JPH0576566A - Absorptive commodity and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the absorptive commodity improving the effect of preventing leakage, the feel of use and the appearance by forming gathers at annular elastic parts formed by joining and fixing both edge parts of the belly side part and back side part of an elastic member. CONSTITUTION:For an absorptive main body 10A, an elastic member 15 is spread and fixed through a fixed sheet 14 over the inside of both edge parts of an inside leg part 12 and one part of the inside of both side edge parts 11a and 13a at a belly side part 11 and a back side part 13. For an underpants-type disposable diaper 20, an annular elastic part 24 is formed at the absorptive main body 10A with the elastic member 15 by joining and fixing both side edge parts 11a of the belly side part 11 and both side edge parts 13a of the back side part 13, and gathers 23 are respectively formed at opening peripheral edge parts 22a of a pair of leg opening parts 22 by the annular elastic part 24. Thus, the underpants-type disposable diaper improving the effect of preventing leakage, the feel of use and the appearance can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article, and more particularly to an absorbent article used as a pants-type disposable diaper for infants, adults or incontinent persons, and a method for producing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a pants-type disposable diaper, an absorbent main body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between these sheets is provided. The main body is composed of an abdominal part, a crotch part and a dorsal part, and both side edges of the abdominal part and the dorsal part are joined and fixed to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Stuff is known (JP-A-61)
-207605).

The above-mentioned pants-type disposable diaper is constructed so that a pair of leg openings and one waist opening are formed to be expandable and contractable so as to fit the body shape, and the wearer usually stands upright. Since it can be worn under these conditions, it is used for toilet training to promote "diaper separation" of infants, or for incontinence or for walkable adults. The pants-type disposable diaper of this type is characterized in that the wearer can raise and lower the diaper in the same manner as normal underwear, as compared with a so-called flat-type diaper.

In the pants-type disposable diaper as described above, in order to improve the effect of preventing leakage from the leg openings, elastic members are arranged at the peripheral edges of the leg openings to form gathers. Some of them are also known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-33201 and 3-1).
See Japanese Patent No. 39349 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-16920).

Then, the above-mentioned JP-A-3-33201, JP-A-3-139349 and JP-A-3-16.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 920 suggests a continuous production method of pants-type disposable diapers, and further, JP-A-57-77304.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-242242 discloses a continuous manufacturing method of the pants-type disposable diaper as described above (see FIG. 5 of the same publication).

[0006]

However, in the underpants type disposable diaper described in the above-mentioned JP-A-3-33201 and JP-A-3-139349, the elastic member arranged at the opening peripheral edge portion of the leg opening portion is used. Since they were not continuous, the leak prevention effect was not always sufficient, and there was a problem in wearing comfort.

Further, in the pants-type disposable diapers described in JP-A-3-33201 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-16920, elastic members are continuously arranged at the peripheral edge of the leg opening. Since the elastic member is also arranged in the crotch part, gathers are also generated outside the crotch part of the diaper, which is not preferable in terms of appearance in addition to the problem of wearing comfort.

Further, the continuous manufacturing method suggested in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-139349 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-16920 can only manufacture diapers having the above-mentioned problems and the like. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-7730
Even in the case of the continuous manufacturing method described in Japanese Patent No. 4 publication, only the diaper in which the elastic member is arranged in the crotch portion of the diaper can be manufactured, and the obtained diaper has the entire circumference of the opening peripheral edge of the leg opening. No elastic member is provided on the.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article which has a high leakage preventing effect and is excellent in wearing feeling and appearance, and a continuous manufacturing method of the absorbent article.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has the above-mentioned object to provide an absorbent main body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber disposed between these sheets. The absorptive main body is composed of an abdominal part, a crotch part and a dorsal part, and both side edges of the abdominal part and the dorsal part are joined and fixed to form a waist opening and a pair of parts. In an absorbent article in which leg openings are formed, and gathers are formed at opening peripheral portions of at least a pair of the leg openings, respectively, in the absorbent main body, inside both side edge portions of the crotch portion, the ventral side The elastic member is stretched and fixed via a fixing sheet over a part of both side edge portions of the side portion and the back side portion, and both side edge portions of the abdominal side portion and the back side portion By joining and fixing, with the above elastic member Forming a respectively resilient annular portion, in which was achieved to provide an absorbent article which is characterized in that is formed with the gathers by elastic annulus.

Further, the present invention is a preferred method for producing the absorbent article of the present invention, wherein an elastic member is annularly stretched and fixed to a fixing sheet on a continuous liquid-impermeable backsheet having a predetermined width. After arranging the elastic annular body sheet formed by the above at a constant interval, the absorbent body is arranged adjacent to the adjacent elastic annular body sheets, and then a continuous liquid-permeable top sheet having a predetermined width is placed on the absorbent body. A manufacturing step of arranging to manufacture an absorbent main body continuum, and cutting to obtain a plurality of absorbent main bodies by respectively cutting the absorbent main body continuum obtained in the above manufacturing step at the central portion between the adjacent absorbent bodies A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, comprising: a step; and a joining step of joining and fixing both side edge portions of the abdominal side portion and the back side portion of each absorbent main body.

[0012]

According to the absorbent article of the present invention, since the elastic member is continuously stretched and fixed to the peripheral edge of the opening of the leg, the leakage preventing effect is sufficiently exerted when worn, and the absorbent article is absorbed. Since the elastic member is not disposed in the portion where the body is located, the wear feeling is excellent and the appearance is neat.

Further, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, since the elastic member stretched and fixed to the leg opening is preliminarily stretched and fixed on the fixing sheet in a desired form, the elastic member is disposed. It is possible to easily and continuously manufacture an absorbent main body continuous body arranged in a desired position in a desired form, and to easily and continuously manufacture the absorbent article of the present invention from the absorbent main body continuous body. it can.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pants-type disposable diaper as an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing a pants-type disposable diaper which is an embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of the absorbent main body omitted, and the absorbent main body 10A shown in FIG. Shows the elastic members for forming gathers at the peripheral edges of the top sheet and the waist opening, while omitting them.

The pants-type disposable diaper 20 of this embodiment
Includes an absorbent main body 10A having a liquid-permeable top sheet 1, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 2, and an absorbent body 3 arranged between these sheets.
Is composed of an abdominal part 11, a crotch part 12, and a dorsal part 13, and the side edges 11a, 11a and 13a, 13a of the abdominal part 11 and the dorsal part 13 are joined and fixed to form a waist. Opening 21 and a pair of leg openings 22,
22 is formed, and these configurations are similar to the conventional product.

Thus, the absorbent main body 10A in the present embodiment is in the unfolded state (state before joining),
As shown in FIG. 2, both sides of the central portion (crotch portion 12) are curved in a constricted shape, and the inside of both side edges 12a, 12a of the crotch portion 12, the ventral side portion 11 and the back side are formed. Side edges 11a, 11a and 13a, 1 of each part 13
An elastic member is stretched and fixed via fixing sheets 14 and 14 over a part of the inside of 3a.

In the case of this embodiment, the fixing sheets 14 and 1 are used.
4 is joined to the back sheet 2 and elastic members 15, 1 are provided on the fixed sheets 14, 14 as shown in FIG.
5 is stretched and fixed. In the pants-type disposable diaper 20 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the absorptive main body 10A is provided with both side edge portions 11a and 11a of the ventral side portion 11 and both side edge portions 13a and 13a of the back side portion 13. By joining and fixing and, the elastic members 15 and 15 form elastic annular portions 24 and 24, respectively, and the elastic annular portions 24 and 24 form the opening peripheral edge portions 22a of the pair of leg openings 22 and 22, respectively. 22a is formed with gathers 23, 23, respectively. In FIG. 1, for convenience, the elastic annular portion 24 is shown by a solid line where it should be shown by an imaginary line.

The pants-type disposable diaper 20 of this embodiment
Since it is configured as described above, it has a high leakage prevention effect and is excellent in wearing feeling and appearance. Next, a method for manufacturing the absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 with respect to one embodiment of a method for manufacturing the pants-type disposable diaper 20 of the above-described embodiment. 2 to 5 each show a main part of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the absorbent body forming the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a continuum of elastic annular body sheets used in the production of the product of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is one elastic annular body obtained by cutting the continuum of elastic annular body sheets shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a sheet, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an absorbent main body continuous body obtained by using the elastic annular body sheet shown in FIG.

To carry out the manufacturing method of the present invention,
An elastic annular sheet 30A having a form as shown in FIG. 4 is manufactured. To make this elastic annular sheet 30A, refer to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, two elastic members 15, 15 are provided on a continuous fixed sheet 14 'having a predetermined width (this width is equal to or narrower than the length of the absorber 3) and the elastic annular sheet 30A is formed.
The continuous annular sheet 30 is formed by continuously partially polymerizing the annular body at substantially the same interval as the minor axis of the annular body and tensioning and fixing the annular body as shown in FIG. After that, the continuous body 30 is cut at each center portion between the annular bodies to obtain an elastic annular body sheet 30A shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 5, a continuous liquid impermeable material having a predetermined width (this width is the length in the longitudinal direction in the unfolded state of the pants-type disposable diaper). The elastic annular body sheet 30A previously formed on the back sheet 2 is arranged at regular intervals in the width direction of the back sheet 2, and then the adjacent elastic annular body sheets 30A are arranged. The absorbent main body 10 is manufactured by arranging the absorbent bodies 3 on a part of each of them and then arranging a continuous liquid-permeable top sheet (not shown) of a predetermined width on the absorbent body 3. To do.

Next, the absorbent main body continuous body 10 obtained in the above manufacturing process is cut at each of the central portions between the adjacent absorbent bodies 3, 3 to obtain a plurality of absorbent main bodies having a shape as shown in FIG. You get 10A. Also, in this cutting step,
As shown in FIG. 2, both side edges 12a, 12 of the crotch part 12 are cut at the time of cutting, before or after the cutting, or after joining of both side edges.
Fixing sheet 1 so that a has a curved waist shape
4, 14 and the backsheet 2 are cut off at the circular portion P shown in FIG.

After that, both side edges 11a and 11a of the abdominal part 11 of each absorbent main body 10A obtained in the above cutting step,
By joining the both side edges 13a, 13a of the back side portion 13, the pants-type disposable diaper 20 of the present invention having the form as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. Further, the absorbent main body continuous body 10 obtained in the above manufacturing process is joined to both side edge portions 11a and 11a of the abdominal side portion 11 of each absorbent main body 10A and both side edge portions 13a and 13a of the back side portion 13. After that, the absorbent main body 10A shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained by cutting the absorbent cores 3 and 3 adjacent to each other at the central portions thereof.

In the above-described embodiment, the absorbent sheet 3 is arranged after the fixing sheet 14 is arranged. However, when the order is reversed, the pants-type disposable diaper 20 having substantially the same structure can be obtained. That is, in the manufacturing process of the absorbent main body continuous body 30, the continuous liquid-impermeable backsheet 2 having a predetermined width is used.
The plurality of absorbers 3 are arranged on the upper part of the absorber 3 at regular intervals in the width direction of the back sheet 2, and then the absorbers 3 are partially bridged over each other to form an elastic member. The elastic annular sheet 30A formed by annularly stretching and fixing 15 on one fixing sheet 14 'is arranged, and the continuous liquid-permeable top sheet 1 having a predetermined width is placed on the elastic annular sheet 30A. It may be a manufacturing process in which the absorbent main body continuous body 30 is arranged.

In addition, in the manufacturing process of the absorbent main body continuous body 30, the continuous liquid-permeable top sheet 1 having a predetermined width is
After arranging the plurality of absorbers 3 in the longitudinal direction thereof in the width direction of the top sheet 1 at regular intervals, the plurality of absorbers 3 are laid over a part of each of the adjacent absorbers 3 to form the elastic member 1.
The elastic annular sheet 30A, which is formed by annularly stretching and fixing 5 on one fixed sheet 14 ', is arranged respectively, and a continuous liquid-impermeable back sheet 2 having a predetermined width is provided on the elastic annular sheet 30A. May be arranged to manufacture the absorbent main body continuous body 30.

Further, in the above manufacturing process, the elastic annular sheet 30A may be arranged on the back sheet 2 or the top sheet 1, and then the absorber 3 may be arranged. Further, instead of the elastic annular body sheet 30A, an elastic annular body sheet continuous body 30 formed in a form as shown in FIG. 6, that is, an elastic body in which the major axis and the minor axis of the annular body are opposite to those shown in FIG. An elastic annular body sheet 30B obtained from the continuous annular body sheet 30 may be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the elastic annular body sheet 30B changes its direction by 90 ° from the elastic annular body sheet 30A. The pants-type disposable diaper can be obtained in the same manner as in the above embodiment except that the pants-type disposable diaper is placed on the back sheet 2.

Further, instead of the elastic annular body sheet 30A, two elastic members 1 are provided on the elastic annular body sheet 30C shown in FIG. 8, that is, on a fixed sheet 14 'having a predetermined width.
The elastic member continuous body 30 in which 5 and 15 are stretched and fixed by continuously crossing and fixing 5 and 15 at substantially the same intervals as the major axis length of the annular member of the elastic annular sheet 30A, is provided on the elastic member 1.
Also by using the elastic annular sheet 30C formed by cutting at the intersections of 5 and 15 respectively,
The pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention can be obtained in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

Furthermore, the fixing sheets 14 and 1 are also provided.
As 4 ', it is also possible to use one in which an elastic member is arranged between two sheets and the elastic member is fixed at a predetermined position. In this case, since the sheet is less likely to be wrinkled, there is an advantage that speed can be increased when the fixed sheet is conveyed in the manufacturing process of the disposable diaper. According to the above-described manufacturing method of the present invention, the elastic member stretched and fixed to the leg opening is arranged after being stretched and fixed in a desired form on the fixing sheet in advance, so that the elastic member is positioned at a desired position. It is possible to easily and continuously manufacture the absorbent main body continuous body arranged in the desired form, and to easily and continuously manufacture the absorbent article of the present invention from the absorbent main body continuous body.

The above-described embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention and the embodiment of the manufacturing method therefor are based on the sectional shape taken along line X--X in FIG. 2 having a shape (form) as shown in FIG. However, the absorbent article of the present invention and the manufacturing method thereof may be in the form and manufacturing method described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the pants-type disposable diaper which is the absorbent article of the present invention has the backsheet 2 as described above.
Is a laminated body of at least two layers, and the elastic member 1
Alternatively, the elastic annular sheet 30 </ b> A stretched and fixed in 5 may be fixed at a predetermined position between the laminated bodies, and the absorber 3 may be arranged on the laminated body. Although a film, a non-woven fabric, or the like is used as a sheet constituting the above-mentioned laminated body, a sheet used as a normal back sheet may be arranged at least on the outermost side.

When manufacturing the disposable diaper having the form shown in FIG. 11, the manufacturing process of the absorbent main body continuous body in the above-described embodiment may be changed, for example, as follows. That is, after the elastic annular sheet 30A is fixed between the layers of the back sheet 2 which is a laminate of at least two continuous layers having a predetermined width at predetermined intervals, a plurality of absorbers 3 are provided at regular intervals. It may be changed to a mode in which the liquid-permeable top sheet 1 having a predetermined width is continuously arranged on the sheet 2 after that.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the pants-type disposable diaper which is the absorbent article of the present invention has a liquid-permeable top sheet 1 and a liquid-impermeable (or liquid-permeable) sheet 1'in advance. The absorber 3 arranged between the two may be joined and fixed to the inner surface of the back sheet 2 made of the above-mentioned laminated body. In the figure, 15 'is an elastic member disposed outside both side edges of the absorber 3.

When manufacturing the disposable diaper having the form shown in FIG. 11, the steps of manufacturing the absorbent main body continuous body in the above-described embodiment may be changed as follows, for example. That is, after fixing the elastic annular sheet 30A between the layers of the back sheet 2 which is a laminate of at least two continuous layers having a predetermined width at predetermined intervals, the liquid permeable top sheet 1 and the liquid impermeable sheet are preliminarily prepared. It may be changed to a mode in which the absorbent body 3 disposed between the absorbent sheet 3 (or the liquid permeable sheet) and the absorbent sheet 3 is bonded and fixed to the inner surface of the back sheet 2 made of the above laminated body.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the disposable diaper in which the back sheet 2 is a laminate as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the elastic member 1 is provided between the laminates.
If 5 is arranged, the contracting force of the elastic member 15 does not directly reach the absorbent body 3, so that the absorbent body 3 does not collapse or, conversely, the contracting force of the elastic member 15 is not impeded. Further, each of the first to fourth elastic members in the present invention is 1
It may be formed by a book or a plurality of members.
The example in which the elastic member 15 in FIGS. 0 to 12 is formed by two members is shown. In addition, each constituent member of the absorbent article of the present invention is appropriately joined and fixed with an adhesive or the like as in the conventional article.

Needless to say, the absorbent article and the method for producing the same according to the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned examples and embodiments. For example, the size and the like of each member in the above-described embodiment may be set according to the one shown in the figure or the conventional pants-type disposable diaper may be sequentially set as the constituent material. A part or all of them are appropriately joined and fixed with an adhesive or the like.

[0034]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The absorbent article of the present invention has a high leakage preventing effect and is excellent in wearing feeling and appearance. According to the production method of the present invention, the absorbent article of the present invention having the above-mentioned effects can be easily produced. And it can be manufactured continuously.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.

2 is a plan view of the absorbent body forming the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with a part of the absorbent body omitted. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a continuous body of an elastic annular body sheet used for manufacturing the product of the present invention shown in FIG.

4 is a plan view showing one elastic annular body sheet obtained by cutting the continuous body of the elastic annular body sheet shown in FIG. 3. FIG.

5 is a plan view of an absorbent main body continuous body obtained by using the elastic annular body sheet shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of a continuous body of an elastic annular body sheet with a part cut away.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an absorbent main body continuous body obtained by using the elastic annular body sheet shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of the continuous body of the elastic annular body sheet with a part thereof cut away.

9 is a plan view of an absorbent main body continuous body obtained by using the elastic annular body sheet shown in FIG. 8. FIG.

10 is a sectional view showing an outline of a sectional shape of another embodiment corresponding to the sectional shape taken along line XX of FIG.

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment, FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10, showing the outline of the cross-sectional shape of still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Top Sheet 2 Back Sheet 3 Absorber 10 Absorbent Main Body Continuation Body 10A Absorbent Main Body 11 Abdominal Side 11a Side Edge 12 Crotch 12a Side Edge 13 Dorsal Side 13a Side Edge 14 Fixed Sheet 15 Elastic Member 20 Pants Type disposable diaper 21 Waist opening 22 Leg opening 22a Opening peripheral edge 23 Gather 24 Elastic annular part 30 Elastic annular sheet continuous body 30A Elastic annular sheet 30B Elastic annular sheet 30C Elastic annular sheet

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 2119-3B A41B 13/02 S

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An absorbent main body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between these sheets, wherein the absorbent main body is a ventral side portion. A crotch part and a back side part, both side edges of the abdominal side part and the back side part are joined and fixed to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and at least a pair of the In an absorbent article in which gathers are formed on the opening peripheral portions of the leg openings, respectively, in the absorbent main body, the inside of both side edge portions of the crotch portion, the both side edge portions of the ventral side portion and the back side portion, respectively. An elastic member is stretched and fixed via a fixing sheet over a part of the inner side, and the elastic annular member is elastically ringed by the elastic member by joining and fixing both side edges of the ventral side portion and the back side portion. Forming an elastic ring Absorbent article, characterized in that is formed with the gathers by. 2. The back sheet is composed of a laminate of at least two layers, the elastic member is stretched and fixed between the layers of the laminate via the fixing sheet, and the absorber is arranged on the laminate. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein 3. The method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is annularly stretched and fixed to a fixing sheet on a continuous liquid-impermeable backsheet having a predetermined width. After arranging the elastic annular body sheets at regular intervals, the absorbent bodies are arranged adjacent to the adjacent elastic annular body sheets, and then a continuous liquid-permeable top sheet having a predetermined width is arranged on the absorbent body. And a cutting step of cutting the absorbent main body continuum obtained in the above manufacturing step at the central portion between adjacent absorbent bodies to obtain a plurality of absorbent main bodies. And a joining step of joining and fixing both side edge portions of the ventral side portion and the back side portion of each absorbent main body, respectively. 4. The elastic annular body sheet is such that a first and a second elastic member are provided on a fixed sheet having a predetermined width which is continuous at substantially the same intervals as the length of the minor axis of the annular body of the elastic annular body sheet. The method for producing an absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the elastic annular sheet continuous body, which is continuously polymerized and stretched and fixed, is formed by cutting at each of the superposed portions of the elastic member. 5. The elastic annular body sheet comprises a continuous fixed sheet having a predetermined width, and first and second elastic members continuously formed at substantially the same intervals as the major axis of the annular body of the elastic annular body sheet. The method for producing an absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the elastic annular sheet continuous body, which is stretched and fixed by crossing the elastic members, is formed by cutting at each of the crossing portions of the elastic member. 6. A process for producing an absorbent main body continuous body, wherein a plurality of absorbers and elastic members are stretched and fixed to a fixed sheet in an annular shape on a continuous liquid-impermeable backsheet having a predetermined width. And a plurality of elastic annular sheets are alternately arranged adjacent to each other at regular intervals, and a continuous liquid-permeable top sheet having a predetermined width is arranged on the upper surface thereof to produce a continuous absorbent main body. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 3, which is a manufacturing process. 7. The process for producing a continuous body of absorbent main body comprises a plurality of absorbent bodies and elastic members which are annularly stretched and fixed on a fixed sheet on a continuous liquid-permeable top sheet having a predetermined width. A plurality of elastic annular body sheets are alternately arranged adjacent to each other at regular intervals, and a continuous liquid-impermeable backsheet having a predetermined width is arranged on the upper surface of the elastic annular body sheets to manufacture a continuous absorbent main body. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 3, which is a manufacturing process.