WO2016194475A1 - Manufacturing method for absorbent article, and manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

　A manufacturing method for an absorbent article (1). The absorbent article (1) comprises, in an unfinished state, an absorbent body (10) that absorbs liquid, and a pair of belt members (30) that are arranged side-by-side in the width direction, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body (10), while overlapping with the absorbent body (10). Each of the belt members (30) has a leg opening (30HL). The manufacturing method involves: conveying, in the longitudinal direction, which is the direction of conveyance, a base sheet (30sa), which is continuous in the longitudinal direction, for forming the belt members (30), said base sheet (30sa) being secured by the partial overlapping of a reinforcement sheet (40a) in the width direction; and forming side-by-side, in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of the leg openings (30HL), which penetrate the reinforcement sheet (40a) and the base sheet (30sa), in the base sheet (30sa) which is secured by the reinforcement sheet (40a).

Description

Absorbent article manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and a manufacturing apparatus.

Conventionally, disposable diapers are known as absorbent articles that absorb excrement such as urine.

JP-A-9-10261

In the production line of the disposable diaper 1 ′, the diaper 1 ′ includes an absorbent main body 10 ′ in which both end portions 10 e La ′ and 10 eLb ′ in the longitudinal direction are formed in a substantially V shape in the state before completion shown in FIG. 1, A pair of belt members 30 ′ and 30 ′ are arranged side by side in the width direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 ′ while being superimposed on the absorbent main body 10 ′. Further, in this state, the pair of belt members 30 ′ and 30 ′ are respectively leg opening 30HL ′ and 30HL ′ and a folding line L30 ′ for folding the belt member 30 ′ in the width direction. The both end portions 30ew1 ′ and 30ew2 ′ in the width direction of the member 30 ′ have the same folding line L30 ′ for folding back so as to be positioned inside the folding line L30 ′. Then, the belt member 30 ′ folded back at the folding line L30 ′ is arranged in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 ′ via the end portion 30ew2 ′ located on the outer side in the width direction of the both end portions 30ew1 ′ and 30ew2 ′. Is joined to the end portion 10ew ′. The belt members 30 ′ and 30 ′ are also joined by welding or the like at the substantially V-shaped end portions 10 eLa ′ and 10 eLb ′ of the absorbent main body 10 ′.

And in such a state before completion, while opening each edge part 30ew1 'and 30ew1' located inside a pair of belt member 30 ', 30' to the both sides of the said width direction, each belt member 30 ', When the absorbent main body 10 ′ is folded in half at the substantially central position CLL10 ′ in the longitudinal direction in the process of folding the 30 ′ half in the longitudinal center position CLL30 ′, the inner side in the width direction of each belt member 30 ′ The end portions 30ew1 ′ and 30ew1 ′ located at the same position cooperate with each other to form the waistline opening 1HB ′ of the diaper 1 ′, while the leg-hole openings 30HL ′ and 30HL ′ of the belt members 30 ′ and 30 ′. Are positioned on both sides of the absorbent main body 10 'in the width direction, and can be worn as a pant-type diaper 1' as shown in FIG.

However, when the diaper 1 ′ is worn, a force easily acts on the leg opening 30 </ b> HL ′ from the leg of the wearer, and there is a risk of breakage at the leg opening 30 </ b> HL ′.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to inexpensively manufacture an absorbent article that can prevent breakage of the leg opening in the belt member. is there.

The main invention for achieving the above object is:
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction And transport as
A plurality of leg opening portions penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. It is a manufacturing method of an absorptive article.
Also,
An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus comprising:
In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction A transport device for transporting as
A forming apparatus that forms a plurality of leg-hole openings penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. It is the manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent article characterized.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to inexpensively manufacture an absorbent article that can prevent breakage of the leg opening in the belt member.

It is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 'of the reference example of the state of the plate before completion. It is the schematic front view which looked at the diaper 1 manufactured with the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment from the ventral side. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the diaper 1 of the extended plate state before completion from the belt member 30 side. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the same diaper 1 from the absorptive main body 10 side. FIG. 5 is a VV cross-sectional view in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a state in which a part of the joint is unwound in the diaper 1 in the stretched plate state of FIG. FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6A. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st process of the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the said 2nd process. It is explanatory drawing of the said 2nd process. It is explanatory drawing of the said 2nd process. It is explanatory drawing of the said 3rd process and a 4th process. It is explanatory drawing of the said 5th process and 6th process. It is explanatory drawing of strip | belt-shaped area | region A30 along the conveyance direction which the base material sheet 30sa which concerns on the continuous body 30a of a belt member has. It is a schematic enlarged view of leg opening 30HL. It is explanatory drawing of the example of arrangement | positioning of the continuous sheet | seat 40a of the reinforcement sheet which can make the intensity | strength of weld part ja and jb high. It is a schematic top view for demonstrating the favorable example of the magnitude relationship between length L30HL of the leg periphery opening part 30HL, and length L30HLN of the part in which the leg periphery opening part 30HL is not formed. It is a schematic plan view which shows the procedure of the manufacturing method of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 18A is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a joining procedure in the third step of the first embodiment, and FIG. 18B is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining another joining procedure. 19A and 19B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining another joining procedure of the joining procedure of the third step according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 19C is a joining procedure of FIGS. 19A and 19B. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the diaper 1 produced | generated. 20A and 20B are schematic plan views showing the diaper 1 in which the leg opening 30HL of the slit SL mode is formed in the belt member 30 in the same unfolded state as FIG. 6A. FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B are schematic plan views showing the diaper 1 in which the leg opening 30HL of the slit SL mode is formed in the belt member 30 in the same unfolded state as FIG. 6A. 22A and 22B are schematic plan views showing the diaper 1 in which the leg opening 30HL is formed in the belt member 30 so as not to straddle the folding line L30 in the same unfolded state as FIG. 6A.

At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction And transport as
A plurality of leg opening portions penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. It is a manufacturing method of an absorptive article.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the leg opening is formed so as to penetrate both sheets in a state where the reinforcing sheet is overlapped and fixed to the base sheet. Therefore, the periphery of the leg opening can be reinforced with the reinforcing sheet. And it becomes possible to manufacture the absorbent article which can prevent the fracture | rupture in a leg periphery opening part by this.
In addition, since the reinforcing sheet is provided in a part of the base sheet in the width direction, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the reinforcing sheet is provided over the entire width direction. It becomes possible to manufacture a property article at a low price.
Further, when the leg opening is formed, deformation of the base sheet is suppressed by the reinforcing sheet. Therefore, the leg opening can be smoothly formed through the base sheet.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
In the formation, it is desirable that the leg opening is formed so as to fit in the reinforcing sheet.

According to such a manufacturing method of an absorbent article, since the leg hole opening is formed so as to fit in the reinforcing sheet, the periphery of the leg hole opening can be reinforced with the reinforcing sheet over the entire circumference. . And thereby, the fracture | rupture in a leg periphery opening part can be prevented reliably.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The reinforcing sheet is a sheet having elasticity in the longitudinal direction,
It is desirable that the reinforcing sheet is fixed to the base sheet in a state of extending in the longitudinal direction.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is possible to form a gather at the opening around the leg based on the stretchability of the reinforcing sheet. As a result, the fit of the opening around the leg can be improved and leakage of excrement such as urine from the opening around the leg can be effectively prevented.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The base sheet has a first sheet and a second sheet that overlap each other,
The first sheet and the second sheet are sheets that are less extensible in the longitudinal direction than the reinforcing sheet,
It is desirable that the reinforcing sheet is interposed between the first sheet and the second sheet.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, when the leg opening is formed to penetrate, the leg is easily deformed due to the stretchability of the reinforcing sheet. Although it is difficult to form through the portion, the reinforcing sheet is interposed between the first sheet and the second sheet included in the base sheet, and the first sheet and the second sheet. Are both less stretchable than the reinforcing sheet. Therefore, the deformation of the sheet when the leg opening is formed through the reinforcing sheet can be restricted from both sides in the thickness direction of the reinforcing sheet with the first sheet and the second sheet. As a result, the leg opening can be smoothly formed through the reinforcing sheet.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
In the formation, it is desirable that a continuous body of thread-like elastic members along the longitudinal direction is overlapped and fixed to the reinforcing sheet in a state of being extended in the longitudinal direction.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, since the continuous body of the thread-like elastic member is fixed to the reinforcing sheet in the state of being elongated in the longitudinal direction, the gather is reliably formed in the opening around the leg. It becomes possible.
In addition, when the leg opening is formed through the base sheet and the reinforcing sheet, a tensile force along the longitudinal direction can act on the reinforcing sheet from the continuous body of the thread-like elastic member. Therefore, the attitude | position of the reinforcement sheet at the time of forming a leg periphery opening part can be stabilized, As a result, a leg periphery opening part can be stably penetrated and formed.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
The continuous body of the thread-like elastic member that is overlapped and fixed on the reinforcing sheet is disposed at each position on both sides in the width direction of the portion around the leg opening that is formed in the reinforcing sheet. desirable.

According to such a method of manufacturing an absorbent article, the continuous body of the thread-like elastic member is disposed at each position on both sides in the width direction of the portion around the leg opening in the reinforcing sheet. Therefore, the effect of stabilizing the posture of the reinforcing sheet can be reliably achieved.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
In order to fix the absorbent body continuum in which the plurality of absorbent bodies are continuous in the longitudinal direction and the base sheet in an overlapped state, the absorbent body continuum and the base sheet Forming a pressure-bonding part by sandwiching
In the overlapped state, the base sheet has a portion protruding outward in the width direction from the continuous body of the absorbent main body, and the reinforcing sheet is positioned in the protruding portion. And
In forming the pressure-bonding part, it is desirable to form the pressure-bonding part by sandwiching the protruding portion of the base sheet and the reinforcing sheet.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, in the protruding portion, the portion and the reinforcing sheet are pressed to form a crimped portion. Therefore, it is possible to secure a large amount of the member to be crimped even at the protruding portion, thereby preventing a decrease in strength of the crimping portion at the protruding portion.

A method of manufacturing such an absorbent article,
Between the conveying and forming the pressure-bonding part, the base sheet is folded in the width direction at a folding line set in the base sheet,
In forming the pressure-bonding part, the base material sheet folded at the fold line is formed on the continuous body of the absorbent main body to form the pressure-bonding part,
In the carrying, the reinforcing sheet is sized so that the size of the portion of the reinforcing sheet located on one side in the width direction with respect to the folding line is different from the size of the portion located on the other side. It is desirable that the base sheet is fixed in a superimposed manner.

According to such a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the dimensional difference in the width direction between a portion located on one side of the width direction and a portion located on the other side of the folding line in the reinforcing sheet. Based on this, it is possible to change the number of stacked sheets in a state where the base sheet is folded at the folding line in a stepwise manner according to the position in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent problems such as breakage of the belt member that may occur when the above-described crimping portion is formed in a portion where the number of stacked layers has changed excessively.

Also,
An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus comprising:
In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction A transport device for transporting as
A forming apparatus that forms a plurality of leg-hole openings penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. It is the manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent article characterized.

According to such an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, the same operational effects as those of the manufacturing method described above can be achieved.

=== First Embodiment ===
The manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent article of 1st Embodiment are used in the manufacturing line of the disposable diaper 1 as an example of an absorbent article, for example.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a pants-type diaper 1 as an example of the diaper 1 as viewed from the ventral side. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state, which is a state before completion, viewed from the belt member 30 side, and FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 viewed from the absorbent main body 10 side. . FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG.

This diaper 1 is in the state of a flat plate extending as shown in FIG. 3 (corresponding to the state before completion) in the final stage of the manufacturing process. Specifically, first, the absorbent main body 10 to be placed between the crotch of the wearer is a sheet-like member having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction orthogonal to each other, and each end portion 10eLa in the longitudinal direction. , 10eLb each have a substantially V-shaped tapered shape. In addition, the pair of belt members 30, 30 to be disposed mainly on the waistline of the wearer are overlapped on the skin side surface of the absorbent main body 10 and intersect the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. Are arranged side by side. And each belt member 30 and 30 has leg periphery opening part 30HL and 30HL, respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each belt member 30 is a folding line L30 for folding the belt member 30 in the width direction, and both end portions 30ew1 and 30ew2 in the width direction of the belt member 30 are The belt member 30 that has the same folding line L30 that is folded back so as to be positioned inward in the width direction with respect to the folding line L30, and the belt member 30 that is folded back at the folding line L30 includes the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew2. Then, it is joined to the end portion 10ew in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 with a hot melt adhesive or the like via the end portion 30ew2 located outside in the width direction. Further, the belt members 30 and 30 are also joined by welding or the like at the end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the substantially main body 10 which are substantially V-shaped.

Then, from each of the extended plate states, each belt member 30 is opened at the substantially central position CLL30 in the longitudinal direction while opening the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 located inside the pair of belt members 30 and 30 on both sides in the width direction. If the absorbent main body 10 is folded in half at a substantially central position CLL10 in the longitudinal direction in the process of folding in half, the inner end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 in the width direction of the belt members 30 and 30 are mutually cooperating with each other. 2 is formed, and the leg-hole openings 30HL and 30HL of the belt members 30 and 30 are positioned on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10, respectively. It will be in the state which can be worn as such a pants-type diaper 1.

In the following, each component 10, 30, 30 will be described mainly with reference to the diaper 1 in the stretched plate state of FIG. 3, but the longitudinal direction, the width direction of the absorbent body 10 in the stretched plate state, The thickness direction and the thickness direction substantially coincide with the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction of the diaper 1 in the same plate state. Therefore, in the following description, these directions are simply referred to as “longitudinal direction”, “width direction”, and “thickness direction”. In addition, for the longitudinal direction, one side is located on the abdomen side of the wearing subject and the other side is located on the back side of the wearing subject, so one side is also referred to as “abdominal side” or “front side”, and the other side The side is also referred to as “back side” or “rear side”. Furthermore, regarding the thickness direction, the side in contact with the wearer is also referred to as “skin side”, and the opposite side is also referred to as “non-skin side”. The width direction is also referred to as “left-right direction”.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the absorbent main body 10 is a sheet-like member whose end portions 10 eLa and 10 eLb in the longitudinal direction are tapered in a substantially V shape in plan view. A top sheet 13 (corresponding to the skin side sheet) provided covering the absorbent body 11 from the skin side, and a back sheet 15 (corresponding to the non-skin side sheet) provided covering the absorbent body 11 from the non-skin side; Have.
Each of the members 13, 11, and 15 is joined to a member adjacent in the thickness direction by a hot melt adhesive or the like. Examples of the application pattern of the adhesive include an Ω pattern, a spiral pattern, and a stripe pattern, and the same applies to other adhesives that appear later.

The absorber 11 has a liquid-absorbent absorbent core 11c and a core wrap sheet (not shown) that covers the outer peripheral surface of the core 11c. The absorbent core 11c is a molded body obtained by molding a predetermined liquid absorbent material into a substantially hourglass shape in plan view as an example of a predetermined shape. Examples of the liquid-absorbing material include liquid-absorbing fibers such as pulp fibers, and liquid-absorbing granular materials such as superabsorbent polymers (so-called SAP). (g / m ² ) pulp fiber and SAP having a basis weight (g / m ² ) in a predetermined range are mixed and used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Moreover, liquid permeable sheets, such as tissue paper and a nonwoven fabric, can be used for a core wrap sheet. Further, the shape of the absorbent core 11c is not limited to the above-mentioned substantially hourglass shape in plan view, but may be other shapes.

The top sheet 13 is formed of, for example, a liquid permeable sheet such as an air-through nonwoven fabric, and the planar size thereof is such that it protrudes from both sides in the longitudinal direction and both sides in the width direction of the absorbent body 11. Moreover, since each edge part of a longitudinal direction comprises each edge part 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorptive main body 10, the dimension of the width direction becomes small, respectively, as the shape progresses to the belly side or back side of a longitudinal direction, respectively. The above-mentioned substantially V-shaped tapered shape is formed.

The back sheet 15 is also a planar sheet that protrudes from both sides in the longitudinal direction and both sides in the width direction of the absorber 11, and each end in the longitudinal direction absorbs the same as the top sheet 13. Since the end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the main body 10 are formed, the shape thereof is the above-mentioned substantially V-shaped taper shape in which the dimension in the width direction becomes smaller as proceeding to the ventral side or the back side in the longitudinal direction. I am doing. The top sheet 13 and the back sheet 15 are overlapped in the thickness direction so that the substantially V-shapes of both end portions thereof are substantially aligned, whereby the absorber is interposed between the sheets 13 and 15. 11 is held.

As an example of the material of the back sheet 15, as shown in FIG. 5, a liquid-impermeable leak-proof sheet 15 f such as a polyethylene (PE) film or a polypropylene (PP) film, and the non-skin side of the leak-proof sheet 15 f A laminate sheet 15 having a two-layer structure having a non-woven fabric outer sheet 15n bonded to the sheet can be mentioned, and here, this is used, but if it has a certain leak-proof property, Not limited to this. Further, in this example, the planar size of the leak-proof sheet 15f is smaller than the planar size of the exterior sheet 15n, and thereby, on the inner side in the longitudinal direction and the inner side in the width direction than the outer peripheral edge of the exterior sheet 15n. The leak-proof sheet 15f is accommodated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same size may be used.

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of a state in which a part of the diaper 1 in the stretched plate state of FIG. That is, FIG. 6A shows the unfolding of the longitudinal end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10 and the belt members 30 and 30, and the belt members 30 and 30 opened to the outside in the width direction. It is a schematic plan view of a state. 6A, the skin side of the absorbent main body 10 and the skin side of the belt member 30 are visible. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6A. Incidentally, these FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams in a state where the diaper 1 is elongated in the longitudinal direction and the width direction until there is no gather, which is the above-described FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIGS. 18A to 22B described later. The same applies to.

6A and 6B, each of the pair of belt members 30 and 30 is a sheet-like member that is long in the longitudinal direction, and in this example, the nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32 are formed by overlapping two sheets in the thickness direction. Yes. Further, as described above, both of the pair of belt members 30 and 30 are changed from the state of FIGS. 6A and 6B to the state shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B by the folding lines L30 and L30 set along the longitudinal direction at predetermined positions in the width direction. 5 and folded inward in the width direction, so that one belt member 30 overlaps the left side portion of the skin side surface of the absorbent main body 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The other belt member 30 is overlapped with the right side portion of the skin side surface, and the pair of belt members 30 and 30 are mirror images with respect to the center position CLW10 in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10. It has become. Further, in this folded state, both end portions 30ew1 and 30ew2 in the width direction of the belt member 30 are both positioned on the inner side in the width direction than the folding line L30. And as shown in FIG. 5, among these both end portions 30ew1, 30ew2, the end portion 30ew2 closer to the absorbent main body 10 in the thickness direction is located on the outer side in the width direction than the far end portion 30ew1. And the near end 30ew2 is joined to the end 13ew in the width direction of the top sheet 13 forming the skin side surface of the absorbent main body 10 with a hot melt adhesive or the like over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction. . In FIG. 5, the belt member 30 is illustrated as being joined only to the end portion 13 ew of the top sheet 13, but this is not a limitation. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the end portion 15 ew of the back sheet 15 protrudes outward in the width direction from the end portion 13 ew of the top sheet 13, the end portion 15 ew of the back sheet 15 is also the belt member 30. It may be joined to.
Also, this is partly as described above, but as shown in FIG. 3, both end portions 30eLa, 30eLb in the longitudinal direction of each belt member 30 are substantially V-shaped end portions 10eLa, Overlaid and fixed to each half in the width direction at 10 eLb. Therefore, the shapes of both end portions 30eLa and 30eLb of the belt member 30 are inclined so as to overlap the respective half portions in the width direction of the substantially V-shaped both end portions 10eLa and 10eLb. The end portions 30eLa and 30eLb in the longitudinal direction of the member 30 are joined to the corresponding end portions 10eLa and 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10 by welding or the like in a state where they overlap each other in the thickness direction.

Moreover, in this example, when it is set as the underpants type state of FIG. 2, both of the pair of belt members 30 and 30 of the extended state of the diaper 1 of FIG. , 30ew1 is the waistline opening 1HB. Therefore, the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 are folded back in the width direction only once as shown in FIG. 5 for the purpose of giving the end portions 30ew1 and 30ew1 an end closing structure for reducing the skin stress of the wearer. The folded state is fixed with a hot melt adhesive or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be folded twice or more, or the end-end structure may be omitted without folding the end 30ew1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, the leg-hole opening 30HL is formed so as to penetrate the belt member 30 in the thickness direction so as to straddle the above-described folding line L30 in the width direction. In this example, the leg opening 30HL is formed in an asymmetric shape that is not line symmetric with respect to the folding line L30. This asymmetric shape is determined in consideration of the shape of the leg around the wearer. Therefore, in this example, a good fit around the leg of the wearer can be achieved by using an asymmetric shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, for the purpose of imparting stretchability to the belt member 30, between the two nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32 relating to the belt member 30, thread rubber or the like along the longitudinal direction. Are inserted in a line in the width direction. That is, the thread-like elastic members 35, 35... Are fixed to the nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32 with a hot melt adhesive or the like while being stretched to a predetermined stretch ratio in the longitudinal direction. 30 has a longitudinal stretchability.

Here, in this example, some of the thread-like elastic members 35, 35... Are arranged in the belt member 30 between the leg opening 30HL and the waist opening 1HB. However, at least one other elastic member 35 is arranged in a portion of the belt member 30 between the leg opening 30HL and the absorbent main body 10. Therefore, a contraction force in the longitudinal direction is applied to each position on both sides in the width direction of the leg opening 30HL in the belt member 30, and thereby the leg opening 30HL extends substantially over the entire circumference. As a result, it shrinks while forming a plurality of wrinkles, and as a result, gathers are formed over substantially the entire circumference.

Further, in this example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a reinforcing sheet 40 (see the dot pattern portion in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6A) is provided for the purpose of reinforcing the leg opening 30HL. ing. That is, a belt-shaped reinforcing sheet 40 having an opening of the same shape as the leg hole opening 30HL is interposed between the two nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32 related to the belt member 30, and thereby the leg hole opening. The peripheral portion of the portion 30HL is reinforced over its entire circumference. In this example, as the reinforcing sheet 40, for example, a stretchable sheet having a stretchability that can be stretched without breaking up to an arbitrary magnification of 1.5 times to 4.0 times the natural length is used. The reinforcing sheet 40 is also fixed to the nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32 with a hot melt adhesive or the like in a state where the reinforcing sheet 40 is stretched to a predetermined stretch ratio in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the said reinforcement sheet 40 can also contribute effectively to formation of the gathering to the leg periphery opening part 30HL. In addition, as an example of such an elastic sheet, a so-called gear stretching process is performed on a nonwoven fabric having substantially elastic elastomer fibers such as polyurethane elastomers and substantially non-elastic thermoplastic resin fibers such as polyolefin resins. Although the nonwoven fabric which gave and can express the elasticity can be illustrated and this is used in this example, it is not restricted to this at all. For example, a woven fabric having the above-described fibers may be used, or a stretchable film containing an elastomer material such as a rubber-based resin may be used. Furthermore, the reinforcing sheet 40 may not have the above-described stretchability, and examples of the sheet having no stretchability include a non-elastomeric material such as a polyolefin-based resin or a polyester-based resin. Nonwoven fabrics and films can be exemplified.

7 to 12 are explanatory views of a method for manufacturing the diaper 1. The diaper 1 is manufactured by a so-called “longitudinal flow method” on a manufacturing line. In the longitudinal flow method, while the intermediate product of the diaper 1 is transported with the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 as the transport direction, various processes and joining of other parts are sequentially performed, and finally the above-described stretched plate state The diaper 1 is manufactured. In FIGS. 7 to 12, the intermediate product is illustrated as a single sheet of diaper for the sake of space, but the actual intermediate product is a continuous or continuous sheet continuous in the conveying direction. Is in a state.
In addition, the intermediate product is transported using a known transport device (not shown) such as a belt conveyor such as a suction belt conveyor or a transport roller. In the following, it is assumed that these conveying devices are used as appropriate unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, as described above, since the transport direction is along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10, the transport direction is orthogonal to the thickness direction and the width direction of the absorbent main body 10. In this production line, the direction corresponding to the width direction is also referred to as “CD direction”.

In the manufacturing method of the first embodiment, the above-described diaper 1 in the extended state of FIG. 3 is manufactured through the following first to sixth steps.
1st process: The production | generation process of the continuous body 10a of an absorptive main body 2nd process: The production | generation process of a continuous body 30a, 30a of a pair of belt member 3rd process: The continuous body of the absorptive main body 10a and a pair of belt member 30a, 30a joining process 4th process: Folding process of a pair of belt members continuous body 30a, 30a 5th process: Folded state fixing process 6th process: Dividing process at product pitch P1 Hereinafter, each process will be described. To do.

<< First Step: Step of Producing Absorbent Main Body 10a >>
As shown in FIG. 7, in this step, a plurality of absorbent main bodies 10, 10... Are formed in the longitudinal direction to generate a continuous body 10 a of the absorbent main body, and the generated continuous body 10 a of the absorbent main body is generated. Are transported with the continuous direction as the transport direction.

Specifically, first, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 7, the continuous sheet 15 a of the back sheet 15 is transported with the continuous direction as the transport direction. In this example, the exterior sheet 15n related to the back sheet 15 is a continuous sheet 15na continuous in the conveying direction, but the leak-proof sheet 15f is discrete on the continuous sheet 15na of the exterior sheet 15n at a product pitch P1. It is a sheet-like sheet 15f arranged in the. However, it is not limited to this. That is, the leak-proof sheet 15f may also be a continuous sheet that is continuous in the conveyance direction.

Next, the absorbent body 11 generated using a fiber stacking device (not shown) is placed on each leakage prevention sheet 15f one by one as shown in the central view of FIG. 7 and joined with a hot melt adhesive or the like. To do. Such placement processing is performed by a rotating drum device (not shown) or the like.
At the same time or after this, the top sheet 13 is supplied in the form of a continuous sheet 13a along the conveying direction toward the skin side of each absorber 11 as shown in the right figure of FIG. The side surfaces are covered with a continuous sheet 13 a of the top sheet 13 and bonded with a hot melt adhesive or the like. And the continuous body 10a of an absorptive main body is produced | generated by this.

In addition, as an example of the fiber stacking device, a device that generates the absorbent core 11c by adsorbing the liquid absorbent material sprayed from the duct to the bottom surface of the recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum can be cited. Moreover, as an example of the rotating drum device, a rotating drum having an outer peripheral surface capable of adsorbing and holding the absorber 11 can be cited. Since both apparatuses have a well-known configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted.

<< Second Step: Step of Generating Continuous Pairs 30a and 30a of a Pair of Belt Members >>
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, this process is a process capable of simultaneous parallel processing that is not related to the upstream / downstream relationship with the “generation process of the absorbent body continuum 10 a” in the first process described above. . In this step, a continuous body 30a, 30a of a pair of belt members is generated. The belt member continuous body 30a is a belt member in which a plurality of belt members 30, 30.

First, as shown in the left figure of FIG. 8, as a non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 that is mainly a non-skin side surface of the belt member continuous body 30a, a single non-woven fabric 31 is a continuous sheet 31a continuous in the transport direction. It is conveyed from the upstream process in the form. And from this non-skin side base material sheet 30sha1, since the non-skin side surface for a pair of continuous bodies 30a, 30a of the belt member is finally generated, the CD direction of the non-skin side base material sheet 30sha1 The dimension is a wide width that is approximately twice the dimension of the belt member continuous body 30a in the CD direction. This also applies to the skin-side substrate sheet 30sha2 that comes out later.

Next, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 8, the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 conveyed in the conveying direction passes through the supply position PS1 of the reinforcing sheet 40 set at a predetermined position in the conveying direction. At the time of the passage, a pair of reinforcing sheets 40, 40 are supplied side by side in the CD direction in the form of continuous sheets 40a, 40a continuous in the conveying direction toward the skin side surface of the sheet 30sha1. The material sheet 30sha1 is bonded to the skin side surface with a hot melt adhesive or the like. Here, at the time of joining, the continuous sheets 40a and 40a of the respective reinforcing sheets are in a state of being stretched at the above-described stretching magnification, respectively, and remain on the skin side surface of the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 in this stretched state. Be joined. And thereby, in the state of the diaper 1 of FIG. 2, a gather comes to be formed in the leg periphery opening part 30HL.

In this example, the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is provided in a part of the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 in the CD direction. That is, the dimension in the CD direction of the continuous sheet 40a is such that the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet covers the entire area of the formation target portion of the leg opening 30HL in the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1. Although it is larger than that of the target portion, the continuous sheet 40a is not provided over the entire area in the CD direction of the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1. Therefore, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is provided over the entire area in the CD direction. As a result, the diaper 1 can be manufactured at a low cost.

The hot melt adhesive may be applied to either one or both of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet and the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 in advance before the above-mentioned joining. The adhesive is applied in a predetermined application pattern toward the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet. Further, as an example of a supply device (not shown) of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet, an apparatus having a supply roller in which the continuous sheet 40a is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface can be cited.

In this example, the reinforcing sheet 40 is a continuous sheet 40a that is continuous in the conveying direction, but is not limited thereto. That is, a cut sheet may be used. In this case, the reinforcing sheet 40 is intermittently supplied to each of the formation target portions for each formation target portion of the leg opening 30HL that repeatedly appears at the product pitch P1 on the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1. Be joined. In this case, the material amount of the reinforcing sheet 40 can be further reduced.

Next, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 9, the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 passes through the supply position PS2 of the thread-like elastic member 35 set downstream in the transport direction from the supply position PS1. At the time of the passage, the thread-like elastic members 35, 35,... Are supplied side by side in the CD direction in the form of continuous bodies 35a, 35a,. The base sheet 30sha1 is joined to the skin side surface with a hot melt adhesive or the like. Here, at the time of joining, the continuous bodies 35a, 35a,... Of the respective thread-like elastic members are in a state of being stretched at a predetermined stretch magnification, and the skin of the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 remains in the stretched state. Bonded to the side. And thereby, in the state of the diaper 1 of FIG. 2, elasticity is provided to the belt member 30. FIG. Further, some of the continuous bodies 35a of the thread-like elastic members are superposed on and joined to the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet, and more specifically, the continuous bodies 35a and 35a have leg opening portions. The 30HL formation target portions are arranged on both sides in the CD direction. And thereby, in the state of the diaper 1 of FIG. 2, a gather is reliably formed over substantially the entire periphery of the leg opening 30HL. In this example, the hot melt adhesive is applied in a predetermined application pattern to the continuous body 35a of the thread-like elastic member in advance before the above-mentioned joining, but is not limited to this. That is, an adhesive may be applied to the non-skin side substrate sheet 30sha1 and the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet.

Further, in this example, the supply position PS1 (FIG. 8) of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is located upstream of the supply position PS2 (FIG. 9) of the continuous thread rubber 35a in the conveying direction. However, the order is not limited to this. That is, the supply position PS1 of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet may be located downstream of the supply position PS2 of the continuous thread rubber 35a in the transport direction.

Next, as shown in the central view of FIG. 9, the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 passes through the supply position PS3 of the skin-side base sheet 30sha2, which is the skin side surface of the belt member continuous body 30a. And at the time of the passage, one non-woven fabric 32 is supplied as a skin-side base sheet 30sha2 in the form of a continuous sheet 32a continuous in the transport direction toward the skin side surface of the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1. Bonded to the skin side with hot melt adhesive. Then, the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet and the continuous body 35a of the thread-like elastic member are inserted between the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 and the skin-side base sheet 30sha2 that are the two base sheets. The base sheet 30sha in a state of being produced is generated.

Then, the base sheet 30sha passes through an end folding device (not shown) disposed downstream in the transport direction from the supply position PS2. At the time of passing, the end folding device folds the end portions 30shaew1 and 30shaew1 in the CD direction of the sheet 30sha in the CD direction from the state of the central view of FIG. 9 to the state of the right view, In the folded state, it is fixed with a hot-melt adhesive or the like, and thereby the above-described end portion closing structure is given to each end portion 30shaew1, 30shaew1 corresponding to the waistline opening 1HB in the base sheet 30sha. As an example of the end folding device, a known device having a folding plate for contacting and folding each of the end portions 30shaew1 and 30shaew1 can be cited, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Next, the base sheet 30sha passes through a slitter device (not shown) disposed downstream in the transport direction from the end folding device. At the time of the passage, the base sheet 30sha is divided into two at the center position in the CD direction from the state of the left figure of FIG. 10 to the state of the center view by the slitter device. A pair of narrow base sheets 30sa and 30sa having a size of 1 is generated. An example of the slitter device is a known device having a rotary blade, but is not limited thereto.

Next, the pair of narrow base sheet 30sa and 30sa passes through a widening device (not shown) disposed downstream of the slitter device in the transport direction. At the time of the passage, the narrow base material sheets 30sa and 30sa are respectively moved to the outside in the CD direction by the widening device, and as a result, as shown in the central view, the base material sheets 30sa and 30sa are connected to each other. A space D30sa that is slightly smaller than the dimension in the CD direction of the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body is formed. Note that this is a preliminary preparation for joining the base sheet 30sa and 30sa to the end portions 10aew and 10aew in the CD direction of the continuous body 10a when the absorbent body continuous body 10a is joined thereafter. is there. Further, as an example of the widening device, a known device having a roller whose rotation direction is inclined to the outside of the CD direction with respect to the transport direction at each position on both sides of the CD direction can be mentioned. Absent.

Then, each of the narrow base sheets 30sa and 30sa having a CD direction interval D30sa between them is conveyed along the conveying direction (corresponding to “conveying”), thereby Then, it passes through a die cutter device (corresponding to a forming device, not shown) arranged downstream of the widening device in the transport direction. And the die cutter apparatus at the time of the passage, as shown in the right figure of FIG. 10, with respect to the base sheet 30sa and 30sa, the leg openings 30HL and 30HL so as to be aligned at the product pitch P1 in the conveying direction, respectively. (Corresponding to “forming”), thereby generating a pair of belt member continuums 30a, 30a.

Here, as shown in the figure on the right, the leg opening 30HL is formed so as to be accommodated in the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet. Therefore, the periphery of the leg opening 30HL can be reinforced with the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet over the entire circumference, and as a result, breakage at the leg opening 30HL can be reliably prevented.

Further, when forming the leg opening 30HL, the deformation of the base sheet 30sa is suppressed by the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet. Therefore, the leg opening 30HL can be smoothly penetrated and formed in the base material sheet 30sa.

However, when the sheet 40a having stretchability as described above is used as the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet, the seat 40a is easily deformed due to the stretchability. The sheet 40a may be deformed at the time of 30 HL penetration formation, and the cutting property of the sheet 40a itself may be deteriorated. And there is a risk of failing to form the leg opening 30HL in the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet, but this is avoided as follows. That is, the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is interposed between the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 (corresponding to the first sheet) and the skin-side base sheet 30sha2 (corresponding to the second sheet) as described above. However, the extensibility in the natural length state (no load) of the base sheet 30sha1, 30sha2 is lower than the extensibility in the natural length state (no load) of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet. Yes. Therefore, the deformation of the sheet 40a when the leg opening 30HL is formed to penetrate the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet with the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 and the skin-side base sheet 30sha2. It can regulate from both sides of the thickness direction. As a result, the leg opening 30HL can be smoothly formed through the reinforcing sheet continuous sheet 40a. By the way, the extensibility mentioned here is a property that easily stretches when a belt-like sheet having a width dimension of 25 mm is pulled uniformly with a load of 1.0 N in the longitudinal direction. Stretch rate (the value obtained by subtracting the length in the longitudinal direction before loading from the length in the longitudinal direction under load) divided by the length before loading. Can be evaluated.

Further, as shown in the right figure, in this example, several continuous bodies 35a among the continuous bodies 35a, 35a,... It has been. Moreover, the continuums 35a and 35a are disposed at respective positions on both sides in the CD direction of the portion around the leg opening 30HL in the reinforcing sheet continuous sheet 40a. Therefore, when forming through the leg opening 30HL, a tensile force along the conveying direction can act on the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet from the continuous body 35a of the above-described thread-like elastic member. It is possible to stabilize the posture of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet when forming the opening 30HL. This also contributes effectively to the smooth formation of the above-described leg opening 30HL.

By the way, as shown in the figure on the right side, when the leg opening 30HL is formed, the above-described folding line L30 of the belt member 30 is also set on the base sheet 30sa. Leg opening 30HL is formed so as to straddle line L30 in the CD direction. Therefore, the dimension S30p in the CD direction of the portion 30p arranged on the waist portion of the wearer in the belt member 30 can be set to an appropriate size that is neither too large nor too small.
Further, the time point at which the leg opening 30HL is formed is a time point before the base sheet 30sa is folded at the folding line L30. Therefore, the asymmetrical leg hole opening 30HL can be formed in the base sheet 30sa without any problem, and thereby the degree of freedom in selecting the shape of the leg hole opening 30HL can be increased.

In addition, as an example of such a die cutter apparatus, a known apparatus having a cutter roller and an anvil roller in the form of a punching blade can be exemplified, but the invention is not limited to this.

In this example, the die cutter device is disposed downstream in the transport direction of the slitter device and the widening device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the arrangement order may be reversed. That is, after forming a pair of leg openings 30HL, 30HL in the CD direction on the wide base sheet 30sha with the die cutter device, the wide base sheet 30sha is divided into two at the center position in the CD direction with the slitter device. Then, the pair of narrow base sheets 30sa and 30sa may be generated, and then the narrow base sheets 30sa and 30sa may be moved outward in the CD direction by the widening device. However, if the leg opening 30HL is formed, the conveyance of the base sheet 30sa may become unstable, and this unstable phenomenon is particularly noticeable when the base sheets 30sa and 30sa are moved in the CD direction. Can happen. For this reason, the former is preferably arranged in the order.

Furthermore, in some cases, there is no need for a slitter device. For example, two base sheet rolls obtained by winding a non-skin-side base sheet and a skin-side base sheet that have been adjusted in advance to a size corresponding to the narrow base sheet 30sa in the CD direction ( If not prepared), each of the base sheet rolls is rotatably supported by each reel device (not shown) provided in the second step, and the narrow non-skin is formed from each base sheet roll. By feeding out the side base sheet and the narrow skin side base sheet in the transport direction, the process of dividing the wide base sheet 30sha described above into two parts can be omitted.

<< 3rd process: Joining process of continuous body 10a of absorptive main body and continuous body 30a, 30a of a pair of belt members >>
This step is directly connected to the downstream side in the transport direction of the “second step of producing the continuous body 30a, 30a of the pair of belt members”. That is, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 11, the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body joins the transport path of the continuous body 30a, 30a of the pair of belt members at a predetermined position in the transport direction. Then, during this merging, the CD direction of the continuous bodies 30a and 30a of the belt members is aligned with the end portions 13aew and 13aew in the CD direction of the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet forming the skin side surface of the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body. The inner end portions 30aew2 and 30aew2 are joined and integrated with a hot melt adhesive or the like.

By the way, at this time, the continuous sheet 13a, 15a of the top sheet and the back sheet is continuously aligned with the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet while adjusting the position so as not to cover the leg opening 30HL of the continuous body 30a of the belt member. The bodies 30a and 30a are joined together, so that the leg-hole openings 30HL and 30HL are maintained in the open state.

<< Fourth Step: Folding Step at the Folding Lines L30 and L30 of the Continuums 30a and 30a of a Pair of Belt Members >>
As shown in the left and right views of FIG. 11, in this step, the continuums 30a and 30a are respectively CD-bonded by the aforementioned folding lines L30 and L30 respectively defined in the continuums 30a and 30a of the pair of belt members. The belt member continuums 30a and 30a located on the one side and the other side in the CD direction are folded inward in the CD direction, respectively, and the CD side one side portion of the skin side surface of the absorbent body continuum 10a and Superimpose on the other side.

Such folding processing is performed by a well-known folding device (not shown). That is, when the continuous member 30a, 30a of the pair of belt members joined to the continuous member 10a of the absorbent main body passes through the position of the folding plate member of the folding device arranged at a predetermined position in the transport direction, The folding plate member is applied to each of the folding lines L30, L30 of the pair of belt member continuous bodies 30a, 30a or in the vicinity thereof, so that the pair of belt member continuous bodies 30a, 30a are formed by the folding lines L30, L30. Wrap.

Here, in this example, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 11, the rigidity of the narrow base sheet 30sa constituting the continuous member 30a of the belt member is enhanced by the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet. At the same time, when the base sheet 30sa is folded along the folding line L30, the reinforcing sheet continuous sheet 40a is also folded together. Therefore, based on the fact that the rigidity is improved, the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet can effectively suppress unnecessary deformation of the sheet 30sa that may occur when the base sheet 30sa is folded. The continuous member 30a of the belt member can be stably folded at the folding line L30.

Further, in this example, the continuous member 30a, 30a of the belt member is folded back in a state where the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous member 30a, 30a of the belt member are joined and integrated. Therefore, at the time of the folding, the belt member continuous body 30a can be folded back while effectively restricting unnecessary deformation of the belt member continuous body 30a by the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet. This effectively contributes to the smooth folding at the folding line L30.

Furthermore, as shown in the schematic plan view of FIG. 13, at the time immediately before the fourth step, the narrow base sheet 30sa has a belt-like region A30 (refer to the hatched portion) along the transport direction. The belt-like region A30 is provided with the leg-hole opening 30HL, while the belt-like region A30 is provided with a continuous body 35a of a thread-like elastic member and a thread-like elastic member 35. Absent. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the situation where it is difficult to turn back at the turn-back line L30 located at the leg opening 30HL due to the influence of the continuous body 35a of the thread-like elastic member and the thread-like elastic member 35. This effectively contributes to smooth folding at the folding line L30.

Further, from the viewpoint of performing the return more smoothly, desirably, as shown in the schematic enlarged view of FIG. 14, the length in the conveyance direction of the leg opening 30HL is maximized from the CD direction position Pmax to the CD direction. It is preferable that the fold line L30 is set at a position deviated. Then, as described above, when the folding plate member 30 is applied to the folding line L30 and its vicinity to fold the belt member continuum 30a as described above, the above-mentioned base constituting the belt member continuum 30a is formed. A large portion of the material sheet 30sa to which the plate member for folding is applied can be secured, and as a result, it can be smoothly folded at the folding line L30.

Here, at the time of the above folding, the folding plate member is brought into contact with the inner portion in the CD direction with respect to the folding line L30 in the belt member continuous body 30a before the folding. There are many cases. Therefore, from the viewpoint of ensuring a large area of the portion applied to the folding plate member on the belt member continuous body 30a, preferably, in the leg opening 30HL in a state before folding as shown in FIG. The area of the opening portion 30HL1 located on the inner side in the CD direction than the fold line L30 is preferably smaller than the area of the opening portion 30HL2 located on the outer side in the CD direction than the line L30. Incidentally, for comparison of the area size of the leg opening 30HL and determination of whether or not the position Pmax described above is shifted from the folding line L30, for example, the leg opening in the unfolded state of FIG. 6A. The diaper 1 can be extended in the longitudinal direction (conveyance direction) and the width direction (CD direction) until 30 HL gathers disappear, and this can be done by visual inspection.

<< 5th process: Fixing process which fixes continuum 30a, 30a of a pair of belt members in a folded state >>
As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12, in this step, the continuous bodies 30a, 30a of the pair of belt members are fixed in the folded state described above. In other words, the continuous bodies 30a, 30a of the belt members are fixed to the one side portion and the other side portion in the CD direction on the skin side surface of the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body, respectively.

As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12, such fixing is performed by the absorbent body continuous body 10a and the pair of belt members at positions corresponding to the abdomen end 10eLa and the back end 10eLb of the absorbent body 10. This is done by joining the continuous bodies 30a and 30a. And this joining process can be performed with the well-known heat seal apparatus (not shown) which has the embossing roller and the anvil roller. That is, when the absorbent body continuum 10a in which the continuums 30a and 30a of the pair of belt members are overlapped passes through the position of the heat seal device in the transport direction, the protrusions on the outer peripheral surface of the embossing roller and Due to the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roller, the absorbent body continuous body 10a and the pair of belt member continuous bodies 30a, 30a are located at positions corresponding to the abdominal end 10eLa and the back end 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10. They are clamped together in the thickness direction and joined by a kind of pressure welding. Then, as the joined traces, substantially V-shaped welded portions ja and jb (corresponding to the crimping portions) are respectively provided at positions corresponding to the abdominal end portion 10eLa and the dorsal end portion 10eLb of the absorbent main body 10. (Corresponding to “forming the crimping part”).

However, in detail, in the state shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12, that is, in the state where the belt member continuum 30a is superimposed on the absorbent body continuum 10a, the belt member continuum 30a absorbs. It protrudes outward in the CD direction from the continuous body 10a of the sex main body. That is, the inner portion 30a1 in the CD direction of the continuous body 30a of the belt member is superimposed on the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body, but the outer portion 30a2 is more CD than the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body. It protrudes outward in the direction and is not superimposed on the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body. Therefore, the welded portions ja and jb are basically formed in the inner portion 30a1 of the belt member continuous body 30a.

However, in this example, although not shown, the convex portion on the outer peripheral surface of the embossing roller of the heat seal device extends to a position outside the CD direction with respect to the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body, and further a belt member. The continuum 30a extends to a position outside the CD direction. Therefore, the outer portion 30a2 of the belt member continuous body 30a is also sandwiched in the thickness direction by the convex portion of the embossing roller, thereby forming the welded portions ja and jb also in the portion 30a2.
At this time, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12, the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is located in the outer portion 30a2 (corresponding to the protruding portion). Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of the member to be welded by the amount of the sheet 40a, and thereby it is possible to suppress a decrease in strength of the welded portions ja and jb, which is a cause of insufficient member amount in the outer portion 30a2. And as a result, the fracture | rupture in the vicinity parts jap and jbp of the leg periphery opening part 30HL of the said welding parts ja and jb can be prevented effectively.

By the way, from the viewpoint of preventing breakage, the number of stacked sheets in the welded portions ja and jb and the vicinity thereof does not change rapidly at a predetermined position in the CD direction, but depends on the position in the CD direction. It is desirable to change gradually. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of this desirable example. First, in this example, when the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet is overlapped and fixed on the non-skin-side base sheet 30sha1 in the second step, as shown in the left part of FIG. Among the continuous sheets 40a of the reinforcing sheet, the reinforcing sheet is such that the dimension L1 of the portion located on one side in the CD direction from the position that becomes the fold line L30 is different from the dimension L2 of the portion located on the other side. The continuous sheet 40a is overlaid and fixed on the non-skin side substrate sheet 30sha1. In other words, the end portions 40aew1 and 40aew2 in the CD direction of the sheet 40a are different from each other in the distances L1 and L2 from the fold line L30.
Therefore, as shown in the right part of FIG. 15, when the base sheet 30sa is folded at the fold line L30 in the above-described fourth step, the end portions 40aew1 and 40aew2 of the continuous sheet 40a of the reinforcing sheet are connected to each other. Are displaced from each other in the CD direction without overlapping in the thickness direction. Then, based on this misalignment, the number of stacked sheets at the welded portions ja and jb and the vicinity thereof can be changed stepwise according to the position in the CD direction, and as a result, the number of stacked layers becomes excessive. Problems such as breakage of the belt member 30 that can occur when the welded portions ja and jb are formed in the changed portions can be effectively prevented.

By the way, in this example, as shown in FIG. 16, the length L30HL of the leg opening 30HL is longer than the part where the leg opening 30HL is not formed when compared with the length in the transport direction. It is larger than L30HLN. Therefore, the belt member continuous body 30a is easily maintained in a state of being folded at the folding line L30 through a decrease in bending rigidity at the folding line L30. And as a result, the fixing process by the above-mentioned heat seal device can be performed stably.

<< Sixth Process: Cutting Process at Product Pitch P1 >>
As shown in the left and right views of FIG. 12, in this process, the absorbent body continuum 10a in which the continuums 30a and 30a of the pair of belt members are joined by the above-described substantially V-shaped welded portions ja and jb. The continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body and the continuous body 30a, 30a of the pair of belt members are divided by the product pitch P1 of the diaper 1 and the welded portions ja, jb having a substantially V shape are conveyed. The substantially triangular end materials T, T... And thereby, the plate-like diaper 1 of FIG. 3 is manufactured. In addition, although this division | segmentation and excision process can be performed with the known cutter apparatus (not shown) which has the cutter roll and the anvil roll, it is not restricted to this at all.

=== Second Embodiment ===
FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view showing the procedure of the manufacturing method of the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 11, a pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a are respectively connected to respective end portions 10aew and 10aew in the CD direction of the absorbent body continuum 10a. After joining, the belt member continuums 30a and 30a are folded back along the folding line L30. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the belt member continuums 30a and 30a are folded back. After turning back at the line L30, each belt member continuum 30a, 30a is joined to each end portion 10aew in the CD direction of the absorbent body continuum 10a by a hot melt adhesive or the like. And this point is mainly different from the first embodiment described above, and the other points are almost the same. Therefore, below, this difference is mainly demonstrated and the description of the same content is abbreviate | omitted.

First, also in the manufacturing method of the second embodiment, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 17, the same process as the “process of generating a pair of belt member continuums 30 a and 30 a” as the second process of the first embodiment is performed. A continuous body 30a, 30a of a pair of belt members is generated. At this time, the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a have a gap D30sa slightly smaller than the dimension in the CD direction of the absorbent body continuum 10a between the continuums 30a and 30a. Is transported in the transport direction.

Next, while the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a are conveyed in the conveying direction in this state, the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a are respectively folded back as shown in FIG. Fold it inward in the CD direction at L30. As a result, the continuums 30a and 30a of the belt members located on one side and the other side in the CD direction are respectively the one side part and the other side part in the CD direction on the skin side surface of the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body. It will be in the state which can oppose.

If it does so, the continuous body 10a of an absorptive main body will join the conveyance path | route of the continuous body 30a of the said pair of belt member 30a, 30a from the position of the conveyance direction rather than it like the right figure of FIG. . In addition, about the production | generation of this continuous body 10a of an absorptive main body, it is made | formed through the same process as the 1st process of 1st Embodiment.
And at the time of this joining, the continuous body 30a of each belt member located in the one side part and other side part of CD direction in the skin side surface of the continuous body 10a of an absorptive main body, respectively on the one side and the other side of CD direction, 30a is overlapped, and each end part 10aew, 10aew in the CD direction on the skin side surface of the continuous body 10a of the absorbent main body, and a part facing each of the end parts 10aew, 10aew in the continuous body 30a, 30a of each belt member Are joined by a hot melt adhesive or the like, whereby the pair of belt member continuous bodies 30a, 30a and the absorbent main body continuous body 10a are in a state immediately after the fourth step in the first embodiment. Become.
Therefore, after this, similarly to the case of the first embodiment described above, the diaper 1 in the extended plate state of FIG. 3 is manufactured through the fifth step and the sixth step of FIG.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. Further, the present invention can be changed or improved without departing from the gist thereof, and needless to say, the present invention includes equivalents thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

In the first embodiment described above, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 18A, in the “joining step of the absorbent body continuum 10a and the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a” as the third step, the belt The member continuous bodies 30a and 30a are mainly joined to the respective end portions 13aew and 13aew in the CD direction of the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet, but the invention is not limited to this. That is, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 18B, the belt member continuous bodies 30a and 30a may be joined mainly to the respective end portions 15aew and 15aew in the CD direction of the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet. In this case, in the “joining step of the absorbent body continuum 10a and the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a” as the third step, the planar size of the backsheet continuous sheet 15a is as follows. As shown in FIG. 18B, the flat sheet has a size that protrudes to both sides in the CD direction from the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet, and also protrudes to both sides in the CD direction among the continuous sheets 15a of the back sheet. The continuous members 30a and 30a of the belt members are joined to the portions 15aew and 15aew, respectively. This also applies to the above-described second embodiment, and the contents thereof can be easily conceived based on the above-described description contents, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Incidentally, when the belt member continuous body 30a is bonded to both the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet, the meaning of the “mainly bonded sheet” is “the belt member It means “a sheet having a larger bonding area to the continuous body 30a”. For example, in the example of FIG. 18A which is the former, since the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet is larger than the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet when the above-mentioned joining areas are compared, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet is mainly used. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 18B, which is the latter, the backsheet continuous sheet 15a is larger than the topsheet continuous sheet 13a when the above-mentioned joining areas are compared. It is said that it is joined to the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet.

In the first embodiment described above, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 18A, after generating the pair of belt member continuums 30a and 30a and the absorbent main body continuum 10a, respectively, Although the continuous bodies 30a and 30a and the continuous body 10a of the absorptive main body were joined, it is not restricted to this at all. For example, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional views of FIGS. 19A and 19B, before the generation of the absorbent body continuous body 10a, a pair of the top sheet continuous sheet 13a or the back sheet continuous sheet 15a constituting the continuous body 10a is paired. The belt member continuums 30a and 30a may be joined. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19A, after joining the continuous members 30 a and 30 a of the belt members to the end portions 13 aew and 13 aew in the CD direction on the non-skin side surface of the continuous sheet 13 a of the top sheet, the absorber 11 The continuous sheet 15a of the joined back sheet may be overlapped and joined to the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet and the continuous body 30a, 30a of the belt member from the non-skin side, respectively, or FIG. 19B. As shown in FIG. 4, the belt member continuous bodies 30a and 30a are joined to the end portions 15aew and 15aew in the CD direction on the skin side surface of the continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet in which the absorber 11 is placed and fixed on the skin side surface. After that, the continuous sheet 13a of the top sheet is a continuous sheet 15a of the back sheet, the absorbent body 11, and the belt member. 30a, it may be joined by superposed from the skin side respectively and 30a. And when it does in this way, the diaper 1 of the structure of the schematic sectional drawing of FIG. 19C can be manufactured. That is, the diaper 1 having a structure in which the end portions 30ew2 and 30ew2 in the width direction of the belt member 30 are interposed between the top sheet 13 and the back sheet 15 of the absorbent main body 10 can be manufactured.

In the above-described embodiment, the shape of the leg opening 30HL is asymmetric with respect to the straight line along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. However, the shape is not limited to this and may be symmetrical. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the leg opening 30HL is formed by being punched with a punching blade or the like of a die cutter device. In other words, the leg opening 30HL is formed while generating the same shape as the leg opening 30HL, but the invention is not limited thereto. That is, depending on the case, the leg opening 30HL may be formed in the form of a slit SL, that is, in the form of a cutting line SL such as a straight line, a curved line, a zigzag line, and a wavy line. Debris is not generated when the opening 30HL is formed. FIG. 20A to FIG. 21B show the leg opening 30HL in the above-described four slit SL modes. 20A to 21B, the diaper 1 is shown in the same unfolded state as in FIG. 6A described above. First, in the example of FIG. 20A, the slit SL is formed in the form of an oblique linear cutting line SL inclined at a predetermined angle other than 0 ° from the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. In the example of FIG. 20B, the slit SL is formed in the form of an arcuate cutting line SL along the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 21A, the slit SL is formed in the form of a zigzag-shaped cutting line SL along the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 21B, the slit SL is formed in the form of a wavy cutting line SL along the longitudinal direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the belt member 30 is formed by overlapping the nonwoven fabrics 31 and 32, whereby the base sheet 30 sha (30 sa) related to the belt member continuous body 30 a is a non-skin that forms a non-skin side surface. Although it had the side base material sheet 30sha1 and the skin side base material sheet 30sha2 which makes a skin side surface, it is not restricted to this at all. That is, only one of the non-skin-side base material sheet 30sha1 and the skin-side base material sheet 30sha2 may be used, or in addition to the non-skin-side base material sheet 30sha1 and the skin-side base material sheet 30sha2. One or a plurality of substrate sheets may be laminated. Further, the base sheet 30sha (30sa) may be formed using a woven fabric or a film instead of the above-described nonwoven fabric.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the leg opening 30HL is formed in the belt member 30 so as to straddle the folding line L30 in the width direction (CD direction), but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 22A, a leg opening 30HL may be formed in the belt member 30 between the fold line L30 and the absorbent main body 10, or as shown in FIG. The leg opening 30HL may be formed in a portion of the member 30 between the fold line L30 and the end 30ew1 that becomes the waist opening 1HB.
However, from the viewpoint of making it possible to set the dimension S30p (see FIG. 2) in the CD direction of the portion 30p disposed on the waist portion of the wearer in the belt member 30 to an appropriate size that is not too large and not too small. As shown in FIG. 6A, it is desirable to form the leg opening 30HL so as to straddle the folding line L30 in the width direction (CD direction). Incidentally, it goes without saying that the reinforcing sheet 40 is also arranged so as to overlap with the formation target portion of the leg opening 30HL in the example of FIGS. 22A and 22B.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disposable diaper (absorbent article), 1HB waistline opening part, 10 absorbent main body, 10ew end part, 10eLa end part, 10eLb end part, 10a continuous body of absorbent main body, 10aew end part, 11 absorbent body, 11c absorbent Core, 13 topsheet, 13ew end,
13a top sheet continuous sheet, 13aew end part, 15 back sheet, 15ew end part, 15a back sheet continuous sheet, 15aew end part, 15f leakage prevention sheet, 15n exterior sheet, 15na exterior sheet continuous sheet, 30 belt member, 30ew1 end part, 30ew2 end part, 30p part, 30eLa end part, 30eLb end part, 30a belt member continuum, 30aew2 end part, 30a1 inner part, 30a2 outer part, 30sa base sheet, 30sha base sheet, 30shaew1 end, 30sha1 non-skin side base sheet, 30sha2 skin side base sheet, 31 non-woven fabric, 31a non-woven continuous sheet, 32 non-woven fabric, 32a non-woven continuous sheet, 30HL leg opening, 30HL1 opening, 30HL2 opening , 35 Filiform elasticity Material, 35a continuum of thread-like elastic member, 40 reinforcing sheet, 40a continuous sheet of reinforcing sheet, 40 aew1 end, 40 aew 2 end, L30 folding line, T end material, SL slit (leg opening), ja weld ( Crimped part), jap part, jb welded part (crimped part), jbp part, A30 belt-like region, CLL10 approximately center position, CLL30 approximately center position, CLW10 center position, PS1 supply position, PS2 supply position, PS3 supply position, Pmax position ,

Claims (9)

1. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article,
   In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
   Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
   A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction And transport as
   A plurality of leg opening portions penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. A method for producing an absorbent article.
2. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 1,
   In the forming, the leg opening is formed so as to fit in the reinforcing sheet.
3. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 1 or 2,
   The reinforcing sheet is a sheet having elasticity in the longitudinal direction,
   The method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the reinforcing sheet is fixed to the base sheet in a state of extending in the longitudinal direction.
4. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 3,
   The base sheet has a first sheet and a second sheet that overlap each other,
   The first sheet and the second sheet are sheets that are less extensible in the longitudinal direction than the reinforcing sheet,
   The method of manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the reinforcing sheet is interposed between the first sheet and the second sheet.
5. It is a manufacturing method of an absorptive article in any one of Claims 1 thru / or 4,
   In the forming, the reinforcing sheet has an absorptive property in which a continuous body of thread-like elastic members along the longitudinal direction is overlapped and fixed in an extended state in the longitudinal direction. Article manufacturing method.
6. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 5,
   The continuous body of the thread-like elastic member that is overlapped and fixed on the reinforcing sheet is disposed at each position on both sides in the width direction of the portion around the leg opening that is formed in the reinforcing sheet. A method for producing an absorbent article.
7. A method for producing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   In order to fix the absorbent body continuum in which the plurality of absorbent bodies are continuous in the longitudinal direction and the base sheet in an overlapped state, the absorbent body continuum and the base sheet Forming a pressure-bonding part by sandwiching
   In the overlapped state, the base sheet has a portion protruding outward in the width direction from the continuous body of the absorbent main body, and the reinforcing sheet is positioned in the protruding portion. And
   In forming the pressure-bonding portion, the pressure-bonding portion is formed by sandwiching the protruding portion of the base material sheet and the reinforcing sheet.
8. It is a manufacturing method of the absorptive article according to claim 7,
   Between the conveying and forming the pressure-bonding part, the base sheet is folded in the width direction at a folding line set in the base sheet,
   In forming the pressure-bonding part, the base material sheet folded at the fold line is formed on the continuous body of the absorbent main body to form the pressure-bonding part,
   In the carrying, the reinforcing sheet is sized so that the size of the portion of the reinforcing sheet located on one side in the width direction with respect to the folding line is different from the size of the portion located on the other side. A method for producing an absorbent article, characterized in that the absorbent article is fixed by being superposed on the base sheet.
9. An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus comprising:
   In a state before completion, the absorbent article is a pair of an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid and a side-by-side arrangement in the width direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body while being superimposed on the absorbent main body. A belt member,
   Each of the pair of belt members has a leg opening.
   A base sheet continuous in the longitudinal direction for forming the belt member, the base sheet having a reinforcing sheet superposed and fixed on a part of the width direction, and the transport direction in the longitudinal direction A transport device for transporting as
   A forming apparatus that forms a plurality of leg-hole openings penetrating the reinforcing sheet and the base sheet in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base sheet to which the reinforcing sheet is fixed. A manufacturing apparatus for absorbent articles.

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