JP2001212174A - Method for widening elastic member and widening mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To extend a cut piece in the width direction while feeding a transversely stretchable elastic member stretchable in a width direction in a longitudinal direction, cutting a tip portion, and sucking both ends of the cut piece, Provided are a method and a mechanism for simplifying the structure of a manufacturing apparatus. SOLUTION: A continuous web composed of a laterally stretchable elastic member S which can be extended in a width direction Y is fed in a longitudinal direction X and fed to a cutting position P1. At the cutting position P1, the front end St of the continuous web is cut while the front end St in the longitudinal direction X of the continuous web is sucked by the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 20, and a cut piece Sc is generated. While sucking both ends of the cut piece Sc in the width direction Y with the suction members 61 and 62, the width of the cut piece Sc is increased such that both ends of the cut piece Sc are separated from each other and the cut piece Sc is pulled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a widening of a laterally stretchable elastic member of a wearing product such as a pants-type paper diaper and a training pants for infants.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in pants-type diapers, elastic members are provided in gathers around the waist and around the legs to improve fit, in order to prevent leakage of excrement and improve wearability. For example, see Japanese Patent No. 2532824). Such an elastic member, in an extended state, is generally
Affixed to the inner surface of the backsheet (for example,
63-317576, JP-B 7-59242, JP-B 7-80610). FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional method of attaching such an elastic member.
Shown in

In FIG. 9, a web S1 of an elastic member is
The distal end portion is cut in a state of being extended in the longitudinal direction X, and a cut piece Sc is generated. After the cut piece Sc is turned by 90 ° to change the posture, the cut piece Sc is attached to the inner surface of another continuous web called a back sheet B at a predetermined pitch P.

[0004]

In such a conventional attaching method, it is necessary to change the posture for each cut piece Sc.
Moreover, while changing the posture of the cut piece Sc, each cut piece S
It is necessary to adjust the pitch P of c. Therefore, it is inevitable that the manufacturing apparatus becomes complicated. Therefore, the present invention is to provide a method and a mechanism for solving such a conventional problem.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a widening method according to the present invention comprises feeding a continuous web of a transversely stretchable elastic member capable of being stretched in a width direction in a longitudinal direction to a cutting position. While cutting the longitudinal end of the continuous web at the cutting position on the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller, cut the distal end of the continuous web to produce a cut piece,
While sucking both ends in the width direction of the cut piece with a suction member, the width of the cut piece is increased such that both ends of the cut piece are separated from each other and the cut piece is pulled.

[0006] The cutting and widening mechanism according to the present invention, which is suitable for realizing such a widening method, rotates the continuous web made of a laterally stretchable elastic member which can be stretched in the width direction while rotating the continuous web while sucking the longitudinal end. A suction roller that feeds the web in the longitudinal direction, and a cutter that cuts a longitudinal end of the continuous web to generate a cut piece on the suction roller, and suctions both ends in the width direction of the cut piece. A widening device that receives the cut piece from the suction roller, and extends the width of the cut piece by pulling the cut piece so as to move both ends of the cut piece away from each other while sucking both ends of the received cut piece. ing.

On the other hand, the widening mechanism of the present invention is a widening mechanism for widening a cut piece formed by cutting a longitudinal end portion of a continuous web made of a transversely stretchable elastic member which can be stretched in a width direction, A pair of left and right suction portions provided with suction nozzles for suctioning both end portions in the width direction of the cut piece, and the suction portion at the outer peripheral end portion, and in a state facing each other obliquely in the shape of "C", A pair of rotors that rotate in synchronization with each other, and with the rotation of the rotor, when the space between the suction units is reduced, both ends of the cut piece are sucked to receive the cut piece, and the rotor The width of the cut piece is widened by increasing the interval between the suction portions with the rotation of.

In the present invention, the term "laterally stretchable elastic member which can be stretched in the width direction" does not mean that it does not stretch at all in the longitudinal direction, but extends far more greatly in the width direction than in the longitudinal direction. It refers to a material that can shrink due to the elasticity of the member after stretching.

For example, in the case of a disposable diaper, such a laterally stretched elastic member is laminated so as to be interposed between a back sheet and a top sheet. The back sheet and the top sheet are, for example, a nonwoven fabric of fiber or a resin film laminated on the nonwoven fabric, and an absorbent core is laminated between the two sheets as necessary.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, prior to the detailed description of the manufacturing method and apparatus, an outline of the manufacturing method will be described.

[0011] As shown in overall schematic 1, the continuous web "following the backsheet B, simply referred to as" backsheet B ". ) Is fed (unwound) along the application roller 10. On the other hand, a continuous web made of the laterally stretched elastic member S (hereinafter, simply referred to as “laterally stretchable elastic member S”) is fed along the suction roller 20, and is elongated on the suction roller 20 by a cutter (cutting machine) 30. The tip St in the direction X is cut.

The cut pieces Sc generated by the cutting are sucked by the wide-width sticking device W at both ends Sb in the width direction Y and received by the wide-width sticking device W. The widening sticking device W presses against the surface of the back sheet B on the sticking roller 10 (which is an inner surface after finishing the product) after rotating about 180 ° while stretching both ends Sb of the cut piece Sc in the width direction Y. It is attached.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 2, the cut pieces Sc in the stretched state are adhered on the back sheet B at a constant pitch P. Note that a continuous web of a top sheet T (hereinafter, simply referred to as “top sheet T”) is laminated on the back sheet B, and the laminated body is cut into a predetermined shape and then folded to form a pants-type. Become a diaper. Also,
If necessary, an absorbent core and other members are laminated or attached to form a product. However, in this embodiment, the absorbent core and the method of laminating the absorbent core are not shown in order to facilitate understanding of the contents.

FIG. 3 is a side layout diagram showing a part of the production line. The back sheet B and the top sheet T are respectively unwound along a number of rollers 1 and 2 from an unwinding roller (not shown), and are glued on the surface by a gluing device 4 and then along the sticking roller 10. Sent.

The laterally stretchable elastic member S is unwound along a number of rollers 3 from an unillustrated unwinding roller, and is supplied along a suction roller 20 in a longitudinal direction X to a cutting position P1. A tension controller 5 and a meandering prevention mechanism 6 are provided on the feeding path of the laterally stretchable elastic member S. The tension controller 5 adjusts the tension of the laterally extending elastic member S in the longitudinal direction X to a small value. The meandering prevention mechanism 6 suppresses the laterally extending elastic member S from meandering in the width direction Y. Although not shown, the tension controller 5 and the meandering prevention mechanism 6 are also provided in the feeding path of the back sheet B and the top sheet T.

Suction roller 20 As shown in FIGS.
A number 0 of the first suction nozzles 21 are provided at 0 in the entire circumferential direction and in the width direction Y. Each first suction nozzle 21 is open to the outer surface of the suction roller 20, and is for sucking the tip St in the longitudinal direction X and the cut piece Sc of the laterally stretched elastic member S before cutting in FIG. is there. Each of the first suction nozzles 21 communicates with the first fixed arc groove 23 of FIGS. 6 and 7 at a predetermined timing via a communication lateral hole 22 provided in the suction roller 20.

The first fixed arc groove 23 is formed in an annular member 25 fixed to the bearing housing 24 shown in FIG. 6, and communicates with the suction pipe 26 shown in FIG. The suction pipe 26 is always sucked under a negative pressure,
In correspondence with the position where the first fixed arc groove 23 is provided,
A suction force acts on the first suction nozzle 21 in FIG. 4, and therefore, the tip St and the cut piece Sc are suctioned to the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 20 during the suction section α1.

As shown in the cutter 30 5, wherein the suction roller 20, the cutter roller 31 is positioned so as to circumscribe. A cutter 34 is fixed to the cutter roller 31 via mounting pieces 32 and 33. The cutter roller 31 rotates in the opposite direction in synchronization with the suction roller 20,
Each time the cutter makes one rotation, the cutting tool 34 comes into contact with the chopping base 27 at the cutting position P1, and the cutting tool 34 cuts the tip St of the laterally extending elastic member S to generate a cut piece Sc. The chopping base 27 is provided for the suction roller 2.
It is embedded and fixed at 0. The blade 34 is
The amount of protrusion from the cutter roller 31 can be adjusted by the adjusting screw 35.

The first suction nozzles 21 communicate with the first pressure holes 28 of FIG. 7 at predetermined timings via the communication lateral holes 22. The first pressure hole 28 is formed in the annular member 25 and communicates with a pressure pipe 29. The pressurizing pipe 29 always feeds pressurized air under pressure. Accordingly, the negative pressure state of the first suction nozzle 21 in FIG. 4 is changed corresponding to the position where the first pressurizing hole 28 is provided. Thus, the suction state of the cut piece Sc is released during the release section β1, and the cut piece Sc is easily separated from the surface of the suction roller 20.

As shown in the widening attachment device W Figure 6, the wider sticking apparatus W is generally provided with a pair of widening unit W1, W2 symmetric to each other.
Each of the widening units W1, W2 includes a fixed disk 40, a transfer rotor 50, a pair of suction blocks 60, 60, and pressing blocks 70, 70. The widening units W1 and W2 and the parts 40 to 70 face each other obliquely in a “C” shape (not parallel to each other,
(And opposed to each other). In addition,
The intervals between the respective parts 40 to 70 such as the transfer rotors 50 and 50 are arranged in such a manner as to spread as the distance from the suction roller 20 to the application roller 10 (FIG. 4) increases.

The fixed disk 40 is fixed to a bearing housing 41. The fixed circular plate 40 has a second fixed circular arc groove 42 shown in FIG. The transfer rotor 50 is rotatably attached to the bearing housing 41 shown in FIG. The pair of suction blocks 60 are fixed to the outer peripheral end of the rotor 50. As shown in FIG. 8B, a thrust bearing 51 made of tetrafluoroethylene resin (Teflon: trademark) is interposed between the transfer rotor 50 and the fixed disk 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of suction blocks 60 are separated from each other in the rotation direction of the transfer rotor 50.
It is located 80 ° away. The suction block 60 of the first widening unit W1 and the suction block 60 of the second widening unit W2 in FIG. 6 are arranged at positions obliquely facing each other. Therefore, when the pair of rotors 50 rotate at substantially the same angular velocity, the suction blocks 60 of both the widening units W1 and W2 are kept facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing block 70 is fixed to the suction block 60 adjacent to the inside of the suction block 60. Therefore, the pressing blocks 70 of both the widening units W1 and W2 are maintained in the same state as the suction block 60.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, each suction block 60 is provided with several second suction nozzles 62. Each of the second suction nozzles 62 is open toward the outer peripheral direction of the transfer rotor 50, and shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, both ends Sb of the cut piece Sc are sucked. The second suction nozzles 62 communicate with the second fixed arc grooves 42 of the fixed disk 40 at predetermined timings through communication holes 52 provided in the transfer rotor 50, respectively.

The second fixed arc groove 42 shown in FIG. 7 communicates with a suction pipe (not shown) and is always sucked at a negative pressure.
Accordingly, a suction force acts on the second suction nozzle 62 in FIG. 4 corresponding to the position where the second fixed arc groove 42 is provided. Therefore, during the suction section α2, the cut piece S
c is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the suction block 60.
That is, the cut piece Sc that has been adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the suction roller 20 passes the suction section α1 and reaches the transfer position P2, where it is adsorbed on the outer peripheral surface of the suction block 60 and received by the suction block 60.

At the time of this reception, since the cut piece Sc exists on the release section β1, the suction by the suction roller 20 is released. Therefore, the cut pieces Sc can be easily transferred from the surface of the suction roller 20 to the surface of the suction block 60. Further, in the suction roller 20 of FIG. 6, two concave contact grooves 20b are formed in the circumferential direction so as to conform to the convex outer curved surface of the suction block 60 so that the suction block 60 can easily come into surface contact with the cut piece Sc. I have.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer rotor 50 and the suction block 60 are arranged so as to circumscribe the suction roller 20 and the sticking roller 10, and synchronize with the suction roller 20 and the sticking roller 10 in opposite directions. To rotate. On the opposite side of the transfer position P2, that is, at the sticking position P3 rotated by 180 ° from the transfer position P2, as described below,
The cut piece Sc is stuck on the back sheet B.

Each of the second suction nozzles 62 is
Through the communication hole 52 (FIG. 8 (b)), it communicates with the second pressure hole 43 of FIG. 7 at a predetermined timing. The second pressure hole 43
Is formed on the fixed disk 40 and communicates with a pressure pipe (not shown). The pressurizing pipe constantly feeds pressurized air, and therefore the second pressurizing hole 43
The second suction nozzle 6 in FIG.
2, the suction state of the cut piece Sc is released during the release section β2, and the cut piece Sc is easily separated from the surface of the suction block 60.

As shown in FIG. 6, the widening unit W
1 and W2 face each other in a “C” shape, and the interval between the suction blocks 60 and 60 facing each other is
It becomes narrowest at the transfer position P2 shown in FIG. 4, while it becomes widest at the sticking position P3. Therefore, the cut piece Sc sucked by the suction blocks 60 at the transfer position P2 is moved to the sticking position P3.
Is in a state of being widened.

The pressing block 70 shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the suction block 60 inside the suction block 60 and adjacent to the suction block 60. The pressing block 70 can adjust and fix the radial position of the transfer rotor 50 with respect to the suction block 60. At the transfer position P2 (FIG. 4), the surface of the pressing block 70 is set at a position slightly retracted from the suction block 60, while the pair of transfer rotors 50, 50 face obliquely as described above. Therefore, at the sticking position P3 (FIG. 4), the surface of the pressing block 70 is
Is set at a position that is substantially flush with the surface of. Therefore, the pressing block 70 includes the suction blocks 60 and 6.
FIG. 4 shows the cut piece Sc held in the widened state by being attracted to the zero.
Can be pressed against the surface of the back sheet B. Thereby, the cut piece Sc in the widened state is attached to the back sheet B. It is preferable that the outer peripheral ends of the suction block 60 and the pressing block 70 be made of a material having high elasticity such as silicone rubber.

Rotational force transmission system Next, a brief description will be given of means for transmitting the rotational force of the suction roller 20, the cutter roller 31, and the transfer rotor 50. The suction roller 20, the cutter roller 31
The transfer rotors 50, 50 are rotated by a single drive motor (not shown), so that they rotate in synchronization with each other.

The suction roller 20 rotates integrally with the rotation shaft 20a shown in FIG. The rotating shaft 20a and a rotating shaft (not shown) of the cutter roller 31 are connected via a timing belt, and rotate synchronously with each other.

In FIG. 6, the widening sticking device W includes:
From the input shaft 80 to the first constant velocity joint 81 and the first driven shaft 8
2, rotational force is sequentially transmitted to the second constant velocity joint 83, the transmission shaft 84, the third constant velocity joint 85, and the second driven shaft 86. The driven shafts 82, 86 transmit a rotational force to the transfer rotors 50, 50. Each of the constant velocity joints 81, 83, and 85 has a well-known structure, and the joints of the two axes joined in the constant velocity joint are always on a plane that bisects the intersection angle. The shafts are rotated at substantially equal angular velocities (see, for example,
Nos. 28, 101256 and 51071). As the constant velocity joint, for example, a joint manufactured by NTN Corporation can be adopted.

[0034] cutting and widen and sticking method will now be described in detail of the manufacturing method. In FIG. 1, the laterally stretched elastic member S is fed along the suction roller 20 in the longitudinal direction X to a cutting position P1. The distal end St of the laterally stretched elastic member S is sucked by the suction roller 20 and pulled in the longitudinal direction X in FIG. 5, while slipping against the surface of the suction roller 20 in FIG. 5 due to the resistance of the feeding path. . Thereby, the moving speed of the laterally extending elastic member S is smaller than the moving speed of the cut pieces Sc, and the cut pieces Sc can be provided with an interval. Further, while the suction roller 20 makes one rotation (360 ° rotation), the tip St of the laterally stretched elastic member S is unwound in the longitudinal direction X from the cutting position P1 by one piece of the cut piece Sc.

The cutter roller 31 makes one revolution while the suction roller 20 makes one revolution, and the tip of the blade 34 contacts the chopping base 27 at the cutting position P1, whereby the tip St is cut off and the tip end St is cut off. A long cut piece Sc is generated. Since the cut piece Sc is separated from the laterally stretched elastic member S, the cut piece Sc is not attracted to the surface of the suction roller 20 and slips on the surface of the suction roller 20, and at the same speed as the suction roller 20 in the longitudinal direction of FIG. X is transferred to the transfer position P2. Accordingly, the cut pieces Sc are attached on the back sheet B at a pitch P (FIG. 2) corresponding to the rotation cycle of the suction roller 20 and the cutter roller 31.

In FIG. 4, when the cut piece Sc is fed to the delivery position P2, the rotation of the transfer rotor 50 causes the suction block 60 to approach the delivery position P2. At this time, the suction state of the cut piece Sc by the suction roller 20 starts to be released, and the cut piece Sc is released.
Suction nozzle 6 of suction block 60 that comes into contact with
2 suctions the cut piece Sc under a negative pressure. Thereby, the cut piece S
c is received from the suction roller 20 by the widening application device W.

After the receipt, the suction block 60 moves to about 1
By rotating by 80 °, the cut piece Sc is moved to the transfer position P.
2 to the sticking position P3. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the suction blocks 60,
By 60, the cut piece Sc is widened in the width direction Y. At the sticking position P3, the pressing blocks 70, 70
Press the cut piece Sc against the surface of the back sheet B. On the other hand, the suction block 60 releases the suction state after passing the sticking position P3.
Are attached on the back sheet B at a predetermined pitch P as shown in FIG.

As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art can easily envisage various changes and modifications within the obvious scope by referring to the present specification. Would. For example, after incorporating the suction roller 20 into the widening sticking device W and cutting the laterally stretchable elastic member S, the cut piece Sc is attached to the back sheet B without passing the cut piece Sc from the suction roller 20 to the widening sticking device W. May be. Further, the suction block 60 and the pressing block 70 in FIG. 6 may be formed integrally, or
The suction block 60 may be formed integrally with the transfer rotor 50. Further, it is not necessary to join a pair of transfer rotors with a constant velocity joint, and the two rotors may be synchronously rotated by two separate motors, or the power of a single motor may be transmitted to each rotor by a gear or the like. Good. Further, the cut piece Sc may be attached to another discontinuous web instead of the continuous web. Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The transversely stretchable elastic member that can be stretched in the width direction is sent in the longitudinal direction to cut the tip, and the cut piece is expanded in the width direction while suctioning both ends of the cut piece. There is no need to rotate, thus simplifying the structure of the manufacturing apparatus.

Further, by slipping the continuous web of the laterally stretched elastic member on the suction roller, the moving speed of the cut pieces is made larger than that of the continuous web of the laterally stretchable elastic member, and the interval between the respective cut pieces can be reduced with a simple structure. And the cut pieces can be pasted on another web.

Further, if a suction portion is provided at the outer peripheral end of a pair of rotors rotating in a state where they face each other obliquely in the shape of "C", the distance between the pair of suction portions may be increased with the rotation of the rotor. Alternately widen and narrow. Therefore, the width of the cut piece can be increased without providing a cam mechanism or the like, so that the structure of the apparatus is simplified.

Further, if power is transmitted from rotor to rotor by a constant velocity joint, the rotors obliquely inclined to each other can be synchronously rotated by a simple and compact structure.

Further, by providing a pressing portion inside the suction section separately from the suction section in which many suction nozzles are opened,
The cut piece can be securely attached to another web.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a cutting / widening / pasting method according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the whole method of manufacturing a product.

FIG. 3 is a side layout diagram showing the entire production line.

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional side view showing a cutting, widening, and sticking mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a cutting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional plan view showing a widening / adhering mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an air path for suction and blow.

FIG. 8 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing details of a suction block.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional widening attaching method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Adhering roller 20: Suction roller 21: First suction nozzle 30: Cutter 50: Transfer rotor 60: Suction block 62: Second suction nozzle 70: Pressing block 83: Second constant velocity joint 85: Third constant velocity joint W : Widening sticking device S: Lateral elastic member Sc: Cut piece St: Tip P1: Cutting position P2: Delivery position P3: Sticking position

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A continuous web comprising a laterally stretchable elastic member which can be stretched in a width direction is fed in a longitudinal direction and fed to a cutting position, and at the cutting position, a front end of the continuous web in a longitudinal direction is placed on an outer periphery of a suction roller. While suctioning on the surface, the cutting end of the continuous web is cut to produce a cut piece, and both ends of the cut piece are separated from each other while sucking both ends in the width direction of the cut piece with a suction member. A method of widening an elastic member, wherein the width of the cut piece is increased so as to pull the cut piece. 2. The method for attaching an elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the widened cut piece is attached to another web. 3. The web according to claim 2, wherein the moving speed of the cut piece is set to be higher than the moving speed of the continuous web before the cutting, so that the widened cut piece is spaced apart from the other web by a predetermined distance. A method of sticking an elastic member that can be stuck. 4. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the suction roller is rotated while the leading end of the continuous web before cutting is sucked by an outer peripheral surface of the suction roller, and the continuous web is slipped against the surface of the suction roller. The method of attaching an elastic member, wherein the moving speed of the continuous web before cutting is made smaller than the moving speed of the cut piece. 5. A suction roller which rotates while sucking a longitudinal end portion of a continuous web made of a laterally stretchable elastic member which is extendable in a width direction to feed the distal end portion of the continuous web in a longitudinal direction, and the suction roller. On the above, a cutter that cuts a longitudinal end portion of the continuous web to generate a cut piece, and receives a cut piece from the suction roller by sucking both end portions in a width direction of the cut piece, and receives the received cut. A widening device for expanding the width of the cut piece by pulling the cut piece so as to move both ends of the cut piece away from each other while sucking both ends of the piece; 6. A widening mechanism for widening a cut piece generated by cutting a longitudinal end portion of a continuous web made of a laterally stretchable elastic member capable of being stretched in a width direction, wherein the cut piece has a widthwise direction. A pair of left and right suction units provided with suction nozzles for suctioning both ends, and a pair of pairs having the suction unit at the outer peripheral end and rotating synchronously with each other in a state where they face each other obliquely in a “C” shape. When the distance between the suction portions becomes narrower with the rotation of the rotor, both ends of the cut piece are suctioned to receive the cut piece, and the suction is performed with the rotation of the rotor. An elastic member widening mechanism that widens the cut piece by increasing the interval between the parts. 7. The pair of rotors according to claim 6, wherein the rotational force input to one of the rotors is transmitted to the other rotor via a joint, and the joint couples the pair of rotors at substantially the same angular velocity. An elastic member widening mechanism consisting of a rotating constant velocity joint. 8. In addition to the widening mechanism of claim 6 or 7, a cut piece held in a widened state by the suction portion is attached to another web inside the width direction adjacent to each of the suction portions. Therefore, an elastic member widening and sticking mechanism having a pressing portion for pressing against the surface of the other web.