JP2023143236A - Nonwoven fabric and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a nonwoven fabric having a new design in which three areas having different patterns are regularly disposed on the whole of the nonwoven fabric by repeatedly and regularly forming two more areas at one of two entanglement parts extending in substantially one direction to constitute a stripe pattern.SOLUTION: A first entanglement part and a second entanglement part are disposed in stripe-like pattern on a nonwoven fabric. The second entanglement part at least includes a first area and a second area. In plan view, when a direction in which the first entanglement part and the second entanglement part continuously extend is an X direction and a direction orthogonal to the X direction is a Y direction, the first area and the second area are repeatedly and alternately disposed in the X direction. The first entanglement part, the first area, and the second area have different patterns from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

In the present disclosure, at least two intertwined parts are repeatedly and regularly formed to form a striped pattern, and in one of the two intertwined parts, at least two regions are formed in the direction in which the intertwined parts extend. The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric with a novel design that is repeatedly and regularly formed, and a method for producing the same.

Nonwoven fabrics having striped (also referred to as "stripe") patterns are proposed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2. A nonwoven fabric with a striped pattern is made up of two or more areas with different patterns formed alternately or regularly, and the pattern of each area is determined by the size and/or arrangement of the openings formed in the area. be done. Various striped patterns have been proposed because nonwoven fabrics with striped patterns can enhance the design and increase the added value of the nonwoven fabric. In addition, by adjusting the pattern of each region of the striped nonwoven fabric, it is possible to improve the wiping performance when used as a wiper, for example.

Another document (Patent Document 3) describes a nonwoven fabric having a low-density region, a first high-density region, and a second high-density region, in which a plurality of low-density regions are aggregated to form one island-like part. In one island-like part, a second high-density region is formed between at least the low-density regions, and the first high-density region is formed between the island-like parts. A patterned nonwoven fabric formed between

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-45161 JP2009-287158A International publication 2017/164195 pamphlet

In the present disclosure, two areas are repeatedly and regularly formed at one interlacing part of two interlacing parts extending substantially in one direction and forming a striped pattern, so that three different pattern parts are formed on the entire nonwoven fabric. To provide a nonwoven fabric having a novel design in which are regularly arranged.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a nonwoven fabric in which a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part are arranged in a striped pattern,
The second entangled portion includes at least a first region and a second region,
In plan view, when the direction in which the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend continuously is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction, the first region and the second region are repeatedly arranged alternately in the X direction,
the first entangled portion, the first region and the second region have different patterns;
Provide nonwoven fabrics.

In a second gist, the present disclosure provides:
producing a fibrous web;
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising placing the fibrous web on a support and subjecting the fibrous web to an entangling treatment using a high-pressure fluid flow,
The support has at least two types of textures A and B,
In the support, the woven structure A and the woven structure B are belt-shaped parts extending along the direction in which the weft threads thereof extend, and the woven structure A and the woven structure B are regular in the direction in which the warp threads extend. are repeatedly formed,
The entangling treatment of the fibrous web placed on the support with a high-pressure fluid stream includes jetting a high-pressure fluid stream onto the fibrous web from two or more consecutive orifices of a nozzle along the direction in which the wefts of the support extend. carried out by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream such that the fibrous web has alternating portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is injected and portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is not injected onto the fibrous web;
A method for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric is provided.

In the nonwoven fabric of the present disclosure, two areas are repeatedly and regularly formed at one of the two intertwined areas extending in approximately one direction to form a striped pattern, so that three different patterns are formed throughout the nonwoven fabric. The parts are arranged regularly, giving it a unique design that looks like a striped or lattice pattern. This nonwoven fabric is suitable for applications where appearance is important (eg, cosmetics, surface materials for absorbent articles). Furthermore, for example, when the nonwoven fabric of the present disclosure is used as a wiper that wipes away dirt from a human body or an article by selecting the patterns of the first region and the second region, it is possible to wipe away dirt more effectively.

FIG. 2 is an organization diagram of an example of a support used in manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an organization diagram of an example of a support used in manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment. 2 is a photograph showing the surface of a nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 1, which corresponds to an example of a nonwoven fabric manufactured using the support shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of a nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 2, which corresponds to an example of a nonwoven fabric manufactured using the support shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is an organization diagram of an example of a support used in manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment. 6 is a photograph showing the surface of a nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 3, which corresponds to an example of a nonwoven fabric manufactured using the support shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an acute angle a between the diagonal lines of the diagonal pattern and the Y direction when the first region formed in the second intertwined portion has a diagonal pattern. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the distance Da between the centers of adjacent openings when the first region formed in the second intertwined portion has a diagonal line pattern and openings are formed in the diagonal lines. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the distance Db between the centers of adjacent low-density regions when the second region formed in the second intertwined portion has a pattern in which low-density regions are arranged in a staggered manner. It is a top view which shows the meandering 1st intertwined part in an example of the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 4. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 5. 7 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 6. 7 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 7. 7 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 8. 7 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 9. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 10. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 11. 3 is a photograph showing the surface of the nonwoven fabric manufactured in Example 12. 1 is a side cross-sectional photograph showing a method for determining the difference in height between the surface of woven structure A and the surface of woven structure B in an example of a support used for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment. 1 is a side cross-sectional photograph showing a method for determining the difference in height between the surface of woven structure A and the surface of woven structure B in an example of a support used for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment. 1 is a side cross-sectional photograph showing a method for determining the difference in height between the surface of woven structure A and the surface of woven structure B in an example of a support used for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment.

(How this embodiment was arrived at)
In the nonwoven fabrics disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the rows or pattern portions constituting the striped pattern extend in the MD direction (longitudinal direction) of the nonwoven fabric, and have two or more different rows or pattern parts along the CD direction (horizontal direction). The pattern areas are regularly arranged (hereinafter, such a striped pattern will be referred to as a "vertical stripe" for convenience). For example, when manufacturing a nonwoven fabric by the hydroentangling method, the vertical stripes are formed by regularly changing the jetting conditions of the water jet in the CD direction. For example, in a nozzle that sprays a water stream, vertical stripes can be formed by blocking orifices in regions corresponding to any one row of stripes. Alternatively, a plate with openings arranged at equal intervals is placed between the nozzle and the fiber web, and the areas that are hit by the water flow that has passed through the openings and the areas that are blocked by the plate and are not hit by the water flow can be separated. By forming these, vertical stripes can be formed. Alternatively, vertical stripes can also be created by regularly changing the configuration of the support (for example, the weave of the support) in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction on the support that transports the fiber web during the hydroentangling process. Can be formed. Furthermore, according to Patent Document 3, it is possible to obtain, for example, a lattice-patterned nonwoven fabric by making island-shaped portions exist independently.

The present inventor conducted various studies in order to obtain a pattern that could not be obtained with conventional nonwoven fabrics. As a result, by using the nozzle or plate used to form the vertical stripes and using a specific support during hydroentangling, the three parts with different patterns are regularly arranged, resulting in a striped pattern. A nonwoven fabric with a unique design that looks like a lattice pattern or a ladder pattern was obtained. Hereinafter, the method for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment will be explained first, and then the structure of the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment will be explained.

(Embodiment 1: Method for manufacturing nonwoven fabric)
The method for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is as follows:
producing a fibrous web;
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising placing the fibrous web on a support and subjecting the fibrous web to an entangling treatment using a high-pressure fluid flow,
The support has at least two types of textures A and B,
In the support, the woven structure A and the woven structure B are belt-shaped portions extending in the direction in which the wefts thereof extend, and the woven structures A and the woven structures B are regularly repeated along the warp direction. is formed,
The entangling treatment of the fibrous web placed on the support with a high-pressure fluid stream includes jetting a high-pressure fluid stream onto the fibrous web from two or more consecutive orifices of a nozzle along the direction in which the wefts of the support extend. carried out by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream such that the fibrous web has alternating portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is injected and portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is not injected onto the fibrous web;
This is a method for manufacturing nonwoven fabric.

This manufacturing method corresponds to a method in which the fibers are intertwined and integrated by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream onto the fiber web. The high-pressure fluid is, for example, a high-pressure gas such as compressed air, and a high-pressure liquid such as high-pressure water. In the production of nonwoven fabrics, a hydroentangling process using high-pressure water as the high-pressure fluid is often used, and in this embodiment as well, the hydroentangling process is preferably used from the viewpoint of ease of implementation. In the following, a manufacturing method will be described in which a high-pressure water stream (hereinafter also simply referred to as "water stream") is used as the high-pressure fluid stream.

In this manufacturing method, a portion in which a high-pressure fluid stream is injected from two or more consecutive orifices of a nozzle onto the fibrous web along the direction in which the wefts of the support extend while the fibrous web is placed on a specific support; The hydroentangling process is partially performed so that the fibrous web is alternately located with parts where the high-pressure fluid stream is not injected (hereinafter referred to as "pattern-forming entangling process"). In the pattern forming entanglement process, portions that are not hit by the water stream and areas that are hit by the water stream are alternately arranged along the CD direction of the nonwoven fabric. In addition, in this manufacturing method, by performing the pattern-forming entangling process using a specific support, the area that is hit by the water flow can have two areas with different patterns, and the resulting nonwoven fabric has three patterns. It is possible to form different parts (a part where the water stream is not sprayed, a first region and a second region formed in the part where the water stream is sprayed).

In the present embodiment, it is desirable to subject the entire fiber web to hydroentangling treatment (hereinafter referred to as "whole entangling treatment") before the pattern-forming entangling treatment. The entire entangling process is carried out under the same process conditions throughout the fibrous web. Further, the entire entangling process may be performed such that the fibrous web after the entangling process has no pattern, that is, has no pattern. By the overall entangling process, the fibers are intertwined to some extent in advance to form a first entangled part in the resulting nonwoven fabric, and in the subsequent pattern forming entangling process, a second entangled part is formed as a different part from the first entangled part. An interlaced portion can be formed.

The overall entanglement treatment is carried out by placing the fibrous web on a support and spraying a columnar water stream onto it. For example, the support is preferably a plain weave support of 80 mesh or more and 100 mesh or less. According to such a support, it is possible to intertwine the fibers of the fibrous web without forming a pattern on the fibrous web and to obtain a good texture.

A fibrous web can be produced by a known method. The form of the fibrous web may be selected from, for example, parallel webs, cross webs, card webs such as semi-random webs and random webs, air-lay webs, wet papermaking webs, and the like. In this embodiment, a carded web is preferably used because it is easy to obtain thickness and easy to form unevenness.

In the overall entangling process, a water flow with a water pressure of 1 MPa or more and 15 MPa or less is applied to the surface of the fiber web from a nozzle in which orifices with hole diameters of 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less are provided at intervals of 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less. This may be carried out by spraying 1 to 5 times on each back side. The water pressure is preferably 1 MPa or more and 10 MPa or less, more preferably 1 MPa or more and 7 MPa or less.

In the pattern forming entangling process, the support is a support formed by weaving warps and wefts, and includes at least two types of textures A and B, and the textures A and B are arranged in the direction in which the wefts extend. (Generally, the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the support advances during non-woven fabric production, hereinafter also referred to as the "CD direction"), and the belt-shaped part that extends along the direction in which the warp threads extend (generally, the direction in which the support advances during non-woven fabric production, hereinafter also referred to as the "CD direction"). One support (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as a "pattern-forming support") on which weave texture A and weave texture B are regularly and repeatedly formed along the advancing direction (hereinafter also referred to as "MD direction"). ) is used. In the patterned support, woven texture A and woven texture B extend over the entire width of the support in the CD direction, or extend over the entire width of the nonwoven fabric produced in the CD direction. By injecting a water stream onto the fibrous web on this support, regions with patterns (including no patterns) determined by each weave are formed by rearrangement of the fibers.

In the pattern-forming support, for example, woven texture A and woven texture B are arranged in the order of ABAB... along the warp extending direction (MD direction). Therefore, if the regions formed in the nonwoven fabric by the textures A and B of this support are respectively referred to as a first region and a second region, then in the nonwoven fabric, along the MD direction, the regions are the first region, the second region, and the first region. - Second region... Two regions are formed in this order, and a horizontal stripe pattern (that is, a horizontal stripe) is formed in which the first region and the second region extend along the CD direction perpendicular to the MD direction. Furthermore, it is also possible to add a texture C and arrange it in the order ABC ABC... along the MD direction. Examples of the weave structure include plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, and herring twill weave. For example, weave structure A may be 2/2 twill weave, weave structure B may be plain weave, and weave structure C may be 3/1 twill weave. With a support incorporating three or more woven structures, a horizontal striped pattern can be formed in a large number of regions with different surface properties in the resulting nonwoven fabric. Further, the illustrated weave structure may be an irregular structure, for example, a weave structure such as a broken twill. By creating an irregular structure, the parts where the warp threads pass over the weft threads are dispersed, and the openings or recesses formed due to the floating warp threads are dispersed, creating a unique texture. Designs can be added to nonwoven fabrics.

In this embodiment, when jetting a water stream with the fibrous web placed on the pattern-forming support, a nozzle in which one or more orifice groups are provided at predetermined intervals, or a plurality of orifices are used. A member (hereinafter simply referred to as a "perforated member") in which holes are provided in a line along a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the support and does not allow high-pressure fluid to pass through except through the holes is connected between the fiber web and the nozzle. A second intertwined portion may be formed by placing the second intertwined portion in between. As a result, during the hydroentanglement treatment, the fiber web is not exposed to the water flow, so that the portions are formed continuously in the MD direction, and the portions are formed at intervals in the CD direction. The areas where the water stream did not hit and the areas where the fibers were rearranged when the water stream hit become the first and second entangled areas in the obtained nonwoven fabric, respectively, and the first and second entangled areas follow in the CD direction. Arranged alternately to form a striped pattern.

More specifically, when using a nozzle in which orifices are spaced at predetermined intervals, only the water jet ejected from the orifices acts on the web. Therefore, only those portions of the web corresponding to the orifices are acted upon by the high-pressure water stream with the energy necessary to form the corresponding pattern on the patterned support. In this nozzle, the orifice group is provided over a section corresponding to the width of the second intertwined portion. The interval between the orifice groups corresponds to the width of the first interlaced portion. Such a nozzle may be a nozzle designed to apply a water stream over the entire surface, as described in connection with the overall entanglement process, and the orifice may be plugged in a section corresponding to the first entanglement part. . One orifice group preferably consists of two or more orifices. When the number of orifices is two or more, a pattern corresponding to the pattern forming support can be more clearly formed in the second intertwined portion. The distance between adjacent orifices in the orifice group may be, for example, 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

In the method of forming the second entanglement using a perforated member, only the water flow passing through the perforations acts on the web. Therefore, only those parts of the web corresponding to the holes are acted upon by a high-pressure water stream having the energy necessary to form a corresponding pattern on the patterned support. The perforated member is not particularly limited as long as it has a plurality of holes. For example, the material may be synthetic resin or metal. Further, the shape may be appropriately selected, such as a plate shape or a roll shape, depending on the apparatus for hydroentangling treatment.

The plurality of holes included in the perforated member are formed along a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the support. One hole may have a dimension of, for example, 2 mm or more, in particular a dimension of 3 mm to 50 mm, more particularly a dimension of 5 mm to 30 mm, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the support. When forming second intertwined parts having different widths, holes of different sizes are formed in one perforated member depending on the width of the second intertwined part to be obtained. Further, the distance between adjacent holes included in the perforated member may be, for example, 2 mm or more, particularly 3 mm to 50 mm, and more particularly 5 mm to 30 mm. The interval between adjacent holes determines the width of the first intertwined portion, and is therefore appropriately selected depending on the width of the first intertwined portion to be obtained. The shape of the hole is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a polygon such as a circle, a semicircle, an ellipse, a triangle or a quadrangle, a star-shaped polygon, a cross, a slit shape such as a straight line or a curved shape, and the like.

When using a perforated member, the nozzle is not particularly limited, and the same nozzle as described in connection with the overall entangling process may be used. The distance between the perforated member and the nozzle may be, for example, 1 mm or more. If the distance between the perforated member and the nozzle is less than 1 mm, the perforated member and the nozzle may come into contact and one or both may be damaged. On the other hand, the distance between the perforated member and the nozzle may be, for example, 30 mm or less. If the distance between the perforated member and the orifice exceeds 30 mm, the energy of the water flow decreases, and the pattern may not be formed well. The distance between the perforated member and the fibrous web may be, for example, between 5 mm and 50 mm. If the distance between the perforated member and the fibrous web exceeds 50 mm, the energy of the water flow may decrease and the pattern may not be formed well.

The water pressure range that may be used during the pattern forming entangling process is as described in connection with the overall entangling process. The pattern-forming entangling process is usually performed by spraying a water jet only once on one side of the fibrous web after the entire entangling process. The pressure during the pattern forming and entangling process may be particularly between 1 MPa and 15 MPa, more particularly between 2 MPa and 10 MPa.

In the pattern-forming entangling process, when the position of the nozzle or perforated member is fixed and the pattern-forming support is advanced along the longitudinal or lateral direction (usually the longitudinal direction) of the fiber web, a plurality of first entangled portions and a plurality of first entangled portions are formed. A nonwoven fabric is obtained in which the second entangled portion extends linearly in the vertical or horizontal direction of the nonwoven fabric.

In the pattern-forming entangling process, when the nozzle or the perforated member is vibrated and the pattern-forming support is advanced along the longitudinal or lateral direction (usually the longitudinal direction) of the fiber web, a first entangled portion and a second entangled portion are formed. A nonwoven fabric having a meandering structure is obtained. Here, "vibration" means reciprocating a nozzle or a perforated member along a certain direction. "Vibration" includes not only the case of reciprocating on a straight line but also the case of reciprocating along an elliptical trajectory with a fixed direction as the major axis.

The direction of vibration of the nozzle or the perforated member may be appropriately selected from among the longitudinal direction (MD direction), lateral direction (CD direction), diagonal direction, etc. of the web. Here, the term "diagonal direction" refers to a direction that forms an angle with the vertical direction or the horizontal direction along the surface direction of the web within a range of more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. In consideration of manufacturing simplicity, the vibration direction is preferably the lateral direction or a direction forming an angle with the lateral direction in a range of more than 0 degrees and less than 45 degrees.

The amplitude of the vibration of the nozzle or the perforated member is approximately the same as the amplitude of the first entangled portion (the amplitude will be described later) in the obtained nonwoven fabric. Therefore, the amplitude of the vibration of the nozzle or the perforated member is determined depending on the amplitude of the first entangled portion to be obtained. The length of meandering per period of the first entangled portion is determined by the vibration speed of the nozzle or the perforated member and the advancing speed of the pattern forming support. Therefore, the vibration speed of the nozzle or the perforated member is determined depending on the meandering length per period of the first intertwined portion to be obtained, also taking into account the advancing speed of the pattern-forming support.

The vibration speed of the perforated member can be increased to about 100 m/min. By increasing the vibration speed of the perforated member, it is possible to increase the difference between the width X at the turning point of the intertwined parts such as the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part, and the width Y at other points. .

In the pattern-forming support used in this embodiment, the diameters of the weft a forming the woven structure A and the weft b forming the woven structure B are different, and at the boundary between the woven structure A and the woven structure B, The weft a and the weft b may be adjacent to each other. In addition, in the pattern-forming support, the surface of the woven structure A is at a position higher than the surface of the woven structure B by 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, particularly at a position higher than 0.5 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less, more particularly It may be located at a higher position of 0.8 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. With a support having one or both of these configurations, a narrow third area can be formed at the boundary between the first area and the second area.

The difference in height between the surface of texture A and the surface of texture B can be determined by observing the side surface or side cross section of the support in the MD direction, and determining the difference in height between the surface of texture A and the surface of texture B. This is the difference between the point where the warp threads are floating at the boundary between B and B) and the highest position of the woven structure B). When cutting the support to observe the side cross section, depending on the cutting location, it may be difficult to see the highest position of the woven structure in the side cross section. In this case, you can either find the highest position on the back side of the photographed side section, or cut the support at several different places and observe the different cut planes, and then find the highest position of each tissue. Find the distance between. However, when the surface of the tissue is photographed obliquely on the back side of the side section, the warp and weft located on the back side are ignored when determining the height of the surface. Depending on the weave of the support, the weft may be the highest position, or the warp may be the highest position.

A method for determining the difference in height between the surface of texture A and the surface of texture B from the side cross section of the support is shown in FIGS. 20 to 22. FIG. 20 corresponds to a woven support shown in FIG. 1, which will be described later. In FIG. 20, a line LB passing through the highest point on the surface of woven structure B and parallel to the surface of the table on which the support is placed, and the highest point on the surface of woven structure A (indicated by symbol a1) A line LA is drawn that passes through the weft (the highest position on the surface of the weft) and is parallel to the surface of the table on which the support is placed. The distance between LA and LB (the distance in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the table on which the support is placed) corresponds to the difference in height between the surface of texture A and the surface of texture B.

21 corresponds to a woven support shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later, and FIG. 22 corresponds to a woven support shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later. Similar to FIG. 20, in these figures, LB is a line passing through the highest point on the surface of woven tissue B and parallel to the surface of the table on which the support is placed, and LA is the line passing through the highest point on the surface of woven tissue A. This is a line that passes through a high position (the surface of the warp yarn at the highest position) and is parallel to the surface of the table on which the support is placed. In FIG. 21, the surface of the woven structure B appears perspectively on the deep side of the side cross section, but this is ignored when determining LB.

In the support having the above structure, a step is formed at the boundary between the two structures, and/or a gap between the wefts tends to be wider than other parts. At this step or gap portion, the fibrous web is affected by the water flow and/or by suction during the hydroentangling process under different conditions than the fibrous webs on the textures A and B. As a result, a third region having a different pattern from both the first and second regions may be formed as a narrow region.

In addition, at the boundary between woven texture A and woven texture B, the warp in woven texture A and woven texture It is believed that a portion different from the floating portion (referred to as a "knuckle") is formed, and an opening is formed in the third region of the nonwoven fabric obtained by this knuckle. Furthermore, at the border, the weft threads may be in a different state than in other parts, for example by meandering, which may also be a factor in the formation of the third region and/or determine the pattern in the third region. It is thought that then.

In this embodiment, the pattern-forming support may have a twill weave section as weave structure A and a plain weave section as weave structure B alternately formed along the traveling direction. In such a support, the diameter of the weft threads a may be larger than the diameter of the weft threads b. Hereinafter, an example of such a pattern-forming support will be explained while showing the woven structure.

The twill weave section, which is the weave structure A, may be, for example, a weft twill weave structure in which the number of floats of the weft is 2 or more and the number of floats of the warp is 1. FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of a support in which weave texture A, which is a 1/7 horizontal twill weave, and weave texture B, which is a plain weave, is formed, and FIG. 2 shows a 1/3 horizontal twill weave. It is a structure diagram of a support body in which a woven structure A is formed and a woven structure B is a plain weave portion. In the organization chart, the colored parts are the warp threads floating above the weft threads. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as FIG. 5, which will be described later, schematically show the repetition of woven texture A and woven texture B, and the numbers of warps and wefts constituting each texture shown in the drawings are exemplary. It is something. Examples of nonwoven fabrics manufactured using the supports shown in these drawings are shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6. The number of wefts and the like may differ from those shown.

In the pattern-forming support shown in FIG. 1, a knuckle a is formed by a floating portion of the warp threads at the boundary between the two structures. In FIG. 1, knuckle a has warp threads floating above weft threads a and b. In other parts, the warp threads float above one weft thread, and it can be seen that knuckle a is formed by the warp threads floating in a different state from the other parts.
After carrying out the overall entangling process, the fibrous web is placed on this pattern-forming support, and the pattern-forming entangling process is carried out using a nozzle in which orifice groups are provided at predetermined intervals. It has a pattern as shown in 3. The nonwoven fabric of FIG. 3 has a first intertwined portion that was not hit by the water flow during the pattern-forming entangling process, and a second intertwined portion that was formed by the pattern-forming entangling process. The second entangled portion includes a first region having a diagonal line pattern provided by the twill weave (weave texture A) and a second region formed by the plain weave portion (weave texture B) in which openings or recesses are arranged in a staggered manner. It has 2 areas. In addition, in the second intertwined portion, a stitch-like region in which openings are relatively clearly formed is arranged regularly as a third region in the order of the first region → third region → second region. It is formed. The structure of the nonwoven fabric will be explained in detail in Embodiment 2.

In the second intertwined portion of the nonwoven fabric in FIG. 3, the third region is formed only at the boundary with the first region on the lower side of the figure when viewed from one second region. During the pattern forming and entangling process, when a water stream is sprayed onto the fibrous web while moving the support, the fibrous web is moved from a fibrous web at a low position (weave texture B) to a high position (weave texture A) on the support. This part is formed by sequentially spraying a water stream toward the fiber web located at the fiber web. It is thought that the fiber web, which extends from a low position to a high position as it progresses, firmly catches the water flow and is easily affected by the water flow, and that knuckles and the like at steps are likely to be reflected in the nonwoven fabric. On the other hand, at the other step, the water stream is sprayed from the fiber web at a high position (texture A) to the fiber web at a low position (texture B). It is believed that some of the water flow "flows down" over the web and is not as tightly received by the fibrous web, reducing the degree of entanglement. As a result, openings and/or recesses are less likely to be formed, and the third region having a clear pattern is not formed, resulting in a nonwoven fabric as shown in FIG. 3.

In the pattern-forming support shown in FIG. 2, knuckle a is a warp floating above one weft. The knuckle a is a part where the warp threads pass over the thick weft threads a, but the warp threads pass over the thin weft threads B before and after the direction of movement of the knuckle a. Therefore, in the vicinity of knuckle a, the arrangement of weft threads (particularly the spacing between weft threads) is different from the arrangement of weft threads in other tissues, and therefore knuckle a has a characteristic opening and/or Or it is considered to form an opening.

After performing the entire entanglement treatment, the fibrous web is placed on the support shown in FIG. 2, and a pattern-forming entanglement treatment is performed using a nozzle in which orifice groups are provided at predetermined intervals, thereby producing a nonwoven fabric as shown in FIG. It has a pattern as shown in . The nonwoven fabric shown in FIG. 4 has a first intertwined portion formed by a whole-entanglement process and a second intertwined part formed by a pattern-forming entanglement process. The second entangled portion includes a first region in which openings provided by the twill weave (weave texture A) are regularly arranged, and a staggered opening or recess formed by the plain weave (weave texture B). It has a second region located at. In addition, in the second intertwined part, a stitch-like region with clearly formed openings is formed as a third region in the order of first region → third region → second region from top to bottom of the figure. It is formed regularly. The structure of the nonwoven fabric will be explained in detail in Embodiment 2. In the first region of the second entangled portion of the nonwoven fabric shown in FIG. 4, a relatively clear opening is formed at a position corresponding to a portion of the woven structure A where the warp threads are floating. This is because weave texture A is a 1/3 weft broken twill texture, and the curvature at the floating portion of the warp is stronger than, for example, in the texture A of the support in Fig. 1, and the floating portion is more raised. Possibly, this is because there is also a part where the warp threads are floating diagonally adjacent to the part where the warp threads are floating, and these parts can be considered to together form a large convex part. In addition, in the weave structure A of the support shown in FIG. 2, continuous diagonal lines are not formed due to the floating warp yarns, so that a diagonal line pattern is difficult to be formed in the first region of the obtained nonwoven fabric.

The nonwoven fabric shown in FIG. 4 also has a structure in which the first region → third region → second region is repeatedly formed in the second intertwined part, and when viewed from one second region, the lower side of the figure The third region is formed only at the boundary with the first region. The reason why the third region is formed in this way is considered to be the same as the reason explained with reference to FIG. 3 above.

The texture A of the pattern-forming support is not limited to one in which the number of floating warps is one, but may be a twill weave in which the number of floating warps is two or more. The upper limit of the number of warp floats may be, for example, 16, in particular 10. At this time, the floating number of the weft yarns may be, for example, 2 or more and 16 or less, particularly 2 or more and 10 or less. For example, the pattern-forming support may be formed with a woven structure A that is a 2/2 twill weave part and a woven structure B that is a plain weave part, as shown in the organization chart of FIG.

A twill weave section in which the number of floating warp threads is 2 or more forms a characteristic knuckle at the boundary with the plain weave section. As shown in FIG. 5, a knuckle N1 floating above three or more consecutive wefts including the weft a and the weft b is formed at one boundary of the twill weave and the plain weave. Since this knuckle N1 is long in the vertical direction, a vertically long opening tends to be formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region.

In addition, in the pattern forming support shown in FIG. 5, the warp floats on two or more consecutive wefts including the weft a and the weft b at the boundary on the opposite side to the boundary on the side where the knuckle N1 is formed. A knuckle N2 is formed adjacent to one side of the knuckle N2, and a knuckle N3 is formed in which warp threads float on two or more continuous weft threads. Since the knuckles N2 and N3 are formed close to each other, in the obtained nonwoven fabric, the area where two adjacent openings or two openings are connected to form one larger opening is the first area. and the second region.

As shown in the support shown in Fig. 5, in the woven structure, the number of warp floats (the number of weft threads on which the warp threads are successively located) and the number of weft thread floats (the number of warp threads on which the weft threads are successively located) If the numbers) are the same, the numbers of floating warps and wefts will be the same on both main surfaces. Such a support makes it possible to produce a nonwoven fabric with substantially the same pattern regardless of whether the fibrous web is placed on the main surface. However, in the twill weave structure, the directions of the diagonal lines formed by the warp threads are mirror images between the two main surfaces, and the directions of the diagonal lines formed in the resulting nonwoven fabric are opposite.

After performing the overall entanglement treatment, the fibrous web is placed on the support shown in Figure 5, and a pattern-forming entanglement treatment is performed using a nozzle in which orifice groups are provided at predetermined intervals. An example is shown in FIG. During the pattern forming and entangling process, the nonwoven fabric in FIG. 6 is water entangled so that the boundary where knuckles N1 are formed is first injected into the water stream, that is, the arrow shown on the right side of the organization chart in FIG. This is a nonwoven fabric made by performing the treatment. In the nonwoven fabric of FIG. 6, the first region of the second intertwined portion has a diagonal line pattern in which diagonal lines with openings and diagonal lines without openings are arranged alternately. The opening corresponds to the part where the warp threads are floating in the twill weave section in Figure 5, and because the warp threads floating on the two wefts in the twill weave section are adjacent to each other, there is a relatively clear opening section. Made of non-woven fabric.

The second entangled portion of the nonwoven fabric in FIG. 6 has a third region formed corresponding to the boundary portion including knuckle N1, and a fourth region formed corresponding to the boundary portion including knuckles N2 and N3. However, the four regions are repeatedly formed in the order of first region→third region→second region→fourth region. Both the third and fourth regions have different patterns from the first and second regions, emphasizing the boundaries between the first and second regions. Since the knuckle N1 is long and floats on the three wefts, the opening in the third region is made larger than the opening formed in the first region, and the opening in the first region is formed at the opening in the first region. The direction of the diagonal lines gives a changed appearance in the third region. Since the knuckle N2 passes over the weft yarns constituting the weave A and the weft yarns constituting the weave B at the boundary between the weaves A and B, the warp is lower on the weave B side. After reaching the position, it passes under the weft threads of texture B. This is considered to be what makes the pattern in the fourth area different from the other areas. Furthermore, at the boundary between woven texture A and woven texture B, the weft spacing tends to be wider than that in woven texture A and woven texture B, which also causes the patterns in the third and fourth regions to be different from those in other regions. It is thought that it is different from that.

In the nonwoven fabric of FIG. 6, regions having a pattern different from the first region and the second region are formed at the upper and lower boundaries of the figure, respectively, when viewed from the second region formed on the second support. ing. In knuckles N2 and N3, the warp threads are floating above the two weft threads, so they are relatively large. Therefore, even when the water flow sequentially acts on the fiber web spanning from a high position to a low position, it is easily affected by the knuckles, and the support shown in Figures 1 and 2 (at the knuckles at the boundary of the woven structure on the rear side in the direction of travel, the warp It is considered that a clearer pattern was formed compared to the case where the number of floats was 1).

The illustrated pattern-forming support is an example, and the textures A and B may each be other than the illustrated textures. In addition, the width in the MD direction of each woven structure, the diameter of the wefts a and b, and the diameter of the warp are also adjusted to create a desired striped pattern or ladder pattern in the second intertwined portion, and a desired first and second region. The pattern is appropriately selected so as to obtain a pattern.

In the pattern-forming support, the dimensions in the MD direction of the woven structures A and B are equal to the dimensions in the MD direction of the first and second regions formed in the second intertwined portion in the obtained nonwoven fabric (i.e., the first and second intertwined regions). When the direction in which the section extends is defined as the X direction, determine the dimension in the X direction. In this embodiment, the dimension of the woven structure A in the MD direction may be 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less, particularly 3 mm or more and 100 mm or less, more particularly 5 mm or more and 50 mm or less, even more particularly 7 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more particularly It may be 10 mm or more and 25 mm or less. Similarly, the dimension of the woven structure B in the MD direction may be 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less, particularly 3 mm or more and 100 mm or less, more particularly 5 mm or more and 50 mm or less, even more particularly 7 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more particularly 10 mm or more. It may be 25 mm or less. The dimension of the woven structure A in the MD direction may be the same as the dimension of the woven structure B in the MD direction, or may be different. Further, in one support, there may be a plurality of textures A having different dimensions in the MD direction, and/or a plurality of textures B having different dimensions in the MD direction.

The warp and weft constituting the pattern-forming support may be, for example, filaments with a diameter of 0.3 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. The diameter of the weft may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less, particularly 0.9 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and more particularly 0.65 mm or more and 0.95 mm or less. The weft a and the weft b may have different diameters. In that case, the difference in diameter between the weft yarn a and the weft yarn b may be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less, particularly 0.2 mm or more and 0.7 mm or less, and more particularly 0.3 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less. The larger the difference in diameter between the weft a and the weft b, the clearer the pattern in the third and fourth regions of the formed nonwoven fabric tends to be. In the vicinity of the boundary, the woven structure B and the fiber web do not contact each other (the gap is large), and a clear pattern may not be formed. Note that the warp yarns constituting the support are common in the woven structures A and B, and the thickness thereof is the same in the woven structures A and B.

The diameter of the warp and weft is the length of the longest line segment connecting any two points on the cross section (cross section obtained by cutting perpendicular to the length direction) of the thread (e.g. filament). . The diameter can also be determined using this method for objects whose cross-sectional shape is elliptical, polygonal, or star-shaped. However, as described later, for filaments whose cross section is flat (including rectangular shapes with rounded corners), the dimensions of the short and long sides of the rectangle circumscribing the cross section can be used as an index to express the thickness. do.

The warp and weft that constitute the pattern forming support have a flat cross section, and a rectangle circumscribing the cross section has a short side of 0.2 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less and a length of 0.3 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. It may be a monofilament with edges. The short side of the circumscribed rectangle may be particularly 0.4 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less, and the long side may particularly be 0.7 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. Here, the term "flat shape" refers to a shape that has a large dimension in one direction, such as a rectangle (rectangle), an oblong ellipse, a rectangle with rounded corners, etc., and whose dimension is determined only by the diameter determined by the above method. and those whose shapes are difficult to conceptualize. When the cross section is a perfect rectangle, the short and long sides of the rectangle have dimensions within the above range. The ratio of the long side and short side of the circumscribed rectangle (long side/short side ratio) is, for example, 1.2 or more, particularly 1.3 or more and 3 or less, and more particularly 1.4 or more and 2 or less. It's fine.

In this embodiment, it is preferable that the warp yarns constituting the pattern-forming support have a flat shape. When warp threads with a flat shape are used, the contact area between the warp threads and the fiber web becomes larger than when warp threads with a circular cross section are used, and openings and/or Alternatively, the area of the recess tends to become larger.

The warp and weft constituting the pattern-forming support may be made of one or more materials selected from polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, and the like.
Also, the warp and weft yarns may be in a form other than monofilaments, for example in the form of multifilaments or spun yarns. In the case of a multifilament or the like, the fineness may be used instead of the diameter as an index representing the thickness of the yarn, and wefts a and b having different finenesses may be used.

The weaving density of the pattern forming support is, for example, 6 warps/inch to 123 warps/inch, particularly 10 warps/inch to 80 warps/inch, more particularly 20 warps/inch to 40 warps/inch. It's good. The weaving density of the weft yarns may be, for example, 6 yarns/inch or more and 123 yarns/inch or less, particularly 8 yarns/inch or more and 60 yarns/inch or less, and more particularly 10 yarns/inch or more and 20 yarns/inch or less. The higher the weave density, the easier it is to give a clear pattern to the non-woven fabric due to the parts where the warp threads, including the knuckles, are floating, but if the weave density is too high, the smoothness of the parts where the warp threads, including the knuckles, are floating, increases, and on the contrary, Pattern clarity may be reduced.

When the texture A is a twill weave, in addition to the diameter of the monofilament, the warp density, and the weft density, the first The shape of the diagonal line pattern in the area changes. The twill weave structure consists of warp threads that float above the weft threads either adjacent to each other or non-adjacent, and when the warp threads are connected with a straight line, all floating parts are If a straight line extending obliquely can be drawn in a state including the first area, a first area having a diagonal line pattern as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 can be obtained. If the straight line cannot be drawn, a first region having a pattern with low regularity in the arrangement of openings or recesses as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

When the texture B is a plain weave, the dimensions of the openings formed in the second region change depending on the diameter of the monofilaments constituting the tissue, and the larger the diameter of the monofilaments, the larger the area of the openings or recesses. There is a tendency. Furthermore, the spacing between openings, between openings and recesses, or between recesses changes depending on the weft density and warp density of the plain weave portion, and the larger the weft density and/or warp density, the narrower the spacing tends to be.

In the patterned support, weave structures A and B may both be plain weave portions. In that case, the two textures can be made different from each other by changing the diameter of the weft threads and/or changing the density of the weft threads. Further, both weaves A and B may be twill weaves. In that case, the two weaving structures can be made different from each other by using one method selected from changing the number of warp threads floating above the weft threads, changing the number of warp threads sinking below the weft threads, changing the diameter of the weft threads, etc. can do.

When the texture B is a fine plain weave (for example, 80 mesh or more and 100 mesh or less), a patternless second region is formed corresponding to the texture. In this case, the woven structure A may be a structure capable of forming a pattern, for example a twill weave, or a plain weave made of filaments with a large diameter.

After carrying out the pattern forming and entangling process, the fibrous web is subjected to a drying process to obtain the nonwoven fabric of Embodiment 2, which will be described later. The nonwoven fabric of Embodiment 2 corresponds to that already described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, and the details of its structure will be described later.

When the fibrous web contains adhesive fibers, an adhesive treatment may be performed simultaneously with or after the drying treatment to obtain a structure in which the fibers are adhered to each other in the resulting nonwoven fabric. The adhesion treatment may be thermal adhesion treatment, adhesion by electron beam irradiation, or ultrasonic welding. According to the heat treatment, adhesive fibers (for example, low melting point components of composite fibers) are melted or softened by heating during the heat treatment, and the fibers constituting the fibrous web can be bonded to each other. According to heat treatment, drying treatment can be performed at the same time.

The heat treatment is, for example, hot air processing in which hot air is blown, heat roll processing (hot embossing roll processing), or heat treatment using infrared rays. The hot air processing treatment may be performed using a device that blows hot air at a predetermined temperature onto the fiber web, such as a hot air through-type heat treatment machine or a hot air blowing type heat treatment machine.

The heat treatment temperature (for example, the temperature of hot air) may be a temperature at which a component constituting the adhesive fiber and functioning as an adhesive component softens or melts. For example, the heat treatment temperature may be a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the component. For example, when the adhesive fiber contains polyethylene as a component and polyethylene is used as an adhesive component, the heat treatment temperature may be 130°C to 150°C.

(Embodiment 2: Nonwoven fabric)
The nonwoven fabric described as Embodiment 2 is a nonwoven fabric in which first intertwined parts and second intertwined parts are arranged in a striped pattern,
The second entangled portion includes at least a first region and a second region,
In plan view, when the direction in which the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend continuously is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction, the first region and the second region are repeatedly arranged alternately in the X direction,
the first entangled portion, the first region and the second region have different patterns;
It is a non-woven fabric.

[First intertwined part, second intertwined part]
The nonwoven fabric of this embodiment has a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part, and these intertwined parts are arranged in a striped pattern.
Both the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part are parts formed by intertwining fibers, and extend along one direction of the nonwoven fabric. In this embodiment, the direction in which the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend is defined as the X direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X direction is defined as the Y direction. The X direction may be the longitudinal direction (also referred to as "MD direction") or the lateral direction (also referred to as "CD direction") of the nonwoven fabric, or it may be a direction that makes an angle with the MD direction or CD direction.

As described later, the first intertwined portion and the second intertwined portion may be meandering. In that case, if the two types of intertwined parts meander between two straight lines parallel to the MD direction of the nonwoven fabric, the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend along the MD direction of the nonwoven fabric. The X direction is assumed to be the MD direction. Similarly, when the first intertwined part meanderes between two straight lines parallel to the CD direction of the nonwoven fabric, the first intertwined part is assumed to extend along the CD lateral direction of the nonwoven fabric, and the X direction is CD direction.

The first intertwined part and the second intertwined part are distinguished from each other by having different patterns. Here, "pattern" also includes "no pattern." "Patternless" refers to something that does not give a sense of design, and may have, for example, irregularities in texture that occur unavoidably during web formation, or nozzle lines that occur unavoidably during hydroentangling treatment, etc. , meaning that no intentional pattern has been added. More specifically, it is a convex part, a recessed part, or an opening, etc. whose longest dimension (excluding the dimension in that direction when it extends continuously in one direction like a nozzle line) is 0. .1 mm or less, such protrusions, depressions, openings, etc. are not considered to form a pattern.

The first intertwined portion may be patternless. As explained in Embodiment 1, when the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is manufactured by performing pattern-forming entangling treatment after the entire entangling treatment, the first entangled portion is formed by the support used in the entire entangling treatment. It has a pattern that is determined. In the overall entangling process, when a support with a large number of meshes is used, the first entangled portion is formed without a pattern.

The second intertwined portion may have first regions and second regions alternately formed along the X direction, and may further have a narrow third region at the boundary between the first region and the second region, Alternatively, narrow third and fourth regions may be provided at the boundary between the first region and the second region. The first to fourth regions will be described later. The nonwoven fabric of this embodiment has two or more regions, so that the first interlaced portion has a uniform pattern in one direction, and the second interlaced portion has a horizontal striped or ladder-like appearance. This creates a unique design effect that goes beyond a simple striped pattern.

The dimension in the Y direction (hereinafter referred to as "width" for convenience) of each first intertwined portion may be, for example, 2 mm to 200 mm, particularly 3.5 mm to 100 mm, and more particularly 4 mm to 50 mm. It may even more particularly be between 5 mm and 30 mm, or even between 5 mm and 15 mm. The width of one first intertwined portion may or may not be constant.

In the non-woven fabric, first interlacing portions of different widths may be present. For example, first intertwined parts having a narrow width (for example, 2 mm to 5 mm) and first intertwined parts having a wide width (for example, 6 mm to 15 mm) may be arranged alternately. Alternatively, a first intertwined part having a narrow width (for example, 2 mm to 3 mm), a first intertwined part having a medium width (for example, 4 to 5 mm), and a first intertwined part having a wide width (for example, 6 to 15 mm) are thin/ They may be arranged in the order of medium/thick or thin/thick/medium.

The width of each second interlacing portion may be between 2 mm and 200 mm, particularly between 3.5 mm and 100 mm, more particularly between 4 mm and 50 mm, even more particularly between 5 and 30 mm; Alternatively, it may be 5 mm to 15 mm. The width of one second entangled portion may or may not be constant.

In the nonwoven fabric, second interlacing portions of different widths may be present. For example, narrow (for example, 2 mm to 5 mm) second intertwined portions and wide (for example, 6 mm to 15 mm) second intertwined portions may be arranged alternately. Alternatively, the second interlaced portion with a narrow width (for example, 2 mm to 3 mm), the second interlaced portion with a medium width (for example, 4 to 5 mm), and the second interlaced portion with a wide width (for example, 6 to 15 mm) may be thin/ They may be arranged in the order of medium/thick or thin/thick/medium.

In the nonwoven fabric, the first interlaced portion may be linear or meandering.
When the first intertwined portion is meandering, the meandering length per cycle (ie, wavelength) may be 5 mm or more. The meandering length per cycle is determined as follows.
i) As shown in FIG. 10, the direction parallel to the straight line perpendicular to the X direction 31 in which the first intertwined portion 42 extends (i.e., the Y direction) is the orthogonal direction, and the direction extending toward the "+" side is the positive orthogonal direction. 32a, and the direction extending toward the "-" side is a negative orthogonal direction 32b.
ii) Progress of the meandering of the first intertwined part 42 that was progressing toward the negative orthogonal direction 32b (since the first intertwined part 42 has a width, the progress of one end in the width direction (the left end in the figure) A straight line 33 perpendicular to the length direction 31 is drawn at a point e where the direction (focusing on) changes to the positive orthogonal direction 32a.
iii) From the point e, the meandering of the first intertwined portion 42, which had been proceeding in the positive orthogonal direction 32a, proceeds in the negative orthogonal direction 32b, and then further changes to the positive orthogonal direction 32a at a point f, A straight line 34 perpendicular to the length direction 31 is drawn.
iv) Let the distance l between the straight line 33 and the straight line 34 be the meandering length per cycle.
When the first intertwined part 42 moves straight in the length direction 31 at a point where the meandering progress of the first intertwined part 42 changes from the negative orthogonal direction 32b to the positive orthogonal direction 32a (for example, the meandering like a rectangular wave) case), draw straight lines 33 and 34 perpendicular to the length direction 31 at the midpoint of the straight portion. In addition, in FIG. 3, the code|symbol 41 shows the 2nd intertwined part formed between the 1st intertwined parts 42.

In this embodiment, the upper limit of the wavelength may be 200 mm. The wavelength is particularly 10 mm or more and 150 mm or less, more particularly 30 mm or more and 100 mm or less. Thereby, the meandering pattern can be clearly recognized in the nonwoven fabric.

Preferably, the meandering of the first intertwined portion has an amplitude of 1 mm or more. The amplitude is determined as follows.
i) As shown in FIG. 10, a point on the above-mentioned straight line 33 that equally divides the width of the first intertwined portion 42 is designated as g.
ii) A straight line 35 perpendicular to the length direction 31 is drawn at a point i where the meandering progress of the first intertwined portion 42, which had been progressing toward the positive orthogonal direction 32a, changes to the negative orthogonal direction 32b, and the straight line 35 A point located above and equally dividing the width of the first intertwined portion 42 is designated as h.
iii) Let the amplitude be the distance j between the straight line 36 that includes point g and is parallel to the length direction 31 and the straight line 37 that includes point i and is parallel to the length direction.
The upper limit of the amplitude may be 200 mm. The amplitude is particularly between 2 mm and 150 mm, more particularly between 5 mm and 100 mm, even more particularly between 10 mm and 50 mm.

The meandering of the first intertwined part may have a different length per cycle, or may have a different amplitude like a damped wave, and these meanderings are repeated regularly. It's okay. A preferred meander configuration is one in which the length of each meander per period is the same and each amplitude is the same, ie, the same pattern is repeated. The meandering first intertwined portion gives an orderly impression. In addition, such meandering first intertwined portions do not give the impression that the designs are significantly different between products when the nonwoven fabric is appropriately cut into products.

The value of the ratio between the length (wavelength) and the amplitude per meandering period (wavelength/amplitude) may be, for example, from 1 to 15, particularly from 1.5 to 12, and more particularly from 2 to 12. It may be 8. When the value of the ratio of wavelength to amplitude is less than 1 or more than 15, it may be difficult to recognize that the first intertwined portion is meandering. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the meandering phases of adjacent first intertwined portions are the same. The meandering phases of adjacent first intertwined portions may be shifted from each other.

When the nonwoven fabric has only a first interlaced portion and a second interlaced portion, and the first interlaced portion is meandering, the second interlaced portion adjacent between the first interlaced portions also meandered. In that case, the meandering length and amplitude per cycle of the second interlaced section are determined by those of the first interlaced section. Therefore, a description of the meandering length and amplitude per cycle of the second intertwined portion will be omitted here.

[First to third areas and fourth area]
Next, the first region and second region formed in the second entangled portion, and the third region and fourth region formed as the case may be, will be explained. These regions exist in a striped pattern and have mutually different patterns. The meaning of "pattern" here is as explained above regarding the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part.
In this embodiment, these regions are regularly arranged in the X direction. For example, when the second intertwined portion has a first region and a second region, the first region and the second region may be alternately and repeatedly arranged. When the second entangled portion further includes a third region, the first region, the third region, and the second region may be formed in this order. Note that the repetition of first → third → second along one direction becomes first → second → third repetition in the opposite direction.

The shapes of the patterns in the first region and the second region are not particularly limited as long as these regions have different patterns from each other. For example, the first area may have no pattern and the second area may have a pattern.

The pattern may be formed, for example, by regularly arranging regions with lower fiber density (“low density regions”) and regions with higher fiber density (“high density regions”). . In this case, the low-density area is a group consisting of regular patterns, such as dot patterns, herringbone patterns, checkerboard patterns, lattice patterns, houndstooth patterns, diagonal (twill) patterns, satin weave patterns, wave patterns, and zigzag patterns. The pattern may be at least one selected from the following.

The low-density region may be a recess that is less thick than the high-density region and is recessed from the high-density region, or it may be an opening in which no fibers are present. In one region, recesses and openings may coexist as a low-density region. In particular, when forming openings, depending on the manufacturing conditions, it may not be possible to make all the low-density regions into openings, and some low-density regions may exist as recesses. Such a form is also allowed in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the pattern of the first area is preferably a diagonal line pattern. The diagonal line pattern is a pattern in which low-density regions and high-density regions extending diagonally are arranged alternately, and in this embodiment, the "diagonal direction" refers to a direction that is not parallel to the MD direction and CD direction of the nonwoven fabric. Point. A region having a diagonal pattern tends to improve wiping performance when the nonwoven fabric is used as a wiper, for example.

When the first region has a diagonal line pattern, the acute angle a (see FIG. 7) between the diagonal line of the diagonal pattern and the direction in which the first region extends may be 10 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less, particularly 15 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less. , more particularly, the angle may be greater than or equal to 20 degrees and less than or equal to 70 degrees. If the acute angle a is too small, the direction of the diagonal line approaches the direction in which the first region extends (Y direction), and if the acute angle a is too large, the direction of the diagonal line approaches the direction in which the first region extends (X direction). If the pattern gets closer, it may become difficult to recognize it as a diagonal line pattern. Further, in either case where the acute angle a is too small or too large, when a nonwoven fabric is used as a wiper, it becomes difficult to obtain an effect of improving wiping performance.

When the first region has a diagonal line pattern, the diagonal line S1 where the openings or recesses are arranged on a straight line and the opening or recess of the diagonal line S1 where no opening or recess is formed or even if an opening or recess is formed. Diagonal lines S2 in which small openings or recesses are formed may be alternately arranged. The diagonal line S1 is formed, for example, by using a support body having a twill weave section in which the number of floating warp yarns is 2 or more as the weave structure A, such as the support body described with reference to FIG. When an opening or a recess is formed in the diagonal line S1, the area M1 of one opening or recess may be, for example, 0.3 mm ² or more and 3 mm ^{2 or} less, particularly 0.5 mm ² or more and 2.7 mm ² or less. , more particularly 0.7 mm ² or more and 2.5 mm ² or less. The average diameter of one opening or recess may be, for example, 1 mm or more and 5 mm or less, particularly 1.2 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more particularly 1.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less. Here, the average diameter of the opening or recess refers to the longest length of the line segments connecting any two points of the contour forming the opening, and the average diameter is the length of the five line segments formed in one area. It is expressed as the average diameter of the above openings or recesses. When the opening or recess is elliptical, the major axis is the diameter of the opening.

If the area or average diameter of the openings or recesses formed in the first region is too large, the strength of the nonwoven fabric may decrease. Furthermore, when openings are formed, if the area or average diameter of the openings is too large, for example, when a nonwoven fabric is used as a wiper, wiped dirt may adhere to hands or jigs through the openings. Alternatively, wiped dirt may easily come off from the opening. If the area of the opening or recess formed in the first region is too small or the average diameter is too small, it may not be possible to recognize that the opening or recess is formed, and the design effect may not be obtained.

Further, in the diagonal line S1, the distance between openings, between recesses, or between an opening and a recess is, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less, particularly 0.7 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, and more particularly 1.0 mm or more. It may be 3.5 mm or less. Here, the distance between openings, between recesses, or between openings and recesses refers to the shortest line segment connecting the centers of all combinations of adjacent openings and recesses. In the case of openings or recesses formed in diagonal lines, the distance between the openings is the distance indicated by Da in FIG.

The second region may have a pattern in which openings or recesses are regularly arranged. The pattern in which the openings or recesses are regularly arranged may be, for example, a pattern in which the openings or recesses are arranged in a staggered manner, a pattern in which the openings or recesses are arranged in a square arrangement, or the like. In a pattern in which openings or recesses are regularly arranged, the distance between the openings, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses may be, for example, 1.0 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, particularly 1.3 mm or more. It may be 3.0 mm or less, more particularly 1.6 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. Here, the meanings of the distances between the openings, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses are as described in relation to the diagonal line S1 that may be formed in the first region. Therefore, for example, when openings or recesses are formed in a staggered manner as shown in FIG. 9, the shortest distance between the centers of adjacent openings or recesses is the distance indicated by the symbol Db.

When the second region is a pattern formed by a regular arrangement of openings or recesses, the area M2 of one opening or recess may be, for example, 1.0 mm ² or less, particularly 0.8 mm ² or less, or more. In particular, it may be less than 0.6 mm ² . The lower limit of the area of the opening or recess may be, for example, 0.01 mm ² , in particular 0.02 mm ² and more particularly 0.03 mm ² . The average diameter of the openings or recesses may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, particularly 0.6 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less, and more particularly 0.7 mm or more and 3 mm or less. If the area of the openings or recesses is too large or the average diameter is too large, the strength of the nonwoven fabric may be reduced. In addition, when an opening is formed, if the area or average diameter of the opening is too large, when a nonwoven fabric is used as a wiper, wiped dirt may adhere to hands or jigs through the opening, or This may make it easier for dirt to escape from the opening.

When the second region has a pattern formed by a regular arrangement of openings, the proportion of the openings in the second region may be, for example, 1% or more and 30% or less, particularly 3% or more and 20% or less, More particularly, it may be 5% or more and 10% or less. If the ratio of the openings to one second region is too small, the effects of improving design and wiping performance due to the openings may not be obtained. If the ratio of the openings to one area is too large, the strength of the nonwoven fabric may decrease, and when used as a wiper, the wiped dirt may adhere to hands or jigs through the openings, or Wiped dirt may easily come off from the opening.

When either the first region or the second region has no pattern, the other region may have a diagonal line pattern or a pattern formed by regular arrangement of openings. In particular, when the other area has a diagonal pattern, the difference in thickness between the area and the non-patterned area increases, and when used as a wiper, the scraping performance tends to improve.

In the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment, the second intertwined portion may further include a third region. The third region has a dimension of 9 mm or less, particularly 7 mm, in the X direction when the direction in which each region continuously extends is the Y direction and the direction perpendicular to the Y direction is the X direction in plan view. More particularly, it may have dimensions of 5 mm or less. The dimension of the third region in the X direction approximately corresponds to the dimension of the opening or recess formed in the third region in the X direction. As described in Embodiment 1, the third region is formed corresponding to the boundary between the woven structures of the support body in which two different woven structures are repeatedly formed, and therefore, the third region is formed as a narrow region. In particular, it can be formed as a linear region whose dimension in the X direction is approximately the size of one opening or recess.

At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in the Y direction are formed in the third region. In the third region, the openings and recesses may be mixed, for example, a plurality of openings arranged in a continuous line and a plurality of recesses arranged in a continuous line may be mixed. . Alternatively, when openings and recesses coexist, these may be arranged linearly without regularity. The recess may be, for example, a portion where the fibers were rearranged by hydroentangling treatment, but the rearrangement was insufficient to form an opening. Alternatively, in the third region, no opening is formed, only a recess is formed, and not only the recess resulting from the knuckle but also the recess resulting from the floating part of the weft is formed, and these recesses are regular. They may be arranged to form a pattern. In nonwoven fabrics using fiber webs that are less likely to be rearranged by water flow, such as nonwoven fabrics with a larger basis weight and laminated nonwoven fabrics, only recesses are likely to be formed in the third region.

At least one of the shape, size, and spacing of the openings and/or recesses in the third region is different from those in the other regions, so that the third region exhibits a pattern different from the first region and the second region. Thereby, the third region has a stitch-like or cut-line-like appearance, in combination with its small dimension in the X direction, and makes the boundary between the first and second regions more Be clear. If either the first or second region is patternless, the third region naturally has a pattern that is different from the patternless region in that it has either or both of an opening and a recess.

The area M3 of the opening or recess formed in the third region (the area of one opening or recess) may be, for example, 0.3 mm ² or more and 4.0 mm ^{2 or} less, particularly 0.4 mm 2 or more and 3.0 mm ² or less. It may be 5 mm ² or less, more particularly 0.5 mm ² or more and 3.0 mm ² or less. The average diameter of one opening or recess may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, particularly 0.7 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less, and more particularly 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. In order to increase the average diameter or area of the openings or recesses in the third region, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the warp of the striped pattern forming support used during manufacturing. It tends to be difficult to increase the average diameter of the openings or recesses without limit. If the average diameter of the openings or recesses in the third region is too small, the pattern in the third region may be difficult to recognize as being different from the patterns in the first and second regions.

In cases where the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is large, only concave portions may be formed in the third region. Recesses may be formed. In this case, the above-mentioned average diameter or area is that of a recess formed corresponding to the knuckle (portion where the warp threads are floating) of the support. The recess formed corresponding to the knuckle (the part where the warp threads are floating) of the support may be formed in the nonwoven fabric as a vertically elongated recess with a deeper depth and a longer dimension in the X direction. many.

The average diameter of the openings or recesses formed in the first region is L1, the average diameter of the openings or recesses formed in the second region is L2, and the average diameter of the openings or recesses formed in the third region is L3. In this case, L3 may be larger than either L1 or L2. When L3 is the largest, the third region is more emphasized at the boundary between the first region and the second region, and the design effect of the nonwoven fabric can be further enhanced.

The relationship between the areas M1, M2, and M3 of each opening or recess formed in each region is influenced by the texture of the striped pattern forming support used for producing the nonwoven fabric. For example, in a nonwoven fabric manufactured using a support as shown in FIG. 1, the relationship M1≦M2<M3 may be satisfied, and M3/M2≧1.2, more particularly M3/M2≧ 1.5, and even more particularly the relationship M3/M2≧2.0 may be satisfied. This is because, like the support shown in FIG. 1, the number of floating warp yarns in the woven structure A is smaller than the number of floating yarns of weft yarns, and openings or recesses are less likely to be formed in the first region. In the case where M3 and M2 satisfy or do not satisfy the above relationship, when an opening and/or a recess is formed in the first region, M3 and M1 are M3/M1≧1.2, more particularly M3 /M1≧1.3 may be satisfied.

Note that there are cases where no opening or recess is formed in the first region and/or the second region and M1 and/or M2 are substantially zero, and in that case, M3/M2 cannot be determined. However, even if M1 and/or M2 are zero, the third region and the first region are more clearly distinguished, so the relationship M3/M2≧1.2 is satisfied.

Further, for example, in a nonwoven fabric manufactured using the support shown in FIG. 2, the relationship M2<M1<M3 may be satisfied, and furthermore, M3/M1≧1.2, more particularly M3/M1≧ The relationship 1.3 may be satisfied. In the support shown in FIG. 2, the floating number of weft yarns of the woven structure A is smaller than that in the support shown in FIG. 1, so openings are relatively easily formed in the first region. Therefore, in order to distinguish the third region from the first region, it is possible to define the relationship between M3 and M1, and by satisfying M3/M1≧1.2, the third region is more emphasized.

The distance between the openings formed in the third region, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses may be, for example, 1 mm or more and 9 mm or less, particularly 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less, and more particularly 2.5 mm or more and 7 mm or less. Here, the distance between openings, between recesses, or between an opening and a recess is defined as the distance between adjacent openings, between adjacent openings and a recess, as described in relation to the diagonal line S1 that may be formed in the first region. and the shortest line segment connecting the centers of all combinations of adjacent recesses. When openings and recesses coexist in the third region, it is preferable that the distances between the openings, between the recesses, and between the openings and the recesses all satisfy the above ranges. In the third region, the openings and/or recesses are arranged linearly in a line in the Y direction, so the distance between the openings, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses is generally the distance in the Y direction. Become.

In the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment, the second entangled portion may further include a fourth region. The fourth region is formed at a boundary between one first region (or second region) and the second region (or first region) on the opposite side to the side where the third region is formed. That is, like the third region, the fourth region is formed corresponding to the boundary between the woven structures of the support in which two different woven structures are repeatedly formed. The nonwoven fabric having the fourth region has four regions repeatedly formed in the order of the first region, the third region, the second region, and the fourth region in the X direction. Note that the repetition of the first → third → second → fourth in one direction becomes the repetition of the first → fourth → second → third in the opposite direction.

In plan view, the fourth region has a dimension of 9 mm or less in the X direction, particularly 8 mm or less, more particularly 6 mm or less, and even more particularly 4 mm or less. The dimension in the X direction of the fourth region approximately corresponds to the dimension in the X direction of the opening or recess formed in the fourth region. Like the third region, the fourth region is formed corresponding to the boundary between the woven structures of the support body in which two different woven structures are repeatedly formed, and therefore is formed as a narrow region, In particular, it may be formed as a linear region whose dimension in the X direction is approximately the size of one opening or recess. The dimensions of the fourth region are determined by the texture of the pattern-forming support and the thicknesses of the wefts a and b. For example, when using a support as shown in FIG. 5, the fourth region is formed by knuckles N2 and N3 where the number of warp floats is 2, so the fourth region is formed by knuckle N1 where the number of warp floats is 3. The dimension in the X direction is smaller than that of the third region.

At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in the Y direction are formed in the fourth region. In the fourth region, the openings and the recesses may be mixed, for example, a plurality of openings arranged in a continuous line and a plurality of recesses arranged in a continuous line may be mixed. . Alternatively, when openings and recesses coexist, these may be arranged linearly without regularity. The recess may be, for example, a portion where the fibers were rearranged by hydroentangling treatment, but the rearrangement was insufficient to form an opening. Alternatively, in the fourth region, no opening is formed, only a recess is formed, and not only the recess resulting from the knuckle but also the recess resulting from the floating part of the weft is formed, and these recesses are regular. They may be arranged to form a pattern. In nonwoven fabrics using fiber webs that are less likely to be rearranged by water flow, such as nonwoven fabrics with a larger basis weight and laminated nonwoven fabrics, only recesses are likely to be formed in the fourth region.

At least one of the shape, size, and spacing of the openings and/or recesses in the fourth region is different from those in the first and second regions, so that the fourth region exhibits a pattern different from those in these regions. Therefore, like the third area, the fourth area has the appearance of a seam (stitch-like) or a cut line, in combination with its small dimension in the X direction, and there is a gap between the first and second areas. Make the boundaries clearer. If either the first or second region is patternless, the fourth region naturally has a pattern that is different from the patternless region in that it has either or both of an opening and a recess. The fourth area may have the same pattern as the third area, or may have a different pattern.

The area of the opening or recess formed in the fourth region (the area of one opening or recess) may be, for example, 0.5 mm ² or more and 3.5 mm ² or less, particularly 0.7 mm ² or more and 3 mm ² or less , more particularly, it may be 1 mm ² or more and 2.5 mm ² or less. The average diameter of one opening or recess may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, particularly 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more particularly 2 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The reason why the range of the average diameter or area of the openings or recesses in the fourth region is exemplified above is as explained above in relation to the average diameter and area of the openings or recesses in the third region.

In cases where the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is large, only concave portions may be formed in the fourth region. Recesses may be formed. In this case, the above-mentioned average diameter or area is that of a recess formed corresponding to the knuckle (portion where the warp threads are floating) of the support. The recess formed corresponding to the knuckle (the part where the warp threads are floating) of the support may be formed in the nonwoven fabric as a vertically elongated recess with a deeper depth and a longer dimension in the X direction. many.

As mentioned above, when the diameters of the openings or recesses formed in the first to third regions are respectively L1 to L3, and the diameter of the opening or recess formed in the fourth region is L4, L4 is L1. and L2. The relationship between L3 and L4 is not particularly limited, and may be L3=L4, L3>L4, or L3<L4. By making L4 larger than both L1 and L2, the fourth region is more emphasized at the boundary between the first region and the second region, and the design effect of the nonwoven fabric can be further enhanced.

The relationship among M1, M2, M3, and M4 is influenced by the texture of the patterned support used for nonwoven fabric production. For example, in a nonwoven fabric manufactured using the support shown in FIG. 5, the relationships M2<M1<M3 and M2<M1<M4 may be satisfied, and M3/M2≧1.2, especially M3/ The relationships M2≧1.3 and/or M4/M2≧1.2, in particular M4/M2≧1.3, may be satisfied. Furthermore, M4 and M1 may satisfy the relationship, for example, M4/M1≧1.2, particularly M4/M1≧1.5, more particularly M4/M1≧2, and even more particularly M4/M1≧3. . Furthermore, M3 and M1 may satisfy the relationship, for example, M3/M1≧1.2, particularly M3/M1≧1.3, more particularly M3/M1≧1.5.

The distance between the openings formed in the fourth region, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses may be, for example, 1 mm or more and 8 mm or less, particularly 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and more particularly 3 mm or more and 4 mm or less. Here, the meanings of the distances between the openings, between the recesses, or between the openings and the recesses are as described above in relation to the first region.

As described above, in the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment, the first region and the second region, and optionally the third region or the third region and the fourth region are arranged in parallel to each other within the second intertwined part and are oriented in a certain direction. They exist in repeated patterns to form a pattern. That is, in the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment, these regions form a striped pattern or a ladder pattern in a direction (X direction) perpendicular to the direction in which each region extends (Y direction). The direction in which each region is repeatedly arranged matches the direction in which the first intertwined portion and the second intertwined portion extend. Therefore, in the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment, in a striped pattern in which the first intertwined parts and the second intertwined parts, which are band-shaped parts extending in the X direction, are regularly arranged in the Y direction, the second intertwined parts are arranged in another striped pattern. It forms a pattern or lattice pattern, giving it a unique lattice or patchwork appearance, rather than a simple striped pattern.

The first region may have a dimension in the X direction of, for example, 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less, particularly 3 mm or more and 100 mm or less, more particularly 5 mm or more and 50 mm or less, even more particularly 7 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more particularly 10 mm. It may have a dimension of 25 mm or more. The second region may also have a dimension in the X direction of, for example, 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less, particularly 3 mm or more and 100 mm or less, more particularly 5 mm or more and 50 mm or less, even more particularly 7 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more particularly 10 mm. It may have a dimension of 25 mm or more. The dimension in the X direction of the first region (hereinafter referred to as "width" for convenience) and the width of the second region may be the same or different. Further, in one nonwoven fabric, there may be a plurality of first regions having different widths, and/or a plurality of second regions having different widths.

If the width of the first region is too small, the design effect of forming a striped pattern or a lattice pattern may not be sufficiently obtained, and if a nonwoven fabric is used as a wiper, the wiping performance may be insufficient. This may happen. The same applies when the width of the second region is too small. If the width of the first region is too large, the design effect may not be sufficiently obtained, and the wiping performance may be insufficient. The same applies when the width of the second area is too large.

[Fibers that make up the nonwoven fabric]
The fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment are not particularly limited, and any fibers used in the production of nonwoven fabrics may be employed. The nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is, for example,
Polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and their copolymers, polyamide resins such as nylon 6, nylon 66, and their copolymers, polymethylpentene, polypropylene, and polyethylene (high engineering plastics such as polyolefin resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonates, polyacetals, polystyrenes and cyclic polyolefins, and elastomers thereof; or synthetic fibers made of multiple thermoplastic resins;
Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, hemp, and pulp, as well as rayon and polynosic obtained by the viscose process, cupro obtained by the cuprammonium process, and cellulosic fibers obtained by the solvent spinning process (Lyocell and Tencel (registered trademark)). (trademark), etc.) (including those whose surfaces have been treated with a hydrophobizing agent),
It may be formed of one or more fibers selected from cellulosic fibers obtained by melt spinning and semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate fibers.

Synthetic fibers may be either single fibers or composite fibers. The composite fiber may be, for example, a concentric or eccentric core-sheath type composite fiber, an island-in-the-sea type composite fiber, a side-by-side type composite fiber, or a split type composite fiber.

The synthetic fiber may also exhibit adhesive properties by melting or softening upon heating or the like. For example, the synthetic fiber may be a single fiber or a composite fiber that contains a relatively low melting point resin such as polyethylene as one component, and the low melting point resin component occupies at least a portion of the fiber surface. Such fibers are, for example, core-sheath type conjugate fibers made of a combination of polyethylene/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyethylene terephthalate, in which polyethylene is a sheath component, or split type conjugate fibers made of a combination of these thermoplastic resins.

In the case of core-sheath type composite fibers, the composite ratio of the core component and sheath component (core component:sheath component) is preferably 80:20 to 20:80 in volume ratio, and 70:30 to 30:70. The ratio is more preferably 60:40 to 40:60.

In the case of splittable composite fibers, the ratio of the two components (first: second) is preferably 80:20 to 20:80, more preferably 70:30 to 30:70, in terms of volume ratio. , more preferably 60:40 to 40:60. In the case of splittable composite fibers, the number of divisions (i.e., the number of sections in the composite fiber) may be, for example, 4 or more and 32 or less, particularly 4 or more and 20 or less, more particularly 6 or more, It may be 10 or less.

When using synthetic fibers capable of adhering fibers to each other, the synthetic fibers may be contained in an amount of, for example, 5% by mass or more, particularly 10% by mass or more, more particularly may be contained in an amount of 15% by mass or more. The upper limit for the proportion of adhesive synthetic fibers is, for example, 35% by weight, in particular 30% by weight, more particularly 25% by weight. If the proportion of adhesive synthetic fibers is too small, the effects of adhering the fibers to each other (for example, improving the mechanical strength of the nonwoven fabric, suppressing fuzzing, and maintaining the applied pattern) may not be sufficiently obtained. be. If the proportion of adhesive synthetic fibers is too high, the texture of the nonwoven fabric becomes hard, resulting in poor drape properties, which may affect wiping properties when used as a wiper.

The nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment may contain, for example, 30% by mass or more, particularly 50% by mass or more, and more particularly 80% by mass or more of cellulose fibers. Here, cellulose fibers include natural fibers derived from plants such as cotton, linen, ramie, jute, hemp, and pulp; rayon and polynosic obtained by the viscose method, and cupra obtained by the copper ammonia method. , and regenerated fibers such as cellulose fibers obtained by solvent spinning methods (such as Lenzing Glyocell (registered trademark) and Tencel (registered trademark)), cellulose fibers obtained by melt spinning methods, and semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate fibers. can be mentioned. Cellulosic fibers, especially when producing nonwoven fabrics by an entangling process using a high-pressure fluid stream, produce clear patterns because the fibers tend to intertwine with each other and the entangled state is well maintained even after the entangling process. is easily formed into a nonwoven fabric. In addition, since the fibers intertwine well with each other, fluffing of the nonwoven fabric is suppressed.

The fineness of the fibers is not particularly limited, and is selected depending on the use of the nonwoven fabric. The fineness of the fiber may be, for example, 0.3 dtex or more and 10 dtex or less, particularly 0.5 dtex or more and 5.0 dtex or less, more particularly 0.7 dtex or more and 4.0 dtex or less, and even more. In particular, it may be 1.0 dtex or more and 3.0 dtex or less, and even more particularly 1.3 dtex or more and 2.5 dtex or less. When the fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric are natural fibers such as cotton, it may be difficult to use fibers with a specific fineness range, and in that case, fibers of various finenesses may be included. If the fineness of the fibers is too small, the fibers may become tangled in the support when a nonwoven fabric is produced by an entangling process using a high-pressure fluid stream, or the support may become clogged with the fibers. If the fineness of the fiber is too large, the pattern may become unclear.

The fiber length of the fibers is also not limited, and is selected depending on the manufacturing conditions of the nonwoven fabric. The fiber length of the fiber is, for example, 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less. If the fiber length is outside this range, it may be difficult to produce a fibrous web using, for example, a carding machine. In addition, for nonwoven fabrics with low basis weight, if the fiber length exceeds 100 mm, the number of fibers that make up the nonwoven fabric will decrease, so the texture of the nonwoven fabric may not be stable, or the necessary strength of the nonwoven fabric may not be obtained. There is. Furthermore, if the fiber length is too small, the strength of the nonwoven fabric may decrease, and if the fiber length is too large, the pattern may not be clear. The fiber length is more preferably 25 mm or more and 90 mm or less, even more preferably 32 mm or more and 70 mm or less, particularly preferably 38 mm or more and 65 mm or less. Alternatively, when the nonwoven fabric is produced by a method that includes producing a fibrous web by an airlay method or a wet papermaking method, the fiber length may be, for example, 2 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

[Form of nonwoven fabric]
The nonwoven fabric may have a single layer structure or a laminated structure. Further, the nonwoven fabric is formed from a web selected from carded webs such as parallel webs, cross webs, semi-random webs, and random webs, air-lay webs, wet papermaking webs, melt-blown webs, spunbond webs, etc. good. When cellulosic fibers are used as all or part of the constituent fibers, a web selected from carded webs, air-laid webs, and wet papermaking webs may be produced. When producing a nonwoven fabric using these fibrous webs containing cellulose fibers, especially by an entanglement process using a high-pressure fluid stream, the fibers tend to become entangled with each other, and the entangled state remains good even after the entanglement process. Provides a non-woven fabric that is retained. This makes it easy to form a clear pattern on the nonwoven fabric, and the fibers are well intertwined with each other, thereby suppressing fuzzing of the nonwoven fabric.

Furthermore, the mechanical strength of the nonwoven fabric can be improved by forming the nonwoven fabric into a laminated structure including an air-laid web, a wet papermaking web, a melt-blown web, or a spunbond web.

[Physical properties of nonwoven fabric]
Hereinafter, the physical properties of the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment will be exemplified. Since the physical properties of the nonwoven fabric change depending on the fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric, the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric, and the manufacturing conditions of the nonwoven fabric, it should be noted that the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is not limited to those having the following physical properties.

The thickness of the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment (at a load of 294 Pa) may be, for example, 0.50 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, particularly 0.55 mm or more and 0.90 mm or less, and more particularly 0.60 mm or more and 0.80 mm. It may be the following.

The basis weight of the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected depending on the application and the like. For example, when the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is used as a wiper, its basis weight may be 30 g/m ² or more and 80 g/m ² or less, particularly 35 g/m ² to 75 g/m ² , and more particularly 40 g/m 2 /m ² to 70 g/m ² . Alternatively, when the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment is used as a sanitary product (for example, a surface material for an absorbent article), its basis weight may be 20 g/m ² to 70 g/m ² , particularly 25 g/m ² to 65 g/m 2 ² , more particularly from 30 g/m ² to 60 g/m ² . Although it depends on the type of fibers used and the structure of the fiber web, the larger the basis weight, the larger the openings in these regions when a third region or a third region and a fourth region are formed in the second intertwined portion. is less likely to be formed, and recesses tend to be more likely to be formed. If the basis weight is too large, the pattern may be formed only on one side, and the effect of the pattern may be produced only on one side. If the basis weight is too small, a clear pattern will not be formed and the effect of the pattern may not be achieved.

(Embodiment 3: Application of the nonwoven fabric of Embodiment 2)
As Embodiment 3, a product using the nonwoven fabric of Embodiment 2 will be described.
The nonwoven fabric of Embodiment 2 may be used as a wiper alone or together with other nonwoven fabrics or sheet materials. Even if this nonwoven fabric is placed on a dirty object and rubbed against the object by moving it back and forth in the direction in which the first and second regions are repeatedly formed, it will not easily sway and will remove the dirt on the object. , the unevenness and openings forming the pattern of the first region and the second region of the second intertwined portion can be effectively wiped off.

Here, the wiper includes a wiper for personal use and a wiper for objective use. Wipers for personal use include wipers for wiping dirt from human skin, wipers for wiping dirt from teeth, and wipers for wiping dirt from scalp and hair.
The objective wiper may be used for wiping floors, kitchens, toilets, bathtubs, furniture, vehicles, walls, screen doors, window glass, and the like. Wipers for personnel and objects may be provided, for example, in a state in which 100 parts by mass of the nonwoven fabric is impregnated with water or an aqueous solution containing a cleaning component in an amount of 100 parts by mass or more and 1000 parts by mass or less. .

Alternatively, the nonwoven fabric of the present embodiment may be used for sanitary products such as sanitary napkins, baby diapers, and adult diapers. As described above, the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment has unique water absorption characteristics, and absorbed liquid is difficult to diffuse in the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment may be used as a member, particularly a surface material, of sanitary products that requires suppression of the spread of blood and excrement. Alternatively, the nonwoven fabric of this embodiment may be used for wet towels, face masks, sanitary masks, filters, poultices, and the like.

This embodiment will be described below using examples.
The following fibers were prepared for use in Examples and Comparative Examples.
Rayon (cellulose fiber): Viscose rayon fiber (Corona CD (trade name) manufactured by Daiwabo Rayon Co., Ltd.) with a fineness of 1.7 dtex and a fiber length of 40 mm.
PP/PE: The core is polypropylene, the sheath is high-density polyethylene (melting point: approximately 133°C), the composite ratio (core:sheath) is 37:63 (volume ratio), the fineness is 1.7 dtex, and the fiber length is 51 mm. Concentric core-sheath type composite fiber (NBF(H) (trade name) manufactured by Daiwabo Co., Ltd.).

The pattern-forming supports used in the pattern-forming entangling treatment in producing the nonwoven fabrics of Examples and Comparative Examples are shown below.
Pattern-forming support 1: The support 1 is a fabric in which the weave A is a 1/7 twill weave, the weave B is a plain weave, and the weave A and the weave B are alternately arranged in the MD direction. Got ready. In the support 1, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and a rectangular dimension circumscribing the cross section having a long side of 0.88 mm and a short side of 0.57 mm is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is a polyester monofilament with a diameter of 0.88 mm. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 1, the warp density was 30 threads/inch, the weft density was 25 threads/inch, the dimension of woven structure A in the MD direction was 15 mm, and the dimension of woven structure B in the MD direction was 8 mm. In support 1, the surface of texture A was located 1.5 mm higher than the surface of texture B.
Pattern-forming support 2: Weave texture A is a 1/3 collapsed twill weave (collapsed twill/warp 4 strands in 1 weave), weave texture B is a plain weave, and weave texture A and weave texture B are oriented in the MD direction. Fabrics arranged alternately were prepared as support 2. In the support 2, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and a rectangular dimension circumscribing the cross section having a long side of 0.88 mm and a short side of 0.57 mm is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is a polyester monofilament with a diameter of 0.88 mm. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 1, the warp density was 30 threads/inch, the weft density was 17 threads/inch, the dimension of woven structure A in the MD direction was 15 mm, and the dimension of woven structure B in the MD direction was 8 mm. In support 2, the surface of texture A was located 1.0 mm higher than the surface of texture B.
Pattern-forming support 3: The support 3 is a fabric in which the weave A is a 2/2 twill weave, the weave B is a plain weave, and the weave A and the weave B are alternately arranged in the MD direction. Got ready. In the support 3, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and a rectangular dimension circumscribing the cross section having a long side of 0.88 mm and a short side of 0.57 mm is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is a polyester monofilament with a diameter of 0.88 mm. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 1, the warp density was 30 threads/inch, the weft density was 17 threads/inch, the dimension of woven structure A in the MD direction was 20 mm, and the dimension of woven structure B in the MD direction was 10 mm. In support 3, the surface of texture A was located 0.8 mm higher than the surface of texture B.

Pattern-forming support 4: The support 4 is a fabric in which the weave A is a 1/7 twill weave, the weave B is a plain weave, and the weave A and the weave B are alternately arranged in the MD direction. Got ready. In the support 4, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and a rectangle circumscribing the cross section with dimensions of 0.88 mm on the long side and 0.57 mm on the short side is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is 0.5 mm in diameter. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 4, the warp density was 30 threads/inch, the weft density was 25 threads/inch, the dimension of woven structure A in the MD direction was 15 mm, and the dimension of woven structure B in the MD direction was 20 mm. In support 4, the surface of texture A was located 1.6 mm higher than the surface of texture B.
Pattern-forming support 5: The support 5 is a fabric in which the weave A is a 2/2 twill weave, the weave B is a plain weave, and the weave A and the weave B are alternately arranged in the MD direction. Got ready. In the support 5, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and the dimensions of the rectangle circumscribing the cross section having a long side of 0.88 mm and a short side of 0.57 mm is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is a polyester monofilament with a diameter of 0.88 mm. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 5, the density of warp yarns was 30 threads/inch, the density of weft yarns was 17 threads/inch, the dimension of texture A in the MD direction was 6 mm, and the dimension of texture B in the MD direction was 6 mm. In support 5, the surface of texture A was located 0.6 mm higher than the surface of texture B.
Pattern-forming support 6: The support 6 is a fabric in which the weave A is a 2/2 twill weave, the weave B is a plain weave, and the weave A and the weave B are alternately arranged in the MD direction. Got ready. In the support 6, a polyester monofilament having a rectangular cross section with rounded corners and a rectangle circumscribing the cross section with dimensions of 0.88 mm on the long side and 0.57 mm on the short side is arranged as the warp, and the weft a is 0.5 mm in diameter. A 9 mm polyester monofilament and a 0.45 mm diameter polyester monofilament were used as the weft b. In support 6, the warp density was 30 threads/inch, the weft density was 17 threads/inch, the dimension of woven structure A in the MD direction was 10 mm, and the dimension of woven structure B in the MD direction was 10 mm. In support 6, the surface of texture A was located 0.45 mm higher than the surface of texture B.

(Example 1)
A fibrous web was produced by mixing 80% by mass of rayon and 20% by mass of PP/PE and using a parallel card machine. The basis weight of this fibrous web was approximately 40 g/m ² .
[Overall confounding process]
The above-mentioned fibrous web was placed on a plain weave net having a warp diameter of 0.132 mm, a weft diameter of 0.132 mm, and a mesh count of 90 meshes. While the fibrous web was traveling at a speed of 4 m/min, a columnar water stream with a water pressure of 1.0 MPa was injected onto the surface of the fibrous web, and then a columnar water stream with a water pressure of 1.5 MPa was injected onto the back side of the fibrous web. A nozzle in which orifices with a hole diameter of 0.12 mm were provided at intervals of 0.6 mm was used for jetting the water stream. The distance between the surface of the fibrous web and the orifice was 15 mm.

[Pattern formation entangling process]
The fibrous web subjected to the entire entanglement treatment was placed on the pattern forming support 1, and while the fibrous web was traveling at a speed of 4 m/min, a columnar water stream with a water pressure of 1.5 MPa was injected onto the back surface of the fibrous web. In the pattern-forming entanglement process, a second entangled portion was formed using a nozzle in which some orifices among the plurality of orifices were closed and orifices were provided at predetermined intervals. Specifically, a nozzle in which orifices with a hole diameter of 0.12 mm were provided at intervals of 0.6 mm was used, with the orifices of the nozzle partially blocked so that first entangled portions with a width of 10 mm were formed every 20 mm. . During the hydroentangling process, the nozzle was not vibrated and the distance between the nozzle and the web was 15 mm. The same nozzle used in the overall entanglement process was used to spray the water stream.

By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to third regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 3, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. Furthermore, a third region consisting of a plurality of openings formed along the Y direction was formed between the first region and the second region.

[Heat treatment]
The nonwoven fabric after the pattern forming and entangling treatment was heated at 135°C for about 5 seconds using a hot air penetration type heat treatment machine to carry out the drying treatment, and at the same time, the fibers were thermally bonded together using the PP/PE sheath component. A nonwoven fabric of No. 1 was obtained.
The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 2)
A nonwoven fabric of Example 2 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that pattern-forming support 2 was used in the pattern-forming entangling process.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to third regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 4, was obtained. In the second intertwined part, each area extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the first area is a pattern area in which openings are irregularly formed, and the second area is a pattern area where openings are irregularly formed. Pattern portions in which openings were arranged in a staggered manner were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. Furthermore, a third region consisting of a plurality of openings formed along the Y direction was formed between the first region and the second region. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 3)
A nonwoven fabric of Example 3 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming support 3 was used in the pattern-forming entangling process.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 6, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 4)
A nonwoven fabric of Example 4 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming support 4 was used in the pattern-forming entangling process.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to third regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 11, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. Furthermore, a third region consisting of a plurality of openings formed along the Y direction was formed between the first region and the second region. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 5)
A nonwoven fabric of Example 5 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming support 5 was used in the pattern-forming entangling process.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 12, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 6)
A nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming support 6 was used in the pattern-forming entangling process.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 13, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 1.

(Example 7)
In the pattern forming entangling process, first intertwined parts with a width of 6 mm are formed every 6 mm (that is, the second intertwined parts with a width of 6 mm and the first intertwined parts with a width of 6 mm are formed in a striped pattern). , adopted in the production of Example 1, except that a nozzle in which some orifices among the plurality of orifices were blocked and orifice groups were provided at predetermined intervals, and that the pattern forming support 6 was used. The nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the procedure.
By the pattern-forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 14, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 2.

(Example 8)
In the pattern forming entangling process, the first intertwined parts each having a width of 10 mm are formed every 10 mm (that is, the second intertwined parts each having a width of 10 mm and the first intertwined parts each having a width of 10 mm are formed in a striped pattern). , adopted in the production of Example 1, except that a nozzle in which some orifices among the plurality of orifices were blocked and orifice groups were provided at predetermined intervals, and that the pattern forming support 6 was used. The nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the procedure.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 15, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 2.

(Example 9)
In the pattern forming entangling process, the first intertwined parts each having a width of 20 mm are formed every 10 mm (that is, the second intertwined parts having a width of 10 mm and the first intertwined parts having a width of 20 mm are formed in a striped pattern). , adopted in the production of Example 1, except that a nozzle in which some orifices among the plurality of orifices were blocked and orifice groups were provided at predetermined intervals, and that the pattern forming support 6 was used. The nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the procedure.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 16, was obtained. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. The dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, and the configuration of the opening or recess formed in each region are as shown in Table 2.

(Example 10)
In the pattern forming entangling process, (i) first intertwined parts with a width of 10 mm are formed every 10 mm (that is, the second intertwined parts with a width of 10 mm and the first intertwined parts with a width of 10 mm are formed in a striped shape). (ii) This nozzle was used along the lateral direction of the web with an amplitude of 80 mm. The nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the nonwoven fabric was vibrated at a vibration speed of 4 m/min, and (iii) pattern-forming support 6 was used.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 17, was obtained. The first intertwined part and the second intertwined part were meandering. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. Table 2 shows the dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, as well as the configuration of the openings or recesses formed in each region.

(Example 11)
In the pattern forming entangling process, a nozzle in which a group of orifices is provided at a predetermined interval by blocking some of the plurality of orifices is vibrated along the lateral direction of the web at an amplitude of 80 mm and a vibration speed of 4 m/min. A nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming support 6 was used.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 18, was obtained. The first intertwined part and the second intertwined part were meandering. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. Table 2 shows the dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, as well as the configuration of the openings or recesses formed in each region.

(Example 12)
In the pattern forming entangling process, a nozzle in which a group of orifices is provided at a predetermined interval by blocking some of the plurality of orifices is vibrated along the lateral direction of the web at an amplitude of 80 mm and a vibration speed of 4 m/min. The nonwoven fabric of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern-forming entangling treatment was performed, and the pattern-forming support 2 was used.
By the pattern forming entangling process, a nonwoven fabric having a first intertwined part and a second intertwined part in which the first to fourth regions were formed, as shown in FIG. 18, was obtained. The first intertwined part and the second intertwined part were meandering. In the second intertwined portion, each region extends along the CD direction (that is, the CD direction is the Y direction), and the diagonal line pattern portion is the first region and the openings are arranged in a staggered manner as the second region. The pattern portions were alternately and repeatedly present in the MD direction (X direction), forming a striped pattern. A third region and a fourth region were formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region. In the first region, diagonal lines S1 with openings and diagonal lines S2 without openings were repeatedly and alternately formed. Table 2 shows the dimensions of each intertwined portion and each region of the obtained nonwoven fabric, as well as the configuration of the openings or recesses formed in each region.

(Comparative example 1)
A nonwoven fabric of Comparative Example 1 was obtained in the same manner as in the production of Example 1, except that the pattern forming and entangling treatment was not performed. This nonwoven fabric had no pattern throughout.

(Comparative example 2)
In the pattern forming entangling process, a fibrous web was placed on a support having the following configuration, and while the fibrous web was traveling at a speed of 4 m/min, the nozzle used in the overall entangling process of Example 1 was used, A nonwoven fabric was obtained by spraying a columnar water stream with a water pressure of 1.5 MPa onto the fiber web. The obtained nonwoven fabric had a lattice pattern in which unpatterned entangled portions each having a width of about 10 mm were arranged vertically and horizontally to form a lattice, and the regions between the lattices had a herringbone pattern. In the areas between the grids (approximately square areas), only one type of pattern was formed, and two or more areas having different patterns were not formed.
Structure of the support used: Polyester monofilaments with a diameter of 0.66 mm are arranged in the warp, polyester monofilaments with a diameter of 0.89 mm are arranged in the weft, the warp density is 41 threads/inch, and the weft density is 15 threads/inch. A polyethylene resin sheet (thickness 1 mm) in which holes with an area of 2 cm in the vertical direction x 2 cm in the horizontal direction are arranged in a lattice pattern with a spacing of 1 cm between adjacent holes on a 2/1 herringbone woven fabric (1 mm thick). pasted.

The average diameter and area of the openings or recesses and the distances between the openings and between the recesses in the above examples were measured by the following method.
[Average diameter of opening, etc.]
The nonwoven fabric was pasted on black paper or a sheet, and in that state, an image of the nonwoven fabric surface was captured using the scan function of a copy machine (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., DocuCentre-VII C4473 (trade name)). The scanning conditions were set to color mode: full color, resolution: 600 dpi, and image quality: highest image quality.
Image analysis of the scanned images was performed using image processing software "Image J." The black portion in the scanned image was regarded as the opening, and its average diameter, area, etc. were determined.

[Average diameter of recess, etc.]
Fill in the recesses formed in the nonwoven fabric with a black marker, paste it on black paper or a sheet, and then capture the scanned image using the same method as measuring the average diameter of the openings above. The parts displayed in black were regarded as recesses, and their average diameter, area, etc. were determined. In addition, if the nonwoven fabric has openings as well as recesses, the black part visible through the openings will be binarized in the same way as the recesses, so the average diameter, etc. thereof should also be measured. I can do it.

A wiping test was conducted on each of the nonwoven fabrics of Examples 1 to 3, 8, 11, and 12 according to the following procedure. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

<Wipe test>
Spread approximately 1 g of miso evenly on a transparent acrylic board (thickness 3 mm, product number: KAC9143-1S, manufactured by Hikari Co., Ltd.) as a pseudo stain over a 6 cm x 1.5 cm area approximately in the center of the acrylic board. The combined mass (m1) of the board and miso was determined in advance. Furthermore, the mass of the pseudo stain was determined from the difference between the mass (m0) of the acrylic board and m1 determined in advance.

A sample of pseudo-stain applied to an acrylic plate, a non-woven fabric measuring 10 cm in the MD direction and 6 cm in the CD direction (100 parts by mass of the non-woven fabric is impregnated with 300 parts by mass of distilled water), was placed in a plate-shaped jig (wiping area 6 cm x 6 cm). ) and move it once in the specified direction at a speed of 10 mm/sec and a moving distance of 100 mm while applying a pressure of 81 Pa to the jig, find the mass (m2) of the acrylic plate after wiping, and calculate m1 and m2. The difference was taken as the mass of the pseudo stain that was wiped off, and the wiping rate of the pseudo stain (the ratio of the mass of the pseudo stain wiped off to the mass of the pseudo stain spread on the acrylic board) was determined from the mass. For wiping, the sample was moved in the MD direction and the direction parallel to the CD of the nonwoven fabric, and the difference in wiping rate depending on the wiping direction was also examined. Three samples were prepared for each sample, and the average value was calculated to evaluate the wiping performance of each sample.

All of the nonwoven fabrics of Examples had higher wiping rates in the MD direction than Comparative Example 1. This is because in all of the nonwoven fabrics of the examples, strips with different patterns are regularly arranged in the MD direction, the fiber web used is a parallel web, and the main orientation direction of the fibers is in the MD direction. This is thought to be due to the fact that elongation is difficult to occur in this direction. In other words, even when the nonwoven fabric is moved in the MD direction, it is difficult to cause twisting, and the striped or patterned pattern including the third area retains the dirt that has hit the nonwoven fabric through its openings, etc. it is conceivable that. The nonwoven fabrics of Examples 1 to 3 also had a smaller difference in wiping rate due to the difference in wiping direction than the nonwoven fabric of Comparative Example 1.

The nonwoven fabric of the example also had a higher wiping rate in the CD direction than Comparative Example 2 which had a lattice pattern. This is considered to be because the presence of three or more regions with different patterns, that is, regions with different intertwined states of fibers, improved the dirt removal efficiency.

This embodiment includes the following aspects.
(Aspect 1)
A nonwoven fabric in which first intertwined parts and second intertwined parts are arranged in a striped pattern,
The second entangled portion includes at least a first region and a second region,
In plan view, when the direction in which the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend continuously is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction, the first region and the second region are repeatedly arranged alternately in the X direction,
the first entangled portion, the first region and the second region have different patterns;
Non-woven fabric.
(Aspect 2)
The nonwoven fabric according to aspect 1, wherein the first entangled portion has no pattern, and the first region and the second region have a pattern formed of a high-density region and a low-density region.
(Aspect 3)
The nonwoven fabric according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein both the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend linearly in a plan view.
(Aspect 4)
The nonwoven fabric according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein both the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part meander in a plan view.
(Aspect 5)
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the first entangled portion has a dimension of 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less in the Y direction.
(Aspect 6)
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the dimension of the second entangled portion in the Y direction is 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less.
(Aspect 7)
The second entangled portion further includes a third region,
At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in a row in the Y direction are formed in the third region,
In plan view, the third region has a dimension of 9 mm or less in the X direction,
In plan view, the first to third regions are repeatedly formed in the order of the first region, the third region, and the second region in the X direction,
the first region, the second region and the third region have different patterns;
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 1 to 6.
(Aspect 8)
The area M3 of each opening or recess formed in the third region is the same as the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the first region and the area M3 of each opening or recess formed in the second region. larger than the area M2 of each opening or recess,
Nonwoven fabric according to aspect 7.
(Aspect 9)
The second entangled portion further includes a fourth region,
At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in a row in the Y direction are formed in the fourth region,
In plan view, the fourth region has a dimension of 9 mm or less in the X direction,
In plan view, the first to fourth regions are repeatedly formed in the order of the first region, the third region, the second region, and the fourth region in the X direction,
The fourth area has a pattern different from the first area and the second area,
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 1 to 8.
(Aspect 10)
The area M4 of each opening or recess formed in the fourth region is the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the first region and the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the second region. The nonwoven fabric according to aspect 9, wherein the area M2 per opening or recess is larger than any one of the openings or recesses.
(Aspect 11)
producing a fibrous web;
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising placing the fibrous web on a support and subjecting the fibrous web to an entangling treatment using a high-pressure fluid flow,
The support has at least two types of textures A and B,
In the support, the woven structure A and the woven structure B are belt-shaped parts extending along the direction in which the weft threads thereof extend, and the woven structure A and the woven structure B are regular in the direction in which the warp threads extend. are repeatedly formed,
The entangling treatment of the fibrous web placed on the support with a high-pressure fluid stream includes jetting a high-pressure fluid stream onto the fibrous web from two or more consecutive orifices of a nozzle along the direction in which the wefts of the support extend. carried out by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream such that the fibrous web has alternating portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is injected and portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is not injected onto the fibrous web;
Method of manufacturing nonwoven fabric.
(Aspect 12)
The entanglement process by the high-pressure fluid flow
(i) by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream from a nozzle having one or more orifices spaced at predetermined intervals; or (ii) by ejecting a stream of high-pressure fluid from a nozzle having one or more orifices arranged at predetermined intervals; A member arranged in a line along the fiber web and impermeable to high pressure fluid except through the holes is arranged between the fibrous web and the nozzle, and a stream of high pressure fluid is injected from the nozzle.
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to aspect 11.
(Aspect 13)
In the support,
The diameters of the weft a forming the woven structure A and the weft b forming the woven structure B are different, and at the boundary between the woven structure A and the woven structure B, the weft a and the weft b are next to each other,
The surface of the woven structure A is at a position higher than the surface of the woven structure B by 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less,
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to aspect 11 or 12.
(Aspect 14)
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 11 to 13, wherein the woven structure A is a weft twill structure in which the floating number of the weft is 2 or more and the floating number of the warp is 1, and the woven structure B is a plain weave. manufacturing method.
(Aspect 15)
In the support, a knuckle N1 is formed, which is a portion where the warp constituting the support floats above three or more consecutive wefts, including the weft a and the weft b.
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 11 to 14.
(Aspect 16)
In the support, at the boundary with the weave B on the side opposite to the side where the knuckle N1 is formed, when viewed from the weave A, the warp constituting the support meets the weft a. and a knuckle N2 floating above two or more continuous wefts including the weft b is formed, and adjacent to either side of the knuckle N2, the warp is above two or more continuous wefts. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to any one of aspects 11 to 15, in which a floating knuckle N3 is formed.
(Aspect 17)
The weave structure A is a twill weave structure in which the floating number of the weft yarns is 2 or more and 16 or less, and the floating number of the warp yarns is 2 or more and 16 or less, the woven structure B is a plain weave structure, and the diameter of the weft yarn a is the same as that of the weft yarns. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to aspect 16, wherein the nonwoven fabric has a diameter larger than the diameter of b.

The nonwoven fabric of the present disclosure is a nonwoven fabric that has a novel design that has never existed before. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric of the present disclosure is suitable for use as sanitary products such as wipers, sanitary napkins, disposable infant diapers, and adult disposable diapers, wet towels, face masks, sanitary masks, filters, poultices, and the like. The nonwoven fabric of the present disclosure can be provided in which two or more regions are repeatedly and regularly arranged in the MD direction of the nonwoven fabric in the second intertwined portion. In that case, even if the nonwoven fabric is moved back and forth in the MD direction of the nonwoven fabric on the surface of the object, twisting is unlikely to occur, making the nonwoven fabric particularly suitable for use as a wiper.

Claims (17)

A nonwoven fabric in which first intertwined parts and second intertwined parts are arranged in a striped pattern,
The second entangled portion includes at least a first region and a second region,
In plan view, when the direction in which the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend continuously is the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction, the first region and the second region are repeatedly arranged alternately in the X direction,
the first entangled portion, the first region and the second region have different patterns;
Non-woven fabric. The nonwoven fabric according to claim 1, wherein the first entangled portion has no pattern, and the first region and the second region have a pattern formed of a high density region and a low density region. The nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part extend linearly in plan view. The nonwoven fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the first intertwined part and the second intertwined part meander in a plan view. The nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first intertwined portion has a dimension in the Y direction of 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less. The nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the size of the second intertwined portion in the Y direction is 2 mm or more and 200 mm or less. The second entangled portion further includes a third region,
At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in a row in the Y direction are formed in the third region,
In plan view, the third region has a dimension of 9 mm or less in the X direction,
In plan view, the first to third regions are repeatedly formed in the order of the first region, the third region, and the second region in the X direction,
the first region, the second region and the third region have different patterns;
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The area M3 of each opening or recess formed in the third region is the same as the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the first region and the area M3 of each opening or recess formed in the second region. larger than the area M2 of each opening or recess,
The nonwoven fabric according to claim 7. The second entangled portion further includes a fourth region,
At least one or both of a plurality of openings and recesses arranged linearly in a row in the Y direction are formed in the fourth region,
In plan view, the fourth region has a dimension of 9 mm or less in the X direction,
In plan view, the first to fourth regions are repeatedly formed in the order of the first region, the third region, the second region, and the fourth region in the X direction,
The fourth area has a pattern different from the first area and the second area,
The nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The area M4 of each opening or recess formed in the fourth region is the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the first region and the area M1 of each opening or recess formed in the second region. larger than the area M2 of each opening or recess,
The nonwoven fabric according to claim 9. producing a fibrous web;
A method for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising placing the fibrous web on a support and subjecting the fibrous web to an entangling treatment using a high-pressure fluid flow,
The support has at least two types of textures A and B,
In the support, the woven structure A and the woven structure B are belt-shaped parts extending along the direction in which the weft threads thereof extend, and the woven structure A and the woven structure B are regular in the direction in which the warp threads extend. are repeatedly formed,
The entangling treatment of the fibrous web placed on the support with a high-pressure fluid stream includes jetting a high-pressure fluid stream onto the fibrous web from two or more consecutive orifices of a nozzle along the direction in which the wefts of the support extend. carried out by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream such that the fibrous web has alternating portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is injected and portions where the high-pressure fluid stream is not injected onto the fibrous web;
Method of manufacturing nonwoven fabric. The entanglement process by the high-pressure fluid flow
(i) by injecting a high-pressure fluid stream from a nozzle having one or more orifices spaced at predetermined intervals; or (ii) by ejecting a stream of high-pressure fluid from a nozzle having one or more orifices arranged at predetermined intervals; A member arranged in a line along the fiber web and impermeable to high pressure fluid except through the holes is arranged between the fibrous web and the nozzle, and a stream of high pressure fluid is injected from the nozzle.
The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to claim 11. In the support,
The diameters of the weft a forming the woven structure A and the weft b forming the woven structure B are different, and at the boundary between the woven structure A and the woven structure B, the weft a and the weft b are next to each other,
The surface of the woven structure A is at a position higher than the surface of the woven structure B by 0.1 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less,
The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to claim 11 or 12. Any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the weave structure A is a weft twill weave structure in which the number of floats of the weft yarns is 2 or more and the number of floats of the warp yarns is 1, and the weave structure B is a plain weave structure. The method for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric described in Section 1. In the support, a knuckle N1 is formed, which is a portion where the warp constituting the support floats above three or more consecutive wefts, including the weft a and the weft b.
The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 11 to 14. In the support, at the boundary with the weave B on the side opposite to the side where the knuckle N1 is formed, when viewed from the weave A, the warp constituting the support meets the weft a. and a knuckle N2 floating above two or more continuous wefts including the weft b is formed, and adjacent to either side of the knuckle N2, the warp is above two or more continuous wefts. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein a floating knuckle N3 is formed. The weave structure A is a twill weave structure in which the floating number of the weft yarns is 2 or more and 16 or less, and the floating number of the warp yarns is 2 or more and 16 or less, the woven structure B is a plain weave structure, and the diameter of the weft yarn a is the same as that of the weft yarns. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to claim 16, wherein the diameter is larger than the diameter of b.

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