JP7327143B2 - Absorbent article, apparatus for manufacturing absorbent article, and method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an absorbent article, an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, and an absorbent article manufacturing method.

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, urine pads, and sanitary products have an absorbent body that absorbs liquids such as urine and bodily fluids. Various nonwoven fabrics are used for these absorbent articles (see Patent Document 1, for example).

WO2019/106964

Nonwoven fabrics used in absorbent articles are manufactured at a nonwoven fabric manufacturing factory and transported to absorbent article manufacturing factories. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric is usually a long raw fabric, and is transported in a roll-like state wrapped around a core material. Therefore, in a factory for manufacturing absorbent articles using the nonwoven fabric, in order to restore the bulk of the nonwoven fabric that has been physically compressed and lost by being wound into a roll, for example, the raw materials of the core and the sheath are different from each other. In the case of a nonwoven fabric using core-sheath fibers, hot air is passed through the nonwoven fabric to recover the volume using the difference in thermal shrinkage between the two materials.

By the way, some absorbent articles are provided with a three-dimensional structure such as grooves and protrusions on the surface with which the wearer's skin comes into contact in order to improve breathability. Such a three-dimensional structure can be formed, for example, by subjecting a laminate obtained by stacking various materials such as nonwoven fabrics to compression processing from the surface that comes into contact with the wearer's skin. However, in a three-dimensional structure formed by pressurizing an object to be processed, such as compression processing, the difference in height from the surroundings is not conspicuous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article in which the height of the three-dimensional structure formed on the surface that contacts the wearer's skin stands out from the surroundings, an apparatus for manufacturing the absorbent article, and a method for manufacturing the absorbent article. do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, protrusions protruding from the surface of the top sheet are formed by thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the top sheet.

Specifically, the present invention is an absorbent article to be worn around the wearer's crotch, comprising an absorbent body and core-sheath fibers that are arranged closer to the wearer than the absorbent body and that come into contact with the wearer's skin. A non-woven fabric top sheet and thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers that make up the top sheet form a high-bulk portion that is higher in bulk than the surrounding low-bulk portion, and protrude from the surface of the top sheet. and a projection.

In addition, the surface of the top sheet may further include concave portions formed between the convex portions.

Moreover, the convex portion may project obliquely from the surface of the top sheet.

Moreover, the convex part may have an anal convex part protruding from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the part facing the wearer's anus.

Also, the anal protrusion may project obliquely from the surface of the top sheet toward the region facing the wearer's anus.

Further, the anal protrusion may be formed so as to surround a portion facing the wearer's anus.

Moreover, the convex part may have a urethral meatus convex part protruding from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the part facing the wearer's urethral meatus.

Further, the urethral meatus protrusion may project obliquely from the surface of the top sheet toward a portion facing the wearer's urethral meatus.

In addition, the urethral meatus projection may be formed so as to surround the part facing the urethral meatus of the wearer.

Further, the convex portion may have side convex portions extending along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet on both left and right sides of the center of the top sheet in the width direction.

The absorbent body may have grooves, and the projections may have groove projections extending along the grooves on the surface of the top sheet.

Moreover, the present invention can also be understood from the aspect of a manufacturing apparatus. For example, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article that is worn around the wearer's crotch, and includes two or more types of nonwoven fabrics that constitute a top sheet of a nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers that are arranged on the wearer's side of the absorbent body. By thermally deforming the core-sheath fibers, a high-bulk portion of the top sheet having a higher bulk than the surrounding low-bulk portion is formed. good.

Moreover, the present invention can also be understood from the aspect of the manufacturing method. For example, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article to be worn in the wearer's crotch, wherein two or more kinds of absorbent articles constituting the topsheet of the core-sheath fiber nonwoven fabric arranged on the wearer's side of the absorbent body are used. By thermally deforming the core-sheath fibers, a high-bulk portion of the top sheet having a higher bulk than the surrounding low-bulk portion is formed, and a convex portion protruding from the surface of the top sheet is formed. good.

According to the present invention, the height of the three-dimensional structure formed on the surface with which the wearer's skin abuts stands out from the surroundings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper in the non-wearing state, taken along the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of protrusions provided on the surface of the top sheet. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorbent body along the phantom line indicated by symbol AA in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a first example showing a part of the diaper manufacturing process. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a concave roller having a hot air blowing function. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second example of convex portions provided on the surface of the top sheet. FIG. 9 is a view showing a first example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet and the absorbent body along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet and the absorbent body along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet and the absorbent body along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet and the absorbent body along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. FIG. 13 is a view showing a third example of protrusions provided on the surface of the top sheet. FIG. 14 is a view showing a fourth example of convex portions provided on the surface of the top sheet.

Hereinafter, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

<Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a tape-type disposable diaper (which is an example of an "absorbent article" in the present application, and hereinafter simply referred to as a "diaper") has a front body and a back facing the wearer's abdomen. Let the direction connecting the back body which is arranged to be the longitudinal direction. Between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (center in the longitudinal direction), there is an inseam that is placed in the wearer's crotch (placed facing the crotch) department is located. In addition, in a state in which the paper diaper is worn by the wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "wearing state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (inner side in the worn state) is the skin side, and the side opposite to the skin side. (the outside when worn) is the non-skin side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction. In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is defined as planar view.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to this embodiment. The diaper 1 includes a crotch region 1B, which corresponds to the crotch region covering the private part of the wearer when worn, and a front body region 1F, which is positioned in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the wearer's front body. and a back body region 1R located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponding to the back body of the wearer. Tapes 2L and 2R that can be attached to the front patch 2F provided on the non-wearer side surface of the front body region 1F are provided on the left and right edges of the back body region 1R. Therefore, in the diaper 1, when the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F in a state in which the front body region 1F is arranged on the abdomen side of the wearer and the back body region 1R is arranged on the back side of the wearer. , is secured to the wearer's body in a manner surrounding the wearer's waist and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can walk while wearing the diaper 1 .

In the diaper 1, an absorbent body capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly arranged around the crotch region 1B. Further, in the diaper 1, three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are provided at portions surrounding the thighs of the wearer in order to suppress the formation of gaps between the diaper 1 and the skin of the wearer, which serve as fluid outflow paths. is provided, and a waist gather 3R is provided at a portion surrounding the waist circumference of the wearer. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the waist gathers 3R are in close contact with the wearer's skin due to the elastic force of the thread rubber. Therefore, the liquid discharged from the wearer's pubic region is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 without hardly leaking from the diaper 1 .

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 in the non-wearing state, taken along the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 forming an outer surface in the worn state. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with constrictions 4KL and 4KR provided at portions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1 . Constrictions 4KL and 4KR are provided at locations where the wearer's thighs are located. The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the later-described back sheet 5 and to improve its texture. For example, a non-woven fabric made of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin is used as its material in order to suppress leakage of excrement. be able to. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, and may have a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5, an absorbent body 6C, and a top sheet 7 which are laminated in order on the surface of the cover sheet 4 facing the wearer. The back sheet 5, the absorbent body 6C, and the top sheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are laminated in order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. there is Like the cover sheet 4, the back sheet 5 is a sheet made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin in order to prevent leakage of excrement. The back sheet 5 is preferably made of a material that is also moisture-permeable in order to prevent stuffiness when worn. Further, the top sheet 7 is a sheet-like member arranged on the wearer's skin surface side so as to cover the absorbent surface of the absorbent body 6C. This top sheet 7 has liquid permeability in part or in its entirety. Therefore, in the state in which the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid excreted by the wearer passes through the top sheet 7, which can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and enters the absorbent body 6C, where it is absorbed. For example, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and porous films can be used as materials for the top sheet 7 . The top sheet 7 may have hydrophilicity.

The back sheet 5, absorbent body 6C, and top sheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the cover sheet 4, in which the back sheet 5, the absorbent body 6C, and the top sheet 7 are laminated, covers the private part of the wearer, the longitudinal ends of the back sheet 5, the absorbent body 6C, and the top sheet 7 are It is in a state of being positioned on the wearer's ventral side and dorsal side. In other words, the wearer's pubic area is covered with the absorber 6C from the wearer's ventral side to the back side. Therefore, even if the wearer discharges the liquid to the outside of the body in either posture with the stomach facing downward or the posture with the back facing downward, the discharged liquid comes into contact with the absorbent body 6C through the top sheet 7. will do.

The diaper 1 also has elongated band-like side sheets 8L, 8R for forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR described above. The side sheets 8L and 8R are liquid-impermeable sheets provided on the long sides of the top sheet 7 . The side sheets 8L, 8R are provided with constrictions 8KL, 8KR at locations where the wearer's thighs are positioned, similar to the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR of the diaper 1 . Thread rubbers 8EL and 8ER are woven into the side sheets 8L and 8R along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, that is, when the diaper 1 is in a U-shape when viewed from the side, the side sheets 8L and 8R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contractile force of the rubber threads 8EL and 8ER, and the top sheet 7 is pulled. It rises from the top and becomes a three-dimensional gather that prevents the outflow of liquid.

Further, the rubber thread 9ER for forming the waist gathers 3R described above is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 at a position on the dorsal side of the end portion of the absorbent body 6C. The rubber thread 9ER is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 so that the longitudinal direction, which is the stretching direction, is the left-right direction of the diaper 1 . Therefore, when the tapes 2L and 2R provided on the left and right sides of the rubber thread 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdomen side of the wearer, the rubber thread 9ER exerts a contractile force to bring the diaper 1 to the wearer. The diaper 1 is brought into close contact with the wearer's abdomen to prevent a gap from being formed. The cover sheet 4 is also provided with rubber threads 4SL and 4SR along the longitudinal direction of the rubber threads 4C to prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the waist circumference of the wearer. The thread rubbers 4SL and 4SR are provided at appropriate positions in an appropriate number determined according to the elastic force (contraction force) required in the design of the diaper 1 and the like.

The absorber 6C contains short fibers of cellulose fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. It has a structure in which a granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and holding, is held. Therefore, in the absorbent body 6C, the volume change of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing the liquid basically occurs within the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gaps. Therefore, when looking at the entire absorbent body 6C, it can be said that the expansion rate of the thickness of the absorbent body 6C that has absorbed the liquid is not as large as the expansion rate of the absorbent resin itself.

The SAP particles of the present embodiment refer to granulated resin compositions containing SAP. The "resin composition containing SAP" as used herein refers to both a composition consisting only of SAP and a composition containing SAP as the main component and other substances to the extent that it does not adversely affect water absorption. It is a concept that includes Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added for the purpose of hydrophobizing the particle surface), unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP, and the like.

By the way, the surface of the top sheet 7 of this embodiment is provided with convex portions. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of convex portions provided on the surface of the top sheet 7. As shown in FIG. The convex portion 7F is a portion where the volume (thickness) of the top sheet 7 is higher than the surroundings. Since the convex portion 7F is a portion of the top sheet 7 that is higher in bulk than its surroundings, the circumference of the convex portion 7F becomes a low-bulk portion 7T. The projections 7F are streak-like projections, and as shown in FIG. 4, three each extend in the width direction near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7. As shown in FIG. Also, the low-bulk portion 7T is formed in the main area of the surface of the top sheet 7 . The main region is a region including the central portion of the top sheet 7, and includes, for example, the entire surface of the top sheet 7, a portion of the surface of the top sheet 7 corresponding to the wearer's urethral opening and anus, and various other portions. may be any of

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional structural view of the top sheet 7 and absorbent body 6C taken along the phantom line indicated by symbol AA in FIG. The convex portion 7F is a high-bulk portion provided on the top sheet 7, and the top sheet 7 is thicker than the low-bulk portion 7T around the convex portion 7F. The protrusions 7F obliquely protrude from the surface of the top sheet 7, as shown in FIG. In addition, the projecting direction of the convex portion 7F is toward the anus-facing region K facing the anus of the wearer of the diaper 1 and the urethral opening-facing region N facing the urethral opening of the wearer of the diaper 1. protrude obliquely.

In the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the protrusions 7F obliquely protruding toward the anus-facing region K and the urethral opening-facing region N are provided in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 in the form of stripes. , even if the excrement discharged into the diaper 1 by the wearer of the diaper 1 flows on the surface of the top sheet 7, it is blocked by the convex portion 7F. Therefore, there is a low possibility that excrement discharged by the wearer of the diaper 1 will flow out of the diaper 1 .

The protruding portion 7F having a distinct height difference from the surrounding low-bulk portion 7T can be formed by the following method. For example, when the top sheet 7 is a nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers made from two or more different raw materials for the core and sheath, the fibers constituting the top sheet 7 are In the state wound around the anti-roll, it is crushed by the winding force of the roll. However, the core-sheath fiber has a property that when heated, the bulk recovers due to the difference in heat shrinkage between the material forming the core and the material forming the sheath. Therefore, when the bulk of the top sheet 7 is recovered by heating, for example, a roller for forming the protrusions 7F on the sheet taken out from the original roll is prepared with hot air, and recesses for forming the protrusions 7F are formed on the roller. Form into a string.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a first example showing a part of the manufacturing process of the diaper 1. As shown in FIG. In order to make the top sheet 7 bulky and form the projections 7F on the surface of the top sheet 7, for example, as shown in FIG. ) is installed in the manufacturing equipment. A support roller 12 for supporting the top sheet 7 is provided on the opposite side of the concave roller 11 with the top sheet 7 interposed therebetween. The hot air is blown out from the streak-like recesses 11A extending in the rotation axis direction of the recessed roller 11 on the outer peripheral surface of the recessed roller 11 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, convex portions 7F are formed on the top sheet 7, which is the low-bulk portion 7T as a whole by being wound around the original roll, after passing the concave roller 11. . In addition, the portion where the hot air is not blown maintains a low bulk state.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the concave roller 11 having the function of blowing out hot air. When it is desired to provide the hot air blowing function to the concave roller 11, for example, as shown in FIG. Vent holes are also provided on the entire outer peripheral surface of the support roller 12 . The vent hole 11C is a through hole that communicates the internal space of the concave roller 11 with the outside, and has a form in which a large number of fine holes are arranged. Inside the recessed roller 11, an air intake chamber 11D and a hot air chamber 11E are provided. The intake chamber 11D is connected to a suction device (not shown). The hot air chamber 11E is connected to a hot air blowing device (not shown). While the concave roller 11 rotates, the intake chamber 11D and the hot air chamber 11E inside the concave roller 11 are fixed by members (not shown). In such a concave roller 11, the laminate of the top sheet 7 and the absorbent body 6C delivered from the delivery roller 13 is attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the concave roller 11 by the force of air sucked into the air intake chamber 11D through the ventilation holes 11C. be done. As a result, the laminate of the top sheet 7 and the absorbent body 6</b>C follows the outer peripheral surface of the concave roller 11 . Then, when the concave roller 11 rotates, the laminate is heated by the heat of the hot air blown out from the hot air chamber 11E through the vent hole 11C, and the volume of the top sheet 7 is restored in the concave portion 11A.

Since the concave portion 11A is a concave portion for forming the convex portion 7F projecting obliquely toward the anus-facing region K and the urethral meatus-facing region N, as shown in FIG. It is hollow. Therefore, the top sheet 7, which is attracted to the inner surface of the recess 11A by the force of the air sucked into the intake chamber 11D and then heated by the heat of the hot air blown out from the hot air chamber 11E, is tilted in the recess 11A. A convex portion 7F, which is an oblique projection, is formed along the shape of the concave portion 11A.

The top sheet 7 having the protrusions 7F formed on the surface passes through the concave roller 11 having a function of blowing out hot air, and is cooled by air blowing or the like. It is treated so that it will not collapse again in the process.

By the way, the projections 7F formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 are not limited to the form described above. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second example of convex portions provided on the surface of the top sheet 7. As shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the convex portions 7F formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 are arranged at positions sandwiching the urethral opening-facing region N and the anus-facing region K from both sides of the top sheet 7 in the width direction. It may be a streaky convex portion extending along the longitudinal direction of the sheet 7 . In this case, the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet 7 can take several forms.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet 7 and absorbent body 6C taken along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the projections 7F may form protrusions straightly protruding from the surface of the top sheet 7. As shown in FIG. Even with the protrusions 7F forming such protrusions, the excrement discharged from the wearer of the diaper 1 in the region N facing the urethral opening or the region K facing the anus is prevented from flowing out in the width direction on the surface of the top sheet 7. It is possible to prevent it. In addition, since a ventilation path along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 is formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 by the convex portions 7F and the low-bulk portions 7T, the air permeability of the surface of the top sheet 7 is improved.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet 7 and absorbent body 6C taken along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the projections 7F may form projections projecting obliquely from the surface of the top sheet 7 toward the center of the urethral meatus-facing region N or the anus-facing region K. . With the protrusions 7F forming such protrusions, the excrement discharged from the wearer of the diaper 1 in the region N facing the urethral opening and the region K facing the anus is prevented from flowing out in the width direction on the surface of the top sheet 7. It is definitely preventable. In addition, since a ventilation path along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 is formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 by the convex portions 7F and the low-bulk portions 7T, the air permeability of the surface of the top sheet 7 is improved.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet 7 and the absorbent body 6C taken along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the projections 7F include projections straightly projecting from the surface of the top sheet 7 and oblique projections from the surface of the top sheet 7 toward the center of the urethral meatus-facing region N and the anus-facing region K. It may be a mixture of protrusions protruding to the With the protrusions 7F forming such protrusions, the excrement discharged from the wearer of the diaper 1 in the region N facing the urethral opening and the region K facing the anus is prevented from flowing out in the width direction on the surface of the top sheet 7. It is definitely preventable. In addition, since a ventilation path along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 is formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 by the convex portions 7F and the low-bulk portions 7T, the air permeability of the surface of the top sheet 7 is improved.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the cross-sectional structure of the top sheet 7 and absorbent body 6C taken along the phantom line indicated by symbol BB in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the protrusions 7F are formed along compressed grooves 9 formed in streaks on the surface of the top sheet 7 by pressing from the side of the top sheet 7 toward the side of the absorbent body 6C. may be

Moreover, the convex portion 7F formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 is not limited to a straight shape. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a third example of protrusions provided on the surface of the top sheet 7. FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a fourth example of convex portions provided on the surface of the top sheet 7. As shown in FIG. The convex portion 7F formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 may have, for example, an annular shape as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 . In this case, the convex portion 7F may have, for example, an annular shape centered on the anus-facing region K, as shown in FIG. If the convex portion 7F has an annular shape centering on the anus-facing region K, excrement discharged from the wearer in the anus-facing region K will flow in any direction on the surface of the top sheet 7, front, back, left, or right. can be prevented. Further, the convex portion 7F may be, for example, in an annular shape with the urethral meatus-facing region N as the center, as shown in FIG. If the convex portion 7F has an annular shape centering on the urethral meatus-facing region N, urine excreted from the wearer in the urethral meatus-facing region N flows on the surface of the top sheet 7 in any of the front, rear, left, and right directions. can prevent Moreover, both the annular projection 7F centered on the anus-facing region K and the annular projection 7F centered on the urethral meatus-facing region N may be provided on the surface of the top sheet 7. .

Moreover, the convex portion 7F is not limited to one formed in the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 6, and may be formed in another manufacturing process. As shown in FIG. 8, when the projections 7F are formed in a streak-like form extending along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7, for example, nozzles having elongated openings are closed at portions corresponding to the projections 7F. is arranged so as to intersect the machine direction (MD) of the device for handling the top sheet 7, and by blowing hot air from the nozzle, the streak-like protrusions 7F along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 are formed. It can be formed on the surface of the top sheet 7 .

Further, since the original roll of the top sheet 7 is obtained by winding the original sheet around the core material, the core material side of the roll is compressed more than the outer peripheral side, and the volume is low. Therefore, it is preferable to gradually lengthen the heating time for bulk recovery from the starting end side to the terminal end side of the raw fabric roll. For example, if the speed of the raw material unrolled from the raw material roll is gradually slowed down, the heating time for bulk recovery can be gradually lengthened.

Further, in the above embodiments and modifications, tape-type diapers were exemplified, but pants-type diapers and other various types of absorbent articles are also applicable.

1 Diaper 1B Inseam region 1F Front body region 1R Back body region 2F Front patch 2FT Air holes 2L, 2R Tapes 3BL, 3BR Three-dimensional gathers 3R Waist gathers 4 Cover sheet 4KL, 4KR Constriction 4C, 4SL, 4SR, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER Thread rubber 5 Back sheet 6C Absorber 7 Top sheet 7F Projection 7T Low bulk Portion 8 Side sheets 8KL, 8KR Constriction 9 Compressing groove 10 Heating nozzle 11 Concave roller 11A Concave portion 11B Compressing end 11C Ventilation hole 11D Intake chamber 11E Hot air Chamber 12 Supporting roller 13 Delivery roller K Anus-facing region N Urethral meatus-facing region

Claims (14)

An absorbent article to be worn in the wearer's crotch,
an absorber;
a top sheet made of a nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers, which is arranged on the wearer's side of the absorber and contacts the wearer's skin;
convex portions protruding from the surface of the top sheet formed by thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the top sheet; with
The convex part protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the part facing the anus of the wearer and is formed around the part facing the anus of the wearer. having a part
absorbent article. Further comprising recesses formed between the protrusions on the surface of the top sheet,
The absorbent article according to claim 1. the convex portion obliquely protrudes from the surface of the top sheet;
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The anal protrusion obliquely protrudes from the surface of the top sheet toward a portion facing the anus of the wearer.
4. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-3 . The convex part has a urethral meatus convex part protruding from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the part facing the urethral meatus of the wearer,
5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-4 . The protrusion for the urethral meatus projects obliquely from the surface of the top sheet toward a portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer,
The absorbent article according to claim 5 . The protrusion for the urethral meatus is formed so as to surround a portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer.
The absorbent article according to claim 5 or 6 . An absorbent article to be worn in the wearer's crotch,
an absorber;
a top sheet made of a nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers, which is arranged on the wearer's side of the absorber and contacts the wearer's skin;
convex portions protruding from the surface of the top sheet formed by thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the top sheet; with
The convex portion protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer and is formed around the urethra so as to surround the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer. having a mouth projection,
absorbent article. The convex portions have side convex portions extending along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet on both left and right sides of the center in the width direction of the top sheet,
9. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-8 . The absorber has grooves,
The convex portion has a groove convex portion extending along the groove on the surface of the top sheet,
10. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1-9 . An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article to be worn on the wearer's crotch,
By thermally deforming two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the topsheet of the nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers arranged on the wearer side of the absorbent body, the bulk of the topsheet is higher than the surrounding low-bulk portion. A bulky portion is formed, and protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the portion facing the wearer's anus, and is formed around the portion facing the wearer's anus. a heating mechanism that forms a protrusion protruding from the surface of the top sheet,
Manufacturing equipment for absorbent articles. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article to be worn on the wearer's crotch,
By thermally deforming two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the topsheet of the nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers arranged on the wearer side of the absorbent body, the bulk of the topsheet is higher than the surrounding low-bulk portion. A bulky portion is formed, protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer, and is circumferentially formed so as to surround the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer. a heating mechanism that forms a projection protruding from the surface of the top sheet,
Manufacturing equipment for absorbent articles. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article to be worn on the wearer's crotch,
By thermally deforming two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the topsheet of the nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers arranged on the wearer side of the absorbent body, the bulk of the topsheet is higher than the surrounding low-bulk portion. A bulky portion is formed, protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the portion facing the wearer's anus, and is formed to surround the portion facing the wearer's anus.
a heating step of forming protrusions protruding from the surface of the top sheet,
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article to be worn on the wearer's crotch,
By thermally deforming two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the topsheet of the nonwoven fabric made of core-sheath fibers arranged on the wearer side of the absorbent body, the bulk of the topsheet is higher than the surrounding low-bulk portion. A bulky portion is formed, protrudes from the surface of the top sheet on the side of the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer, and is circumferentially formed so as to surround the portion facing the urethral meatus of the wearer. a heating step of forming protrusions protruding from the surface of the top sheet,
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

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