JP6155031B2 - Welding device and welding method for sheet-like member according to absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a welding apparatus and a welding method for welding a sheet-like member relating to an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

  Conventionally, in a production line for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, a welded portion is formed on a sheet-like member formed by superimposing a plurality of continuous sheets such as films and nonwoven fabrics. A plurality of combined continuous sheets are welded and joined. Such a welding process is performed by a welding apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a welding apparatus 120 disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.
The welding apparatus 120 includes an anvil roll 130 and a head member 140 disposed to face the outer peripheral surface 130 a of the anvil roll 130. In the apparatus 120, the sheet-like member 1a is driven and rotated while the sheet-like member 1a is wound around and held on the outer peripheral surface 130a of the anvil roll 130, whereby the sheet-like member 1a is moved along the outer peripheral surface 130a. It is transported along the route Tr1a. Further, the head member 140 orbits a predetermined orbital track Tr140 so as to perform a so-called box motion. That is, the orbit Tr140 includes a first path Tr140a corresponding to the movement path Tr1a and a start end of the first path Tr140a from the end Pae of the first path Tr140a with the head member 140 substantially detached from the first path Tr140a. And a second path Tr140b for returning the head member 140 to Pas.

  When the welding target portion (not shown) of the sheet-like member 1a moves along the moving path Tr1a, the head member 140 is configured to move along the first path Tr140a. 140 moves together with the outer peripheral surface 130a of the anvil roll 130 so as to sandwich the portion to be welded. Further, during this movement, the head member 140 inputs ultrasonic vibration energy as welding energy toward the welding target portion, thereby melting the welding target portion to form a welding portion (not shown). Then, before the next welding target portion enters the moving path Tr1a, the head member 140 moves along the second path Tr140b and returns to the starting end Pas of the first path Tr140a. A welding process is performed on the shaped member 1a.

  In Patent Document 1, the above-described revolving operation of the head member 140 is realized as follows. First, the head member 140 is guided by appropriate guide members 145a and 145b so as to be movable in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In addition, an endless groove cam 147a having a shape corresponding to the circular orbit Tr140 of the head member 140 is provided at a fixed position so as not to move, and the groove cam 147a includes a guide provided on the head member 140. The roller 147b is engaged. Further, a crank mechanism 148 is used as a drive mechanism for the head member 140. Specifically, the crank mechanism 148 includes a disk member 148a that is driven and rotated around a center C148a by a servo motor (not shown), and a link member 148b that connects the position displaced from the center C148a of the disk member 148a and the head member 140. And have. Then, when the disk member 148a is driven and rotated, a driving force is transmitted to the head member 140 via the link member 148b, and the head member 140 orbits the above-described orbit Tr140 while being guided by the groove cam 147a. .

Japanese Patent No. 5085801

  Here, in the circular trajectory Tr140, the trajectory portion TrPbs including the start end Pbs of the second path Tr140b (which also corresponds to the end Pae of the first path Tr140a) and the end Pbe (at the start end Pas of the first path Tr140a). The moving direction of the head member 140 is reversed in each of the track portions TrPpe including the same), but the crank mechanism 148 as described above does not easily perform a smooth reversing operation, that is, the starting end Pbs of the second path Tr140b is The guide roller 147b of the head member 140 may be caught by the groove cam 147a in the track portion TrPbe including the track portion TrPbs and the terminal end Pbe, and the turning operation of the head member 140 may be stopped.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to stably perform the revolving operation of the head member.

The main invention for achieving the above object is:
A welding apparatus that forms welding portions on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
A transport mechanism for transporting the sheet-shaped member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member along the outer peripheral surface while holding the sheet-shaped member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
A head member provided to face the outer peripheral surface;
The head member is circulated along a circular path having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the terminal end of the first path to the start end of the first path. A drive mechanism;
An energy input mechanism for supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. Prepared,
The drive mechanism includes an endless member in which the head member is connected to a predetermined portion, and a drive source that rotates the endless member ,
The drive mechanism has a guide member that guides the head member so that the head member moves along the first path,
The guide member includes a plurality of guide rollers provided in the head member side by side in the circumferential direction of the orbit, and the guide member is restricted from moving in the rotational radius direction of the rotary member, A pair of guide surfaces that allow movement along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface,
An orientation of the head member passing through the first path is changed based on contact between the plurality of guide rollers and the pair of guide surfaces . It is a welding device.

Also,
In this welding method, a welding part is formed on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
Conveying the sheet-like member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member while holding the sheet-like member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
Preparing a head member facing the outer peripheral surface;
Using a drive mechanism along the orbit having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the end of the first path to the start of the first path Orbiting the head member;
Supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. ,
In circling, the head member is circulated using an endless member in which the head member is connected to a predetermined portion and a drive source that circulates the endless member ,
The drive mechanism has a guide member that guides the head member so that the head member moves along the first path,
The guide member includes a plurality of guide rollers provided in the head member side by side in the circumferential direction of the orbit, and the guide member is restricted from moving in the rotational radius direction of the rotary member, A pair of guide surfaces that allow movement along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface,
An orientation of the head member passing through the first path is changed based on contact between the plurality of guide rollers and the pair of guide surfaces . It is a welding method.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, the head member can be stably rotated.

It is a schematic side view of the conventional welding apparatus 120. 2A and 2B are explanatory views of the base material 1a of the diaper 1 conveyed to the welding apparatus 20, both of which are schematic perspective views. 3A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20, and FIG. 3B is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3A. It is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20 which has two guide rollers 45a and 45a as a some example. FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20 when the plate member 42 and the head member 40 fixed to the chain 41 are connected in a state where relative rotation is allowed, and FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of FIG. It is a BB arrow line view in the inside. The welding apparatus 20 in the case where the direction of the oscillating surface 40as of the head member 40 is made substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 by the circular shape of the chain track Tr41 without providing the guide member 45. It is a schematic side view. FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20 in the case where a guide member 49 that guides the chain 41 along the linear track is provided in the track portion corresponding to the spanning range R43 in the chain track Tr41. 7B is a BB arrow line view in FIG. 7A. FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20a of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a view taken along arrow BB in FIG. 8A.

  At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A welding apparatus that forms welding portions on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
A transport mechanism for transporting the sheet-shaped member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member along the outer peripheral surface while holding the sheet-shaped member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
A head member provided to face the outer peripheral surface;
The head member is circulated along a circular path having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the terminal end of the first path to the start end of the first path. A drive mechanism;
An energy input mechanism for supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. Prepared,
The drive mechanism includes a sheet-like member welding apparatus according to an absorbent article, comprising: an endless member in which the head member is coupled to a predetermined portion; and a drive source that circulates the endless member. is there.

  According to such a welding apparatus, since the head member is connected to the predetermined portion of the endless member, the head member also circulates integrally with the predetermined portion based on the circulation of the endless member. Therefore, by setting the orbit of the endless member substantially along the vicinity of the orbit of the head member, the head member has the orbit on the entire circumference of the orbit. The driving force in the direction to be moved along is surely and directly applied from the endless member, so that the head member circulates stably over the entire circumference of the orbit.

A welding device for a sheet-like member according to such an absorbent article,
The drive mechanism has a guide member that guides the head member so that the head member moves along the first path,
The guide member includes a plurality of guide rollers provided in the head member side by side in the circumferential direction of the orbit, and the guide member is restricted from moving in the rotational radius direction of the rotary member, It is desirable to have a pair of guide surfaces that allow movement of the outer peripheral surface along the circumferential direction.

  According to such a welding device, the plurality of guide rollers are restricted by the pair of guide surfaces from moving in the rotational radial direction of the rotating member, but are moved along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member. Is allowed. Therefore, the head member can move smoothly along the circumferential direction of the rotating member via the guide roller. In addition, since the plurality of guide rollers are provided in the head member in a state of being arranged in the circulation direction of the orbit, the direction of the head member is determined based on the contact between the plurality of guide rollers and the pair of guide surfaces. Is appropriately changed so as to have a substantially constant orientation with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member. Therefore, the surface of the head member that should face the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member during the welding process can be directed substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member over substantially the entire length of the first path. As a result, the welding energy can be efficiently input to the sheet-like member.

A welding device for a sheet-like member according to such an absorbent article,
It is preferable that a guide surface that guides the movement of the guide roller is not provided for the track portion including the start end of the second path and the track portion including the end of the second path in the circular track.

  According to such a welding apparatus, the guide surface for guiding the movement of the guide roller is provided for the track portion including the start end of the second path and the track portion including the end of the second path among the circular tracks. It is not done. Therefore, the reversal of the moving direction of the head member performed in these track portions can be performed more smoothly.

A welding device for a sheet-like member according to such an absorbent article,
The rotating member rotates along the outer peripheral surface by rotating around the rotation axis of the rotating member,
In the first path, both the predetermined surface of the head member and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member are in a state of sandwiching the sheet-like member,
The connection structure for connecting the head member to the endless member connects the head member and the endless member in a state in which relative rotation about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member is allowed. Is desirable.

  According to such a welding apparatus, the head member and the endless member are connected in a state in which relative rotation around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member is allowed. The predetermined surface of the head member to be opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member can be directed substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member over substantially the entire length of the first path. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the direction of the head member by bending deformation of the endless member, and it is possible to effectively prevent an excessive load from being applied to the endless member.

A welding device for a sheet-like member according to such an absorbent article,
The movement path is set to an arc-shaped path concentric with the outer peripheral surface, corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member,
The first path is set to an arc-shaped path concentric with the movement path, corresponding to the movement path,
Of the trajectory around the endless member, the trajectory portion corresponding to the first path is preferably set to an arc-shaped path concentric with the first path, corresponding to the first path. .

According to such a welding apparatus, the first path of the head member is set to an arc-shaped path concentric with the movement path, corresponding to the movement path of the sheet-like member, and the endless member is Of the orbits that circulate, the orbital portion corresponding to the first path is set as an arc-shaped path concentric with the first path, corresponding to the first path.
Therefore, based on the fact that the track portion of the endless member corresponding to the first path of the head member is an arc-shaped path concentric with the first path, the direction of the head member moving along the first path is The rotation member is appropriately changed so as to be in a substantially constant state with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rotation member. As a result, during the welding process, the surface of the head member that should face the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member can be directed substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member over substantially the entire length of the moving path. This makes it possible to efficiently put the welding energy into the sheet-like member.

Also,
In this welding method, a welding part is formed on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
Conveying the sheet-like member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member while holding the sheet-like member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
Preparing a head member facing the outer peripheral surface;
The head member circulates along a circular path having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the terminal end of the first path to the start end of the first path. And
Supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. ,
In the circling, the head member is circulated using an endless member in which the head member is connected to a predetermined portion and a drive source that circulates the endless member. It is the welding method of the sheet-like member which concerns on this.

  According to such a welding method, since the head member is connected to the predetermined portion of the endless member, the head member also circulates integrally with the predetermined portion based on the circulation of the endless member. Therefore, by setting the orbit of the endless member substantially along the vicinity of the orbit of the head member, the head member has the orbit on the entire circumference of the orbit. The driving force in the direction to be moved along is surely and directly applied from the endless member, so that the head member circulates stably over the entire circumference of the orbit.

=== First Embodiment ===
The welding apparatus 20 according to the present invention is an apparatus that forms the welded portions 14 at a predetermined pitch P1, for example, while spacing the continuous sheet-like member 1a conveyed on the production line in the conveying direction. And here, the base material 1a of the underpants type diaper 1 is illustrated as the said sheet-like member 1a.

  2A and 2B are explanatory views of the base material 1a of the diaper 1 conveyed to the welding apparatus 20, both of which are schematic perspective views. 2B shows a state immediately before being transferred to the welding apparatus 20, and FIG. 2A further shows a state before the base material 1a is in the state shown in FIG. 2B.

  At the time of FIG. 2A, the base material 1a of the diaper 1 is a continuous sheet 2a that becomes the top sheet 2 that should be positioned on the skin side of the wearer, and a continuous sheet 3a that becomes the back sheet 3 that should be positioned on the non-skin side, .. Are disposed between the continuous sheets 2a, 3a, and have absorbent bodies 4, 4... Such as pulp fibers disposed intermittently at a product pitch P1 in the conveying direction. And these three parties 2a, 3a, 4 are in a state where they are pasted together and deployed together.

  At this time, the leg-hole opening 8 has already been formed between the absorbers 4 and 4 adjacent to each other in the transport direction, and the leg-hole opening 8 and the crotch part 13 are formed. The elastic member 6 that imparts stretchability to the leg opening 8 is adhered, and the waist elastic member 5 that imparts stretchability to the waist is also provided along the end corresponding to the waist. It is stuck.

  Then, immediately before being fed into the welding apparatus 20, the base material 1a in the unfolded state in FIG. 2A is folded in half with the crotch part 13 which is a substantially central part in the width direction as a folding position. The material 1a is sent to the welding apparatus 20 in a folded state as shown in FIG. 2B. That is, the part corresponding to the front body 10 and the part corresponding to the back body 11 of the diaper 1 are conveyed to the welding apparatus 20 in a state where they are superposed vertically.

  However, in the base material 1a of the diaper 1 at this time, the portion corresponding to the front body 10 and the portion corresponding to the back body 11 that are overlapped with each other are still unjoined. Therefore, the welding apparatus 20 performs a welding process on the portion 1e corresponding to the side end portion 1e around the waist of the diaper 1 to form the welded portion 14 with respect to the base material 1a. The stage 10 and the back body 11 are joined.

  Here, the welding target portion 1e, that is, the portion 1e corresponding to the side end portion 1e around the trunk of the diaper 1 appears on both sides of the absorbent body 4 at the product pitch P1 in the transport direction on the substrate 1a. Therefore, the welding apparatus 20 forms the welding part 14 by the product pitch P1 in the conveyance direction in the part 1e of the both sides of the absorber 4 among the base materials 1a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2B, at least a pair of welding portions 14 and 14 are formed side by side in the transport direction for one welding target portion 1 e. And the base material 1a in which this welding part 14 was formed is sent to a lower process, and in the said lower process, the base material 1a is parted sequentially in the position 1c between said pair of welding parts 14 and 14, Thereby, the diaper 1 which has the opening part around the trunk | drum and a pair of leg periphery opening parts 8 and 8 is produced | generated.

  Examples of the material of the continuous sheet 2a of the top sheet 2 and the continuous sheet 3a of the back sheet 3 include non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, and films made of a heat-weldable material such as a thermoplastic resin. The material is not limited to this as long as it is a material that can be melted and joined.

3A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20, and FIG. 3B is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3B, hatching that should originally be shown in the cross-sectional portion is omitted for some members in order to prevent complication of the drawing.
Moreover, in the following description, the conveyance direction of the base material 1a in a manufacturing line is also called "MD direction." In addition, since this base material 1a is conveyed along the continuous direction where the said base material 1a continues, the MD direction is also a longitudinal direction which is a continuous direction of the base material 1a. Moreover, the width direction of the base material 1a among the two directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the base material 1a is also referred to as “CD direction”. In this example, the CD direction is in the horizontal direction. Incidentally, the three of the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction of the substrate 1a are orthogonal to each other.

  The welding apparatus 20 includes an anvil roll 30 as a rotating member and a single head member 40 disposed to face the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the anvil roll 30. Then, in the apparatus 20, the anvil roll 30 is driven and rotated in a predetermined rotation direction Dc30 while the base material 1a of the diaper 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 and held in a state where there is almost no relative slip. The base material 1a is transported by an arc-shaped moving path Tr1a that is concentric and similar to the outer peripheral surface 30a. On the other hand, the head member 40 orbits a predetermined orbital trajectory Tr40 so as to perform a so-called box motion. That is, the circular orbit Tr40 includes a first path Tr40a defined in an arc shape concentric and similar to the movement path Tr1a corresponding to the movement path Tr1a of the substrate 1a, and the head member 40 from the first path Tr40a. The second path Tr40b is defined so as to return the head member 40 from the terminal end Pae of the first path Tr40a to the start end Pas of the first path Tr40a in a substantially separated state.

  And the said movement path | route Tr1a is welded part 1e (not shown in FIG. 3A and 3B) of the base material 1a, ie, the said welding parts 14 and 14 (not shown in FIG. 3A and 3B) among the base materials 1a. When the portion 1e to be formed moves, the head member 40 is configured to move in synchronization (synchronization) with the base 1a along the first path Tr40a. In cooperation with the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30, the welding target portion 1e of the base material 1a is moved while being slightly pinched. Further, during this movement, the head member 40 inputs ultrasonic vibration energy as welding energy toward the welding target portion 1e. As a result, the welding target portion 1e is melted, and the welded portions 14, 14 are formed in the portion 1e. Then, before the next welding target portion 1e enters the moving path Tr1a, the head member 40 moves along the second path Tr40b and returns to the starting end Pas of the first path Tr40a. The welding process to the base material 1a is performed.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the welding apparatus 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the anvil roll 30 has a cylindrical body whose cross-sectional shape is a perfect circle, for example. The circular center of the cross-sectional shape is provided with a rotation axis C30 concentrically, and can be rotated around the rotation axis C30 by an appropriate bearing member (not shown) in a posture in which the rotation axis C30 is directed in the CD direction. The anvil roll 30 is supported. The anvil roll 30 is driven and rotated in one direction by a servo motor (not shown) as a drive source. For example, in the example of FIG. 3A, the anvil roll 30 is driven and rotated with the counterclockwise direction as the rotation direction Dc.

  In addition, the anvil roll 30 may have an anvil part (not shown) which protrudes from the peripheral part in the substantially same planar shape as the above-mentioned welding parts 14 and 14 in the outer peripheral surface 30a. And if it has such an anvil part, the ultrasonic vibration energy thrown from the head member 40 can be selectively input into the part 1e which contacts an anvil part among the base materials 1a, This makes it possible to form strong welds 14 and 14. Incidentally, a plurality of such anvil portions may be provided at predetermined angles in the rotation direction Dc of the anvil roll 30, and in this case, the predetermined angle depends on the rotation direction Dc on the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the anvil roll 30. Is set to an angle such that the length of the diaper is approximately equal to the length corresponding to one diaper 1. In addition, the servo motor as a drive source is rotated so that the anvil roll 30 is rotated by the predetermined angle as the base material 1a is fed from the above process by a length corresponding to one diaper 1. It is controlled by an appropriate control unit such as a computer or a PLC (programmable logic controller), so that each welding target portion 1e of the base material 1a is selectively placed on the anvil portion of the anvil roll 30. It has become. Such a rotation operation is realized, for example, by controlling the position of the servo motor based on the synchronization signal.

  The synchronization signal is output from a sensor such as a rotary encoder that measures the conveyance amount of the base material 1a in a device that is a reference for a production line (for example, a rotary die cutter device that punches and forms the opening 8 around the leg). . And the said synchronous signal makes each rotation angle value of 0 degrees-360 degrees proportional to conveyance amount for the conveyance amount (approximately the same value as the above-mentioned product pitch P1) for one diaper which is a product as a unit conveyance amount, for example. This is an assigned rotation angle signal. In other words, when only one diaper is transported, a rotation angle value from 0 ° to 360 ° is output, and each time one diaper is transported, a rotation angle value from 0 ° to 360 ° is output periodically. Repeated. However, the synchronization signal is not limited to any rotation angle signal. For example, a digital signal obtained by assigning each digital value of 0 to 8191 to the unit carry amount in proportion to the carry amount may be used as the synchronization signal.

  The head member 40 includes, for example, an ultrasonic horn 40a that circulates the above-described orbit Tr40, and the ultrasonic horn 40a is an ultrasonic vibration generator (not shown) that generates ultrasonic vibration energy (corresponding to an energy input mechanism). )It is connected to the. The ultrasonic horn 40a has a surface 40as (corresponding to a predetermined surface) that can face the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30, and the ultrasonic vibration energy supplied from the ultrasonic vibration generator from the surface 40as. To emit. Then, a portion 1e that contacts the surface 40as (hereinafter also referred to as the oscillation surface 40as) of the substrate 1a is melted by frictional heat generation or the like by ultrasonic vibration energy, and thereby the welded portion 14 is bonded to the portion 1e. Form.

  The circling operation of the head member 40 is performed by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism corresponds to a chain 41 such as a roller chain as an endless member, a servo motor (not shown) as a drive source that circulates the chain 41 via the sprocket 43, and the movement path Tr1a of the base 1a. And a guide member 45 for guiding the head member 40 to move along the first path Tr40a. The head member 40 is connected to the predetermined portion 41p of the chain 41, whereby the head member 40 circulates integrally with the predetermined portion 41p of the chain 41 based on the circulation of the chain 41.

  Therefore, by setting the trajectory Tr41 of the chain 41 substantially along the vicinity of the orbit Tr40 while positioning the orbit Tr41 of the chain 41 on the inner side of the orbit Tr40 of the head member 40, the orbit At all positions along the entire circumference of the Tr 40, the head member 40 is reliably and directly given a driving force in a direction to move along the orbital trajectory Tr40. The head member 40 circulates stably over the entire circumference of the Tr 40.

  Here, the circular orbit Tr41 (hereinafter also referred to as the chain orbit Tr41) of the chain 41 is generally determined by the arrangement positions of the sprockets 43 and 43 around which the chain 41 is wound. The sprockets 43 are arranged one by one at each position sandwiching the moving path Tr1a of the base material 1a from both sides in the MD direction. Therefore, a part Tr41p of the chain track Tr41 is substantially along the path Tr1a over substantially the entire length of the movement path Tr1a.

  Strictly speaking, the track portion Tr41p corresponding to the moving path Tr1a in the chain track Tr41 is a portion Tr41p spanned between the pair of sprockets 43, 43, so that the track portion Tr41p forms a straight track. ing. That is, the track portion Tr41p is not an arc-shaped track corresponding to the movement path Tr1a, and even if the head member 40 is moved along the track portion Tr41p, the head member 40 is moved along the movement path Tr1a. A linear movement different from the movement of the circular shape along the line is caused. Furthermore, in other words, in this state, the first path Tr40a, which is the orbital portion corresponding to the movement path Tr1a, out of the orbital track Tr40 of the head member 40 does not follow the movement path Tr1a.

  Therefore, in this example, the guide member 45 is provided so as to correspond to the movement path Tr1a. Accordingly, the first orbital portion corresponding to the movement path Tr1a in the orbital track Tr40 of the head member 40 is provided. The route Tr40a is made to follow the movement route Tr1a. That is, with respect to the first path Tr40a, the chain 41 functions merely as a driving force applied to the head member 40, and the guide member 45 is responsible for guiding the head member 40 in the moving direction. However, a separate guide member is not provided for the second path Tr40b, which is the orbital portion other than the first path Tr40a in the orbital track Tr40, and therefore the chain 41 of the head member 40 is not provided for the second path Tr40b. It is also responsible for the direction of travel.

  By the way, the chain 41 has a plurality of pieces as is well known, and each piece is joined so as to be rotatable relative to each other by, for example, pin joining. It is connected endlessly. Therefore, when each part of the chain 41 passes through a spanning range R43, which is a range spanned between the pair of sprockets 43, 43, each part can be flexibly deformed. Therefore, even when a part of the chain track Tr41 is forcibly corrected by the above-described guide member 45, the chain 41 is caused by the linear track that is the original track of the chain 41 and the guide member 45 based on its own deflection deformation. The difference from the arc-shaped track is quickly absorbed, so that the chain 41 can smoothly circulate even under the correction of the track by the guide member 45.

  The guide member 45 is arranged in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 while restricting movement of the guide roller 45a in the rotational radius direction Dr of the guide roller 45a provided on the head member 40 and the anvil roll 30. And a rail member 45b that allows movement along. The rail member 45b has a pair of guide surfaces 45b1 and 45b2. One guide surface 45b1 is provided concentrically and in a similar shape to the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 so as to restrict the movement of the guide roller 45a inward in the rotational radius direction Dr, and the other guide surface 45b2 is rotated. In order to restrict the movement of the guide roller 45a outward in the radial direction Dr, the anvil roll 30 is positioned outside the rotational radius direction Dr by the approximate diameter dimension of the guide roller 45a from the one guide surface 45b1. It is concentric with the outer peripheral surface 30a and has a similar shape. Thus, the head member 40 is guided to the rail member 45b through the engagement between the guide roller 45a and the rail member 45b, and as a result, the head member 40 is moved along the movement path Tr1a of the substrate 1a. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in this example, two chains 41, 41 are arranged side by side in the CD direction, and the pair of sprockets 43, 43 are also connected to the CD. Two pairs are arranged in parallel in the direction. A plate member 42 is fixed to the predetermined portions 41p and 41p in the circumferential direction of the two chains 41 and 41 so as to be spanned between the chains 41 and 41, and the head member 40 is fixed to one surface of the plate member 42. Is fixed. In this way, if the two chains 41 are arranged in parallel in the CD direction, the rotating operation of the head member 40 can be further stabilized. However, the number of the chains 41 is not limited to this, and may be one or three or more.

  The servo motor that drives the sprocket 43 is controlled by an appropriate control unit such as a computer or PLC. The control unit controls the position of the servo motor based on the synchronization signal. That is, in the memory of the control unit, data in which each rotation angle value from 0 ° to 360 ° related to the synchronization signal is associated with each position of the chain track Tr41 or the circular track Tr40 of the bed member 40 is recorded in advance. Then, the control unit controls the position of the servo motor based on both the data and the synchronization signal input to the control unit, so that the substrate 1a is transported by a unit transport amount that is a transport amount for one diaper. Each time, the head member 40 makes one rotation on the circular trajectory Tr40. Incidentally, the speed value of the head member 40 when making one rotation of the circular trajectory Tr40 may be a constant value over the entire circumference, or the speed value in the first path Tr40a and the speed value in the second path Tr40b are different. The gears may be changed periodically as described above. However, in both cases, the above data is set so that the speed value in the first path Tr40a is aligned with the speed value of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 that is the speed value of the base material 1a in the movement path Tr1a. Needless to say.

  By the way, in the example of FIG. 3A, the guide member 45 has only one guide roller 45a. Preferably, however, a plurality of guide rollers 45a, 45a are circular orbits as in the example of the schematic side view of FIG. It is good to be provided along with the circumference direction of Tr40. Then, based on the contact between the plurality of guide rollers 45a and 45a and the pair of guide surfaces 45b1 and 45b2 of the rail member 45b, the direction of the head member 40 passing through the first path Tr40a can be achieved. Is appropriately changed so as to have a substantially constant orientation with respect to the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the anvil roll 30. That is, the direction of the head member 40 is continuously changed so that the oscillation surface 40as of the head member 40 is substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 over substantially the entire length of the first path Tr40a. As a result, it is possible to efficiently input ultrasonic vibration energy to the substrate 1a.

  However, if three or more guide rollers 45a are provided, it may be difficult to smoothly guide the head member 40. From the viewpoint of smoothness of the guide, two guides are provided as in the example of FIG. It is desirable to provide rollers 45a and 45a.

  Desirably, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the plate member 42 and the head member 40 fixed to the chain 41 are allowed to rotate relative to each other about an axis C40 parallel to the rotation axis C30 of the anvil roll 30. It is good to connect to the state. 5A is an enlarged schematic side view showing the vicinity of the plate member 42, and FIG. 5B is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. 5A.

In this example, the plate member 42 and the head member 40 are so-called pin-bonded by a predetermined connection structure. That is, the connection structure includes a through hole 42h formed in the connecting plate 42a provided integrally with the plate member 42 along the CD direction, and a through hole 40h formed in the head member 40 along the CD direction. The pin member 40p is inserted into the through holes 42h and 40h along the CD direction in a state where the through holes 42h and 40h are overlapped with each other.
In this way, the oscillation surface 40as of the head member 40 is caused to rotate around the entire length of the first path Tr40a by the relative rotation between the plate member 42 and the head member 40 exclusively. The direction can be substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the surface 30a. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the direction of the head member 40 depending on the bending deformation of the chain 41, and it is possible to effectively prevent an excessive load from being applied to the chain 41.

  Such a connection structure is not limited to the above-described pin connection structure. In other words, any connection structure other than those described above can be used as long as the plate member 42 and the head member 40 can be connected in a state in which relative rotation about the axis C40 parallel to the rotation axis C30 of the anvil roll 30 is allowed. Is possible.

  Incidentally, depending on the circular shape of the chain track Tr41, the direction of the oscillation surface 40as of the head member 40 moving along the first path Tr40a is set to be the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 without providing the guide member 45 described above. It can be directed almost parallel. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing an example. In the example of FIG. 6, the track portion Tr41p corresponding to the moving route Tr1a in the chain track Tr41, that is, the track portion Tr41p corresponding to the first route Tr40a is concentric with the moving route Tr1a by the auxiliary sprockets 43s, 43s. It is formed in a similar arc shape. Therefore, when the head member 40 moves along the track portion Tr40a, the head 40 is oscillated by the arc-shaped chain 41 so that the oscillation surface 40as of the head member 40 is substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30. The direction of the member 40 is changed. Therefore, the above-described guide member 45 can be omitted.

Further, desirably, as in the example of FIGS. 7A and 7B, in addition to the guide member 45 described above, the span range R43 (the range between the pair of sprockets 43, 43) is further included in the chain track Tr41. R43) is provided with a guide member 49 that guides the chain 41 along a linear track that the chain 41 should originally form, thereby suppressing the vibration of the chain 41 that may occur as the chain 41 rotates. In this way, the circulation operation may be stabilized. The guide member 49 is perpendicular to the linear track while allowing the guide roller 49a provided on the plate member 42 fixed to the chain 41 and the guide roller 49a to move in a direction parallel to the linear track. And a rail member 49b for restricting the movement of the guide roller 49a. As a result, the portion of the chain 41 passing through the spanning range R43 is guided to the rail member 49b via the guide roller 49a and the plate member 42, thereby stabilizing the rotating operation of the chain 41. be able to.
The rail member 49b may be provided for both the span range R43 of the first path Tr40a and the span range R43 of the second path Tr40b, as shown in FIG. It may be provided only in the spanning range R43 of the route Tr40a or only in the spanning range R43 of the second route Tr40b.
However, in the case where the rail member 49b is provided in the spanning range R43 of the first path Tr40a, the head member 40 passing through the first path Tr40a follows the arc-shaped track by the other guide member 45 described above. Since the two guide members 45 and 49 guide each other, the head members 40 and the chain 41 may not be properly guided because the guides interfere with each other. Therefore, in this case, in order to avoid such a problem of interference, the plate member 42 and the head member 40 are connected by spline fitting or the like, whereby the plate member 42 and the plate member 42 in the direction orthogonal to the linear track. It is preferable to allow relative movement with the head member 40.

  By the way, in the case of the example of FIG. 7, the orbital portions TrPbs and TrPbe in which the moving direction of the head member 40 is reversed among the orbiting tracks Tr40 of the head member 40 are members that guide the movement of the head member 40. Although not provided at all other than the chain 41, according to such a configuration, the moving direction of the head member 40 can be reversed more smoothly. That is, both the orbital portion TrPbs including the start end Pbs of the second path Tr40b and the orbital portion TrPbe including the end Pbe of the second path Tr40b in the Tr40 of the orbital trajectory of the head member 40 respectively. The rail member 45b that engages with the guide roller 45a and the rail member 49b that engages with the guide roller 49a of the plate member 42 are not provided. Therefore, since the head member 40 is reversed only in accordance with the reversing operation by the chain 41 without any restriction by the rail members 45b and 49b, the head member 40 can be smoothly reversed.

=== Second Embodiment ===
FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of the welding apparatus 20a of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a view taken along arrow BB in FIG. 8A. In FIG. 8B, a part of the head member 40 is shown broken away.
In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 3B, the transport mechanism of the head member 40 has the two chains 41 and 41 arranged side by side in the CD direction. 8 is a pair of chain units 41U, the transport mechanism of the second embodiment of FIGS. 8A and 8B is different from the first embodiment in that it has two sets of chain units 41U and 41U. Is different. Since the other points are generally the same as those in the first embodiment, the differences will be mainly described below. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be described. Omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in both of the two sets of chain units 41U and 41U, the sprockets 43 and 43 are arranged at respective positions sandwiching the movement path Tr1a of the base material 1a from both sides in the MD direction.

  Here, when one chain unit 41U of the two sets of chain units 41U and 41U is the first unit 41U and the other chain unit 41U is the second unit 41U, the first unit 41U has the anvil roll 30. The second unit 41U is disposed at a position farther from the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 than the first unit 41U. The first unit 41U and the second unit 41U have substantially the same structure as each other, and are arranged with their positions in the CD direction aligned with each other.

  Then, the predetermined portion 41p of the chain 41 of the first unit 41U has a one end side portion 40e1 of both ends of the head member 40 via a plate member 42 and a bearing 42b, and a relative rotation around an axis C42 parallel to the CD direction. The other end side portion 40e2 of both ends of the head member 40 is connected to the predetermined portion 41p of the chain 41 of the second unit 41U via the plate member 42 and the bearing 42b. , And are connected in a state in which relative rotation around an axis C42 parallel to the CD direction is allowed. Then, when the chain 41 of the first unit 41U and the chain 41 of the second unit 41U perform the same orbiting operation in conjunction with each other, the head member 40 orbits the orbital track Tr40.

  The circular trajectory Tr40 is a first path Tr40a set corresponding to the movement path Tr1a of the substrate 1a, and the first path Tr1a from the end Pae of the first path Tr40a with the head member 40 substantially detached from the first path Tr40a. A second path Tr40b for returning the head member 40 to the starting end Pas of the path Tr40a. However, with only the first unit 41U and the second unit 41U, the track portion of the chain 41 corresponding to the first route Tr40a becomes a straight track as in the case of the first embodiment, and the moving route of the base material 1a. It does not become an arc-shaped trajectory corresponding to Tr1a. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the rail member 45b of the guide member 45 is provided corresponding to the movement path Tr1a of the substrate 1a, and the head member 40 includes A guide roller 45a that engages with the rail member 45b is provided. Thereby, the first path Tr40a is formed in an arc-shaped track Tr40a that is concentric and similar to the movement path Tr1a. Note that the difference between the arc-shaped track Tr40a and the linear track, which is the original track of the chain 41, is absorbed by the bending deformation of the chain 41, as in the first embodiment. In addition, if a plurality of guide rollers 45a are provided, the oscillation surface 40as of the head member 40 can be directed substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 in the first path Tr40a. It is the same.

  Incidentally, in this example, such guide members 45, 45 are provided at respective positions on both sides in the CD direction of the head member 40, whereby the head member 40 is supported at both ends. Thus, the tilt of the head member 40 in the CD direction can be suppressed. Thereby, the welding process can be stably performed through stabilization of the posture of the head member 40 and the state of the chain 41. It should be noted that this type of both-end support (both side support) guide members 45, 45 may be applied to the first embodiment in FIG. 3B and the example in FIG. 7B. That is, in the first embodiment of FIG. 3B and the example of FIG. 7B, the guide members 45 may be provided at positions on both sides of the head member 40 in the CD direction.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. Further, the present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the disposable diaper 1 that is attached to a wearing target and absorbs the excretory fluid is cited as an example of the absorbent article. However, any one that absorbs excreted fluid such as urine or menstrual blood is used. For example, a sanitary napkin or a pet sheet that absorbs the excretory fluid of the pet may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the chain 41 is exemplified as the endless member, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the endless member may be an endless belt. In this case, the endless belt is wound around at least a pair of pulleys and is circulated by a servo motor as a drive source connected to at least one of the pair of pulleys.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic vibration energy is exemplified as the welding energy, and the ultrasonic vibration generator is illustrated as the energy input mechanism that generates the ultrasonic vibration energy and inputs the ultrasonic vibration energy to the substrate 1a via the head member 40. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the welding energy is thermal energy, and an electric heater that generates heat by generating heat by power feeding may be used as the energy input mechanism.

  In the above-described embodiment, the guide member 45 including the guide roller 45a and the rail member 45b is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a groove cam may be used instead of the rail member 45b, and a cam follower may be used instead of the guide roller 45a.

  In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the anvil roll 30 was illustrated as a rotating member, it is not restricted to this at all. That is, any member that can rotate along the outer peripheral surface while holding the base material 1a of the absorbent article 1 on the outer peripheral surface can be used without any problem. For example, an endless belt may be applied as the rotating member.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet-like member 1a is a continuous body that is continuous in the transport direction (MD direction), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sheet-like member 1a may be a single-cut member having a size corresponding to one diaper. However, in this case, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for positively holding the sheet-like member 1 a on the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the rotating member 30. For example, an intake hole is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member, and the sheet-like member is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface by intake air from the intake hole.

  In the above-described embodiment, an ultrasonic vibration generator is connected to the head member 40 and ultrasonic vibration energy is input from the head member 40 to the substrate 1a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, depending on the case, an ultrasonic vibration generator may be connected to the outer peripheral surface 30a of the anvil roll 30 serving as the rotating member, and ultrasonic vibration energy may be input from the outer peripheral surface 30a to the substrate 1a.

1 disposable diapers (absorbent articles),
1a base material (sheet-like member), 1c position, 1e part,
2 surface sheet, 2a continuous sheet, 3 back sheet, 3a continuous sheet,
4 Absorber, 5 Elastic member, 6 Elastic member, 8 Opening around leg
10 front body, 11 back body, 13 inseam, 14 welded part,
20 welding device, 20a welding device,
30 anvil roll (rotating member), 30a outer peripheral surface,
40 head member, 40a ultrasonic horn, 40as oscillation surface (predetermined surface),
40e1 one end side part, 40e2 other end side part,
40h through hole, 40p pin member,
41 Chain (endless member),
41U chain unit, 41p predetermined part,
42 Plate member, 42a Connecting plate, 42h Through hole,
42b bearing,
43 sprocket, 43s auxiliary sprocket,
45 guide member, 45a guide roller,
45b rail member, 45b1 guide surface, 45b2 guide surface,
49 guide member, 49a guide roller, 49b rail member,
C30 rotation axis, C40 axis, C42 axis,
Pas Start of the first route, Pae End of the first route,
Pbs, the beginning of the second path, the end of the Pbe second path,
Tr1a substrate movement path (movement path),
Tr40 orbit, Tr40a first path, Tr40b second path,
Tr41 chain track, Tr41p track part,
TrPbs orbital part, TrPbe orbital part,
R43 spanning range,

Claims (4)

A welding apparatus that forms welding portions on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
A transport mechanism for transporting the sheet-shaped member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member along the outer peripheral surface while holding the sheet-shaped member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
A head member provided to face the outer peripheral surface;
The head member is circulated along a circular path having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the terminal end of the first path to the start end of the first path. A drive mechanism;
An energy input mechanism for supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. Prepared,
The drive mechanism includes an endless member in which the head member is connected to a predetermined portion, and a drive source that rotates the endless member ,
The drive mechanism has a guide member that guides the head member so that the head member moves along the first path,
The guide member includes a plurality of guide rollers provided in the head member side by side in the circumferential direction of the orbit, and the guide member is restricted from moving in the rotational radius direction of the rotary member, A pair of guide surfaces that allow movement along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface,
An orientation of the head member passing through the first path is changed based on contact between the plurality of guide rollers and the pair of guide surfaces . Welding equipment. A welding device for a sheet-like member according to claim 1 ,
A guide surface for guiding the movement of the guide roller is not provided for the track portion including the start end of the second route and the track portion including the end of the second route in the circular track. An apparatus for welding a sheet-like member according to an absorbent article. A welding device for a sheet-like member according to the absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The rotating member rotates along the outer peripheral surface by rotating around the rotation axis of the rotating member,
In the first path, both the predetermined surface of the head member and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member are in a state of sandwiching the sheet-like member,
The connection structure for connecting the head member to the endless member connects the head member and the endless member in a state in which relative rotation about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member is allowed. An apparatus for welding a sheet-like member according to an absorbent article. In this welding method, a welding part is formed on the sheet-like member by supplying welding energy to the sheet-like member while the sheet-like member relating to the absorbent article is conveyed along a predetermined movement path. And
Conveying the sheet-like member along the movement path by rotating the rotating member while holding the sheet-like member on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member;
Preparing a head member facing the outer peripheral surface;
Using a drive mechanism along the orbit having both a first path corresponding to the movement path and a second path for returning the head member from the end of the first path to the start of the first path Orbiting the head member;
Supplying the welding energy to the sheet-like member via the outer peripheral surface or the head member while the head member is moving along the first path of the orbit. ,
In circling, the head member is circulated using an endless member in which the head member is connected to a predetermined portion and a drive source that circulates the endless member ,
The drive mechanism has a guide member that guides the head member so that the head member moves along the first path,
The guide member includes a plurality of guide rollers provided in the head member side by side in the circumferential direction of the orbit, and the guide member is restricted from moving in the rotational radius direction of the rotary member, A pair of guide surfaces that allow movement along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface,
An orientation of the head member passing through the first path is changed based on contact between the plurality of guide rollers and the pair of guide surfaces . Welding method.

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