JP6188220B2 - Manufacturing method for pants-type wearing articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pants-type wearing article such as a pants-type disposable diaper.

  For example, pants-type wearing articles such as pants-type disposable diapers are folded in two so that the back side and the abdomen are overlapped after the absorbent main body is attached to the outer packaging material, and both side edges of the back side And the both side edges of the ventral part are joined to form a pants-type. Here, the bonding of both side edges is not peeled off during wearing, and from the viewpoint of peeling and using at the time of undressing, an appropriate bonding strength is required, and as a bonding method for obtaining such a bonding strength, For example, a bonding method by heat sealing in which a base sheet of an outer packaging material composed of a composite fiber including a heat-bonding fiber is melt-bonded is generally proposed.

By the way, as a factor which influences the joint strength of the side seal part which is a junction part formed in the both sides of a pants type wearing article, calorie | heat amount, a pressure, and sealing time are mentioned.
However, shortening the sealing time and applying a sufficient amount of heat and pressure are difficult to achieve at the same time.For example, ensuring a sufficient sealing time if the transport speed of the continuous body of the outer packaging material to be sealed is increased. It becomes difficult to cause insufficient bonding strength. On the other hand, increasing the amount of heat and pressure applied in a single sealing process increases the load on the equipment, increasing the equipment size (for example, increasing the capacity of motors and heaters), and replacing parts such as seal blocks and bearings. Inconvenience such as increased frequency occurs.

  The applicant first arranges a plurality of seal rolls around an anvil roll having a large diameter, and presses and heats the same portion of the continuous body of the outer packaging material a plurality of times by the plurality of seal rolls, After forming a seal part, the method of dividing | segmenting into each diaper was proposed (refer patent document 1, 2).

JP 2010-131833 A JP2013-126528A

The present inventors diligently studied a method for improving the bonding strength of the side seal portion formed by heat sealing, and after forming a pair of seal portions to be side seal portions of adjacent diapers, the seal portion is It has been found that when the seal portions are cut in a sufficiently softened state, a side seal portion that is contracted to increase the bonding strength can be obtained. The present invention has been completed based on such findings.
In this regard, the method of Patent Document 1 is a method of forcibly cooling the seal portion before the separation step of dividing into individual diapers, and an idea of improving the bonding strength of the side seal portion by contracting the seal portion. There is no. Also, Patent Document 2 does not have an idea of improving the bonding strength of the side seal portion by contracting the seal portion.

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pants-type wearing article capable of easily forming a side seal portion with high bonding strength.

  The present invention is a method for producing a pant-type wearing article that continuously produces a pant-type wearing article provided with an outer packaging material having a pair of side seal portions, wherein a plurality of elastic members are stretched between belt-like sheets. After superposing the arranged outer packaging material so that both sides of the outer packaging material continuous body in the conveying direction overlap, the superposed outer packaging material is placed at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction. In a state where the elastic member is extended, a sealing step of melting a constituent fiber of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material and heat-sealing to form a pair of seal portions in a heat seal region, and the pair of seal portions A separation step of separating and forming the pant-type wearing article having the side seal portion, and before the sealing step, the belt-like sheet and / or the outer packaging material in the heat-sealing region An adhesive is applied to the elastic member, and the separating step is performed by bringing the continuous body of the outer packaging material into contact with an anvil block heated to a temperature at which the constituent fibers of the belt-shaped sheet of the outer packaging material are melted. The manufacturing method of the pants | underpants type wearing article performed in the state which the seal | sticker part melt | dissolved or softened is provided.

  According to the method for manufacturing a pants-type wearing article of the present invention, a side seal portion with high bonding strength can be easily formed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pants-type disposable diaper obtained by an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a developed plan view showing a state where the pants-type disposable diaper shown in FIG. 1 is developed and extended. Fig.3 (a) is an enlarged plan view which shows the side seal part of the pants type disposable diaper shown in FIG. 1, FIG.3 (b) is an enlarged plan view which shows the side seal part of the conventional pants type disposable diaper. is there. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a processing apparatus suitably used for carrying out the manufacturing method of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sealing step is performed by the seal block of the seal roll and the anvil block of the anvil roll provided in the processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the separation process is performed between the anvil block and the cut roll of the anvil roll provided in the processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a process for producing a pants-type disposable diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing an outer packaging material continuous body in which a sealing step and a separation step are performed using the processing apparatus of FIG. 4.

Below, the manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article of this invention is demonstrated, referring drawings based on the preferable 1st embodiment.
First, a pants-type disposable diaper manufactured by the manufacturing method of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
A pants-type disposable diaper 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a liquid-retaining top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent back sheet 3, and a liquid-retaining absorption disposed between both sheets 2 and 3. A substantially vertically long absorbent main body 10 having an absorbent core 4, and an outer packaging material 11 arranged on the back sheet 3 side of the absorbent main body 10 and fixing the absorbent main body 10. In the present specification, “heat seal” includes not only a heat seal but also a high frequency seal and an ultrasonic seal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent main body 10 includes an hourglass-shaped absorbent core 4 that is bound inward in the center in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent core 4, the rectangular topsheet 2, and the rectangular backsheet 3 is formed into a vertically long shape. As the surface sheet 2, the back surface sheet 3, and the absorptive core 4, the thing similar to what was conventionally used for this kind of diaper can be used, respectively. For example, as the top sheet 2, liquid permeable sheets such as various nonwoven fabrics and perforated films subjected to hydrophilic treatment can be used, and as the back sheet 3, a thermoplastic resin film such as a polyethylene film, A liquid-impermeable or water-repellent sheet such as a laminate of the film and the nonwoven fabric can be used. The absorbent core 4 is composed of particles of a superabsorbent polymer and a fiber material, and is made of tissue paper (not shown). Can be used. Side cuffs 5 and 5 made of a liquid-resistant or water-repellent and breathable material are arranged on the left and right sides of the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction, and the free end portions of the side cuffs 5 are arranged. The side cuff elastic member 51 is arranged in an extended state in the vicinity of, and when the diaper is worn, the elastic member 51 contracts to form a three-dimensional gather where the side cuff 5 stands.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer packaging material 11 has an hourglass shape in which both side edges are bound inwardly in the center in the longitudinal direction, and defines the outline of the diaper (see FIG. 1). . As shown in FIG. 2, the diaper 1 is positioned between the abdominal side A disposed on the wearer's abdomen and the dorsal side B disposed on the dorsal side during wearing in the longitudinal direction in the deployed state. It is divided into the crotch part C. In the outer packaging material 11, both side edges A1 and A2 in the ventral side A and both side edges B1 and B2 in the back side B are joined to each other, and as a result, as shown in FIG. A pair of side seal portions S, S, a waist opening WO and a pair of leg openings LO are formed. Thus, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method of the first embodiment includes an outer packaging material 11 having a pair of side seal portions S, S.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer packaging material 11 has a structure in which an outer layer sheet 12 and an inner layer sheet 13 disposed on the inner surface side (absorbent body 10 side) of the outer layer sheet 12 are laminated. Yes. The outer layer sheet 12 forms the outer surface of the diaper 1, and the inner layer sheet 13 is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer layer sheet 12 and is partially joined. In the diaper 1, the outer layer sheet 12 extends further in the longitudinal direction than a region where a plurality of waist elastic members 14 described later are sandwiched and fixed by the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13, as shown in FIG. 2. This extended extension region is folded back toward the absorbent main body 10 to cover the longitudinal end of the absorbent main body 10, and an adhesive (not shown) is applied. Is fixed through. As the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13 of the outer packaging material 11, various sheet materials conventionally used for this type of article can be used without particular limitation. When the sheet material is a nonwoven fabric, it is preferably a single-layer sheet or a laminated sheet made of an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a melt blown nonwoven fabric, or the like from the viewpoint of flexibility.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer packaging material 11 includes elastic members 14, 15 and 16 between the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13. The outer packaging material 11 has a plurality of waist elastic members 14 and a plurality of waistline elastic members 15 arranged along the width direction on the stomach side A and the back side B of the diaper 1. . Further, the outer packaging material 11 has a plurality of leg portion elastic members 16 at the periphery of the leg opening LO. As the elastic members 14, 15, and 16, those obtained by forming a stretchable material such as natural rubber, polyurethane-based resin, and foamed urethane-based resin into a thread shape (thread rubber) or a belt shape (flat rubber) are preferably used.

  The waist elastic member 14 is arranged and fixed in a stretched state on the waist part located outward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in the deployed state, and these contract. Thereby, a waist gather is formed in a waist part. The waistline elastic member 15 is arranged in an expanded state and fixed to a waistline portion located inwardly (on the crotch C side) from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in the deployed state. When these shrink, a waistline gather is formed in the waistline part. In the diaper 1 </ b> A, the waistline elastic member 15 in each of the abdominal side A and the back side B is cut at a portion overlapping the absorbent main body 10. The leg elastic member 16 is arranged and fixed in an extended state from the abdominal side A to the crotch C, and another leg elastic member 16 extends from the back side B to the crotch C. Leg gathers are formed at the peripheral edge of the leg opening LO by contracting them. In the diaper 1, the leg elastic members 16, 16 are cut at the center in the width direction of the crotch C and divided into left and right.

  In joining the both side edges A1, A2 of the ventral side A and the side edges B1, B2 of the back side B, the outer layer sheet 12, the inner layer sheet 13, and the elastic members 14, 15 between these sheets 12, 13 are used. , 16 are joined to each other by an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive and a heat seal including a high frequency seal and an ultrasonic seal to form side seal portions S, S of the diaper 1 (FIG. 1). In the side seal portion S, a plurality of waist elastic members 14, a plurality of waistline elastic members 15, and a plurality of leg elastic members 16 are fixed between the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13, respectively. The side seal portion S is also contracted in the width direction by the contraction force of these elastic members 14, 15 and 16 (see FIG. 3A).

Next, the preferable embodiment of the manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article of this invention is demonstrated, referring to FIGS. 4-7 for the case where the underpants type disposable diaper 1 is manufactured as an example.
FIG. 4 schematically shows a processing apparatus 7 suitably used in the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the processing device 7 includes first to third seal rolls 71, 72, 73, a product cut roll 74, and an anvil roll 75 disposed to face these rolls 71 to 74. . That is, in the processing device 7, first to third seal rolls 71, 72, 73 and a product cut roll 74 are sequentially arranged around the peripheral surface 75 a of the same anvil roll 75. Thus, the processing apparatus 7 uses a plurality of seal rolls. Each of the rolls 71 to 75 is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4 while its rotational speed, heating temperature, and the like are controlled by a control unit (not shown) provided in the processing device 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first to third seal rolls 71, 72, and 73 are provided with seal blocks 710, 720, and 730, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, two seal blocks 710 of the first seal roll 71 are attached at positions that divide the roll circumferential direction into two equal parts. Each seal block 710 has a shape that is long in the axial direction of the first seal roll 71. Two protruding portions 711 are formed at the tip of each seal block 710 along the axial length direction. The seal blocks 720 and 730 of the second to third seal rolls 72 and 73 are the same as the seal block 710 of the first seal roll 71. The heating temperatures of the seal blocks 710, 720, and 730 are controlled by a control unit (not shown) included in the processing device 7.
A pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ formed by being sealed by two seal blocks 710, 720, and 730 and an anvil block 750 of an anvil roll 75 to be described later are separated as will be described later, and a side seal portion of the diaper is separated. S. The seal surfaces of the seal blocks 710, 720, and 730 are provided with a large number of fine convex portions, and a seal pattern pattern is formed on the side seal portion S of the diaper. In the processing apparatus 7, two seal blocks 710, 720, and 730 are attached to the seal rolls 71 to 73, respectively, but the number is not limited to two.

As shown in FIG. 4, an anvil block 750 is attached to the anvil roll 75. As shown in FIG. 4, six anvil blocks 750 of the anvil roll 75 are attached at positions that divide the roll circumferential direction into six equal parts. Each anvil block 750 has a shape that is long in the axial direction of the anvil roll 75. Two protrusions 751 are formed along the axial length direction at the tip of the anvil block 750. The tip 750a of each anvil block 750 is connected to the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75 as shown in FIG. It may be flush (there is a flat state with no step between the tip 750a of the anvil block 750 and the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75), and is arranged slightly inward from the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75. Also good. Moreover, in the processing apparatus 7, the anvil block 750 may be configured to be movable up and down from the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75 or from the inner side to the peripheral surface 75a. In that case, an elevating tool (not shown) is connected to the anvil block 750, and the elevating timing of the elevating tool (not shown) is controlled by the control unit (not shown) provided in the processing device 7.
The heating temperature of the anvil block 750 is controlled by the control unit (not shown) included in the processing device 7. In addition, although the six anvil blocks 750 are attached in the processing apparatus 7, it is not limited to six pieces.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a cutter blade 740 is attached to the product cut roll 74. As shown in FIG. 4, two cutter blades 740 of the product cut roll 74 are attached at positions that divide the roll circumferential direction into two equal parts, as shown in FIG. 4. Each cutter blade 740 is arranged over the axial length direction of the product cut roll 74, and cuts the diaper continuous body 100 and divides it into individual diapers 1. Although the temperature of the cutter blade 740 is not controlled, the temperature may be controlled by the control unit (not shown) included in the processing device 7 as necessary. In the processing apparatus 7, two cutter blades 740 are attached to the product cut roll 74, but the number is not limited to two.

Two convex portions 711 arranged at the tips of the seal blocks 710, 720, 730 of the first to third seal rolls 71, 72, 73 and two convex portions 751 of the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75 Are periodically opposed to each other as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the rotation of the rolls 71 to 74 by the control unit included in the processing device 7.
Further, the cutter blade 740 of the product cut roll 74 and the concave portion between the two convex portions 751 of the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75 are rotated by the control unit included in the processing device 7 to rotate the rolls 74 and 75. As a result, as shown in FIG.
As a result, the second seal roll 72 2 in the heat seal region HT heat-sealed by the two convex parts 711 of the first seal roll 71 and the two convex parts 751 of the anvil block 750. Heat seal is applied by overlapping the convex portions 711 of the strips and the two convex portions 751 of the anvil block 750, and further, the two convex portions 711 of the third seal roll 73 and the one strip of the anvil block 750. A heat seal is applied to the seal region HT by the convex portion 751 of the product, and then cut by the cutter blade 740 and the anvil block 750 of the product cut roll 74 so as to separate the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′. The

  Moreover, the processing apparatus 7 is provided with the introduction roll 76 which introduces the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 on the anvil roll 75, as shown in FIG. In the processing device 7, the diaper 1 continuum 100 is provided on the peripheral surface 75 a of the anvil roll 75 so that the tension in the conveyance direction of the diaper 1 continuum 100 introduced onto the anvil roll 75 can be kept constant. Are provided with a plurality of suction holes (not shown) for adsorbing to the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75. A number of suction holes (not shown) are connected to a suction machine (not shown) arranged outside the anvil roll 75, and the suction machine (not shown) is the control means (not shown) included in the processing device 7. The suction force is controlled by. Further, in the processing apparatus 7, the diaper 1 continuous body 100 together with the suction holes (not shown) can be transported with a constant tension in the transport direction of the diaper 1 continuous body 100 along the peripheral surface 75 a of the anvil roll 75. Another means for holding on is provided. As another means, a pair of scissors-like holders 78 that can be moved up and down from the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75 can be cited. By providing the hook-like holder 78 like this, the pair of hook-like tips and the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75 grip both sides of the diaper 1 continuous body 100 in the conveying direction. The diaper 1 continuous body 100 can be held on the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll 75, and the diaper 1 continuous body 100 can be transported with a constant tension in the transport direction. The raising / lowering timing of the hook-like holder 78 is controlled by the control means (not shown) included in the processing device 7.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the processing device 7 includes a product reversing machine 77 after the product cut roll 74 in the rotation direction of the peripheral surface 75 a of the anvil roll 75. The product reversing machine 77 includes a plurality of suction heads (not shown) that individually suck the diapers 1 cut by the cutter blade 740 of the product cut roll 74. When a packaging process is provided as a subsequent process of the sealing and separating process performed by the processing device 7, each suction head (not shown) is rotated along with the rotation of the product reversing machine 77 so as to match the conveying direction of the packaging process. The sucked diaper 1 may be turned 90 ° around an axis perpendicular to the suction surface of the suction head (not shown).

  As described above, the control unit (not shown) included in the processing device 7 is configured so that the rotation speeds of the first to third seal rolls 71, 72, 73, the product cut roll 74 and the anvil roll 75, the seal block 710, 720, 730, cutter blade 740 and heating temperature of anvil block 750, and the suction force of a suction machine (not shown) to which a suction hole (not shown) is connected, and / or a hand-like holder for scissors ( (Not shown) is controlled. Moreover, the said control part (not shown) with which the processing apparatus 7 is provided controls the raising / lowering timing of the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75, when having an raising / lowering mechanism as mentioned above. The control unit (not shown) includes a CPU such as a microcomputer that substantially controls the entire processing apparatus 7, a ROM that stores necessary fixed information such as a control program executed by the CPU and various data, A RAM used as a work area at the time of execution of processing by the CPU, an operator input device for the numerical control device, and the like are provided. Therefore, the processing conditions in the sealing process described later using the first to third seal rolls 71, 72, 73 and the processing conditions in the cutting process described later using the product cut roll 74 can be adjusted independently. It has become. Note that the synchronization timing of each roll and the lifting / lowering timing of the hook-like holder (not shown) may be configured by a mechanism using a servo motor, a cam mechanism, a gear, a timing belt, or the like.

  The manufacturing method which manufactures the underpants type disposable diaper 1 using the processing apparatus 7 mentioned above is demonstrated.

  The manufacturing method of the underpants type disposable diaper 1 of 1st embodiment is a manufacturing method of the so-called cross-flow type underpants type disposable diaper, as shown in FIG.7 and FIG.8, and was folded in two using the processing apparatus 7. A continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 is melted and heat-sealed by melting the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material 11 in a state where the elastic members 14, 15, 16 are stretched at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. After the pair of seal portions S ′ is formed on the HT, the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ is separated to form the diaper 1 having the side seal portion S. This will be specifically described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, a strip-shaped outer layer sheet 12 continuously supplied from an original fabric roll (not shown), and a strip-shaped inner layer sheet 13 continuously supplied from an original fabric roll (not shown) The waist part elastic member 14 forming the waist gathers, the waist part elastic member 15 forming the waist gathers, and the leg part elastic member 16 forming the leg gathers are each extended in a stretched state. Distribute several. At this time, a hot melt adhesive is continuously or intermittently applied to the waist elastic member 14 and the waist elastic member 15 via an adhesive coating machine (not shown), and the leg elastic member 16 is applied. Are arranged while forming a predetermined leg-circumferential pattern through a known swing guide (not shown) that reciprocates perpendicular to the sheet flow direction. Further, before the belt-like outer layer sheet 12 and the belt-like inner layer sheet 13 are overlapped with each other, a predetermined portion of one or both of the two sheets facing each other, specifically, the heat seal region HT The hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied to an area R8 (see FIGS. 5 and 8) including a part corresponding to the above and a part corresponding to a part where the absorbent main body 10 described later is disposed by an adhesive coating machine (not shown). It is applied intermittently.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a belt-shaped outer layer sheet 12 and a belt-shaped outer layer sheet 12 in which a waist elastic member 14, a waistline elastic member 15 and a leg elastic member 16 are sandwiched between a pair of nip rolls 9, 9. By feeding and pressurizing the inner layer sheet 13, a continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 in which a plurality of elastic members 14, 15, 16 are arranged in an expanded state between the belt-like sheets 12, 13 is formed (continuation of the outer packaging material 11 Body formation step). Thereafter, in the first embodiment, a plurality of waistline elastic members 15 and a plurality of leg portions are formed by using elastic member precutting means (not shown) so as to correspond to positions where the absorbent main body 10 described later is disposed. The elastic member 16 is pressed and divided into a plurality of pieces so that the contraction function is not expressed. Examples of the elastic member precut means (not shown) include an elastic member dividing portion used in the method for manufacturing a composite elastic member described in JP-A-2002-253605.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive is applied in advance to the absorbent main body 10 manufactured in a separate process, rotated 90 degrees, and on the continuous inner layer sheet 13 of the outer packaging material 11. It is intermittently supplied and fixed to form a diaper 1 continuous body (a continuous body of worn articles) 100 (arrangement step of absorbent main body). Hereinafter, the continuous body in which the absorbent main body 10 is fixed to the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 is also referred to as the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1. The fixing adhesive may be applied on the inner layer sheet 13 instead of the absorbent main body 10.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, a leg hole LO ′ is formed inside the annular portion surrounded by the leg elastic member 16 in the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 in which the absorbent main body 10 is arranged (leg hole). Forming step). The leg hole forming step is conventionally performed using a method similar to the method in the manufacturing method of this type of article such as a rotary cutter and a laser cutter. In the first embodiment, the leg hole forming step is provided after the absorbent body arranging step, but the leg hole forming step may be provided immediately before the absorbent main body 10 arranging step.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, it superimposes so that the both sides of the conveyance direction of the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 may overlap (superposition process). In the superposition process of the first embodiment, after both side portions of the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 are folded so that both ends in the length direction of the absorbent main body 10 are folded, the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 The absorbent body 10 is folded in half. In addition, when the absorptive main body 10 is biased to the ventral part A in the pants-type disposable diaper 1, both ends in the length direction of the absorptive main body 10 may not overlap each other. Moreover, the width | variety of the strip | belt-shaped outer-layer sheet 12 and the strip | belt-shaped inner-layer sheet 13 is made the same, and the both sides of the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 do not need to be folded.

  Thereafter, the processing member 7 is used to extend the elastic members 14, 15, 16 at a predetermined interval in the transport direction of the continuous body of the outer packaging material 11 (the diaper 1 continuous body 100) folded in two. Thus, the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheets 12 and 13 of the outer packaging material 11 are melted and heat-sealed to form the seal portions S ′ and S ′ in the heat-sealing region HT (sealing process). The sealing process will be specifically described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the diaper 1 continuum 100 folded in half is introduced onto an anvil roll 75 via an introduction roll 76. The continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 introduced on the anvil roll 75 includes an anvil by a suction hole (not shown) on the peripheral surface of the anvil roll 75 and / or a pair of scissors hand-shaped holding tools 78 (see FIG. 6). It is held on the peripheral surface of the roll 75. When the anvil roll 75 rotates, the diaper 1 continuous body 100 is transported with the tension in the transport direction of the diaper 1 continuous body 100 constant.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the anvil roll 75 is rotated to convey the diaper 1 continuous body 100 between the seal block 710 of the first seal roll 71 and the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75. Then, in a state where the elastic members 14, 15 and 16 are extended, the two outer layer sheets 12 and the two inner layer sheets 13 which are overlapped are heat-sealed by the seal block 710 and the anvil block 750, and the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet are heat-sealed. Each of the 13 constituent fibers is melted to form the first seal portions S ′ and S ′ in the heat seal region HT.

  Next, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the diaper 1 continuous body 100 in which the first seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed in the heat seal region HT is placed on the peripheral surface of the anvil roll 75. In a state where the elastic members 14, 15, and 16 are held and the anvil roll 75 is extended, the anvil roll 75 is rotated and conveyed between the seal block 720 of the second seal roll 72 and the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75. Then, in a state where the elastic members 14, 15, 16 are extended, the two outer layer sheets 12 and the two inner layer sheets 13 that overlap each other in the heat seal region HT are further heat-sealed by the seal block 720 and the anvil block 750, Second seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed in the heat seal region HT. It is preferable that the first seal portions S ′ and S ′ and the second seal portions S ′ and S ′ formed in the heat seal region HT have substantially the same size. Thus, since the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 maintains the state hold | maintained on the surrounding surface of the anvil roll 75, and the tension | tensile_strength of the conveyance direction of the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 is made constant, 1st seal | sticker The portions S ′ and S ′ and the second seal portions S ′ and S ′ are easily matched, and a sufficient sealing strength by heat sealing is further easily obtained.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the diaper 1 continuous body 100 on which the second seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed is held on the peripheral surface of the anvil roll 75 and the elastic member 14. , 15, 16 are extended, and the anvil roll 75 is rotated and conveyed between the seal block 730 of the third seal roll 73 and the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75. Then, in a state where the elastic members 14, 15, 16 are extended, the two outer layer sheets 12 and the two inner layer sheets 13 overlapping in the heat seal region HT are further heat sealed by the seal block 730 and the anvil block 750, Third seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed in the heat seal region HT. The first seal portions S ′ and S ′, the second seal portions S ′ and S ′, and the third seal portions S ′ and S ′ in the heat seal region HT are preferably substantially the same in size. Thus, the state where the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 in which the first seal portions S ′ and S ′ and the second seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed is held on the peripheral surface of the anvil roll 75. Since the tension in the conveying direction of the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 is kept constant, the first seal portions S ′, S ′, the second seal portions S ′, S ′, and the third seal portion S ′ are maintained. , S ′ are easily matched, and sufficient sealing strength by heat sealing is further easily obtained. In addition, while forming 1st-3rd seal | sticker part S ', S', it is that seal part S ', S' that the front-end | tip 750a of the anvil block 750 has come out outside the surrounding surface 75a of the anvil roll. Is preferable from the viewpoint of efficiently melting or softening.

In the method of the present embodiment, before the sealing step of forming a pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ (first seal portion) in the heat seal region HT, a belt-like sheet of outer packaging material in the heat seal region and The adhesive 8 is applied to the elastic member. The heat seal region HT is a region where heat sealing is performed in the sealing step, and includes a cutting position Pc cut in the cutting step as shown in FIG. These are the regions S ′ and S ′ and the region G located between them.
By applying the adhesive 8 to one or both of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material and the elastic member that are located in the heat seal region HT, the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ are removed in the separation step described later. When the seal portion is cut in a melted or softened state, the elastic member can be prevented from contracting alone without contracting the sheet sandwiching the elastic member, and the seal portion S ′ can be prevented from contracting. It becomes easy to contract by the contraction force. Thereby, the side seal part S in which the bonding strength is improved by contraction can be formed.
From the viewpoint of more reliably shrinking the seal portion with the elastic member, the adhesive 8 applied to the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material and / or the elastic member is present in the region G between the pair of seal portions in the heat seal region HT. It is more preferable that the coating is applied, and it is more preferable that the coating is present on both sides of the region G across the cutting position Pc. For example, the adhesive 8 is applied to one or both of the opposing surfaces of the two belt-like sheets joined to each other with an elastic member interposed therebetween.

Next, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 having the side seal portions S is formed by sequentially separating the seal portions S ′ and S ′ in the individual heat seal regions HT (separation step). The seal parts S ′ and S ′ to be separated are the seal parts S ′ and S ′ formed by overlapping the first to third seal parts on the heat seal region HT.
The separation process will be specifically described below. As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 in which the seal portions S ′ and S ′ are formed is held on the peripheral surface of the anvil roll 75, the anvil roll 75 is rotated to turn the product cut roll 74. The cutter blade 740 and the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75 are conveyed. In the first embodiment, when the lifting / lowering tool (not shown) is provided, the anvil roll 75 is rotated so that the continuous body 100 of the diaper 1 is formed between the cutter blade 740 of the product cut roll 74 and the anvil block 750 of the anvil roll 75. It is preferable that the anvil block 750 is lifted via a lifting tool (not shown) at the timing of conveyance in between so that the tip 750a of the anvil block 750 comes out of the peripheral surface 75a of the anvil roll. Then, the cutter blade 740 and the anvil block 750 are separated so as to bisect the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ at a substantially central position in the transport direction of the heat seal region HT, and have a pair of side seal portions S and S. The pants-type disposable diaper 1 provided with the outer packaging material 11 is continuously formed.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), this separation step is performed on an anvil block 750 in which the diaper 1 continuous body 100 (continuous body of outer packaging material) is heated to a temperature at which the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material melt. The contact is made and the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ is melted or softened.
More specifically, each of the two protruding portions 751 at the tip of the heated anvil block 750 is brought into contact with each of the pair of sealing portions S ′ and S ′ formed in the sealing step, and a pair of Each of the seal portions S ′ and S ′ is in a melted state, and in that state, the cutter blade 740 of the product cut roll 74 is pressed between the two convex portions 751 to form a pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′. Separate each other.
The temperature at which the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material melt is preferably a temperature at which the constituent fibers of at least one of the belt-like sheets integrated in the seal portion S ′ are melted. A temperature at which the constituent fibers of the sheet are melted is preferable, and a temperature at which the constituent fibers of all the belt-like sheets are melted is preferable.
The temperature at which the constituent fibers are melted for each belt-like sheet is determined based on the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber most contained in the belt-like sheet on a mass basis. When the thermoplastic fiber is a single fiber composed of a single component, the temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the component is a temperature at which the constituent fiber of the belt-like sheet melts, and the thermoplastic fiber has a low melting point component and a high melting point. In the case of a core-sheath type or side-by-side type composite fiber composed of a melting point component, the temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the low melting point component is the temperature at which the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet melt. In that case, the heating temperature of the anvil block 750 is preferably less than the melting point of the high melting point component.

In this manner, the abutment block 750 is brought into contact with the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ in a state where the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ is melted or softened, thereby cutting the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′. As shown in FIG. 3, the melted or softened seal portion S ′ located before and after the cutting position is shrunk by the shrinkage force of the elastic member, whereby the diaper 1 having the shrunken side seal portion is obtained.
The diaper 1 after the separation process is conveyed downstream by any conveying means such as the product reversing machine 77 described above, but during the conveyance, the side seal part is naturally or forcibly cooled and contracts by shrinkage. It completes as the disposable diaper 1 which has the side seal part S which improved.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view showing the contracted side seal portion of the diaper 1 manufactured by the method of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B is the formation of the seal portion described in Patent Document 1. It is an enlarged top view which shows the side seal part of the diaper of the comparative example manufactured so that the seal part might not shrink | contract by the method of forced cooling immediately after.
The contracted side seal part of the disposable diaper manufactured by the method of the present embodiment has higher bonding strength than the non-contracted side seal part of the comparative diaper. The reason for the high bonding strength of the contracted side seal part is presumed to be that the adhesion area between the constituent fibers of the sheet has increased due to the contraction of the side seal part.
Thus, according to the manufacturing method of this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a pants-type disposable diaper having a contracted side seal part and having a high bonding strength of the side seal part.

In the embodiment described above, the separation step is performed in a state where the anvil block used for forming the seal portions S ′ and S ′ is in contact with the seal portions S ′ and S ′ formed in the sealing step. Yes. Therefore, the amount of heat applied for forming the seal portion S ′ can be effectively utilized for melting or softening the seal portion S ′ in the separation step. In addition, the accuracy of the separation position can be improved.
In this embodiment, the anvil block used for forming the seal portion S ′ is brought into contact with the anvil block after the seal portion is formed, and the convex portion 751 of the anvil block is lowered. After the contact between the sealing part S ′ and the sealing part S ′ is once interrupted, the anvil block is raised again to bring the convex part 751 into contact with the sealing part S ′. The seal portion is kept in contact with the anvil block used to form the seal, and after the sealing step, the convex portion 751 is continuously in contact with the seal portion S ′ until it is separated in the separation step. It is more preferable to keep it from the viewpoint of melting or softening of the seal portion S ′ in the separation step.

  In addition, the overlapped wrapping material continuum (diaper continuum 100) is in a state in which the adhesive applied to the belt-like sheet and / or elastic member of the wrapping material in the heat seal region is completely solidified, Supplying to the sealing step is preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring that the cut elastic member contracts with the sheet sandwiching it when the sealing portions S ′ and S ′ are cut off in the cutting step. In that case, when the adhesive existing in the seal part S ′ is remelted in the sealing process, the flexibility of the seal part S ′ is increased, and the seal parts S ′ and S ′ are cut in the separation process. Furthermore, it is preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring that the seal portion S ′ is contracted.

  The manufacturing method of the underpants type absorbent article of this invention is not restrict | limited to the above embodiment at all, and can be changed suitably.

  For example, in the pants-type disposable diaper 1 manufactured according to the above-described embodiment, the outer packaging material 11 is bound inwardly in the longitudinal central portion, and spans the ventral side A, the back side B, and the crotch C. The pant-type absorbent article manufactured by the method for manufacturing a pant-type absorbent article according to the present invention is provided on the ventral-side sheet member and the back-side part B arranged on the ventral-side part A. The underpants type disposable diaper which has the division | segmentation outer packaging material divided | segmented into the back | dorsal sheet | seat member distribute | arranged may be sufficient.

In the above-described embodiment, the seal block 710 and the anvil block 750 form the first seal portion, the seal block 720 and the anvil block 750 form the second seal portion, and the seal block 730 and the anvil. The third seal portion is formed by the block 750, and the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ formed by overlapping the first to third seal portions is cut, but one heat seal is performed. However, the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ that are separated in the separation step may be formed, or the pair of seal portions S ′ and S ′ that are separated in the separation step by heat sealing twice or four times or more. May be formed.
In the above-described embodiment, three seal rolls are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be one, two, or four or more.

  Moreover, the manufacturing method of the pant-type absorbent article of the present invention includes a pant-type sanitary napkin, a pant-type incontinence pad, and sanitary shorts that do not include an absorbent main body or an absorbent core, in addition to a pant-type disposable diaper. It is also suitable for manufacturing other pants-type wearing articles such as disposable underwear.

〔Example〕
A laminated sample sheet for measuring the seal strength was produced. A rubber thread is sandwiched between an air-through nonwoven fabric with a basis weight of 20 g / m2 and a spunbond nonwoven fabric with a basis weight of 17 g / m2 and folded so that the spunbond nonwoven fabric is on the inside. Heat sealing and product cutting were performed in contact. As the air-through nonwoven fabric and the spunbonded nonwoven fabric, those in which polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene were formed of core-sheath composite fibers having a core-sheath structure were used. For the heat sealing, the apparatus of FIG. 4 was used, and the heat sealing was performed under the conditions of 150 ° C. for the sealing block and 180 ° C. for the anvil block. The joint formed by heat sealing had a rectangular shape. For the adhesive, use a coater with a basis weight of 8 g / m2 in a region wider than the region where the seal part (joint part) is formed (continuous in the MD direction and CD direction). Then, a seal part (joint part) was formed in the applied region.
Laminated sample sheet with heat seal and product cut is divided into MD direction downstream side and MD direction upstream side, cut to 30mm length in CD direction, MD direction 50mm, CD direction 30mm in size Got.
Note that the CD direction and MD direction coincide with the CD direction and MD direction of FIG. The operation was also performed on 10 laminates prepared separately, and a total of 10 laminated sample sheets were prepared for each of the downstream side in the MD direction and the upstream side in the MD direction.
[Comparative Example]
In the comparative example, a laminated sample sheet was produced in the same manner as in the example except that no rubber thread was sandwiched.

[Evaluation]
About these lamination | stacking sample sheets, the seal strength shown below was measured and the average value of the obtained value was computed. The results are shown in Table 1 below.
[Measurement of seal strength]
About the obtained sample sheet, in the edge part (short side) which is not joined, the nonwoven fabric was divided into two for every two sheets. The end divided into two parts was gripped (chucked) by a Tensilon tensile tester (manufactured by Orientec, trade name “RTC-1150A”). When gripping, the joined portion of the laminated sample sheet was positioned between the chucks (distance between chucks: 20 mm). Next, the laminated sample sheet was pulled at a pulling speed of 300 mm / min so that each end portion moved in the opposite direction. The maximum load when the laminated sample sheet was broken by pulling was measured, and this was taken as the seal strength.

  As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, the laminated sample sheets of the examples have significantly improved sealing strength compared to the laminated sample sheets of the comparative examples, and are applied to the side seal portion of the pants-type wearing article. In this case, it can be seen that sufficient strength can be obtained.

1 Pants-type disposable diaper (pants-type wearing article)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorbent core 5 Side cuff 7 Processing apparatus 10 Absorbent main body 11 Outer packaging material 12, 13 Band-shaped sheet 14 Waist part elastic member 15 Girth part elastic member 16 Leg part elastic member 71-73 Seal roll 710 , 720, 730 Seal block 74 Product cut roll 740 Cutter blade 75 Anvil roll 750 Anvil block 76 Introduction roll 78 Holder 77 Product reversing machine 100 Continuous diaper (continuous outer packaging)

Claims (5)

A pant-type wearing article manufacturing method for continuously producing a pants-type wearing article provided with an outer packaging material having a pair of side seal parts,
After superposing the continuum of the outer packaging material in which a plurality of elastic members are arranged in an extended state between the belt-like sheets so that both side portions in the transport direction of the continuum of the outer packaging material overlap,
In the state where the elastic member is stretched at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction, the continuous body of the outer packaging material that has been superposed is melted and heat-sealed to melt the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material, and a heat seal region A sealing step for forming a pair of sealing portions on
A separation step of separating the pair of seal portions and forming the pants-type wearing article having the side seal portions,
Before the sealing step, an adhesive is applied to the belt-like sheet and / or the elastic member of the outer packaging material in the heat seal region,
Pants for performing the separating step in a state where the continuous body of the outer packaging material is brought into contact with an anvil block heated to a temperature at which the constituent fibers of the belt-like sheet of the outer packaging material are melted and the pair of seal portions are melted or softened A method for manufacturing a mold wearing article.   The method of manufacturing a pants-type wearing article according to claim 1, wherein the separating step is performed in a state where the anvil block used for forming the seal portion is in contact with the seal portion formed in the sealing step. Transport from the sealing process to the separation process,
The manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article of Claim 1 or 2 performed by maintaining the state which contact | abutted the said seal part to the said anvil block used for formation of this seal | sticker.   The pants-type wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the overlapped continuous body of the outer packaging material is supplied to the sealing step in a state where the adhesive is completely solidified. Production method.   The manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article of any one of Claims 1-4 which apply | coat the said adhesive agent so that it may exist in the area | region between a pair of seal | sticker parts in the said heat seal area | region.

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