WO2016002671A1 - Liquid material application method and liquid material application device - Google Patents

Abstract

　The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a means with which it is possible to apply, when bending an adsorbent article to which a liquid material such as a fragrance is applied, or a packaging body in which the absorbent article is packaged, the liquid material at a predetermined position on the adsorbent article or the packaging body in a stable manner, and to prevent the liquid material from contaminating the production line. Specifically, the liquid material application method has an application step (S2) for applying a fragrance (26) on one side of a sheet-shaped object (2) and a folding step for folding, at least one time in at least the longitudinal direction in a valley fold, the object (2) to which the fragrance (26) has been applied, wherein, in the application step (S2), the fragrance (26) is applied only to a portion of the object (2) that does not come into contact with the portion of the object (2) that is held down in the thickness direction of the object (2) during a holding-down step (S3).

Description

Liquid material coating method and liquid material coating apparatus

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying a liquid material such as a fragrance to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin.

Among various absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, urine-absorbing pads, disposable diapers, etc., there are those coated with various liquid materials such as fragrances and blood modifying agents.
The application of the liquid material to the absorbent article selects the position on the absorbent article depending on the type of the liquid material. For example, the application of the fragrance may be applied directly to the absorbent article. In some cases, the absorbent article is applied to a package that is individually packaged with a covering material.
On the other hand, when the absorbent article is sold as a final product, the absorbent article or the package in which the absorbent article is packaged is folded once or twice or more to be compact. It is common.

Usually, when the absorbent material to which the various liquid materials are applied is made into a final product, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, the liquid material is applied to a sheet-like object such as an absorbent article or a package. After that, the object or the package is folded so that the portion to which the liquid material is applied is inside. When the absorbent article is made into a final product by the procedure described in Patent Document 1, the liquid material applied to the object volatilizes early, or the liquid material adheres to an object other than the object. In this respect, the liquid material can be stably fixed on the object without any trouble.
However, in the case of what is described in Patent Document 1, when folding an object coated with a liquid material, the object is pressed against a folding member to be used for folding, for example, a portion that becomes a fold of the object. There is a possibility that a plate-like member or the like that folds an object into a valley fold will come into contact with the liquid material applied to the object. Specifically, not only when the liquid material is applied to the fold portion of the object but also when the liquid material is not applied to the fold portion, the object is valley-folded. When folded into a shape, the folded part may come into contact with the folding member, and in any case, there is a possibility that the liquid material contacts and adheres to the folding member or the like. .
When the liquid material adheres to the folding member, the folding member is contaminated due to deterioration of the adhered liquid material, etc., leading to contamination of the object or production line through the apparatus. There is a risk, and frequent maintenance is required to prevent such contamination.
Further, when the folding member comes into contact with the liquid material, a part of the liquid material applied in a predetermined amount to the predetermined position of the object adheres to the folding member, and thus the liquid material adheres. When the folding member moves, the liquid material is transferred to the other part of the object, and as a result, the application range of the liquid material is expanded and the application amount per unit area is also reduced. Thereby, the said target object may not be able to exhibit the desired performance which should be provided with a liquid substance.

Japanese Patent No. 5404962

The technical problem of the present invention is that when an absorbent article coated with a liquid substance such as a fragrance or a package body in which the absorbent article is packaged is folded, the liquid substance is placed in a predetermined position of the absorbent article and the package body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means that can be stably applied to a liquid and can prevent contamination of a production line by a liquid material.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid material coating method of the present invention is as follows.
(1) An absorbent article having a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other, and comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-absorbing absorber, or An application step of applying a liquid material to one side of a sheet-like object, which is a package in which the absorbent article is coated with a covering material, and an object on which the liquid material is applied, And a folding step of folding into a valley fold at least once so that the inner surface is inside, wherein the folding step is configured to apply the liquid matter of the object in the coating step. In a portion corresponding to a fold line for valley folding, a pressing step of pressing the object in the thickness direction, and a portion of the object that is pressed in the thickness direction of the object in the pressing step Apply the liquid material starting from A bending step of bending from a surface opposite to the opposite surface, and the coating step is non-contact with the portion of the object that is pressed in the thickness direction of the object in the pressing step with respect to the object. A liquid material applying method, in which the liquid material is applied only to a portion where

(2) The bending step in the folding step includes the step of folding the object to which the liquid material is applied and the portion to which the liquid material is applied when the object to which the liquid material is applied is folded in the application step. The method for applying a liquid material according to (1), comprising: pressing a portion to which the liquid material is applied and an opposing portion facing each other to transfer the liquid material to the opposite portion.

(3) In the folding step, the length direction of the absorbent article covered with the coating material in the absorbent article as the object or the package that is the object is that of the object. The liquid material coating method according to (1) or (2), wherein the object is folded while the object is conveyed in a direction along the conveying direction.

(4) In the liquid material application method, a plurality of the packaging bodies in which a plurality of the absorbent articles are continuously arranged in the length direction of the absorbent article before the application step are continuously provided. The liquid material coating method according to (3), further including a cutting step of cutting the connected package body into a single package body including one absorbent article.

(5) In the pressing step, a pressing member extending in the width direction of the object is brought into contact with a portion corresponding to a fold line for valley folding of the object on a surface of the object to which the liquid material is applied. The folding step is performed in a valley fold shape starting from the pressing member with the bending member contacting the surface of the object opposite to the surface on which the liquid material is applied. The liquid material coating method according to (4), wherein the method is performed by bending.

(6) The folding step includes a holding step for holding the conveyed object in a stationary position on a surface of the object opposite to the surface on which the liquid material is applied. The pressing member formed in a rod shape extending in the width direction of the target object presses the target object held in the holding step from the surface side on which the liquid substance is applied in the target object (5) The liquid substance coating method according to 1.

(7) In the folding step, the absorbent article as the object or the width direction of the absorbent article covered with the covering material in the package that is the object is the conveyance of the object. The liquid material application method according to (1) or (2), wherein the object is folded while the object is conveyed in a direction along the direction.

(8) The application of the liquid material according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the application step is performed using an inkjet head that discharges the liquid material to the object in droplets. Method.

On the other hand, in order to solve the above problems, the liquid material application device of the present invention has a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other, and a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, An application member for applying a liquid material to one side of a sheet-like object, which is an absorbent article provided with an absorbent body having a liquid absorption property, or a package in which the absorbent article is coated with a coating material, and the application Liquid material application comprising a folding mechanism that folds into a valley fold at least once so that the surface on which the liquid material is applied is in contact with the object on which the liquid material is applied by a member It is an apparatus, Comprising: The said application | coating member can apply | coat the said liquid substance only to the part which is non-contact with the said folding mechanism with respect to the said target object.

According to the liquid material application method of the present invention, in the pressing step of the folding process, the object is applied to the sheet-like object that is an absorbent article or a package in which the absorbent article is packaged. The liquid material is applied only to a portion that is not in contact with the portion pressed in the thickness direction of the object.
Further, according to the liquid material application apparatus of the present invention, the liquid material can be applied only to a portion where the application member for applying the liquid material is not in contact with the folding mechanism with respect to the object.
As a result, when the object to which the liquid material is applied is bent, the liquid material can be prevented from adhering to the apparatus of the production line, so that it can be stably applied to a predetermined position of the object. The contamination of the production line due to the liquid material can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing a liquid material coating apparatus for carrying out the first embodiment of the liquid material coating method according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view schematically showing an object used in the liquid material coating method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a state in which the covering material in the object of FIG. 2 is developed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the pressing step (a) is performed in the folding step of the liquid material application method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) the first in the bending step. It is a perspective view which shows the state which driven the bending member, (c) It is a perspective view which shows the state which driven the 2nd bending member in the bending process. FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing an object in a state where a series of steps have been completed in the liquid material application method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a liquid material coating apparatus for carrying out the second embodiment of the liquid material coating method according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing an object used in the liquid material application method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a liquid material applicator of the present invention. A liquid material applicator 1 according to this embodiment applies a liquid material to an object 2 and the liquid material is applied. The object 2 to which the object is applied is folded.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid-permeable top sheet 21 and the liquid-impermeable back sheet 22 have a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other. A package body in which the absorbent article 20 including the absorbent body 23 having liquid absorbency is covered with the covering material 30 is used as the object 2.

The absorbent article 20 accommodated in the package as the object 2 may be various absorbent articles that are individually wrapped with a covering material such as a sanitary napkin, a panty liner, and a urine collecting pad. In this embodiment, the case where the absorbent article 20 is a sanitary napkin will be described.
Moreover, as the coating | covering material 30 which coat | covers the said absorbent article 20, a nonwoven fabric sheet and a polyethylene sheet can be used, for example.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid material applied to the object 2 is used as the liquid fragrance 26.
As this fragrance | flavor, a conventionally well-known liquid fragrance | flavor can be especially used without a restriction | limiting. For example, highly volatile ones having a boiling point of about 250 ° C. or less such as anisole or benzaldehyde, or middle volatile ones having a boiling point of about 250 to about 300 ° C. such as amylcinnamaldehyde, methyl dihydrojasmonate, or so-called A thing suitable as what is used for an absorptive article, such as what has a green herbal-like fragrance, can be used.

And the said liquid substance coating device 1 is the application | coating which apply | coats the fragrance | flavor 26 to the conveying apparatus 3 which conveys the said object 2 to the position which performs the application | coating of the fragrance | flavor 26, and the folding of the object 2, At least the member 4 and the surface 2 (hereinafter referred to as the first surface) 24 to which the fragrance 26 is applied come into contact with the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 has been applied by the application member 4. And a folding mechanism 5 that folds in a valley shape at least once in the length direction.
In the liquid material applicator 1 of this embodiment, the object 2 carried by the conveying device 3 is applied with the fragrance 26 by the application member 3, and then the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied is applied to the object 2. The folding mechanism 5 is configured to be folded in a state of being folded in three in the length direction of the object 2 (that is, in this case, the length direction of the absorbent article 20 as will be described later).

The said conveying apparatus 3 conveys this target object 2 toward the base member 10 of the folding mechanism 5 mentioned later from the process of manufacturing the said target object 2. As shown in FIG.
In the transport device 3 of this embodiment, after the absorbent article 20 is manufactured, a plurality of absorbent articles 20 are continuously arranged in the length direction of the absorbent article 20. A continuous package body 31 covered with a long covering material 30 and continuously connected in the length direction thereof can be conveyed.
In addition, the said package continuous body 31 is the covering material 30 in which the said long covering material 30 is attached to the back sheet 22 side of the absorbent article 20, and the covering material 30 is attached. 30, the absorbent article 20 is entirely covered with the long covering material 30 and cannot be visually recognized from the outside of the continuous package body 31. ing.

Moreover, the said conveying apparatus 3 is provided with the cutting device 13 which cut | disconnects the said package continuous body 31 to the single package as the said target object 2 of the state containing the one absorbent article 20. FIG. The cutting device 13 can sequentially cut the package body 31 at predetermined intervals.
Accordingly, the transport device 3 can form a single package that has been cut to a predetermined length by the cutting device 13 with the entire absorbent article 20 contained therein, The single package after being cut by the cutting device 13, that is, the object 2 can be sequentially conveyed toward the base member 10 after cutting.
At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the package 2 after cutting that is the object 2 has three absorbent articles 20 along the width direction along with the covering material 30 on the back sheet side. The folded state is maintained, and the absorbent article 20 is long in the length direction. Accordingly, the length of the object 2 in the width direction is the length in the width direction when the absorbent article 20 is folded in three along the width direction together with the covering material 30, and the length in the length direction is The length of the absorbent article 20 is longer than the length of the absorbent article 20.
In addition, as a structure which conveys the said target object 2 in the said conveying apparatus 3, the well-known structure for conveyance, such as a belt conveyor provided with the endless belt made from rubber | gum, a roll conveyor, can be used, and the said cutting | disconnection As the device 13, a device having an arbitrary configuration can be used as long as the package continuous body can be reliably cut into a certain length, such as a cutter provided with a cutting blade capable of cutting the covering material.

The folding mechanism 5 is in contact with the first surface of the object 2 to hold the object 2 in the thickness direction of the object 2 and the pressing members 6, 7. Bending members 8 and 9 for bending the object 2 into a valley fold as a starting point are provided.
In the folding mechanism 5 of this embodiment, the object 2 conveyed by the conveying device 3 is referred to as a surface opposite to the first surface of the object 2 (hereinafter referred to as a second surface). ) 25 is provided with a base member 10 which is held in a fixed position.
In this embodiment, a plurality of the folding mechanisms 5 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical drum 11 that rotates around a rotation axis, and each folding mechanism 5 has been transported from the transport device 3. The target object 2 can be sequentially folded by performing a predetermined operation.

The base member 10 is configured to hold the object 2 in a stationary position by sucking the second surface 25 side of the object 2 conveyed by the conveying device 3.
In this embodiment, a plurality of the base members 10 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 11 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum 11.
Then, each base member 10 allows the object 2 to pass through the second surface 25 of the object 2 through a suction port (not shown) while the length direction of the object 2 coincides with the circumferential direction of the drum 11. It can be sucked and held. Therefore, the base member 10 is in a state in which the length direction of the absorbent article 20 covered with the covering material 30 in the object 2 is oriented in a direction along the conveyance direction MD of the object 2. Then, the object 2 is conveyed.

The base member 10 of this embodiment is movable in the rotation direction of the drum 11 as the drum 11 rotates, and the object by the coating member 4 is moved during the movement of the base member 10. Application of the fragrance 26 to 2 and folding of the object 2 by the pressing members 6 and 7 and the bending members 8 and 9 of the folding mechanism 5 are performed.
Therefore, the base member 8 is coated with the fragrance 26 on the object 2 and the object 2 while the drum 11 rotates by a certain angle, that is, from the time when the object 2 is received from the transport device 3. The object 2 is sucked and held until the folding is completed and it is transferred to the conveying means 33 for carrying it out to a subsequent process.
Here, when sucking the object 2, the base member 10 sucks and holds only a portion other than a portion bent by the folding mechanism 5, that is, a portion corresponding to a central portion 2 c described later.

The pressing members 6, 7, when the object 2 is folded in a valley shape in the length direction so that the first surface 24 of the object 2 is inside, the first surface 24 of the object 2 is Abutting on the portions corresponding to the crease lines L1 and L2, the object 2 is pressed in the thickness direction of the object 2, and becomes a starting point of the bending.
As shown in FIG. 4, the folding mechanism 5 of this embodiment has two pressing members 6 and 7 for folding the object 2 in three, that is, bending it twice in the length direction.
That is, the folding mechanism 5 includes a first pressing member 6 that is formed when the object 2 is bent for the first time and abuts against a portion corresponding to the first fold line L1, and a second time when the object 2 is bent. The second pressing member 7 is in contact with a portion corresponding to the second crease line L2 that is formed.
The first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are provided for each base member 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are arranged along the width direction of the object 2 in the state of being sucked by the base member 10, that is, along the outer peripheral surface of the drum 11. It is formed in a rod shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the drum 11.
Further, these first and second pressing members 6 and 7 can be in contact with portions corresponding to the first and second fold lines L1 and L2 of the object 2, respectively. And it extends substantially parallel to each other at substantially the same interval as the interval between the second crease lines L1 and L2.
Each of the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 extends substantially linearly longer than the length of the object 2 in the width direction, and has a substantially circular cross section, a substantially elliptical shape, and a substantially rectangular shape. It has a cross-sectional shape such as a substantially triangular shape.

In addition, it is preferable that these 1st and 2nd pressing members 6 and 7 are as small as possible in an outer diameter within the range which can ensure the rigidity which is not bent or bent when the target object 2 is folded, What is necessary is just to contact | abut to the part corresponded to the 1st and 2nd crease lines L1 and L2 of the two places in the thing 2, respectively, and to become a starting point of bending.
Thereby, when the fragrance | flavor 26 is apply | coated by the application member 4 mentioned later, the application | coating range of the fragrance | flavor with respect to the 1st surface 24 of the target object 2 can be taken as wide as possible, and said 1st and 2nd It is possible to stably prevent the pressing members 6 and 7 from coming into contact with the application range of the fragrance 26.
The outer diameter of the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 depends on the material, but is preferably about 1 to 3 mm when formed of, for example, a stainless steel material.

The first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are connected to a base 12 that holds the base end sides of the pressing members 6 and 7. The base 12 keeps the distance between the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 constant and simultaneously contacts and separates the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 from the object 2. Is.
That is, the base 12 is movable along the outer peripheral surface of the drum 11 and in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. Then, by moving in a direction approaching the object 2 by a driving device (not shown), the first and second pressing members 6, 7 are moved in the distal direction thereof, and the width direction of the object 2 is increased. It is possible to extend from the one end side to the first surface 24 side in the width direction of the object 2. On the other hand, the base 12 moves in the direction away from the object 2, thereby moving the first and second pressing members 6, 7 in the base end side direction, and finally the object. 2 from the first surface 24 side so that the contact with the object 2 can be released.
In this embodiment, the base 12 and the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are formed separately from each other. However, the base, the first and second pressing members are It may be formed integrally.

The bending members 8 and 9 are in contact with the second surface 25 of the object 2, and the fragrance 26 is applied to the object 2 starting from the first and second pressing members 6 and 7. A surface, that is, a fold line L1, L2 of the first surface 24 is bent into a valley fold so that the first surface 24 is on the inner side.
In the folding mechanism 5 of this embodiment, the first bending member 8 that bends the object 2 at the fold line L1 for the first time from the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member. 7 and a second bending member 9 that bends the object 2 a second time along the crease line L2.
In addition, these 1st and 2nd bending members 8 and 9 are provided for every base member 10, respectively.

The first and second bending members 8 and 9 are attached to the rod- like members 14 and 15 extending linearly in the width direction of the object 2, and the proximal ends in the axial direction of the rod- like members 14 and 15 are attached to the distal end side. The base end side includes arm members 16 and 17 that are rotatably connected to the base member 10, respectively.
The rod-shaped members 14 and 15 are all formed in a substantially circular cross-section, a substantially oval shape, a substantially rectangular shape, a substantially triangular shape, etc., and extend in the width direction of the object 2. It extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second pressing members 6, 7. The rod-shaped members 14 and 15 are attached to the distal ends of the arm members 16 and 17 on the base end side.
The arm members 16 and 17 are connected at their base ends to a rotating shaft (not shown) attached to the base member 10 so as to be freely rotatable, and are connected to the base member 10 by driving means such as a motor (not shown). At a position where the object 2 is not in contact with the object 2, specifically at a position slightly away from one end in the width direction of the object 2, the object 2 can be rotated along one longitudinal end. ing.
In this embodiment, the arm members 16, 17 are substantially L-shaped so as not to contact the first and second pressing members 6, 7 and the base 12 when the object 2 is folded. Is formed.

Specifically, the first bending member 8 rotates the arm member 16 in a direction in contact with the object 2, so that the rod-shaped member 14 is in the second surface 25 of the object 2. The pressing member 6 and a portion (hereinafter referred to as a first end side portion) 2a between the first pressing member 6 and the end in the length direction of the object 2 closest to the first pressing member 6 abut. Furthermore, it is possible to bend the first end portion 2a with the first pressing member 6 as a starting point for bending, with the portion corresponding to the first fold line L1 as a reference.
On the other hand, the second bending member 9 rotates the arm member 17 in a direction in contact with the object 2, so that the rod-shaped member 15 is in the second surface 25 of the object 2. It abuts on a portion (hereinafter referred to as a second end side portion) 2c between the pressing member 7 and the end portion in the length direction of the object 2 closest to the second pressing member 7. Then, the second end side portion 2c can be bent using the second pressing member 7 as a starting point of bending, and a portion corresponding to the second fold line L2 as a reference.

Note that the rod-like member 14 of the first bending member 8 is the base member 10 in a stage after the base member 10 holds the object 2 and before contacting the object 2. Are accommodated in a first recess 18 formed at a position on the first fold line L1 side of the object. Then, at the stage of bending the first end side portion 2 a of the object 2, the object 2 comes off from the first recess 18 and comes into contact with the second surface 25 of the object 2.
On the other hand, the rod-shaped member 15 of the second bending member 9 is the base member 10 in a stage after the base member 10 holds the target object 2 and before the base member 10 contacts the target object 2. Are accommodated in a second recess 19 formed at a position on the second fold line L2 side of the object. Then, at the stage of bending the second end side portion 2 c of the object 2, the object 2 comes off from the second recess 19 and comes into contact with the second surface 25 of the object 2.
Further, in this embodiment, the second bending member 9 is not driven when the first bending member 8 is bending the object 2, and the rod-shaped member 15 is not in the second depression. It is in the state accommodated in 19. On the other hand, after the first bending member 8 bends the object 2 at a portion corresponding to the first crease line, the origin position, that is, the rod-shaped member 14 is accommodated in the first recess 18. It returns to the state which was done, and does not prevent the drive of the said 2nd bending member 9. FIG.

Here, one or both of the first bending member 8 and the second bending member 9 was coated with the fragrance 26 when the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 was applied was folded. By folding the object 2 and the portion to which the fragrance 26 is applied, it is possible to mutually press the facing portion and the facing portion so that the fragrance 26 can be transferred to the facing portion. Yes.
In the case of this embodiment, as will be described later, a part of the object 2 that is located in the center when being folded in three, that is, a center sandwiched between the first end side part 2a and the second end side part 2c. In order to apply the fragrance | flavor 26 to the part 2b, the said fragrance | flavor 26 is transcribe | transferred to the 1st surface side of the said 1st end side part 2a bent. Therefore, basically, when the first end side portion 2a of the object 2 is bent, the first bending member 8 presses the first end side portion 2a toward the central portion 2b, and the fragrance 26 Is to be transferred.
Note that when the second end side portion 2c of the object 2 is bent, the fragrance 26 is not transferred to the second end side portion 2c, but the second bending member 9 has the second end side. The portion 2c is pressed toward the central portion 2b and the first end side portion 2a so that the fragrance 26 is effectively transferred by the first end side portion 2a.

On the other hand, the application member 4 applies the fragrance 26 only to a certain range of the object 2, and in this embodiment, the fragrance 26 is formed into droplets so that the fragrance 26 is not scattered. It can be applied.
Specifically, the application member 4 includes an ink jet head that applies the fragrance to the object 2 in the form of droplets, and can apply the fragrance 26 by a predetermined amount at a predetermined position. It is like that. As described above, the ink jet head is used as the coating member 4 because the ink jet head discharges the liquid material into droplets when applying the liquid material including the fragrance to the object. This is because it can be accurately applied only to a predetermined position without diffusing an object.
In addition, the inkjet head of this embodiment has a configuration in which 16 ejection holes are arranged in series at equal intervals, and when applying the fragrance 26, 8 of these 16 ejection holes. Perfume is discharged from about one piece. In the case of what is shown to Fig.2 (a), the fragrance | flavor 26 is discharged to the 1st surface 24 of the center part 2b of the target object 5 5 times from eight discharge holes, and this fragrance | flavor is apply | coated.
As a discharge mechanism of the ink jet head, a known mechanism such as a piezo type or a thermal type can be used. Moreover, this application member 4 changes the application amount with respect to the target object 2 by switching the kind of the fragrance | flavor to apply | coat by changing the supply source of the fragrance | flavor supplied to an inkjet head, or changing the discharge amount of a fragrance | flavor. It is possible.

Here, in this embodiment, the application member 4 applies the fragrance 26 to the object 2 after the base member 10 in the folding mechanism 5 holds the object 2. This is before the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7 press the object 2 in the thickness direction of the object 2.
That is, in a state where the base member 10 holds the second surface 25 side of the object 2 and the object 2 is held on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 11 and is conveyed in the rotation direction of the drum 11, The fragrance 26 is applied from the application member 4 to the object 2 with the first surface 24 facing the outer side of the drum 1.
At this time, the said application | coating member 4 is the center part 2b in the 1st surface 24 of the said target object 2, Comprising: Only the part which is non-contact with the said 1st pressing member 6 and the 2nd pressing member 7 is the said fragrance | flavor. 26 can be applied freely. That is, the application member 4 does not apply the fragrance 26 to the portion of the central portion 2b of the object 2 where the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7 are expected to come into contact.
Therefore, the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7 that come into contact with the first surface 24 of the object 2 after applying the fragrance by the applying device 4 are in contact with the portion where the fragrance 26 is applied. The entire folding mechanism 5 including the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7 does not contact the fragrance 26 applied by the applying member 4 at all.

The liquid material applicator 1 is provided with an adhesive tape attachment device 32 for attaching an adhesive tape for preventing the object 2 folded by the folding mechanism 5 from unintentionally expanding.
The adhesive tape attaching device 32 is configured so that the second surface 25 of the first end side portion 1a and the second surface 25 of the second end side portion 1c of the target object 2 in the folded state are in the length direction. The end portion can be detachably attached with an adhesive tape.

A method of applying a liquid material (in this case, fragrance 26) to the object 2 using the liquid material application apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
In the liquid material application method of this embodiment, basically, the application step of applying the fragrance 26 to one surface side of the object 2 and the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied at least once in the length direction. And a folding step of folding into a valley fold. In addition, the conveyance process which conveys the target object 2 to the said liquid substance coating device 1 is implemented before the said application | coating process.
Further, in the folding step, the first surface 24, which is the surface on which the fragrance 26 of the object 2 is applied, is thickened at portions corresponding to the fold lines L1 and L2 for valley folding. A pressing process for pressing in the direction and a valley fold in the length direction from the second surface 25 side of the object 2 so that the first surface 24 is on the inside starting from the portion pressed in the pressing process. A bending step of bending the object 2 into three.

As a preparatory step, as shown in FIG. 3, there are a length direction, a width direction and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other, and a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a liquid-absorbing property are provided. The manufacturing process which manufactures the absorbent article 20 (in this case sanitary napkin) provided with the absorber which has is implemented. The manufacturing process in this case can implement the well-known manufacturing method of an absorbent article.
Furthermore, by covering the plurality of absorbent articles 20 manufactured by the manufacturing process with a long covering material 30 in a state of being continuously arranged in the length direction of the absorbent article 20, 1 The packaging process which forms the package continuous body 31 of the aspect with which the package body which coat | covered the one absorbent article 20 was continuously connected in the length direction of the absorbent article 20 is implemented. In this packaging step, the back sheet 22 side of the absorbent article 20 is brought into contact with the long covering material 30, and the absorbent article 20 is put together with the long covering material 30 in the width direction of the absorbent article 30. The absorbent article 20 is covered with a long covering material 30 and packaged so that the absorbent article 20 cannot be seen from the outside of the covering material 30.

After the packaging step, a transporting step S1 for transporting the packaged continuous body 31 toward the liquid material applying device 1 by the transporting device 3 is performed.
In this conveyance process S1, while the package body continuous body 31 formed in the said packaging process is conveyed toward the said liquid substance coating device 1 with the said conveying apparatus 3, the said cutting device provided in this conveying apparatus 3 13, the packaged continuous body 31 is sequentially cut at a predetermined interval, and a single absorbent article 20 as a whole is packaged as the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied. Form a single package of length.
Furthermore, the single package after the cutting, that is, the object 2 is sequentially conveyed toward the base member 10 which is a part of the folding mechanism 5. At this time, the object 2 is formed long in the length direction of the absorbent article 20 and is conveyed in a state in which the length direction of the object 2 faces the conveyance direction MD.

Here, in conveyance process S1 before apply | coating the fragrance | flavor 26 to the target object 2, the said continuous package body 31 is cut | disconnected to a single package body because a fragrance | flavor adheres to the cutter of the cutting device 13, etc. This is to prevent the fragrance from adhering to other objects through the apparatus and line contamination, and further through the apparatus.
If the fragrance adheres to the cutter or the like, the fragrance may spread over the entire apparatus, and thus the entire line, and if the fragrance deteriorates, it will lead to contamination. Furthermore, since the sharpness of the cutter is also lowered, it is necessary to frequently perform cleaning. In addition, when the fragrance is attached to the cutting device, the amount of the fragrance applied is reduced by the amount attached, and when the attached fragrance is attached to another object, a state in which more fragrance is applied than necessary. Therefore, it is not preferable in terms of quality.

Thereafter, the base member 10 holds the object 2 conveyed in the conveying step S1 by sucking the second surface 25 side of the object 2, and the base member 10 is attached. The drum 11 rotates in the circumferential direction while holding the object 2, and the object 2 is moved with the first surface 24 facing the outer side of the drum 11.
At this time, the object 2 held by the base member 10 is in a state in which the length direction of the object 2 faces the circumferential direction of the drum 11. Therefore, the base member 10 is in a state in which the length direction of the absorbent article 20 covered with the covering material 30 in the object 2 is directed in a direction along the conveyance direction MD of the object 2. The object 2 is conveyed. In addition, this base member 10 continues to hold | maintain this target object 2 until application | coating process S2 and a folding process which are subsequent processes, without changing the direction of the target object 2. FIG.
Moreover, what is hold | maintained at the said base member 10 among the 2nd surfaces 25 of the said target object 2 is the 1st crease line L1 of the target object 2 folded in the folding process of a post process, and Of the first end side portion 2a, the central portion 2b, and the second end side portion 2c, the central portion 2b is divided by the second fold line L2.

And the application | coating process S2 which applies the fragrance | flavor 26 with respect to the target object 2 hold | maintained by the said base member 10 is implemented.
This application step S2 is performed by discharging the fragrance 26 onto the object 2 by the application member 4, and the object 2 held by the base member 10 is moved to a predetermined position by the rotation of the drum 11. In such a case, the fragrance 26 is ejected from the inkjet head in the form of droplets, and the fragrance 26 is applied to the first surface 24 of the object 2.
Here, the amount of the fragrance applied by the applying member 4 depends on the size of the object 2, but is preferably 0.3 to 100 mg, more preferably 0.3 to 20 mg, more preferably 0. It can be 3-5 mg.

At this time, in the application step S2, only the portion that is not in contact with the portion of the object 2 that is pressed in the thickness direction of the object 2 in the pressing step S3 of the next step with respect to the object 2. The fragrance 26 is applied by the application member 4.
Specifically, it is the central portion 2b on the first surface of the object 2, and the portion other than the portion where the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7 of the folding mechanism 5 are to contact, The fragrance 26 is applied. At this time, since the folding mechanism 5 is not in contact with the first surface of the object 2 except for the first pressing member 6 and the second pressing member 7, the folding mechanism 5 2, no contact is made with the portion where the fragrance 26 is applied.
The first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are both formed in a rod shape, and the contact area with respect to the first surface of the object 2 is a minimum size that is a starting point of bending. It is suppressed. Therefore, in the coating step S2, the thickness of the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 is considered between the first fold line L1 and the second fold line L2 in the object 2. A perfume can be applied to a relatively wide range.

Thus, in this application process, the perfume is applied to the object only in the part of the object that is not in contact with the part of the object that is pressed in the thickness direction of the object. Is the contamination of a series of lines caused by perfume adhering to the equipment used in the pressing process which is the next process (in this embodiment, the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 of the folding mechanism 5). This is to prevent it. Moreover, it is for preventing the fluctuation | variation and bias | inclination of the coating amount of the fragrance | flavor by the fragrance | flavor adhering to the equipment used in the pressing process which is the next process, and keeping the quality of a target object constant.

For example, in the coating step S2, when the fragrance 26 is attached to the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 which are equipment used in the subsequent pressing step S3, the object 2 is attached by the amount of the attached fragrance 26. The amount of the fragrance 26 applied to the surface of the fragrance 26 is reduced, and when the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are pulled out in a subsequent process, a part of the fragrance 26 is pulled and deviates from the original application position. there is a possibility. On the other hand, since the fragrance | flavor 26 will adhere to the part which was not initially planned when the 1st and 2nd holding | suppressing members 6 and 7 to which the fragrance | flavor 26 adhered hold down the other target object 2, it is planned. A larger amount of the fragrance 26 than the applied amount of the fragrance 26 is applied to the object 2, or the fragrance 26 is applied to an unplanned position of the object 2.
If it does so, dispersion | variation may arise in the quality as a final product.

Moreover, when the fragrance | flavor 26 adhering to the 1st and 2nd holding | suppressing members 6 and 7 deteriorates, there exists a possibility that the deteriorated fragrance | flavor 26 may adhere to another target object, or to other facilities. Yes, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of the final product and contamination of the production line.
Further, in order to prevent the above-described various problems caused by the fragrance 26 attached to the first and second pressing members 6 and 7, the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are provided. Since it is necessary to clean various facilities including the beginning, maintenance becomes very troublesome.

Therefore, in this invention, the said application | coating process is the said fragrance | flavor only to the part which is non-contact with the part pressed in the thickness direction of this target object in the said target object in the pressing process which is the next process with respect to the said target object. Is applied so that no fragrance is attached to the equipment used in the pressing step.

After the coating step S2, as the first stage of the folding step, the first surface 24 of the object 2 in the coating step S2 is a portion corresponding to the fold lines L1 and L2 for valley folding. A pressing step S3 for pressing the object 2 in the thickness direction is performed.
In the pressing step S3, portions corresponding to the fold lines L1 and L2 for valley folding on the first surface 24 of the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied in the coating step S2 are pressed by the pressing members 6 and 7. Press in the thickness direction of the object 2.
More specifically, the first pressing member 6 makes contact with a portion corresponding to the first fold line L1 on the first surface 24 of the object 2 along the first fold line L1. The object 2 is pressed in the thickness direction. On the other hand, the second pressing member 7 causes the object 2 to contact the portion corresponding to the second fold line L2 on the first surface 24 of the object 2 along the second fold line L2. Press in the thickness direction.
As a result, the object 2 has a central portion 2b sandwiched between the base member 10 and the first and second pressing members 6 and 7, while the central portion 2b is stationary. The first end side portion 2a and the second end side portion 2c are easily bent in the length direction of the object 2 with the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 as starting points.

Here, the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are moved from the direction of one end side in the width direction of the object 2 toward the width direction of the object 2 by moving the base 12. It extends to the surface 24 side, and thereby contacts portions corresponding to the first and second fold lines L1 and L2 on the first surface of the object 2.
Further, as described above, the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 are applied with the fragrance 26 on the first surface of the object 2 in the application step S2 and do not contact any part at all. The object 2 is pressed in the thickness direction.
The operation of extending the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 to the first surface 24 side of the object 2 in the pressing step S3 basically starts after the coating step S2. However, since the fragrance | flavor 26 is apply | coated to parts other than the part which the 1st and 2nd pressing members 6 and 7 hold | suppress with respect to the target object 2 in the application | coating process S2, the operation | movement to extend is the application | coating process S2. You may start during the implementation of.

After completion of the pressing step S3, as a second stage of the folding step, in the pressing step S3, the portion of the object 2 pressed in the thickness direction of the target object 2 is used as a starting point. A bending step S4 of bending from the two surfaces 25 is performed.
Specifically, the bending step S4 starts with the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 and starts with the first and second bending members of the folding mechanism 5 on the second surface 25 of the object 2. The object 2 is bent from the second surface 25 by bringing 8 and 9 into contact with each other.

More specifically, first, the first bending member 8 is driven to abut from the second surface side of the first end side portion 2a of the object 2, and further pressed to the first pressing member. The first surface 24 of the first end side portion 2a of the object 2 and the first surface 24 of the central portion 2b are brought into contact with each other by being bent with reference to the first fold line L1 starting from 6. The object 2 is folded once.
That is, when the first bending member 8 rotates the arm member 16, the rod-shaped member 14 attached to the tip of the arm member 16 and extending in the width direction of the object 2 The first end portion 2a is brought into contact with the second surface 25 of the first end portion 2a, and the first end portion 2a is pushed down toward the central portion 2b with the first pressing member 6 as a starting point. Thereby, the first bending of the object 2 by the first bending member 8 is completed.
The first bending member 8 moves away from the object 2 and returns to the original position after the first bending of the object 2 is completed.

Next, the second bending member 9 is driven to abut from the second surface side of the second end side portion 2c of the object 2, and further pressed to start the second pressing member 7 as the starting point. By bending the second fold line L2 as a reference, the first surface 24 of the second end side portion 2c of the object 2 and the second surface 25 of the first end side portion 2a already bent to the center portion 2b side. The object 2 is folded once more so that the two come into contact with each other.
That is, when the second bending member 9 rotates the arm member 17, the rod-like member 15 attached to the tip of the arm member 17 and extending in the width direction of the object 2 is The second end portion 2c is brought into contact with the second surface, and the 21st end side portion 2c is pushed down toward the central portion 2b with the second pressing member 7 as a starting point. Thereby, the second end side portion 2c of the object 2 is bent in a state where the first surface 24 is in contact with the second surface 25 of the first end side portion 2a that has already been bent toward the center portion 2b. The second bending of the object 2 by the second bending member 9 is completed.
Then, when the second folding with respect to the object 2 is completed, the object 2 is folded in three, and the bending step S4 is completed.

Here, in this bending process S4, when the 1st end side part 2a of the target object 2 is bent to the center part 2b side by the said 1st bending member 8, the fragrance | flavor 26 is apply | coated. The first surface 24 of the central portion 2b and the first surface 24 of the central portion 2b are bent against the first surface 24 of the central portion 2b. The first surface 24 of the first end side portion 2a that is in contact with each other is pressed against each other.
Specifically, by pressing the first end side portion 2a of the object 2 in the direction of the base member 10 by the first bending member 8, the first side portion 2a and the first end side portion 2a are pressed. And the central portion 2b that is in an overlapping state are pressed against each other to be in close contact with each other. And the fragrance | flavor 26 apply | coated to the center part 2b of the said target object 2 is transcribe | transferred to the 1st end side part 2a.
Thereby, since the application | coating area | region of the fragrance | flavor 26 spreads only to the part located inside the target object 2 of the folded state, when using the said absorbent article, the fragrance | flavor of the fragrance | flavor 26 is peeled off when the said package is peeled off. It becomes easy to diffuse.
In this embodiment, the second bending member 9 also presses the second end side portion 2c bent by the second bending member 9 toward the central portion 2b and the first end side portion 2a. . Thereby, the fragrance | flavor 26 is transcribe | transferred effectively by the 1st end side part 2a.

After the end of the bending step S4, as a third stage of the folding step, the second surface 25 of the first end side portion 2a and the second surface 25 of the second end side portion 2c with respect to the object 2. Step S5 for attaching the adhesive tape that connects the end portions in the length direction of the head is performed. This adhesive tape prevents unfolding of the folded object 2 and can be peeled off by hand. The adhesive tape is attached to a corresponding part of the object 2 by the adhesive tape attachment device 32. The step S5 for attaching the adhesive tape is performed in a state where the object 2 is held by the base member 10.
Further, as a fourth stage of the folding process, a process S6 of removing the first and second pressing members 6 and 7 from the object 2 that has been folded is performed.
Immediately after the end of the bending step S4, the first and second pressing members 6, 7 are located between the first end side portion 2a and the central portion 2b of the object 2 or the first end side portion 2a. It is a state sandwiched between the second end side portion 2c. Therefore, by moving the base 12, the first and second pressing members 6, 7 are moved toward one end side in the width direction of the object 2, and the first and second fold lines L 1, L 1 are moved. Pull out along L2. Thereby, the 1st and 2nd press member 6 and 7 can be removed from the target object 2 without contacting the part in which the fragrance | flavor 26 in the target object 2 is apply | coated at all.

In addition, after completion | finish of said process S6, the unloading process S7 which removes the said target object 2 from the base member 10 and carries out the packaging to a bag etc. as a post-processing process is implemented. This unloading step S7 removes the base member 10 from the base member 10 by releasing the suction of the base member 10 by the base member 10, and the transporting means 33 such as a belt conveyor removes the target 2 removed from the base member 10. This is done by unloading.

As described above, according to the liquid material coating apparatus and the liquid material coating method of this embodiment, when the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied is folded, the fragrance 26 applied to the object 2 is the object 2. There is no contact with devices such as the folding mechanism 5 used for folding, particularly the first and second pressing members 6 and 7.
Thereby, since it can prevent that the fragrance | flavor 26 adheres to the apparatus of a production line, it can apply | coat to the predetermined position of this target object 2 stably. In addition, since the fragrance 26 is prevented from adhering to parts other than necessary, such as other devices, contamination of the production line by the fragrance 26 can be prevented.

In the first embodiment, in the folding step, the length direction of the absorbent article that is covered with the covering material in the package that is the object 2 is the conveyance direction of the object 2. The object 2 was folded in the length direction while transporting the object 2 in the direction along the direction.
However, in the second embodiment described below, in the folding process, the width direction of the absorbent article covered with the covering material in the package that is the object is in the direction along the conveying direction of the object. The object is folded in the width direction while the object is conveyed in a state of facing.
That is, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an example of a liquid material coating apparatus for carrying out the liquid material coating method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The liquid material application apparatus 51 of this embodiment includes an application member 54 for applying a liquid material to one side of a sheet-like object 52 and the object 52 to which the liquid material is applied by the application member. A folding mechanism 55 is provided that folds the object 52 in a valley shape at least once in the width direction so that the surface on which the object is applied is on the inside.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the object 52 in this embodiment has a plurality of absorptions having a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction perpendicular to each other on the upper surface side of the long covering material 80. The absorbent article 70 is attached in a state of being arranged in the width direction of the absorbent article 70 at a certain interval.
That is, in the object 52, only a part of the plurality of absorbent articles 70 on the back sheet side is covered with the long covering material 80, and the plurality of absorbent articles 70 are continuous in the width direction. It is the package body arrange | positioned automatically. In this packaging body, the absorbent article 70 is arranged in a state of being biased to one end side in the width direction of the long covering material 70, and the absorbent article 70 is arranged on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 70. A part is in a state of protruding from the covering material 80.
In this embodiment, the width direction of the absorbent article 70 covered with the covering material 80 on the object 52 is in a state in which the width direction of the absorbent article 70 is in the direction along the conveyance direction MD of the object 52. The object 52 is conveyed, and the fragrance | flavor 76 as a liquid substance is apply | coated to the surface (henceforth the 1st surface 74) in which the said absorbent article 70 is arrange | positioned in the package as the said object 52. FIG. Furthermore, in the position corresponding to the first and second fold lines L3 and L4 so that the first surface 74 is on the inner side, a valley is formed in the width direction of the object 2 (the length direction of the absorbent article 70). The object 52 is folded in three in a folded manner by bending it twice once in total.
The configuration of the absorbent article 70 in this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but in the case shown in FIG. 6, a sanitary napkin or panty liner that does not have a so-called flap portion. It is said.

The folding mechanism 55 corresponds to the fold lines L3 and L4 for valley folding that extend in the length direction of the object 52 with respect to the first surface 74 of the object 52 that is the package that has been conveyed. A pressing member that abuts the portion and forms a fold along the fold lines L3 and L4, and a surface opposite to the first surface 74 of the object 52 starting from the pressing member (hereinafter referred to as the first) Bending members 58 and 59 that are bent from two surfaces (75).
Furthermore, a support plate portion 60 having a substantially horizontal smooth plate surface for supporting the object 52 that has been conveyed in a state of being maintained substantially horizontal is provided.

In this embodiment, the pressing member is a roll 56 that is rotatable in the conveying direction of the object 52, and the first fold line L 3 and the second fold line on the first surface 74 of the object 52. The roll width is substantially the same as the distance between L4. Then, the object 52 is brought into contact with the support plate member 60 while being pushed in the thickness direction of the object 52 and the object 52 is conveyed at a conveying speed. It rotates together.
Thereby, the said roll 56 pushes the said target object 52 in the thickness direction of this target object 52, and the both ends edge part of the roll width direction in the outer peripheral surface of this roll 56 is used as the starting point to the target object 52, A fold along the first fold line L3 and a fold along the second fold line L4 are formed.
Then, due to the folds at both end portions in the width direction of the object 52, the object 52 is bent into the first surface 74 side of the object 52, that is, the first fold line L3. A first end side portion 52a that is a portion of the end portion in the width direction that is bent by the fold line along the second end, and a second end that is a portion of the end portion in the width direction that is bent by the fold line along the second fold line L4. Side portions 52c are formed respectively.

The bending members 58 and 59 cooperate with the roll 56 to form folds along the crease lines L3 and L4 with respect to the object 52, and the objects along the folds. 52 is bent in a valley fold from the second surface 75 of the object 52 such that the first surface 74 is on the inside.
That is, the bending members 58 and 59 are connected to the standing walls 61 and 62 having opposing surface portions facing the end surface in the roll width direction of the roll 56 that is the pressing member, and the base end portions of the standing walls 61 and 62. And plate- like members 63 and 64 having substantially parallel plate surfaces.

More specifically, the first bending member 58 used when the object 52 is bent for the first time is the side on which the absorbent article 70 in the width direction of the object 52 is offset and disposed. And includes a standing wall 61 having a facing surface portion 61a facing the end surface of the roll 56 in the roll width direction, and a plate-like member 63 connected to the base end portion of the standing wall 61. .
Further, the second bending member 59 used when the object 52 is bent for the second time bends the end opposite to the end of the object 52 to be bent by the first bending member 58, A standing wall 62 having a facing surface portion 62 a facing the end surface of the roll 56 in the roll width direction, and a plate-like member 64 connected to the base end portion of the standing wall 62 are provided.

The standing walls 61, 62 of the first and second bending members 58, 59 are extended toward the direction in which they gradually approach each other as they go downstream in the transport direction MD of the object 52, and A gap is formed between the plate- like members 63 and 64 and the support plate member 60 so that the object 52 can be circulated.
Further, the standing wall 61 of the first bending member 58 has a shorter length in the extending direction than the standing wall 62 of the second bending member 59, while the standing wall of the second bending member 59 62 extends downstream of the standing wall 61 of the first bending member 58 in the conveyance direction MD of the object 52. Accordingly, a time difference is generated between the timing at which the first bending member 58 bends the object 52 and the timing at which the second bending member 59 bends the object 52.

Accordingly, the first end side portion 52 a and the second end of the object 52, wherein the standing walls 61 and 62 of the first and second bending members 58 and 59 are bent by the fold formed by the roll 56. The first end side portion 52a and the second end side portion 52c are further bent in contact with the second surfaces 75 of the side portion 52c. In addition, the plate- like members 63 and 64 of the first and second bending members 58 and 59 have the first end-side portion 52a and the second end-side portion 52c bent by the standing walls 61 and 62, the central portion 52b. It is possible to fold the object 52 in a tri-fold shape.

The application member 54 is disposed upstream of the position in which the roll 56 is disposed in the transport direction MD, and before the object 52 is folded by the roll 56, It is possible to apply the fragrance 76 to a position where the folding mechanism 55 does not contact the object 52, for example, a position where the roll 52 which is a pressing member does not contact.
In this embodiment, the application member 54 applies the fragrance 76 to the portion of the covering material 80 located between the adjacent absorbent articles 70, 70 in the object 52. The roll 56 does not come into contact with the coating material 80 at the position where the fragrance 76 is applied due to the thickness of the absorbent article 70.
The application member 54 has the same configuration as that of the application member 4 of the first embodiment, including the provision of an ink jet head, and has almost the same operational effects. Description is omitted.

A method of applying a liquid material (in this case, fragrance 76) to the object 52 using the liquid material application apparatus 51 having the above-described configuration will be described.
The liquid material application method according to this embodiment basically includes an application step of applying the fragrance 76 to one surface of the object 52 and the object 52 to which the fragrance 76 is applied at least once in the width direction. And a folding step of folding in a fold shape.
Further, in the folding step, the first surface 74, which is the surface on which the fragrance 76 of the object 52 is applied, is formed at a portion corresponding to a fold line for valley folding extending in the length direction of the object 52. A pressing step for pressing the object in the thickness direction and a valley in the width direction from the second surface 75 side of the object 52 so that the first surface is on the inside starting from the portion pressed in the pressing step. And a bending step of folding the object into three by folding it.

As a preparatory step, absorption comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-absorbing absorber having a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other in advance. The manufacturing process which manufactures the property article 70 (in this case sanitary napkin) is implemented. The manufacturing process in this case can implement the well-known manufacturing method of an absorbent article.
Further, the plurality of absorbent articles 70 manufactured by the manufacturing process are attached on the long covering material 80 in a state of being continuously arranged in the width direction of the absorbent article 70, thereby absorbing the absorbent article 70. A part on the back sheet side of the article 70 is covered with a covering material 80. Thereby, the packaging process which forms the package body of the aspect with which the package body which coat | covered the single absorbent article 70 was continuously connected in the width direction of the absorbent article 70 is implemented. In this embodiment, the package formed by this packaging process is the object 52.
In this embodiment, the object 52 is conveyed through the conveyance process S1 ′, the application process S2 ′, and the folding process, which are subsequent processes, so that the length direction of the object 52 is along the conveyance direction MD. To do. Therefore, the object 52 is in a state where the width direction of the absorbent article 70 covered with the covering material 80 in the package that is the object 52 is directed in the direction along the conveyance direction MD of the object 52. Will be transported.

After the packaging step, a transport step S1 'is performed in which the object 52 is transported toward the liquid material applicator 51 with the absorbent article 70 positioned on the upper surface side of the covering material 80. Although this conveyance process S1 'can be performed by arbitrary conveyance means, in the case shown in FIG. 6, since the object 52 is long, the object 52 is conveyed by the conveyance roll 65.

Next, an application step S2 ′ for applying a fragrance 76 to the first surface 74 of the object 52 that has been transferred in the transfer step S1 ′ is performed.
This application step S2 ′ is performed by discharging the fragrance 76 onto the object 52 by the application member 54, and when the object 52 has moved to a predetermined position, the fragrance 76 is formed into droplets from the inkjet head. The fragrance | flavor 76 is apply | coated to the 1st surface 74 of the target object 52 by discharging.
At this time, in the application step S2 ′, the object 52 is in non-contact with the roll 56 that presses the object 52 in the thickness direction of the object 52 in the pressing step S3 ′ of the next process. The perfume is applied by the application member 54 only to the portion of the covering material 80 located between the matching absorbent articles 70 and 70.
As for the folding mechanism 55 that folds the object 52, portions other than the roll 56 do not come into contact with the first surface 74 of the object 52, so that the fragrance 76 is applied to the folding mechanism 55 on the object 52. There will be no contact at all with the applied part.

As described above, in the application step S2 ′, the reason for applying the fragrance only to the portion that is non-contacting with the portion to be pressed in the thickness direction of the object 52 in the object 52 in the pressing step of the next step is as described above. This is the same as the liquid material application method of the first embodiment.
The application amount of the fragrance 76 applied by the application member 54 is preferably 0.3 to 100 mg, more preferably 0.3 to 20 mg, and more preferably 0. 0 mg, although it depends on the size of the object 52. It can be 3-5 mg.

After the coating step S2 ′, as a first stage of the folding step, the first surface 74 of the object 52 is a portion corresponding to the first and second fold lines L3 and L4 for valley folding. A pressing step S3 ′ for pressing the object 52 in the thickness direction is performed.
In the pressing step S3 ′, a roll 56, which is a pressing member of the folding mechanism 55, contacts the first surface 74 of the object 52 to which the fragrance 76 has been applied in the application step S2 ′, and the roll 56 is the target. While pushing in the thickness direction of the object 52, the central portion 52 b of the object 52 is sandwiched between the roll 56 and the support plate member 60.

Thereby, the both ends edge part of the roll width direction in the outer peripheral surface of the roll 56 becomes a starting point, the crease | fold along the 1st crease line L3 and the crease | fold along the 2nd crease line L4 in the target object 52, Respectively.
And it was bent by the fold along the 1st crease line L3 at the both ends of the width direction of this target object 52 by those folds, the part bent to the 1st surface 74 side (upward). The first end side portion 52a and the second end side portion 52c bent by the fold along the second fold line L4 are formed.
Since the object 52 is constantly conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveying direction MD, the roll 56 contacts the central portion 52 of the object 52 while pushing it in the thickness direction of the object 52. , Rotating while forming the fold and the first end side member 52a and the second end side portion 52c.

After completion of the pressing step S3 ′, as a second stage of the folding step, the object 52 is moved from the portion of the object 52 pressed by the roll 56 in the pressing step S3 ′. Bending process S4 'bent from the 2nd surface 75 of 52 is implemented.
In the bending step S4 ′, the first end side portion 52a is bent by a fold along the first fold line L3, starting from both edge portions in the roll width direction on the outer peripheral surface of the roll 56. The second bending portion 58 is bent with respect to the second surface 75 of the second end side portion 52c by bending the first bending member 58 with a fold along the second fold line L4. The object 52 is bent from the second surface 75 by bringing the members 59 into contact with each other.

Specifically, after a fold along the first fold line L3 is formed on the object 52 by the roll 56 in the pressing step S3 ′, when the object 52 moves in the conveyance direction MD, the first The facing surface portion 61 a of the standing wall 61 in the bending member 58 contacts the second surface 75 of the first end side portion 52 a that is bent to the first surface side by the fold in the object 52. At this time, the facing surface portion 61a of the upright wall 61 bends the first end side portion 52a upward substantially at a right angle in order to press the first end side portion 52a against the end of the roll 56 in the roll width direction. .
Furthermore, since the standing wall 61 is configured to approach the second bending member 59 side as it goes downstream in the conveyance direction MD of the object 52, when the object 52 further moves in the conveyance direction MD, The first end side portion 52a of the object 52 is gradually brought into contact with the standing wall 61 in the direction toward the first surface 74 side of the object 52, more specifically, the first end side portion of the object 52. The central portion 52b between 52a and the second end side portion 52c is pushed down toward the first surface 74 side.
Further, the portion on the center portion 52b side in the first end side portion 52a of the object 52 is located on the connection side of the upright wall 61 in the plate-like member 63 as the object 52 moves downstream in the transport direction MD. While being pressed downward by the edge, it is gradually pushed into the gap between the plate-like member 63 and the support plate member 60. Thereby, finally, the first end side portion 52a of the object 52 is completely bent to the first surface 74 side of the central portion 52b.

Similarly, after a fold along the second fold line L4 is formed on the object 52 by the roll 56 in the pressing step S3 ′, the second bending is performed when the object 52 moves in the conveyance direction MD. The facing surface portion 62 a of the standing wall 62 of the member 59 contacts the second surface 75 of the second end side portion 52 c that is bent to the first surface side by the fold in the object 52. At this time, the opposing surface portion 62a of the standing wall 62 is bent at a substantially right angle with the second end side portion 52c facing upward in order to press the second end side portion 52c against the end of the roll 56 in the roll width direction. .
Furthermore, since the standing wall 62 approaches the first bending member 58 side as it goes downstream in the conveyance direction MD of the object 52, when the object 52 further moves in the conveyance direction MD, the object The second end side portion 52c of the object 52 is gradually brought into contact with the standing wall 62 in the direction toward the first surface side of the object 52, more specifically, the first surface 74 of the central portion 52b of the object 52. It is pushed down toward the side.
Further, the portion on the center portion 52b side of the second end side portion 52c of the object 52 is located on the connection side of the upright wall 62 in the plate member 64 as the object 52 moves downstream in the transport direction MD. It is pressed downward by the edge and gradually pushed into the gap between the plate member 64 and the support plate member 60. Thereby, the second end side portion 52c of the object 52 is completely bent toward the first surface 74 side of the central portion 52b.

Here, the standing wall 62 of the second bending member 59 extends downstream of the standing wall 61 of the first bending member 58 in the conveying direction MD of the object 52, and the standing wall of the first bending member 58. 61 is formed so that the length in the extending direction is shorter than the standing wall 62 of the second bending member 59, so that the second bending member 59 moves the second end side portion 52 c of the object 52. The timing for bending is slightly later than the timing when the first bending member 58 bends the first end portion 52a.
As shown in FIG. 6, the downstream end of the standing wall 61 in the transport direction MD is present at a position coincident with the downstream end of the plate-like member 63 in the transport direction MD, and the standing wall 62. The downstream end portion in the transport direction MD of the plate member 64 is located at a position that coincides with the downstream end portion of the plate member 64 in the transport direction MD direction. Therefore, basically, the bending of the object 52 by the first bending member 58 and the second bending member 59 ends at the downstream ends of the standing walls 61 and 62 in the conveying direction MD.
Therefore, the first bending member 58 completes the folding of the first end side portion 52a of the object 52 earlier than the bending of the second end side portion 52c of the object 52 by the second bending member 59. It will be. As a result, the object 52 has the second end side portion 52c bent by the second bending member 59 folded on the first end side portion 52a bent by the first bending member 58, and the object 52 The object 52 can be folded in three.

After completion of the bending step S4 ′, as a post-processing step, a cutting step S5 ′ for cutting the object 52 folded in a trifold shape into a single package including a single absorbent article 70 is performed. To do.
This cutting step S5 ′ can be carried out by any means as long as the object 52 can be reliably cut into a certain length, such as a cutter provided with a cutting blade capable of cutting the covering material 80.
In this cutting step S5 ′, there is a possibility of cutting the covering material 80 of the portion where the fragrance 76 is applied in the coating step S2 ′, but the object 52 has already been folded in a trifold shape, Since the fragrance 76 is sandwiched between the covering materials 80 and is not exposed to the outside, there is very little possibility that the fragrance 76 adheres to the cutter or the like during cutting. Therefore, there are few problems caused by perfume adhering to the cutter or the like.
Moreover, it can prevent more reliably that the fragrance | flavor 76 adheres to a cutter etc. by shifting the application | coating position of the fragrance | flavor 76 in said application | coating process S2 'to the position which does not contact | connect the cutting position by a cutter.

As described above, according to the liquid material application apparatus and the liquid material application method of this embodiment, when the object 52 to which the fragrance 76 is applied is folded, the fragrance 76 applied to the object 52 is the object 52. There is no contact with the roll 56 which is a pressing member that contacts the first surface of the object 52, particularly the device of the folding mechanism 55 that is used for the folding.
Accordingly, since the fragrance 76 can be prevented from adhering to the apparatus of the production line, it can be stably applied to a predetermined position of the object 52, and the fragrance 76 is not necessary for other apparatuses or the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent the production line from being contaminated by the fragrance 76, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the objects 2 and 52 are packaged bodies in which a single or a plurality of absorbent articles are covered with a covering material, but the objects are absorbent articles themselves. Alternatively, a liquid such as a fragrance may be directly applied to the absorbent article.

In the first and second embodiments, a fragrance is used as the liquid, but the liquid may be other than a fragrance. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-063245, A blood modifying agent directly applied to an absorbent article, various skin care agents such as a moisturizing agent and lotion, an antibacterial agent, and the like described in JP 2013-179882 A and the like can be used.

In the first and second embodiments, the objects 2 and 52 are folded in a three-fold shape, but the object may be folded in two or in a four-fold shape. The increase / decrease in the number of times the object is bent can basically be performed by adjusting the number of pressing members used in the pressing step and the number of bending members used in the bending step as necessary.

In the first and second embodiments, as the coating members 4 and 54 used in the coating process, the liquid material is ejected in the form of droplets using an ink jet head, but the liquid material is within a predetermined range. It is not always necessary to use an ink jet head if it can be applied accurately.

In the first embodiment, in the bending step S4 in the folding step, when the object 2 to which the fragrance 26 is applied in the application step S3 is folded, the portion to which the fragrance 26 is applied; By folding the object 2, the portion where the fragrance 26 is applied is pressed against the opposite portion, and the fragrance 26 is transferred to the opposite portion.
However, when the transfer of the liquid material to the opposed portion is sufficient or not necessary, the portion to which the liquid material is applied and the object are folded in the bending step in the folding step. There is no need to perform an operation of pressing the liquid coated portion and the facing portion facing each other to transfer the liquid material to the facing portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,51 Liquid material applicator 2,52 Target object 4,54 Application member 5,55 Folding mechanism 6 First pressing member 7 Second pressing member 8,58 First bending member 9,59 Second bending Member 20,70 Absorbent article 56 Roll (pressing member)

Claims (9)

1. An absorbent article having a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other, and comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-absorbing absorber, or the absorption A surface of a sheet-like object coated with a liquid material, and an object coated with the liquid material, the surface coated with the liquid material. Is a liquid material application method including a folding step of folding into a valley fold at least once so that the inner side is inside,
   The folding step is a pressing step of pressing the object in the thickness direction at a portion corresponding to a fold line for valley folding on the surface of the object to which the liquid material is applied in the application step;
   A bending step of bending from the surface opposite to the surface coated with the liquid material, starting from a portion of the object pressed in the thickness direction of the object in the pressing step;
   The said application | coating process is a liquid substance coating method with which the said liquid substance is apply | coated only to the part which is non-contact with the part pressed in the thickness direction of the said target object in the said pressing process with respect to the said object.
2. The folding step in the folding step includes a portion where the liquid material is applied when the object on which the liquid material is applied in the application step is folded, and the liquid material is folded by folding the object. The method for applying a liquid material according to claim 1, further comprising pressing the applied portion and the opposing portion facing each other to transfer the liquid material to the opposing portion.
3. In the folding step, the length direction of the absorbent article that is covered with the covering material in the absorbent article as the target object or the package that is the target object is the transport direction of the target object. The liquid material coating method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the object is folded while the object is conveyed in a direction along the direction.
4. In the liquid material application method, a plurality of the absorbent articles are continuously arranged in the length direction of the absorbent article before the application step, and a plurality of the packages are continuously connected. The liquid material application method according to claim 3, further comprising a cutting step of cutting the continuous package body into a single package body including one absorbent article.
5. The pressing step is performed by bringing a pressing member extending in the width direction of the object into contact with a portion corresponding to a fold line for valley folding of the object on the surface of the object to which the liquid material is applied. In addition, the folding step is performed by bending the object in a valley fold shape with the pressing member as a starting point by a bending member that contacts a surface of the object opposite to the surface on which the liquid material is applied. The method for applying a liquid material according to claim 4, which is performed.
6. The folding step includes a holding step of holding the object that has been transported in a position immovable on the surface of the object opposite to the surface on which the liquid material is applied, and the pressing step includes The liquid according to claim 5, wherein the object held in the holding step is pressed from the surface side to which the liquid material is applied by the pressing member formed in a bar shape extending in the width direction of the object. Object application method.
7. In the folding step, a width direction of the absorbent article that is covered with the covering material in the absorbent article as the object or a package that is the object is along a conveyance direction of the object. The liquid material application method according to claim 1, wherein the object is folded while the object is conveyed in a direction facing the direction.
8. The liquid material applying method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the applying step, the liquid material is applied to the object using an ink jet head that discharges the liquid material in droplets.
9. An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-absorbing absorbent body, each having a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction perpendicular to each other, or the absorbent A packaging body in which an article is coated with a coating material, an application member that applies a liquid material to one side of a sheet-like object, and the liquid material that is applied by the application member to contact the object, A liquid material applicator comprising a folding mechanism that folds into a valley fold at least once so that the surface on which the object is applied is inside,
   The said application | coating member is a liquid substance coating device which can apply | coat the said liquid substance only to the part which is non-contact with the said folding mechanism with respect to the said target object.

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