JP5895044B1 - Folding device and folding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a folding device and a folding method capable of folding an absorbent article while maintaining the shape of an absorbent body including a high weight area and a low weight area. A folding device includes a first area made of an absorbent material having a first weight per unit area, and an absorbent material having a second weight amount smaller than the first weight amount, and at least a first direction W. And an absorbent article 10 that includes an absorbent body 40 having a second region 44 extending therethrough. The folding device has a folding plate 260 having a tip 262 extending along one direction. The folded plate 260 has the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 oriented along the first direction W, and at least a part of the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 is positioned on the second region 44. 10 is configured to be pressed against. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding device and a folding method for folding an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

  Disposable wearing articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins are known. Patent document 1 is disclosing the manufacturing method of a disposable wearing article. A disposable wearing article is manufactured as a strip | belt body with which many area | regions which should become each disposable wearing article were connected. The strip is then cut into individual disposable wearing articles. Each individual disposable wearing article that has been cut is folded before being packaged in a packaging material for product shipment. In Patent Document 1, the disposable wearing article is folded in a double manner so that the front part arranged on the wearer's back side overlaps the back part arranged on the wearer's front side.

  Patent document 2 is disclosing the absorber utilized for absorbent articles, such as a paper diaper and a sanitary napkin. This absorber has a low weight area continuously formed in the vertical direction, and a high weight area formed along the low weight area on both sides of the low weight area.

International Publication No. 2006/068081 JP 2008-23311 A

  The inventor of the present application has discovered the following problems. The ease of bending and strength of the absorber are different between the low weight area and the high weight area. For this reason, when the absorbent body including the low weight area and the high weight area is folded, the shape of the absorbent body may collapse depending on the position and angle of the crease with respect to the absorbent body.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a folding device and a folding method capable of folding an absorbent article while maintaining the shape of an absorbent body including a high weight area and a low weight area. For the purpose.

  The folding device according to the present disclosure includes a first area composed of an absorbent material having a first basis weight, and an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight, and at least along the first direction. It is related with the folding apparatus which folds the absorbent article containing the absorber which has a 2nd area | region extended. This folding device has a folding plate having a tip extending along one direction. The folding plate is configured to be pressed against the absorbent article in a state where the tip of the folding plate is oriented along the first direction and at least a part of the tip of the folding plate is positioned on the second region. Has been.

  The folding method according to the present disclosure includes a first area composed of an absorbent material having a first basis weight, and an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight, and at least along the first direction. It is related with the folding method which folds the absorbent article containing the absorber which has the 2nd area | region extended. In this folding method, the folding plate extending in one direction is oriented along the first direction, and at least a part of the folding plate is positioned on the second region. Pressing the plate against the absorbent article.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the folding apparatus and the folding method which can fold an absorbent article can be provided, maintaining the shape of the absorber containing a high fabric area and a low fabric area.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent core of the absorbent body provided in the absorbent article. Drawing 3 is a mimetic diagram of a folding device concerning one embodiment. Fig.4 (a)-FIG.4 (f) are schematic diagrams explaining a mode that an absorbent article is folded. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the absorbent article and the folded plate. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an absorption core of an absorbent body according to a modification. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a folding device according to a modification. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are schematic views of the folded plate seen from the direction of the arrow 8A in FIG. 7, and are schematic views for explaining how the absorbent article is folded. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a folding plate and an absorbent article of a folding device according to a modification.

  Hereinafter, with reference to drawings, the absorptive article concerning an embodiment is explained. In the following embodiments, a disposable diaper will be described as an example of an absorbent article. However, the absorbent articles of the present invention include a variety of articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads and disposable diapers.

  In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, the part from which the relationship and ratio of a mutual dimension differ also in between drawings may be contained.

(1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Absorbent Article FIG. 1 is a developed plan view of a disposable diaper as the absorbent article 10 according to the present embodiment. The absorbent article 10 has a front waistline region 20, a crotch region 25, and a back waistline region 30. The front waistline region 20 is a portion in contact with the wearer's front waistline portion (abdomen portion). Further, the rear waistline region 30 is a portion in contact with the rear waistline portion (back portion) of the wearer. The crotch region 25 is located between the front waistline region 20 and the back waistline region 30. Further, the absorbent article 10 is formed with a pair of leg hole openings 35. The leg-hole openings 35 are provided at both side ends of the rear waistline region 30. The leg opening 35 is a portion that is disposed around the leg of the wearer in a state where the absorbent article 10 is worn by the wearer.

  The absorbent article 10 includes an absorbent body 40 that straddles the crotch region 25 and extends from the crotch region 25 toward at least one of the front waistline region 20 and the rear waistline region 30. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 40 is referred to as “longitudinal direction L of the absorbent body”. The direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L of the absorber is referred to as “absorber width direction W” (see also FIG. 2).

  A skin surface side sheet is disposed on the surface side (skin contact surface side) of the absorber 40. The skin surface side sheet includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 51 and a hydrophobic side sheet 52. The top sheet 51 is disposed so as to cover substantially the entire absorber 40. The side sheet 52 is disposed on the side of the absorbent body 40 in the width direction W so as to cover the absorbent body 40 and the top sheet 51. In addition, the skin surface side sheet | seat does not need to be comprised by 2 layers of the top sheet 51 and the side sheet | seat 52, may be comprised by either one, and may be provided with the other sheet | seat.

  On the back side (non-skin contact surface side) of the absorber 40, a liquid-impermeable non-skin side sheet is disposed. The non-skin side sheet may include an exterior sheet that constitutes the outer surface of the absorbent article 10 when worn, and a back sheet disposed between the absorbent body 40 and the exterior sheet. In addition, the non-skin surface side sheet | seat does not need to be comprised by the exterior sheet | seat and the back sheet | seat, may be comprised by either one, and may be provided with the other sheet | seat.

  Each of the pair of side sheets 52 is provided with a fastening tape 90. The fastening tape 90 is provided in the rear waistline region 30. Fastening tape 90 holds absorbent article 10 on the wearer's body by being fastened to the non-skin contact surface of front waistline region 20.

  A pair of cuffs 80 extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 10 may be provided on the inner edge of the side sheet 52 in the width direction W of the absorbent article 10. The cuff 80 may be an upright stretchable gather.

  The side sheet 52 is folded back toward the top sheet 51 at the inner edge of the absorbent article 10 in the width direction W, and may be laminated in two layers. An elastic member may be provided between the two side sheets 52 in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 1 shows a developed plan view of the absorbent article in a state where the elastic member provided in the cuff 80 is contracted. The cuff 80 may have a contracted portion 84 contracted in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article by an elastic member.

  The absorbent article 10 is accommodated in the packaging material in a state of being folded along the fold line F. The fold line F is along the width direction W of the absorber and crosses the region where the absorber 40 is present. Alternatively, the fold line F may be along the longitudinal direction L of the absorber. In FIG. 1, only one fold line F is shown. However, a plurality of fold lines F may exist depending on how the absorbent article 10 is folded. In this case, at least one of the plurality of folding lines F crosses the region where the absorber 40 exists.

(2) Schematic Configuration of Absorber FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an absorbent core of the absorber 40 provided in the absorbent article 10. The absorber 40 includes an absorbent core 46 and a sheet-like covering sheet 48 that wraps the absorbent core 46 (see FIG. 1). The absorbent core 46 can be appropriately configured using a known member or material such as pulverized pulp or a superabsorbent polymer. At least a part on the skin surface side of the covering sheet 48 is constituted by various fiber nonwoven fabrics or tissues having liquid permeability.

  The absorbent core 46 includes a first region 42 made of an absorbent material having a first basis weight and a second region 44 made of an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight. The second region 44 includes a region extending along at least the width direction W (first direction) of the absorbent body on the fold line F of the absorbent article. Specifically, the second region 44 linearly extends part of the absorbent core 46 on the fold line F of the absorbent article. Alternatively, the second region 44 may extend linearly from one end to the other end of the absorbent core 46 on the fold line F of the absorbent article.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second region 44 extends along both the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent body and the width direction W of the absorbent body, and divides the first region 42 into a plurality of blocks. Hereinafter, the first area 42 may be referred to as a “high weight area” and the second area 44 may be referred to as a “low weight area”. It should be noted that the peripheral portion of the absorbent core 46 may also be a high basis weight region having a basis weight higher than the basis weight of the second region 44. The low basis weight area 44 may be formed of a recess having a thickness smaller than that of the high basis weight area 42. Note that the low basis weight region 44 includes a region where the basis weight is zero, that is, a region where no absorbent material exists.

  In addition, the fabric weight and density of an absorption core can be measured with the following measuring methods, for example. In the absorbent article packaged by the packaging body, the packaging body is opened, the folded absorbent article is developed, and the thickness and area of the portion where the basis weight and density are measured are measured. Subsequently, the part which measures a fabric weight and a density is cut out from an absorbent article, and the weight of the cut-out part is measured. Subsequently, parts other than an absorption core, such as a skin surface side sheet | seat and a non-skin surface side sheet | seat, are removed from the cut-out part, and the weight of an absorption core is measured. The basis weight is calculated based on the weight of the absorbent core and the area of the portion where the basis weight and density are measured. The density is calculated based on the basis weight and thickness.

(3) Folding device and folding method of absorbent article A folding device 200 and a folding method of absorbent article will be described based on FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing a part of the folding device 200 for absorbent articles.

  The absorbent article folding apparatus 200 includes a transport mechanism 210 and a folding mechanism 250. The folding device 200 may include a control unit that controls the transport mechanism 210 and the folding mechanism 250.

  The transport mechanism 210 includes a first roll 211, a first transport belt 221 that spans the first roll 211, a second roll 212 that is spaced apart from the first roll 211, and a second roll 212. A second conveyor belt 222. The first roll 211 and the second roll 212 are arranged to face each other and rotate in opposite directions.

  The absorbent article 10 is transported along the direction D1 toward the folding mechanism 250 by the first transport belt 221. The absorbent article 10 is folded along the fold line F by the folding mechanism 250 and then conveyed along the direction D2 by the first conveying belt 221 and the second conveying belt 222.

  The folding mechanism 250 includes a rotating body 251 and a folding plate 260 that moves along the outer periphery of the rotating body 251 as the rotating body 251 rotates. The folding plate 260 is configured to rotate with respect to the rotating body 251 while moving along the outer periphery of the rotating body 251. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the trajectory of the folded plate 260.

  One end of the folded plate 260 is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 251. The folded plate 260 is configured to be rotatable about one end of the folded plate 260 joined to the rotating body 251 as an axis. The front end 262 of the folded plate, that is, the end that is not joined to the rotating body 251 is positioned inside the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 251 due to the rotation of the folding plate 260, or the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 251. It may be in a state of protruding outward.

  When the absorbent article 10 is folded, first, the absorbent article 10 is transported toward the folding mechanism 250 by the transport mechanism 210 (see FIG. 4A). At this time, the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 is located near the center of the rotating body 251.

  Next, the absorbent article 10 is in a state of straddling the first transport belt 221 and the second transport belt 222 (see FIG. 4B). In this state, the absorbent article 10 is located directly below the folding mechanism 250. As the rotating body 251 rotates, the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 comes into contact with the absorbent article 10 on the conveyor belts 221 and 222.

  Next, from the state shown in FIG. 4B, the rotating body 251 further rotates counterclockwise, so that the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 pushes the absorbent article 10 (see FIG. 4C). Next, the rotating body 251 further rotates counterclockwise, whereby the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 further pushes the absorbent article 10 and folds the absorbent article 10 (see FIG. 4D).

  Next, the rotating body 251 further rotates counterclockwise, whereby the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 is retracted from the absorbent article 10 (see FIG. 4E). The folded absorbent article 10 is transported along the transport direction D2 while being sandwiched between the first transport belt 221 and the second transport belt 222.

  Next, the position of the folded plate 260 with respect to the absorbent article 10 when the absorbent article 10 is folded will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the absorbent article 10 and the folded board 260 in a state where the folded board 260 is in contact with the absorbent article 10. For convenience, the cuff of the absorbent article 10 is not shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 extends in one direction. When the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 contacts the absorbent article 10, the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 is in the first direction in which the low weight area 44 of the absorbent body 40 extends, here the width direction W of the absorbent body. Orient along. This first direction corresponds to a direction along the fold line F of the absorbent article 10. The folded plate 260 is pressed against the absorbent article 10 in a state where at least a part of the front end 262 of the folded plate is located on the low weight area 44. That is, the folded plate 260 is oriented along the width direction W of the absorbent body and is pressed against the absorbent article 10 in a state where at least a part of the front end 262 of the folded plate is located on the low basis weight region 44. It is configured. Preferably, the thickness width L1 of the tip 262 of the folded plate is smaller than the width L2 of the low weight area 44 along the direction orthogonal to the width direction W of the absorber.

  Preferably, the length W1 of the tip 262 of the folded plate is longer than the length W2 of the absorbent body 40 in the width direction on the fold line F where the absorbent article 10 is folded. Thereby, when the absorbent article 10 is folded, the folded plate 260 can be pressed across both outer edge portions of the absorbent body 40.

  More preferably, the length W1 of the tip 262 of the folded plate is longer than the length W3 in the width direction of the absorbent article 10 on the fold line F where the absorbent article 10 is folded. Thereby, when folding the absorbent article 10, the folded plate 260 is entirely pressed across both outer edges of the absorbent article 10.

  The folding device 200 may include a positioning device 400 that matches the relative positions of the folding plate 260 and the absorbent article 10 (see FIG. 3). As an example, the positioning device 400 may include an imaging unit that images the absorbent article 10 on the first conveyance belt 221 and an analysis unit that analyzes an image obtained by the imaging unit. By analyzing the image obtained by the imaging means by the analyzing means, the position of the low weight area 44 or the position of the fold line F of the absorbent article 10 can be accurately specified. Control means for controlling the transport mechanism 210 and the folding mechanism 250 controls the transport belts 221 and 222 based on the result of image analysis. Accordingly, the relative positions of the folded plate 260 and the absorbent article 10 can be accurately aligned so that the tip 262 of the folded plate 260 can press the low weight area 44.

  The absorbent article 10 is preferably provided with a cuff 80 having an elastic member such as a stretchable gather at a position on the fold line F of the absorbent article 10. The cuff 80 having an elastic member serves as a cushioning material when the folded plate 260 is pressed against the absorbent article 10, and relieves an impact force when the folded plate 260 collides with the absorbent article 10. Thereby, collapse of the shape of the absorber 40 can be suppressed. Therefore, the folding device and the folding method of the above embodiment are suitable for folding the absorbent article 10 including the cuff 80 having an elastic body. But the folding apparatus and folding method of the said embodiment can be utilized also for folding the absorbent article 10 which is not provided with the cuff 80 which has an elastic body.

(4) Modified Example of Absorber FIG. 6 shows another example of the absorbent core of the absorbent body provided in the absorbent article 10. The absorbent core 46 shown in FIG. 6 may have the same configuration as the absorbent body shown in FIG. 2 except for the arrangement of the high weight area 42 and the low weight area 44.

  The absorbent core 46 includes a first region 42 made of an absorbent material having a first basis weight and a second region 44 made of an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight. The second region 44 includes at least a region extending along the width direction W (first direction) of the absorber.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the low weight area 44 extends along both the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent body and the width direction W of the absorbent body, and divides the high weight area 42 into a plurality of blocks. More specifically, the low weight area 44 extends at least part of the absorbent core 46 in a broken line shape on the fold line F of the absorbent article 10. Even in this case, it can be said that the fold line F of the absorbent article extends in the direction in which the low weight area 44 extends (width direction W). 2 and 6, the low weight area 44 only needs to include an arbitrary area extending along the fold line F of the absorbent article 10.

(5) Folding device and folding method according to modification FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a folding device according to a modification. The folding device 300 includes a transport mechanism 310 and a folding mechanism 350. The transport mechanism 310 includes a first transport belt 321 installed on a plurality of rolls, a second transport belt 322 installed on the plurality of rolls, a third transport belt 323 installed on the plurality of rolls, and a plurality of rolls. And a fourth conveyor belt 324 installed on the belt. The first conveyance belt 321 and the portion of the second conveyance belt 322 facing the first conveyance belt 321 define a first conveyance path 4M upstream of the folding mechanism 350 in the conveyance direction. The second conveyor belt 322 and the portion of the fourth conveyor belt 324 facing the second conveyor belt 322 define a second conveyor path 4B on the downstream side of the folding mechanism 350 in the conveyance direction. The third conveyor belt 323 is configured to grip one end of the absorbent article 10 conveyed to the folding mechanism 350 together with the fourth conveyor belt 324.

  The absorbent article 10 is conveyed along the conveyance direction D1 of the first conveyance path 4M toward the folding mechanism 350 by the first conveyance belt 321 and the second conveyance belt 322. The absorbent article 10 is transported to a position straddling the first transport belt 321 and the third transport belt 323. The folding mechanism 350 folds the absorbent article 10 along the fold line F. Hereinafter, the structure of the folding mechanism 350 and the process of folding the absorbent article 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic views of the folding mechanism 350 viewed from the direction of the arrow 8A in FIG. The folding mechanism 350 includes a pair of folding plates 360 and a motor 364 that rotates the folding plates 360 around the rotation shaft 361. In FIG. 8, the motor is not shown for convenience. The pair of folded plates 360 are arranged adjacent to each other and are configured to rotate in directions opposite to each other.

  The pair of folding plates 360 of the folding mechanism 350 rotates around the rotation shaft 361. The pair of folded plates 360 has a tip 362 extending in one direction from the rotating shaft 361. Due to the rotation of the folding plate 360, the front ends 362 of the pair of folding plates hit the absorbent article 10 disposed immediately below the folding mechanism 350, that is, at the position shown in FIG. 7 (see FIG. 8B). By further rotating the folding plate 360 from this state, the folding plate 360 folds the absorbent article 10 with the position where the folding plate 360 hits as the fold line F. The absorbent article 10 is pushed into the conveyance path 4B between the second conveyance belt 322 and the fourth conveyance belt 324 while being folded in two along the fold line F by the pair of folding plates 360 (FIG. 7). See also). The folded absorbent article 10 is further transported along the transport direction D2 of the second transport path 4B.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship among the folding plate, the absorbent article, and the folding plate of the folding device 300. FIG. When the absorbent article is folded, the pair of folded plates 360 are disposed on both outer sides in the width direction W of the absorbent article 10. Also in this modification, the folded plate 360 is oriented along the absorbent body width direction W, and at least a part of the front end 362 of the folded plate is positioned on the low-weight area 44 in the absorbent article 10. Pressed. Preferably, the thickness of the tip 362 of the pair of folded plates is smaller than the width of the low weight area 44 along the second direction (longitudinal direction L of the absorbent body) perpendicular to the first direction.

  In the present modification, the pair of folded plates 360 is configured to push at least both outer edge portions in the width direction of the absorbent body 40 on the fold line F where the absorbent article 10 is folded. Preferably, the folded plate 360 is configured to push at least both outer edge portions in the width direction W of the absorbent body and the absorbent article 10 outside the outer edge portions in the width direction W. In other words, the pair of folded plates 360 pushes the absorbent article 10 linearly except for the center of the absorbent body 40 in the width direction W. However, the pair of folded plates 360 may push the absorbent article 10 entirely from one end to the other end of the absorbent article 10 along the fold line F of the absorbent article 10.

(6) Action and Effect The low weight area 44 is easier to bend than the high weight area 42. In the folding plates 260 and 360 of the folding devices 200 and 300 according to the above-described embodiments, the leading ends 262 and 362 of the folding plates are oriented along the first direction (the direction in which the low weight area 44 extends), and at least a part of the leading ends 262 and 362 of the folding plates is It is configured to be pressed against the absorbent article 10 in a state of being located on the low weight area 44. Similarly, in the folding method according to the above embodiment, the leading ends 262,362 of the folded plate extending along one direction are oriented along the first direction, and at least a part of the leading ends 262,362 of the folded plate is the low weight area 44. A step of pressing the folded plates 260 and 360 against the absorbent article 10 in a state of being positioned above. As a result, the absorber 40 is bent around the first direction in which the low weight area 44 that is relatively easy to bend extends. As a result, the absorbent article can be folded while the shape of the absorber 40 is maintained.

  According to one embodiment, the thickness L1 of the leading ends 262 and 362 of the folded plate is smaller than the width L2 of the second region (low weight area) 44 along the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Thereby, the front ends 262, 362 of the folded plate can be pressed against only the low weight area 44 in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the front ends 262, 362 of the folded plate extend. Thereby, since the absorber 40 is bent at the low basis weight region 44, it is possible to prevent the shape of the absorber 40 from collapsing due to the bending.

  According to one embodiment, the folding plates 260 and 360 are configured to push at least both outer edge portions in the width direction W of the absorbent body 40 on the folding line F where the absorbent article 10 is folded. Thereby, when folding the absorbent article 10, the folded plates 260 and 360 are pressed against at least both outer edge portions of the absorbent body 40 in the width direction W. If the folding plates 260 and 360 push only the central portion of the absorber 40 or only one outer edge portion of the absorber 40, the load concentrates only on the central portion of the absorber 40 or only one outer edge portion. As a result, the shape of the absorber 40 may be destroyed. In the present embodiment, the folding plates 260 and 360 push at least both outer edges in the width direction W of the absorbent body 40 on the folding line F that folds the absorbent article 10, so that the absorbent body 40 is folded cleanly with the folding line F as an axis. Can do.

  According to one embodiment, the folded plates 260 and 360 are configured to push at least both outer edge portions of the absorbent body 40 in the width direction W and the absorbent article 10 outside the both outer edge portions in the width direction W. ing. Thereby, when folding the absorbent article 10, the folded plates 260 and 360 are pressed against not only both outer edge portions of the absorbent article 10, but also the absorbent article 10 outside the both outer edge portions of the absorbent body 40. At this time, the absorbent article 10 outside the outer edge portions of the absorbent body 40 alleviates the impact force applied to the absorbent body 40 by the contact of the folded plates 260 and 360. Thereby, collapse of the shape of the absorber 40 can be prevented. Further, since the corners of the folded plates 260 and 360 are prevented from coming into contact with the absorbent article 10, it is possible to prevent the absorbent article 10 from being damaged. In particular, the absorbent article 10 often has a surface formed of a nonwoven fabric. In this case, it is possible to prevent the nonwoven fabric from being broken by preventing the corners of the folded plates 260 and 360 from contacting the nonwoven fabric.

  According to one embodiment, the folding plate 260 is formed of a plate having a tip 262 that is longer than at least the length in the width direction W of the absorbent body 40 on the folding line F for folding the absorbent article 10. As a result, when the absorbent article 10 is folded, the folded plate 260 is pressed across both outer edges of the absorbent body 40. If the front end of the folded plate 260 does not extend to both ends of the absorber 40, only a partial region of the absorber 40 in the width direction W is pressed downward. As a result, the load concentrates only on a partial region in the width direction W of the absorber 40, and the shape of the absorber 40 may be collapsed. In the present embodiment, the folding plate 260 extends between both outer edges of the absorber 40, so that the absorber 40 can be neatly folded about the straight line on which the tip 262 of the folding plate extends.

  According to one embodiment, the folding device 300 further includes a positioning device that aligns the relative positions of the folded plates 260 and 360 and the absorbent article 10. Thereby, the front ends 262, 362 of the folded plate can be accurately positioned at the low weight area 44, more specifically, the folding line F, in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the front ends 262, 362 of the folded plate extend.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention can be implemented as modified and changed modes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the present specification is for illustrative purposes and does not have any limiting meaning to the present invention.

10: Absorbent article 20: Front waistline area 25: Inseam area 30: Rear waistline area 35: Leg opening 40: Absorbent body 42: First area (high weight area)
44: 2nd area | region (low weight area)
200: Folding device 260: Folding plate 262: Folding plate tip 300: Folding device 360: Folding plate 361: Rotating shaft 362: Folding plate tip F: Folding line W: Absorber width direction (first direction)
W1: Length of the tip of the folded plate W2: Length in the width direction of the absorbent body on the fold line W3: Length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the fold line L: Longitudinal direction of the absorbent body (second direction) )
L1: Thickness width at the tip of the folded plate L2: Width of the low weight area

Claims (6)

A first region made of an absorbent material having a first basis weight and a second region made of an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight, and the second region. Is a folding device that folds an absorbent article that includes an absorbent body in which the first region is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a part of the second region extends along a first direction. ,
A folding plate having a tip extending along one direction;
The folded plate has the absorptivity in a state where the tip of the folded plate is oriented along the first direction and at least a part of the tip of the folded plate is located on the second region. It has been configured to be pressed to the article,
The folding device, wherein a thickness of the tip of the folding plate is smaller than a width of the second region along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction . The folding device according to claim 1, wherein the folding plate is configured to push at least both outer edge portions in the width direction of the absorbent body on a folding line for folding the absorbent article. The folding plate, at least, said both outer edges in the width direction of the absorber, the is configured to press, and the absorbent article in the width direction outside than both outer edges, according to claim 2 Folding device. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the folding plate is formed of a plate having a tip that is longer than at least a width direction length of the absorbent body on a folding line for folding the absorbent article. . The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a positioning device that adjusts a relative position between the folding plate and the absorbent article. A first region made of an absorbent material having a first basis weight and a second region made of an absorbent material having a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight, and the second region. Is a folding method of folding an absorbent article including an absorbent body in which the first region is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a part of the second region extends along a first direction,
The folding plate extending in one direction is oriented along the first direction and at least a part of the leading end of the folding plate is positioned on the second region. viewing including the step of pressing the plate in the absorbent article,
The folding method, wherein a thickness of the tip of the folded plate is smaller than a width of the second region along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction .

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