JPS6137157A - Sanitary napkin and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides sanitary napkins mainly made of fluff pulp;
In particular, the present invention relates to a sanitary napkin that exhibits the maximum menstrual absorption and retention effect with a minimum number of materials, and a method for manufacturing such a sanitary napkin.

[Conventional technology]

A typical example of conventionally commercially available sanitary napkins is No.
As shown in FIG. Figure 5 shows typical or average products made in Japan, and Figure 6 shows products widely used in the United States and Canada. Both FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are perspective views in which various laminated materials are sequentially cut to clarify the layered structure.

First, the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 5 is wrapped on the outside with a nonwoven fabric 1, and heat-sealed portions are formed on one side edge 1b and both ends 1a of the nonwoven fabric.

When the upper nonwoven fabric 1 is turned over, there are 20 layers of stable cotton. This layer provides a soft feel when the napkin is applied to the body area. An absorbent paper 3 is placed under the stable cotton layer 2, and a thin fluff pulp layer 4 is placed below it, and an absorbent paper 5 is placed again. Absorbent paper 3,5
As the amount of menstrual fluid absorbed into the napkin increases, the width (
(e) It tends to leak in the direction, so keep the liquid as long as possible.
Grained crepe paper is used to guide people in the right direction. Here, "menstruation" refers to excrement that is a mixture of uterine mucous membranes, mucus, water, and a small amount of menstrual blood. "Menstrual blood" is a dark red and black color, and unlike normal blood, it does not solidify. do not have. In this specification, menstruation is used in this sense. A polymer absorbent material 6 having a polymer absorbent is placed under the absorbent paper 5. The polymer absorbent material has the ability to absorb more than 60 times its own weight of liquid, and has the property of retaining water and turning itself into liquid, but does not diffuse the water to the surroundings. Finally, a waterproof material 7 is placed between the polymer absorbent material 6 and the nonwoven fabric 1. The waterproof material 2 is made of a material that prevents permeation of menstrual fluid, such as a polylaminate sheet or a polyvinyl sheet.

The pearkin shown in FIG. 6 is wrapped on the outside with non-woven fabric 1 and heat-sealed on the L side edge and both ends, as in the previous example, but the inside is relatively thick under water-absorbing paper 8. For example, the structure is relatively simple, consisting of a fluff pulp 9 with a thickness of 1.7 to 2.5 crn and a waterproof material 10 underneath.

A common problem with these conventional sanitary napkins is that menstrual fluid discharged locally on the upper surface of the napkin penetrates each layer from top to bottom in that local area and settles for a long time. The problem is that it cannot be sufficiently diffused in the direction L). Therefore, when the amount of menstrual absorption is large, side leakage tends to occur in the width (W) direction. In the napkin shown in Figure 5, absorbent papers 3 and 5, such as vertically grained crepe paper, are used for the purpose of pulling the menstrual material in the longitudinal direction as much as possible, but even so, it still It is not possible to eliminate the tendency of local sedimentation downward;
After all, menstruation is only retained by the polymeric absorbent material in the local area and a limited area around it. Menstrual fluid that exceeds the retention capacity of the polymeric absorbent material within this limited range and settles from the upper layer is absorbed by the areas remaining dry near both ends of the napkin and the polymeric absorbent material from the spot absorption area. It ends up leaking in the lateral direction (width W direction) without being sent to. In order to prevent such side leakage, the waterproof material 7°10 placed on the lowest layer has its both sides curved upward (7e, 10).
e), but sufficient effects cannot be expected.

The tendency for local precipitation of menstruation is particularly great in pearkins of the type shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, an ellipse 98 drawn with a broken line on the upper surface of the fluff pal f9 schematically represents the range where menstrual fluid is discharged locally (spotly) onto the napkin.

The menstrual fluid received in this range hardly spreads in the length and width directions, and sinks and penetrates from top to bottom in a straight line. Therefore, the menstrual absorption and retention ability of this type of nashikin depends entirely on the thickness of the fluff pulp 9.

There is a very high possibility that the menstrual fluid that has locally penetrated the thickness of the fluff pal f9 will accumulate on the waterproof material 10 and flow out along both side edges 10e.

Furthermore, another problem with conventional sanitary pads is that even when the pads have deteriorated to the point of leakage, the pad material still remains unused and remains dry. This represents a major waste of material usage. Nanokin shown in Figure 5 has the disadvantage of high material costs because several types of materials are used, and it is also uneconomical that the expensive polymer absorbent material used is not fully utilized at both ends of the L) direction. There is. Materials in areas remote from the local area that receives and receives menstrual fluids are often not helpful in absorbing and retaining menstrual fluids, even at a stage where leakage occurs. In the Nashikin of Figure 6, a great diseconomie is observed in that out of the total amount of thick and long fluff pulp, only the local area 9S actually contributes to menstrual absorption retention. Even the widthwise edges of the napkin may remain dry and unused.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to provide an inexpensive and economical sanitary napkin that can exhibit maximum menstrual absorption and retention ability with a minimum number of materials. do.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary napkin having a length greater than its width, which uses one inexpensive material as a main component and has the ability to diffuse, absorb and retain menstrual fluid in the length direction. The purpose of the present invention is to provide enhanced sanitary pearkins.

More specifically, the present invention has a structure in which the absorbed menstrual fluid is diffused in the middle layer of the thickness, so that most of the surface that is attached to the body remains dry, so there is no so-called wet feeling, and the absorbed menstrual fluid is absorbed. A sanitary product that does not stain clothing because formed components (such as mucous membranes, mucus, and red blood cells) are trapped between the fibers during the diffusion stage, and when they reach the side edges, they become filtered and translucent water. The purpose is to provide napkins.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an alternative method for manufacturing a sanitary napkin as described above.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems.

Dekin uses a tightening layer of pulp fibers that are tightened and unentangled (very little entanglement) as its main absorbent/retention material, and then folds it into the first and second layers. Such a tightening layer and its manufacturing method have not existed in the prior art.

The first layer and the second layer are continuously tightened into a flat plate shape, but are formed as a continuous belt-like tightening layer of fluff and loops in which the fibers are hardly entangled with each other. The width of the continuous belt-like tightening layer is the sum of the widths of the first layer and the second layer. Deodorant is applied over the half-width that is to become the first layer of the continuous tightening layer and is held infiltrated between the armpit fibers 9 near the surface. On top of the remaining 9 half-widths, which should become the second layer, water droplets obtained by spraying collide with each other (
Appropriate amount of micro water particles (spranosea) are applied,
Wet the luzo fibers in the thickness near the surface.

Pressure is applied to the wetted fibers along the general length of the band to orient the wetted fibers as much as possible and predominantly longitudinally and to reduce the distance between the fibers. The wet fibers thus obtained are heated and dried to strengthen the bonds between the fibers, and the directionality given by the pressure is fixed. The hard skin-like layer near the surface of the second layer thus formed is called the crust layer. The crust layer is endowed with greater capillary action predominantly in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse (width) direction.

The first layer containing deodorant is then folded over the crust layer of the second layer on the centerline of the width of the strip-like tightening layer, and the first and second layers are brought into contact with the deodorant layer and the crust layer. and are superimposed.

Thus, the sanitary napkin of the present invention is constructed with only the fluff/frug layer as the absorbent and retaining material.

[For production]

The fluff/grug-based sanitary napkin of the present invention constructed as described above has a crust layer predominantly subjected to capillary action in the longitudinal direction, so that local strands are formed on the napkin. The injected menses sink through the first layer of fluff in its local area and reach the crust layer. The menstrual flow is then diffused predominantly longitudinally and to a lesser extent laterally within the crustal layer. The menstruation does not penetrate the second layer in the same way as in the local area of the first layer. The menstrual fluid diffused within the crust layer is brought into close contact with the deodorant layer that is in contact with the crust layer and receives a strong and effective deodorizing effect. The menstrual fluid that has been diffused and deodorized within the crust layer is then absorbed by the second layer of fluff, which is integral with the crust layer, if there is a large amount of menstrual flow that is subsequently received.
It penetrates into the thickness of the rupu. This penetration takes place over the entire surface area in contact with the crust layer of the second layer, leaving very little area of the fluff pulp in the second layer dry and unused. Thus, the materials used to form the nanokins can be utilized to maximum efficiency. The first layer of fluff pulp remains dry except for the local area where menstruation occurs, but since the surface of the first layer is the part that comes into contact with the body, keeping it dry is important to avoid unpleasant sensations when using it. useful for. In addition, since the local area of the first layer that receives menstruation is slightly depressed from the surface of the first layer, the wet area does not feel like it directly touches the skin, and there is no discomfort. Furthermore, since the menstrual fluid absorbed and retained in the second layer is deodorized, it does not emit any unpleasant odor, and is also comfortable in this respect.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the sanitary napkin of the present invention partially cut out.
It is a perspective view showing a part in cross section (cross section CS and longitudinal section LS). The sanitary napkin of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 11, is wrapped with an outer wrapping material 12 such as a non-woven fabric,
Heat-sealed portions 12b are formed at both ends of a heat-sealed portion 12a1 on the l side edge of the outer packaging material. A folded fluff pulp tightening layer 14 is wrapped inside the outer wrapping material 12,
This tightening layer 14 is made of a porous sheet that was used as a receiving paper during its formation and left as is, for example, a tissue d-
of! It is wrapped in l3.

The fluff pulp tightening layer 14 is made of fluff fibers that are tightened but the pulp fibers are not intertwined with each other, and is folded to form a first layer (or upper layer) 15 and a second layer.
layer (or lower layer) 18. The lower part of the first layer in contact with the interface 17 between the first layer and the second layer is a layer containing deodorant 16, and the upper part of the second layer is formed with a crust layer 19 integrally with the second layer. ing. The crust layer 19 is
It is a layer in which the pulp fibers are predominantly oriented in the longitudinal direction shown by the arrows in FIG. It is strengthened in the length direction.

Such a directional capillary structure is shown in the second layer 18 in FIG.
It is schematically indicated by regularly arranged black circles in the cross section CS, and is schematically indicated by regularly arranged thick short lines in the longitudinal section LS. The random small dots above interface 17 schematically represent the layer containing deodorant 16.

Tino Spee/4' l 3 covers the upper surface of the first layer 15, one surface of the first layer and the second layer, and the lower surface of the second layer 18, and the Tino Spee/4'l 3 covers the lower surface of the second layer. A waterproofing material 20 is placed under it. The waterproof material 20 may be made of a conventional material. In the present invention, since a large amount of menstrual fluid does not penetrate through the fluff pulp of the second layer 18 and seep out onto the waterproof material, the lines on both sides of the waterproof material 20 are
There is no need to intentionally fold the napkin upwards as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of the sanitary napkin 1 of the present invention for explaining the menstrual absorption, diffusion and retention effect. The menstrual fluid that is locally received on the upper surface of the napkin is locally precipitated through the fluff pulp of the first layer 15, as represented by the thickly hatched area indicated by the symbol 15s, and is deposited locally in the second layer 15. 18 Top crust layer 19
reach.

Here, menstrual fluid is diffused within the crust layer 19 mainly in the length direction and a little in the width direction due to the capillary action developed predominantly in the length direction of the crust layer 1g. , as shown schematically by the thick notched area along the crust layer 19, is not found in conventional sanitary napkins.

The diffused menstrual fluid is brought into close contact with the deodorant 16 that is in contact with the crust layer 19, and the odor characteristic of menstrual fluid is removed. The amount of menstrual fluid that cannot be seen in the crust layer 19 gradually penetrates into the fluff/guruno of the second layer 18. This penetration is based on 1 surface area of the second layer 18 (interface 1
7), the menstrual flow that can be retained by the napkin of the present invention is unprecedentedly large. Since the retained menstrual fluid is deodorized at the interface 17, no unpleasant odor is generated.

Thus, in the sanitary napkin of the present invention, substantially the entire volume of the menstrual absorption and retention material, particularly the fluff pulp of the second layer 18, can be utilized for absorption and retention and is left in a dry, unused state. Because there are fewer problems, materials can be used more efficiently and economically. Furthermore, the sanitary napkin of the present invention is manufactured using inexpensive fluff cerno as the main material (the only absorbent and retaining material), and does not require expensive polymeric absorbent material, making it even more reliable and safe. A menstrual retention function can be achieved.

Next, a method for producing the sanitary nanokin of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view schematically representing the first step of the method according to the invention. First, a porous sheet used as a receiving paper,
For example, tissues 4 and 13 are fed out from the tissue wave roll 2 and fed onto the conveyor belt 22. The conveyor belt 22 is an air permeable belt that is run in the direction of arrow A by several (three in FIG. 3) rolls. Above the upper running part of the belt 22,
A stacking machine 23 storing fluff pulp P is arranged. A suction denox 24 is disposed below the upper belt running portion, facing the bottom of the stacking machine 23. Inside the stacking machine 23, a pair of belts 25 are arranged in a chi-Δ shape so as to narrow downward as seen in the figure, and a brush 26 that rotates in the direction of the arrow is installed at the lower exit portion of these belts. By rotation.

Carrying out carding of the riffraff pulp. In addition, although two cursing brushes 26 are shown in the figure, it may be one, or in some cases, there may be 92 or more.

The fluff/guruno which has been kerned from the bottom of the stacking machine 23 is continuously dropped onto the tissue o-t+x3 carried on the belt 22 and fed onto it. Fluff pulp is produced by the operation of the suction box 24, such as Shifranov, Ruzo,
As air is sucked through the permeable heald, the fibers become a tightened but hardly entangled layer that can be transferred to the next process (e.g. the next conveyor belt 27) as a continuous band-like tightening layer 14. It is sent continuously in the A direction. The width of the continuous belt-like tightening layer 14 is
This width is the sum of the width of the first layer and the width of the second layer shown in FIG. The tissue wave or other porous sheet 13 remains in close contact with the bottom surface of the continuous strip-like tightening layer 14, and when the strip-like tightening layer 14 is passed from one process to the next. This helps to maintain the integrity of the belt-like tightening layer so that the fluff pulp does not collapse during the process.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a vessel illustrating several steps following the first step of the invention (FIG. (omitted in Figure 4 for simplicity) and is continuously fed in the direction of arrow A.

The first step in FIG. 4 is to apply microscopic water particles onto the surface of the width that is to become the second layer 18 (see FIG. 1) above the fluff pulp band-like tightening layer 14. The microscopic water particles are applied with suitable pressure by a suitable streak layer, schematically designated 28, to wet the pulp fibers near the surface of the half-width section (18). In FIG. 4, an array of fine points 29 schematically represents the surface of the Furasovnocurzo layer thus wetted. The amount of moisture applied and/or the applied pressure determines the depth from the surface to which the pulp fibers are wetted and thus the thickness of the crust layer 19 to be subsequently formed. If you apply a large amount of water at a high pressure,
A thicker crust layer is formed accordingly. However, such an amount of moisture should not be used that the thickness of the half-width section (18) is visibly reduced as a result of the moisture application. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 30 represents a partition member that shields the remaining half-width surface from the water particles. However, Souffler 28
If the partition member itself can control the direction of the water particles, no partition member is necessary.

The wetted surface 29 is then subjected to directional pressure in the next step. This pressurization can be carried out, for example, by means of a pressure row 231 that lightly presses against the wetted surface 29. The pressure row 231 can be rotated as shown by the arrow. Such pressure aligns the moistened pulp fibers as much as possible along the surface of the half-width portion (18) and in the length direction (in the direction of arrow A), while reducing the distance between the fibers and creating a space between the fibers. causing entanglement and/or binding. In FIG. 4, the short line array 32 is
This diagram schematically shows the oriented and intertwined Gulp fibers. In this way, the oriented and intertwined
The Gurno fiber is heated and dried in the next step. This heating drying can be carried out by passing the surface portion 32 of the continuous strip-shaped tightening layer J4 under suitable heating means 33, such as electric heating means or gas heating means. In this way, tighten
The pulp fibers that have gone through the steps of wetting, directional pressure, and heat drying form a crust layer 19 in which the hydroxyl groups between the fibers form slight hydrogen bonds, and capillary action is predominantly imparted in the longitudinal direction. Become. The array of thin continuous lines in FIG. 4 emphasizes this capillary structure. The crust layer 19 is continuous with the fluff layer (second layer 18 in Fig. 1) that is firm but hardly intertwined underneath, and has a somewhat hard leather-like appearance. .

In the next step, the remaining half width of the continuous band-shaped tightening layer 14 (width to become the first layer 15) is processed. Deodorant 16 in the form of fine powder or particles is sprayed onto the surface of the flannel 7 and the flannel from an appropriate deodorant supply device 34 located above the remaining width (15). Deodorant 16 is either on the surface of the fluff or luzo layer, or on the luzo fibers near the surface.

Light pressure is applied to ensure that the fluff/4'rug retains any fines or particles on the surface that penetrate into the fibers. This pressurization can be performed by a pressurizing roll 36 that rotates in the direction of the arrow while lightly pressing against the surface of the fluff pulp.

In this way, the fluff pulp continuous belt-like tightening layer 14, which has been subjected to separate treatments for each half of its width, is in the next step formed on the bottom surface of the tightening layer 14 as shown by the thick arrow 36 on its longitudinal center line X. It is folded back together. In this way, a continuous length of fluff glue wrapped in tissue paper 13 and folded and folded together with tightening layer 14 as shown in FIG. 1 is formed.

In the next step, although not shown, a continuous length of waterproofing material 20 is supplied under the continuous length of folded fluff pulp tightening layer 14 (i.e., under the tissue paper 13 under the second layer 18). . The supply of waterproofing material can be provided below, for example, when the fluff pulp tightening layer 14 is transferred over two conveyor belts (not shown) placed at a distance, similar to the two conveyor belts 22 and 27 in FIG. This can be done by unwinding a continuous length of waterproofing material from a roll of waterproofing material and joining it to the bottom surface of the fluff-cerzo tightening layer 14.

Subsequently, the continuous length of the fluff pulp tightening layer 14, which is wrapped in the tinoshie covering 13 and combined with the waterproof material 20, is cut into the length of each sanitary pashkin as shown in FIG. The cut object is an outer wrapping material 12 such as non-woven fabric.
The side edges of the outer wrapping material 12 are heat-sealed 12a, and both ends are also sealed 12b. The thus completed sanitary napkin is packaged in a compact form, for example by folding it horizontally into thirds, and then shipped.

The napkin manufacturing method of the present invention described above can be applied not only to sanitary napkins, but also to the manufacturing of moisture-absorbing materials such as diapers, surgical or obstetric and gynecological pads, and bed coverings. When manufacturing products with wider widths than these sanitary nanokins, the same steps as described above are carried out, except that the paper receiving paper and the conveyor belt for conveying it are made of appropriate widths.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The sanitary napkin of the present invention uses inexpensive fluff pulp as the main absorption and retention material, and the fluff pulp is subjected to tightening, wetting, directional pressure, and drying processes to form a crust with a directional capillary structure. Because the layers are formed, the material can be fully utilized for absorption and retention across the entire volume in both the length and width directions, and there is no need to waste or discard material with large unused portions. Uneconomy can be eliminated.

Further, since the napkin of the present invention has excellent longitudinal diffusion due to the crust layer, there is no side leakage as seen in conventional sanitary napkins. The napkin of the present invention has a two-layer structure by folding flat fluff pulp tightening layers and stacking them as a first layer and a second layer, and the above-mentioned crust layer is formed at the interface. The surface is dry and there is almost no wetness on the part that touches the body, so it feels comfortable to use. Furthermore, since the napkin of the present invention has a deodorant layer in contact with the crust layer that diffuses menstrual fluid, it has a remarkable effect of deodorizing unpleasant menstrual odors.

According to the method of the present invention, the fluff/gurno is not simply deposited by falling, but is also tightened by suction, so that the fibers are not entangled with each other, but the fluff/gurno tightening layer is well-tightened and has a high density. can be obtained, and the ability to absorb and retain menstrual fluids can be increased.

The method of the present invention allows inexpensive materials to be tightened, moistened, pressurized,
Since it requires relatively inexpensive processing such as heating, it is possible to provide sanitary napkins with extremely superior performance at an unparalleled price.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a partially torn sanitary napkin according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating the menstrual absorption, diffusion and retention effect of the napkin of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the first step of the method of the present invention. , FIG. 4 is a partial plan view illustrating several steps of the method of the present invention following the first step, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are partially cutaway perspective views of a reservoir illustrating the structure of a conventional product, respectively. It is. [Main code] 12...Outer wrapping material (non-woven fabric) 1J...Receiving paper (Tissosi, Benoya) 14...Folded fluff pulp tightening 15.'-First layer 16...Deodorant 17...Interface 18 ...Second layer 19...Crust layer 22...Air permeable belt 23...Flanff Palzo stacking machine 24...Succimin box 26...Cursing brush 28...Suge layer 3...Pressure Roll 33... Heating means 34... Deodorant supply device 36... Folding back

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Consists of a first layer and a second layer obtained by folding fluff pulp tightening layers that are tightened and not entangled, and a deodorant is applied to the interface between the first layer and the second layer. A layer containing between the pulp fibers is formed, and below the interface there is a crust layer of predominantly longitudinally oriented pulp fibers that are strongly bonded to each other and integrally bonded to the second layer. A sanitary napkin characterized in that the capillary action in the longitudinal direction is enhanced predominantly at the interface between the first layer and the second layer. 2. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1, wherein a waterproof material is placed under the second layer via a receiving paper, and the entire outside is covered with an outer packaging material. 3. The sanitary napkin according to claim 2, wherein the receiving paper is a porous sheet and the outer wrapping material is a nonwoven fabric. 4. A method for manufacturing sanitary napkins, comprising: a) placing on an air permeable conveyor means running in one direction a continuous length of air permeable material having a width approximately twice the width of the sanitary napkin to be manufactured; b) supplying fluff pulp toward the air-permeable conveyor means, sucking air from below the conveyor means through the receiving paper, and moving the fluff pulp continuously in the same direction; Forming a tightening layer of fluff pulp over almost the entire width of the paper, whereby the pulp fibers are not intertwined with each other but are tightened, and the continuous strip has a predetermined thickness and approximately the same width as the receiving paper. forming a fluff pulp tightening layer; c) applying microscopic water particles over an area approximately half the width of the continuous strip of fluff pulp tightening layer to wet the pulp fibers in the thickness near the upper surface of said area; d) Pressure is applied to the wetted area in a direction substantially parallel to the running direction of the continuous belt-shaped fluff pulp tightening layer to align the pulp fibers in the wetted area in the length direction (running direction). , and shortening the inter-fiber distance; e) applying heat to the pressurized wet region to dry the wet pulp fibers, thereby strengthening the bond between the pulp fibers and reducing the strength imparted to the fibers in the previous step; fixing the directionality and thus forming a crust layer with enhanced longitudinal capillary action in about half the width of the strip-shaped fluff pulp tightening layer; applying a deodorant onto a surface and retaining it between the pulp fibers near the surface; g) on the longitudinal centerline of said continuous strip of fluff pulp tension layer, a half-width section containing deodorant along with said receiving paper below said crust; A continuous length that is folded back onto the layer and has a thickness that is approximately twice the predetermined thickness and a width that is approximately half the width of the band-like layer, and whose upper surface, one side surface, and the lower surface are covered with the receiving paper. and h) transversely cutting said continuous length of folded fluff pulp tension layer into a predetermined length of final product size. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising applying light pressure onto the remaining half-width surface after applying the deodorant. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said transverse cutting is performed after feeding a continuous length of waterproofing material below said receiving paper below said continuous length of folded fluff pulp tightening layer.