WO2017094088A1

WO2017094088A1 - Method for manufacturing linked packaging product

Info

Publication number: WO2017094088A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/083653
Authority: WO
Inventors: 辰男高橋; 誠司村上; 裕志西野
Original assignee: ユニ・チャーム株式会社
Priority date: 2015-11-30
Filing date: 2015-11-30
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: JPWO2017094088A1; JP6026060B1

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a linked packaging product (1) formed by linking a plurality of packaged articles (2) in one direction is disclosed below. However, each of the plurality of packaged articles includes an absorbent article (3) and a packaging bag (4) for packaging the absorbent article. This manufacturing method is provided with: a restricting step for restricting the transverse width of the absorbent article to a first dimension or less while sequentially conveying the absorbent articles in a conveying direction; a packaging step for sequentially supplying and packaging the width-restricted absorbent articles inside a continuous sheet (4b) formed continuously in a tubular shape while being conveyed in the conveying direction, the transverse dimension of the inside of the tubular continuous sheet being the first dimension; and a bonding step for bonding together inner surfaces of the tubular continuous sheet facing each other at a portion between adjacent absorbent articles in the tubular continuous sheet while conveying the tubular continuous sheet containing the absorbent articles in the conveying direction. The method for manufacturing a linked packaging product enables the positioning of the absorbent articles in a predetermined position inside the tubular continuous sheet.

Description

Method for manufacturing consolidated packaged products

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a linked packaged product.

As one of the product forms of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins, a linked package product is known in which a plurality of packaged articles each having an absorbent article packaged are connected in one direction. The linked packaged product is displayed at, for example, a store, and a desired number of packages are purchased from the linked packaged product and sold to the purchaser.

Such a linked packaged product includes, for example, a step of sequentially supplying a plurality of absorbent articles onto a continuous sheet conveyed in the conveying direction, and a cylinder in which the continuous sheet is formed into a cylindrical shape and a plurality of absorbent articles are included. Of the cylindrical continuous sheet, the step of joining the absorbent articles adjacent to each other in the cylindrical continuous sheet in the transverse direction, and the step of cutting the center of the joint portion. .

Here, since the absorbent article is relatively light, when the absorbent article is conveyed by the conveyance belt, the absorbent article may be displaced from an appropriate position on the conveyance belt by some external force. For example, it is conceivable that the absorbent article to be placed at the center in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt is displaced from the center position. When the deviation is large, there is a possibility that the absorbent article cannot be placed on the continuous sheet or the continuous sheet cannot be formed into a cylindrical shape. In particular, the effect increases as the conveyance speed increases.

Even when the deviation is large, if the absorbent article is placed on the continuous sheet at an appropriate position and the continuous sheet is formed into a cylindrical shape, it is conceivable to increase the inner dimension of the cylinder. However, in that case, since there is room in the space inside the cylinder, the absorbent article can move back and forth and right and left within the cylindrical continuous sheet by some external force. That is, the position of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet becomes unstable. If this happens, various problems may occur.

For example, in the above-described joining step, when joining the cylindrical continuous sheet, a part of the air in the cylindrical continuous sheet flows upstream in the conveying direction. At that time, if the position of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is unstable, the position of the absorbent article will be displaced by the flow of air, and the absorbent article will be sandwiched between the joining parts in the subsequent joining process. There is a fear.

In addition, if the position of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is unstable, the position of the absorbent article may shift from front to back and from side to side during conveyance. If this happens, the position of the center of gravity of the cylindrical continuous sheet is shifted from an appropriate position, and there is a possibility that the cylindrical continuous sheet may be shifted in the transverse direction, meandered, or bent in the course of conveyance.

Also, the linked packaged product is a product that is difficult to pack tightly in a packing box because a plurality of packaged products are linked. If the position of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is unstable, the absorbent article can easily move even in the packaging bag of the manufactured linked packaged product. For this reason, when connected packaging products are packed in packing boxes, absorbent articles are biased in the packing bag and cannot be packed densely, or when the packing box is shaken during transportation, etc. It can be disturbed. As a result, part of the packaged product may be deformed or crushed, and the absorbent body of the absorbent article may be deformed, resulting in a decrease in absorbent power.

In the production of linked packaged products, the effect of shifting the absorbent article during conveyance is suppressed, and the position of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is fixed, that is, the absorbent is fixed at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet. A technique capable of positioning an article is desired.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose technologies for bag making machines, packaging machines, and article supply devices.

JP 2013-173554 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-033402 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-500069

As a method for positioning an absorbent article at a predetermined position in a cylindrical continuous sheet in the manufacture of linked packaged products, the inventors of the present invention regulate the size of the absorbent article to form a cylindrical continuous sheet. A method was considered in which the size of the absorbent article was recovered in the cylindrical continuous sheet so that the continuous sheet was stretched by the absorbent article.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a technique in which a laminated body in which a plurality of diapers are laminated in a thickness direction is compressed by a belt conveyor and inserted into a continuous sheet formed in a cylindrical shape in advance. However, the above-described techniques of

Patent Documents

1 and 2 are intended for packaged products in which a plurality of absorbent articles (diapers) are stacked and packaged together, and the packaged products are not connected to each other. Thus, a product to be handled is different from the present invention, which is a connected packaged product in which a plurality of packaged absorbent articles are connected in one direction. Therefore, there is no disclosure about problems inherent to linked packaging products, for example, the above-mentioned cylindrical continuous sheet meanders in the middle of conveyance or the packaging product is disturbed in the packaging box. It cannot respond to the positioning of the absorbent article in the manufacture of Furthermore, in the techniques of the above-mentioned

Patent Documents

1 and 2, an attempt is made to obtain a state in which the tubular film is stretched. However, in this case, if the cylindrical continuous sheet is bonded in the transverse direction in the above-described bonding step, there is a possibility that the air outlet in the cylindrical continuous sheet may be lost, and some measures must be added. In addition, in the techniques of the above-mentioned

Patent Documents

1 and 2, since the stacked body in which the diapers are stacked is placed on the plate and transported, there is almost no displacement of the position. It cannot cope with the positioning of absorbent articles in the manufacture of linked packaging products.

Moreover, in patent document 3, in addition to said point, since there exists a pair of conveyor belt between an absorbent article and a cylindrical film, the absorbent article sent out from the conveyor belt is expanded only the part of a conveyor belt. Therefore, in order to stabilize the position of the absorbent article in the tubular film, a new treatment such as shrinking the tubular film to a smaller extent or compressing the absorbent article to a large extent must be added. It is thought that it will disappear.

An object of the present invention is to manufacture a linked packaging product that can suppress the influence of the shift of the absorbent article during conveyance and can position the absorbent article at a predetermined position in a cylindrical continuous sheet. It is to provide a method.

The manufacturing method of the linked packaged product of the present invention is as follows.
(1) A method for manufacturing a linked packaged product in which a plurality of packaged products are connected in one direction, each of the packaged products including an absorbent article and a packaging bag for packaging the absorbent article. And the manufacturing method of the said connection wrapping product makes the width | variety of the said absorbent article in the cross direction orthogonal to the said conveyance direction 1st dimension, conveying the some absorbent article arranged in one direction sequentially in a conveyance direction. A regulation step for regulating below, and packaging for sequentially supplying and packaging the plurality of absorbent articles after regulation inside a continuous sheet that is continuously formed in a cylindrical shape while being conveyed in the conveyance direction A packaging step in which the inner dimension in the transverse direction of the cylindrical continuous sheet is the first dimension, and the cylindrical continuous sheet containing the plurality of absorbent articles While transporting in the transport direction, Wherein comprising a bonding step of bonding the continuous sheet to each other, the method of connecting the packaged product which faces the part cylindrical inner surface between the absorbent article adjacent to each other in Jo said continuous sheet of.

The absorbent article whose width in the transverse direction is regulated to be equal to or smaller than the first dimension in the regulation process is expanded from the inside to the outside in order to recover the width before regulation in the packaging process, that is, the dimension larger than the first dimension. I will try. However, the inner dimension in the transverse direction of the cylindrical continuous sheet is the first dimension, which is smaller than the width before the regulation in the transverse direction in the absorbent article (a dimension larger than the first dimension). The continuous sheet is stretched and stretched from the inside by the absorbent article. As a result, the absorbent article is pressed from the periphery by the cylindrical continuous sheet, so that the absorbent article can be positioned at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet. That is, the absorbent article can be fixed at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet.
When the absorbent article is positioned, even if a part of the air in the cylindrical continuous sheet flows to the upstream side in the conveying direction with the joining of the cylindrical continuous sheet in the subsequent joining step, the cylindrical shape The position of the absorbent article in the continuous sheet becomes difficult to shift upstream. Thereby, when joining the continuous sheets facing each other on the inner surface of the cylinder at the part between the absorbent articles in the cylindrical continuous sheet in the joining step, the absorbent article is sandwiched between the joined parts of the cylindrical continuous sheet. That disappears.
Further, when the absorbent article is positioned, it becomes difficult for the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet to move back and forth and right and left from that position, and therefore the position of the center of gravity of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is front and rear, left and right It becomes difficult to slip. As a result, it is difficult for a cylindrical continuous sheet that is conveyed in the conveying direction while containing a plurality of absorbent articles to be displaced, meandered, or bent in the transverse direction as a whole with respect to the conveying direction. A cylindrical continuous sheet can be stably conveyed in the conveying direction.
In addition, when the absorbent article is positioned, the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet is difficult to move back and forth and from side to side, and thus the absorbent article is also difficult to move in the packaging bag in the manufactured linked package product. Accordingly, when the linked packaged product is packed in a packaging box such as a cardboard box, there is almost no displacement of the absorbent article in the packaging bag, and the packaged product can be easily aligned and arranged in the packaging box. Therefore, even if the packaging box is shaken during transportation, etc., the arrangement of the packaged item is less likely to be disturbed in the packaging box, so that part of the packaged product may be deformed or crushed and the absorbent body of the absorbent article Can be prevented from being deformed and lowering the absorption power.

(2) In the regulation step, the absorbent article is transported in the transport direction by the lower transport belt, and is disposed on both sides in the transverse direction of the space in which the absorbent article on the lower transport belt is transported. A pair of opposing regulating members, wherein the distance between the pair of regulating members in the transverse direction is shortened from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, and the transport direction The transverse width of the absorbent article is regulated by passing the absorbent article between a pair of regulating members formed to be equal to or less than the first dimension at the downstream end of the absorbent article, The manufacturing method of the connected packaging product as described in said (1).

By passing the absorbent article between the pair of regulating members while being conveyed by the lower conveying belt, the transverse width of the absorbent article can be easily regulated to a predetermined dimension or less.

(3) The regulation step includes a thickness regulation step for regulating the thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction orthogonal to the transport direction and the transverse direction to be equal to or less than a second dimension, The upper dimension in the up-down direction of the continuous sheet is the second dimension, and the upper conveyance belt is disposed above the lower conveyance belt and opposed to the lower conveyance belt in the thickness regulating step. The distance between the lower conveyance belt and the upper conveyance belt decreases from the upstream side in the conveyance direction toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the end on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction is reduced by passing the absorbent article between the upper conveyor belt formed to be equal to or smaller than the second dimension at the portion and the lower conveyor belt. Regulate the above ( Method for producing a linked packaged product according to).

By passing the absorbent article not only between the pair of regulating members, but also between the lower conveyance belt and the upper conveyance belt, not only the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article but also the thickness in the vertical direction is predetermined. It can be easily regulated below the dimension. As a result, the absorbent article is further pressed from the periphery by the cylindrical continuous sheet, whereby the absorbent article can be positioned at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet. Moreover, it can avoid that the conveyance speed of an absorbent article falls by being regulated between a pair of control members by assisting conveyance of an absorbent article with an upper side conveyance belt.

(4) In the regulating step, the thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction is regulated by the upper conveying belt after the absorbent article enters between the pair of regulating members. Manufacturing method for packaged products.

Immediately after entering between the pair of regulating members, the absorbent article can be shifted to a predetermined position in the transverse direction (eg, centering) by regulation only in the transverse direction, and thereafter, by regulation in the vertical direction. The absorbent article can be held so as not to deviate from a predetermined position in the transverse direction. In other words, the absorbent article can be easily moved in the transverse direction without being pressed in the vertical direction at first, and can be held in the vertical direction after being moved in the horizontal direction. As a result, compared with the case where the transverse regulation and the vertical regulation are performed simultaneously, the transverse alignment and holding of the absorbent article can be performed accurately, and the transverse positioning is more appropriately performed. It can be carried out.

(5) The method for manufacturing a linked packaged product according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the pair of regulating members is a belt or a guide plate.

When a belt or a guide plate is used, the manufacturing and handling of the regulating member is easy and the cost can be kept low.

(6) In the packaging step, the continuous sheet is supplied from a lower side than the lower conveyance belt to a bending member disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyance direction of the lower conveyance belt, While conveying the continuous sheet in the conveying direction, the folding member lifts both side edges in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet into a cylindrical shape, and above the central portion in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet, The method for producing a linked packaged product according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein both side edge portions are continuously joined.

By using the reverse pillow packaging process of so-called horizontal pillow packaging, joining (center seal) is performed above the continuous sheet, so that the state of joining (center seal) can be easily confirmed during the manufacturing process, and the bent member (Sailor) can be easily maintained. Further, since the lower conveying belt is not inserted into the bending member, it is not necessary to increase the first distance between both side surfaces in the transverse direction on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical continuous sheet. The amount used can be reduced.

(7) The absorbent article is transported in the transport direction so that the portion having the widest width in the transverse direction in the absorbent article is located in the front half of the transport direction in the absorbent article. The method for producing a linked packaged product according to any one of (1) to (6).

At the boundary between the regulation process and the packaging process, in the absorbent article, there is a state where the width of the rear half is regulated and the width of the front half is released from the regulation of the width. At that time, if the part with the widest width in the transverse direction is located in the front half, the front half can gain time to recover the shape while the rear half is regulated in width. it can. As a result, while the width of the rear half is restricted, or as soon as the width is released from the restriction of the width, the portion having the widest transverse width of the front half can stretch the continuous sheet. . Thereby, an absorbent article can be positioned by the predetermined position in a continuous sheet.

(8) The absorbent article is transported in the transport direction so that the portion having the widest width in the transverse direction in the absorbent article is located in the rear half of the transport direction in the absorbent article. The method for producing a linked packaged product according to any one of (1) to (7).

At the boundary between the regulation process and the packaging process, in the absorbent article, there exists a state where the width of the rear half is regulated and the front half is released from the regulation of the width. At that time, when the resilience of the width of the absorbent article is weak, if the position where the width in the transverse direction is the widest, that is, the position of the center of gravity of the absorbent article is in the position in the front half, the rear half Is restricted and cannot move, the front half with the center of gravity is released from the restriction and becomes easy to move. Therefore, the absorbent article easily swings around the rear half, and the direction of the absorbent article becomes unstable with respect to the transport direction. The instability can be suppressed by setting a location near the center of gravity of the absorbent article to a position in the rear half.

According to the present invention, it is possible to position the absorbent article at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet while suppressing the influence of the deviation of the absorbent article during conveyance in the production of the linked packaged product.

It is a figure which shows the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic whole figure of the manufacturing apparatus of the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the control unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the control unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the cylindrical continuous sheet and bending member which concern on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of the control unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining the packing state of the connection packaging product which concerns on embodiment.

1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C show a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the linked packaged product 1, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B), and 1 (C), a linked packaged product 1 is composed of a plurality of packaged products 2, and these packaged products 2 are coupled to each other in one direction. Yes. The plurality of packaged products 2 are two or more packaged products 2, which are ten packaged products 2 in the present embodiment.

The packaged product 2 is composed of an absorbent article 3 and a packaging bag 4 for packaging the absorbent article 3, and a longitudinal seal portion 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaged product 2 along the longitudinal direction of the connected packaged product 1. Sealed by lateral seal portions 5 extending laterally at both ends in the direction. The packaged products 2 are connected to each other via a weakening line 7 such as a perforation provided in the horizontal seal portion 5. Each packaged product 2 is obtained by cutting the linked packaged product 1 along the weakening line 7.

The absorbent article 3 is composed of an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin, and is a pants-type diaper in the present embodiment. Therefore, the absorbent article 3 has elasticity, that is, a property of trying to restore its original shape against deformation. The packaging bag 4 is made of a sheet material such as a resin sheet suitable for packaging an absorbent article such as a polyethylene (PE) film or a polypropylene (PP) film.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the manufacturing apparatus 10 for the linked packaged product 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the linked packaged product manufacturing apparatus 10 includes an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20, a folding unit 10A, a regulation unit 10B, a packaging unit 10C, a joining unit 10D, and a cutting unit 10E. Yes. The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20 and the units 10A to 10E are arranged in-line.

However, the connected packaged product manufacturing apparatus 10 is related to the conveyance of the absorbent article 3 and the like in the conveyance direction (MD direction), the transverse direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction (CD direction) and the conveyance direction and the transverse direction. It shall have the up-and-down direction (TD direction) which intersects perpendicularly. In addition, “upstream in the transport direction” and “downstream in the transport direction” are also simply referred to as “upstream” and “downstream”, and “upward in the vertical direction” and “lower in the vertical direction” are simply “upper”. , Also referred to as “lower”. Moreover, the absorbent article 3 shall have a longitudinal direction (L), the width direction (W) orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, and the thickness direction (H) orthogonal to a longitudinal direction and a width direction. And while the absorbent article 3 is being transported, the transport direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction overlap the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction. The transport direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction are also used as the vertical direction.

The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20 continuously manufactures the absorbent article 3. The manufactured absorbent article 3 is sequentially conveyed to the folding unit 10 A by the conveyor belt 21 directly connected to the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20.

The folding unit 10 A rotates the absorbent article 3 once so that the folded part overlaps with the other parts in the vertical direction while sequentially carrying the absorbent article 3 conveyed side by side in the conveyance direction. Fold it up. In the present embodiment, the absorbent article 3 is folded twice to form a bi-fold absorbent article 3. The bi-fold absorbent article 3 is sequentially transported to the regulation unit 10B by the transport belt 25.

The regulation unit 10B regulates the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 to be equal to or smaller than the first dimension while sequentially conveying the folded absorbent article 3 conveyed side by side in one direction in the conveyance direction. . The regulated absorbent article 3 is sequentially conveyed to the packaging unit 10C.

The packaging unit 10C sequentially supplies the regulated absorbent articles 3 inside the continuous sheet 4b that is continuously formed in a cylindrical shape while being conveyed in the conveying direction, thereby forming the vertical seal portion 6 (FIG. 1). Then, the absorbent article 3 is packaged. At this time, the dimension of the inner side of the transverse direction in the continuous sheet 4b formed in a cylindrical shape is the first dimension. The cylindrical continuous sheet 4b containing the absorbent article 3 is sequentially conveyed to the joining unit 10D.

The joining unit 10 D opposes the inner surface of the cylinder at a portion between the adjacent absorbent articles 3 in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4 b while conveying the cylindrical continuous sheet 4 b including the absorbent article 3 in the conveyance direction. The continuous sheets are joined together to form the lateral seal portion 5 (FIG. 1). Further, a weakening line 7 (FIG. 1) is formed in the lateral seal portion 5. Thereby, while the packaged goods 2 comprised by the absorbent article 3 and the packaging bag 4 are formed, the packaged goods coupling body 8 by which the some packaged goods 2 are connected with 1 row is formed. The packaged article assembly 8 is conveyed to the cutting unit 10E.

The cutting unit 10E cuts and divides the package connection body 8 by the weakening line 7 for each preset number in the formed package connection body 8. In the present embodiment, the packaged product 2 is divided into ten pieces. Thereby, a linked packaged product 1 is formed in which a predetermined number of packaged products 2 are linked in one direction. The linked packaged product 1 is packed in a packing box such as a cardboard box.

Hereinafter, an example of the configuration of the folding unit 10A, the regulation unit 10B, the packaging unit 10C, the joining unit 10D, and the cutting unit 10E will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the folding unit 10 A includes

transport belts

21, 22, and 23. The conveyor belt 21 is disposed facing one belt surface of the conveyor belt 22 stretched in a triangular shape, and the conveyor belt 23 is disposed facing the other belt surface of the conveyor belt 22. The conveyance path formed between the conveyance belt 21 and the conveyance belt 22 can grip the absorbent article 3 that is not folded and can convey the absorbent article 3 in the conveyance direction. The conveyance path formed between the conveyance belt 22 and the conveyance belt 23 can hold the folded absorbent article 3 and convey it in the conveyance direction. The conveyance path on the conveyance belt 22 side intersects the conveyance path on the conveyance belt 21 side at a predetermined angle (example: 90 degrees). The folding unit 10A further includes a folding plate 24 in the vicinity of the intersection. The folding plate 24 crosses the conveyance path on the conveyance belt 21 side at the predetermined angle and enters and exits the intersection so as to be parallel to the conveyance path on the conveyance belt 23 side. Therefore, the absorbency conveyed by the conveyance path by the side of the conveyance belt 21 is match | combined with the timing of entrance / exit to the intersection of the folding plate 24, and the timing of conveyance of the absorbent article 3 by the conveyance path by the side of the conveyance belt 21. The article 3 is folded by the folding plate 24 into the conveyance path on the side of the conveyance belt 23, thereby enabling the absorbent article 3 to be folded.

The regulation unit 10 B includes a lower conveyance belt 31 and an upper conveyance belt 32. FIG. 3 shows a side view and a top view of the regulating unit 10B. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32 are arranged to face each other, and the absorbent article 3 folded between the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32 is conveyed in the conveyance direction. A transport path (space 33s) for transporting to the center is formed. The lower conveyor belt 31 and the upper conveyor belt 32 are disposed so that the center positions in the transverse direction overlap each other, and the width of the lower conveyor belt 31 is formed larger than the width of the upper conveyor belt 32.

The regulating unit 10B further includes a pair of regulating members 33 facing each other on both sides in the transverse direction of the space 33s in which the absorbent article 3 is conveyed. 4A and 4B show views of the regulating member 33 as viewed from the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction, respectively. In the present embodiment, the pair of regulating members 33 are guide plates formed of a flat plate member such as metal or resin, and are erected substantially vertically from the conveyance surface of the lower conveyance belt 31 in the vertical direction. A region surrounded by the pair of regulating members 33 and the conveyance rolls 31a and 32a is an entrance of the conveyance path (space 33s) of the absorbent article 3, and a region surrounded by the pair of regulating members 33 and the conveyance rolls 31b and 32b. It becomes an exit of the conveyance path (space 33s) of the absorbent article 3. The distance between the pair of regulating members 33 in the transverse direction, that is, the inner transverse distance is determined from the upstream end 33a (FIG. 4A) to the downstream end 33b (FIG. 4B). ) Is getting shorter as you head to. That is, the inner transverse distance is ds1 at the upstream end portion 33a, but is de1 (<ds1) at the downstream end portion 33b. The inner transverse distance ds1 at the upstream end portion 33a is set to a value that is larger than the predicted positional deviation than the transverse width of the absorbent article 3 before the regulation step. The inner transverse distance de1 at the downstream end portion 33b is set to be equal to or smaller than a first dimension D01 described later. Therefore, by passing the absorbent article 3 between the pair of regulating members 33, the position of the absorbent article 3 can be corrected and the width of the absorbent article 3 in the transverse direction can be regulated to the first dimension D01 or less.

Further, the vertical distance between the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32, that is, the inner vertical distance, is determined from the upstream end 33a (FIG. 4A) to the downstream end 33b (FIG. 4). (B) is getting shorter. That is, the inner vertical distance is ds2 at the upstream end 33a, but de2 (<ds2) at the downstream end 33b. The inner vertical distance ds2 at the upstream end 33a is set to a value larger than at least the vertical thickness of the absorbent article 3 before the regulation step. The inner vertical distance de2 at the downstream end 33b is set to a second dimension D02 or less, which will be described later. Therefore, by passing the absorbent article 3 between the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32, the thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction can be regulated to the second dimension D02 or less.

At this time, the inner vertical distance ds 2 at the upstream end 33 a is a short time after the absorbent article 3 enters between the pair of regulating members 33, and the upper conveying belt 32 regulates the thickness of the absorbent article 3. It is preferable to set so as to. In that case, in the regulation process, first, regulation of the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 by the regulation member 33 is started, and thereby the absorbent article 3 is shifted to a predetermined position in the transverse direction (example: centering). Can do. Further, the regulation of the thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction by the lower conveyor belt 31 and the upper conveyor belt 32 is started thereafter, so that the absorbent article 3 is not displaced from a predetermined position in the transverse direction. The width in the transverse direction and the thickness in the up-down direction of the absorbent article 3 can be regulated while pressing from above. Thereby, the alignment of the absorbent article 3 in the transverse direction and the holding thereof can be accurately executed, and the positioning in the transverse direction and the regulation of the width in the transverse direction and the thickness in the vertical direction can be more appropriately performed at the same time. .

In the restriction unit 10B, the inner crossing distance is shortened from the upstream end 33a toward the downstream end 33b. In this case, the upstream end 33a and the downstream end 33b It may be monotonously shortened from the end portion 33b, or may be partially constant along the way. Similarly, the inner vertical distance decreases from the upstream end 33a toward the downstream end 33b, but monotonically between the upstream end 33a and the downstream end 33b. It may be shorter or may be partially constant along the way.

In the restriction unit 10B, the restriction member 33 is erected substantially vertically from the conveyance surface of the lower conveyance belt 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the restriction member 33 is provided. The (guide plate) may be erected from the conveyance surface obliquely so as to form a predetermined angle (for example, 60 degrees) with the conveyance surface, and the regulating member 33 (guide plate) is viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction. And may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging unit 10 C includes a bending member 43 disposed so as to be adjacent to the downstream side of the lower conveyance belt 31. The bending member 43 is continuously supplied from the lower conveyance belt 31 and the bending member 43 from the vertically lower side with the continuous sheet 4 a rewound from the sheet roll 40 by the conveyance roller 42. The bending member 43 lifts both side edges in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet 4a when the supplied continuous sheet 4a passes, and the edge parts on both sides above the central part in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet 4a. Can be overlapped to form an overlapping portion. Thereby, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4 b is formed in the bending member 43.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream inlet of the bending member 43 and the outlet (FIG. 4B) of the conveyance path (space 33s) of the absorbent article 3 face each other. FIG. 5 shows a view of the bending member of the packaging unit 10C as viewed from the upstream side. The continuous sheet 4b is formed in a cylindrical shape along the inner wall of the bending member 43, the inner dimension in the transverse direction is the first dimension D01, and the inner dimension in the vertical direction is the second dimension D02. . The first dimension D01 is equal to or greater than the transverse width of the restricted absorbent article 3, and the second dimension D02 is equal to or greater than the thickness of the restricted absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the regulated absorbent article 3 can be inserted into the inside 4bs of the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b. In addition, although the both-side edge parts of the cross direction of the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b have overlapped and formed the overlap part, it is not joined at this stage.

As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent article 3 from the regulation unit 10B is supplied to the bending member 43 at the upstream end thereof. At this time, on the bending member 43, the continuous sheet 4a is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is formed. Therefore, it can be said that the absorbent article 3 is supplied into the continuous sheet 4b formed continuously in a cylindrical shape by the bending member 43.

Here, in the present embodiment, the downstream end portion of the upper conveyance belt 32 of the regulation unit 10B projects to the packaging unit 10C side from the downstream end portion of the lower conveyance belt 31. On the other hand, the lower end on the upstream side of the bending member 43 of the packaging unit 10C protrudes toward the regulation unit 10B. In other words, the downstream end of the upper conveyance belt 32 and the lower end of the bending member 43 on the upstream side overlap each other. Thereby, the absorbent article 3 from the regulation unit 10B can be supplied more smoothly to the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b of the packaging unit 10C.

The packaging unit 10 C further includes a vertical sealer 44 and a conveyance belt 45. The vertical sealer 44 and the conveyor belt 45 are disposed so as to face each other. The conveyor belt 45 conveys the cylindrical continuous sheet 4a containing the absorbent article 3 in the conveyance direction, while the vertical sealer 44 serves as the continuous sheet 4a. The overlapping portion formed on the upper side is sealed to form the vertical seal portion 6 (FIG. 1). Examples of the sealing method include heat fusion by heating.

Such a packaging unit 10C uses a reverse pillow packaging process of so-called horizontal pillow packaging, and the vertical sealer 44 that forms the vertical seal portion 6 (center seal) of the continuous sheet 4b is located above the continuous sheet 4b. Is provided. Therefore, the state of the vertical seal portion 6 (center seal) can be easily confirmed during the operation of the packaging unit 10C, and the bending member 43 (sailor) can be easily maintained. Further, by not inserting the lower conveyance belt 31 into the bending member 43, it is not necessary to increase the dimension inside the transverse direction of the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b, and the amount of use of the continuous sheet 4b is reduced. Can do.

The joining unit 10D includes a pair of

conveyor belts

51 and 52 and a lateral sealer 53. The pair of conveying

belts

51 and 52 are arranged to face each other, and hold the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b containing the absorbent article 3 between the conveying

belts

51 and 52, up to the lateral sealer 53 in the conveying direction. Transport. The horizontal sealer 53 includes a pair of pressing

members

54 and 55 disposed facing each other, and the pair of pressing

members

54 and 55 seals the continuous sheet 4b in the transverse direction between the absorbent articles 3 adjacent to each other. A lateral seal portion 5 (FIG. 1) is formed. Examples of the sealing method include heat fusion by heating. At this time, the

pressing members

54 and 55 further form a weakening line 7 (FIG. 1) in the lateral seal portion 5 of the continuous sheet 4a. Thereby, the packaged article connector 8 is formed.

The cutting unit 10E includes a pair of conveying

belts

61 and 62 and a cutter 63. The pair of

transport belts

61 and 62 are arranged so as to face each other, and transports the packaged article coupling body 8 to the cutting device 63 in the transport direction while holding the package connection body 8 between the

transport belts

61 and 62. The cutting device 63 includes a pair of

rollers

64 and 65 arranged to face each other. The pair of

rollers

64 and 65 conveys the packaged article coupling body 8 between the

rollers

64 and 65. Then, when the packaged article coupling body 8 is to be cut, the conveyance speed of the packaged article coupling body 8 by the

rollers

64 and 65 is made faster than the conveyance speed of the packaged article coupling body 8 by the

conveyor belts

61 and 62. Thus, the packaged article connector 8 is cut. Thereby, the linked packaged product 1 in which a predetermined number of packaged products 2 are linked is formed.

The cutting unit 10E further includes a pair of

transport belts

66 and 67, and the pair of

transport belts

66 and 67 are arranged so as to face each other, and the connected package product 1 is held between the

transport belts

66 and 67 while being held. The connected packaged product 1 is transported to a packing device (not shown) for packing the.

In the present embodiment, as the restricting member that sandwiches the space 33s from both sides in the transverse direction, the restricting member 33 shown in FIG. 3, that is, a guide plate made of a plate material such as metal or resin is used. It is not limited to this example, For example, you may be comprised by the regulation member 33P shown in FIG. 6, ie, a pair of regulation belt mutually arrange | positioned facing. When the regulation belt is used, in addition to the regulation function, the conveyance of the absorbent article 3 can be assisted, and it is possible to reliably avoid the regulation and the conveyance speed of the absorbent article 3 from being lowered. Further, when a regulation belt or a guide plate is used, manufacturing and handling are easy, and the cost can be kept low.

Further, in the present embodiment, the upper conveying belt 32 as shown in FIG. 3 is used as the restricting means that covers the space 33s from the upper side in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it may be a guide plate 32P formed of a plate material such as metal or resin. When the guide plate 32P is used, the structure of the restricting means can be simplified. Moreover, when an upper conveyance belt or a guide plate is used, manufacturing and handling are easy, and the cost can be kept low.

Next, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a linked packaged product according to the present invention will be described. In the method for manufacturing a linked packaged product according to the present embodiment, a manufacturing process, a folding process, a regulation process, a packaging process, a joining process, and a cutting process are executed. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent article 3 is conveyed as indicated by a black arrow, and these steps are sequentially executed by the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20 and the units 10A to 10E, respectively. 7 to 9 are diagrams for explaining a method of manufacturing a linked packaged product. Among these, FIGS. 7 to 8 schematically show the top surfaces of absorbent articles and the like in each manufacturing process (the upper side of the drawing is the upstream side in the conveying direction, the lower side is the downstream side), and FIG. The cross section of the absorbent article etc. in a process is shown typically.

In the manufacturing process, the absorbent article 3 is continuously manufactured by the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20. In this Embodiment, the absorbent article 3 is a pants-type diaper as shown to FIG. 7 (A), and is provided with the waist part 3a which covers a wearer's waist, and the crotch part 3b containing an absorber. In the crotch portion 3b, the end of the abdomen portion 3b1 is coupled to the abdomen side surface 3a1 of the waistline portion 3a, and the end portion of the back side portion 3b2 is coupled to the back side surface 3a2 of the waistline portion 3a.

The manufactured absorbent article 3 is sequentially transported to the folding unit 10A by the transport belt 21 directly connected to the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20. The diaper of the absorbent article 3 is conveyed so that the crotch portion 3b is located on the downstream side. At this time, the processing amount when the absorbent article 3 is manufactured by the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20, that is, the number of units manufactured per unit time, and the processing amount when the absorbent article 3 is transported by the transport belt 21, that is, unit time. The number of hits is the same. Since the processing amount of the conveyor belt 21 is the same as the processing amount of each unit 10A to 10E, it can be said that the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 20 and each unit 10A to 10E are continuously manufactured and packaged. .

In the folding step, the manufactured absorbent article 3 is folded by the folding unit 10A. That is, in the folding unit 10A, the absorbent article 3 is continuously conveyed while being sandwiched between the

conveyor belts

21 and 22, and the central portion of the absorbent article 3 in the conveyance direction has come to a position between the conveyance rolls 22a and 23a. At the timing, the central portion of the absorbent article 3 is projected by the folded plate 24 in the thickness direction. Thereby, the absorbent article 3 is pushed in between the transport rolls 22a and 23a while being folded in two, and is sandwiched between the pair of

transport belts

22 and 23. The absorbent article 3 folded in two is sequentially transported to the regulation unit 10B by the pair of

transport belts

22, 23 and the transport belt 25.

7 (A), the diaper of the absorbent article 3 is folded as shown in FIG. 7 (B) and FIG. 9 (A) when the folding plate 24 contacts the crease FL. In the example of this figure, the crease FL is formed so as to pass through the vicinity of the end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the waistline portion 3a. Thereafter, the absorbent article 3 is conveyed so that the crease FL is positioned on the downstream side of the absorbent article 3. The width of the absorbent article 3 in the transverse direction is W1, which is substantially the same as before the folding step. The thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction is H1, which is increased by folding.

Here, in the present embodiment, absorption is performed such that the portion having the widest width in the transverse direction in the folded absorbent article 3 is located in the front half (downstream side) of the absorbent article 3 in the transport direction. The property article 3 is conveyed in the conveyance direction.

In the regulation process, the size of the folded absorbent article 3 is regulated by the regulation unit 10B. That is, in the regulation unit 10 B, the absorbent article 3 that has been conveyed (folded) by the conveyance belt 25 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by the lower conveyance belt 31. At this time, in the pair of regulating members 33, the inner transverse distance ds1 of the upstream end portion 33a (FIG. 4A) is longer than the transverse width W1 of the absorbent article 3 before the regulating step and is absorbent. It is set to be long enough to absorb the displacement of the article 3 in the transverse direction. Therefore, the absorbent article 3 is easily inserted into the space 33 s regardless of whether or not there is a displacement in the transverse direction. And when the absorbent article 3 is conveyed in the space 33s from the upstream side to the downstream side, the inner transverse distance becomes shorter as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side, so that the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 is increased. It is regulated by the regulating member 33 and becomes smaller. As a result, the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 is the same as the inner transverse distance de1 of the downstream end portion 33b of the regulating member 33 at the downstream end portion 33b of the regulating member 33 (FIG. 4B). And is carried out of the regulating member 33. As described above, the absorbent article 3 is passed between the pair of regulating members 33, whereby the width in the transverse direction is regulated to de1. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7C, the diaper of the absorbent article 3 has a transverse width of W2≈del, which is smaller than the transverse width W1 before the regulation step. Thereby, a repulsive force that spreads in the transverse direction is generated in the absorbent article 3.

Further, since the width W2 of the absorbent article 3 is de1, and de1 ≦ first dimension D01, the absorbent article 3 is crossed by passing the absorbent article 3 between the pair of regulating members 33. The width in the direction can be easily regulated to the first dimension D01 or less.

Further, in the regulation unit 10B, in the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32, the inner vertical distance ds2 of the upstream end (FIG. 4A) is the vertical direction of the absorbent article 3 before the regulation process. It is set to be longer than the thickness H1. Therefore, the absorbent article 3 is easily inserted into the space 33s in the vertical direction. And when the absorbent article 3 is conveyed in the space 33s from the upstream side to the downstream side, the inner vertical distance becomes shorter as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side, so the thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction Is restricted by the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32 and becomes smaller. As a result, the thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction at the end portion 33b on the downstream side (FIG. 4B) of the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32 is the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt. 32 is the inner vertical distance de2 of the downstream end portion 33b, and is unloaded from the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32. As described above, the absorbent article 3 is passed between the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32, whereby the thickness in the vertical direction is regulated to de2. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9B, the diaper of the absorbent article 3 has a vertical thickness H2≈de2, which is smaller than the vertical thickness H1 before the regulation step. Thereby, a repulsive force is generated in the absorbent article 3 to spread in the vertical direction.

Further, since the thickness H2 of the absorbent article 3 is de2, and de2 ≦ second dimension D02, the absorbent article 3 is passed between the lower conveyance belt 31 and the upper conveyance belt 32. The thickness of the absorbent article 3 can be easily regulated to the second dimension D02 or less. Moreover, it can avoid that the conveyance speed of the absorbent article 3 falls by being regulated between a pair of control members 33 by assisting conveyance of the absorbent article 3 with the upper conveyance belt 32.

The diaper of the absorbent article 3 has various modes as to how the size of the absorbent article 3 is regulated depending on the size of the width W1 and the thickness H1 in the transverse direction before the regulation step and the material of the absorbent article 3. Can be considered. For example, in the case where the width W1 of the absorbent article 3 is small, the end portion in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 (example: the end portion of the waistline portion 3a) is mainly regulated or compressed, The portion (example: absorbent body of the crotch portion 3b) may not be regulated or compressed so much. On the other hand, when the width W1 of the absorbent article 3 is large, not only the transverse end portion of the absorbent article 3 is restricted or compressed, but also the central portion in the transverse direction is similarly restricted or compressed. There is a case.

In the packaging process, the absorbent article 3 whose size is regulated is packaged by a cylindrical continuous sheet by the packaging unit 10C. That is, the continuous sheet 4a is supplied to the bending member 43 from the lower side of the lower conveyance belt 31, and while being conveyed in the conveyance direction, both side edge portions in the transverse direction are lifted by the bending member 43, and the both edge portions thereof The parts are overlapped. As a result, a cylindrical continuous sheet 4b having an overlapping portion extending in the transport direction is formed, the inner dimension in the transverse direction is the first dimension D01, and the inner dimension in the vertical direction is the second dimension D02. . On the other hand, the absorbent article 3 conveyed from the regulation unit 10B is regulated by the regulation unit 10B so that the width is W2≈de1 ≦ D01 and the thickness is H2≈de2 ≦ D02. Therefore, the regulated absorbent article 3 is easily inserted into the continuous sheet 4 b that is being formed into a cylindrical shape within the bending member 43. As a result, a cylindrical continuous sheet 4b including the absorbent article 3 is formed.

The cylindrical continuous sheet 4b containing the absorbent article 3 is conveyed in the conveyance direction by the conveyance belt 45, and the above-described overlapping portion formed on the continuous sheet 4b is sealed by the vertical sealer 44, and the vertical seal Portion 6 (FIG. 1) is formed. Thereby, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is held in a shape in which the inner dimension in the transverse direction is approximately the first dimension D01, and the inner dimension in the vertical direction is approximately the second dimension D02. At this time, the diaper of the absorbent article 3 has a repulsive force that spreads in the transverse direction or the up-down direction. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9C, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is attached to the diaper. It is stretched to spread from the inside. Therefore, since the absorbent article 3 is pressed from the periphery by the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b, the absorbent article 3 can be positioned at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b. That is, the absorbent article can be fixed at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet.

In the joining step, the front and back of the absorbent article in the cylindrical continuous sheet containing the absorbent article 3 are joined to form the packaged article assembly 8. That is, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b including the absorbent article 3 is further conveyed to the horizontal sealer 53 in the conveyance direction while being held between the pair of

conveyance belts

51 and 52. The portion between the absorbent articles 3 adjacent to each other in the continuous sheet 4b is sealed in the transverse direction by the pair of pressing

members

54, 55 of the transverse sealer 53 to form the transverse seal portion 5 (FIG. 1), and the transverse seal is formed. A weakening line 7 (FIG. 1) is formed in the portion 5. Thereby, the packaged article connection body 8 is formed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), the diaper of the absorbent article 3 is stretched so that each packaged product 2 of the packaged product coupling body 8 is expanded from the inside.

At this time, since the absorbent article 3 is positioned even if a part of the air in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b flows to the upstream side with the formation of the lateral seal portion 5, the upstream cylindrical shape is positioned. The position of the absorbent article 3 in the continuous sheet 4b becomes difficult to shift. Thereby, the situation that the absorbent article 3 in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b will be pinched | interposed into the horizontal seal part 5 in subsequent formation of the horizontal seal part 5 can be prevented.

In the cutting step, the packaged product assembly 8 is cut and divided into a predetermined number of the packaged product 2 to form the coupled packaged product 1. That is, the packaged article assembly 8 is conveyed in the conveying direction while being held between the pair of conveying

belts

61 and 62, and is conveyed while being held between the pair of

rollers

64 and 65. When the packaged article coupling body 8 is not to be cut, the

rollers

64 and 65 convey the packaged article coupling body 8 at substantially the same speed as the

conveyor belts

61 and 62. On the other hand, when the packaged article coupling body 8 is to be cut, the

rollers

64 and 65 convey the packaged article coupling body 8 at a higher speed than the conveying

belts

61 and 62. As a result, since the upstream portion of the packaged article coupling body 8 is gripped by the

conveyor belts

61 and 62, the packaged article coupling body 8 is cut along the weakening line 7. In this way, a linked packaged product 1 in which a predetermined number of packaged products 2 are linked is formed.

The linked packaged product 1 is conveyed in the conveying direction while being gripped between the pair of conveying

belts

66 and 67, and is conveyed to a packing device for packing the linked packaged product 1.

As described above, the linked packaged product 1 is manufactured.

As described above, in the present invention, the width in the transverse direction of the absorbent article 3 is regulated to be smaller than the first dimension D01 in the regulation process, and the inner dimension is the first dimension D01 in the packaging process. Since the absorbent article 3 is accommodated in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is expanded and stretched from the inside by the absorbent article 3. As a result, the absorbent article 3 is pressed from the periphery by the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b, and the absorbent article 3 can be positioned at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b. That is, the absorbent article 3 can be fixed at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b.

When the absorbent article 3 is positioned, the absorbent article 3 in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is difficult to move back and forth and from side to side, and therefore the position of the center of gravity of the absorbent article 3 in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b. Is difficult to shift back and forth and left and right. Thereby, when the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b is continuously extended from the packaging unit 10C to the cutting unit 10E for a very long time and is continuously conveyed in the conveying direction while containing the plurality of absorbent articles 3. However, since it is difficult for the entire sheet to shift, meander, or bend in the transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction, the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b can be stably conveyed in the conveyance direction.

Further, if the absorbent article 3 can be positioned at a predetermined position in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b, the absorbent article 3 in the cylindrical continuous sheet 4b becomes difficult to move back and forth, and left and right. 1 also makes it difficult for the absorbent article 3 to move within the packaging bag 4. As a result, when the linked packaged product 1 is packed in a packaging box 100 such as a cardboard box, there is almost no deviation of the absorbent article 3 in the packaging bag 4, so as shown in FIG. 10 (A) and FIG. 10 (B). The packaged product 2 can be easily aligned and arranged in the packaging box 100. Therefore, even if the packaging box is shaken by transportation or the like, the arrangement of the packaged product 2 is not easily disturbed in the packaging box 100, so that the absorbent article is deformed or crushed. It can be prevented that the absorbent body is deformed and the absorption power is reduced.

In the said embodiment, conveying the absorbent article 3 in a conveyance direction so that the location where the width of the transverse direction in the absorbent article 3 is the widest is located in the half of the downstream (front side) in the absorbent article 3. Is preferred. At the boundary between the regulation process and the packaging process, in the absorbent article 3, the upstream side (rear side) half remains in the regulation member 33 (the width is regulated), and the downstream half is from the regulation member 33. There is a moment when it pops out (released from the regulation of width). At that time, if the location with the widest transverse width is located in the downstream half, the downstream half gains time to recover its shape while the upstream half is regulated in width. be able to. As a result, while the width of the upstream half is restricted, or as soon as it is released from the restriction of the width, the portion having the widest transverse width of the downstream half may stretch the continuous sheet. it can. Thereby, an absorbent article can be positioned by the predetermined position in a continuous sheet.

In the above embodiment, the upper conveyance belt 32 or the guide plate 32P regulates the thickness of the absorbent article 3 in the vertical direction, but the present embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, when the vertical thickness of the absorbent article 3 and its variation are small and the vertical regulation is not necessary, the vertical thickness of the absorbent article 3 may not be regulated. In that case, the upper conveyance belt 32 or the guide plate 32P can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the absorbent article 3 is folded only once, but the present embodiment is not limited to this example, and may not be folded, or may be folded two or more times. In the case of folding twice or more, it is preferable to transport the absorbent article 3 so that the uppermost fold line is positioned on the downstream side of the absorbent article 3. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the portion of the absorbent article 3 ahead of the fold from being swung up by the upper conveyance belt 32.

In addition, when the recoverability of the width | variety of an absorbent article is weak, an absorbent article 3 is located so that the location where the width of the transverse direction in the absorbent article 3 is the widest may be located in the upstream half in the absorbent article 3. 3 may be transported in the transport direction. At the boundary between the regulation process and the packaging process, there is a moment when the downstream half of the absorbent article 3 has left the regulation member 33 and the downstream half has jumped out of the regulation member 33. At that time, if the location where the width in the transverse direction is the widest, that is, the position of the center of gravity of the absorbent article is in the position in the downstream half, the upstream half is restricted and cannot move. The half on the side is deregulated, making it easier to move. For this reason, the absorbent article easily swings around the upstream half, and the direction of the absorbent article becomes unstable with respect to the transport direction. The instability can be suppressed by setting the location near the center of gravity of the absorbent article to a position in the upstream half.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Linked packaging product 2 Packaged product 3 Absorbent article 4 Packaging bag 4a Continuous sheet 4b Cylindrical continuous sheet 10 Linked packaging product manufacturing apparatus

10A Folding unit

10B Restriction unit

10C Packaging unit

10D Joining unit 10E Cutting unit

Claims

A method for producing a linked packaged product in which a plurality of packaged products are linked in one direction,
Each of the plurality of packaged items includes an absorbent article and a packaging bag for packaging the absorbent article,
The method for producing the linked packaged product is as follows:
A regulation step for regulating the width of the absorbent article in the transverse direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction to be equal to or less than the first dimension while sequentially conveying a plurality of absorbent articles arranged in one direction in the conveyance direction;
A packaging step of sequentially supplying and packaging the plurality of the absorbent articles after the regulation inside a continuous sheet that is continuously formed in a cylindrical shape while being conveyed in the conveying direction, A packaging process in which the transverse inner dimension of the continuous sheet is the first dimension;
While transporting the cylindrical continuous sheet containing the plurality of absorbent articles in the transport direction, the inner surface of the cylinder faces the portion between the absorbent articles adjacent to each other in the cylindrical continuous sheet. A joining step for joining the continuous sheets;
Comprising
A method for manufacturing linked packaging products.
In the regulation process,
The lower conveyor belt conveys the absorbent article in the conveyance direction,
A pair of opposing regulation members disposed on both sides in the transverse direction of the space on which the absorbent article on the lower conveyance belt is conveyed, the inner sides of the pair of regulation members in the transverse direction Between the pair of restricting members formed so that the distance decreases from the upstream side in the transport direction toward the downstream side and becomes equal to or less than the first dimension at the downstream end in the transport direction. Restricting the transverse width of the absorbent article by passing the absorbent article through
A method for producing a linked packaged product according to claim 1.
The regulation step includes a thickness regulation step for regulating the thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction perpendicular to the transport direction and the transverse direction to be equal to or less than a second dimension,
The inner dimension in the vertical direction of the cylindrical continuous sheet is the second dimension,
In the thickness regulating step, an upper conveyance belt disposed above the lower conveyance belt so as to face the lower conveyance belt, and a distance between the lower conveyance belt and the upper conveyance belt is An upper conveying belt formed so as to become shorter from the upstream side in the conveying direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and to be equal to or smaller than the second dimension at an end portion on the downstream side in the conveying direction; Regulating the thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction by passing the absorbent article between the lower conveyor belt,
A method for producing a linked packaged product according to claim 2.
In the regulation step, the thickness of the absorbent article in the vertical direction is regulated by the upper conveying belt after the absorbent article enters between the pair of regulating members.
A method for producing a linked packaged product according to claim 3.
The pair of regulating members are belts or guide plates,
The manufacturing method of the connection packaging product as described in any one of Claim 2 thru | or 4.
In the packaging process,
Supplying the continuous sheet from the lower side of the lower conveying belt to the bending member disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the lower conveying belt in the conveying direction;
While conveying the continuous sheet in the conveying direction, the folding member lifts both side edges in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet into a cylindrical shape, and above the central portion in the transverse direction of the continuous sheet, Join both side edges continuously,
The manufacturing method of the connection packaging product as described in any one of Claims 2 thru | or 5.
The absorbent article is transported in the transport direction so that the portion having the widest width in the transverse direction in the absorbent article is located in the front half of the transport direction in the absorbent article,
The manufacturing method of the connection packaging product as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6.
The absorbent article is transported in the transport direction so that the portion having the widest width in the transverse direction in the absorbent article is located in the rear half of the transport direction in the absorbent article,
The manufacturing method of the connection packaging product as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7.