JP3926042B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an absorbent article used as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad, a surgical pad, and the like, and more particularly, to an absorbent article having a three-dimensional shape and a method for manufacturing the same.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-121271, there is a method for manufacturing an absorbent body, in which the fitting and the absorbability of the mounting portion are improved by three-dimensionalizing a part of the absorbent body used as a sanitary napkin. It is disclosed.
[0003]
However, in the above manufacturing method, a certain amount of three-dimensional shape can be imparted, but it is difficult to give a further three-dimensional effect to the three-dimensional part. Moreover, in the said manufacturing method, since the sheet-like cotton-like belt | band | zone of the same width is piled up in 3 layers, the basic weight of a polymer increases.
[0004]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article with enhanced three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part formed on the absorbent article and improved fit and absorbency, and an efficient manufacturing method thereof. .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an absorbent article in which a liquid-retaining absorbent layer is interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet, wherein the absorbent layer includes a first pulp layer, a longitudinal direction, and a width. A polymer sheet layer having an outer dimension smaller than that of the second pulp layer is laminated at the central portion along the longitudinal direction of the vertically long pulp layer composed of a strip-shaped second pulp layer having a dimension smaller than that of the first pulp layer. Formed, an annular leak-proof groove surrounding the second pulp layer and the polymer sheet layer is formed from the top sheet side, and a three-dimensional part is formed inside the leak-proof groove , the first pulp layer, The second pulp layer and the polymer sheet layer achieve the above object by providing an absorbent article characterized by being laminated in this order from the top sheet side to the back sheet side . Is.
[0006]
Further, the present invention is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article, the strip on the mount, together with to stack first pulp layer of the strip, the width narrower than the first pulp layer on the first pulp layer After laminating the second pulp layer in a shape with a predetermined interval, a belt-like absorber is formed by laminating a polymer sheet layer having an outer dimension smaller than that of the second pulp layer on the second pulp layer, After cutting the outer shape of the strip-shaped absorbent body into a predetermined shape, a surface sheet is laminated on the mount of the absorbent body obtained by cutting, and pressing is performed from the surface sheet side to perform the second pulp layer and the After forming an annular leak-proof groove surrounding the polymer sheet layer and forming a three-dimensional portion inside the leak-proof groove, on the back surface of the absorber opposite to the surface on which the top sheet is laminated Absorbent material characterized by laminating back sheets By providing a method of manufacturing is obtained by achieving the above object.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an absorbent article (sanitary napkin) to which the present invention is applied and a method for producing the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 of the present embodiment has a liquid-retaining absorbent layer interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, It is formed by heat-sealing the outer periphery (shaded portion in the figure) of the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the absorbent layer is a polymer narrower than the two pulp layers 4 and 5 at the center in the width direction of the vertically long pulp layer comprising the first pulp layer 4 and the second pulp layer 5. The sheet layer 6 is formed by laminating. More specifically, the first pulp layer 4, the second pulp layer 5 and the polymer sheet layer 6 are laminated on the mount 7 in this order from the top sheet 2 side to the back sheet 3 side. In the absorbent article 1, the absorbent paper 8 is interposed between the back sheet 3 and the polymer sheet layer 6. In FIG. 2, the thicknesses of the top sheet 2, the mount 7, the absorbent paper 8, and the back sheet 3 are omitted, and the boundary lines of the first pulp layer 4 and the second pulp layer 5 are not shown.
[0010]
The said mount 7 is interposed between the surface sheet 2 and the 1st pulp layer 4 on manufacture by the manufacturing method mentioned later. For this reason, the mount 7 is made of a material that can absorb body fluid as required for the top sheet 2. For example, dry paper, wet paper, non-woven fabric and the like can be mentioned.
[0011]
The absorbent article 1 is pressed (embossed) from the top sheet 2 side to form an annular leak-proof groove 9 surrounding the second pulp layer 5 and the polymer sheet layer 6 and the leak-proof groove. A solid portion 10 is formed inside 9.
[0012]
The leak-proof groove 9 is for preventing body fluid from leaking from the three-dimensional part 10 to the outer peripheral part of the absorbent article 1, and is a surface sheet as a so-called trap groove having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a plane substantially elliptical shape. It is formed on the 2 side. Therefore, by forming such a leak-proof groove 9, it is possible to reliably prevent leakage of bodily fluids not only to the rear part that is likely to leak, but also to the front part and both side parts.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three-dimensional part 10 is formed as a protrusion having a substantially trapezoidal cross section inside the leak-proof groove 9 in order to improve the fit of the wearer and the absorbability of body fluid. .
The three-dimensional part 10 forms the first pulp layer 4 in a portion where a three-dimensional shape is formed as will be apparent from the manufacturing method described later, and is narrower than the first pulp layer 4 on the first pulp layer 4. After the strip-shaped second pulp layer 5 is laminated, the polymer sheet layer 6 having an outer dimension smaller than that of the second pulp layer 5 is laminated on the second pulp layer.
[0014]
In the present embodiment, the polymer sheet layer 6 is folded into at least two or more layers in order to increase the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part 10, and in FIG. The polymer sheet layer 6 is stacked in three. As a result, a volume is given by the folded polymer sheet layer 6 in addition to the two-stage stacked first pulp layer 4 and second pulp layer 5, and the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part 10 is further enhanced. Yes. Furthermore, the polymer basis weight of the sheet alone can be made rough by folding the polymer sheet layer 6 into two or more layers. When the basis weight of the polymer is roughened, gel blocking can be prevented, and as a result, the effect of ensuring the water absorption capacity can be obtained even if the total amount of the superabsorbent polymer is reduced.
[0015]
As the polymer sheet constituting the polymer sheet layer 6, fluff pulp and a sheet formed by mixing a superabsorbent polymer into a fiber and the like are used, and the superabsorbent polymer is mixed to form a sheet. As the sheet, either a sheet in which the superabsorbent polymer is dispersed in a layered form or a sheet in which the superabsorbent polymer is dispersed in a three-dimensional form can be used.
The superabsorbent polymer is preferably one that can absorb and retain a liquid 20 times or more of its own weight and can be gelled. Examples of such a superabsorbent polymer include starch, crosslinked carboxymethylated cellulose, polyacrylic acid and salts thereof ( Preferred are sodium salts) and polyacrylate graft polymers. The polyacrylic acid may be a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing maleic acid or the like with acrylic acid.
[0016]
Moreover, as a fiber used for the polymer sheet, various fibers conventionally used for an absorbent layer of an absorbent article such as a cellulose fiber, a regenerated cellulose fiber, a hydrophilic synthetic fiber, and a composite fiber should be used without particular limitation. Can do.
[0017]
As the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, and the first pulp layer 4 and the second pulp layer 5 constituting the absorbent layer, those usually used in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins can be used without any particular limitation. it can.
[0018]
According to the absorbent article 1 configured as described above, since the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part 10 can be further emphasized, the wearing feeling by the wearer is improved and the absorbability of body fluid can be increased.
[0019]
Next, a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the absorbent article 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus includes a pulp stacking section 13 for sequentially laminating a first pulp layer 4 and a second pulp layer 5 on a mount 7 fed out from a mount stock 12, and a second pulp layer 5. The polymer sheet supply unit 14 for laminating the strip-shaped polymer sheet layer 6 thereon, the absorbent paper supply unit 15 for supplying the absorbent paper 8, the mount folding unit 16 for folding the mount 7, and the belt-like absorbers as individual absorbers An absorbent body cutting portion 17 that cuts into the surface sheet, a surface sheet supply portion 18 that supplies the surface sheet 2, a surface sheet folding portion 19 that folds the surface sheet 2, and a molding portion 20 that forms the leak-proof groove 9 and the three-dimensional portion 10 The back sheet supply unit 21 that supplies the back sheet 3, the end seal unit 22 that seals the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, and the end cutter unit 23 that cuts the outer shape are provided.
[0020]
The pulp stacking section 13 is provided below the roller 27 after supplying the pulp 26 supplied between the pair of belt conveyors 24 and 25 to the peripheral surface of the roller 27 provided at the lower end thereof. It is configured so as to be supplied on the mount 7 supplied on the vacuum belt 51. A suction drum 29 for lamination is provided in the vicinity of the roller 27 and on the vacuum belt 51.
[0021]
In the pulp stacking section 13, the strip-shaped first pulp layer 4 is laminated on the mount 7, and then the second pulp having a strip shape that is narrower than the first pulp layer 4 on the first pulp layer 4. The layers 5 are laminated at a predetermined interval.
[0022]
The polymer sheet supply unit 14 is provided in front of the pulp stacking unit 13, and a pair of press rolls 32 and 33 that press the polymer sheet 31 fed out from the polymer sheet original fabric 30, and the pressed polymer sheet 31. A pair of cutters 34 and 35 for cutting the sheet into a strip shape, and a transfer roll 36 for transferring the cut strip-shaped polymer sheet layer 6 to the surface and then laminating the second pulp layer 5 on the surface.
[0023]
The absorber cutting part 17 cuts the belt-like absorber into a predetermined shape, and includes a cutter roll 39 having irregularities on the surface and an anvil roll 40 having a flat surface, and passes between both rolls 39, 40. The belt-like absorber is configured to be cut into a predetermined shape of each absorber.
[0024]
The surface sheet supply unit 18 is provided downstream of the absorber cutting unit 17, and supplies the surface sheet 2 fed from the surface sheet original fabric 41 to the surface sheet folding unit 19 via the guide roll 42. It is like that. In addition, both the surface sheet original fabric 41 and the guide roll 42 are arrange | positioned at the base_sheet | mounting_paper 7 side.
[0025]
The molding part 20 is for forming the leak-proof groove 9 and the three-dimensional part 10 by pressing, and is provided downstream of the top sheet folding part 19. The molding unit 20 includes a first roll 43 having a concave portion obtained by inverting the shape of the three-dimensional unit 10 and a flat second roll 44 having no irregularities, and the absorbent body is pressed by both the rolls 43 and 44. By doing so, the absorbent body is formed with an annular leak-proof groove 9 and a three-dimensional portion 10 inside the leak-proof groove 9. The both rolls 43 and 44 can be heated.
[0026]
The said back surface sheet supply part 21 is made to supply the back surface sheet 3 drawn | fed out from the back surface sheet original fabric 45 to the absorber after forming the leak-proof groove 9 with the contact | adherence roll 46. FIG.
[0027]
The end seal portion 22 seals the front sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 in the front and rear portions of the absorbent body. When the absorbent body passes between the pair of seal rolls 47 and 48, the front and rear portions of the absorbent body. The top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 are sealed.
[0028]
The end cutter part 23 cuts the end seal part to obtain a final product, and the absorbent article 1 as a final shape is obtained by passing between the pair of cutter rolls 49 and 50.
[0029]
Next, the manufacturing method of the absorbent article 1 using the said manufacturing apparatus is demonstrated.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the belt-like base paper 7 is continuously conveyed from the base paper 12 to the end cutter unit 23 which is the final process. And after laminating | stacking the strip | belt-shaped 1st pulp layer 4 made narrower than the width | variety of this mount 7 in the center of the said mount 7, by the said pulp pile fiber part 13, as shown to Fig.4 (a), A strip-shaped second pulp layer 5 narrower than the first pulp layer 4 is laminated on the first pulp layer 4 at a predetermined interval.
In addition, the top view shown to Fig.4 (a) is a figure of the state in the position shown by the arrow A in FIG.
[0030]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the polymer sheet supply unit 14 laminates a strip-shaped polymer sheet layer 6 having an outer dimension smaller than that of the second pulp layer 5 on the second pulp layer 5. By doing so, the band-shaped absorber 51 is formed.
In addition, the top view shown in FIG.4 (b) is a figure of the state in the position shown by the arrow B in FIG.
[0031]
Then, the absorbent paper supply unit 15 feeds the first pulp layer 4, the second pulp layer 5, and the polymer sheet layer 6 sequentially laminated on the mount 7 from the absorbent paper original fabric 37. The absorbent paper 8 is laminated by the contact roller 38. Next, the both sides in the longitudinal direction of the mount 7 are folded by the mount folding section 16. Subsequently, the strip-shaped absorbent body 52 is cut into a predetermined shape by the absorbent body cutting section 17 as shown in FIG.
In addition, the top view shown to Fig.5 (a) is a figure of the state in the position shown by the arrow C in FIG.
[0032]
Next, the topsheet 2 fed out from the topsheet supply unit 18 is laminated on the mount 7 of the absorbent body 53 obtained by cutting. At the time of this lamination, the both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the topsheet 2 are folded back by the topsheet folding portion 19 and both side edges of the absorber 53 are held. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the molding unit 20 performs pressing (embossing) from the top sheet side to surround the second pulp layer 5 and the polymer sheet layer 6 inside. The leakage groove 9 is formed, and the three-dimensional part 10 is formed inside the leakage prevention groove 9.
FIG. 5B is a diagram of a state at a position indicated by an arrow D in FIG. Moreover, in FIG. 5, in order to make the leak-proof groove 9 easy to see, it is shown by a solid line.
[0033]
Next, the back sheet 3 fed from the back sheet supply unit 21 is laminated on the back surface opposite to the surface on which the top sheet 2 is laminated by the contact roll 46. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 at the front and back portions of the absorber 52 are sealed by the end seal portion 22.
FIG. 5C is a diagram of a state at a position indicated by an arrow E in FIG.
[0034]
And finally, as shown in FIG.5 (d), the end cutter part 23 carries out external cutting of the end seal part, and the absorbent article 1 which is a final product is manufactured.
FIG. 5D is a diagram of the state at the position indicated by the arrow F in FIG.
[0035]
If the absorbent article 1 is manufactured through the above steps, the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part 10 can be improved, and the three-dimensional part 10 has a three-dimensional effect due to the formation of the leak-proof groove 9 around the three-dimensional part 10. A feeling can be raised further. Moreover, since the polymer sheet layer 6 folded on the part which forms the three-dimensional part 10 is laminated | stacked, the basic weight of the polymer in a sheet | seat single body can be made rough.
[0036]
As described above, the absorbent article to which the present invention is applied and the manufacturing method thereof are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pulp layer has two layers of the first and second pulp layers, but the pulp layer may be a single layer. Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the polymer sheet layer 6 was folded up, two layers may be sufficient and you may make it pile three or more layers as needed. The absorbent paper 8 can be omitted.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the three-dimensional effect of the three-dimensional part formed on the absorbent article is further emphasized, and the absorbent article having improved fit and absorbency, and its efficient A manufacturing method can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment.
2A and 2B show an absorbent article of the present embodiment, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view of the absorbent article, and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the absorbent article of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows a process of sequentially laminating a first pulp layer, a second pulp layer, and a polymer sheet layer on a mount, respectively. (A) is a narrow strip on the first pulp layer. The top view which shows the state which laminated | stacked the shape 2nd pulp layer, (b) is a top view which shows the state which laminated | stacked the polymer sheet layer with a smaller external dimension than this 2nd pulp layer on a 2nd pulp layer.
FIG. 5 shows the steps from the step of cutting the outer shape of the band-shaped absorbent body to form the absorbent body until the end cut to manufacture the absorbent article as the final product. A plan view showing a partially broken absorbent body formed by cutting, (b) is a plan view showing a state in which a leak-proof groove and a three-dimensional portion are formed after laminating a surface sheet on the absorbent body, (c) Is a plan view showing a state in which the front and rear of each absorbent article are end-sealed, and (d) is a plan view showing the absorbent article manufactured by end cutting.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Absorbent article 2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 1st pulp layer 5 2nd pulp layer 6 Polymer sheet layer 7 Mount 9 Leak-proof groove 10 Three-dimensional part 52 Band-shaped absorber 53 Absorber

Claims (3)

In an absorbent article having a liquid-retaining absorbent layer interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet,
The absorbent layer is in the center of the dimension of the first pulp layer and the longitudinal direction and the width direction along the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal pulp layer composed of a small strip of the second pulp layer than the first pulp layer, a second pulp It is formed by laminating a polymer sheet layer having a smaller outer dimension than the layer ,
Forming an annular leak-proof groove surrounding the second pulp layer and the polymer sheet layer from the surface sheet side, and forming a three-dimensional portion inside the leak-proof groove ,
The absorbent article , wherein the first pulp layer, the second pulp layer, and the polymer sheet layer are laminated in this order from the top sheet side to the back sheet side .   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the polymer sheet layer is folded into at least two layers. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 1,
After laminating a strip-shaped first pulp layer on the mount, and laminating a strip-shaped second pulp layer narrower than the first pulp layer at a predetermined interval on the first pulp layer, A band-shaped absorber is formed by laminating a polymer sheet layer having a smaller outer dimension than the second pulp layer on the second pulp layer, and the band-shaped absorber is cut into a predetermined shape and then cut. A surface sheet is laminated on the backing sheet of the obtained absorbent body, and pressing processing is performed from the surface sheet side to form an annular leakage-proof groove that surrounds the second pulp layer and the polymer sheet layer, and An absorbent article characterized in that, after forming a three-dimensional portion inside a leak-proof groove, a back sheet is laminated on the back surface of the absorbent body opposite to the surface on which the top sheet is laminated. Production method.

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