JP2023141656A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a thin absorbent article which includes an absorbent sheet capable of sufficiently exhibiting an absorption capacity of a high absorbent polymer, enables a plurality of times of body liquid absorption, hardly causes leakage, and has excellent fitness.SOLUTION: An absorbent article 50 which comprises a liquid permeable top sheet 10, a liquid impermeability back sheet 30, and an absorbent sheet 20 arranged therebetween is such that: the absorbent sheet 20 comprises two hydrophilic sheets 15, 16, and high absorbent polymer particles 12 held therebetween; the two hydrophilic sheets 15, 16 have a fusion part for joining them; and the fusion part separately has a central fusion part 21 continuing in the longitudinal direction in a center in the width direction of the absorbent sheet 20, two both side fusion parts 22 continuing in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent sheet 20, and an X-shaped fusion part 23 with an X-shape in plane view, crossing the central fusion part 21 and the both side fusion parts 22 in the longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Absorbent articles generally include a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between these, and absorb body fluids such as urine that have passed through the top sheet. The body absorbs and retains the fluid, and the back sheet prevents body fluids from coming into contact with the wearer's clothing. Absorbent articles come in various forms depending on the purpose, such as pad products such as light incontinence pads, light incontinence liners, urine absorbing pads, and sanitary napkins, and disposable diaper products such as pant-type disposable diapers and tape-fastening type disposable diapers. exists and is widely used by infants, adults, and the elderly.

One of the recent challenges for absorbent articles is to provide a thin absorbent article that makes it unnoticeable to wear the absorbent article, and that does not feel strange or uncomfortable when worn. When designing a thin absorbent article, it is usually considered to make the absorbent body, which makes up the majority of the absorbent article, thinner, and many absorbent articles using a thin absorbent body have been proposed.

Patent Document 1 includes an exterior body and an absorbent body fixed to the exterior body, and the absorbent body includes two fiber sheets that are the same or different and an absorbent polymer disposed between the fiber sheets. A pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent sheet containing particles is described (Claim 1). According to Patent Document 1, it is stated that an absorbent sheet that is thin and has good fit is provided (paragraph 0008).

Patent Document 2 includes an absorbent body and a liquid permeable top sheet disposed on the front side of the absorbent body, and the absorbent body includes an upper sheet and a lower sheet having liquid permeability, and an upper sheet and a lower side sheet having liquid permeability. A cell absorbent sheet having a cell surrounded by a joint part of the sheets, in which the upper sheet and the lower sheet are not joined, and a powder containing superabsorbent polymer particles housed in the cell. An absorbent article is described in which the upper sheet is a highly water-absorbent nonwoven fabric having a Clem water absorbency of 100 mm or more (Claim 1). Furthermore, the specification describes an embodiment in which joint portions having a hexagonal shape in plan view are connected in the longitudinal direction and the width direction (FIGS. 1, 6, and 7). Klemm's water absorption is a value measured by "Paper and Paperboard - Water Absorption Test Method - Klemm's Method" specified in JIS P8141:2004.

JP 2021-104151 Publication JP2021-052901A

As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an absorbent sheet containing two hydrophilic sheets (hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, etc.) and superabsorbent polymer particles sandwiched between them is known; By using an absorbent sheet, a thin absorbent article with good fit can be obtained.

However, since the absorbent article is worn from the wearer's lower abdomen through the groin area to the buttocks, the absorbent sheet described in Patent Document 1 uses a superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent sheet. There is a problem in that particles tend to be unevenly distributed. In the current situation where absorbent articles are required to absorb body fluids multiple times, the unevenness of the superabsorbent polymer particles is caused by the fact that the superabsorbent polymer particles on the surface bind to each other when absorbing body fluids for the first time. It solidifies with the polymer particles still encapsulated, reducing the rate of absorption of body fluids and making it impossible to fully demonstrate its ability to absorb body fluids. As a result, body fluid leakage is likely to occur.

In addition, in the embodiment described in Patent Document 2, in which hexagonal joints in plan view are connected in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, the hexagonal joints are enclosed in a space surrounded by relatively small hexagonal joints. Although the bias of the superabsorbent polymer particles is reduced, the amount of superabsorbent polymer particles that can be enclosed in one space, and hence the amount of body fluid absorbed, is relatively small. Since body fluids do not flow evenly through the hexagonal spaces inside the absorbent sheet, the body fluid absorption speed and body fluid absorption capacity decrease, and body fluid leakage is likely to occur, similar to Patent Document 1.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thin absorbent sheet that can fully utilize the body fluid absorbing ability of superabsorbent polymer particles, is capable of absorbing body fluids multiple times, is less likely to leak, and has a good fit. It is to provide goods.

As a result of extensive research in order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have discovered that a predetermined fusion bond is applied to an absorbent sheet containing two sheets of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric and superabsorbent polymer particles sandwiched between them. It was discovered that by providing a part (a fused part of two sheets of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric), even when the absorbent sheet is worn and tilted, the deviation of the internal superabsorbent polymer particles can be suppressed. The inventors have discovered that a desired absorbent article can be obtained by using a flexible sheet, and have completed the present invention. That is, the present invention relates to the following absorbent article.

(1) An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent sheet disposed between them,
The absorbent sheet includes two hydrophilic sheets and a superabsorbent polymer sandwiched between them,
The two hydrophilic sheets have a fused portion that joins them together,
The fused portion is
a central fused portion that extends longitudinally through the widthwise center of the absorbent sheet;
two both-side fused parts continuous in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent sheet;
An absorbent article having spaced apart X-shaped fused parts that are X-shaped in plan view and intersect the central fused part and the both side fused parts in the longitudinal direction.
(2) The absorbent article according to (1) above, wherein the central fused portion and the X-shaped fused portion intersect only at the center in the width direction of the central fused portion.
(3) The above (1) or (2), wherein the angle formed by the intersection of the two line segments constituting the X-shaped fused portion and facing the longitudinal end of the absorbent sheet is an obtuse angle. Absorbent articles.
(4) The absorbent article according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the X-shaped fused portions are arranged in plurality at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet.
(5) The region in which the superabsorbent polymer exists, which is surrounded by the central fused portion, the both side fused portions, and the X-shaped fused portion, has a triangular or trapezoidal shape in plan view, and the triangular shape and the trapezoidal shape and are alternately repeated in the longitudinal direction, the absorbent article according to any one of (1) to (4) above.
(6) The absorbent sheet further includes a connecting fused portion connecting an end of the central fused portion and each end of the both side fused portions at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet. The absorbent article according to any one of (1) to (5) above.
(7) The absorbent article according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the central fused portion, the both side fused portions, and the X-shaped fused portion are all ultrasonic fused portions.

According to the present invention, a thin absorbent material that includes an absorbent sheet that can fully utilize the body fluid absorption ability of superabsorbent polymer particles, is capable of absorbing body fluids multiple times, is difficult to leak, and has good fit. Goods are provided.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of an absorbent article according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line xx shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

In this specification, wearing an absorbent article refers to a state in which the absorbent article is worn on the body, regardless of whether before or after absorbing body fluids. In an absorbent article, the longitudinal direction is the direction indicated by Y in the figure, extending from the front and back of the wearer's crotch area when the absorbent article is worn on the body, and the width direction is the direction relative to the longitudinal direction. The thickness direction is the direction indicated by X in the figure, which is orthogonal to each other, and the thickness direction is the direction indicated by Z in the figure, in which each component is laminated. The skin side refers to the surface that contacts or faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, and the non-skin side refers to the surface that contacts or faces the wearer's clothing. be. Body fluids refer to fluids discharged from the body, such as urine, blood, and water in loose stools.

<Absorbent article>
The absorbent article 50 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an absorbent article 50. FIG. These drawings do not specify the shape, size, size relationship, etc. of each component in the absorbent article 50.

The absorbent article 50 of this embodiment can be used as various absorbent articles for infants, adults, and the elderly, such as pad products such as light incontinence products, light incontinence liners, urine absorbing pads, and sanitary napkins. , pants-type disposable diapers, tape-fastened type disposable diapers, and other disposable diaper products. Among these, it is particularly suitable for use as light incontinence products, urine absorbing pads, and other pad products by taking advantage of its thinness and the fact that the absorption amount and absorption rate do not decrease even after multiple absorptions. Moreover, various paper diaper products as an outer and the absorbent article 50 as an inner may be combined. Both the longitudinal dimension (maximum dimension) and the width dimension (maximum dimension) of the absorbent article 50 are not particularly limited, but are, for example, in the range of 100 mm or more and 600 mm or less, and in the range of 50 mm or more and 250 mm or less, respectively. It is. By adjusting the dimensions of the absorbent article 50 within the above range, absorbent articles of various shapes can be easily obtained.

The absorbent article 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 10 located on the skin side, and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 30 facing the top sheet 10 and located on the non-skin side. , an absorbent sheet 20 arranged between a top sheet 10 and a back sheet 30, and a pair of three-dimensional gathers 40 provided on the skin side of the top sheet 10.

The absorbent sheet 20 includes two hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics 15 and 16 and superabsorbent polymer particles 12 sandwiched between them. The fused portion includes a central fused portion 21 that extends longitudinally from the center of the absorbent sheet 20 in the width direction, and two side fused portions that extend longitudinally from both sides of the absorbent sheet 20 in the width direction. It has a welding part 22 and an X-shaped welding part 23 which is X-shaped in plan view and intersects the central welding part 21 and both side welding parts 22 in the longitudinal direction, and is spaced apart from the welding part 22 . In this embodiment, the area where the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 are present and surrounded by the central fused portion 21, both side fused portions 22, and the The presence region 25 of the absorbent polymer 12 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "trapezoidal presence region 25") and the presence region 26 of the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 having a triangular shape in plan view (hereinafter simply referred to as the "triangular presence region 26") ). The trapezoidal existing area 25 and the triangular existing area 26 are alternately and repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet 20 on both sides of the central fused portion 21 .

According to this embodiment, in the absorbent sheet 20, the trapezoidal existence region 25 and the triangular existence region 26 are alternately and repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet 20 on both sides of the central fused portion 21. This suppresses the occurrence of unevenness of the superabsorbent polymer particles 12. For example, if the triangular existence region 26 is arranged at the central portion in the longitudinal direction, trapezoidal existence regions 25 will exist on both sides of the triangular existence region 26 in the longitudinal direction. By arranging it in this way, when the absorbent article 50 is worn, the thin absorbent sheet 20 deforms with good fit along the unevenness of the wearer's body, and the trapezoidal shape is Since the internal space of the region 25 and the triangular existence region 26 is narrowed, it becomes difficult to form a gap inside the trapezoidal existence region 25 and the triangular existence region 26, and the absorbent article 50 is worn in an inclined state. Even if the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 are unevenly distributed, the deviation of the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 is significantly suppressed.

Further, according to a preferred embodiment in which the fused portion is formed by ultrasonic fusion (ultrasonic seal), the following effects are generated in the central fused portion 21 and the X-shaped fused portion 23. . First, in the central fused portion 21, the sonic seal portion remains as a groove even after the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 have swelled, and body fluids absorbed from the top sheet 10 side flow into the groove, so body fluids are mainly absorbed multiple times. Suppresses the decrease in absorption rate during absorption. Next, in the sonic seal portion that runs diagonally, which is the X-shaped fused portion 23, when the trapezoidal existence region 25 and the triangular existence region 26 are inclined, body fluids tend to flow not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the inclined direction. Become. Further, at this time, the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 around the diagonal sonic seal portion swell and rise like a bank, so that after absorption, the flow to the end of the absorbent article 50 can be delayed, resulting in , which tends to absorb body fluids before reaching the ends of the absorbent article 50, reducing leakage.
Note that if there is no diagonal sonic seal location, body fluids will easily flow directly to the ends of the absorbent article 50, leading to leakage.

The absorbent article 50 of the present embodiment has the top sheet 10, the absorbent sheet 20, and the back sheet 30 as basic structural units, and the three-dimensional gathers 40 as described above and the top Various known modifications can be made, such as disposing a liquid-permeable transfer sheet (not shown) or a liquid-permeable second sheet (not shown) between the sheet 10 and the absorbent sheet 20. Hereinafter, the constituent members of the absorbent article 50 will be explained in more detail in the order of the top sheet 10, the absorbent sheet 20, the back sheet 30, and the three-dimensional gathers 40.

<Top sheet>
The top sheet 10 is a liquid-permeable sheet-like base material that allows body fluids to quickly pass through to the absorbent sheet 20. The top sheet 10 is preferably made of a base material that is soft to the touch and does not irritate the skin so that it may come into contact with the wearer's skin. Examples of the base material include a hydrophilic sheet, a composite sheet that is a laminate of hydrophilic sheets of the same type or different types, an open film such as an open polyethylene film, and a foamed film such as polyethylene foam and urethane foam. Examples of hydrophilic sheets include air-through nonwoven fabrics made using one or more of synthetic fibers made of synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, recycled fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton, thermal sheets, etc. Examples include bonded nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, and the like. Among these, nonwoven fabrics are preferred, and air-through nonwoven fabrics, thermal bond nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, and the like are more preferred.

The surface of the top sheet 10 may be embossed or perforated in order to improve liquid permeability. The top sheet 10 may contain one or more of a lotion, an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory component, a pH adjuster, an antibacterial agent, a humectant, and the like, from the viewpoint of reducing skin irritation. The basis weight of the top sheet 10 is, for example, in the range of 18 g/m ² or more and 400 g/m ^{2 or} less from the viewpoint of strength, workability, and liquid return amount. The shape of the top sheet 10 is not particularly limited, and may be any shape that covers part or all of the absorbent sheet 20 as required to guide body fluids to the absorbent sheet 20 to prevent leakage.

<Absorbent sheet>
The longitudinal dimension (maximum length) of the absorbent sheet 20 is, for example, in the range of 100 mm or more and 600 mm or less, 150 mm or more and 500 mm or less, or 270 mm or more and 500 mm or less. The widthwise dimension (maximum width) of the absorbent sheet 20 is, for example, in the range of 50 mm or more and 250 mm or less, 60 mm or more and 200 mm or less, or 70 mm or more and 105 mm or less. Embossing may be applied to the entire surface or a portion of the absorbent sheet 20. Examples of the shape of the absorbent sheet 20 in plan view include an hourglass shape, an I-shape, a rectangle, a rounded quadrilateral with four rounded corners, an ellipse, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent sheet 20 of this embodiment includes two hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16, superabsorbent polymer particles 12 sandwiched between them, and two hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16, superabsorbent polymer particles 12 sandwiched between them, and a fusion part that partially joins the absorbent sheets 15 and 16; two both side fused parts 22 that are continuous in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction, and an , connecting fused parts 24a and 24b connecting the end of the central fused part 21 and each end of the both side fused parts 22 at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet 20. have

(hydrophilic sheet)
As the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16, any one commonly used in this field can be used, such as hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics such as thermal bond nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, airlaid nonwoven fabric, air through nonwoven fabric, pulp-containing nonwoven fabric, tissue paper, Examples include absorbent paper. Among the hydrophilic sheets, hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics are preferable, thermal bond nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, air-through nonwoven fabrics, pulp-containing nonwoven fabrics, etc. are more preferable, and air-through nonwoven fabrics, pulp-containing nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, etc. are even more preferable. The thickness of the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 is, for example, in the range of 0.10 mm or more and 2.50 mm or less, and the basis weight is, for example, in the range of 5 g/m ² or more and 40 g/m ^{2 or} less. Note that the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 can be of the same type or different types.

(Super absorbent polymer particles)
The superabsorbent polymer particles (hereinafter also referred to as "SAP") 12 are not particularly limited as long as they can absorb body fluids and prevent backflow, such as polyacrylates, polyaspartates, (starch- Examples include graft copolymers (acrylic acid), (acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymers, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymers, and saponified products thereof. Among these, from the viewpoint of absorption amount per weight, polyacrylates are preferred, polyacrylic acid alkali metal salts are more preferred, and sodium polyacrylate is even more preferred. The superabsorbent polymer 12 can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the superabsorbent polymer particles 12, by using superabsorbent polymer particles 12 having a medium particle diameter, the basic performance regarding absorption is improved, and a rough texture is generated due to the hardness of the absorbent sheet 20. can be reduced. The median particle diameter of the superabsorbent polymer particles 12 is, for example, in the range of 50 μm or more and 600 μm or less, or in the range of 100 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

(fusion part)
The fused portion partially joins the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 and is an area where superabsorbent polymer particles 12 exist in the absorbent sheet 20 surrounded by the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 and the fused portion. , forming a trapezoidal existence region 25 and a triangular existence region 26. As described above, the fused portion of this embodiment includes the central fused portion 21, both side fused portions 22, the X-shaped fused portion 23, and the connecting fused portions 24a and 24b.

(Central fusion part)
The central fused portion 21 is formed so as to extend linearly from one longitudinal end to the other end in the widthwise center of the absorbent sheet 20 . The width of the central fused portion 21 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, in a range of 0.5 mm or more and 13 mm or less. When the width of the central fused portion 21 is less than 0.5 mm, the bonding strength of the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 becomes weak, and there is a tendency for bonding to come off easily. When the width of the central fused portion 21 exceeds 13 mm, the internal space of the trapezoidal existing region 25 and the triangular existing region 26 and the amount of superabsorbent polymer particles 12 that can be accommodated in these internal spaces decrease, resulting in a decrease in the absorbent article. 50 tends to have poor body fluid absorption ability. Moreover, the rigidity of the absorbent sheet 20 increases unnecessarily, and the fit of the absorbent sheet 20 to the body tends to decrease.

(both sides fused part)
The both-side fused portions 22 are formed on both sides of the absorbent sheet 20 in the width direction, one at one end in the width direction and one at the other end in the width direction, so as to extend substantially linearly from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end. . The two side fused portions 22 are located at symmetrical positions in the width direction with respect to the center fused portion 21 as an axis of symmetry. In addition, the both sides fused portions 22 are formed at intervals from both ends of the absorbent sheet 20 in the width direction, thereby maintaining flexibility, which is an advantage of the thinness of the absorbent sheet 20, and improving fit. It is possible to prevent a decrease in The width of the both-side fused portions 22 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less. If the width of the both-side fused portions 22 is less than 0.5 mm, the bonding strength of the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 becomes weak, and there is a tendency for the bonding to come off during wear or the like. When the width of both side fused portions 22 exceeds 4 mm, the internal space of the trapezoidal existing region 25 and the triangular existing region 26 and the amount of superabsorbent polymer particles 12 that can be accommodated in these internal spaces decrease, resulting in a decrease in the absorbent article. 50 tends to have poor body fluid absorption ability.

(X-shaped fused part)
The X-shaped fused portion 23 is a fused portion that has an X-shape in plan view and is formed by intersecting a line segment 23a and a line segment 23b, and in a preferred embodiment, the exists on the central fused portion 21 (in other words, the central fused portion 21 and the X-shaped fused portion 23 intersect only at the center in the width direction of the central fused portion 21), and the line segment 23a, Both ends of 23b are in contact with both side fused parts 22. Furthermore, among the angles formed by the intersection of the line segments 23a and 23b, the angle α facing the width direction end of the absorbent sheet 20 is an acute angle, and the angle β facing the longitudinal direction end of the absorbent sheet 20 is an acute angle. It is configured to be an obtuse angle. According to this configuration, a plurality of X-shaped fused portions 23 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. By arranging the plurality of X-shaped fused parts 23 in the longitudinal direction, trapezoidal existing regions 25 and triangular existing regions 26 are alternately formed in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the central fused part 21 in the width direction, The effects unique to this embodiment described above can be obtained.

The width of the line segments 23a and 23b constituting the X-shaped fused portion 23 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less. When the width of the line segments 23a and 23b is less than 0.5 mm, the bonding strength of the hydrophilic sheets 15 and 16 becomes weak, and there is a tendency for the bonding to come off during wear or the like. When the width of the line segments 23a and 23b exceeds 4 mm, the internal space of the trapezoidal existing region 25 and the triangular existing region 26 and the amount of superabsorbent polymer particles 12 that can be accommodated in these internal spaces decrease, and the absorbent article 50 tends to have poor body fluid absorption ability.

(Connection fusion part)
The connecting fused parts 24a and 24b are arranged substantially parallel to one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet 20, and are connected to the end of the central fused part 21 and each end of the side fused parts 22. are connected, and each end of the X-shaped fused portion 23 is connected. The connecting fused parts 24a and 24b are provided as necessary, but by providing them, the absorbent sheet 20 is formed by forming the central fused part 21, the both side fused parts 22, and the It is possible to correct the non-uniform stiffness, make the stiffness of the entire absorbent sheet 20 uniform, and improve the feel and fit to the body surface. Furthermore, by forming the connecting fused parts 24a and 24b at positions spaced apart from the longitudinal ends of the absorbent sheet 20 by a predetermined distance, the central fused part 21, the both side fused parts 22, and the X-shaped fused parts are formed. It becomes easier to connect each end of the attachment part 23, the absorbent sheet 20 becomes more uniform, and deterioration in fit etc. can be sufficiently prevented.

<Manufacturing method of absorbent sheet>
In the absorbent sheet 20 of this embodiment, for example, superabsorbent polymer particles 12 are formed in a predetermined pattern on the skin side of the hydrophilic sheet 16 disposed on the non-skin side, leaving a region where a fused portion is planned to be formed. a step of spraying, a step of superposing the non-skin side of the hydrophilic sheet 15 on the skin side of the hydrophilic sheet 16 to obtain a laminate, and pressurizing and/or heating the obtained laminate as necessary. It can be manufactured by a manufacturing method including a step of forming a fused portion. Note that the fused portion can be formed, for example, using a hot melt adhesive or by a welding method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing (ultrasonic welding). As described above, ultrasonic sealing is preferred as the welding method.

<Back sheet>
The back sheet 30 may be formed using a breathable or non-breathable base material that is liquid-impermeable so that body fluids held by the absorbent sheet 20 do not wet clothing; Examples include resin films, composite sheets that are laminates of resin films and nonwoven fabrics, and the like. The manufacturing method of the nonwoven fabric used in the composite sheet is not particularly limited, and examples include single-layer nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond nonwoven fabrics, meltblown nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics/meltblown nonwoven fabric laminates, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics/meltblown nonwoven fabrics/spunbond nonwoven fabric laminates. Composite nonwoven fabrics such as bodies, composite materials thereof, and the like can be mentioned. Examples of the resin film include polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, polypropylene, and a composite film of polyethylene and polypropylene.

The basis weight of the backsheet 30 is, for example, in the range of 15 g/m ² or more and 40 g/m ^{2 or} less from the viewpoint of strength and workability. Further, in order to prevent stuffiness when worn, it is preferable that the back sheet 30 has breathability. In order to provide the backsheet 30 with air permeability, for example, a filler may be added to the resin film of the base material, or the backsheet 30 may be embossed. Note that calcium carbonate can be used as the filler, and any known method can be used for blending the filler without any limitation.

<3D gathers>
For example, the three-dimensional gathers 40 are attached to the top sheet 10 along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 50 near both widthwise ends of the absorbent article 50 in order to prevent body fluids excreted by the wearer of the absorbent article 50 from leaking sideways. is fixed to the side of the skin. The three-dimensional gathers 40 includes an elastic elastic member 40a and a water-repellent and/or waterproof sheet member 40b.

The elastic stretchable member 40a is disposed along the longitudinal direction near the free end (other end) of the sheet member 40b, provides uprightness to the free end, and allows the free end of the sheet member 40b and its vicinity to be easily accessible to the wearer. It can be transformed to suit the body shape of the person. In this embodiment, the sheet member 40b has one end in the width direction (fixed end) fixed near both ends in the width direction of the skin side of the back sheet 30, and a middle part in the width direction fixed near both ends in the width direction of the skin side of the top sheet 10. The other end in the width direction is a free end that can stand upright. The fixed position of the fixed end (one end in the width direction) of the sheet member 40b is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, the non-skin side of the back sheet 30, the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 30 in which the absorbent sheet 20 is stored. Examples include the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the skin side or non-skin side of the joined body in whole or in part on each edge of the top sheet 10, and the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the skin side of the top sheet 10.

The sheet member 40b is a water-repellent and/or waterproof sheet, and is made of, for example, nonwoven fabric. As the nonwoven fabric for the first sheet member, water-repellent and/or waterproof (liquid-impermeable) nonwoven fabrics made of hydrophobic fibers can be used without particular limitation, such as spunbond nonwoven fabrics, melt-blown nonwoven fabrics, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics. Composite nonwoven fabrics (SMS nonwoven fabrics), which are nonwoven fabrics/melt-blown nonwoven fabrics/spunbond nonwoven fabric laminates, etc. can be mentioned. The basis weight of the sheet member 40b is, for example, in the range of 13 g/m ² or more and 20 g/m ² or less. As the elastic stretchable member 40a, for example, thread-like, string-like, or band-like members made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, etc. can be used as appropriate.

<Method for manufacturing absorbent articles>
The absorbent article 50 can be manufactured by a known manufacturing method, for example, by arranging the absorbent sheet 20 between the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 30, and partially or completely disposing the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 30. Manufacturing including a process of fixing using hot melt adhesive, heat embossing, ultrasonic embossing, high frequency embossing, etc. over the circumference, and a process of installing three-dimensional gathers 40 at predetermined positions of the back sheet 30 and top sheet 10. There are several methods. When the absorbent article 50 is a urine absorbing pad or a light incontinence pad, it may be individually wrapped in a package and then folded into three in the longitudinal direction. Further, leg gathers, waist gathers, side flaps, etc. can be provided as necessary.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments and examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that forms with such changes or improvements may also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

10 Top sheet 15, 16 Hydrophilic sheet 20 Absorbent sheet 21 Center fused portion 22 Both side fused portions 23 X-shaped fused portion 24a, 24b Connection fused portion 30 Back sheet 40 Three-dimensional gathers 40a Elastic stretch member 40b Sheet member 50 Absorbent articles

Claims (7)

An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent sheet disposed between them,
The absorbent sheet includes two hydrophilic non-sheets and a superabsorbent polymer sandwiched between them,
The two hydrophilic sheets have a fused portion that joins them together,
The fused portion is
a central fused portion that extends longitudinally through the widthwise center of the absorbent sheet;
two both-side fused parts continuous in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent sheet;
An absorbent article having spaced apart X-shaped fused parts that are X-shaped in plan view and intersect the central fused part and the both side fused parts in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the central fused portion and the X-shaped fused portion intersect only at the center in the width direction of the central fused portion. The absorbent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an angle formed by intersecting two line segments constituting the X-shaped fused portion and facing the longitudinal end of the absorbent sheet is an obtuse angle. Goods. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the X-shaped fused parts are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet. The region in which the superabsorbent polymer exists surrounded by the central fused portion, the both side fused portions, and the X-shaped fused portion has a triangular or trapezoidal shape in plan view, and the triangle and the trapezoid are longitudinally oriented. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the absorbent article is alternately repeated in a direction. 1 . The absorbent sheet further comprises a connecting fused portion connecting an end of the central fused portion and each end of the both side fused portions at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 5 to 6. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the central fused portion, the both side fused portions, and the X-shaped fused portion are all ultrasonic fused portions.