WO2017073185A1

WO2017073185A1 - Method for manufacturing package

Info

Publication number: WO2017073185A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/076773
Authority: WO
Inventors: 淳志佃
Original assignee: ユニ・チャーム株式会社
Priority date: 2015-10-30
Filing date: 2016-09-12
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: CN108349601B; JP2017081627A; JP6305386B2; CN108349601A

Abstract

A method for sequentially manufacturing a package, comprising: a detection step for detecting the length of a predetermined number of absorbent articles in a first direction; a wrapping step for winding a packaging sheet in a cylindrical shape around the predetermined number of absorbent articles so that an open end is positioned on the end face of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction with the predetermined number of absorbent articles compressed in at least a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a folding step for folding the open end of the packaging sheet so as to following the end face of the predetermined number of absorbent articles; a sealing step for heat-sealing the open end of the packaging sheet by pressing heating means against the open end of the packaging sheet folded in the folding step; and a position control step for varying the position of the heating means in the first direction in accordance with the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected in the detection step when absorbent articles are not present in the sealing step.

Description

Method for manufacturing a package

The present invention relates to a method for sequentially manufacturing a package in which an absorbent article having a thermoplastic material is packaged.

Patent Document 1 discloses that a plurality of absorbent articles individually packaged by a packaging material are accommodated together in a storage bag. Examples of absorbent articles include sanitary napkins and panty liners. The packaging material which wraps an absorbent article individually is comprised, for example from films, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester. Patent Document 1 does not disclose a method of packaging a plurality of absorbent articles in a storage bag.

Patent Document 2 discloses a manufacturing method of sealed packaging surrounding a group of cigarettes. According to the manufacturing method described in Patent Document 2, a sheet of packaging material is first bent into a U shape so as to surround a group of cigarettes. Next, the U-shaped ends of the packaging material are overlapped with each other, and the ends overlapped with each other are heat-sealed. Thereby, the packaging material has a tubular shape surrounding the group of cigarettes. At this point, both ends of the tubular packaging material are open. The sealed packaging is then completed by heat sealing the open ends of the tubular packaging material.

International Publication No. 2014/157325 JP 2006-206192 A

When packaging individually packaged absorbent articles, it is conceivable that the packaging outer body is shaped along the shape of the container and only the portion of the packaging outer body does not protrude from the container. . By packaging in this way, it is possible to suppress the size of the product including the packaging exterior body and the stored items. In this case, a sealed package is made by heat-sealing while pressing the outer package and the container in a state where the package is wrapped in the packaging outer package.

The inventor of the present application has found that the following problems arise when an absorbent article is packaged by such a packaging method.

The absorbent article has a structure in which a plurality of relatively soft nonwoven fabrics and absorbent bodies are laminated to each other. Therefore, when compared with a relatively hard article such as a cigarette, the size of the absorbent article may vary greatly from a design value designed in advance. For example, even in the case of a plurality of absorbent articles manufactured based on the same design, the dimensions may vary greatly from one absorbent article to another.

When making a sealed package, such an absorbent article is wrapped with a packaging outer package, and heat sealed while pressing the outer package and the absorbent article. Here, when the dimension of the absorbent article is larger than the design value, the pressing force applied to the absorbent article when heat-sealing becomes larger than the value designed in advance. Thereby, more heat than necessary is supplied to the exterior body and the absorbent article. Since the packaging material for individually packaging the absorbent article generally has thermoplasticity, it may be thermally welded to the packaging exterior body due to excessive heat.

When the size of the absorbent article becomes smaller than the design value, the pressing force applied to the absorbent article when heat-sealing becomes smaller than a predesigned value. Thereby, there exists a possibility that an exterior body cannot fully be heat-sealed.

Therefore, there is a demand for an improved method for hermetically packaging absorbent articles that are susceptible to variations in external dimensions and that are weak against heat.

The method according to one aspect relates to a method of sequentially manufacturing a package in which a predetermined number of absorbent articles having a thermoplastic material are packaged. The method includes a detection step of detecting a length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in a first direction, and a state in which the entire predetermined number of the absorbent articles are compressed in at least a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A wrapping step of winding a packaging sheet around the predetermined number of absorbent articles such that an open end is positioned on an end surface of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction; A folding step of folding the open end along the end faces of the predetermined number of absorbent articles, and pressing the heating means against the open end of the packaging sheet folded in the folding step. According to the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected in the detection step when a sealing step for heat-sealing the open end and no absorbent article exists in the sealing step, The heating in the first direction; Comprising a position control step of changing the position of the stage, the.

The apparatus which concerns on 1 aspect is related with the apparatus which manufactures the package body in which the predetermined number of absorbent articles which have a thermoplastic material were packaged sequentially. This apparatus is a state in which a detection unit that detects the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction and the whole predetermined number of the absorbent articles are compressed in at least a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. And a wrap unit that wraps a packaging sheet around the predetermined number of absorbent articles so that an open end is positioned on an end surface of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction, A folding unit that folds the open end along the end surface of the predetermined number of absorbent articles, and a heating means is pressed against the open end of the packaging sheet that is folded by the folding unit. According to the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected by the detection unit when the sealing unit that heat seals the open end and the absorbent article does not exist in the sealing unit, Comprising a position control unit for changing the position of said heating means in serial first direction.

Drawing 1 is a mimetic diagram showing an absorptive article concerning one embodiment folded in the 1st longitudinal fold line along a longitudinal direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an absorbent article folded along a first longitudinal fold line and a second longitudinal fold line along the longitudinal direction. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the folded absorbent article. Drawing 4 is a mimetic diagram showing the outline of the method of manufacturing the package concerning one embodiment one by one. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the detection process. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a unit that performs the first sealing step and the first sealing step. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state of heat sealing in the first sealing step. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the folding unit. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing the folding step. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the second sealing step.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like may differ from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, the part from which the relationship and ratio of a mutual dimension differ also in between drawings may be contained.

(1) Overall Configuration of Absorbent Article An absorbent article according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 to 3 show an absorbent article 1 and a method for folding the absorbent article 1. In this embodiment, the absorbent article 1 is a sanitary napkin. Alternatively, the absorbent article may be any absorbent article such as an absorbent pad or a disposable diaper.

Even if the absorbent article 1 has a liquid-permeable surface sheet that transmits liquid, a liquid-impermeable back sheet that does not transmit liquid, and an absorbent body between the surface sheet and the back sheet. Good. A packaging material 2 for individually packaging the absorbent article 1 is provided on the back side of the back sheet of the absorbent article. Examples of the material of the packaging material 2 include thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester. The absorbent article 1 and the packaging material 2 are folded, whereby the absorbent article 1 is individually packaged by the packaging material 2.

Specifically, first, the absorbent article 1 and the packaging material 2 are folded back inward from a first longitudinal fold line FL1 (see FIG. 1) along the longitudinal direction L. Next, the absorbent article 1 and the packaging material 2 are folded back inward from a second longitudinal fold line FL2 (see FIG. 2) along the longitudinal direction L. Then, the absorbent article 1 and the packaging material 2 are folded back inward from the first width fold line FW1 and the second width fold line FW2 along the width direction W. In a state where the absorbent article 1 is folded, the end of the packaging sheet 2 is stuck to another part of the packaging sheet 2 by the adhesive tape 4 (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the absorbent article 1 is covered with the packaging material 2.

Hereinafter, the term “absorbent article” also means the absorbent article 1 covered with the packaging material 2.

(2) Method for Manufacturing Package Body Next, a method for sequentially manufacturing a package body in which a predetermined number of absorbent articles are packaged will be described with reference to FIGS. Drawing 4 is a mimetic diagram showing the outline of the method of manufacturing the package concerning one embodiment one by one. A method for sequentially manufacturing a package according to an embodiment includes a detection step S1, a lapping step S2, a first sealing step S3, a folding step S4, and a second sealing step S5.

In this method, first, a plurality of absorbent articles are prepared. As described above, the absorbent article may be individually packaged with a packaging material containing a thermoplastic material. A predetermined number of the individually packaged absorbent articles 1 are stacked on each other. Hereinafter, the predetermined number of absorbent articles stacked on each other is referred to as “packaged body 10”.

In the packaging body manufacturing apparatus, a plurality of packages 10 are sequentially transported on the manufacturing line. Thereby, many to-be-packaged bodies 10 are packaged by the packaging sheet 12 sequentially.

Detecting step S1 for detecting the length of the package body 10 in a predetermined direction (first direction) is performed (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The detection step S <b> 1 is performed while the package body 10 is transported on the transport belt 100. In detection process S1, it is preferable that the length W1 of the to-be-packaged body 10 in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction P is detected. The detection of the length W1 of the package body 10 is measured by the detection unit 104. The detection unit 104 can be constituted by a camera, for example.

The detection of the length W1 is preferably performed for all the packages 10 that pass through the position of the camera 104 on the conveyor belt 100. The measured value of the length W1 of the package body 10 is stored in a memory of a control unit provided in the manufacturing apparatus. The control unit may calculate an average value of the length W1 of the package 10.

Next, a wrapping step S2 is performed in which the packaging sheet 12 is wound around the package 10 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The lapping step S2 is performed by the lapping unit in a state where the package body 10 is compressed in at least a second direction (M1 direction in FIG. 6) orthogonal to the first direction. The lap unit includes at least a compression unit 110, a conveyor belt 112, and a pusher 114. The package body 10 is conveyed by the pusher 114 into the holding means 122 while being compressed by the conveying belt 112 and the compression means 110.

The compression means 110 is configured to be able to reciprocate in a direction approaching the transport belt 112 and in a direction away from the transport belt 112 (see arrow M1 in FIG. 6). The compression unit 110 compresses the package body 10 toward the conveyance belt 112 while the package body 10 is put into the holding unit 122. The package body 10 is accommodated in the holding means 122 in a compressed state. Since the lapping step S2 is performed in a state where the package body 10 is compressed, the rigidity of the entire package body 10 (a predetermined number of absorbent articles) can be relatively increased. Thereby, the steps S3 to S5 after the lapping step S2 can be performed with relatively high accuracy.

The packaging sheet 12 is waiting near the entrance of the holding means 122. As a result, the package 10 is housed in the holding means 122 and is wound around the packaging sheet 12. Here, the packaging sheet 12 is wound around the packaging body 10 in a cylindrical shape so that the open end of the packaging sheet 12 is positioned on the end surface of the packaging body 10 in the first direction. That is, the packaging sheet 12 surrounds the packaged body 10 in a cylindrical shape, and the end of the packaging sheet 12 in the first direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 6) protrudes from the packaged body 10.

The compression means 110 may have a moving belt that moves with the conveyor belt 112. Thereby, the to-be-packaged body 10 can be easily moved toward the holding means 122 with the to-be-packaged body 10 compressed.

The holding means 122 has a housing portion 113 that receives the package 10. The thickness of the accommodating portion 113 is preferably 90% or less of the thickness of the packaged body 10 in the natural state. Thereby, the to-be-packaged body 10 is hold | maintained at the holding means 122 in the compressed state.

The holding means 122 is configured to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 126. Thereby, the to-be-packaged body 10 is sent to 1st sealing process S3.

In the first sealing step S3, the overlapping end sides 12c of the packaging sheet 12 wound in a cylindrical shape are heat-sealed in a state where the package body 10 is at least compressed (see particularly FIG. 7). Thereby, the to-be-packaged body 10 wound with the packaging sheet 12 can be maintained in the compressed state. Therefore, since the rigidity of the to-be-packaged body 10 and the packaging sheet 12 whole can be improved, process S4, S5 after 1st sealing process S3 can be performed more accurately.

The heat sealing is preferably performed in a plurality of times using the sealing means 128. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the overlapping edges 12 c of the packaging sheet 12 are heat sealed three times by the three sealing means 128. The front end portion of each sealing means 128 is movable toward the holding means 122. Thereby, the sealing means 128 is comprised so that the to-be-packaged body 10 in the holding means 122 can be pressed. The sealing means 128 presses the overlapping end sides 12c of the packaging sheet 12 while heating them.

After the first sealing step S3, the package 10 is pushed out of the holding means 122 by the pusher 124. The extruded package 10 is sent to the folding step S4 (S41 to S44). Before the folding step S4, the packaging sheet 12 has a cylindrical shape surrounding the package body 10 (see also step S3 in FIG. 4).

In the folding step S4, the open end of the packaging sheet 12 is folded along the predetermined number of end surfaces of the package 10. First, the side surface part of the open end which protruded from the to-be-packaged body 10 of the packaging sheet 12 is folded along the end surface of the to-be-packaged body 10 (refer step S41 and S42). Thereby, the open end of the packaging sheet 12 is in a state in which the upper flap portion 12 a and the lower flap portion 12 b protrude from the package body 10.

Next, the upper flap folding step S43 for folding the upper flap portion 12a along the end surface of the package body 10 and the lower flap portion 12b along the end surface of the package body 10 while transporting the package body 10. The lower flap folding step S44 is performed (see FIGS. 4, 8, and 9).

FIG. 8 shows a folding unit for folding the upper flap portion 12a and the lower flap portion 12b at the open end of the packaging sheet 12. FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing folding steps S43 and S44 using a folding unit.

The folding unit may be composed of a folding plate 140. The folding plate 140 includes a first plate part 141, a second plate part 142, and a third plate part 143. The first plate portion 141, the second plate portion 142, and the third plate portion 143 are provided on both sides of the package body 10 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction P of the package body 10.

The first plate part 141, the second plate part 142, and the third plate part 143 are each composed of a substantially trapezoidal plate. A slight gap is provided between the first plate portion 141 and the second plate portion 142 (see FIG. 8). Further, a slight gap is provided between the second plate portion 142 and the third plate 143 (see FIG. 8).

When the package 10 passes between the pair of first plate portions 141, the upper flap portion 12a and the lower flap portion 12b of the packaging sheet 12 pass through the upper and lower sides of the first plate portion 141, respectively. When the upper flap portion 12a reaches the second plate portion 142, the upper flap portion 12a is bent downward while passing through the gap between the first plate portion 141 and the second plate portion 142. Thereby, the upper side flap part 12a is bend | folded along the end surface of the to-be-packaged body 10. FIG.

Further, when the lower flap portion 12b reaches the third plate portion 143, the lower flap portion 12b is bent upward while passing through the gap between the second plate portion 142 and the third plate portion 143. . Thereby, the lower flap part 12b is bent along the end surface of the package 10.

The folding plate 140 may be configured to be movable along the direction M3 so that the interval W2 in the direction M3 orthogonal to the transport direction P can be changed. The manufacturing method according to the present embodiment preferably includes a step of changing the position of the folding plate 140 in the first direction according to the length W1 of the package 10 detected in the detection step S1. The position of the folding plate 140 is preferably changed when switching from a standby state where no absorbent article exists in the folding step S4 to a state where the absorbent article reaches the folding step S4. Such position control of the folding plate 140 is preferably automatically performed by an apparatus that sequentially manufactures the package. By changing the position of the folding plate 140 according to the length W1 of the package body 10, even if there is a variation in the length W1 of the package body 10 (absorbent article), the length W1 of the package body is changed. Accordingly, the position of the folding plate 140 can be changed. Thereby, according to the to-be-packaged body 10, the packaging sheet 12 can be folded accurately.

After the folding step S4, the second sealing step S5 is performed by the sealing unit. The sealing unit has heating means 150, 152, 160 and 164. In the second sealing step S5, the open end of the packaging sheet 12 is thermally sealed by pressing the heating means 150, 152, 160, 164 against the open end of the packaging sheet 12 folded in the folding step S4.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the sealing unit has

endless belts

154, 162, and 166 that rotate as the packaged body 10 is conveyed.

Endless belts

154, 162, and 166 are in contact with both end surfaces of package body 10 in a direction orthogonal to conveyance direction P. The heating means 150, 152, 160, 164 presses the package body 10 while heating the package body 10 via the

endless belts

154, 162, 166. Thereby, the packaging sheet 12 which wraps the to-be-packaged body 10 is heat-sealed by the heating means 150, 152, 160, 164 while being conveyed. The heating means 150, 152, 160, and 164 are provided on both sides of the package body 10 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction P of the package body 10.

A plurality of heating means may be provided. In the present embodiment, the heating unit may include a first heating unit 150, a second heating unit 152, a third heating unit 160, and a fourth heating unit 164 in order from the upstream side.

The first heating means 150, the second heating means 152, the third heating means 160, and the fourth heating means 164 are configured to reciprocate in directions M4, M5, M6, and M7 orthogonal to the transport direction P of the package 10. Has been. The first heating unit 150, the second heating unit 152, the third heating unit 160, and the fourth heating unit 164 heat the packaging sheet 12 while pressing both ends in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction P of the package body 10. Seal.

In the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, when there is no absorbent article in the second sealing step S5, the first direction (in accordance with the length W1 of the package body 10 detected in the detection step S1) ( A position control step of changing the position of the first heating means 150 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction). Specifically, in this position control step, the pair of first heating units 150 is arranged such that the distance between the pair of first heating means 150 is slightly wider than the length W1 of the package 10 measured in the detection step S1. The position of the heating means 150 is controlled. Here, the “length W1 of the packaged body 10” may be defined as an average value of the lengths of the plurality of packaged bodies 10. In this case, the position of the pair of first heating means 150 is controlled so that the interval between the pair of first heating means 150 is slightly wider than the average value.

When there is no absorbent article in the second sealing step S5, the first number in the first direction is determined according to the length W1 of the predetermined number of absorbent articles (packaged bodies 10) detected in the detection step S1. 1 The position of the heating means 150 is changed. Thereby, the 1st heating means 150 can be made to wait in the suitable position according to the dimension of the to-be-packaged body 10 in the standby state in which 2nd sealing process S5 has been paused. Thereby, when 2nd sealing process S5 is restarted, the 1st heating means 150 can give a suitable pressing force to an absorbent article according to the dimension of an absorbent article. In particular, the size of the absorbent article may vary greatly from the design value designed in advance. Even in this case, the second sealing step S5 can be appropriately performed by controlling the position of the first heating means 150 according to the length W1 of the package 10. As a result, even if the size of the absorbent article is smaller than the design value, sufficient heat can be applied to the packaging sheet 12, and sufficient heat sealing can be performed. Furthermore, even if the size of the absorbent article is larger than the design value, the absorbent article is not subjected to a pressing force more than necessary, so that the possibility of melting the thermoplastic material contained in the absorbent article can be suppressed. .

In addition, when the absorbent article is present in the second sealing step S5, the first heating means in the first direction so that the pressure applied from the absorbent article to the first heating means 150 is within a predetermined range. It is preferable to further include a pressure control process for controlling the position of 150. Thereby, even when the dimension of the to-be-packaged body 10 has dispersion | variation, the 1st heating means 150 can give suitable pressing force for every to-be-packaged body 10 (absorbent article). Thereby, the packaging sheet 12 which wraps the to-be-packaged body 10 can be heat-sealed more accurately.

As an example of the pressure control process, torque control of a motor that drives the first heating means 150 can be mentioned. By controlling the motor torque to be constant, the pressure applied from the first heating means 150 to the package can be controlled to be within a predetermined range. As a result, the packaging sheet 12 that wraps the package 10 can be heat-sealed with higher accuracy.

As another example of the pressure control step, there is a method of measuring a reaction force applied from the absorbent article to the first heating unit 150 and feeding back the measured value to a control unit that drives the first heating unit 150. Thereby, it can control so that the pressure given to the to-be-packaged body 10 from the 1st heating means 150 may become a predetermined | prescribed range. As a result, the packaging sheet 12 that wraps the package 10 can be heat-sealed with higher accuracy.

In the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, when the package (absorbent article) 10 is introduced into the second sealing step S5 during the position control step in the second sealing step S5, the above-described position control step is started. Switch to the pressure control process. The switching is preferably performed automatically.

When the package body 10 is introduced into the second sealing step S5, the first heating means 150 is switched to the pressure control process. Therefore, when the package body 10 is heat sealed, an appropriate pressing force is applied to the package body 10. Pressure can be applied. Thereby, an absorbent article can be heat-sealed accurately.

In this embodiment, the package 10 is further heat-sealed by the second heating means 152 after being heat-sealed by the first heating means 150. Thus, by heat-sealing the package body 10 in stages, it can be heat-sealed with higher accuracy. In particular, the open end of the packaging sheet 12 folded in the folding step S4 has a different number of overlapping sheets for each portion. By heat-sealing step by step, it is possible to sufficiently heat-seal even a portion of the packaging sheet 12 that overlaps a large number. Further, since it is not necessary to apply a large amount of heat to the package 10 and the packaging sheet 12 at a time, it is possible to reduce thermal damage given to the thermoplastic material provided in the absorbent article.

The second heating means 152 is preferably subjected to the same pressure control and position control as the first heating means 150.

In the present embodiment, the package 10 is heat-sealed by the second heating means 152 and then further heat-sealed by the third heating means 160 and the fourth heating means 164. The third heating unit 160 and the fourth heating unit 164 need not perform pressure control as performed by the first heating unit 150.

The packaged body 10 is sealed with the packaging sheet 12 by finishing the second sealing step. Thereby, the package in which the absorbent article which has a thermoplastic material was packaged can be manufactured.

As described above, the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments. However, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented as modified and changed modes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the present specification is for illustrative purposes and does not have any limiting meaning to the present invention.

Note that the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-214304 filed on October 30, 2015 is incorporated herein by reference.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved method for hermetically wrapping absorbent articles that are susceptible to variations in external dimensions and are vulnerable to heat.

Claims

A method for sequentially producing a package in which a predetermined number of absorbent articles having a thermoplastic material are packaged,
A detection step of detecting a length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction;
In a state where the entire predetermined number of the absorbent articles are compressed at least in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, an open end is positioned on an end surface of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction. A lapping step of winding a packaging sheet around the predetermined number of absorbent articles,
A folding step of folding the open end of the packaging sheet along the end face of the predetermined number of absorbent articles;
A sealing step of thermally sealing the open end of the packaging sheet by pressing a heating means against the open end of the packaging sheet folded in the folding step;
A position to change the position of the heating means in the first direction according to the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected in the detection step when no absorbent article is present in the sealing step A control step.
When the absorbent article is present in the sealing step, the position of the heating means in the first direction is controlled so that the pressure applied from the absorbent article to the heating means is within a predetermined range. The method of claim 1, further comprising a pressure control step.
The heating means includes a first heating means provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the predetermined number of absorbent articles, and a second heating means provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the predetermined number of absorbent articles. The method of Claim 1 or 2 containing these.
The method according to claim 2, wherein when the absorbent article is introduced into the sealing step during the position control step, the position control step is switched to the pressure control step.
The folding step is performed by folding plates provided on both sides of the absorbent article in the first direction,
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of changing a position of the folding plate in the first direction according to a length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected in the detection step. the method of.
After the wrapping step, including a step of heat-sealing overlapping edges of the packaging sheet wound in a cylindrical shape in a state where the predetermined number of the entire absorbent article is compressed in at least the second direction. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An apparatus for sequentially manufacturing a package in which a predetermined number of absorbent articles having a thermoplastic material are packaged,
A detection unit for detecting the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction;
In a state where the entire predetermined number of the absorbent articles are compressed at least in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, an open end is positioned on an end surface of the predetermined number of absorbent articles in the first direction. A wrap unit that wraps a packaging sheet around the predetermined number of absorbent articles;
A folding unit that folds the open end of the packaging sheet along the end faces of the predetermined number of absorbent articles;
A sealing unit that thermally seals the open end of the packaging sheet by pressing a heating means against the open end of the packaging sheet folded by the folding unit;
A position to change the position of the heating means in the first direction according to the length of the predetermined number of absorbent articles detected by the detection unit when there is no absorbent article in the sealing unit A control unit.