JP5297784B2 - Method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing absorbent articles stably forming grooves without giving inadvertent damage or exfoliation to an absorber member by dispensing with cooling due to radiation from projections formed on the peripheral face of a pattern roll, especially projections relatively increasing the height with respect to the bases of deep recesses adjoining thereto. <P>SOLUTION: When the absorber member formed by having a surface sheet and an absorber is pressurized from the surface sheet side by the projections provided on the peripheral face of the pattern roll to form the recesses corresponding to the projections, this method of manufacturing the absorbent articles, each of which has the absorber member formed with the recesses, includes wholly heating the pattern roll, locally retaining the projections to a high temperature with respect to the peripheral section by a high-temperature retaining means of the pattern roll and forming the recesses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin.

  In general, an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin or panty liner is coated with a top sheet and a back sheet after covering the upper and lower surfaces of an absorbent body mixed with pulp fibers and a water-absorbing polymer, and then cut into a predetermined length. Manufactured. Recently, in order to prevent liquid leakage during use and to maintain the shape of the absorber, embossing may be applied from the surface sheet side that is the skin contact surface of the absorbent article. Is pressed into a groove shape by a pattern roll having a predetermined pattern of protrusions on the peripheral surface.

  With respect to this groove formation, various measures have been conventionally taken in order to prevent the topsheet from being cut or lifted during embossing. For example, longitudinal (longitudinal) direction embossing and lateral (width) direction embossing are formed on the absorbent body surface, and high pressure parts and low pressure parts are alternately arranged in each embossing, and the width direction transverse line and the high pressure part A technique for adjusting the total value of contact lengths (contact line length) is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, the difference between the contact line lengths in the vertical direction embossing and the width direction embossing is regulated within a certain range so that the pressure difference in each embossed portion is reduced, and the topsheet is torn. And lifting from the absorber.

Moreover, what formed the pressurization roll (pattern roll) so that it may have the high pressing part used as a bottom part and the low pressing part used as a groove wall part in an emboss is disclosed (refer patent document 2). Thereby, it is supposed that the compression depth becomes gentle at the local area where the pressing by the pressure roll is started, the shearing force generated in the surface sheet is reduced, and the surface sheet can be prevented from being cut.
Moreover, about the pattern roll for heat sealing of fiber sheets, such as a cleaning sheet, what provided the elastic heat insulating material in the roll peripheral surface adjacent to the convex part of a roll peripheral part is disclosed (patent document 3). reference). According to this, when the fiber sheet is pressed by the roll, the heat in the fiber sheet is pushed out to the outside by the heat insulating material of the roll to increase the heat transfer efficiency in the fiber sheet, and the heat seal that improves the fusion property of the seal portion It is supposed to be possible.

JP 2003-265519 A JP 2000-14701 A JP 2003-268663 A

  An object of the present invention is to form a concave portion efficiently and reliably when forming a concave portion in an absorbent member having a top sheet and an absorbent body by embossing or the like, and peeling the top sheet. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article capable of preventing quality damage and realizing high quality and stable production.

  In the present invention, the convex portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll presses the absorbent member having the topsheet and the absorber from the topsheet side to form a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion. In this case, the pattern roll is heated as a whole, and the convex member is locally maintained at a higher temperature with respect to the peripheral portion by the high temperature maintaining means of the pattern roll, thereby forming the concave portion. The manufacturing method of the absorbent article which comprises this is provided.

  According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, when forming a recess in an absorbent member having a topsheet and an absorber by embossing or the like, the recess is formed efficiently and reliably, and due to insufficient compression or the like. Absorbent articles can be produced with high quality and stability without causing peeling of the surface sheet or inadvertent damage.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a sanitary napkin 10 as an embodiment of an absorbent article manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention as viewed from the skin contact surface side. The sanitary napkin 10 has a rectangular absorbent body 6 between the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 1 as a whole in plan view. And the middle-high part 10a, 10b which divided into two in the longitudinal direction of the napkin and protruded to the wearer's skin surface side is formed. The raised shapes of the middle and high portions 10a and 10b are mainly created by the shape of the absorber 6 inside. Specifically, the lower layer absorbent body 6a is widely laid on the back sheet side so as to cover almost the entire area of the napkin 10, and the upper layer absorbent bodies 6b and 6c smaller than the lower layer absorbent body 6a are placed on the upper surface sheet side, so 10a and 10b have a raised shape. Each of the lower layer absorbent body 6a and the upper layer absorbent bodies 6b and 6c is formed as an independent member in which a pulp fiber is surrounded by a fiber sheet. It is assembled to become.

  The sanitary napkin 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a side sheet 3 having a rubber thread 7 inside a three-dimensional gather G that rises on the skin surface side of the wearer on both sides in the longitudinal direction. Here, the surface sheet 1 side becomes a surface in contact with the wearer's skin, and the back surface sheet 2 side becomes a surface in contact with the underwear. The sanitary napkin is worn with the front of the article F on the abdomen and the rear of the article R on the back, and is applied to the skin surface from the wearer's excretory part to the buttocks. On both sides of the front position of the sanitary napkin 10, there are provided side wings Sw formed by projecting the back sheet 2 and the side sheets 3 sideways in an ear shape. An adhesive is applied to the non-skin contact surface side (the side opposite to the top sheet side) of the back sheet 2 including the side wings Sw. When wearing, the side wing part Sw is folded so as to sandwich the crotch part of the underwear, and the back sheet of the napkin is adhered and fixed to both surfaces of the crotch part of the underwear. By using the sanitary napkin having such a structure and a wearing form, the underwear can be surely worn, and underwear dirt can be effectively prevented even when some liquid leaks.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sanitary napkin 10 of the present embodiment has a concave portion 5 formed on the skin contact surface thereof, and the concave portions are formed in a central groove portion 5 a, a front groove portion 5 e, 1 groove part 5b, the back 2nd groove part 5d, and the side groove part 5c are comprised. The central groove 5a has an arc shape extending in the article width direction in a plan view between the front middle high portion 10a and the rear middle high portion 10b, and has a shape in which the center projects to the rear R. The central groove portion 5a is arranged so as to be continuous with the side groove portion 5c and the front groove portion 5e so as to surround the front middle high portion 10a. On the other hand, the central groove portion 5a is continuously provided to the side groove portion 5c and the rear second groove portion 5d so as to surround the rear middle high portion 10b. Further, with respect to the rear middle high portion 10b, the side groove portion 5c is branched toward the rear portion R of the article and is continuous with the rear first groove portion 5b so as to turn around the outside of the rear second groove portion 5d. In other words, the rear middle-high part 10b is provided with two grooves on the article rear side R on the back side of the wearer, as surrounded by a double moat. The concave portions 5 formed by these groove portions are formed corresponding to the convex portions by pressing against the absorbent body 6 from the top sheet 1 by convex portions provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll described later. In detail, it is made | formed by the embossing which heat-presses by the convex part of a pattern road roll, and integrates the surface sheet 1 and the absorber 6. FIG.

  In the sanitary napkin 10 of the present embodiment, the middle and high portions 10a and 10b are raised on the skin contact surface side, and firmly contact the undulating wearer's skin surface at this portion, thereby providing a good fit. And while the said recessed part suppresses the shift | offset | difference and shape loss between members of a surface sheet and an absorber, and liquid excretion is controlled when excretion of menstrual blood etc., it has high leak prevention property and shape stability at the time of wearing. Demonstrate. In addition to the shape stability, the central groove 5a serves as a folding start point near the center of the sanitary napkin depending on the state of movement of the wearer, or functions as a folding line during individual packaging. Thereby, when complicated curved deformation arises at the time of wearing, or when unpacking is started and the use is started, a comfortable wearing feeling can be realized by following the skin surface well.

When the concave portion 5 for integrating the topsheet side and the absorbent body is attached as in the sanitary napkin 10 of the present embodiment, it may be difficult to reliably form the case. In particular, when high-speed continuous or a plurality of middle and high portions raised as described above are spaced apart and a recess is formed in the valley, the difficulty in maintaining the processing quality becomes significant. In general, a heated pattern roll having a convex portion corresponding to the shape of the concave portion on the peripheral surface is used at the time of forming the concave portion. However, since the convex portion protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the roll, Dissipates heat and becomes easy to cool. If the temperature of the tip of this convex part falls, accurate heat pressing processing will not be performed, and effective thermal fusion of the topsheet will not be possible, which may cause the topsheet to peel off from the absorber in the concave part and cause floating. . Avoiding this, and taking measures such as simply raising the heating temperature of the entire pattern roll, if it is excessive, the outer peripheral surface of the roll is in contact with or close to heat sensitive members such as the topsheet. May be transmitted and damage the parts.
On the other hand, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the concave portion can be formed accurately and effectively in the absorbent article by the effect of locally raising the convex portion of the pattern roll, for example, as in the above embodiment. Even when the central groove 5a having a depth is attached to the middle and high valleys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, high-speed continuous production can be maintained and stable molding can be realized.

  FIG. 2 is a process explanatory diagram for explaining a manufacturing process (recess forming process) when manufacturing the sanitary napkin of the above embodiment as an embodiment (embodiment 1) of the manufacturing method of the present invention. A partial axial cross section of the roll and anvil roll is partially shown together with a cross section of the absorbent member 20 composed of the topsheet 1 and the absorbent body 6. In the same figure, a surface sheet, an absorber, a recessed part (groove part), etc. are represented with the same code | symbol as FIG. The form of the absorbent member 20 which is a constituent member of the absorbent article partially shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to a cross section along the center line assuming that the sanitary napkin of FIG. 1 is continuous in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent body 20 is shown as a cross section extending in the MD direction at a position that is divided into two in the CD direction. The MD direction refers to a direction in which a sheet material such as a nonwoven fabric flows during manufacture, and is an abbreviation for “Machine Direction”. Also called flow direction. The CD direction is a direction orthogonal to the MD, and is an abbreviation for “Cross Direction”. Here, the absorber member is used to mean that the absorber and other members are included, and in the present embodiment, the composite member composed of the topsheet 1 and the absorber 6 is referred to as the absorber member, but the topsheet and the absorber Other functional sheets and members may be disposed between the two.

  In the present embodiment, the arc-shaped central groove 5a extending in the width direction of the absorbent article between the front and rear middle and high portions 10a and 10b separated in the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin 10 has a CD direction in the process. It is formed as an extending groove 5a. And the surface sheet 1 and the absorber 6 which were given the desired embossing with the rotation (arrow r direction) of the pattern roll 30 and the anvil roll 40 are sent to MD direction which is the longitudinal direction. Thus, after forming the groove part 5 with a pattern roll, it laminates | stacks with the back surface sheet 2, seals the circumference | surroundings, cuts to predetermined length before and after a longitudinal direction, and the sanitary napkin 10 as mentioned above Is manufactured. However, the side sheet 3, the rubber thread 7 and the like are incorporated before and after any of the above steps, and further, an adhesive or the like on the non-skin contact surface side of the back sheet 2 is appropriately applied.

In the present embodiment, regarding the convex portion 31 of the pattern roll 30 corresponding to the central groove portion 5a between the front and rear middle and high portions 10a, 10b, the pattern roll 30 adjacent to the front and / or rear in the rotation direction r thereof. When the outer peripheral surfaces (hereinafter referred to as “adjacent outer peripheral surfaces”) 36 and 37 come to the positions of the upper absorbent bodies 6b and 6c constituting the middle and high portions 10a and 10b of the absorbent article, the surface sheets of those portions 1 has a certain amount of gap S between them. That is, the adjacent outer peripheral surface 36 and 37, the front and / or rear outer peripheral surface of the rotation direction r (hereinafter, referred to as "non-adjacent outer peripheral surface".) 41 outer peripheral surface baseline K and interval t ₅ forming _(Fig 4 Only at the biased position H toward the inner side of the pattern roll 30 so that the surface height is different, and the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 are seen from the non-adjacent outer peripheral surface 41 as viewed from the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll 30. It is designed to be deep inside the pattern roll 30. In other words, in the pattern roll 30, the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 have a non-adjacent outer peripheral surface 41 or an outer peripheral surface base line K formed by this as a distance to the central axis of the pattern roll 30 (roll radius R ₁ ). This means that the distance is smaller than the distance to the central axis (roll radius R ₂ ) (R ₁ <R ₂ ). In addition, in FIG. 2, the space | interval of the pattern roll 30 and the absorber member 20 is opened rather than actual for a typical understanding, and the clearance gap between the front-end | tip part of each convex part 31-34 and the absorber member 20 is clearer. (In FIG. 2, the actual member surface position is indicated by an auxiliary line (dashed line) 1 ′ of the surface sheet).

  In the present embodiment, the convex portions 31 to 34 are arranged close to the anvil roll 40 with an interval suitable for pressing, and their height, that is, the distance from the axis center of the pattern roll 30 is made equal. ing. The adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 are depressed in the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll 30 to have a depth as described above, and even if the pattern roll is heated and the adjacent outer peripheral surface is heated to high temperature, It should not substantially contact the raised surface sheet 1 portion of the absorbent member 20 so as to prevent damage even when a fiber or structure sensitive to heat is applied to the surface sheet 1 in particular. Can do. It should be noted that the fact that the adjacent outer peripheral surface does not substantially contact with the surface of the member means that the adjacent outer peripheral surface does not contact at all, and does not cause functional damage to the member even if contacted to some extent.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the relationship between the groove part 5 which makes the recessed part of the sanitary napkin 10 thru | or the absorber member 20, and the pattern shape of the pattern roll 30 is demonstrated more concretely. 3 is a partial plan view showing a state in which the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll 30 is developed on a plane, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view developed in a straight state in the same part as the pattern roll 30 shown in FIG. is there. As described above, the central groove portion 5 a between the middle and high portions 10 a and 10 b of the sanitary napkin 10 corresponds to the roll convex portion 31, and the front groove portion 5 e corresponds to the roll convex portion 32. Similarly, the rear second groove portion 5 d corresponds to the convex portion 33, the rear first groove portion 5 b corresponds to the convex portion 34, and the side groove portion 5 c corresponds to the convex portion 35. Each convex part 31-35 is formed continuously. Among these, spaced domed section 10a, the convex portion 31 of the pattern roll 30 corresponding to the central groove 5a to be subjected to valley 10b, the length t ₂ is the other of the convex portion of the leading end portion 31a from the root portion 31b It is longer in the radial direction than 32-34. In addition, the convex part 35 is the same length as the convex part 31 inside the groove part, and the outer side is shorter than the convex part 31. FIG. A small protrusion 42 is formed at the tip of each convex portion as shown in (b) in which the center of the convex portion 31 in FIG. 3 (a) is enlarged. And the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 in the front and rear in the circumferential direction of the convex portions 31 to 35 of the pattern roll 30 are different in surface height from the non-adjacent outer peripheral surface 41 at the deflection position H, and are adjacent to the outer periphery as viewed from the outside of the roll. The surface is deepened by one step.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as a high temperature maintaining means, a heater 38 is installed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface at a position corresponding to the convex portion 31 that easily radiates heat inside the pattern roll 30. Thereby, in addition to the heating of the whole pattern roll by the heating means provided separately, the convex part 31 which is easy to radiate can be locally heated with the heater 38, and a groove forming process can be performed. Specifically, the heating means for the entire pattern roll includes a heater 38 for local heating and the same type of heater for overall heating (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. In FIGS. The heater 48 is shown in the figure.) Separately from the heater 38, the heaters 38 are arranged at equal intervals in the same diameter portion inside the pattern roll 30, and the heaters 38 are also arranged at the same diameter portions as these heaters. ing. Thus, by performing additional heating, the temperature drop of the convex part 31 by heat dissipation is suppressed, and groove formability improves. When considering the size of conventional sanitary napkins, the length t ₂ of the convex portion 31 of the pattern roll 30 is that it practical is 10 to 30 mm. Similarly, it is the actual practice to the tip width length _{t 3} and 1 to 15 mm, the width length of the small projections 42 (the direction of the _{t 3)} is preferably set to 1 to 5 mm. The distance t ₁ between the base portion 31b of the convex portion 31 and the heater 38 depends on the length t _{2 of the} convex portion 31 or the circumferential width length t ₃ of the tip of the convex portion 31, for example, Considering the practical range, the distance t ₁ is preferably ₂ to 10 mm. Similarly, in consideration of dimensions as a sanitary napkin, it is practical that the length t ₄ of the convex portions 32 to 34 with respect to the non-adjacent outer peripheral surface 41 or the outer peripheral surface base line K to the pattern roll is 5 to 15 mm. It is practical that the deflection depth t5 in H is ₅ to 15 mm.

  Although the specific thing of said heater 38 is not specifically limited, For example, a cartridge heater is preferable, and as a cartridge heater, it has a heating wire (Nichrome wire etc.) in a heat resistant pipe (for example, heat resistant stainless steel pipe), A material in which the gap between the heating wire and the pipe is filled with a material (MgO or the like) excellent in thermal conductivity and insulation can be used. The temperature of the heater can be adjusted by attaching a thermocouple to the pattern roll and applying a current to the heater so as to reach a set temperature. Some cartridge heaters have a thermocouple built in the heater. Thus, by adjusting the temperature of the convex part 31 with the heater 38, it can be set as desired temperature, and also the thermal expansion of the convex part 31 in the direction of the anvil roll 40 is caused. Formability can be improved.

The heating temperature of the convex portion 31 of the pattern roll 30 is changed depending on the material to be processed and the production speed, but it is preferable to give a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the material, specifically 180 ° C to 220 ° C. Can be mentioned. The temperature difference between the convex part 31 and its peripheral part is not particularly limited, but considering the heat radiation in a normal pattern roll, the outer peripheral surface of the roll that is relatively low due to the heating temperature of the convex part 31 and the heat radiation around it. Or it is preferable that the difference with the temperature of another convex part, typically an adjacent outer peripheral surface is 2-20 degreeC, and it is still more preferable that it is 5-15 degreeC.
The temperature of the anvil roll 40 may be performed at room temperature, and the anvil roll may be heated as necessary. The specific temperature range is, for example, the same temperature range as the pattern roll, and specifically, the pattern roll is set to around 120 ° C. and the anvil roll is set to around 80 ° C.

  In the present embodiment, the heater 38 is disposed at the central portion of the convex portion 31 extending in the rotation axis direction of the pattern roll 30. In general, when a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion extending in the axial direction of such a roll is formed in the absorbent member, the formability may be insufficient. However, according to the present embodiment, it is effective because sufficient formability can be realized even in the formation of the concave portion corresponding to the convex portion extending in the roll rotation axis direction. Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 32, 33, and 34 other than the protrusion 31 also have the same problem as described above even if it is not as large as the protrusion 31. It is effective to apply. In the present embodiment, the width direction of the absorbent article and the axial direction of the pattern roll coincide with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an embodiment in which the absorbent article is molded by being rotated by 90 °. Is mentioned.

  FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view in which the main part of the pattern roll 30 is developed at the same position as FIG. 4 as another embodiment (embodiment 2) of the manufacturing method of the present invention. In this Embodiment 2, the heat insulating material 39 is arrange | positioned on the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 of the pattern roll 30 corresponding to the middle-high part 10a, 10b spaced apart in the front-back direction of the said sanitary napkin 10. As shown in FIG. The heat of the pattern roll 30 that has been preheated is prevented from radiating from the roll surface at the portion of the heat insulating material 39, and is thereby defined between the deep adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 in a substantially radial direction. The temperature drop of the long convex part 31 is avoided.

  In addition, in this Embodiment 2, in addition to the heat insulating material 39, the heater 38 is installed together in the roll position corresponding to the convex part 31, and by doing in this way, a temperature fall is prevented further and it depends on the convex part 31. The formability of the groove can be improved. The deflection depth of the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 or the thickness of the heat insulating material 39 can be regulated so that the heat insulating material 39 and the surface of the sanitary napkin 10 are not in contact with each other. Even if it makes slight contact with the middle and high portions during the groove forming operation, damage to the topsheet or the like due to heat is prevented.

  The thickness of the heat insulating material is preferably lower than the height of the convex portion so as not to hinder the formation of the concave portion of the convex portion 31, and further formed deeper than the outer peripheral surface base line K of the pattern roll 30. More preferably, in order to maintain the three-dimensional effect at the middle and high portions, it is more preferable to provide the member portions that form the middle and high portions 10a and 10b so as not to contact each other. The material of the heat insulating material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include bakelite, eboxy glass, polyacetal, MC nylon, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, fluororesin, PEEK, and glass fiber.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view in which the main part of the pattern roll 30 is developed at the same position as in FIG. 4 as still another embodiment (embodiment 3) of the manufacturing method of the present invention. In this Embodiment 3, the convex part 31 pinched | interposed between a pair of deeply biased adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 of the pattern roll 30 corresponding to the middle-high part 10a and 10b of the sanitary napkin 10 is from the front-end | tip part 31a. gradually over the root portion 31b, is formed to be thicker in a tapered shape and is connected to the adjacent outer peripheral surface 36, 37 most circumferential direction of the thickness t ₆ at the root portion 31b is thicker. Thus, by making convex part 31 into the taper shape thickened by base part 31b, the volume of convex part 31 becomes large, the amount of heat radiation from convex part 31 decreases by the heat storage effect, and the moldability of a concave part improves. To do. In the third embodiment, the heater 38 is also installed at the roll position in the vicinity of the convex portion 31, thereby further preventing the temperature from decreasing and improving the formability of the groove portion by the convex portion 31. it can. Taper of the convex portion 31 in the embodiment 3, it is preferable that the width t _{6 /} width t ₃ set to be 1.5 or more.

  In the manufacturing process in the above embodiment, or in a process different from this, water may be distributed to the absorbent body 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) or the absorbent body member 20 before or simultaneously with the pressing by the pattern roll 30. The absorbent member 20 may be pressed at the water spraying portion to form a recess. For example, the sanitary napkin 10 includes an embodiment in which the absorbent body 6a between the plurality of middle and high portions 10a and 10b is sprayed with water to form the groove 5a in that portion. This water spraying is preferable because the bonding between the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 1 is further ensured.

  For the member processed by the manufacturing method of the present invention, a material usually used for this type of article can be appropriately selected and employed. For example, the top sheet is preferably made of a material that is liquid permeable and soft against the skin. For example, a non-woven fabric made of natural fibers such as cotton or a non-woven fabric made of various synthetic fibers subjected to hydrophilic treatment can be used. The back sheet is preferably made of a sheet material composed of a liquid-impermeable or hardly-permeable film or a nonwoven fabric. The back sheet may be water vapor permeable as required. Specifically, in order to obtain sufficient water vapor permeability, a film made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene in which fine powder made of a filler such as calcium carbonate is dispersed is stretched and a porous film having fine holes is used. preferable. Examples of the side sheet include a nonwoven fabric, a film sheet, and paper. From the viewpoint of leakage prevention, the side sheet is preferably formed of a liquid non-permeable or hardly permeable hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a leakage-proof film sheet, or the like. One sheet may be used, or two or more sheets may be combined with a functional sheet. As the material for forming the absorber, those usually used for absorbent articles can be used. Specifically, for example, a fiber assembly or a combination of this and a polymer water-absorbing polymer can be used. As the fibers constituting the fiber assembly, hydrophilic natural fibers such as pulp fibers, synthetic fibers (preferably subjected to hydrophilic treatment), and the like can be used.

  In the above-described embodiments, the manufacture of sanitary napkins having middle and high parts spaced apart in the longitudinal direction is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. The present invention is also applicable to the production of other types of absorbent articles such as panty liners, disposable diapers, urine pads, and the like. For example, the sanitary napkin of the type which has the convex part extended in the width direction similarly to the said embodiment, but does not have a middle-high part is mentioned. In this case, the adjacent outer peripheral surface adjacent to the convex portion of the pattern roll 30 may not be biased deeper than the front and rear non-adjacent outer peripheral surfaces. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it showed as a structure which laminated | stacked the absorber by which the pulp fiber was coat | covered with the core wrap material and laminated | stacked in two layers, as what is used as the type | mold to deposit, what provided the recessed part corresponding to a mid-high part was utilized. In addition, a laminated fiber having a convex cross section may be formed and the whole coated with a single core wrap material.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a pattern roll as still another embodiment (embodiment 4) of the manufacturing method of the present invention in a developed state. In the figure, an example of the arrangement relationship between the local heater 38 and the overall heater 48 is shown. In the present embodiment, the overall heaters 48 are arranged at equal intervals with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the roll, and in the illustrated case, they are separated by a relationship of distance d ₁ = distance d ₂ + distance d ₃ = distance d _4. It is arranged so that. On the other hand, the local heater 38 is disposed only at a position directly below the convex root 31b and in the middle of the overall heater 48. As a result, the distance between the heaters in the portion where the local heater 38 is disposed is the distances d ₂ and d ₃ , which is half of the distance between the entire heaters 48. That is, only in the portion where the local heater 38 is disposed, the heater arrangement density is increased, and this portion is set to have a higher temperature than the surrounding area. The same or different ones may be used as the local heater 38 and the overall heater 48, but when the same is applied to both by arranging in this embodiment, the position of the convex portion 31 is changed. For example, it can be maintained higher by 5 to 15 ° C. than the periphery.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a pattern roll as still another embodiment (embodiment 5) of the manufacturing method of the present invention in a developed state. In the present embodiment, the distance t ₁₁ to the convex root 31 b of the local heater 38 is made smaller than the distance t ₁₂ to the adjacent outer peripheral surfaces 36 and 37 of the overall heater 48. Here, the distance between the convex portions root portion 31b from the rotational axis of the pattern roll 30 adjacent the outer peripheral surface 36 and 37 (the equivalent to the roll radius R _1.) Are the same. Therefore, the overall heater 48 is disposed so as to be positioned relatively inward of the rolls relative to the local heater. Thereby, when the same thing is used as the local heater 38 and the whole heater 48, for example, the position of the convex part 31 can be maintained at a higher temperature than the periphery.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a pattern roll as yet another embodiment (embodiment 6) of the manufacturing method of the present invention in a developed state. In the present embodiment, the local heater 38 is disposed immediately below the convex root portion 31b, and the whole heater 48 is disposed at equal intervals along with this. In the illustrated example, the overall heater 48 and the local heater 38 are connected in series at an interval of e ₁ = e ₂ = e ₃ = e ₄ = e ₅ . That is, the local heater 38 is disposed immediately below the position corresponding to the position of the convex part, and the temperature of the convex part is maintained to be higher than the surrounding area. Thereby, when the same thing is used as the local heater 38 and the whole heater 48, the position of the convex part 31 can be maintained higher, for example, by 5 to 15 ° C. than the periphery.

It is the perspective view which showed typically the sanitary napkin as one Embodiment of the absorbent article manufactured by the manufacturing method of this invention. It is process explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing process (formation process of a groove part) at the time of manufacturing the sanitary napkin of the said embodiment as one embodiment (embodiment 1) of the manufacturing method of this invention. It is the partial top view shown in the state which expand | deployed the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll shown in FIG. 2 on the plane. It is the cross-sectional view which developed and further modeled the pattern roll shown in FIG. 2 in the straight state in the same part as this. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed typically the pattern roll as another embodiment (embodiment 2) of the manufacturing method of this invention in the expansion | deployment state. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed typically the pattern roll as another embodiment (embodiment 3) of the manufacturing method of this invention in the expansion | deployment state. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed typically the pattern roll as another embodiment (embodiment 4) of the manufacturing method of this invention in the expansion | deployment state. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed typically the pattern roll as another embodiment (embodiment 5) of the manufacturing method of this invention in the expansion | deployment state. It is the fragmentary sectional view which showed typically the pattern roll as another embodiment (embodiment 6) of the manufacturing method of this invention in the expansion | deployment state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Top sheet 2 Back sheet 3 Side sheet 4 Seal part 5 Recessed part 5a Center groove part 5b Back 1st groove part 5c Side groove part 5d Back 2nd groove part 5e Front groove part 6 Absorber 6a Lower layer absorber 6b Front upper layer absorber 6c Back lower layer absorption Body 10 Absorbent article 20 Absorber member 30 Pattern rolls 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Convex part 31a Convex part tip part 31b Convex part base part 38 Local heater 36, 37 Adjacent outer peripheral surface 39 Insulating material 40 Anvil roll 41 Non-adjacent outer peripheral surface 48 Whole heater

Claims (6)

In forming the concave portion corresponding to the convex portion by pressing the absorbent member having the topsheet and the absorber from the topsheet side by the convex portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll,
In the pattern roll, the outer peripheral surface adjacent to the front and rear in the rotation direction of the convex portion has a different height from the front and rear outer peripheral surfaces in the rotation direction and is not adjacent to the convex portion. More deeply formed inward of the pattern roll, and the convex portion protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the pattern roll not adjacent to the convex portion , warms the pattern roll as a whole, and the convex portion of the pattern roll. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising an absorbent member in which the concave portion is formed by maintaining the convex portion locally at a higher temperature than the peripheral portion by a high temperature maintaining means that is a heater provided in the vicinity of the portion .   The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the high temperature maintaining means is gradually thickened from a tip portion to a root portion of the convex portion of the pattern roll. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the high temperature maintaining means is a heat insulating material laid so as to be adjacent to a root portion of the convex portion of the pattern roll. The absorbent article has a plurality of middle and high portions that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and are raised on the skin surface side of the wearer, and the convex portions of the pattern roll are inserted into the valleys of the plurality of middle and high portions to form the concave portions. When forming, the said recessed part is formed, without substantially contacting the outer peripheral surface of the rotation direction front and / or back of the said convex part of the said pattern roll, and the surface of the middle high part of the said absorbent article. method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of 3 to 1. The manufacturing method of the absorbent article of any one of Claim 1 to 4 in which the said convex part extends in the axial direction of the said pattern roll.   The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the entire pattern roll is heated and includes a heater for overall heating and the heater for local heating.

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