JP2019118451A - Production method and production device of absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform quick return set-up change.SOLUTION: A production method of the absorbent article comprises: a reference setting step for setting a rotary reference position around a prescribed rotary axis; a transport step for transporting a material to a transport direction; a first (second) processing step for performing first (second) processing at a rotary position of a first (second) motor corresponding to a first (second) angular position which is acquired by rotating by a first (second) rotary angle around a prescribed rotary axis from a rotary reference position at a first (second) position; an angle adjustment step for adjusting the second angle position so that portions of first and second processing have a prescribed position relationship; and a storage step for storing information by which a relative angle of the first angle position and second angle position after being adjusted, can be identified, after the angle adjustment step. A certain absorbent article is produced, then other absorbent article is produced, and when the certain absorbent article is produced again, the second angle position is set using the information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an absorbent article and an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus.

  In the production line for absorbent articles, various processes such as cutting, pressing, and sticking are performed on the material relating to the conveyed absorbent articles. These various processes are required to match the specifications such as the size and shape of the product to be manufactured. Therefore, when changing the specification of the product to be manufactured, it is necessary to change (change the form of) the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the absorbent article.

  Conventionally, the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus has been redesigned by replacing the processing unit in accordance with the specification of the product (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-44349 A

  However, in the conventional method of changing the processing unit and changing the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, after changing the specification of one product to the specification of another product, the change of the specification of the certain product again (hereinafter referred to as However, for the sake of convenience, such a step change is spent for a long time in the case of "return step change"), and there is a problem that the productivity is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to carry out a quick return stage change.

  The main invention to achieve the above object is

A reference setting step of setting a rotation reference position about a predetermined rotation axis;
A conveying step of conveying a material according to the absorbent article in a tensioned state along a conveying direction to produce an absorbent article;
At a first position in the transport direction, using a first processing unit rotated about a first rotation axis by a first motor, a first angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A first processing step of performing first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to the position;
At a second position in the transport direction, using a second processing unit rotated about a second rotation axis by a second motor, a second angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A second processing step of performing second processing on the material at the rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the position;
Angle adjustment for adjusting the second angular position so that the portion subjected to the first processing and the portion subjected to the second processing have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released. Process,
Storing, after the angle adjustment step, information capable of specifying a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted second angular position;
Manufacturing the above absorbent article by a manufacturing method having
After producing the above absorbent article, another absorbent article is produced,
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the second angular position is set using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article. .

  Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a quick return stage change.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of a production line of the absorbent article production apparatus 1. It is the schematic which showed the process unit 10 which processes with a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies. It is a figure showing relation between control part 50 and other devices. It is the figure which removed the replacement part of the process unit 10 which processes with a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies from the mirror plate 20. FIG. It is an explanatory view for explaining the procedure of return stage change. The upper view of FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the processing unit 10 according to the second embodiment, and the lower view of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting portion of the upper roll rotation shaft 12U according to the second embodiment. It is the figure shown three. It is a side schematic diagram of processing unit 10 concerning a third embodiment. It is the figure which showed the positioning part on the conveyance path of a rotary body processing unit.

  At least the following matters will be made clear by the present specification and the description of the accompanying drawings.

A reference setting step of setting a rotation reference position about a predetermined rotation axis;
A conveying step of conveying a material according to the absorbent article in a tensioned state along a conveying direction to produce an absorbent article;
At a first position in the transport direction, using a first processing unit rotated about a first rotation axis by a first motor, a first angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A first processing step of performing first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to the position;
At a second position in the transport direction, using a second processing unit rotated about a second rotation axis by a second motor, a second angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A second processing step of performing second processing on the material at the rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the position;
Angle adjustment for adjusting the second angular position so that the portion subjected to the first processing and the portion subjected to the second processing have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released. Process,
Storing, after the angle adjustment step, information capable of specifying a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted second angular position;
Manufacturing the above absorbent article by a manufacturing method having
After producing the above absorbent article, another absorbent article is produced,
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the second angular position is set using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article.

  According to the manufacturing method of such an absorbent article, it becomes possible to perform quick return stage change.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
It is desirable that the encoder provided to the first motor and the encoder provided to the second motor be in an energized state until the absorbent article is manufactured again after the other absorbent articles are manufactured. .

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, the control unit can detect the rotation angle of each motor before and after the change of stage.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
Storing the angular positions of the first motor and the second motor when storing the information in the storing step;
And a restraining step of restraining the first motor and the second motor in a non-rotatable manner when the encoder provided to the first motor and the encoder provided to the second motor are not energized. desirable.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, even when the encoder is de-energized at the time of stage change and the control unit can not detect the rotation angle of the motor, the controller becomes the motor if the encoder is energized again. The rotation angle can be detected.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
After the production of the absorbent article, when producing the other absorbent article, the second processing section is replaced with another processing section,
After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing an absorbent article again, it is desirable to change to the other processing part and to use the second processing part again.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, it is possible to easily realize the state in which the encoder is energized before and after the return step change.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The method further includes a tension adjustment step of adjusting tension applied to the material relating to the absorbent article,
It is desirable to carry out the angle adjustment step after the tension adjustment step.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, in order to execute the angle adjustment step at an appropriate timing, more accurate information can be stored in the storage unit when the next storage step is performed, which is quick. It is possible to carry out a reverse setup.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The method further includes a speed adjustment step of adjusting the transfer speed of the material,
It is desirable to perform the angle adjustment step after the speed adjustment step.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, in order to execute the angle adjustment step at an appropriate timing, more accurate information can be stored in the storage unit when the next storage step is performed, which is quick. It is possible to carry out a reverse setup.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
In the conveying step, the material fed from the material roll is conveyed;
Replacing the material roll with a new material roll;
It is desirable to carry out the angle adjustment step after the replacement step.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, in order to execute the angle adjustment step at an appropriate timing, more accurate information can be stored in the storage unit when the next storage step is performed, which is quick. It is possible to carry out a reverse setup.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The second processing unit including the second processing unit includes a heating unit,
The method further comprises a temperature adjustment step of adjusting the heating temperature of the heating unit,
Storing the adjusted heating temperature in the storing step;
After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, it is desirable to heat the heating unit at the stored heating temperature.

  According to the manufacturing method of such an absorbent article, temperature adjustment of a heating part can be performed promptly at the time of return stage change, and it becomes possible to perform return stage change still more rapidly.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The second processing unit including the second processing unit includes a pressing unit,
The method further includes a pressure adjustment step of adjusting the pressure of the pressure unit,
Storing the pressure after adjustment in the storing step;
After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, it is desirable that the pressure part is pressed by the stored pressure.

  According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the pressure adjustment of the pressure part can be performed promptly at the time of the return stage change, and the return stage change can be performed more quickly.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
A third processing step of applying an adhesive to the material at a third position in the transport direction, using a third processing unit, at a timing when it is rotated by a third rotation angle around the predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position And have
Another angle adjustment for adjusting a third angle position so that a portion subjected to the first processing and a portion to which the adhesive is applied have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released. Further comprising a process,
The information includes information that can specify a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted third angular position.
It is desirable to set the third angular position using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article.

  According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, even in the processing unit 10 which does not have a rotating body as a processing part such as an adhesive application device, it is possible to perform a quick return stage change.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
In the memory step, the last angle adjustment step among the angle adjustment step performed when manufacturing the certain absorbent article before manufacturing the first angular position and the other absorbent article It is desirable to store the relative angle between the second angular position adjusted in step (1) and (2) as identifiable information.

  According to the manufacturing method of such an absorbent article, in the return stage change of a certain absorbent article, in order to return to the processing position adjusted last at the time of manufacturing a certain absorbent article last time, the return is quicker. It becomes possible to change the form.

A reference unit for setting a rotation reference position about a predetermined rotation axis;
A transport mechanism that transports the material relating to the absorbent article along a transport direction in a tensioned state in order to manufacture an absorbent article;
A first motor and a first processing unit rotated about a first rotation shaft by the first motor, wherein the first motor rotates from the reference rotation position by a first rotation angle at the first position in the transport direction. A first processing mechanism that performs first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to the first angular position,
A second motor and a second processing unit that rotates about a second rotation shaft by the second motor, and rotates by a second rotation angle around the predetermined rotation shaft from the rotation reference position at a second position in the transport direction A second processing mechanism that performs a second processing on the material at a rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the second angular position;
A control unit configured to adjust a second angular position such that a portion subjected to the first processing and a portion subjected to the second processing have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released; ,
A storage unit for storing information;
Have
When manufacturing a certain absorbent article, the control unit, after adjusting the second angular position, stores information capable of specifying the relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted second angular position. Remember to
After manufacturing the certain absorbent article, the other absorbent article is manufactured, and after the other absorbent article is manufactured, when the certain absorbent article is manufactured again, the control unit generates the information An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus characterized by setting the second angular position using the same.

  According to such an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, the same effects as those of the above-described absorbent article manufacturing method can be obtained.

=== About the absorbent article manufacturing method according to the present embodiment ===
The method for producing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment is used for producing an absorbent article in the absorbent article producing apparatus 1.

  Examples of the absorbent article include sanitary napkins, unfolded and pants-type disposable diapers, and the like, but any article may be used as long as it absorbs the excretory fluid of the person to be worn.

  The absorbent article comprises an absorbent for absorbing excrement fluid, a liquid-permeable top sheet disposed on the skin side in the thickness direction of the absorbent, and a non-skin disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent. It has the liquid impervious back sheet which prevents the leak of the excretion fluid, and thread rubber as an example of an elastic member. And a back sheet is provided with a back film and a back nonwoven fabric, and is formed by both overlapping.

  The absorbent has an absorbent core formed of a liquid absorbent material. Examples of liquid absorbent materials include pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), which are used here. As an example of the material of the top sheet and the back nonwoven fabric, a nonwoven fabric containing thermoplastic resin fibers such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be mentioned, and as a back film, a thermoplastic resin film such as polyethylene can be exemplified.

<<< Regarding Absorbent Article Manufacturing Device 1 >>>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a production line of the absorbent article production apparatus 1. The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 continuously performs various processes of cutting, pressing, and sticking on a material relating to the absorbent article to be transported at a product pitch (the interval between products in the transport direction). The produced absorbent article is formed into a continuous sheet-like material at the product pitch, and finally divided into individual absorbent articles to produce a finished absorbent article. These various types of processing are performed by a processing unit 10 (corresponding to a processing mechanism) having a processing unit that performs predetermined processing. The processing unit 10 that performs various processing is provided at a predetermined position on the material conveyance path, and the processing unit operates by the power of a power source (such as a motor) to perform processing. In FIG. 1, in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, some of the processing units 10 are omitted (the description of the processing unit 10 is also omitted hereinafter).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a top line 3 for processing the top sheet to be conveyed, and an absorber line 4 for processing the absorber. A back line 5 for processing the back sheet, and a product line 2 for processing the product material sheet generated by joining the top sheet, the absorber and the back sheet at the joining point A There is.

  The top sheet conveyed by the top line 3 is a sheet-like material, and the top sheet is carried into the top line 3 in the form of a material roll in which the top sheet is wound in a coil. That is, the top sheet is drawn from a material roll on which the top sheet is wound, and the drawn top sheet is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism (not shown) in the conveyance direction (the continuous direction of the top sheet). Then, after the top sheet is subjected to various processing, it reaches a junction point A, and a product material sheet is generated.

  The top sheet fed from the material roll and conveyed on the top line 3 reaches the embossing unit 10e. The embossing unit 10e is an apparatus for embossing the top sheet at a product pitch, and has a processing unit including a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies sandwiching the top sheet to be conveyed. A convex pattern of a predetermined pattern is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the upper roll 11U (rotary body), and a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion of the outer peripheral surface of the upper roll 11U is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the lower roll 11L (rotary body) It is done. The concavo-convex portions on the outer peripheral surface of the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L are heated by the heating unit, and the concavo-convex portion thus heated cooperates with the top sheet to be conveyed (meshed). The top sheet is embossed.

  The embossed top sheet is conveyed on the top line 3 and reaches the tape application unit 10d. The tape sticking unit 10d is a device for sticking a fastening tape using a transfer roll, which is a rotating body, on a top sheet at a product pitch, and a pair of upper and lower rotations for sticking a fastening tape across a conveyed top sheet. It has a processing part which consists of a body. An intake port is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper roll 11U, and suction force generates suction force, and the upper roll 11U rotates in a state where the fastening tape is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface. When the upper roll 11U rotates and the fastening tape adsorbed on the outer circumferential surface reaches the position facing the lower roll 11L, the upper roll 11U stops the suction (intake) of the fastening tape. Then, in cooperation with the lower roll 11L, the fastening tape is sandwiched between the top sheet and pressed. In the fastening tape, an adhesive is applied to a portion to be joined to the top sheet, and the fastening process of the fastening tape is performed by pressing and sticking the adhesive on the top sheet.

  The top sheet to which the fastening tape is attached is conveyed on the top line 3 and reaches the adhesive application unit 10c. The adhesive application unit 10c is a device for applying a hot melt adhesive (hereinafter also referred to as an adhesive) to the top sheet at a product pitch, and has a processing unit for applying the hot melt adhesive. The processing unit is provided with a nozzle for discharging a liquid hot melt adhesive, and the hot melt adhesive is applied to the top sheet by discharging the hot melt adhesive from the tip of the nozzle onto the top sheet. .

  The top sheet coated with the hot melt adhesive is conveyed on the top line 3 and reaches the junction point A.

  In the absorber line 4, the absorbers subjected to various processing are conveyed by the processing unit 10 provided on the conveyance path of the material (absorbent) to be conveyed, and reach the junction point A, and in the back line 5 A back sheet subjected to various processing is conveyed by the processing unit 10 provided on the conveyance path of the material (back sheet) to be conveyed, and reaches the junction point A.

  Then, at the junction point A, the top sheet conveyed on the top line 3 and the back sheet conveyed on the back line 5 join together so as to sandwich the absorber conveyed on the absorber line 4, and the top sheet The product material sheet is generated by bonding the back sheet to the back sheet with an adhesive or the like.

  The product material sheet generated at the joining point A is transported by the transport mechanism to the product line 2 and reaches the rotary die cutter unit 10b. The rotary die cutter unit 10b is an apparatus for forming the outer shape of an absorbent article using a rotary die cutter which is a rotating body on a product material sheet at a product pitch, and a pair of upper and lower rotations sandwiching the transported product material sheet It has a processing part which consists of a body. The upper roll 11U is equipped with a cutting blade (upper blade), and the lower roll 11L is equipped with an anvil (lower blade) that receives the cutting blade of the upper roll 11U. The upper blade of the upper roll 11U and the lower blade of the lower roll 11L cooperate with each other at the position where the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L face each other to cut and process the product material sheet, thereby forming the outer shape of the absorbent article on the product material sheet. Form a shape.

  The product material sheet in which the outer shape of the absorbent article is formed is conveyed through the product line 2 and reaches the end cutting unit 10a. The end cutting unit 10a is a device for separating absorbent articles continuously generated on a product material sheet at a product pitch into individual absorbent articles by an end cutter which is a rotating body, and sandwiching the conveyed product material sheet It has a processing part which consists of a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies. The upper roll 11U is provided with an upper blade, and the lower roll 11L is provided with a lower blade for receiving the upper blade. The upper blade of the upper roll 11U and the lower blade of the lower roll 11L are cut so as to cross from one end of the product material sheet in the width direction to the other end in cooperation at the position where the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L face each other . By this cutting process, the absorbent articles continuously produced on the product material sheet are divided into individual absorbent articles, and a finished absorbent article is manufactured.

<<< About the processing unit 10 >>>
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a processing unit 10 for processing by a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies. The left view of FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of the processing unit 10, and the right view of FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the processing unit 10.

  As described above, the end cutting unit 10a, the rotary die cutter unit 10b, the tape sticking unit 10d, and the embossing unit 10e are all processing units 10 that perform processing with a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies, and have the configuration shown in FIG. Have. Hereinafter, the processing unit 10 which performs processing by a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies shown in FIG. 2 is also referred to as a rotating body processing unit. Then, the configuration of the rotating body processing unit will be described using FIG. 2 (the adhesive application unit 10c will be described later).

  The rotating body processing unit includes a processing portion of an upper roll 11U and a lower roll 11L, which are a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies, and the material to be conveyed passes through opposing positions F where the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L face each other. Then, when the material passes through the facing position F, the processing unit processes the material.

  A processing unit (upper roll 11U and lower roll 11L) of the rotating body processing unit is provided on the front side of the end plate 20 (on the left side of the end plate 20 in the right view of FIG. 2), and a unit provided on the front side of the end plate 20. It is installed on the gantry 15. The unit mounts 15 are provided corresponding to the respective rotary body processing units, and are fixed at predetermined positions of the end plate 20. The installation of the processing unit of the rotating body processing unit on the unit mount frame 15 is performed by installing the replacement unit of the rotating body processing unit. The replacement portion is a portion constituting a unit for replacing the processing portion with another processing portion in the step change of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 described later, and has a processing portion and a positioning portion. ing. Then, at the time of installation of the replacement portion of the rotary body processing unit, positioning of the installation position is performed by the positioning portion, and as shown in the left view of FIG. 10n and the convex portion 15a provided on the rotational body processing unit replacement surface of the unit rack frame 15 (surface contacting the bottom surface of the replacement portion) are fitted.

  That is, by fitting the concave portion 10 n and the convex portion 15 a, the rotating body processing unit is installed at a predetermined position of the unit mount frame 15, and each rotating body processing unit transfers the material of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1. It will be provided at a predetermined position of the line. Therefore, for example, even when a replacement part (for example, the end cutting unit 10a) of a certain rotary body processing unit is once removed and then reinstalled, another rotary body processing unit (for example, rotary die cutter unit before removal and after attachment) 10b) and the distance on the material transport route become equal.

  As shown in the right view of FIG. 2, a drive unit 30 is provided on the back side of the end plate 20 (right side of the end plate 20 in the right view of FIG. 2) as a power source. The drive part 30 is provided 1 each with respect to one rotation body processing unit. The drive unit 30 according to the present embodiment is a servomotor as an example of a motor that is driven to rotate, and is fixed to the back side of the end plate 20. Further, the servomotor has an encoder, which detects the rotation angle of the servomotor and transmits the detection result to the control unit 50 described later. Examples of the encoder include an optical encoder and a magnetic encoder.

  The drive shaft 31 of the drive unit 30 is provided with a drive gear 32 and meshes with the upper roll gear 13U. That is, when the drive unit 30 is driven to rotate, the drive gear 32 is rotated via the drive shaft 31 to rotate the upper roll gear 13U.

  The upper roll rotary shaft 12U is rotatably supported by a support (not shown) provided so as to penetrate from the back side of the mirror plate 20 to the front side, and the upper roll gear 13U is fixed to one end side and the upper end to the other end side The roll 11U is fixed. That is, when the drive unit 30 is driven and rotated, the upper roll gear 13U is rotated, and when the upper roll gear 13U is rotated, the upper roll 11U is rotated via the upper roll rotation shaft 12U.

  The lower roll 11L also has the same configuration as the upper roll 11U, and when the lower roll gear 13L rotates, the lower roll 11L rotates via the lower roll rotation shaft 12L. The lower roll gear 13L meshes with the upper roll gear 13U so that the rotational direction is opposite. That is, when the upper roll gear 13U (upper roll 11U) rotates to the right, the lower roll gear 13L (lower roll 11L) is engaged with each other so that the lower roll gear 13L (the lower roll 11L) rotates to the left.

  Also, in general, the upper roll gear 13U and the lower roll gear 13L are meshed so that the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L rotate at the same rotational speed, and in this embodiment as well, ing. For example, after the upper blade of the upper roll 11U and the lower blade of the lower roll 11L perform cutting processing of material at the facing position F, when the upper roll 11U rotates 360 degrees, the lower roll 11L also rotates 360 degrees, the facing position F In this case, the upper blade and the lower blade are configured to perform the same cutting process again.

  Next, the configuration of the adhesive application unit 10c will be described. The adhesive application unit 10 c is provided on the front side of the mirror plate 20 and is fixed to a predetermined position of the mirror plate 20. In the adhesive application unit 10c, in order to apply a hot melt adhesive for bonding the top sheet and the back sheet to the joint surface of the top sheet, the adhesive application unit 10c is provided on the side where the joint surface is present.

  The supply of the hot melt adhesive to the hot melt adhesive application device (a nozzle which is a processing unit) is performed from a melting tank provided in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1. The melting tank melts the hot melt adhesive from solid to liquid and supplies the liquid hot melt adhesive to the hot melt adhesive applicator through the passage pipe. Then, when the predetermined processing position (application position) of the material is conveyed to the position where the application device applies the hot melt adhesive, the hot melt adhesive application device starts discharging the hot melt adhesive from the nozzle. Apply the hot melt adhesive to a predetermined processing position (application position) of the material.

  In addition, the end cutting unit 10a to the embossing unit 10e have a function and an adjustment function corresponding to each processing purpose. For example, if it is processing unit 10 which performs embossing of embossing unit 10e, it has a temperature control function which adjusts temperature of a heating part which heats an uneven part, and a heated uneven part with heating temperature of a heating part ( Equivalent to temperature adjustment process). In addition, it has a pressure unit for pressing the uneven portion (upper roll 11U and lower roll 11L) and a pressure adjustment function for adjusting the pressing force (corresponding to the pressing force adjustment step).

<<< Operation of Machining Unit 10 >>
Next, the operation of the processing unit 10 of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described.

  Each processing unit 10 needs to perform predetermined processing at a predetermined position of the completed absorbent article. That is, it is necessary to perform predetermined processing at a predetermined position of the material to be transported. If processing is performed at a position deviated from the predetermined position, the completed absorbent article becomes defective and must be discarded. Therefore, it is necessary to control the operation of the processing unit 10 so that the processing position of each processing unit 10 becomes a predetermined position of the material.

  In the present embodiment, in order to control the operation of the processing unit 10, the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with one reference portion. The reference portion has an origin and serves as a reference of the operation of each processing unit 10. That is, each processing unit 10 starts (stops) the operation simultaneously with the start (stop) of the operation of the reference portion, and interlocks with the movement of the reference point of the reference portion as a reference. A processing angle is set in the processing unit 10. The processing angle is a predetermined position of the material to which the processing unit 10 having the processing angle set is conveyed when the origin of the reference portion is rotated and reaches the processing angle. Is set to perform processing.

  That is, the processing angle of the processing unit 10 differs depending on each processing unit 10, and which position of the processing unit of the processing unit 10 is to be processed (for example, if the processing unit is a rotating body and a cutting device, the rotating body Of which position about the rotation axis of the cutting unit 10), which position in the conveying direction of the material to which the processing unit 10 is conveyed, the processing unit 10 is provided at which position on the conveyance path It is set in consideration of conditions such as That is, each processing unit 10 is set with an individual processing angle.

  And in this embodiment, each processing unit 10 operates as follows to a standard part. That is, when the origin of the reference part makes one rotation, the processing part of each rotary body processing unit makes one rotation, and when the origin of the reference part is located at 0 degree (also called the reference part angle), Similarly, the processing part (rotating body) of the rotating body processing unit is positioned at 0 degree (also referred to as a rotating body angle) (that is, for the rotating body angle, the origin of the reference part is positioned at 0 degree) Define the angle of the machined part (rotational body) at the time of 0 degrees). And a processing angle means the angle which a processing part processes with respect to material, when a reference part angle (rotation body angle) turns into that angle. For example, if the processing angle is set to 90 degrees, when the origin of the reference portion and the rotating body are interlocked to rotate and the reference portion angle (rotational body angle) becomes 90 degrees, the processing portion Process the materials.

  Further, the position where the origin of the reference portion is 0 degree corresponds to one end of the product pitch, and the position where the origin of the reference portion rotates 360 degrees corresponds to the other end of the product pitch. That is, one end of the absorbent article on the downstream side in the transport direction of the absorbent article formed continuously to the material is at 0 °, and the other end on the upstream side is at 360 ° (the next absorbent property on the upstream side in the transport direction The adhesive application unit 10c which is one end of the article and is 0 degree) (the adhesive application unit 10c which is not the rotating body processing unit will be described later).

  In the present embodiment, the reference portion is the drive portion 30 of the end cutting unit 10a, and the origin of the reference portion is set to a position where the rotation angle of the drive shaft 31 (drive gear 32) of the drive portion 30 is 0 degree. That is, the rotation reference position (the origin position of the reference portion) about the predetermined rotation axis (the drive shaft 31 of the end cutting unit 10a) is set (corresponding to the reference setting step). And the processing angle of each processing unit 10 is set on the basis of the origin of a reference | standard part. Here, the processing angle of the end cutting unit 10a is 0 degrees, the processing angle of the rotary die cutter unit 10b is 30 degrees, the processing angle of the tape sticking unit 10d is 60 degrees, and the processing angle of the embossing unit 10e is 90 degrees. The following explanation will be given as being set.

  Further, the processing unit of the rotary body processing unit rotates with the drive unit 30 of each rotary body processing unit as a drive source. The motor of the drive unit 30 has an encoder, and the control unit 50 detects the rotation angle of the motor, and the control unit 50 detects the rotation angle of the processing unit of the rotating body processing unit (the rotating body angle). Are aware of. That is, the control unit 50 recognizes the rotation angle of the rotating body processing unit via the rotation angle of the drive unit 30. Therefore, the rotation angle (rotational position) corresponding to the processing angle of each rotary body processing unit exists in each drive part 30. FIG.

  That is, at the first position in the transport direction (for example, the position where the rotary die cutter unit 10b is located), using the first processing unit rotated about the first rotation axis by the first motor, the rotation reference position (reference unit angle Is the first angular position corresponding to the first angular position rotated by a first rotational angle (the processing angle, which is 30 degrees in the above example) about a predetermined rotational axis from the position of 0 °) A second processing unit is used which is processed (corresponding to a first processing step) and rotated about a second rotation axis by a second motor at a second position (for example, a position where the embossing unit 10e is located) in the transport direction. The second processing is performed on the material at the rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the second angular position rotated by the second rotational angle (90 degrees in the above example) around the predetermined rotational axis from the rotational reference position It corresponds to the processing step).

  Although the adhesive application unit 10c does not have a rotating body like the above-described rotating body processing unit, by assigning the rotation angle of the origin of the reference portion to the product pitch, and converting the processing position into the rotation angle, It is possible to control as above. As described above, one end on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the absorbent article continuously generated on the material corresponds to 0 degree of the origin of the reference portion, and the other end on the upstream side corresponds to 360 degrees of the origin of the reference portion Do. Then, the timing at which the nozzle discharges the hot melt adhesive is converted into a rotation angle from 0 degrees to 360 degrees of the origin of the reference portion so that the hot melt adhesive is applied to the predetermined position of the material, and converted. The rotation angle is taken as the processing angle of the adhesive application unit 10c. In this way, it is possible to associate the rotation angle of the origin of the reference portion with the timing at which the hot melt adhesive is discharged from the nozzle (set it as the processing angle), so the operation of the adhesive application unit 10c (for example, the valve of the nozzle It becomes possible to control the opening and closing) based on the operation of the reference portion in the same manner as the above-mentioned rotating body processing unit.

  That is, at the third position (position where the adhesive application unit 10c is located) in the transport direction, the third rotation angle (adhesive application unit 10c) around the predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position using the third processing unit (nozzle) The adhesive is applied to the material at a timing rotated by the processing angle of (the third processing step).

  Up to this point, it has been described that each processing unit 10 operates based on the movement of the reference portion as the operation of the processing unit 10, but in the following, individual processing is performed with respect to changes in the extension state etc. The control of the operation of processing the material to be transported to a predetermined position by adjusting the processing position of the unit 10 individually will be described.

  In the present embodiment, since the material to be conveyed is in the form of a sheet, the material is easily bent in the thickness direction of the material in a place where the material is not supported (for example, between the processing unit 10 and the processing unit 10). I'm sorry. Then, if the material to be conveyed is bent, when the material passes through the processing unit 10, it may deviate from a predetermined passing position in the width direction, or the material may be wrinkled. That is, it may cause processing defects. Therefore, the transport mechanism that transports the material transports the material relating to the absorbent article along the transport direction with tension applied (corresponding to the transport process). And in this embodiment, the above-mentioned tension is given to materials using a tension adjustment device (refer to Drawing 3). That is, it has the adjustment function which adjusts the tension given to the material which concerns on an absorptive article (equivalent to a tension adjustment process).

  The sheet-like material according to the absorbent article is made of a stretchable material such as non-woven fabric. Therefore, if the material is conveyed in a tensioned state, the material is always conveyed in a stretched state. The tension adjustment device applies a constant tension so that the expansion state of the material is constant, but the thickness and the width of the sheet-like material have a certain dispersion, and the dispersion state of the material is caused by the dispersion. Change. Also, depending on the surrounding environment of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 and the environment such as temperature and humidity of the place where the material is stored, the expansion state of the material changes due to the influence of the amount of water and the like contained in the material. Also, as described above, the material (top sheet) is fed out and conveyed from the material roll, but this material roll is generated to convey the material sheet, and generally it is fixed at the axial center It is produced by winding a sheet of material at a rotational speed of. Therefore, the tension received when being wound by the sheet of material close to the radial direction from the axial center portion is different from that of the sheet of material and the state of elongation of the material is different. That is, the extension state of the material to be transported changes momentarily while manufacturing the absorbent article. Therefore, it is necessary to control the operation of the processing unit 10 so that the processing position of the processing unit 10 becomes a predetermined position in accordance with the extension state of the material.

  The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a processing position detection unit 40 and a control unit 50 in order to control the operation described above. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the control unit 50 and other devices.

  The processing position detection unit 40 is a device that detects processing positions of various types of processing processed into the material to be conveyed, and is provided along the material conveyance path. For example, it is an apparatus which detects the processing range of embossing, and an apparatus which detects the sticking position of a fastening tape. Each processing position detection unit 40 detects various processing positions and transmits the detection result to the control unit 50. Examples of the processing position detection unit 40 include an imaging device and a photoelectric tube.

  The control unit 50 includes an analysis unit 51 and a storage unit 52, and the processing position of the material transmitted from the processing position detection unit 40, the drive unit 30 (more specifically, the encoder included in the drive unit 30), etc. Information such as the rotation angle of the drive shaft 31 is received. Then, the analysis unit 51 analyzes the received information and the information stored in the storage unit 52 to calculate the displacement amount of the processing position. Then, when the deviation amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, the timing of the processing of the processing unit 10 which is performing the processing is adjusted.

  Taking the case where the processing position detection unit 40 is an imaging device as an example, the processing position detection unit 40 captures an image of the processing position of the corresponding processing at a product pitch (in synchronization with the reference unit) and controls the control unit 50. Send to The control unit 50 displays an image (for example, a processing position where the processing should be performed with respect to a certain processing position (reference position)) in which a reference processing position of processing corresponding to the processing position detection unit 40 is shown The image) is stored in the storage unit 52, and the analysis unit 51 reads the image of the reference processing position from the storage unit 52 and compares it with the processing position of the transmitted image. Then, the deviation amount of the processing position from the reference processing position of the target processing portion is calculated. A threshold value of the amount of deviation from the reference processing position is set at the processing position of each processing, and when the amount of deviation exceeds the threshold, the control unit 50 executes the processing unit 10 (rotation body processing unit The rotation speed of the drive unit 30 of.

  The adjustment of the rotational speed of the drive unit 30 of the rotating body processing unit is performed to adjust (reset) the processing angle set in the rotating body processing unit whose displacement amount exceeds the threshold. For example, when the displacement amount exceeds the threshold value because the processing timing of the rotary body processing unit is late, the processing angle is set so that the phase difference between the reference point origin and the processing angle of the rotary body processing unit becomes small. Reset. In this way, only the processing timing of the rotary body processing unit can be advanced. Specifically, the rotational speed (rotational speeds of the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L) of the drive unit 30 of the rotating body processing unit is temporarily increased (the processing timing is earlier) until the deviation amount becomes smaller than the threshold value. If the deviation amount exceeds the threshold, it will be temporarily delayed). Then, if the deviation amount falls within the threshold value, adjustment is made such that the temporarily increased (reduced) rotational speed is returned to the original rotational speed, and as a result, the processing angle is reset.

  That is, in the material in which the tension is released (that is, the absorbent article of the finished product), the portion where the first processing (for example, processing of the rotary die cutter unit 10b) is performed and the second processing (for example, the embossing unit 10e) The second angular position (e.g., the processing angle of the embossing unit 10e) is adjusted (corresponding to the angle adjustment step) so that the part subjected to the processing in (a) has a predetermined positional relationship.

  Regarding resetting of the processing angle of the adhesive application unit 10c, the timing of discharging the adhesive is adjusted. That is, the processing angle is reset, and the timing of opening and closing the nozzle valve is adjusted. That is, in the material in which the tension is released, a portion to which the first processing (for example, processing of the rotary die cutter unit 10b) is applied and a portion to which the adhesive is applied (application (processing) position of the adhesive application unit 10c) The third angle position (the processing angle of the adhesive application unit 10c) is adjusted (corresponding to another angle adjustment step) such that the position relationship of

  In the present embodiment, the processing angle (reset processing angle) of each processing unit 10 adjusted in the angle adjustment step is stored in the storage unit 52. That is, the relative angle between the first angle position (for example, the processing angle of the rotary die cutter unit 10b) and the second angle position after adjustment (for example, the processing angle of the reset emboss unit 10e) after the angle adjustment process. Information (for example, both processing angles) that can be identified is stored (corresponding to a storage step). In the case of the adhesive application unit 10c, the first angle position (for example, the processing angle of the rotary die cutter unit 10b) and the third angle position after adjustment (the processing angle of the reset adhesive application unit 10c) The information (for example, both processing angles) which can specify the relative angle of is stored (equivalent to a storage process).

  Further, as described above, the end cutting unit 10a to the embossing unit 10e have the function and the adjustment function according to the processing purpose of each. For example, if it is a processing unit which performs embossing of the embossing unit 10e, it is equipped with the adjustment function (apparatus) which performs a temperature control process and a pressure adjustment process. Further, in the present embodiment, the heating temperature, the pressing force, and the like adjusted by the adjusting function are also stored in the storage unit 52 as the heating temperature, the pressing force, and the like of each processing unit 10 (corresponding to a storage step).

  Then, at the time of stage change of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 described below, the stage change is performed using the information such as the processing angle stored in the storage unit 52.

<<< About change of absorbent article manufacturing device 1 >>>
Next, the change of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described. The change of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 is to change the specification of the product of the absorbent article manufactured by the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1. Product specifications are product dimensions, shapes, etc. Changes in product specifications are, for example, the case of changing from size M to size L if size, and sanitary napkin if it is shape When changing from a winged to a wingless, or when changing the pattern shape of embossing. In the production of absorbent articles, the specifications of the product of absorbent articles to be produced may be changed every day or every change of shift work (that is, frequently), and the apparatus for producing absorbent articles each time. A change of 1 is performed.

  In the step change of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a part of the material relating to the absorbent article and the processing unit for performing various processing may be replaced in order to be replaced according to the specifications to be changed. For example, we may exchange everything. Moreover, in replacement | exchange of a process part, the exchange part of the process unit 10 is removed and the exchange part of another process unit 10 is attached. Therefore, the replacement part of the processing unit 10 before and after the replacement | exchanged for the level change has the same structure.

  Moreover, in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1, manufacture of the absorbent article by the specification of the same product is intermittently performed repeatedly. That is, after production of one absorbent article, the production of another absorbent article and then production of another absorbent article are repeated intermittently and repeatedly according to the specifications of the product of the absorbent article. It will be. That is, a change is made to restore the original product specifications from one product to another. In the following, this change back will be described.

<About the change back to the original product specifications>
In the present embodiment, an absorbent article is manufactured using the end cutting unit 10a to the embossing unit 10e described above as a step for returning to the original product specifications, and the end cutting unit 10a to the embossing unit Step of manufacturing another absorbent article by replacing the replacement part of the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the replacement part of the embossing unit 10e in 10e with replacement parts of different processing units 10 (rotary body processing unit) Replacement, and after the production of another absorbent article, the replacement part of each separate processing unit 10 is replaced with the replacement part of the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the embossing unit 10e to produce the above absorbent article Make a change back to.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the replacement portion of the processing unit 10 that performs processing by a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies is removed from the end plate 20. Here, in order to explain return stage change, it becomes a figure which removed the exchange part of another rotating body processing unit for manufacturing other absorptive articles. As shown in FIG. 4, when removing the replacement portion of another rotating body processing unit for stage change, the upper roll rotation shaft 12U is combined with the upper roll 11U and the lower roll 11L which are the processing portions of the rotating body processing unit. The lower roll rotary shaft 12L, the upper roll gear 13U and the lower roll gear 13L are removed. That is, the engagement between the drive gear 32 and the upper roll gear 13U is released, and the replacement portion of the rotating body processing unit is removed. With such a removal method, it is not necessary to replace the drive unit 30 fixed at a predetermined position of the mirror plate 20. Therefore, even if the processing unit of the processing unit 10 is replaced due to stage change, the processing unit 10 The encoder of the drive unit 30 can be kept energized (the servo motor itself may be de-energized to prevent malfunction etc.).

  Next, the exchange part of the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the embossing unit 10e is attached to the position where the exchange part of another rotating body processing unit was installed. As described above, the replacement parts of the rotating body processing unit before and after replacement have the same configuration. That is, the exchange part of the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the embossing unit 10e has an upper roll rotary shaft 12U, a lower roll rotary shaft 12L, an upper roll gear 13U and a lower roll gear 13L as well as a processing portion. Further, as described above, the recessed portion 10 n is provided in the lower portion of the replacement portion of the rotary die cutter unit 10 b and the embossing unit 10 e. Therefore, the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the embossing unit 10e are positioned by engaging the upper roll gear 13U and the drive gear 32 with each other for positioning on the conveyance path by the concave portion 10n and the convex portion 15a of the unit mount frame 15. The exchange part of can be exchanged.

  And in manufacture of an absorbent article with the rotary die cutter unit 10b and the embossing unit 10e of the last time (before being replaced with each another processing unit 10), each processing angle is adjusted by an angle adjustment process, and this adjustment is carried out The processed (re-set) processing angles are stored in the storage unit 52. In the present embodiment, rotary die cutter unit 10b and embossing unit 10e are returned to the state in which the absorbent article was previously manufactured using the processing angles stored in storage unit 52. Make a change. Furthermore, each processing unit 10 stored in the storage unit 52 not only for the processing unit 10 that has been replaced but also for each processing unit 10 of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 (the processing unit 10 that is not replaced). The processing angle of is used to restore the previous absorbent article to its manufactured state.

  That is, after manufacturing an absorbent article, another absorbent article is manufactured, and after the other absorbent article is manufactured, the information (in the storage unit 52) is again manufactured when the absorbent article is manufactured again. The second angle position (for example, the processing angle of the embossing unit 10e) is set using the stored processing angle). The return step change according to the present embodiment refers to a step change to return to the state in which each processing unit 10 manufactured an absorbent article last time.

  In the following, with reference to FIG. 5, the procedure of the return step change will be described by taking the embossing unit 10 e as an example. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for explaining the procedure of the return stage change.

  The upper view of FIG. 5 shows the state of the embossing unit 10e immediately before removing the replacement part of the embossing unit 10e last time. On the left side of FIG. 5, a front schematic view of the embossing unit 10e viewed from the left side of the right view of FIG. 2 is shown, and a triangular shape is displayed inside the upper roll 11U. This triangular shape represents the embossed pattern generating portion (a convex pattern engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the upper roll 11U), and when the pattern generating portion faces the material (in other words, in FIG. 5, When the pattern generation unit is located at the 6 o'clock position and is turned downward), the material is embossed.

  In the present embodiment, the embossing unit 10e is replaced when the reference part angle (rotational body angle) described above is 0 degrees. That is, the upper view of FIG. 5 shows the state of the embossing unit 10e when the reference portion angle (rotational body angle) is 0 degree. Further, in this case, the processing angle is set to 90 degrees, and it is recorded that the processing angle is 90 degrees also in the storage unit 52 (therefore, in the upper view of FIG. The shape is located at the 9 o'clock position, and when the upper roll 11U is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state of the above figure, the pattern generation unit faces the material). Therefore, in the return step change in this example, even when the return step change described below is completed, the processing angle is 90 degrees as in the above figure (that is, from the reference part angle 0 degree) When the origin of the reference section and the rotating body (upper roll 11U) rotate in conjunction with each other, the pattern generation section faces the material).

  The central view of FIG. 5 is a view showing the state of the embossing unit 10 e immediately after the return step change. When performing the return stage change, the replacement part of the rotating body processing unit is attached, but in this case, it is undetermined at what time the pattern generation part is positioned (attachment Each and every time). This time, as shown in the center view of FIG. 5, as a result of the worker attaching the replacement part, it is assumed that the position of the pattern generation part is 8 o'clock. And, as a matter of course, the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 (control unit 50) can not grasp the attachment position of the replacement unit in the state where the pattern generation unit is positioned.

  Therefore, first, the control unit 50 rotates the upper roll 11U (and the lower roll 11L) to position the pattern generation unit at the 12 o'clock position (refer to the lower diagram in FIG. 5. That is, position it at the 12 o'clock position). Grasp that the pattern generation unit is positioned at the 12 o'clock position). In the present embodiment, a dog detection unit 41a is provided on the end plate 20, and a dog 41b is provided on the upper roll 11U side (specifically, the upper roll gear 13U) via a bracket 41c. The dog 41b is attached at a position where the pattern generation unit is located at the 12 o'clock position when the dog 41b faces the dog detection unit 41a (the dog detection unit 41a detects the dog 41b). . Therefore, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 5, the control unit 50 rotates the upper roll 11U (and the lower roll 11L) and receives the notification regarding dog detection from the dog detection unit 41a. By stopping the rotation of the roll 11L), the pattern generation unit can be positioned at the 12 o'clock position.

  Next, the control unit 50 reads from the storage unit 52 the processing angle stored before the start of the return stage change. Then, using the processing angle, setting of the processing angle after the return step change is performed. Specifically, it is as follows.

  That is, the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 5 is a state where the processing angle is 180 degrees (that is, when the origin of the reference portion and the rotating body (upper roll 11U) rotate 180 degrees interlockingly from 0 degree of the reference portion) Since the generation unit is in a state of facing the material, the upper roll 11U is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise in order to make it 90 degrees, which is the processing angle to be set (the processing angle read from the storage unit 52). Need to rotate. That is, the control unit 50 performs an operation of 180 degrees-90 degrees = 90 degrees, and rotates the upper roll 11U 90 degrees counterclockwise. By this, the state of the embossing unit 10e is the state shown in the upper view of FIG. 5, that is, the state where the processing angle is 90 degrees (that is, the origin of the reference part from the reference part angle 0 degree and the rotating body (upper roll 11U) Becomes interlocked and rotates, the pattern generation unit faces the material), and the return step change of the embossing unit 10e is completed.

  In this procedure, replacement of the embossing unit 10e is performed when the reference part angle is 0 degree (in other words, it is returned to 0 degree if it is not 0 degree), but it is limited to this It is also possible to replace when the reference part angle is not 0 degrees. In such a case, when the return stage change is performed, this amount of correction is further required.

  For example, when replacement is performed when the reference part angle is 30 degrees, the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 5 is a state where the processing angle is 210 degrees (= 180 degrees + 30 degrees) (that is, from the reference part angle 0 degrees) When the origin of the reference portion and the rotating body (upper roll 11U) interlock with each other and rotate by 210 degrees, the pattern generation portion faces the material). Therefore, by rotating the upper roll 11U counterclockwise by 120 degrees (= 210 degrees-90 degrees), a processing angle of 90 degrees is created.

  Further, as described above, also in the adhesive application unit 10c, when changing from the previous absorbent article to another absorbent article, the adjusted processing angle is stored as the processing angle of the adhesive application unit 10c. It is stored in 52. Therefore, also for the adhesive application unit 10c, the return step change is performed using the processing angle stored in the storage unit 52. That is, after manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, using the information (the processing angle stored in the storage unit 52), the third angle position (adhesive application) Set the processing angle) of the unit 10c.

  Further, as described above, the heating temperature, the pressing force, and the like adjusted by the adjustment function of each processing unit 10 are also stored in the storage unit 52 as the heating temperature, the pressing force, and the like of each processing unit 10. Then, in the present embodiment, the return stage change is performed using the heating temperature, the pressing force, and the like of each processing unit 10 stored in the storage unit 52. That is, after manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, the heating unit (pressurizing unit) heats (applys) the stored heating temperature (pressure). Pressure).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the return step change is performed using the processing angle of the processing unit 10 finally adjusted in the manufacturing of a certain absorbent article. That is, in the memory process, the angle adjustment process performed when manufacturing an absorbent article before manufacturing another absorbent article and the first angular position (for example, the processing angle of the rotary die cutter unit 10b) Among them, the relative angle between the second angle position (for example, the processing angle of the embossing unit 10e) adjusted in the last angle adjustment step and the relative angle is stored as identifiable information (for example, both processing angles). Therefore, storage of the processing angle of the processing unit 10 in the storage unit 52 may be stored each time of adjustment (resetting), or may be stored only immediately before changing to another absorbent article.

<<< Effect of this embodiment >>>
As described above, in the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment, the above-mentioned certain absorbent articles are used to set a reference position of rotation about a predetermined rotation axis, and to manufacture a certain absorbent article. And a first processing unit rotating the first motor around the first rotation shaft by the first motor at the first position in the conveyance direction, and conveying the material according to the above in the conveyance direction in the tensioned state. A first processing step of performing first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to a first angular position rotated by a first rotational angle around the predetermined rotational axis from the rotational reference position; At a second position in the transport direction, using a second processing unit rotated about a second rotation axis by a second motor, a second angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. Order A second processing step of performing a second processing on the material at a rotational position of the second motor corresponding to a position of the portion on which the first processing has been performed and the second processing in the material whose tension is released; The angle adjustment step of adjusting the second angle position so that the portion subjected to the processing has a predetermined positional relationship, and the second angle after adjustment with the first angle position after the angle adjustment step Manufacturing an absorbent article according to a manufacturing method including storing information capable of specifying relative angles with respect to positions, and manufacturing another absorbent article after manufacturing the absorbent article; After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the absorbent article again, the second angular position is set using the information. Therefore, it is possible to perform a quick return stage change.

  Heretofore, the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 has been switched by replacing the processing unit 10 in accordance with the specification of the product. In the method of replacing the processing unit 10 and changing the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1, a long time is spent at the time of the return change, and there is a problem that the productivity is lowered. That is, each time the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 is changed, the manufacturing conditions are reset, and it is necessary to adjust the processing position where the material is processed from the beginning according to the specifications of the product to be subjected to the return stage change. The

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the processing angle adjusted at the time of manufacturing the absorbent article of the previous time is stored in the storage unit 52 to change the stage of the absorbent article. At this time, the stored processing angle is used as the processing angle for the return step change. Therefore, it becomes the processing position adjusted when manufacturing the absorbent article in which the processing position at which the processing unit 10 after the return stage change performs processing on the material last time (that is, return to the previous state), There is no need to adjust the processing position (from the initial installation state). That is, it is possible to perform a quick return stage change.

  Further, in the storage step, the last angle in the angle adjustment step performed when manufacturing the certain absorbent article before manufacturing the other absorbent article and the first angular position. The relative angle of the second angular position adjusted in the adjusting step is stored as identifiable information. That is, since the processing position at which processing is performed on the material after the return step change of a certain absorbent article is the last adjusted processing position when manufacturing the absorbent article having the previous time, the return is more rapid. It becomes possible to change the form.

  The second processing unit provided with the second processing unit further includes a heating unit, and further includes a temperature adjustment step of adjusting the heating temperature of the heating unit, and storing the heating temperature after adjustment in the storage step. After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the absorbent article again, the heating unit is heated at the stored heating temperature. That is, since the heating temperature of the heating unit after changing the stage back to a certain absorbent article is the heating temperature adjusted when manufacturing the absorbent article in the previous time, it is not necessary to adjust the heating temperature from the beginning, It is possible to perform quicker return stage change.

  The second processing unit provided with the second processing unit further includes a pressing unit, and further includes a pressing force adjusting step of adjusting the pressing force of the pressing unit, and the adding step after the adjustment in the memory step. After storing the pressure and manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, the pressurizing unit applies pressure with the stored pressure. That is, the pressure applied to the material after the replacement of the absorbent article is the pressure applied when the absorbent article was manufactured last time, and the pressure applied must be adjusted from one to another. As a result, it is possible to perform quicker return stage change.

  Further, an adhesive is applied to the material at a timing at which the third processing unit is used to rotate the third rotation angle around the predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position at the third position in the transport direction. A third angular position such that the material subjected to the first processing has a predetermined positional relationship with the portion to which the first processing has been applied and the portion to which the adhesive is applied in the material whose tension has been released, which further includes a processing step. Further includes another angle adjusting step of adjusting the information, the information including information capable of specifying a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted third angular position, the other absorbent article The third angular position is set using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the above. Therefore, even in the processing unit 10 that does not have a rotating body as a processing unit such as an adhesive application device, it is possible to perform a quick return stage change.

=== Second embodiment ===
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The upper view of FIG. 6 corresponds to the right view of FIG. 2 and is a schematic side view of the processing unit 10 according to the second embodiment, and the lower view of FIG. 6 is an upper roll according to the second embodiment. It is the figure which showed three cross-sectional shapes in the fitting part of 12 A of rotating shafts.

  In the second embodiment, when replacing the replacement part of the rotary body processing unit, the upper roll rotary shaft 12U is coupled to the coupling (shaft joint, instead of releasing the engagement between the upper roll gear 13U and the drive gear 32). The replacement part of the rotating body processing unit is replaced by attaching and detaching. Therefore, the rotary body processing unit according to the second embodiment is provided on the upper roll rotation shaft 12U (hereinafter, also referred to as a rotation shaft on the drive unit 30 side) provided on the upper roll gear 13U and the upper roll 11U. An upper roll rotary shaft 12U (hereinafter also referred to as a rotary shaft on the exchange portion side) and two upper roll rotary shafts 12U (hereinafter also referred to as two rotary shafts) are provided, and the two rotary shafts are fitted together A part (shaft and hole) is provided. And the cross section of the fitting part provided in these two rotating shafts is not circular shape, but is partially deformed.

  Three examples which can be used as the axial side cross-sectional shape of the fitting portion are shown in the lower part of FIG. That is, it crosses in the radial direction, such as a shape with a notch at an angle from the center of the rotation axis to the outer periphery, such as the cross-sectional shape on the left side of the lower figure in FIG. It is possible to use a shape having a notch having a plane in the direction, or a water drop-like shape having a circularly projecting portion such as a cross-sectional shape on the right side of the lower view of FIG. And the hole side cross-sectional shape of a fitting part turns into a cross-sectional shape according to such an axial side cross-sectional shape. That is, if the rotary shaft has a notch, the other side has a corresponding protrusion, and if the rotary shaft has a protrusion, the other side has a corresponding notch. In this case, attachment and detachment of the two rotation shafts is possible only when the cross-sectional shapes of the two rotation shafts coincide with each other.

  Next, also in the second embodiment, the encoders of the drive units 30 included in the respective rotating body processing units are in a state of being energized before and after the stage change. That is, after manufacturing another absorbent article, the encoder provided in the first motor (for example, the drive unit 30 disposed in the rotary die cutter unit 10b) until another absorbent article is manufactured again, and the second The encoder provided in the motor (for example, the drive unit 30 disposed in the embossing unit 10e) is in the energized state. The term "energization" as used herein refers to a state where electricity is supplied to the device, and does not mean turning on or off the power of the device. Even if the power is "off", if the power plug is plugged into the power supply, electricity will be supplied to the device through the power plug, so this case also falls in the "energized" category. Before and after the step change, the encoder of each drive unit 30 is in the energized state, whereby the control unit 50 can detect the rotation angle of each drive unit 30.

  Then, it is easy to perform the stage change in a state in which the encoder is energized. In the stage change of the rotary body processing unit, only the replacement portion of the rotary body processing unit is replaced to change the drive unit 30 of the rotary body processing unit. Not to replace it. That is, after manufacturing the absorbent article, when manufacturing the other absorbent article, after using the other processing unit instead of the second processing unit, after manufacturing the other absorbent article When manufacturing the said absorbent article again, it changes to the said other process part, and uses the said 2nd process part again. With this configuration, the power plug can be maintained in the state of being inserted into the power source during the change of the rotary body processing unit, so that the encoder can be easily energized.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the attachment is performed by the coupling (shaft joint), the degree of attachment may be determined as described above (when the pattern generation portion is positioned. Event does not occur. That is, the rotational angle of the drive unit 30 and the position of the pattern generation unit correspond to each other in one-to-one correspondence, and this correspondence does not change at the time of attachment. Therefore, when the encoder is energized, the control unit 50 can grasp not only the rotation angle of the drive unit 30 but also the position of the pattern generation unit before and after the change of stage.

  In addition, since the position on the transport path of the rotary shaft on the drive unit 30 side is not changed by replacement of the replacement part of the rotary body processing unit, the transport path of the replacement part (machining part) of the rotary body processing unit after return stage change The position at the same position as the position on the transport path where the replacement portion (processing portion) of the rotating body processing unit was installed before the removal. That is, the replacement part (processing part) of a certain rotating body processing unit is installed only at a predetermined position on the transport path (unit rack 15).

=== Third embodiment ===
Next, the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 corresponds to the right view of FIG. 2 and is a schematic side view of the processing unit 10 according to the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, when replacing the replacement part of the rotary body processing unit, the upper roll rotary shaft 12U and the lower roll rotary shaft 12L are not released instead of releasing the engagement between the upper roll gear 13U and the drive gear 32. Are respectively attached and detached by couplings (shaft couplings) to replace the processing unit 10. Then, a Schmidt coupling 14 (link type coupling, which can cope with the change of the height dimension of the coupling attachment and detachment position due to the change of the shaft diameter of the processed portion) is used as this coupling.

  According to the third embodiment, the mechanism on the back side of the mirror plate 20 is not replaced when replacing the replacement part of the rotating body processing unit. That is, the position on the conveyance path of the rotating shaft on the drive unit 30 side is not changed by the replacement of the rotating body processing unit.

  Further, the mounting and demounting of the Schmidt coupling 14 may be made possible only when the cross-sectional shapes match as in the second embodiment.

=== Fourth embodiment ===
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the above description, the angle adjustment step (that is, the continuous angle adjustment step) in which the control unit 50 adjusts the processing angle of each processing unit 10 in response to the change in the extension state of the transported material from moment to moment In the fourth embodiment, at the timing when the following manufacturing conditions (processing conditions) of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 are adjusted, the angle adjustment process as described above is performed more intermittently. Be sure to execute the angle adjustment process.

  First, the tension of the material to be transported is changed by the tension adjusting device, and the angle adjusting process is performed at the timing when the manufacturing conditions of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 are adjusted. That is, after the tension adjustment step, the angle adjustment step is performed. Changes in the tension applied to the material being transported may cause changes in the material's extensional state. Therefore, by adjusting the processing angle of each processing unit 10 at this timing, the angle adjustment step is performed at an appropriate timing, so that more accurate information can be stored in storage unit 52 when the next storage step is performed. It can be stored, and it becomes possible to carry out quick return stage change.

  Next, the conveyance speed of the material to be conveyed is changed by the conveyance mechanism, and the angle adjustment process is executed at the timing when the manufacturing conditions of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 are adjusted. That is, after the speed adjustment process, the angle adjustment process is performed. The conveyance mechanism for conveying the material has a function of adjusting the conveyance speed of the material (corresponding to the speed adjustment process), and the conveyance speed of the material is adjusted to adjust the production amount of the absorbent article per unit time. May adjust. For example, the production of the absorbent article may be stopped due to some failure, and the delivery speed of the material may be increased in order to increase the production of the absorbent article per unit time more than usual after production resumes.

  When the transfer speed of the material to be transferred is changed, the moving speed of the material is changed, which may change the extension state of the material. Therefore, by adjusting the processing angle of each processing unit 10 at this timing, the angle adjustment step is performed at an appropriate timing, so that more accurate information can be stored in storage unit 52 when the next storage step is performed. It can be stored, and it becomes possible to carry out quick return stage change.

  Finally, although it has already been stated that the top sheet is fed from the material roll and conveyed on the top line 3, the top sheet is fed from the material roll of the top sheet being conveyed to the material roll of the next new top sheet. The angle adjustment process is also performed when changing the source. That is, after the material roll is replaced with the next new material roll (corresponding to the replacement process), the angle adjustment process is performed. Supply source exchange of material from an existing material roll to a new material roll is performed by joining the existing material roll and the new material roll by material joining. That is, when the supply source is switched from the existing material roll to the new material roll, the radial position of the material roll from which the material is fed is simultaneously moved outward in the radial direction. And as above-mentioned, the expansion | extension state of the material sheet wound around the material roll changes with radial directions. That is, at the timing of switching to a new material roll, the radial position of the material roll of the material sheet to be fed out changes significantly, so that the extension state of the material may also change. Therefore, it is desirable to adjust the processing angle of each processing unit 10. Therefore, by adjusting the processing angle of each processing unit 10 at this timing, the angle adjustment step is performed at an appropriate timing, so that more accurate information can be stored in storage unit 52 when the next storage step is performed. It can be stored, and it becomes possible to carry out quick return stage change.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above embodiments are for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not for the purpose of limiting the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 50 can detect the rotation angle of each driving unit 30 before and after the switching by performing the step change while the encoders of the respective drive units 30 are energized. But it is not limited to this. For example, even when the encoders of the respective drive units 30 are de-energized, the drive shaft 31 of the respective drive units 30 can not be rotated before being de-energized. May be stored in the storage unit 52, and the restricted state may be maintained while the encoder is in the non-energized state. That is, in the storage step, the angular positions of the first motor and the second motor at the time of storing the information are stored, and an encoder provided in the first motor and a second motor are provided. When the encoder is in the non-energized state, each of the first motor and the second motor may be non-rotatably restrained (corresponding to a restraining step).

  If such a restraining step is performed, when the encoder returns from the non-energized state to the energized state, the control unit 50 reads the rotation angles of the respective drive units 30 from the storage unit 52, and the respective drive units If the rotation state is set to 30 and then released from the restricted state, the control unit 50 can detect the rotation angle of each drive unit 30 without executing the origination of the drive unit 30. As an example of restraining the drive shaft 31, there is a restraining mechanism which presses a restraining portion which has high friction force and is unlikely to slip with the drive shaft 31 over the entire circumference of a part of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 31. Can provide an example in which the rotation of the drive shaft 31 is mechanically restrained using a frictional force.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the positioning of the replacement portion of the rotating body processing unit on the transport path is performed by fitting the concave portion 10n and the convex portion 15a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in the upper view of FIG. 8, the outer side surface of the replacement portion of the rotary body processing unit and the inner side surface of the unit rack 15 are fitted together, and the exchange portion installation surface of the rotary body processing unit of the unit rack 15 is You may provide the slide rail 16 (air slide rail) for moving the replacement part of a rotary body processing unit. In another example, as shown in the central view of FIG. 8, the end plate 20 may be provided with a positioning portion 20 a which is fitted and positioned with the outer surface of the replacement portion of the rotating body processing unit. As shown, a hole may be provided in the replacement part of the rotating body processing unit, and the positioning rod 20b provided on the end plate 20 may be positioned in a fitted manner.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the mechanism using the gear was used as a transmission mechanism of the drive rotation of the drive part 30 of a rotary body processing unit, and a process part, it does not restrict to this. For example, a transmission mechanism of drive rotation using a pulley and a belt may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the process angle was made into the single angle, it does not restrict to this. For example, the range of the start rotation angle and the end rotation angle of processing may be used as the processing angle.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the return step change was performed using the process angle of the process unit 10 finally adjusted in manufacture of a certain absorbent article in the last time, it does not restrict to this. For example, the return stage change may be performed using not only the processing angle but also the heating temperature and pressure adjusted last.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rotary body processing unit had only a pair of upper and lower rotary bodies, it does not restrict to this. For example, you may have another rotary body (rotary bodies other than a process part) other than a pair of upper and lower sides which deliver the material stuck on material to a pair of upper and lower process parts by product pitch.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the power plug is connected to the power source before and after the return step change to put the encoder into the energized state, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing unit 10 may be provided with a battery back-up, and the battery back-up may be turned on.

  Further, in the above embodiment, although the reference portion is the drive portion 30 of the end cutting unit 10a, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a reference unit may be provided separately from the processing unit 10 and used only for setting the origin.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the processing unit 10 provided in the top line 3 and the product line 2 was demonstrated, it does not restrict to this. The present invention is also applicable to the processing units 10 provided in the absorber line 4 and the back line 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, 2 product lines, 3 top lines, 4 absorber lines 5 back lines, 10 processing units, 10a end cutting units 10b rotary die cutter units, 10c adhesive application units 10d tape sticking units, 10e embossing Unit, 10 n concave 11 U upper roll, 11 L lower roll, 12 U upper roll rotary shaft 12 L lower roll rotary shaft, 13 U upper roll gear, 13 L lower roll gear 14 Schmidt coupling, 15 unit mount frame, 15 a convex part 16 slide rail, 20 mirror plate , 20a positioning unit, 20b positioning rod 30 drive unit, 31 drive shaft, 32 drive gear, 40 machining position detection unit 41a dog detection unit 41b dog 41c bracket 50 control unit 51 analysis unit 52 storage unit A joining point F facing position

Claims (12)

A reference setting step of setting a rotation reference position about a predetermined rotation axis;
A conveying step of conveying a material according to the absorbent article in a tensioned state along a conveying direction to produce an absorbent article;
At a first position in the transport direction, using a first processing unit rotated about a first rotation axis by a first motor, a first angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A first processing step of performing first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to the position;
At a second position in the transport direction, using a second processing unit rotated about a second rotation axis by a second motor, a second angle rotated about a predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position. A second processing step of performing second processing on the material at the rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the position;
Angle adjustment for adjusting the second angular position so that the portion subjected to the first processing and the portion subjected to the second processing have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released. Process,
Storing, after the angle adjustment step, information capable of specifying a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted second angular position;
Manufacturing the above absorbent article by a manufacturing method having
After producing the above absorbent article, another absorbent article is produced,
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the second angular position is set using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1,
After manufacturing the other absorbent article, the encoder provided to the first motor and the encoder provided to the second motor are in an energized state until the absorbent article is manufactured again. And a method of manufacturing the absorbent article. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1,
Storing the angular positions of the first motor and the second motor when storing the information in the storing step;
It has a restraining step of non-rotatably restraining the first motor and the second motor when the encoder provided to the first motor and the encoder provided to the second motor are not energized. The manufacturing method of the absorbent article characterized by the above. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
After the production of the absorbent article, when producing the other absorbent article, the second processing section is replaced with another processing section,
After manufacturing the other absorbent article, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again, it changes to the other processing part and uses the second processing part again, and manufacture of an absorbent article Method. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The method further includes a tension adjustment step of adjusting tension applied to the material relating to the absorbent article,
The method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the angle adjustment step is performed after the tension adjustment step. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The method further includes a speed adjustment step of adjusting the transfer speed of the material,
The method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the angle adjustment step is performed after the speed adjustment step. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
In the conveying step, the material fed from the material roll is conveyed;
Replacing the material roll with a new material roll;
The method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the angle adjustment step is performed after the replacement step. In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The second processing unit including the second processing unit includes a heating unit,
The method further comprises a temperature adjustment step of adjusting the heating temperature of the heating unit,
Storing the adjusted heating temperature in the storing step;
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, characterized in that when the absorbent article is manufactured again after manufacturing the other absorbent article, the heating unit is heated at the stored heating temperature. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The second processing unit including the second processing unit includes a pressing unit,
The method further includes a pressure adjustment step of adjusting the pressure of the pressure unit,
Storing the pressure after adjustment in the storing step;
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, characterized in that, when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article, the pressurizing unit applies pressure with the stored pressure. . In the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A third processing step of applying an adhesive to the material at a third position in the transport direction, using a third processing unit, at a timing when it is rotated by a third rotation angle around the predetermined rotation axis from the rotation reference position And have
Another angle adjustment for adjusting a third angle position so that a portion subjected to the first processing and a portion to which the adhesive is applied have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released. Further comprising a process,
The information includes information that can specify a relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted third angular position.
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the third angular position is set using the information when manufacturing the certain absorbent article again after manufacturing the other absorbent article. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
In the memory step, the last angle adjustment step among the angle adjustment step performed when manufacturing the certain absorbent article before manufacturing the first angular position and the other absorbent article And storing the relative angle between the second angular position and the adjusted second angular position as identifiable information. A reference unit for setting a rotation reference position about a predetermined rotation axis;
A transport mechanism that transports the material relating to the absorbent article along a transport direction in a tensioned state in order to manufacture an absorbent article;
A first motor and a first processing unit rotated about a first rotation shaft by the first motor, wherein the first motor rotates from the reference rotation position by a first rotation angle at the first position in the transport direction. A first processing mechanism that performs first processing on the material at a rotational position of the first motor corresponding to the first angular position,
A second motor and a second processing unit that rotates about a second rotation shaft by the second motor, and rotates by a second rotation angle around the predetermined rotation shaft from the rotation reference position at a second position in the transport direction A second processing mechanism that performs a second processing on the material at a rotational position of the second motor corresponding to the second angular position;
A control unit configured to adjust a second angular position such that a portion subjected to the first processing and a portion subjected to the second processing have a predetermined positional relationship in the material in which the tension is released; ,
A storage unit for storing information;
Have
When manufacturing a certain absorbent article, the control unit, after adjusting the second angular position, stores information capable of specifying the relative angle between the first angular position and the adjusted second angular position. Remember to
After manufacturing the certain absorbent article, the other absorbent article is manufactured, and after the other absorbent article is manufactured, when the certain absorbent article is manufactured again, the control unit generates the information An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus characterized by setting the second angular position using the same.

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