JP6487234B2 - Absorbent article and method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent article and a method for producing the absorbent article.

  Conventionally, a pants-type disposable diaper has been used as an absorbent article that receives excrement from a wearer. Moreover, as one of the pants-type disposable diapers, a trunks-type disposable diaper disclosed in Patent Document 1, that is, a disposable diaper having a pair of hanging legs is known.

  In the manufacturing method of the disposable diaper disclosed in Patent Document 1, the central portion in the width direction of the laminated web in which the first web and the second web are laminated is cut to form a crotch opening. The first web and the second web are joined at the edge. Subsequently, the absorbent assembly is disposed in the vicinity of the crotch opening on the laminated web. Then, the first web is folded so that one edge in the width direction overlaps the other edge, and the other web in the width direction is folded so that the other edge overlaps the one edge. It is. Then, the both-sides edge part of a 1st web and the both-sides edge part of a 2nd web are joined, and a trunks type disposable diaper is formed.

Special table 2007-535622 gazette

  By the way, in the manufacturing method of patent document 1, an absorptive assembly shifts | deviates from the center of the width direction of a lamination | stacking web, and is arrange | positioned on a lamination | stacking web. In other words, the central portion in the width direction of the absorbent assembly disposed on the laminated web does not coincide with the central portion in the width direction of the laminated web. For this reason, there exists a possibility that manufacture of an absorbent article may become complicated. In addition, when manufacturing absorbent articles of different sizes with one manufacturing device, work such as adjustment of the arrangement position in the width direction of the absorbent assembly is required when switching the size, and the equipment of the manufacturing device is changed. There is also a risk of complications.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and makes it the main objective to make manufacture of an absorbent article easy.

Invention of Claim 1 is a manufacturing method of an absorbent article, Comprising: a) The process which prepares the sheet | seat laminated body by which the 2nd sheet member was laminated | stacked on the 1st sheet member, b) The said a) process Later, in the sheet laminate, a first cut portion extending downward from the upper end edge, which is an edge on one side in the longitudinal direction, on the one side from the center portion in the width direction, and By forming a second cut portion extending downward from the upper end edge on the other side of the central portion in the width direction, the sheet cut body is provided with the first cut portion and the second cut portion. A crotch member fixing portion located between the lower end edge and the first cut portion, the crotch member fixing portion and the second cut portion, On the one side in the width direction of the crotch connecting part Seat before continuing, and, forming a sheet portion after continuous to the other side of the width direction of the crotch connecting portion, c) the b) after the step, the width of the first cut portion A first joining edge extending in the longitudinal direction is formed by joining the first sheet member and the second sheet member at an edge of the one side in the direction, and the width direction of the second cut portion is A second joint edge extending in the longitudinal direction is formed by joining the first sheet member and the second sheet member at the other edge, and the first joint is formed at the upper edge of the crotch connecting part. Forming a third joining edge connecting the lower end of the first joining edge and the lower end of the second joining edge by joining the sheet member and the second sheet member; and d. ) wherein b) after the step, the inner surface The crotch member folded so as to face each other is parallel to the sheet laminate and the folded portion faces downward, and the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member and the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate And a step of fixing the crotch member to the crotch member fixing portion, and e) after the step c) and the step d) at a first folding line parallel to the longitudinal direction. Folding the crotch connecting portion on one outer surface of the crotch member, joining the first joining edge to the central portion in the width direction of the one outer surface, and f) after the step e), A step of separating the first sheet member and the second sheet member of the front sheet portion to expand the front sheet portion in the width direction and covering the one outer surface of the crotch member; g) the c ) Step and after step d) before A step of folding the crotch connecting portion on the other outer surface of the crotch member at a second folding line parallel to the longitudinal direction, and joining the second joining edge portion to the central portion in the width direction of the other outer surface; And h) after the step g), the first sheet member and the second sheet member of the rear sheet portion are separated from each other to expand the rear sheet portion in the width direction, and the crotch member A step of covering the other outer surface, and i) side edges on both sides in the width direction of the front sheet portion and sides on both sides in the width direction of the rear sheet portion after the steps f) and h). And fixing the edges to each other to form a trunk opening at the upper end and forming a pair of leg openings on both sides in the width direction of the crotch member at the lower end.

  Invention of Claim 2 is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 1, Comprising: The width | variety of the said folding part of the said crotch member is a said 1st joining edge part and a said 2nd joining edge part. In the step d), the folded portion of the crotch member is overlapped on the crotch connecting portion.

  Invention of Claim 3 is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 1, Comprising: The width | variety of the said crotch member is the width | variety between a said 1st joining edge part and a said 2nd joining edge part. The folding portion of the crotch member arranged in the step d) is spaced apart from the third joint edge portion in the longitudinal direction.

Invention of Claim 4 is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3, Comprising: While the said crotch member has been unfolded in the said longitudinal direction, it is located in a longitudinal direction Each of the crotch members, each having three fold lines extending in the width direction, is folded while facing the outer surfaces at the center fold line among the three fold lines. The two folding lines are folded while the inner surfaces are opposed to each other, and the folded portion is the entire portion folded by both of the other two folding lines .

  Invention of Claim 5 is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, Comprising: The said crotch member fixing | fixed part and said crotch connection above the said 3rd joining edge part A weakened part that can be broken is provided between the two parts.

Invention of Claim 6 is an absorbent article, Comprising: It manufactured by the manufacturing method of the absorbent article in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 .

  In this invention, manufacture of an absorbent article can be made easy.

It is a perspective view of an absorptive article concerning one embodiment. It is a perspective view of an absorptive article. It is a front view of an absorptive article. It is sectional drawing of an absorbent article. It is sectional drawing of an absorbent article. It is a figure which shows the flow of manufacture of an absorbent article. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is sectional drawing of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a figure which shows the structure of the manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent article. It is a figure which shows the flow of manufacture of an absorbent article. It is a perspective view of a crotch member assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the absorbent article in the middle of manufacture. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a crotch member.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article 1 manufactured by a manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The absorbent article 1 is a trunks-type disposable diaper that receives excrement from the wearer. The absorbent article 1 has the trunk | drum opening 11 in the upper end which is an upper edge part in FIG. The absorbent article 1 also has a pair of leg openings 12 at the lower end, which is the lower end in FIG. The upper side and the lower side in FIG. 1 correspond to the upper side and the lower side when the absorbent article 1 is worn, respectively.

  The absorbent article 1 includes an exterior sheet 4 and a crotch member 2. The exterior sheet 4 covers the lower abdomen of the wearer, the buttocks, the site near the base of the leg, and the like. A portion of the exterior sheet 4 that covers the lower abdomen and the buttocks of the wearer is referred to as a trunk portion 15. A portion of the exterior sheet 4 that covers the vicinity of the base of the wearer's legs is referred to as a leg tube portion 16. The pair of leg tube portions 16 extends downward from the lower end of the trunk tube portion 15. The trunk opening 11 described above is provided at the upper end of the trunk cylinder 15. The pair of leg openings 12 described above is provided at the lower ends of the pair of leg tube sections 16. That is, the exterior sheet 4 has a trunk opening 11 at the upper end and a pair of leg openings 12 at the lower end.

  The exterior sheet 4 includes a front part 41, a rear part 42, a crotch connecting part 43, and a crotch member fixing part 44. The front part 41 is a sheet-like part that covers the abdomen side of the wearer. The rear part 42 is a sheet-like part covering the back side of the wearer. The crotch connecting portion 43 connects the center portion in the width direction of the lower end portion of the front portion 41 and the center portion in the width direction of the lower end portion of the rear portion 42. The said width direction is a direction perpendicular | vertical to an up-down direction and the front-back direction, and is the left-right direction at the time of wear of the absorbent article 1 (the same also in the following description). The crotch connecting portion 43 is a portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the pair of leg tube portions 16 (that is, a portion in contact with the wearer's inner thigh).

  The side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the front portion 41 are joined to the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the rear portion 42 by heat sealing or the like. The side edge part of the front part 41 and the side edge part of the rear part 42 are fixed to each other over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction. A body elastic member 45 extending in the width direction is joined to the upper end portion of the front portion 41 and the upper end portion of the rear portion 42. The trunk | drum elastic member 45 is a substantially strip-shaped member long in the width direction, for example.

  The crotch member 2 is a substantially sheet-like absorber that absorbs excrement from the wearer inside the exterior sheet 4. The crotch member 2 is attached to the inner surface of the exterior sheet 4 in a state of being folded with the inner surfaces facing each other at the center in the longitudinal direction (that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 1). The inner surface of the crotch member 2 and the inner surface of the exterior sheet 4 are surfaces on the wearer side when the absorbent article 1 is mounted on the wearer.

  The crotch member fixing portion 44 is a substantially band-shaped portion that extends in the vertical direction between the crotch connecting portion 43 and the trunk opening 11. The crotch member fixing portion 44 is joined to the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the front portion 41 or the center portion in the width direction of the rear portion 42. In other words, the crotch member 2 is indirectly attached to the inner surface of the exterior sheet 4 via the crotch member fixing portion 44 in either the front-rear direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the crotch member fixing portion 44 is disposed between the outer surface on the back side of the crotch member 2 in the drawing and the rear portion 42. The crotch member fixing portion 44 is joined to the central portion in the width direction of the outer surface of the crotch member 2 and the central portion in the width direction of the rear portion 42. The center portion in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 44 coincides with, for example, the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the rear portion 42. The width in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 44 is, for example, equal to or less than the width in the width direction of the crotch member 2.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the absorbent article 1 showing a state in which the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42 of the exterior sheet 4 are overlapped. That is, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the absorbent article 1 before use. Actually, in the absorbent article 1 before use, the inner surface of the front portion 41 and the inner surface of the rear portion 42 are overlapped with each other. However, in FIG. 2, the front portion 41 is easy to understand. And the rear part 42 are drawn slightly apart. When the absorbent article 1 is used, the front part 41 and the rear part 42 are greatly separated from each other in the front-rear direction from the state shown in FIG. 2, and the trunk part opening 11 is greatly opened as shown in FIG. Thus, the wearer's leg is inserted through the trunk opening 11. In the state shown in FIG. 1 (that is, when the absorbent article 1 is used), the crotch connecting portion 43 is positioned below the fold line 27 that is the lower end of the crotch member 2. In the following description, the lower end portion of the crotch member 2, that is, the portion in the vicinity of the fold line 27 is referred to as a “folding portion 28”. The upper end part of the crotch connecting part 43 may be spaced downward from the folding part 28 which is the lower end part of the crotch member 2, or may be in contact with the folding part 28 of the crotch member 2.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the absorbent article 1 (that is, a diagram of a part located on the abdomen side of the wearer). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the barrel portion 15 of the absorbent article 1 cut at the position AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of leg tube portions 16 of the absorbent article 1 cut at the position BB in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5, the cross section of the fold line 27 vicinity of the crotch member 2 in FIG. 3 is shown. 4 and 5, the right side in the figure corresponds to the left side of the wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn, and the left side in the figure corresponds to the right side of the wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the crotch member 2 includes a top sheet 21, an absorbent core 22, and a back sheet 23. The absorbent core 22 is disposed between the top sheet 21 and the back sheet 23 laminated on the top sheet 21. The top sheet 21 and the back sheet 23 are joined at the periphery by an adhesive, heat sealing, or the like. On the top sheet 21 of the crotch member 2, a pair of side wall portions (so-called three-dimensional gathers) standing in a direction away from the top sheet 21 may be provided on both sides in the width direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the crotch member 2 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is folded in two along the folding line 27 at the center in the longitudinal direction with the top sheet 21 inside as described above. The crotch member 2 is fixed to the exterior sheet 4 by joining the back sheet 23 of the crotch member 2 to the front part 41 and the rear part 42 of the exterior sheet 4. As described above, the crotch member 2 and the rear portion 42 are joined indirectly via the crotch member fixing portion 44. When the absorbent article 1 is worn, the crotch member 2 contacts the wearer's crotch. The shape of the crotch member 2 is not necessarily limited to a substantially rectangular shape. For example, the crotch member 2 may have a shape (so-called hourglass shape) in which the width of the central portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the width of both end portions in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the crotch connecting part 43 includes one sheet-like part extending from the right part of the front part 41 to the right part of the rear part 42, and the rear part 42 from the left part of the front part 41. It is the lamination sheet part by which the other sheet-like site | part which reaches the site | part on the left side of was laminated | stacked.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, in the state where the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42 are overlapped, the crotch connecting portion 43 extends from the center portion in the width direction of the front portion 41 to one side in the width direction (in the drawing, Right) and reaches the first fold line 431. The first folding line 431 is located on the right side (outside in the width direction) of the crotch member 2 with respect to the right side edge in the drawing. The crotch connecting portion 43 is folded back to the other side in the width direction (left side in the drawing) at the first fold line 431, and extends to the other side in the width direction from the center portion in the width direction of the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42. Expands to the second fold line 432. The second folding line 432 is located on the left side (outside in the width direction) of the crotch member 2 with respect to the left side edge in the drawing. The crotch connecting portion 43 is further folded back to one side in the width direction (right side in the drawing) along the second fold line 432 and reaches the center portion in the width direction of the rear portion 42.

  The top sheet 21 is a liquid-permeable sheet member that quickly captures the moisture of excrement from the wearer and moves it to the absorbent core 22. The top sheet 21 is, for example, a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric formed of hydrophobic fibers (polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, nylon, etc.) whose surfaces are hydrophilically treated with a surfactant. Point bond nonwoven fabric, air-through nonwoven fabric, and spunbond nonwoven fabric are used. In addition, as the top sheet 21, a nonwoven fabric (for example, a spunlace nonwoven fabric) formed of hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose, rayon, or cotton may be used.

  The absorbent core 22 absorbs moisture that has passed through the top sheet 21 and quickly fixes it. The absorbent core 22 is fixed by sandwiching a superabsorbent material such as a granular superabsorbent polymer (SAP) or a superabsorbent fiber between two liquid-permeable sheet members. Is formed. The absorbent core 22 may be formed, for example, by wrapping a mixture of a hydrophilic fiber such as pulverized pulp fiber or cellulose fiber with a granular superabsorbent material in tissue paper or a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric.

  The back sheet 23 is a water-repellent or liquid-impervious sheet member, and prevents moisture or the like of excrement that has passed through the top sheet 21 and the absorbent core 22 from exuding to the outside of the crotch member 2. As the back sheet 23, for example, a non-woven fabric (for example, a spunbond non-woven fabric, a melt blown non-woven fabric, an SMS (spun bond / melt blow spun bond) non-woven fabric) formed of hydrophobic fibers, a plastic film, or these non-woven fabric and plastic. A laminated sheet in which a film is laminated is used. When a plastic film is used for the backsheet 23, a plastic film having moisture permeability (breathability) should be used from the viewpoint of preventing wear of the absorbent article 1 and improving the wearer's comfort. Is preferred.

  As the front part 41, the rear part 42, the crotch connecting part 43, and the crotch member fixing part 44 of the exterior sheet 4, for example, similarly to the back sheet 23, a water-repellent or liquid-impermeable material formed of hydrophobic fibers. Nonwoven fabrics and plastic films are used. Alternatively, a laminated sheet in which these nonwoven fabrics and a plastic film are laminated may be used as the front part 41, the rear part 42, the crotch connecting part 43, and the crotch member fixing part 44. As the plastic film, a film having moisture permeability (breathability) is preferably used. Further, like the top sheet 21, the front portion 41, the rear portion 42, the crotch connecting portion 43, and the crotch member fixing portion 44 are made of a nonwoven fabric formed of hydrophilic fibers or a transparent fiber formed of hydrophilic treatment. A liquid nonwoven fabric may be used. Alternatively, an elastic nonwoven fabric may be used as the front part 41, the rear part 42 and the crotch connecting part 43. As the trunk elastic member 45, for example, a strip-like polyurethane film or natural rubber is used. Alternatively, a polyurethane thread, a thread-like natural rubber, or the like may be used as the body elastic member 45.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the absorbent article 1 is demonstrated. In the actual production of the absorbent article 1, a plurality of absorbent articles 1 are continuously produced using a long sheet member. Below, first, the manufacturing method of the said absorbent article 1 is demonstrated paying attention to one absorbent article 1, and continuous manufacture of the several absorbent article 1 is demonstrated after that.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of manufacturing the absorbent article 1. 7, 8, 9A to 9C, 10A to 10C, 11A to 11C, 12A to 12C, and 13A to 13C are the absorbent articles 1 (hereinafter, FIG. 7, 8, 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A and 13A are perspective views of semi-finished products. 7, 8, 9 </ b> A, 10 </ b> A, 11 </ b> A, 12 </ b> A, and 13 </ b> A, the vertical direction in the figure corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 1. 9B, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11B, FIG. 12B, and FIG. 13B are cross-sectional views of a portion corresponding to the semi-finished barrel portion 15 (see FIG. 1). 9C, FIG. 10C, FIG. 11C, FIG. 12C, and FIG. 13C are cross-sectional views of portions corresponding to the pair of leg tube portions 16 (see FIG. 1) of the semi-finished product. 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C, 11B, 11C, 12B, 12C, 13B, and 13C, the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the absorbent article 1. In the following description, the right side in the figure which is one side in the width direction in FIGS. 7 to 13C is simply referred to as “right side”, and the left side in the figure which is the other side in the width direction is simply referred to as “left side”. 7, 8, 9 </ b> A, 10 </ b> A, 11 </ b> A, 12 </ b> A, and 13 </ b> A, the upper side in the drawing is simply referred to as “upper side” and is the other side in the longitudinal direction. The lower side in the middle is simply called “lower side”.

  In the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, first, as shown in FIG. 7, a sheet laminate 50 in which the second sheet member 502 is laminated on the first sheet member 501 is prepared (step S11). The sheet laminate 50 is substantially rectangular. The first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 have substantially the same shape. The sheet laminate 50 is an intermediate member scheduled to become the front part 41, the rear part 42, the crotch connecting part 43, and the crotch member fixing part 44 of the absorbent article 1. Actually, each of the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 is a part of a long sheet member extending in the longitudinal direction, as will be described later.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592 are formed in the sheet laminate 50. The first cut portion 591 is longer than the upper end edge, which is an edge on one side in the longitudinal direction of the sheet laminate 50, on one side (right side in the drawing) of the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50. It extends downward, which is the other side of the direction. The second cut portion 592 extends downward from the upper end edge of the sheet laminate 50 on the other side (left side in the drawing) of the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50. In the example shown in FIG. 8, each of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592 has a substantially band shape that spreads in the vertical direction.

  By forming the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592, the front sheet portion 51, the rear sheet portion 52, the crotch connecting portion 53, and the crotch member fixing portion 54 are formed in the sheet laminate 50. (Step S12). The crotch member fixing portion 54 is located at the center in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50 between the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592. The crotch member fixing portion 54 is a substantially band-like portion that is long in the longitudinal direction. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the width in the width direction of the first cut portion 591 and the width in the width direction of the second cut portion 592 are larger than the width in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 54.

  The crotch connecting portion 53 is located between the lower end edge (the lower end edge in FIG. 8) of the sheet laminate 50 and the first cut portion 591, the crotch member fixing portion 54, and the second cut portion 592. The crotch connecting portion 53 is a substantially band-like portion that is long in the width direction. The front seat portion 51 is continuous with the right side in the drawing, which is one side of the crotch connecting portion 53 in the width direction. The rear seat portion 52 continues to the left side in the figure, which is the other side in the width direction of the crotch connecting portion 53. The front seat portion 51 and the rear seat portion 52 are substantially rectangular portions. The width in the width direction of the front sheet portion 51 and the width in the width direction of the rear sheet portion 52 are substantially equal. The front seat portion 51, the rear seat portion 52, the crotch connecting portion 53, and the crotch member fixing portion 54 are respectively a front portion 41, a rear portion 42, a crotch connecting portion 43, and a crotch member fixing portion 44 of the absorbent article 1 shown in FIG. This is the site that will be.

  In step S <b> 12, a weakening portion 541 is provided between the crotch member fixing portion 54 and the crotch connecting portion 53. The weakened portion 541 is lower in strength than surrounding portions (for example, a portion near the weakened portion 541 in the crotch member fixing portion 54 and the crotch connecting portion 53) and can be broken. In the absorbent article 1 shown in FIG. 2, the crotch member fixing part 44 and the crotch connecting part 43 are separated from each other by breaking the weakened part 541 when the absorbent article 1 is worn. The strength of the weakened portion 541 is such a strength that the crotch member fixing portion 44 and the crotch connecting portion 43 can be easily separated without damaging the portion around the weakened portion 541 when the weakened portion 541 is broken.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, the lower end portion of the crotch member fixing portion 54 is provided with two cuts from both sides in the width direction, so that the lower end portion of the crotch member fixing portion 54 becomes the weakened portion 541. In the weakening portion 541, a weakening line such as a perforation extending in the width direction may be provided at a portion between the two cuts. Alternatively, a weakening line such as a perforation extending in the width direction over substantially the entire width of the lower end portion may be provided at the lower end portion of the crotch member fixing portion 54 without providing the two cuts. The weakening portion 541 may have various structures as long as the weakening portion 541 is provided to be breakable as described above. The formation of the weakened portion 541 is not necessarily performed in parallel with the formation of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592. For example, the weakened portion 541 may be performed before step S12 or after step S12. Good.

  Next, at the edge portions of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined over substantially the entire length of the edge portion. Thereby, the 1st junction edge 581, the 2nd junction edge 582, and the 3rd junction edge 583 are formed. In addition, a fourth joint edge 584 and a fifth joint edge 585 are also formed (step S13). In FIG. 8, the outlines of the first joint edge 581, the second joint edge 582, the third joint edge 583, the fourth joint edge 584, and the fifth joint edge 585 are indicated by broken lines.

  Specifically, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined to each other at the edge (right edge) on one side in the width direction of the first cut portion 591, whereby the right side of the first cut portion 591. A first joining edge 581 extending in the substantially longitudinal direction at the edge is formed. In addition, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined to each other at the edge (left edge) on the other side in the width direction of the second notch 592, so that the left edge of the second notch 592 is joined. A second joint edge 582 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed. Furthermore, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined at one edge (upper edge part) in the longitudinal direction of the crotch connecting part 53, so that the lower end part of the first joining edge part 581 A third joint edge 583 that connects the lower end of the second joint edge 582 is formed. The weakened portion 541 described above is located above the third joint edge portion 583.

  In the crotch member fixing portion 54, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined to each other on the other side edge portion (left side edge portion) in the width direction of the first notch portion 591, thereby the crotch member fixing portion. A fourth joining edge 584 extending in the substantially longitudinal direction is formed at the right edge of 54. Further, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 are joined to each other at the edge (right edge) in the width direction of the second cut portion 592, whereby the left edge of the crotch member fixing portion 54. A fifth joint edge 585 extending substantially in the longitudinal direction is formed. In the crotch member fixing portion 54, for example, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 may be joined over substantially the entire surface.

  The joining of the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 in step S13 is performed by, for example, heat sealing or an adhesive. The formation of the first joint edge 581, the second joint edge 582, the third joint edge 583, the fourth joint edge 584, and the fifth joint edge 585 in step S <b> 13 includes the first notch 591 in step S <b> 12 and It may be performed in parallel with the formation of the second cut portion 592.

  When step S <b> 13 is completed, the band-shaped elastic member 55 that is to be part of the body elastic member 45 is joined to the upper end portion of the front seat portion 51 and the upper end portion of the rear seat portion 52. The elastic member 55 joined to the front sheet portion 51 extends from the first sheet member 501 to the second sheet member 502 via the first joining edge portion 581 at the upper end portion of the front sheet portion 51. The elastic member 55 bonded to the rear sheet portion 52 extends from the first sheet member 501 to the second sheet member 502 via the second bonding edge 582 at the upper end portion of the rear sheet portion 52. The elastic member 55 may be joined to the front seat portion 51 and the rear seat portion 52 at an appropriate timing after step S14 described later. In the description of the manufacture of the absorbent article 1 in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 (see FIG. 14) described later, the description of the joining of the elastic member 55 is omitted.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the crotch member 2 folded with the inner surfaces facing each other matches the widthwise center of the crotch member 2 and the widthwise center of the sheet laminate 50. Then, they are arranged and fixed to the crotch member fixing portion 54 (step S14). Specifically, the outer surface 242 on the back side in FIG. 9A of the crotch member 2 is fixed to the front side surface in FIG. 9A of the crotch member fixing portion 54 (that is, the first sheet member 501). The crotch member 2 is joined to the crotch member fixing portion 54 by, for example, a hot melt adhesive. In the example shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 54 coincides with the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2. Further, the width in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 54 is smaller than the width in the width direction of the crotch member 2. For example, the crotch member fixing portion 54 may be joined to the crotch member 2 only at the center in the width direction over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the crotch member fixing portion 54 may be joined to the crotch member 2 over substantially the entire surface.

  9B and 9C are cross-sectional views of the sheet laminate 50 and the crotch member 2 of FIG. 9A cut at positions CC and DD in FIG. 9A. In FIG. 9B, the 3rd junction edge 583 located below a cross section is shown with a broken line. In FIG. 9C, the crotch connecting portion 53 is indicated by a thin line so that the front seat portion 51, the rear seat portion 52, and the crotch connecting portion 53 can be easily distinguished. The same applies to FIGS. 10A to 10C, FIGS. 11A to 11C, FIGS. 12A to 12C, and FIGS. 13A to 13C.

  The crotch member 2 is disposed in parallel to the sheet laminate 50. In other words, the both side edges of the crotch member 2 are arranged so as to face the direction substantially along the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. In addition, the crotch member 2 is arranged with the folding portion 28 facing downward. The width of the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 is not more than half of the width between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. In other words, the distance in the width direction between both side edges of the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 is not more than half of the distance in the width direction between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. Specifically, the width of the folding portion 28 is less than or equal to half the width between the first joint edge portion 581 and the second joint edge portion 582 at the lower ends of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592. The upper end of the crotch member 2 is approximately the same position as the upper end of the first cut portion 591 and the upper end of the second cut portion 592 in the vertical direction, that is, the upper end of the first joint edge portion 581 and the upper end of the second joint edge portion 582. Located in. When the crotch member 2 is an hourglass type as described above, the width of the folded portion 28 is not more than half of the width between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. The width of the upper end portion and the width of the portion between the upper end portion and the folding portion 28 may be larger than half of the width between the first joint edge portion 581 and the second joint edge portion 582.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the length of the crotch member 2 folded in the vertical direction is the length of the first cut portion 591, the second cut portion 592, and the crotch member fixing portion 54 in the vertical direction ( That is, it is longer than the vertical distance from the upper end of the crotch member fixing portion 54 to the center portion of the third joint edge portion 583, and the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 is connected to the crotch connection of the sheet laminate 50 in step S 14. It overlaps on the part 53.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the crotch connecting portion 53 is folded on one outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 at a first fold line 531 substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. The first folding line 531 is a folding line scheduled to become the first folding line 431 (see FIG. 2) in the absorbent article 1. The outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 is the frontmost surface of the crotch member 2 in FIG. 10A. As the crotch connecting portion 53 is folded back, the front sheet portion 51 is disposed on the outer surface 241 with the first sheet member 501 facing the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2.

  The first joining edge portion 581 of the front seat portion 51 is disposed at the center portion in the width direction of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 and joined to the center portion (step S15). In the front seat portion 51, for example, a substantially rectangular region in contact with the left side of the first joint edge portion 581 in the first sheet member 501 is also the central portion of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 (that is, the back seat 23). To be joined. In FIG. 10A, a parallel oblique line is attached to the joint portion between the front seat portion 51 and the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 (the same applies to FIGS. 11A, 12A, and 13A). The front sheet portion 51 and the crotch member 2 are joined by, for example, adhesion with a hot melt adhesive. By step S15, about the left half in FIG. 10A thru | or FIG. 10C among the outer surfaces 241 of the crotch member 2, the front seat part 51 covers.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the first sheet member 501 and the second sheet member 502 of the front sheet portion 51 are separated from each other, and the front sheet portion 51 is developed in the width direction. Specifically, the second sheet member 502 of the front sheet portion 51 is separated from the first sheet member 501 of the front sheet portion 51 from the state shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, and the first joint edge 581 is used as a fulcrum. Rotate and move to the right in 10A to 10C. As a result, the right half of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 in FIGS. 11A to 11C is also covered with the front seat portion 51. That is, the entire outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2 is covered with the front seat portion 51 (step S16). In the front seat portion 51, for example, a substantially rectangular region that contacts the right side of the first joining edge portion 581 in the second sheet member 502 is also joined to the central portion of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2. Thereby, the center part of the width direction of the front seat part 51 is joined to the said center part of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2.

  When the front seat portion 51 is deployed, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the crotch connecting portion 53 is placed on the other outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 at a second folding line 532 that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. Wrapped. The second fold line 532 is a fold line scheduled to become the second fold line 432 (see FIG. 2) in the absorbent article 1. The outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 is the innermost surface of the crotch member 2 in FIG. 12A. When the crotch connecting portion 53 is folded back, the rear seat portion 52 causes the second sheet member 502 to be connected to the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 and the back side surface of the crotch member fixing portion 54 (that is, the second sheet member 502). So as to face the outer surface 242 and the crotch member fixing portion 54. The right edge of the rear seat portion 52 is disposed at approximately the same position as the right edge of the front seat portion 51 in the width direction.

  The second joining edge portion 582 of the rear seat portion 52 is disposed at the center portion in the width direction on the back surface of the crotch member fixing portion 54 and joined to the center portion. In other words, the second joint edge portion 582 is disposed via the crotch member fixing portion 54 at the center portion in the width direction of the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2, and the crotch member fixing portion 54 is interposed at the center portion of the outer surface 242. Are indirectly joined (step S17). In the rear seat portion 52, for example, a substantially rectangular region in contact with the right side of the second joint edge portion 582 of the second seat member 502 is also connected to the outer surface 242 of the inseam member 2 via the inseam member fixing portion 54 (that is, It is indirectly joined to the central portion of the backsheet 23). The rear sheet portion 52 and the crotch member fixing portion 54 are joined by, for example, adhesion using a hot melt adhesive. By step S17, about the right half in FIG. 12A thru | or FIG. 12C among the outer surfaces 242 of the crotch member 2, the back seat | sheet part 52 covers.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, the second sheet member 502 and the first sheet member 501 of the rear sheet portion 52 are separated from each other, and the rear sheet portion 52 is developed in the width direction. Specifically, the first sheet member 501 of the rear sheet portion 52 is separated from the second sheet member 502 of the rear sheet portion 52 from the state shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, and the second joint edge 582 is used as a fulcrum. Rotate and move to the left in 12A to 12C. Accordingly, the left half in FIGS. 13A to 13C of the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 is also covered with the rear seat portion 52. That is, the entire outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 is covered with the rear seat portion 52 (step S18). The left side edge of the rear seat part 52 is disposed at approximately the same position as the left side edge of the front seat part 51 in the width direction. In the rear seat portion 52, for example, a substantially rectangular region in contact with the left side of the second joint edge portion 582 in the first seat member 501 is also the central portion of the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 via the crotch member fixing portion 54. Indirectly joined to. Thereby, the center part of the width direction of the back seat part 52 is indirectly joined to the said center part of the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2.

  Note that steps S17 and S18 may be performed before steps S15 and S16. Steps S15 and S16 and steps S17 and S18 may be performed in parallel. For example, steps S15 to S18 may be performed in the order of steps S15, S17, S16, and S18.

  When Steps S15 to S18 are completed, the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the front sheet portion 51 and the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the rear sheet portion 52 are fixed to each other by, for example, heat sealing (Step S15). S19). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the trunk | drum opening 11 is formed in an upper end. Moreover, a pair of leg part opening 12 is formed in the width direction both sides of the crotch member 2 in the lower end in a figure, and manufacture of the absorbent article 1 is complete | finished.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, the state before use of the absorbent article 1, the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 is located between the first folded line 431 and the second folded line 432 and folded. It is sandwiched between the connecting portions 43. Further, the crotch member fixing portion 44 is joined to the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the rear portion 42, and is connected to the crotch connecting portion 43 through the weakening portion 541.

  When the absorbent article 1 is used, as described above, the front part 41 and the rear part 42 are largely separated from each other in the front-rear direction from the state shown in FIG. In the absorbent article 1 shown in FIG. 1, the crotch connecting portion 43 extends in the front-rear direction, and the crotch member fixing portion 44 moves from the central portion of the crotch connecting portion 43 to the rear together with the rear portion 42. As a result, the weakened portion 541 (see FIG. 2) breaks and the connection between the crotch member fixing portion 44 and the crotch connecting portion 43 is released, and the lower end portion of the crotch member fixing portion 44 and the central portion of the crotch connecting portion 43 are moved back and forth. Separate in the direction. The crotch member 2 extends from the front part 41 to the rear part 42 above the crotch connecting part 43. A part of the crotch member 2 that extends along the front-rear direction between the front part 41 and the rear part 42 (that is, a part that is not joined to the front part 41 and the rear part 42). The length in the side view is preferably approximately equal to the length in the side view of the third joint edge portion 583 of the crotch connecting portion 43.

  In the actual manufacture of the absorbent article 1, as described above, a plurality of absorbent articles 1 are continuously manufactured using a long sheet member. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 that continuously manufactures a plurality of absorbent articles 1. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a flow of manufacturing the absorbent article 1 in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8. Of steps S21 to S30 in FIG. 15, steps S21 to S29 correspond to steps S11 to S19 in FIG. That is, paying attention to the configuration in which one absorbent article 1 is formed in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8, steps S21 to S29 are the same as steps S11 to S19.

  In the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8, first, a continuous sheet laminate 50c, which is a long sheet member in which a plurality of sheet laminates 50 are continuous in the longitudinal direction, is prepared (step S21). In the continuous sheet laminate 50c, a plurality of second sheet members 502 are continuous in the longitudinal direction on a first continuous sheet member 501c, which is a long sheet member in which the plurality of first sheet members 501 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. A second continuous sheet member 502c, which is a long sheet member, is laminated. The conveyance direction of the continuous sheet laminate 50 c in the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 matches the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 1.

  Subsequently, a part of the continuous sheet laminate 50c is cut by the notch forming mechanism 81, whereby a first continuous cut portion 591c and a second continuous cut portion 592c are formed in the continuous sheet laminate 50c. The first continuous cut portion 591c and the second continuous cut portion 592c are arranged in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 14). The first continuous cut portion 591c is located on the right side in FIG. 14, which is one side in the width direction of the second continuous cut portion 592c. The first continuous cut portion 591c is a portion in which two first cut portions 591 are continuous in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 14). The second continuous cut portion 592c is a portion in which two second cut portions 592 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. In the first continuous cut portion 591c, the upper openings of the two first cut portions 591 are connected to each other. In the second continuous cut portion 592c, the upper openings of the two second cut portions 592 are connected to each other.

  By forming the first continuous cut portion 591c and the second continuous cut portion 592c, the continuous sheet laminate 50c is provided with a continuous front sheet portion 51c, a continuous rear sheet portion 52c, a continuous crotch connecting portion 53c, and a continuous crotch. A member fixing portion 54c is formed (step S22). The continuous front sheet portion 51c is a portion where a plurality of front sheet portions 51 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The continuous front sheet portion 51c extends in the longitudinal direction on one side (the right side in FIG. 14) in the width direction of the plurality of first continuous cut portions 591c. The continuous rear sheet portion 52c is a portion where a plurality of rear sheet portions 52 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The continuous post-sheet portion 52c extends in the longitudinal direction on the other side (left side in FIG. 14) in the width direction of the plurality of second continuous cut portions 592c. The continuous crotch connecting part 53c is a part where two crotch connecting parts 53 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c is a portion where two crotch member fixing portions 54 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The continuous crotch connecting portion 53c is adjacent between each of the two first continuous cut portions 591c adjacent in the longitudinal direction, between each of the two continuous crotch member fixing portions 54c adjacent in the longitudinal direction, and adjacent in the longitudinal direction. It is located between each two second continuous cut portions 592c. In the notch forming mechanism 81, weakened portions 541 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c.

  In the notch formation mechanism 81, the first continuous cut portion 591c and the second continuous cut portion 592c are formed at the edge of the first continuous cut portion 591c and the second continuous cut portion 592c in parallel with the formation of the first continuous cut portion 591c and the second continuous cut portion 592c. The sheet member 501c and the second continuous sheet member 502c are joined over substantially the entire length of the edge portion. As a result, a first continuous joint edge 581c, a second continuous joint edge 582c, two third joint edges 583, a fourth continuous joint edge 584c, and a fifth continuous joint edge 585c are formed. (Step S23).

  The first continuous joint edge 581c extends in the substantially longitudinal direction at the right edge of the first continuous cut portion 591c. The second continuous joint edge 582c extends in the substantially longitudinal direction at the left edge of the second continuous cut portion 592c. The two third joint edges 583 connect both longitudinal ends of the first continuous joint edge 581c (that is, the upper end and the lower end) and both ends of the second continuous joint edge 582c. The fourth continuous joining edge portion 584c extends substantially in the longitudinal direction at the left edge portion of the first continuous cut portion 591c. The fifth continuous joining edge portion 585c extends substantially in the longitudinal direction at the right edge portion of the second continuous cut portion 592c.

  The first continuous joint edge 581c is a portion where two first joint edges 581 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The second continuous joint edge 582c is a portion where two second joint edges 582 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The fourth continuous joint edge 584c is a portion where two fourth joint edges 584 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The fifth continuous joint edge 585c is a portion where two fifth joint edges 585 are continuous in the longitudinal direction. The joining of the first continuous sheet member 501c and the second continuous sheet member 502c is performed by, for example, heat sealing or an adhesive. The notch forming mechanism 81 is also a sheet joining mechanism that joins the first continuous sheet member 501c and the second continuous sheet member 502c. In the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8, a sheet joining mechanism different from the notch forming mechanism 81 is provided downstream of the notch forming mechanism 81 in the conveyance direction of the continuous sheet laminate 50 c, and the sheet joining mechanism Thus, step S23 may be performed after the end of step S22. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the continuous sheet laminated body 50c that are the upper side and the lower side in FIG. 14 are also simply referred to as “upstream side” and “downstream side”.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, a crotch member assembly 2c in which two crotch members 2 are continuous in the longitudinal direction is prepared. In the crotch member assembly 2c, of the two crotch members 2, the crotch member 2 on the back side in the drawing (that is, one side in the longitudinal direction) is the top sheet 21 at the folding portion 28 that is the center in the longitudinal direction. Is folded in half toward the front side in the figure (that is, the other side in the longitudinal direction). Further, the crotch member 2 on the near side in the figure is folded in two at the folding side 28 in the longitudinal direction with the top sheet 21 on the inner side in the figure.

  In the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 shown in FIG. 14, the crotch member assembly 2 c is formed by continuous sheet lamination by aligning the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member assembly 2 c with the center portion in the width direction of the continuous sheet laminate 50 c. It arrange | positions on the body 50c and is fixed to the continuous crotch member fixing | fixed part 54c by the 1st joining mechanism 82 (step S24). The crotch member assembly 2c is disposed in parallel to the continuous sheet laminate 50c. The crotch member assembly 2c covers the entire continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c, and is joined to the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c by a hot melt adhesive or the like. The center part in the width direction of the crotch member assembly 2c is fixed to the center part in the width direction of the continuous crotch member fixing part 54c. The folding portion 28 on the downstream side of the crotch member assembly 2c overlaps the continuous crotch coupling portion 53c on the downstream side of the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c. The upstream folded portion 28 of the crotch member assembly 2c overlaps the continuous crotch coupling portion 53c on the upstream side of the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c.

  Subsequently, the continuous crotch connecting portion 53c is folded back onto one outer surface 241c of the crotch member assembly 2c by a first folding line 831, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, by the first folding mechanism 83. Thereby, the continuous front seat portion 51c is disposed on the outer surface 241c of the crotch member assembly 2c. The first continuous joining edge portion 581c of the continuous front seat portion 51c is disposed at the center portion in the width direction of the outer surface 241c of the crotch member assembly 2c, and is joined to the center portion by the second joining mechanism 84 (step S25). .

  Next, by the second folding mechanism 85, the first continuous sheet member 501c and the second continuous sheet member 502c of the front continuous sheet portion 51c are separated from each other, and the continuous front sheet portion 51c is developed in the width direction. As a result, the entire outer surface 241c of the crotch member assembly 2c is covered with the continuous front seat portion 51c (step S26). And the center part (namely, site | part of the 1st continuous joining edge 581c vicinity) of the width direction of the sheet | seat part 51c before a continuous is joined by the 3rd joining mechanism 86 to the outer surface 241c of the crotch member assembly 2c.

  When the continuous front seat portion 51c is deployed, the third folding mechanism 87 causes the continuous crotch coupling portion 53c to be placed on the other outer surface 242c of the crotch member assembly 2c at a second folding line 532 substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. And a continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c (not shown) joined to the outer surface 242c. Thus, the continuous rear seat portion 52c is disposed on the outer surface 242c of the crotch member assembly 2c and the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c. A second continuous joint edge 582c (not shown) of the rear continuous sheet portion 52c is disposed at the center in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 54 and is joined to the center by the fourth joining mechanism 88. In other words, the second continuous joint edge 582c is disposed at the center in the width direction of the outer surface 242c of the crotch member assembly 2c via the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c, and the continuous crotch member at the center of the outer surface 242. It joins indirectly via the fixing | fixed part 54c (step S27).

  Then, by the fourth folding mechanism 89, the second continuous sheet member 502c and the first continuous sheet member 501c of the continuous rear sheet portion 52c are separated from each other, and the continuous rear sheet portion 52c is developed in the width direction. As a result, the entire outer surface 242c of the crotch member assembly 2c and the entire continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c are covered with the continuous rear seat portion 52c (step S28). Further, the fifth joining mechanism 90 causes the center portion in the width direction of the continuous rear sheet portion 52c (that is, the portion in the vicinity of the second continuous joining edge portion 582c) to reach the crotch member assembly 2c via the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c. Indirectly joined to the outer surface 242c.

  Thereafter, in the sixth joining mechanism 91, the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the continuous front sheet portion 51c and the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the continuous rear sheet portion 52c are fixed to each other by, for example, heat sealing. (Step S29). Thereafter, the continuous front crotch connecting part 53c, the continuous crotch connecting part 53c, and the continuous rear sheet part 52c are cut by the cutting blade extending in the width direction of the cutting mechanism 92 at the longitudinal center of the continuous crotch connecting part 53c. Further, the continuous front sheet portion 51c, the crotch member assembly 2c, the continuous crotch member fixing portion 54c, and the continuous rear sheet portion 52c are cut by the cutting mechanism 92 in the center in the longitudinal direction of the crotch member assembly 2c (step S30). . Thereby, the some absorbent article 1 which has the trunk | drum opening 11 and a pair of leg part opening 12 is manufactured continuously.

  As described above, in the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, in steps S11 to S13, the front sheet part 51, the rear sheet part 52, the crotch connecting part 53, and the crotch member fixing part 54 are formed in the sheet laminate 50. A first joint edge 581, a second joint edge 582, and a third joint edge 583 are formed at the edges of the first notch 591 and the second notch 592. Subsequently, in step S <b> 14, the crotch member 2 is arranged such that the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50 are aligned. Then, in steps S15 to S18, the crotch connecting portion 53 is folded back and the first joint edge portion 581 of the front seat portion 51 is joined to the central portion of the outer surface 241 of the crotch member 2, and then the front seat portion 51 is developed. The Further, after the crotch connecting portion 53 is folded back and the second joining edge portion 582 of the rear seat portion 52 is indirectly joined to the center portion of the outer surface 242 of the crotch member 2 via the crotch member fixing portion 54, the rear seat Part 52 is expanded. Thereafter, in step S <b> 19, the absorbent article 1 is formed by joining both side edges of the front sheet portion 51 and both side edges of the rear sheet portion 52.

  Thus, in the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, the crotch member 2 is arranged such that the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50 are aligned with each other. The crotch member 2 can be easily arranged as compared to the case where 2 is arranged in a state of being shifted from the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminate 50. As a result, the manufacture of the absorbent article 1 can be facilitated. Moreover, when manufacturing another absorbent article having the same structure and different size as the absorbent article 1 using the same absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 as the absorbent article 1, the size of the absorbent article to be manufactured Since it is not necessary to adjust the position in the width direction of the crotch member 2 when switching between the two, the equipment of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 8 can be easily changed.

  As described above, in step S <b> 14, the crotch member 2 is fixed to the crotch member fixing portion 54 of the sheet laminate 50. Thereby, the position shift with respect to the sheet laminated body 50 of the crotch member 2 can be suppressed at the time of manufacture of the absorbent article 1. As a result, the manufacture of the absorbent article 1 can be further facilitated.

  In step S <b> 14, the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 overlaps the crotch connecting portion 53 of the sheet laminate 50. Thereby, since the relative position with respect to the sheet laminated body 50 of the crotch member 2 can be confirmed easily, the center part of the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center part of the width direction of the sheet laminated body 50 are made to correspond. Thus, the crotch member 2 can be arranged more easily. Moreover, the full length of the crotch member 2 in the longitudinal direction can be increased. For this reason, when the absorbent article 1 is worn, the difference between the length of the crotch bottom portion 25 of the crotch member 2 and the length of the third joint edge portion 583 of the crotch connecting portion 43 can be reduced in side view. As a result, the crotch member 2 can be properly adhered to the crotch portion of the wearer.

  In the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, a weakened portion 541 that can be broken is provided between the crotch member fixing portion 54 and the crotch connecting portion 53 above the third joint edge portion 583. When the absorbent article 1 is worn, the weakened portion 541 is broken, and the connection between the crotch member fixing portion 44 and the crotch connecting portion 43 is released. Thereby, it is possible to suppress (or prevent) the crotch member 2 from being deformed into an unintended shape such as the crotch member fixing portion 44 being pulled by the crotch connecting portion 43 and the crotch member 2 being twisted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the absorbent article 1, the crotch connecting portion 43 extends from the front portion 41 to one side in the width direction in a state where the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42 are overlapped, and in the width direction. It is folded back to the other side and spreads to the other side in the width direction from the center portion in the width direction of the front part 41, and further folded back to one side in the width direction to reach the rear part 42. Thereby, as described above, when the absorbent article 1 is worn, the difference between the length of the crotch bottom portion 25 of the crotch member 2 and the length of the third joint edge portion 583 of the crotch connecting portion 43 is reduced in side view. be able to. As a result, the crotch member 2 can be properly adhered to the crotch portion of the wearer.

  In the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, the folding part 28 (see FIG. 9A) of the crotch member 2 does not necessarily have to overlap the crotch connecting part 53 of the sheet laminate 50 in step S <b> 14. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another example of the arrangement of the crotch member 2 in step S14. FIG. 17 corresponds to FIG. 9A described above.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 17, the width in the width direction of the crotch member 2 is equal to or less than the width between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. Further, the total length of the crotch member 2 folded in half is shorter than the lengths of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592 in the vertical direction. The upper end of the crotch member 2 is positioned at approximately the same position as the upper ends of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592 in the vertical direction. For this reason, the folding part 28 of the crotch member 2 arrange | positioned in step S14 is spaced apart to the longitudinal direction (namely, upward) from the 3rd junction edge 583. FIG. The crotch member 2 is fixed to a crotch member fixing portion 54 extending in the longitudinal direction in the same manner as described above.

  Even when the semi-finished product shown in FIG. 17 is used, the flow of manufacturing the absorbent article 1 is the same as that shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 17, since the folded portion 28 of the crotch member 2 is spaced apart from the third joint edge 583 in the longitudinal direction, the width of the crotch member 2 is between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582. If it is below the width | variety between, the absorbent article 1 can be manufactured easily. For this reason, the width between the first joint edge 581 and the second joint edge 582 can be reduced, or the width of the crotch member 2 can be increased. Therefore, the freedom degree of the shape design of the absorbent article 1 can be improved.

  In the manufacture of the absorbent article 1 described above, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 17, in step S <b> 14, the crotch member 2 folded in half at the center in the longitudinal direction is disposed. Is not necessarily limited to half-folding. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the crotch member 2 a may be folded along three fold lines 271 to 273. In the crotch member 2a, the folded portion 28 is folded so as to be substantially W-shaped. Specifically, the crotch member 2a includes three fold lines 271 to 273 arranged in the longitudinal direction in a state of being developed in the longitudinal direction. The three fold lines 271 to 273 each extend in the width direction. The crotch member 2a disposed in step S14 is folded while the outer fold lines 271 to 273 are opposed to each other at the central fold line 272, and the inner surfaces are opposed to each other with the other two fold lines 271 and 273. It is folded while letting it go.

  By using the crotch member 2a, the length of the crotch member 2a at the time of manufacturing the absorbent article 1 (that is, the length of the crotch member 2a in a folded state) can be shortened to easily manufacture the absorbent article 1. In addition, when the absorbent article 1 is worn, the entire length of the crotch member 2a (that is, the length in a state where the crotch member 2a is extended) can be increased.

  When the crotch member 2a is disposed in step S14, the folding portion 28 may be overlapped on the crotch connecting portion 53, similarly to the crotch member 2 shown in FIG. 9A, and is the same as the crotch member 2 shown in FIG. In addition, the folding portion 28 may be spaced upward from the third joint edge portion 583. By using the crotch member 2a, the entire length of the crotch member 2a can be increased when the absorbent article 1 is worn even when the folded portion 28 is spaced upward from the third joint edge 583. In the side view, the difference between the length of the crotch bottom portion 25 of the crotch member 2 and the length of the third joint edge portion 583 of the crotch connecting portion 43 can be reduced. As a result, the crotch member 2 can be properly adhered to the crotch portion of the wearer.

  Various changes can be made in the manufacture of the absorbent article 1 and the absorbent article 1.

  The width in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 44 is not necessarily equal to or less than the width in the width direction of the crotch member 2, and may be larger than the width in the width direction of the crotch member 2. For example, each of the first cut portion 591 and the second cut portion 592 is one cut line extending downward from the upper end edge of the sheet laminated body 50, and the width of the crotch member fixing portion 44 is equal to the first joining edge. The width between the portion 581 and the second joint edge 582 may be approximately equal.

  As described above, the crotch member fixing portion 44 is disposed between the crotch member 2 and the front portion 41 and joined to the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the front portion 41. May be. At this time, the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member fixing portion 44 coincides with, for example, the center portion in the width direction of the crotch member 2 and the center portion in the width direction of the front portion 41.

  The crotch members 2 and 2 a are not necessarily an absorbent body having the top sheet 21, the absorbent core 22, and the back sheet 23. For example, the crotch members 2 and 2a may be an attachment portion to which an absorbent such as an absorbent pad is detachably attached. In this case, the crotch members 2 and 2a are sheet members formed of, for example, a water-repellent or liquid-impervious sheet and cover the end fastener of the absorbent device or the end of the absorbent device. And a covering gather that limits the displacement of the absorber.

  The structure and manufacturing method of the absorbent article 1 described above may be applied to absorbent articles other than trunks-type disposable diapers (for example, pants-type disposable diapers that do not have the leg tube portion 16).

  The configurations in the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate as long as they do not contradict each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Absorbent article 2,2a Crotch member 4 Exterior sheet 11 Trunk part opening 12 Leg part opening 27,271-273 Folding line 28 Folding part 41 Front part 42 Back part 43,53 Crotch connection part 44,54 Crotch member fixing part 50 Sheet laminated body 51 Front sheet portion 52 Rear sheet portion 241, 242 (Inseam member) outer surface 431, 531 First fold line 432, 532 Second fold line 501 First sheet member 502 Second sheet member 541 Weak section 581 First Joining edge 582 Second joining edge 583 Third joining edge 591 First notch 592 Second notch S11 to S19, S21 to S30 Steps

Claims (6)

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
a) preparing a sheet laminate in which the second sheet member is laminated on the first sheet member;
b) After the step a), the sheet laminate is extended from the upper end edge, which is one side edge in the longitudinal direction, to the lower side, which is the other side, on one side of the center in the width direction. By forming a first cut portion and a second cut portion extending downward from the upper end edge on the other side of the central portion in the width direction, the first cut portion and the first laminate portion are formed in the sheet laminate. A crotch member fixing portion located at the center portion in the width direction between the second cut portion, and a position between a lower end edge and the first cut portion, the crotch member fixing portion, and the second cut portion. Forming a crotch connecting part, a front sheet part continuous to the one side in the width direction of the crotch connecting part, and a rear sheet part continuous to the other side in the width direction of the crotch connecting part;
c) After the step b) , the first sheet member and the second sheet member are joined to each other at the edge portion on the one side in the width direction of the first cut portion to extend in the longitudinal direction. A second joint extending in the longitudinal direction by forming one joining edge and joining the first sheet member and the second sheet member at the other edge in the width direction of the second cut portion Forming an edge, and joining the first sheet member and the second sheet member at the upper edge of the crotch connecting portion, so that the lower edge of the first joint edge and the second joint edge Forming a third joining edge connecting the lower end,
d) After the step b), the crotch member folded with the inner surfaces facing each other is parallel to the sheet laminate and the folded part is directed downward, and the widthwise center of the crotch member and the crotch member A step of arranging the crotch member on the crotch member fixing portion, and arranging the crotch member on the crotch member fixing portion, with the center portion in the width direction of the sheet laminated body being aligned.
e) After the step c) and the step d), the crotch connecting portion is folded on one outer surface of the crotch member at a first folding line parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the first joining edge portion is Bonding to the central portion in the width direction of the one outer surface;
f) After the step e), the first sheet member and the second sheet member of the front sheet portion are separated from each other to expand the front sheet portion in the width direction, and the one of the crotch members Covering the outer surface;
g) After the step c) and the step d), the crotch connecting portion is folded on the other outer surface of the crotch member at a second folding line parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the second joint edge portion is Joining to the widthwise central portion of the other outer surface;
h) After the step g), the first sheet member and the second sheet member of the rear sheet portion are separated from each other to expand the rear sheet portion in the width direction, and the other of the crotch members Covering the outer surface;
i) After the step f) and the step h), the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the front sheet portion and the side edge portions on both sides in the width direction of the rear sheet portion are fixed to each other. A step of forming a trunk opening at the upper end and a pair of leg openings on both sides in the width direction of the crotch member at the lower end;
A method for producing an absorbent article, comprising: It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 1,
The width of the folded portion of the crotch member is less than or equal to half the width between the first joint edge and the second joint edge;
In the step d), the folded part of the crotch member is overlaid on the crotch connecting part. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 1,
A width of the crotch member is equal to or less than a width between the first joint edge and the second joint edge;
The method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the folded portion of the crotch member arranged in the step d) is spaced apart from the third joint edge portion in the longitudinal direction. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the state where the crotch member is deployed in the longitudinal direction, the crotch member includes three fold lines that are aligned in the longitudinal direction and each extend in the width direction,
The crotch member arranged in the step d) is folded while facing the outer surfaces at the center folding line among the three folding lines, and folded while facing the inner surfaces at the other two folding lines. and,
The method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the folding part is the entire part folded by both of the other two folding lines . A method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein a weakening portion that can be broken is provided between the crotch member fixing portion and the crotch connecting portion above the third joint edge portion. An absorbent article,
An absorbent article manufactured by the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .

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