) with respect to the pin axis direction (FIG. 13). (See (a)). Here, the angle α and the angle β “match” means that the angle β is in the range of 100 to 96% of the angle α when the angle α is used as a reference, and both are completely It is not limited to the case of matching. When both angles α and β coincide with each other, the tip 50a of the pin 50 is brought into contact with the inclined surface 21P of the support plate 122 in adjusting the position or width of the opening 27 using the pin 50 described later. In addition, the support plate 122 can be moved more smoothly in the transport direction MD, and such adjustment work can be performed more smoothly and with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a nut 55 for fixing the position of the support member adjusting pin 50 (male screw member) is screwed. The nut 55 is screwed between the pin support member 51 and the end portion of the pin 50 opposite to the tip end portion 50 a.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the support member adjustment pins 50 are arranged corresponding to both ends of the slit-shaped opening 27 in the width direction CD. As described above, a plurality of pins 50 for adjusting the position or width of the opening 27 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the opening 27, so that one pin 50 corresponds to one opening 27. As compared with the case where only the individual pieces are arranged, the position or width of the opening 27 by the pin 50 can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

  FIG. 13 shows how the slit-shaped opening 27 of the support member 21 (support plate 122) is adjusted by the support member adjustment pin 50. When the pin 50 (male screw member) is not used (when the device 20 is in operation, etc.), as shown in FIG. 13A, the tip 50a is located at a position spaced apart from the inclined surface 21P by a predetermined distance. It is in a predetermined standby state. As described above, the pin 50 is located at the same position as the appropriate position of the opening 27 in the transport direction MD. In the state shown in FIG. 13A (before the use of the pin 50), the opening 27 is It is slightly shifted to the upstream side (left side in FIG. 13) in the transport direction MD with respect to the pin 50 (appropriate position). In such a state in which the opening 27 is displaced from the proper position, the irradiation accuracy of the laser light 30 is lowered, and thus the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) is formed by irradiating the laser light 30. There is a possibility that the quality of the diaper 1 may be deteriorated, for example, the width of the side seal part 4 (seal edge part) of the diaper 1 becomes non-uniform or the fusion strength of the side seal part 4 is insufficient. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent such inconvenience, the support member 21 (support plate 122) employs the inclined surface 21P and the pin 50 disposed so as to be able to come into contact therewith, and is adjusted to the inclined surface 21P. By abutting the tip 50a of the pin 50, the support member 21 is moved in the transport direction MD so that the position or width of the opening 27 can be adjusted.

  First, from the standby state of the support member adjustment pin 50 as shown in FIG. 13A, when the pin 50 is released from being fixed by the nut 50 using an appropriate tool as necessary, and the pin 50 is rotated in one direction, The pin 50 moves toward the support plate 122. Eventually, as shown in FIG. 13B, the tip 50a is one of the two plate-like members 122a and 122b constituting the support plate 122 (FIG. 13). In (b), it contacts the inclined surface 21P of the right plate-like member 122b).

  The pin 50 is further rotated in one direction from the state shown in FIG. 13B (the state where the tip 50a of the pin 50 is in contact with the inclined surface 21P of the plate-like member 122b), and the tip 50a of the pin 50 is rotated. When the plate-like member 122b is pressed, the portion of the plate-like member 122b that is in contact with the tip 50a intersects the horizontal plane, not the horizontal plane orthogonal to the pin axis direction of the pin 50. Due to the inclined surface 21P, the plate-like member 122b moves away from the tip 50a to the downstream side (right side in FIG. 13) in the conveying direction MD in a form that is pushed away by the pin 50. As a result, FIG. As shown in (c), the opening 27 is expanded in the transport direction MD. In the present embodiment, as described above, the taper angle α of the tip 50a of the pin 50 with respect to the pin axis direction and the inclination angle β of the inclined surface 21P with respect to the pin axis direction coincide with each other. The contact area with the surface 21P is relatively large, so that the plate member 122b can be pushed (moved in the transport direction MD) more smoothly by the pins 50. The plate-like member 122b pushed away by the pin 50 moves to a position when the opening 27 is at an appropriate position. Thus, the alignment of one of the two plate-like members 122a and 122b that define the opening 27 is completed.

  Next, from the state shown in FIG. 13C (the state where one of the two plate-like members 122a and 122b has been aligned), as shown in FIG. 13D, the pin 50 is contacted. The other plate-shaped member 122a that has not been manually moved in the conveying direction MD and brought into contact with the pin 50 is used to complete the alignment of the plate-shaped member 122a. As described above, since the pin 50 is disposed at the same position as the appropriate position of the opening 27 in the transport direction MD, the plate-like members 122a and 122b are provided on both sides of the transport direction MD with the pin 50 as a reference. Are rearranged so that the position of the opening 27 defined by these two plate-like members 122a and 122b is properly positioned as shown in FIG. Can be corrected. Further, since the width of the opening 27 (the length in the transport direction MD) is determined by the width of the tip 50a of the pin 50 (the length in the transport direction MD), the taper angle, etc., these are adjusted to a predetermined range in advance. Thus, it is possible to adjust the position of the opening 27 at the same time as the position adjustment operation.

  Thus, after adjusting the position or width of the opening 27 using the pin 50, the pin 50 is rotated in the opposite direction from the state shown in FIG. After retreating from the inclined surface 21 </ b> P of 122 (plate members 122 a and 122 b) and moving the pin 50 to a predetermined standby position, the pin 50 is fixed with the nut 50.

  As described above, from the viewpoint of enabling the adjustment of the opening 27 by the support member adjustment pin 50 more reliably, in the present embodiment, the movable range in the transport direction MD of the support plate 122 (support member 21). Is not limited, and is limited to a range in which the pin 50 can contact the inclined surface 21P of the support plate 122. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, each of the two plate-like members 122a and 122b constituting the support plate 122 has a shape that penetrates them in the thickness direction and is long in the transport direction MD in plan view. A through hole 122H is provided, and a fixing tool insertion port 132H into which a fixing tool (not shown) such as a screw is inserted is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole 122H in the base 132. The tool is inserted and fixed to the fixture insertion port 132H through the through-hole 122H. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of through-holes 122H are provided on the support plate 122 (plate-like members 122a and 122b) at a predetermined interval in the width direction CD. As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality are provided at the tip (arrangement space 132) of the base 132 with a predetermined interval in the width direction CD. In addition, in FIG.9 and FIG.11 and FIG.15 mentioned later, illustration of the fixture insertion port 132H is abbreviate | omitted from a viewpoint of easy description. The fixture (not shown) has a base 132 in which one end portion in the length direction (the end opposite to the insertion direction to the fixture insertion port 132H) is an arrangement space 132S of the support plate 122. The protrusions are fixed in a state of protruding slightly from the through holes 122H of the plate-like members 122a and 122b or outwardly from the through holes 122H.

  The through-hole 122H has a length in the transport direction MD that is longer than the protruding portion from the tip of the base 132 of the fixture (not shown) (fixer insertion port 132H). The difference in length (the length in the conveyance direction MD of the through-hole 122H−the length in the conveyance direction MD of the protruding portion of the fixture) is the movable range (distance) in the conveyance direction MD of the plate-like members 122a and 122b. Become. The “difference in the length in the conveying direction MD between the through-hole 122H and the protruding portion of the fixing tool (not shown) inserted therein and the fixing position of the fixing tool (position of the fixing tool insertion port 132H). The support member 122 (support member 21) can be moved in the transport direction MD by appropriately adjusting the arrangement position of the pins 50 arranged at the same position as the appropriate position of the opening 27 in the transport direction MD. The range can be adjusted to a range in which the pin 50 can contact the inclined surface 21P.

  FIG. 14 shows a modification 112A of the second support portion 112 described above. In the second support portion 112A shown in FIG. 14, elastic members 57 are arranged at both ends in the transport direction MD of the arrangement space 132S of the support plate 122 (plate members 122a and 122b) arranged at the tip of the base 132. The elastic member 57 and the end portion of the support plate 122 in the transport direction MD are always in contact with each other. The second support portion 112A is configured in the same manner as the second support portion 112 described above, except for the above points. More specifically, projecting edge portions 132P projecting outward of the apparatus 20 from the peripheral portion are provided at both ends in the transport direction MD at the tip of the base 132 forming the arrangement space 132S. It is provided so as to extend continuously over the entire length in the direction CD (see FIG. 10), and the arrangement space 132S is sandwiched between the projecting edge portions 132P and 132P. The elastic member 57 is disposed between the protruding edge portion 132P and the plate-like members 122a and 122b, extends in the width direction CD over the entire length of the protruding edge portion 132P, and is close to the protruding edge portion 132P. It is fixed to the plate member 122a or 122b.

  When the adjustment work (see FIG. 13) of the opening 27 by the pin 50 is performed on the second support part 112A having such a configuration as described above, the plate-like member 122a, When the inclined surface 21P of 122b is pressed, the plate-like members 122a and 122b are pressed against the elastic member 57 side, but are also simultaneously pressed against the inner side (opening 27 side) in the transport direction MD by the reaction force of the elastic member 57. It is done. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously align the two plate-like members 122a and 122b simply by pressing the plate-like members 122a and 122b with the pin 50, and the adjustment work of the opening 27 by the pin 50 is further facilitated. become. As the elastic member 27, for example, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber, elastic sponge, felt sheet, spring or the like can be used.

  FIG. 15 shows another modification 112B of the second support part 112 described above. The second support portion 112B is a single plate-like member in which the support plate 122 disposed at the tip of the base 132 is provided with an opening 27 in the center (the center in both the transport direction MD and the width direction CD). Except for the point that includes 122c, it is configured in the same manner as the second support portion 112 described above. Such a support plate 122 is “a configuration including a single plate-like member 122c having an opening 27 in the center”, and the width of the opening 27 (the length in the conveying direction MD). Since the width of the opening 27 is fixed, the two plate-like members 122a and 122b arranged at intervals corresponding to the width of the opening 27 in the transport direction MD are not fixed. As described above, the adjustment work of the opening 27 by the pin 50 (see FIG. 13) is further facilitated as compared to the “including configuration”.

  The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 includes a slit-like opening provided outside the support member 21 (support plate 122) in the width direction CD and at the same position or in the vicinity thereof in the support member adjustment pin 50 and the conveyance direction MD. A dog (not shown) serving as the 27 index positions and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the dog can be provided. The dog can be provided, for example, on one or both of a pair of annular frames 22 and 22 (see FIGS. 4, 6, and 7) that form both left and right edges of the cylindrical roll 23. Thus, by providing the cylindrical roll 23 with a dog that serves as a position index of the opening 27 and a sensor that detects the dog, the position of the opening 27 can be accurately grasped. When the deviation from the proper position of the opening 27 is confirmed by the system including the combination of the dog and the sensor, the adjustment of the opening 27 by the support member adjusting pin 50 described above is performed. As the system itself including the dog and the sensor, a known system can be appropriately used.

  The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 (sheet fusion product manufacturing apparatus) will be further described. A practically sufficient fusion strength is imparted to the side seal part 4 (seal edge part) of the diaper 1 finally obtained by the apparatus 20. From the viewpoint and the viewpoint of reducing the processing energy required for manufacturing the sheet fusion product, the width W of the slit-like opening 27 irradiated with the laser beam 30 (see FIG. 5, the conveyance direction MD of the opening 27). The ratio (φ / W) of the diameter φ of the spot of the laser beam 30 (the portion irradiated with the laser beam 30) in the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) to the diaper continuum 10 is preferably 0. .05 or more, more preferably 0.1 or more, particularly preferably 0.4 or more, and preferably 8 or less, more preferably 7 or less, particularly preferably 2 or less, more specifically preferably. It is 0.05-8, More preferably, it is 0.1-7, Most preferably, it is 0.4-2. For example, the width W of the slit-shaped opening 27 is 0.1 to 4.0 mm.

  As the laser light 30, laser light having an oscillation wavelength that is absorbed by the sheet constituting the diaper continuous body 10 and generates heat is used. Here, the “sheet constituting the diaper continuous body 10” is not limited to a sheet (for example, the outer layer sheet 31 in the above embodiment) constituting one surface of the sheet laminate (a contact surface with the support member), Any sheet may be used as long as it constitutes the sheet laminate. Whether or not the laser light applied to the diaper continuous body 10 is an oscillation wavelength that is absorbed by the sheet and generates heat for the individual sheets constituting the sheet laminated body is used depending on the material of the sheet. It is determined by the relationship with the oscillation wavelength of the laser beam. When the sheet constituting the sheet laminate is a synthetic resin non-woven fabric or film, it is preferable to use a CO2 laser, a YAG laser, an LD laser (semiconductor laser), a YVO4 laser, a fiber laser, or the like as the laser light. Moreover, when the sheet | seat which comprises the diaper continuous body 10 contains polyethylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polypropylene etc. as a synthetic resin, as an oscillation wavelength which can be absorbed into this sheet | seat and can make this sheet | seat generate | occur | produce favorably, it is 8.0, for example. It is preferable to use ˜15 μm, and it is particularly preferable to use 9.0 to 11.0 μm of the oscillation wavelength of the CO 2 laser in which a high-power laser device exists. The laser output and the like of the laser beam 30 can be appropriately selected in consideration of the material and thickness of the sheet constituting the diaper continuous body 10.

  Subsequently, one embodiment of a method for producing a sheet fusion body having a seal edge portion fused in a state where edges of a plurality of sheets are overlapped will be described using the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 of the above-described embodiment. To do. As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus 20 applies a laser beam 30 condensed from the support member 21 side to a continuous belt-like diaper 10 (sheet laminated body) in a pressurized state by a pressure belt 24 in a slit-like opening. The sheet 27 is irradiated and divided along the portion 27, and the edge of the division is fused in an overlapping state, and the sheet fusion body having the seal edge (the exterior body 3 having the pair of side seal portions 4 and 4). A plurality of pants-type disposable diapers 1) can be continuously manufactured.

  The manufacturing method of the present embodiment is a sheet laminate in which the condensed laser beam 30 can pass through one surface 10a of a belt-like sheet laminate (diaper continuous body 10) in which a plurality of sheets are stacked. The strip-shaped sheet laminate (diaper) that is conveyed while being pressed against a support member 21 having a slit-like opening 27 that is long in the width direction (the same direction as the width direction CD) of the diaper continuous body 10). Laser light having an oscillation wavelength that is absorbed by the sheet constituting the sheet laminate (diaper continuum 10) along the slit-shaped opening 27 from the support member 21 side to the continuum 10) and generates heat. 30 is irradiated from the irradiation head 312 to divide the belt-shaped sheet laminate (diaper continuous body 10), and at the same time, the cutting edges of a plurality of sheets in a pressurized state caused by the division. Fused to have a sealing edge forming step of forming sealing edge (side seal portions 4) teeth.

  In the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, as a “band-shaped sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets are stacked”, a plurality of sheet laminates (precursor of a pants-type disposable diaper in which the side seal portion 4 is not formed) The diaper continuous body 10 in which the body) is continuous in one direction is separately manufactured, and the diaper continuous body 10 is individually divided by irradiation of the laser beam 30, and at the same time, the pressurized state generated by the division is obtained. The side seal portions 4 and 4 (seal edge portions) are formed by fusing the cut edge portions of a plurality of sheets.

  In the “band-shaped sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets are stacked”, it is preferable that at least a part of the plurality of sheets includes a resin material and is formed using the resin material as a main component. Specifically, for example, the resin material preferably includes a heat-sealable synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene, and is preferably made of a nonwoven fabric, a film, a laminate sheet of a nonwoven fabric and a film, or the like. As the nonwoven fabric, those normally used in the technical field can be used without particular limitation, and specific examples include an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, and a meltblown nonwoven fabric. . In the sheet laminate, it is preferable that all of a plurality of sheets constituting the sheet laminate include a resin material. Hereinafter, first, the manufacturing method of the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminated body) is demonstrated, referring FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 16, a strip-shaped outer layer sheet 31 continuously supplied from an original fabric roll (not shown) and a strip-shaped inner layer sheet continuously supplied from an original fabric roll (not shown). In the stretched state, the waist elastic member 5 forming the waist gathers, the waist elastic member 6 forming the waist gathers, and the leg elastic member 7 forming the leg gathers are stretched to a predetermined stretch rate. Distribute multiple pieces each. At this time, in this embodiment, the hot melt adhesive is continuously or intermittently applied to the waist elastic member 5 and the waistline elastic member 6 by an adhesive application machine (not shown), The leg elastic member 7 is disposed while forming a predetermined leg-circumferential pattern via a known swing guide (not shown) that reciprocates perpendicular to the sheet flow direction. Further, before the belt-like outer layer sheet 31 and the belt-like inner layer sheet 32 are overlapped with each other, an adhesive coating machine (not shown) is attached to a predetermined portion of one or both of the two sheets. ) To apply hot melt adhesive. In addition, the elastic member such as the waist elastic member 5 and the waistline elastic member 6 is divided by the laser light irradiation (the portion where the side seal portion 4 is to be formed) in both sheets 31 and 32 (described above). In order to avoid inconveniences such as significant shrinkage of the elastic member and disconnection of the elastic member after the division, when arranged in an extended state so as to straddle the portion to be divided indicated by reference numeral 10C in FIG. It is preferable to apply an adhesive to the portion and the vicinity thereof.

  And as shown in FIG. 16, between the pair of nip rolls 11, 11, a belt-like outer layer sheet 31 and a belt-like outer layer sheet 5 in which a waist elastic member 5, a waistline elastic member 6 and a leg elastic member 7 are sandwiched in an expanded state. By feeding and pressurizing the inner layer sheet 32, the band-shaped exterior body 3 in which a plurality of elastic members 5, 6, 7 are arranged in an expanded state between the band-shaped sheets 31, 32 is formed. Thereafter, in the present embodiment, a plurality of waistline elastic members 6 and a plurality of leg portions are formed using an elastic member precutting means (not shown) so as to correspond to positions where the absorbent main body 2 described later is disposed. The elastic member 7 is pressed and divided into a plurality of pieces so that the contraction function is not expressed. Examples of the elastic member precut means include an elastic member dividing portion used in the method for manufacturing a composite elastic member described in JP-A-2002-253605.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive is applied in advance to the absorbent main body 2 manufactured in a separate process, and the absorbent main body 2 is rotated by 90 degrees to form a belt-shaped outer package. 3 is intermittently supplied and fixed on the inner layer sheet 32 constituting the sheet 3. The adhesive for fixing the absorbent main body may be applied in advance to the position where the absorbent main body 2 is arranged in the inner layer sheet 32 instead of the absorbent main body 2.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, a leg hole LO ′ is formed inside the annular portion surrounded by the leg elastic member 7 in the belt-shaped exterior body 3 in which the absorbent main body 2 is disposed. This leg hole forming step can be carried out by using a technique similar to that in a conventional method for manufacturing this type of article, such as a rotary cutter and a laser cutter. In the present embodiment, the leg hole is formed after the absorbent main body 2 is arranged on the belt-shaped outer package 3, but the leg hole may be formed before the absorbent main body 2 is arranged.

  Next, the belt-shaped exterior body 3 is folded in the width direction (a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the exterior body 3). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, both side portions 3 a and 3 a along the conveying direction of the strip-shaped outer package 3 are folded back so as to cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 2, and After fixing both ends in the longitudinal direction, the outer package 3 is folded in the width direction together with the absorbent main body 2. In this way, the target diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminated body) is obtained.

  In the diaper manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminated body) separately manufactured in this way is used as shown in FIG. The pants-type disposable diaper 1 (sheet fusion body) having the seal parts 4 and 4 (seal edges) is continuously manufactured.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) is applied in the direction of arrow A in a state where a predetermined tension is applied by a guide roll (not shown). Introduced on the outer surface of the support member 21 forming the peripheral surface portion of the rotationally driven cylindrical roll 23, wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular support member 21, and conveyed in the circumferential direction by the rotation of the cylindrical roll 23. After that, the support member 21 is separated by an unillustrated lead roll, nip roll, or the like. As described above, the diaper continuous body 10 is wound around the support member 21 forming the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23 with a predetermined tension and is conveyed so as to be in pressure contact with the pressure belt 24. The portion sandwiched between the supporting member 21 and the pressing belt 24 of the pressing member 26 and the vicinity thereof are pressed (compressed) in the thickness direction before being divided by the irradiation of the laser beam, so that the diaper continuous body The diaper continuum 10 can be more efficiently compressed when 10 includes a nonwoven fabric, and as a result, the diaper continuum 10 during compression is irradiated with laser light and divided. Sometimes, it becomes possible to fuse the cut edges of a plurality of sheets constituting the divided part more reliably, and the side seal part 4 (seal edge) can be fused. Further improvement in strength is achieved.

  The seal edge portion forming step for forming the seal edge portions (side seal portions 4 and 4) in the manufacturing method of the diaper according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. The pressure belt 24 is pressed against the other surface 10b of the diaper continuous body 10 (the surface on the opposite side to the one surface 10a that is a contact surface with the support member 21). Then, while conveying the diaper continuum 10 in a pressurized state, the irradiation head 312 irradiates the diaper continuum 10 from the irradiation head 312 along the slit-shaped opening 27 from the support member 21 side. The diaper continuous body 10 is divided into individual pieces, and at the same time, the cut edges of a plurality of sheets in a pressurized state caused by the division are fused together to form side seal parts 4 and 4 (seal edge parts). The pants-type disposable diaper 1 (sheet fusion body) comprising the exterior body 3 (sheet fusion body) having a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4 (seal edge portions) is continuously manufactured. As described above, the irradiation of the laser beam 30 was performed on the diaper continuum 10 in a pressurized state (compressed state) by being sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 by the irradiation. This is preferable from the viewpoint of reliably fusing the cutting edges of a plurality of sheets to improve the fusing strength of the side seal portion 4.

  FIGS. 17A and 17B show how the side seal portion 4 (seal edge) is formed at the same time as the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) is divided using the laser-type bonding apparatus 20. FIG. FIG. 17A schematically shows a portion 10 </ b> C to be divided by the laser beam 30 of the diaper continuum 10 and the vicinity thereof. As shown in FIG. 5A, the diaper continuous body 10C in the present embodiment is divided in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) in the region where the absorbent main body 2 of the diaper continuous body 10 is not disposed. MD). Such a portion 10C to be divided includes an end portion of the waist opening 8 (see FIG. 1) and its vicinity, an eight-layer structure portion in which eight sheets are stacked, and the other portions are four sheets. It is a four-layer structure part that is superimposed. As shown in FIG. 17A, the four-layer structure portion includes two sheets (an outer layer sheet 31 and an inner layer sheet 32) constituting one exterior body 3 in the ventral side part 1A, and a back side part 1B. It consists of the same two sheets 31 and 32 that constitute one exterior body 3, and these four sheets are laminated. On the other hand, as described above, the eight-layer structure portion is folded so that both side portions 3a and 3a of the strip-shaped outer package 3 cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 2 when the diaper continuous body 10 is manufactured ( 16)), two exterior bodies 3 exist on each of the abdominal part 1A and the back side part 1B, and a total of these four exterior bodies 3 and 3 are laminated, resulting in 8 The sheets 31 and 32 are laminated. In each of the 4-layer structure portion and the 8-layer structure portion, elastic members such as the waist elastic member 5 and the waistline elastic member 6 may be interposed between the overlapping sheets 31 and 32. In FIG. 17, the elastic member is omitted from the viewpoint of easy explanation. Hereinafter, the 4-layer structure portion will be mainly described, but unless otherwise specified, the 8-layer structure portion is configured in the same manner as the 4-layer structure portion, and the side seal portion 4 is formed.

  Other than the sheet constituting the outer layer sheet 31 and the one surface 10a constituting the one surface 10a (the contact surface with the support member 21) of the diaper continuum 10 in the planned division portion 10C of the four-layer structure in the diaper continuum 10 One or both of the sheets (inner layer sheet 32) absorb the laser beam 30 and generate heat. In the present embodiment, all of the four sheets 31 and 32 constituting the parting planned portion 10 </ b> C are sheets (nonwoven fabrics) that absorb the laser beam 30 and generate heat. Further, the two overlapping sheets in the vicinity of the parting portion 10 </ b> C and the vicinity thereof may be joined by an adhesive or the like before irradiation with the laser beam 30, or may not be joined at all.

  As shown in FIG. 17B, the diaper continuous body 10 is arranged in the direction of arrow A so that one surface 10a abuts on the support member 21 and the parting planned portion 10C is positioned on the slit-shaped opening 27. While being introduced onto the rotating support member 21 and being pressed against the other surface 10b, the pressure belt 24 is pressed (compressed) in the thickness direction while being conveyed in the arrow A direction. And the laser beam 30 is irradiated along the slit-shaped opening part 27 from the supporting member 21 side with respect to the parting plan part 10C in such a conveyance and pressurized state. As described above, the irradiation point of the laser beam 30 is configured to be arbitrarily movable in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23 by a galvano scanner (not shown), and the opening 27 moves along the circumferential direction. Therefore, the laser beam 30 is continuously irradiated for a certain period of time during the conveyance of the parting planned portion 10C located on the opening 27.

  When the laser beam 30 is irradiated to the parting portion 10C having the four-layer structure, the forming materials (fibers, etc.) of the sheets 31 and 32 existing in the parting portion 10C are vaporized by the heat generated by the direct irradiation of the laser light 30 and disappear. The forming material existing in the vicinity of the parting portion 10 </ b> C is indirectly heated by the laser beam 30 and melted. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17 (c), the parting portion 10C having a four-layer structure is melted, and one sheet-fed sheet laminate (diaper precursor) is cut from the diaper continuous body 10, At the same time that the diaper continuum 10 is divided, the cut edges of the four sheets 31 and 32 in the sheet laminate of the single sheets produced by the division, and the diaper continuous 10 separated. The cut edges of the four sheets 31 and 32 are fused to form the fused portion 40. Each of these cut edges is pressed (compressed) by being sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 from before the formation (before the diaper continuous body 10 is divided by irradiation with the laser beam 30). ). The shape of the fusion | melting part 40 becomes a crescent moon, for example as shown in FIG.17 (c).

  As described above, the reason why the fusion part 40 of the side seal part 4 is formed in a crescent shape or a half moon shape in a cross-sectional view in the width direction of the diaper 1 is as shown in FIGS. 17 (b) and 17 (c). The diaper continuum 10 (scheduled part 10C) made of a nonwoven fabric includes a support member 21 made of a metal material and a pressure belt 24 during and immediately after irradiation of the laser beam 30 onto the parted part 10C of the diaper continuous body 10. It is presumed that it is interposed between the two. That is, the metal material which is the main forming material of the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 (pressing member) that sandwich the diaper continuous body 10 (the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32) from above and below is the main material of the sheets 31 and 32. Since the thermal conductivity is higher than that of the nonwoven fabric as the forming material, the heat generated in the sheets 31 and 32 by the irradiation of the laser beam 30 is cooled by the outside air, and at the same time, the support member 21 in contact with the sheets 31 and 32 or The corner of the side edge portion of the exterior body 3 constituting the side seal portion 4 formed by dividing the diaper continuous body 10 by irradiation of the laser beam 30 where it is easily absorbed by the pressure belt 24 (pressing member). Since the portion 3S is in contact with the support member 21 or the pressure belt 24, which has a higher thermal conductivity than the corner portion 3S, the heat generated at the corner portion 3 is the two members 21, 24. Is rapidly absorbed, as a result, the corner portion 3 is hardly become a hot extent that the fused portion 40 is formed, therefore, the proportion of fused portion 40 is very small site. On the other hand, the central portion in the thickness direction of the side edge portion of the outer package 3 (the central portion of the portion sandwiched between the corner 3S on the one surface side of the outer package 3 and the 3S on the other surface side) has high thermal conductivity. Since the members 21 and 24 are not in contact with each other, the heat generated in the central portion by the irradiation of the laser beam 30 stays in the central portion and melts the central portion. As a result, there are many fused portions 40 in the central portion. It becomes unevenly distributed.

  Therefore, in order to form the fused portion 40 in a crescent shape or a half moon shape in a cross-sectional view in the width direction of the diaper 1 and to achieve the above-described effects, the support member 21 and the additional member 21 are added as in the present embodiment. The pressure belt 24 is made of a metal material such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or ceramics, and at least a part of the plurality of sheets 31 and 32 constituting the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate). (In particular, the outer layer sheet 31 forming the outer surface of the outer package 3) includes a resin material in a part thereof, and specifically, for example, is preferably made of a nonwoven fabric. In particular, the pressure belt 24 (pressing member) is preferably made of a metal material having air permeability, and is preferably made of, for example, a metal mesh or a metal punching metal. Moreover, it is preferable that the resin material is contained in all the sheets of the plurality of sheets 31. As a nonwoven fabric, what is normally used in the said technical field can be especially used without a restriction | limiting.

  As described above, according to the manufacturing method of the diaper of the present embodiment, as described above, by the irradiation of the laser beam once, the strip-shaped sheet laminated body is divided and the two pressed states generated by the division are obtained. In order to carry out the fusion of cutting edges of a sheet at the same time, it is approximately half compared to a method of fusion of two fusion spots by two laser beam irradiations (method outside the scope of the present invention). Sheet fusion body (pants-type disposable diaper 1) having a sealing edge portion (side seal portion 4) fused in a state where the edge portions of the sheets overlap with each other with the laser output of Can be efficiently manufactured. In addition, since fusion and division can be performed in the same process, a non-sealing edge in which the cut edges of the sheet are not fused is not generated, so that there is an effect of reducing material.

  The cut edges of the sheets 31 and 32 are heated and melted during the irradiation of the laser beam 30 and immediately after the end of the irradiation, but are separated from the diaper continuous body 10 by the irradiation of the laser beam 30. The leaf sheet laminate (diaper precursor) and the diaper continuum 10 are maintained in a pressurized state by the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24, and after the irradiation is completed, the outside air and the support member 21 are added. The material is quickly cooled and solidified by heat transfer to the pressure belt 24 to form the fused portion 40 in which the forming material (fiber or the like) of the cut edge is fused and integrated. Thus, by forming the fused part 40, one of the pair of side seal parts 4, 4 in one diaper 1 is formed. In addition, if necessary, the cutting edge portions of the sheets 31 and 32 may be forcibly cooled by using known cooling means such as a suction device and an exhaust device to promote the formation of the fused portion 40.

  When one portion 10C to be divided is divided in this way, the laser beam 30 is irradiated so that the irradiation point hits another opening 27 adjacent in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction MD (the rotation direction A of the rotary roll 23). It is moved and irradiated to another parting planned portion 10 </ b> C located thereabove via the other opening 27. As a result, another part 10C to be divided is divided and fused in the same manner as described above, and the other side seal part 4 (fused part 40) that forms a pair with the previously formed side seal part 4 is formed. Thereafter, by repeating the same operation, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 (sheet fused body) including the exterior body 3 (sheet fused body) having a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4 (seal edge portions) is continuous. Manufactured.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention, it can change suitably. For example, the sheet laminated body may be one in which two sheets, three sheets, or five or more sheets are stacked in addition to those in which four sheets are stacked as shown in FIG. Further, the tension of the diaper continuous body 10 is controlled on the laser bonding apparatus 20 in order to wrap the diaper continuous body 10 (sheet laminated body) around the cylindrical roll 23 (support member 21) without generating wrinkles or sagging. A mechanism may be provided. Further, the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 may include a mechanism for removing resin or the like attached to the contact surface of the pressure belt 24 with the diaper continuous body 10. All the parts of only one embodiment described above can be used as appropriate.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the laser type joining apparatus 20 provided with the cylindrical roll 23 was used, it replaced with the cylindrical roll 23 and you may use the laser type joining apparatus 20 provided with the flat member. The following additional notes are disclosed with respect to the embodiment of the present invention described above.

<1>
In the apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body having a seal edge fused in a state where the edges of a plurality of sheets overlap,
A laser beam irradiation head, and a support member that supports one surface of a belt-shaped sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets including a resin material at least partially are stacked;
The support member has a slit-like opening that is long in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the belt-shaped sheet laminate, through which laser light can pass.
The strip-shaped sheet laminate supplied and supported on the outer surface of the support member was divided by irradiating the laser beam along the opening from the support member side, and the divided edges overlapped. A sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus for continuously manufacturing a plurality of sheet fusion bodies having the seal edge portion fused in a state,
The support member is configured to be movable in the transport direction, and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the support member in a cross-sectional view along the transport direction is formed on the inner surface of the support member.
Furthermore, it comprises a support member adjustment pin that is arranged so that the tip portion can be detached from the inclined surface,
The sheet fusion body is configured such that the position or width of the opening can be adjusted by moving the support member in the transport direction by bringing the tip of the support member adjustment pin into contact with the inclined surface. manufacturing device.

<2>
The apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion body according to <1>, wherein a distal end portion of the support member adjusting pin has a tapered shape in which a cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the distal end.
<3>
The apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion body according to <1> or <2>, wherein a taper angle of a tip portion of the support member adjustment pin with respect to a pin axis direction coincides with an inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the pin axis direction. .
<4>
The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to <3>, wherein an inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the pin axis direction is in a range of 100 to 96% of the taper angle of the support member adjusting pin.
<5>
The sheet according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein a movable range of the support member in the transport direction is limited to a range in which the support member adjustment pin can contact the inclined surface. Fusion production equipment.

<6>
The support member includes a support plate that defines the opening, and a base that contacts and supports the inner surface of the support plate, and an arrangement space for the support plate on the outer surface of the base. Is provided, and the support plate is arranged to be movable in the conveying direction in the arrangement space.
The support plate is configured to include 1) two plate-like members arranged at an interval corresponding to the width of the opening in the transport direction, or 2) the opening at the center. The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the sheet fusion body is configured to include a single plate-like member that is perforated.
<7>
The apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion body according to <6>, wherein the tip of the base is a smooth surface.
<8>
The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to <6> or <7>, wherein the entire front end of the base is an arrangement space for the support plate.
<9>
Any one of the items <6> to <8>, wherein elastic members are arranged at both ends of the arrangement space in the transport direction, and the elastic members and end portions of the support plate in the transport direction are always in contact with each other. The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to one item.
<10>
Furthermore, a dog provided as an index position of the opening, provided outside the support member in the width direction and at the same position or in the vicinity thereof in the transport direction with the support member adjustment pin, and a sensor for detecting the dog The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <9>, comprising:

<11>
The opening has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with a direction (width direction of the manufacturing apparatus) perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet laminate, and a predetermined interval is provided in the conveyance direction. The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <10>, wherein a plurality of the sheets are formed.
<12>
The apparatus for manufacturing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein a plurality of the support member adjustment pins are arranged at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction of the opening.
<13>
The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body is a production apparatus for a sheet fusion body having a seal edge portion fused in a state where edges of a plurality of sheets are overlapped,
A hollow cylindrical roll provided with the annular support member that rotates about a rotation axis corresponding to the sheet conveyance direction, and a hollow portion of the hollow cylindrical roll to form a peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <12>, further including an irradiation head that irradiates the support member with laser light.
<14>
The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body is a production apparatus for a sheet fusion body having a seal edge portion fused in a state where edges of a plurality of sheets are overlapped,
An irradiation head having a lens for condensing a laser beam, the support member that conveys while supporting one surface of a belt-like sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets including a resin material are at least partially stacked, <1> to <1> provided with an endless pressure belt (pressing member) as a pressure unit and a belt-type pressure device including a plurality of rolls that rotate in a state where the pressure belt is stretched. 13> The manufacturing apparatus of the sheet fusion body as described in any one of 13>.
<15>
The apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body according to any one of <1> to <14>, wherein the sheet fusion body is a pants-type disposable diaper including an exterior body having a pair of side seal portions.
<16>
The pants-type disposable diaper includes an absorbent main body and an exterior body arranged on the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent main body and fixing the absorbent main body, and the exterior body on the abdominal side <15 which is a pants-type disposable diaper in which a pair of side seal parts, a waist opening part, and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both side edge parts and both side edge parts of the exterior body at the back side part > An apparatus for producing the sheet fusion product according to the description.

1 Pants-type disposable diaper (absorbent article, sheet fusion product)
1A Abdominal side 1B Back side 2 Absorbent body 3 Exterior body (sheet fusion body)
31 Outer layer sheet 32 Inner layer sheet 4 Side seal part (seal edge)
40 Fusion part 10 Diaper continuum (band-shaped sheet laminate)
20 Laser-type bonding device (sheet fusion product manufacturing device)
21 Support member 21P Inclined surface 111 of support member First support portion 112, 112A, 112B Second support portion 122 Support plate 122a, 122b Plate member 122H Through port 132 Base 132H Fixture insertion port 132S Support plate arrangement space 23 Cylinder Roll (support member)
24 Pressure belt (pressing member)
27 slit-shaped opening 30 laser beam 50 support member adjustment pin 51 pin support member 50a tip end portion 55 of support member adjustment pin nut 57 elastic member

Claims (7)

In the apparatus for producing a sheet fusion body having a seal edge fused in a state where the edges of a plurality of sheets overlap,
A laser beam irradiation head, and a support member that supports one surface of a belt-shaped sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets including a resin material at least partially are stacked;
The support member has a slit-like opening that is long in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the belt-shaped sheet laminate, through which laser light can pass.
The strip-shaped sheet laminate supplied and supported on the outer surface of the support member was divided by irradiating the laser beam along the opening from the support member side, and the divided edges overlapped. A sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus for continuously manufacturing a plurality of sheet fusion bodies having the seal edge portion fused in a state,
The support member is configured to be movable in the transport direction, and an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the support member in a cross-sectional view along the transport direction is formed on the inner surface of the support member.
Furthermore, it comprises a support member adjustment pin that is arranged so that the tip portion can be detached from the inclined surface,
The sheet fusion body is configured such that the position or width of the opening can be adjusted by moving the support member in the transport direction by bringing the tip of the support member adjustment pin into contact with the inclined surface. manufacturing device.   The sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the support member adjusting pin has a tapered shape in which a cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the distal end.   3. The sheet fusion body manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a taper angle of a tip portion of the support member adjustment pin with respect to a pin axis direction coincides with an inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the pin axis direction.   The sheet fusion body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a movable range of the support member in the transport direction is limited to a range in which the support member adjustment pin can contact the inclined surface. Manufacturing equipment. The support member includes a support plate that defines the opening, and a base that contacts and supports the inner surface of the support plate, and an arrangement space for the support plate on the outer surface of the base. Is provided, and the support plate is arranged to be movable in the conveying direction in the arrangement space.
The support plate is configured to include 1) two plate-like members arranged at an interval corresponding to the width of the opening in the transport direction, or 2) the opening at the center. The manufacturing apparatus of the sheet fusion body as described in any one of Claims 1-4 comprised including the one plate-shaped member pierced.   The sheet fusion body according to claim 5, wherein elastic members are arranged at both ends of the arrangement space in the conveyance direction, and the elastic members and end portions of the support plate in the conveyance direction are always in contact with each other. apparatus.   Furthermore, a dog provided as an index position of the opening, provided outside the support member in the width direction and at the same position or in the vicinity thereof in the transport direction with the support member adjustment pin, and a sensor for detecting the dog The manufacturing apparatus of the sheet fusion body as described in any one of Claims 1-6 which comprise these.

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