JP6636848B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

  Conventionally, an absorbent body having a liquid-retentive absorber, and an exterior body disposed on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent body, the exterior body is joined to the absorbent body Disposable diapers having a laminated structure of an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet joined to a non-skin-facing surface of the inner layer sheet are known. As the exterior body, a stretchable sheet having stretchability in a direction (horizontal direction of the diaper) orthogonal to the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction of the diaper) of the wearer of the diaper is used from the viewpoint of improving the fit of the diaper. There are cases.

  For example, in Patent Literature 1, the outer layer sheet in the disposable diaper having the above configuration, a ventral outer layer sheet arranged on the abdomen of the wearer when worn, a crotch outer layer sheet arranged on the crotch of the wearer, A back side outer layer sheet disposed on the back side, and as the ventral side outer sheet and the back side outer layer sheet, a stretchable sheet having elasticity in the lateral direction is used, and the crotch outer layer sheet is non-stretchable It is described that a sheet is used. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that, in order to prevent the abdominal outer layer sheet and the dorsal outer layer sheet from being bonded to the non-stretchable inner layer sheet, and to prevent their elasticity from being excessively suppressed, the bonding between them is performed. It is described that the applied amount of the adhesive to be used is smaller than the applied amount of the adhesive used for joining the inseam outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet, and the specific amount of the adhesive applied is as an adjusting method. The adhesive application pattern for joining the abdominal outer layer sheet and the back outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet is a pattern in which a plurality of linear adhesive application portions extending in the vertical direction in plan view are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction. It is described that the adhesive application pattern for joining the crotch outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet is so-called solid coating in which the adhesive is applied over the entire area (see FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1).

  Patent Literature 2 relates to the joining of an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet constituting an outer package in the disposable diaper having the above-described configuration, with respect to all or most of a portion excluding a peripheral portion of each of a side seal, a waist opening, and a leg opening. Describes that both sheets are not joined. According to Patent Literature 2, with such a configuration, the portion where the outer body is hardened by the adhesive can be minimized, and thus the outer body is not covered with the absorbent body on the outer surface of the diaper or the skin-facing surface of the outer body. It is said that the part can be made soft and comfortable.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, in the disposable diaper having the above-described configuration, the outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet on the abdominal part and the back part of the diaper are partially joined, and the crotch part of the diaper is formed in the thickness direction. It describes that all layers between the outer surface and the absorbent body are fully bonded. According to the diaper described in Patent Literature 3, with such a configuration, it is difficult for a displacement to occur between the absorbent main body and the sheet forming the outer surface of the diaper when the diaper is worn or worn, and therefore, the absorbent main body However, it is said to be stably positioned at a portion facing the excretory part of the wearer, and to obtain a good absorption performance as designed.

JP 2009-90029 A JP 2008-36198 A JP 2008-228834 A

  In disposable diapers as described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3, since the outer body having elasticity in the lateral direction is fixed to the absorbent body in a state of being extended in the lateral direction, the outer body is worn by the outer body during wearing of the diaper. The shrinkage force acts on the abdominal part and the dorsal part, whereby the absorbent body is less likely to be displaced, and excellent absorption performance can be stably exhibited. However, the absorbent body fixed to the outer body is usually non-stretchable and does not have a lateral contraction force, so that the absorbent body is prevented from contracting in the lateral direction. As a result, the contraction force in the lateral direction of the exterior body decreases over time, and as a result, inconveniences such as a decrease in diaper fit and a feeling of wearing may occur.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article having an absorbent body and an exterior body to which the absorbent body is fixed, in which the shrinkage inherent to the exterior body is unlikely to decrease with time, and has a good fit. Related to providing.

  The present invention includes an absorbent main body including an absorbent core including an absorbent material, and an exterior body that is disposed on the non-skin facing surface side of the absorbent main body and fixes the absorbent main body, An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a lateral direction orthogonal thereto, wherein the exterior body is joined to the inner layer sheet joined to the absorbent main body, and joined to the inner layer sheet. , Is configured to include an outer layer sheet having elasticity in the lateral direction, and is fixed to the absorbent main body in a laterally extended state, and a joint portion between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is in a plan view. It has a linear shape extending in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of joints are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction, and the longitudinal end of the absorbent core overlaps with the outer layer sheet in a plan view and extends in the longitudinal direction. Notch with a part of the longitudinal end at the end is missing The inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are not joined to each other at the overlapping portion with the cutout portion in a plan view, and also between the inner layer sheet and the absorbent main body, at the overlapping portion. An absorbent article is provided that is not joined to each other.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the absorbent article provided with the absorptive main body and the exterior body to which this was fixed, the contraction force which the exterior body originally has is hard to fall with time, and an absorbent article with good fitting property is provided. Is done.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a pants-type disposable diaper which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a developed plan view schematically showing the skin-facing surface side (inner surface side) in the developed and stretched state of the diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the diaper shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded manner. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line II of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing an example of a part of the outer layer sheet (ventral outer layer sheet) constituting the outer body of the diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross section taken along line II of FIG. 2 in a natural state or a worn state of the diaper illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a diaper out of the scope of the present invention. FIG. 7 (a) is a schematic plan view of one end of the diaper in the vertical direction, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of the diaper out of the scope of the present invention, and FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view of one longitudinal end of the diaper, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line III-III of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show a pants-type disposable diaper 1 which is an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction X corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a lateral direction Y orthogonal thereto, and is disposed on the non-skin facing surface side of the absorbent main body 2 and the absorbent main body 2. And an exterior body 3 fixing the absorbent main body 2. Both side edges FS and RS along the longitudinal direction X of the exterior body 3 in the front body 1 </ b> F and the back body 1 </ b> R are joined to form a pair of side bodies. A seal portion S, a waist opening WH through which the wearer's torso passes, and a pair of leg openings LH, LH through which the wearer's lower limb passes are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front body 1F is a portion that covers the front side (abdominal side) of the wearer's body when worn, based on a vertical center line CLx that bisects the diaper 1 in the vertical direction X and extends in the horizontal direction Y. The back body 1R is a portion that covers the back side (back side) of the wearer's body. Further, in the present specification, the “skin-facing surface” is a surface of the absorbent article or a component thereof (for example, the absorbent main body) that is directed to the skin side of the wearer when the absorbent article is worn, that is, the wearer relatively. The non-skin-facing surface is on the side opposite to the skin side when the absorbent article is worn, that is, on the side relatively far from the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn. It is the face that is turned. In addition, "at the time of wearing" here means the state where the normal proper wearing position, that is, the correct wearing position of the said absorbent article is maintained, and the case where the absorbent article is displaced from the said wearing position. Is not included.

  The diaper 1 includes a ventral part 1A arranged on the wearer's abdomen, a dorsal part 1C arranged on the dorsal side, and a crotch part located between them and arranged on the wearer's crotch part. 1B. The longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1 is a direction extending between the front body 1F and the back body 1R, that is, a direction extending between the abdominal part 1A and the back part 1C via the crotch part 1B, and is absorbent. It matches the longitudinal direction of the main body 2. The abdomen 1A is a part of the front body 1F, the back part 1C is a part of the back body 1R, and the crotch 1B is straddling the front body 1F and the back body 1R. The abdominal part 1A and the back part 1C are parts located at the same position as the side seal part S in the vertical direction X, and are waist parts arranged around the wearer's waist when the diaper 1 is worn. The crotch portion 1B is a region where leg openings LH, concave notches for forming LH are formed at both side edges along the vertical direction X of the exterior body 3. The crotch portion 1B has an excretory portion opposing portion that is arranged to oppose the excretory portion of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn, and the excretion portion opposing portion usually has a central portion (vertical center) in the vertical direction X of the diaper 1. (On the line CLx) or in the vicinity thereof.

  The absorbent main body 2 has a rectangular shape in plan view as shown by the outline in FIG. 2, and its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state. And is joined to the exterior body 3 via the joint 4. The outer body 3 forms the outer shape of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and extended state of the diaper 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and the periphery of the outer body 3 forms the contour of the diaper 1 in that state. The “deployed and stretched state” of the diaper 1 means that the diaper 1 is separated by the side seal portion S to be in the deployed state, and the diaper 1 in the deployed state is stretched by the elastic members of the respective parts so that the diaper 1 is designed to have the design size ( (Same dimension as when the sheet is spread out in a plane with the sheet removed)).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the absorbent main body 2 has a liquid-permeable top sheet 21 forming a skin-facing surface, and a liquid-impermeable or liquid-impermeable or water-repellent back sheet 22 forming a non-skin-facing surface. And a liquid-absorbing absorber 23 interposed between the two sheets 21 and 22, and these are integrated by a known joining means such as an adhesive. The absorber 23 is located at the center in the lateral direction Y of the diaper 1 (exterior 3). As the top sheet 21 and the back sheet 22, various ones conventionally used for this type of absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. For example, various types of nonwoven fabrics and apertured films can be used as the top sheet 21, and a resin film or a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric can be used as the back sheet 22.

  The absorber 23 has a substantially rectangular shape in the vertical direction X in plan view as shown in FIG. 2 and extends from the abdominal part 1A to the dorsal part 1C. The absorber 23 includes a liquid-retentive absorbent core 24 containing an absorbent material, and a core wrap sheet 25 covering the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 24. The absorbent core 24 and the core wrap sheet 25 are joined by a known joining means such as a hot melt type adhesive.

  The absorbent core 24 has a single-layer structure, and is formed by stacking a core forming material including an absorbent material. As the absorbent material, those usually used as a material for forming this kind of absorbent core can be used without any particular limitation. Examples thereof include wood pulp, hydrophilic fibers such as synthetic fibers treated with a hydrophilizing agent, and water absorbing materials. Polymer particles. That is, the absorbent core 24 may be a pile of hydrophilic fibers, or a material in which water-absorbing polymer particles are supported on the pile. As the core wrap sheet 25, a water-permeable sheet material can be used, and for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, on both left and right sides along the vertical direction X of the skin-facing surface of the absorbent main body 2, a pair of liquid-resistant or water-repellent and air-permeable sheet materials is used. Leak cuffs 28, 28 are provided. In the vicinity of the free end of each of the leak-preventing cuffs 28, one or more (one in the present embodiment) thread-like leak-preventing cuff-forming elastic members 29 are disposed in an extended state. The leak-proof cuff 28 rises at least at the crotch 1B by the elastic member 29 arranged in the stretched state contracting when the diaper 1 is worn, so that excreted liquid such as urine flows out in the lateral direction Y. To block.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior body 3 includes an abdominal portion 1A, which is a waist portion of the front body 1F, a dorsal portion 1C, which is a waist portion of the back body 1R, and an abdominal portion 1A and a dorsal portion 1C. It is arranged over the crotch 1B sandwiched, and both side edges along the longitudinal direction X are curved in an inward arc at the crotch 1B to form a pair of leg edges, as shown in FIG. In plan view, the central area in the vertical direction X has an hourglass shape constricted inward in the horizontal direction Y. The exterior body 3 has both side edges FS, FS along the vertical direction X in the front body 1F (abdominal side 1A) and both side edges RS, RS along the vertical direction X in the rear body 1R (back side 1C). , An adhesive, a heat seal, an ultrasonic seal, or the like, and are joined to each other. As a result, a pair of side seal portions S, S are formed on the diaper 1 as shown in FIG. A waist opening WH and a pair of leg openings LH, LH are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exterior body 3 is configured to include a laminate of an inner layer sheet 31 joined to the absorbent main body 2 and an outer layer sheet 32 joined to the inner layer sheet 31. In the wearing state of the diaper 1, the inner layer sheet 31 is located on the side closer to the wearer's body and forms the skin-facing surface (inner surface) of the diaper 1, and the outer layer sheet 32 is located on the side farther from the wearer's body. Thus, the non-skin facing surface (outer surface) of the diaper 1 is formed. The inner layer sheet 31 and the outer layer sheet 32 are joined to each other via a joint 5 at a predetermined position.

Further, the exterior body 3 includes a waist elastic member 33 that forms waist gathers at an opening edge of the waist opening WH. That is, one or a plurality of (in the present embodiment, a plurality of) waist elastic members 33 for forming waist gathers are laterally provided on the opening edges of the waist openings WH on the abdominal part A and the back part C, respectively. It is arranged in an extended state over the entire length of Y, so that the waist opening WH is formed with a substantially continuous annular waist gather over the entire circumference.
Further, the exterior body 3 is a leg elastic member that forms leg gathers at the opening edges of each of the pair of leg openings LH, LH, and is one or a plurality of pieces (in the present embodiment, disposed in an extended state on the front body 1F). A plurality of front leg elastic members 34 and one or more (in this embodiment, plural) rear leg elastic members 35 arranged in an extended state on the rear body 1R are provided.
The waist elastic member 33 and the leg elastic members 34 and 35 each have a thread shape or a band shape, and are sandwiched and fixed between the inner layer sheet 31 and the outer layer sheet 32 constituting the exterior body 3 by an adhesive.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner layer sheet 31 is configured by one continuous sheet, while the outer layer sheet 32 is configured by combining a plurality of sheets. It includes a ventral outer layer sheet 32A constituting the side portion 1A, a back outer layer sheet 32C constituting the back side portion 1C, and a crotch outer layer sheet 32B located between both sheets 31A and 31C to constitute the crotch portion 1B. It is composed of The sheets 31A, 31B, and 31C constituting the outer layer sheet 32 have their ends in the longitudinal direction X overlapped with each other, and a known joining such as an adhesive, a heat seal, a high-frequency seal, or an ultrasonic seal is performed at the overlapped portion. They are joined and integrated by means. In the overlapping portion of the sheets 31A, 31C and the sheet 31B, the sheet 31B located at the center in the vertical direction X is located on the side relatively closer to the absorbent main body 2, and both ends of the sheet 31B in the vertical direction X are provided. The non-skin-facing surface of the portion is covered with sheets 31A and 31C.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the abdominal outer layer sheet 32A has an abdominal extension 32AE that extends outward from an end of the inner layer sheet 31 in the longitudinal direction X on the abdominal part 1A side, The back outer sheet 32C has a back extension 32CE that extends outward from an end in the vertical direction X on the back section 1C side of the inner sheet 31. The two outer sections 32AE, 32CE is folded back to the inner layer sheet 31 side so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent main body 2 arranged and fixed on the inner layer sheet 31, and the two extended portions 32AE, 32CE are formed by an adhesive. The diaper 1 is fixed to other constituent members (the inner sheet 31, the absorbent main body 2, and the leak-proof cuff 28) facing each other.

  The outer layer sheet 32 has elasticity in the horizontal direction Y. In the present embodiment, the outer layer sheet 32 partially has elasticity in the lateral direction Y. That is, in the present embodiment, of the three sheets 32A, 32B, 32C constituting the outer layer sheet 32, the ventral outer layer sheet 32A and the back outer layer sheet 32C have elasticity in the lateral direction Y, and the crotch outer layer sheet 32B has no stretchability and is non-stretchable. Further, in the present embodiment, the inner layer sheet 31 also has no elasticity and is not elastic.

  In the present invention, "the sheet has elasticity in a predetermined direction (for example, a horizontal direction)" means that the maximum elongation of the sheet in the predetermined direction is 100% or more, and the sheet is stretched in the predetermined direction. After elongation to 100%, the elongation recovery rate when contracted (elongation recovery rate at 100% elongation) is at least 70% or more.

  The abdominal outer layer sheet 32A and the back outer layer sheet 32C, which have elasticity in the horizontal direction Y, can extend more in the horizontal direction Y than in the vertical direction X. More specifically, both sheets 32A and 32C greatly expand in the horizontal direction Y and contract after expansion (maximum elongation 100% or more and elongation recovery rate 70% or more), but in the vertical direction X. Elongation only slightly (for example, a maximum elongation of 50% or less). The elongation recovery rate of the sheet is measured by the following measuring method.

<Method of measuring elongation recovery rate>
A sample piece having a length of 50 mm and a width of 25 mm is prepared from a sheet to be measured. The sample piece is fixed between the chucks (chuck interval K0) of a tensile tester (“Tensilon” RTC-1150A of Orientec Co., Ltd.), and the sample piece is pulled by expanding the space between the chucks at a tensile speed of 300 mm / min. After elongating to a length K2 (= K0 × 2) at 100% elongation, the distance between the chucks is reduced at the same speed as the tensile speed, and the length of the sample piece when the tensile stress becomes zero is reduced. The length after recovery from extension is K1. The elongation recovery rate at the time of 100% elongation of the sheet to be measured is calculated by the following equation.
Elongation recovery rate at 100% elongation (%) = [(K2−K1) / (K2−K0)] × 100

  In the present invention, the non-stretchable sheet means a sheet having an elongation / recovery rate of 20% or less as measured by the above <Method of measuring elongation / recovery rate>, or a sheet that breaks before being stretched by 100%. In the present embodiment, both the crotch outer layer sheet 32B and the inner layer sheet 31 are non-stretchable sheets.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the abdominal outer layer sheet 32A and the dorsal outer layer sheet 32C have elasticity, whereas the crotch outer layer sheet 32B and the inner layer sheet 31 do not have elasticity. It is non-stretchable. The non-stretchable sheets 31B and 32 preferably do not have stretchability in the vertical direction X or the horizontal direction Y, and preferably do not have stretchability in both directions X and Y.

  In the exterior body 3, the outer layer sheet 32 in which only a part (the abdominal part 1A and the back part 1C) has elasticity and the inner layer sheet 31 in which the whole is non-stretchable are the elastic parts of the outer layer sheet 32 ( The sheets 32A, 32C) are joined at opposing surfaces under the extended state of the sheets 32A, 32B. Therefore, as a whole, the exterior body 3 has the abdominal part A and the back part C (the waist circumference) on which the sheets 32A, 32C are arranged. Part) has elasticity in at least the extendable direction of the two sheets 31A and 31C, that is, the lateral direction Y, and the other part, that is, the crotch part B does not have elasticity. Then, the exterior body 3, more specifically, the portion of the exterior body 3 where the abdominal outer layer sheet 32 </ b> A and the back outer layer sheet 32 </ b> C are arranged is fixed to the absorbent main body 2 in a state of extending in the lateral direction Y. ing.

  As the belly-side outer layer sheet 32A and the back-side outer layer sheet 32C having elasticity, for example, (1) an elastic sheet in which an extensible fiber layer is integrated on both sides or one side of an elastic fiber layer; And (3) an elastic sheet made of an elastic film, which has an extensible fiber layer integrated on both sides or one side. A sheet, (4) an elastic sheet in which a number of elastic filaments arranged so as to extend in one direction without intersecting with each other are joined to an extensible nonwoven fabric over their entire length in a substantially non-extended state. Can be preferably used. Examples of the method of integrating the elastic fiber layer and the extensible fiber layer include, for example, laminating these layers to form a hydroentanglement, a method of entanglement of the fibers by air through or the like, bonding by heat embossing, an adhesive, ultrasonic waves, or the like. There is a method to make it.

  FIG. 5 shows a preferred example of the stretchable abdominal outer layer sheet 32A. The abdominal outer layer sheet 32A shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the stretchable sheet of (4) above, and has a configuration in which thread-like elastic filaments are joined to one surface of an extensible fiber layer mainly composed of inelastic fibers. Further, it is configured to include two fiber sheets 36 and 37 as the fiber layers and an elastic member 38 as the elastic filament interposed between the two sheets 36 and 37. The stretchable abdominal outer layer sheet 32A having such a configuration can be manufactured, for example, according to the method described in JP-A-2009-61743. The stretchable back outer layer sheet 32C can be configured similarly to the stretchable ventral outer layer sheet 32A shown in FIG.

  The two sheets 36 and 37 constituting the ventral outer layer sheet 32A are both extensible. The sheets 36 and 37 can extend in the same direction as the direction in which the elastic member 38 extends (lateral direction Y). The extensibility is defined as (a) when the constituent fibers of the sheets 36 and 37 are elongated, and (b) even when the constituent fibers themselves are not elongated, the fibers bonded at the intersection are separated from each other, or the fibers are separated. This includes the case where the three-dimensional structure formed by a plurality of fibers is structurally changed due to bonding or the like, or the constituent fibers are torn, and the entire sheets 36 and 37 are extended.

  The elastic member 38 constituting the ventral outer layer sheet 32A is an elastic filament formed by stretching an elastic resin in a molten or softened state. Each of the plurality of elastic members 38 is substantially continuous over the entire length of the sheet 32A (overall length of the exterior body 3 in the lateral direction Y). The plurality of elastic members 38 are arranged so as to extend in one direction (lateral direction Y) without crossing each other. The elastic member 38 is joined to the two sheets 36 and 37 in a substantially non-extended state. Bonding of the elastic member 38 to the sheets 36 and 37 in the sheet 32A is performed by fusing the fibers (inelastic fibers) constituting the sheets 36 and 37 to the elastic member 38 in a state where the fibers are buried in the elastic member 38. And was not made using an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. Therefore, there is no adhesive between the sheets 36 and 37 (extensible fiber layers mainly composed of inelastic fibers) and the elastic members 38 joined thereto.

  The abdominal outer layer sheet 32A is capable of expanding and contracting in the same direction as the direction in which the elastic member 38 extends (lateral direction Y). The elasticity of the sheet 32A is developed due to the elasticity of the elastic member 38. When the sheet 32A is stretched in the same direction as the direction in which the elastic member 38 extends, the elastic member 38 and the sheets 36 and 37 extend. Then, when the stretching of the sheet 32A is released, the elastic member 38 contracts, and with the contraction, the sheets 36 and 37 return to the state before the stretching. Further, in the sheet 32A, since there is no other elastic member that is connected in a state orthogonal to the elastic member 38, the sheet 32A is stretched in the same direction as the direction in which the elastic member 38 extends (lateral direction Y). When this occurs, the sheet 32A contracts in the horizontal direction Y, and expands without causing so-called width contraction.

  Each of the two sheets 36 and 37 constituting the abdominal outer layer sheet 32A may be a nonwoven fabric of short fibers. Examples of the nonwoven fabric include an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a spunbonded nonwoven fabric, and a melt blown nonwoven fabric. The sheet 36 and the sheet 37 may be the same type or different types. Here, the “same type of sheet” means sheets having the same sheet manufacturing process, types of constituent fibers of the sheet, fiber diameter and length of the constituent fibers, thickness and basis weight of the sheet, and the like. . If at least one of these is different, it is a "heterogeneous sheet".

  The elastic member 38 (elastic filament) constituting the abdominal outer layer sheet 32A is made of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber. In particular, when a thermoplastic elastomer is used as a raw material, melt spinning using an extruder can be performed in the same manner as a normal thermoplastic resin, and the elastic filaments thus obtained are easily heat-fused. It is suitable for. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include styrene such as SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene), SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene), and SEPS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene). -Based elastomer, olefin-based elastomer (ethylene-based α-olefin elastomer, propylene-based elastomer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene, butene, octene, etc.), polyester-based elastomer, polyurethane-based elastomer, and the like. Two or more can be used in combination. Also, core-sheath type or side-by-side type composite fibers made of these resins can be used.

  On the other hand, as the non-stretchable crotch outer layer sheet 32B and the inner layer sheet 31, nonwoven fabrics manufactured by various methods are preferably used, and examples thereof include spunbonded nonwoven fabrics, air-through nonwoven fabrics, and needle-punched nonwoven fabrics. Examples of the constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric used as the non-stretchable sheets 31B and 32 include, for example, fibers made of polyester such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyamide. And the like. The fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric used as the non-stretchable sheets 32B and 31 may be short fibers or long fibers, and may be hydrophilic or water repellent. In addition, core-sheath type or side-by-side type composite fibers, split fibers, modified cross-section fibers, crimped fibers, heat-shrinkable fibers, and the like can be used. These fibers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As described above, in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the outer body 3 has the inner layer sheet 31 joined to the absorbent main body 2 and the outer layer sheet joined to the inner layer sheet 31 and having elasticity in the lateral direction Y. 32, the exterior body 3 as a whole has elasticity in the horizontal direction Y, and the elastic exterior body 3 is stretched in the lateral direction Y to the absorbent main body 2. While fixed, as described above, there is a concern that the contraction force of the exterior body 3 in the lateral direction Y decreases over time.

On the other hand, in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, such a concern is eliminated by satisfying all of the following (A) to (C).
(A) The joining portion 5 between the inner layer sheet 31 and the outer layer sheet 32 (32A, 32C) has a linear shape extending in the vertical direction X in plan view, and the plurality of joining portions 5 are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y. ing.
(B) The notch 241 in which the longitudinal end 240 of the absorbent core 24 overlaps the outer layer sheet 32 (32A, 32C) in a plan view and in which a part of the longitudinal end 24X of the longitudinal end 240 is missing. have.
(C) The inner layer sheet 31 and the outer layer sheet 32 (32A, 32C) are not joined to each other at the overlapping portion with the cutout portion 241 in a plan view, and the inner layer sheet 31 and the absorbent main body 2 Are not joined to each other at the overlapping portion.

  Regarding the above (A), in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the joining portion 5 has a linear shape in plan view extending in the longitudinal direction X, and the inner layer sheet 31, the abdominal outer layer sheet 32 </ b> A, and the back outer layer sheet. A plurality of, specifically, four joints 5 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction Y between each of them and 32C. In each of the abdominal part 1A and the dorsal part 1C, a part (two in the present embodiment) of the plurality of joints 5 existing in the central part in the lateral direction Y is connected to the absorbent main body 2 in a horizontal direction. At the same position in the direction Y, the ends on the inward side in the vertical direction X of some of the joints 5 overlap with the absorbent main body 2 in a plan view as shown in FIG. In each of the abdominal part 1A and the dorsal part 1C, a plurality of joints 5 are formed by dividing the diaper 1 into two in the horizontal direction Y and extending in the vertical direction X (not shown) (a virtual straight line orthogonal to the vertical center line CLx). Are formed symmetrically with respect to. The joining part 5 can be formed by an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive or a known joining means such as heat sealing. The joint 5 in the present embodiment is formed by applying an adhesive, and is an adhesive applied portion.

Regarding (B), in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the cutout portion 241 is a through hole in which no core forming material is present (that is, the basis weight is zero). However, in addition to the form of the through hole like the notch 241, the notch according to the present invention has a smaller amount (specifically, about 10 g / m ² ) of a core than other regions of the absorbent core. A form in which some forming material is present is also included. The longitudinal end 240 of the absorbent core 24 is a portion including the longitudinal end 24X forming a part of the contour of the absorbent core 24 and the vicinity thereof.

  In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 241 is located at the outermost position in the longitudinal direction X of each of the longitudinal end portions 240 of the absorbent core 24, and at the outermost position, one cutout portion 241 is provided at the center in the lateral direction Y. Exist. Each cutout portion 241 has a triangular shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 2, and the length, that is, the width, in the horizontal direction Y gradually decreases toward the inside in the vertical direction X.

  Regarding (C), in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, between the inner layer sheet 31 and each of the abdominal outer layer sheet 32 </ b> A and the back side outer layer sheet 32 </ b> C, Since there is no joining portion, and the joining portion 5 does not overlap with the cutout portion 241 in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2, the cutout portion is formed between the inner layer sheet 31 and each of the abdominal outer layer sheet 32A and the back side outer layer sheet 32C. The portions corresponding to 241 are not joined to each other.

  Regarding the above (C), in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a joint other than the joint 4 exists between the inner layer sheet 31 (exterior body 3) and the absorbent main body 2. In addition, since the joining portion 4 does not overlap with the cutout portion 241 in plan view as shown in FIG. 2, the inner layer sheet 31 (exterior body 3) and the absorbent main body 2 correspond to the cutout portion 241. Are not joined to each other.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the joints 4 are linear in a plan view extending in the longitudinal direction X, and are arranged in a pair along the both sides of the absorbent main body 2 along the longitudinal direction X. I have. The pair of joints 4, 4 overlap with the joint 5 disposed between the inner layer sheet 31 and the outer layer sheet 32 (32A, 32C) in plan view as shown in FIG. The length or width of the joining portion 5 in the lateral direction Y is smaller than the length or width of the joining portion 4 in the lateral direction Y that overlaps in plan view. The joining section 4 can be formed by an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive or a known joining means such as heat sealing. The joint 4 in the present embodiment is formed by applying an adhesive, and is an adhesive applied portion.

  Since the diaper 1 of the present embodiment satisfies all of the above (A) to (C), the outer body 3 fixed to the absorbent main body 2 via the joint portion 4 in a state of extending in the lateral direction Y is a diaper. In the natural state or the wearing state of No. 1, the contraction in the lateral direction Y is not completely inhibited, and the contraction in the lateral direction Y is enabled. That is, in order for the exterior body 3 to contract in the lateral direction Y in the natural state or the worn state of the diaper 1, the joint portion 4 with the absorbent main body 2 and each of the sheets 31 and 32 constituting the exterior body 3 are required. The joints 5 are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction Y so as to satisfy the above (A) and (C), and wrinkles generated on the exterior body 3 when the exterior body 3 contracts in the lateral direction Y are provided. Where a relief area is required, the diaper 1 of the present embodiment employs the above (B) in addition to the above (A) and (C), and the wrinkles are formed on the longitudinal end 240 of the absorbent core 24. In the natural state or the worn state of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the exterior body 3 can be contracted in the lateral direction Y by arranging the notch 241 that can serve as an escape area (accommodation section). Wrinkles caused by shrinkage (absorption in exterior body 3) Sex body raised portion 2 side), may enter the non-skin facing side to the notches 241. In particular, in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the notch portion 241 is arranged corresponding to the central portion in the lateral direction Y, which is a portion where wrinkles due to contraction in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 3 are most likely to occur. Therefore, the shrinkage of the exterior body 3 is further enabled.

  On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the joint portion 5 is arranged in substantially the entire region between the inner sheet 31 and the outer sheet 32, and the joint portion 4 is formed between the inner sheet 31 and the absorbent main body 2. When the adhesive forming the joints 4 and 5 is solid-filled in that area, the notch 241 is formed at the longitudinal end 240 of the absorbent core 24. However, since the shrinkage of the exterior body 3 in the lateral direction Y is completely inhibited, the exterior body 3 is fixed in the extended state, and the contraction force inherent to the exterior body 3 decreases with time. Will do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the notch 241 is not formed at the longitudinal end 240 of the absorbent core 24, the joints 4 and 5 are formed in the lateral direction Y in the same manner as in the diaper 1. However, even if it is intermittently arranged, the shrinkage of the exterior body 3 in the lateral direction Y is completely inhibited, so that the exterior body 3 is fixed in the extended state, and the shrinkage force that the exterior body 3 originally has Will decrease over time.

It is preferable to set the dimensions and the like of the respective parts as follows from the viewpoint of more reliably exerting the above-described operational effects achieved by the diaper 1 of the present embodiment.
The total area of the joints 4 (that is, the sum of the areas of the plurality of joints 4) with respect to the area of the overlapping region between the absorbent main body 2 and the inner layer sheet 31 (that is, the area of the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent main body 2). The ratio is preferably 0.2 or more, more preferably 0.3 or more, and preferably 0.6 or less, more preferably 0.5 or less.
The ratio of the length in the longitudinal direction X of the joint portion 4 to the total length in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent main body 2 is preferably 0.6 or more, more preferably 0.65 or more, and preferably 0 or more as the latter / the former. 0.95 or less, more preferably 0.9 or less. In the present embodiment, as shown, the joint 4 is continuous over substantially the entire length of the absorbent main body 2.
The length or width of the joining portion 4 in the lateral direction Y is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and preferably 60 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or less.

The length or width of the joining portion 5 in the lateral direction Y is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 7 mm or more, and preferably 40 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less.
The interval between two joining portions 5 and 5 adjacent in the lateral direction Y is preferably 60 mm or more, more preferably 80 mm or more, and preferably 190 mm or less, and more preferably 180 mm or less.

The ratio of the maximum length in the horizontal direction Y, that is, the maximum width of the cutout portion 241 to the length of the vertical end 24X of the absorbent core 24 is preferably 0.1 or more, more preferably 0.1%, as the latter / the former. It is 15 or more, preferably 0.5 or less, more preferably 0.4 or less.
The maximum length in the horizontal direction Y, that is, the maximum width of the notch 241 is preferably 35 mm or more, more preferably 40 mm or more, and preferably 70 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less.
The ratio of the length of the cutout portion 241 in the longitudinal direction X to the total length of the absorbent core 24 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 0.05 or more, more preferably 0.08 or more, and more preferably, as the latter / former. Is 0.2 or less, more preferably 0.15 or less.
The length of the notch 241 in the vertical direction X is preferably 30 mm or more, more preferably 40 mm or more, and preferably 80 mm or less, and more preferably 70 mm or less.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the outer layer sheet 32 is configured by combining a plurality of sheets, but may be configured by one continuous sheet as in the case of the inner layer sheet 31. The exterior body 3 is divided into an exterior body ventral region located on the ventral side and an exterior body back side region located on the dorsal side, and the absorbent main body 2 includes the exterior body ventral region and It may be fixed by bridging over the back side region of the exterior body.

  The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the pants-type disposable diaper as in the above embodiment, but broadly encompasses articles used for absorbing bodily fluids (urine, menstrual blood, soft stool, sweat, etc.) discharged from the human body. , Disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, sanitary shorts, and the like having a so-called fastening tape.

1 pants-type disposable diapers (absorbent articles)
1F front body 1R back body 1A ventral side (front body waist)
1B inseam 1C back (back of waist)
2 Absorbent main body 21 Top sheet 22 Back sheet 23 Absorber 24 Absorbent core 24X Vertical end of absorbent core 240 Vertical end of absorbent core 241 Notch 25 Core wrap sheet 3 Exterior body 31 Inner layer sheet 32 Outer layer Sheet 32A Ventral outer layer sheet (elastic sheet)
32B Inseam outer layer sheet 32C Back outer layer sheet (elastic sheet)
36, 37 Fiber sheet 38 Elastic member (elastic filament)
4 Joint part between the absorbent main body and the inner layer sheet (exterior body) 5 Joint part X between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet Vertical direction Y Horizontal direction

Claims (3)

An absorbent body having an absorbent core containing an absorbent material, and an exterior body disposed on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent body and fixing the absorbent body, the front and rear of the wearer An absorbent article having a vertical direction corresponding to the direction and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction,
The exterior body is configured to include an inner layer sheet joined to the absorbent main body, and an outer layer sheet joined to the inner layer sheet and having a lateral elasticity, and the absorbent body is stretched in a lateral direction and the absorbent body is stretched. It is fixed to the main body,
The joining portion between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet has a linear shape extending in the vertical direction in plan view, and the joining portions are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction.
The longitudinal end of the absorbent core has a cutout portion that overlaps with the outer layer sheet in a plan view and a part of the longitudinal end at the longitudinal end is missing.
The inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are not joined to each other at the overlapping portion with the cutout portion in a plan view, and also between the inner layer sheet and the absorbent main body, at the overlapping portion. Absorbent articles that are not joined together.   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer sheet has a configuration in which thread-like elastic filaments are bonded to one surface of an extensible fiber layer mainly composed of inelastic fibers.   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cutout portion is located at a lateral center of a longitudinal end of the absorbent core.

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