JP2010136880A - Granular material spraying device and granular material spraying method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To suppress scattering of absorbent polymer particles on unnecessary portions of the distribution even when the absorbent polymer particles are spread on a fiber aggregate conveyed by a conveyor belt at high speed, and to achieve a desired Disclosed are a powder distribution method and a powder distribution apparatus capable of stably forming an arbitrary distribution pattern having a form, and a method for producing an absorbent article using the same.
A powder particle distribution device 10 for distributing powder particles 6 in a predetermined distribution pattern on a fiber aggregate 5 that is continuously conveyed, wherein the pattern ring 7 and the side ring 3 are the patterns. The rotation center axis of the ring 7 is arranged so as to be positioned above the rotation center axis of the side ring 3, and the pattern ring 7 and the fiber are initially transferred to the fiber aggregate 5 at the initial stage of transfer of the granular material 6. A powder particle distribution device 10 in which the aggregate 5 is in contact with or in close proximity to and the fiber aggregate 5 is gradually separated from the pattern ring 7 as the two rings rotate.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for spreading a granular material on a fiber aggregate suitable as a material for an absorbent article used for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, etc., and a method for spreading the granular material, The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

  In the manufacture of absorbent bodies used for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinence pads, an absorbent polymer is distributed on a fiber assembly such as pulp. Then, separate sheets are bonded so that the fiber assembly having the dispersed absorbent polymer is sandwiched between the fiber sheets, or the fiber assembly is wrapped together with a wide separate sheet, and the sheet composite is cut. Thus, a predetermined shape is achieved.

  As a method of spreading the absorbent polymer on the fiber assembly in a predetermined spreading pattern, a part of the continuous flow of the absorbent polymer powder supplied from a powder feeder (screw feeder) is sucked by vacuum. Discloses a method of intermittently distributing powder particles (see Patent Document 1). However, in this method, the non-spreading part is collected by vacuum suction and sprayed in an intermittent pattern shape. However, when spraying at a high speed, the granular material may bounce off and scatter.

  Moreover, the method of using what wound the granular material conveyance belt around the cylindrical body which has a granular material receiving part is disclosed (refer patent document 2). Specifically, the granular material is transferred in a predetermined pattern on the granular material conveyance belt, and the granular material is distributed on the pulp by sliding the granular material on the pulp. It is a method to do. However, in this method, when the granular material is distributed on the granular material conveyance belt, the protrusion of the granular material distribution portion (the granular material receiving portion) provided on the cylindrical body is formed on the granular material conveyance belt. Since they are in contact, the absorbent polymer particles are transported while being in contact with the recesses of the cylindrical body and the transport belt. Therefore, when distributing the granular material at high speed, when the projection of the cylindrical body is separated from the granular material transport belt, the granular material that is in contact with the recess is scraped up by the projection and flies in the downstream direction. In some cases, the powder particles were scattered.

  Furthermore, after distributing the granular material fixing agent on the first sheet and / or the second sheet, using a distribution apparatus having a granular material conveying rotor in a casing having the granular material supply port and the distribution port. There is a method in which powder particles are spread on the first sheet, and then the first sheet and the second sheet are bonded together (see Patent Document 3). In this method, since the granular material distribution part is accommodated inside the casing, even if the granular material is distributed on the sheet at a high speed, the granular material is scraped up by the protrusion of the granular material distribution part. There is no scattering. Moreover, since another sheet is bonded together immediately after the granular material is distributed, the distributed pattern is maintained and the granular material is not wasted. However, the distribution device used in the method described here has a complicated structure, so that powder particles can be distributed in a predetermined pattern between the protrusions of the rotor provided in the casing and the inner wall surface of the casing. It is necessary to arrange properly.

JP-A-4-341368 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-43669 JP 2002-178429 A

  The present invention suppresses the scattering of the absorbent polymer particles to unnecessary portions of the distribution even if the absorbent polymer particles are distributed at a high speed on the fiber aggregate conveyed by the conveyor belt. The present invention relates to a method for spreading powder, a powder spreading device, and a method for manufacturing an absorbent article using the same.

  The present invention is a powder distribution device that distributes powder particles in a predetermined distribution pattern on a fiber assembly that is continuously transported, the transport belt transporting the fiber assembly, and the transport belt A driving device for driving, a cylindrical pattern ring that rotates around a predetermined central axis, transfers the powder particles to the fiber aggregate on the conveying belt in a predetermined distribution pattern, and distributes the powder A pattern ring is disposed at both ends in the axial direction of the pattern ring so as to be rotatable independently of the pattern ring, and is disposed on the outer side of the upper part of the pattern ring and a side ring that rotates around a predetermined central axis in conjunction with the conveyor belt. And a granular material supplying means for supplying the granular material to the pattern ring, and a recess having a predetermined pattern for holding and distributing the granular material is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring. , The pattern ring and the side ring are arranged so that the rotation center axis of the pattern ring is positioned above the apparatus from the rotation center axis of the side ring, and at the initial stage of transfer of the granular material to the fiber assembly The present invention relates to providing a powder particle dispersal device in which the pattern ring and the fiber assembly are in contact with or close to each other, and the fiber assembly is gradually separated from the pattern ring as the rings rotate.

  Further, the present invention is a method for distributing powder particles in a predetermined distribution pattern on a fiber assembly that is continuously transported, a transport belt that transports the fiber assembly, and the transport A driving device for driving the belt, and rotating around a predetermined central axis; a predetermined pattern of concave portions is formed on the outer peripheral surface; and the granular material is applied to the fiber assembly on the conveying belt in a predetermined distribution pattern A cylindrical pattern ring to be transferred and distributed, and arranged on both sides of the pattern ring so as to be rotatable independently of the pattern ring and with different rotation center axes, and in conjunction with the conveyor belt, A powder distribution device having a side ring that rotates around the central axis of the pattern ring, and a powder particle supply means that is disposed outside the upper part of the pattern ring and supplies the powder particle to the pattern ring. ,in front The granular material is supplied from the granular material supply means to the concave portion of the pattern ring, and the conveyor belt carrying the fiber aggregate is moved in conjunction with the rotation of the pattern ring, and is conveyed on the conveyor belt. The granular material in the concave portion of the pattern ring is transferred to the coming fiber assembly at a position where the pattern ring and the fiber assembly are in contact with or close to each other, and the fiber assembly is removed from the pattern ring as the two rings rotate. The present invention relates to providing a method for distributing powder particles that is gradually separated and forms and conveys the fiber assembly in which the particles are distributed in a predetermined distribution pattern.

  According to the present invention, even if the particles are spread on the fiber assembly at high speed, the absorbent polymer particles are prevented from inadvertently scattering and stably forming an arbitrary distribution pattern having a desired form. can do. Further, according to the present invention, using the fiber assembly in which the above-mentioned powder particles are distributed, the material such as the absorbent used for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and incontinence pads can be efficiently and satisfactorily used. It can be manufactured while maintaining a simple manufacturing environment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall perspective view of a granular material spreading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The granular material spreading device 10 of this embodiment unwinds the fiber assembly 5 from the fiber assembly roll 55 wound in a roll shape, and transports the fiber assembly 5 on the endless transport belt 2 in a strip shape. The pattern ring 7 is rotated so that the conveyance of the conveyance belt 2 and the movement of the peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7 are almost the same speed, and from here the powder particles 6 are placed on the fiber assembly 5 in a predetermined distribution pattern. Transfer to and distribute. Side rings 3 that rotate in conjunction with the conveyor belt are disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt 2 on both axial sides of the cylindrical pattern ring 7. At the upper part of the pattern ring 7, there is a powder body supply device 4, from which the powder body 6 is supplied to the pattern ring 7. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the drive roll 27 of the transport belt 2 and the guide roll groups 22 to 26 of the transport belt 2 and the fiber assembly 5 are supported on the upstream side of the feeding path of the belt-shaped fiber assembly 5. It has a guide roll 21 for guiding.

  The pattern ring 7, the side ring 3, and the rotation driving mechanism thereof used in the powder particle dispersal device according to the first embodiment will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the positional relationship between the pattern ring 7 and the side ring 3, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spreading device at the central portion of the pattern ring 7. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 (a diagram showing the engagement relationship between the rings 3 and 7 and the conveyor belt 2 at part A (riding point) with the other members omitted). 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3 (the positional relationship between the rings 3 and 7 and the conveyor belt 2 in the B portion (takeoff point) in FIG. 3 is omitted for other members). FIG. For the sake of clarity, hatching of the pattern ring 7 and the fiber assembly 5 is omitted in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 (the same applies to FIGS. 7, 9, and 10). Shown with lines only. The pattern ring 7 has the recessed part 8 extended in the axial direction (bus line direction) of the pattern ring 7 of the predetermined pattern for distributing a granular material on an outer peripheral surface. A plurality of convex portions extending in the axial direction between the plurality of concave portions 8 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, and the concave and convex pattern portions occupying most of the peripheral surface of the pattern roll 7 by the concave portions 8 and the convex portions 38. 88 is configured. And in this embodiment, it has the non-groove flat part 9 which does not have a recessed part one each on the diameter upper side which makes a pair of bus-bars. Here, the pattern ring 7 of the present embodiment is provided with non-groove flat portions 99 on both sides thereof. The flat portions on both sides may or may not be provided in relation to the central groove portion 8 and may be appropriately set depending on the spreading width of the granular material. At this time, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional diameter of the pattern roll passing through the top of the convex portion 38 and the cross-sectional diameter of the non-groove flat portion 9 are the same. For example, the pattern ring 7 is changed from the roll-shaped material to the concave portion 8. Can be created.

  The side ring 3 has a flat peripheral surface having no irregularities on the entire outer peripheral surface, and has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pattern ring 7 in the first embodiment. Then, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, when assembled as a member of the powder particle distribution device, the rotation center axis P of the pattern ring 7 and the rotation center axis S of the side ring 3 are the center axis of the pattern ring 7. P is arranged eccentrically so that P is close to the powder supply unit 4 side, that is, toward the upper part j of the apparatus. The circumferential surface position of the pattern ring 7 is slightly lower than the circumferential surface position of the side ring 3 at the upper circumferential surfaces of both the rings 3, 7, that is, at a position directly below the granular material supply port 1 of the granular material supply device 4.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotational driving mechanism of the pattern ring. However, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, hatching of each member cross section is omitted for the sake of clarity, and the bearing portion is indicated by “x”. In the present embodiment, a rotating shaft 11 is fixed to the center of one end of the pattern ring 7, and the rotating shaft 11 is supported by a hub 13 fixed to the machine frame 12 via a bearing 14, and has an appropriate base. It is connected to a drive motor 15 installed on the table. The hub 14 through which the rotating shaft 11 of the pattern ring 7 penetrates has an outer diameter portion 14a eccentric with respect to the inner diameter portion, and the outer diameter portion 14a is connected to the pattern ring driving portion side of the first side ring 3a via a bearing 16. An inner diameter portion is rotatably supported. The second side ring 3b on the other side is arranged coaxially with the side ring 3a on the pattern ring driving side, and an inner diameter portion of the second side ring 3b is provided on a support shaft 17 provided on the apparatus frame (not shown) side via a bearing 18. And is pivotally supported.

The side ring 3 (3a, 3b) is made to rotate freely independently of the pattern ring 7 which is energized in this way and driven and rotated by the drive motor 15, and the first side ring. 3a and the second side ring 3b are also independently rotatable. Thereby, in the manufacturing apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the side ring 3 rotates in conjunction with the transport belt as described later. At this time, the side ring 3 is interlocked by driving the conveyor belt 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), and the speed of the side ring 3 and the speed of the pattern ring are preferably the same. These speeds may have deviations and play, and the speed deviation is preferably -10 to 10%.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the belt-like fiber assembly 5 is drawn out from the wound fiber assembly roll 55, supported by the guide roll 21, and sent to the upper surface of the transport belt 2. The conveyor belt 2 carrying the fiber assembly 5 is located near the supply port 1 (see FIG. 3) of the granular material supply device 4, specifically, to the granular material supply port 1 in the rotation direction k of the pattern ring 7. At the adjacent position (position A in FIG. 3), it is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the side ring 3, and the outer peripheral portion position of the side ring 3 on the opposite side (opposite bus line side) in the diametrical direction with respect to the powder supply device 4 It is unloaded from the vicinity of position B in FIG.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the axial length L of the pattern ring 7 is longer than the width of the fiber assembly 5. At the position A (landing point) where the conveyor belt 2 is wound around the side ring 3, there is an interval D corresponding to the thickness of the fiber assembly 5 between the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the side ring 3. From this position, the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the rings 3 and 7 in the rotational direction K of the rings 3 and 7 gradually increases, and the fiber assembly 5 and the pattern ring are gradually separated from each other. At the position B (takeoff point) where the conveyor belt 2 is separated from the side ring 3, the fiber assembly 5 and the granular material 6 attached thereon are completely separated from the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7 with a gap H. They are separated (FIG. 5). The gap H is preferably 1.5 times or more the total thickness of the powder aggregate laminated with the fiber assembly. Further, the supply port 1 of the granular material supply device 4 is opened downward in a rectangular shape and is located at the center of the pattern ring 7, and the longitudinal width of the supply port 1 is the axial length L of the pattern ring 7. Is smaller than Accordingly, the fiber assembly 5 and the powder particles 6 do not reach the side rings 3 on both sides.

  In the manufacturing method according to the first embodiment, in the above-described member or device configuration, the conveyor belt 2 is rotationally driven in one direction by the drive roll 27, and accordingly, the side ring is in close contact with or close to the conveyor belt 2. 3 is rotated in conjunction. At this time, another member sheet, for example, a member sheet 81 (see FIG. 8) to be described later may be interposed between the transport belt 2 and the side ring 3 that freely rotates. At the same time, the pattern ring 7 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 15 in the same direction as the side ring 3 and at substantially the same speed as the side ring rotated in conjunction with the conveyor belt 2.

  The granular material 6 is first supplied from the supply port 1 of the granular material supply device 4 to the concave portion 8 of the concave / convex pattern portion 88 of the pattern ring 7 (see FIG. 3). The pattern ring 7 rotates at a high speed, and the granular material 6 in the recess is quickly conveyed toward the fiber assembly 5 and transferred. At this time, in this embodiment, at the initial transfer position (position A in FIG. 3) of the fiber assembly 5, the apex of the protrusion 38 of the uneven pattern portion 88 of the pattern ring 7 and the fiber assembly 5 on the transport belt 2. Is in contact with. At this time, both may be in a slightly separated approach, but when the transferred granular material 6 is pressed onto the fiber assembly 5 by centrifugal force, its free movement is prevented, and a predetermined The cloth pattern is maintained and held on the fiber assembly 5.

  Since the conveyor belt 2 is conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the side ring 3 and the fiber assembly 5 is carried on the conveyor belt 2, the fiber assembly 5 and the granular material 6 are associated with the rotation of the pattern ring 7. Is gradually separated from the concave / convex pattern surface of the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7, and when the conveyor belt 2 is separated from the side ring 3 toward the conveying direction (direction F in FIG. 3), the fiber aggregate 5 And the granular material 6 are completely separated from the pattern ring 7, so that the granular material 6 is not splashed up by the concave portion 8 of the pattern ring 7, and stays in a prescribed shape together with the fiber assembly 5. Be transported.

  As the fiber material constituting the fiber assembly 5, it is possible to use an absorbent material such as pulp fiber which is usually used for this type of article. At this time, in order to introduce into a manufacturing apparatus in a roll state as shown in FIG. 1, it is good also as a sheet-like member which piles up pulp fiber and shape-stabilizes this with a nonwoven fabric or paper. As the granular material 6, an absorbent polymer generally used as an absorbent material can be used. For example, a superabsorbent polymer called SAP and a granular material having a diameter of 10 to 1000 μm can be suitably used. Moreover, as the granular material 6, other various functional agents such as activated carbon and zeolite can also be used. And after the granular material 6 is distributed and conveyed on the fiber assembly 5 as mentioned above, another sheet (not shown) is bonded to the fiber assembly 5 so as to sandwich the granular material 6. The fiber aggregate 5 is cut in the width direction at a portion where the granular material 6 is not distributed (reference numeral 61 in FIGS. 1 and 3), shaped into a predetermined shape, a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad, etc. The absorber used for the absorbent article is manufactured.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the granular material spreading apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the side ring 3 and the pattern ring 7 are decentered so that the pattern ring axis center P is disposed at a higher position, and the conveyance belt 2 gradually moves from the pattern ring 7 toward the discharge side from the winding side of the conveyance belt 2. However, the difference from the first embodiment is that the fibers of the conveyor belt 2 are at the portion where the fiber assembly is conveyed at the position where the conveyor belt is wound around the side ring. The suction part 19 by negative pressure is provided in the opposite side to the surface where the aggregate is conveyed. The suction unit may continue after the conveyance belt and the side ring are separated. The conveyance belt 2 has air permeability. During conveyance of the conveyance belt 2, the conveyance belt 2 is sucked by the suction unit 19 so that the fiber aggregate 5 is adsorbed to the conveyance belt 2. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the fiber assembly 5 from being separated from the transport belt 2 and contacting the pattern ring 7 during transport. For example, a punching belt or a mesh belt can be used as the conveying belt 2 having air permeability.

  FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view showing the third embodiment in the case where the granular material is distributed on the strip-shaped fiber assembly attached to the member sheet 81 using the granular material distribution device according to the first embodiment described above. FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the fiber assembly 5 includes a cutting roll 91 in which the direction is changed by a turning roll 28 in the course of feeding and a cutting blade is disposed at a predetermined position on the surface, and a smooth roll 92 facing the cutting roll 91. Passed between, intermittently cut by applying pressure and / or heating to form a strip-like fiber assembly 51, and in a state of being cut into strips, it is fed into the powder distribution device by the conveyor belt 2, The particles 6 are distributed. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the member sheet may be provided with a suction portion on the surface opposite to the surface on which the member sheet is conveyed in a portion where the conveying belt is wound around the side ring. The suction part preferably has a sufficient width to adsorb the member sheet, and may be wider than the pattern ring width.

  In this case, the strip-shaped fiber aggregate 51 is fed to the powder particle distribution device in a state of being laminated on the member sheet 81 on the upstream side of the powder particle supply device 4, and the powder particles 6 are distributed. At this time, it is preferable that the adhesive 20 is applied on the member sheet 81 by the adhesive application device 93 and the strip-shaped fiber aggregate 51 is adhered and laminated. Alternatively, the adhesive 20 may be applied to the fiber assembly 51. Although it does not specifically limit as the adhesive agent 20, For example, a hot-melt-type adhesive agent can be used. Although it does not specifically limit as the member sheet | seat 81, Materials, such as a fiber sheet and a nonwoven fabric which are used for the core wrap sheet | seat of the absorber used for absorbent articles, such as a disposable diaper, can be used preferably.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 8, two modes of the mode of cutting the fiber assembly 5 into a strip shape and the mode of using the member sheet 81 are shown in combination, but both modes may be combined or not combined. Good.

When the member sheet 81 is used, after the powder body 6 is spread on the strip-shaped fiber aggregate 51 laminated on the member sheet 81, the fiber aggregate 51 and the powder (absorbent polymer) distributed on the fiber aggregate 51 are distributed. 6 are collectively wrapped by a member sheet 81, and the sheet is cut at a portion 61 where the granular material 6 is not distributed to obtain a predetermined shape, thereby manufacturing an absorbent body used for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers. be able to.
After the granular material 6 is spread on the strip-shaped fiber assembly 51, another sheet is bonded to the fiber assembly 51 so as to sandwich the granular material 6 distributed on the fiber assembly 51, and the granular material 6 Alternatively, the sheet may be cut at a portion 61 that is not distributed to obtain a predetermined shape.

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a granular material spreading apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a powder collection unit 43 is provided between the powder supply device 4 and the pattern ring 7. When supplying the granular material 6 from the granular material supply means 4 to the pattern ring 7, suction and recovery is performed while the granular material 6 is scattered at a predetermined timing by the granular material recovery unit 43 before being supplied to the pattern ring 7. And the supply of the granular material 6 to the area | region corresponding to the flat part 9 (non-spreading part) of the pattern ring 7 can be stopped temporarily, and an intermittent sprinkling state can be implement | achieved. In addition, when sucking the granular material 6 by the granular material collecting unit 43, an air introduction part 42 is provided so that even the granular material 6 to be supplied to the pattern ring 7 is not sucked up, so that the internal pressure of the tube is increased. It is preferable not to lower the value.
The configuration of the powder body collection unit 43 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a configuration disclosed in JP-A-4-341368. Moreover, the collection method of a granular material is not limited to the suction from the granular material collection | recovery part 43, Blowing off from the air introduction part 42 or using a mechanical means is also possible.

  As another embodiment, the conveyor belt 2 is not easily entangled with the fiber assembly 5, so that the fiber assembly 5 does not slip between the fiber assembly 5 and the conveyor belt 2 when the fiber assembly 5 is conveyed. In contrast, it is made of a material having an appropriate frictional force and has a flat surface.

  Embodiments 1 to 4 described above are cases where the outer diameter of the pattern ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the side ring, but the present invention has the same outer diameter of the pattern ring and the side ring, and the centers of both rings are shifted from each other. It also applies when you are. FIG. 10: is the side view which showed the principal part of the granular material distribution apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 in this case. As shown in the figure, the pattern ring 7 and the side ring 3 are formed to have the same outer diameter, and the rotation center axis P of the pattern ring 7 is closer to the granular material supply device 4 than the rotation center axis S of the side ring 3. Specifically, it is located at an obliquely upward position close to the powder body supply port 1 side.

  By disposing the center positions in this manner, even if the outer diameters of both the rings 3 and 7 are the same or slightly smaller, the peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7 in the initial supply state of the granular material 6 to the pattern ring 7 And the fiber assembly 5 carried on the conveyor belt 2 rotate closely, and the transfer from the granular material 6 administered to the recess 8 of the pattern ring 7 to the fiber assembly 5 is effectively and reliably performed. The transfer pattern of the powder particles 6 is maintained without breaking, and the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the side ring 3 are gradually separated as the pattern ring 7 and the side ring 3 rotate. As a result, the granular material 6 on the surface of the fiber assembly 5 does not touch the pattern ring 7, and the granular material 6 is not splashed up by the concave portion 8 of the pattern ring 7. Also in the sixth embodiment, the pattern ring 7 is provided with the concave / convex pattern portion 88 including the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 38 corresponding to the concave portion 8 and the flat portion 9 without the concave portion between them. The side ring 3 is rotated by the movement operation of the conveyor belt 2 in close contact with or close to the conveyor belt 2.

The method for distributing the granular material of the present invention can be carried out using the powder particle distributing device of each of the embodiments described above, and preferred embodiments thereof are as follows.
The pattern ring 7 is rotated in the direction around the axis, and the granular material 6 is supplied from the granular material supply device 4 to the concave portion 8 of the pattern ring 7. Along with this, the conveyor belt 2 in contact with the side ring 3 is moved at substantially the same speed as the rotational speed of the pattern ring 7, the fiber assembly 5 carried on the conveyor belt 2 is conveyed and passed through the pattern ring 7, The granular material 6 supplied to the concave portion 8 of the pattern ring 7 is distributed on the fiber assembly 5 in a predetermined distribution pattern. By rotating the pattern ring 7 in the direction around the axis, supply of the powder body 6 to the pattern ring 7 and transfer of the powder body 6 from the pattern ring 7 to the fiber assembly 5 are continuously performed.

  As described above, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fiber aggregate onto which the powder particles are transferred gradually moves away from the pattern ring by shifting the rotational centers of the pattern ring and the side ring. At the transfer outlet, the granular material can be completely separated from the pattern ring. As a result, even if the absorbent polymer particles are distributed on the fiber aggregate conveyed by the conveyor belt at a high speed, it is possible to reliably suppress the distribution of the absorbent polymer particles to unnecessary portions of the distribution. it can. Furthermore, the effect that the arbitrary distribution pattern which has a clear outline can be formed stably is brought about.

1 is an overall perspective view schematically showing a preferred embodiment (Embodiment 1) of a granular material spreading apparatus of the present invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the pattern ring and side ring which concern on this Embodiment 1 of the assembled state. It is a cross-sectional view of the distribution apparatus in the pattern ring center part in this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the IV-IV line cross section of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the VV line cross section of FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the rotational drive mechanism of the pattern ring in this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a rough cross-sectional view which shows typically the principal part of the granular material distribution apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the whole perspective view which showed Embodiment 3 in the case of distributing a granular material to the strip-shaped fiber aggregate adhering to the member sheet | seat. It is a rough cross-sectional view which shows typically the principal part of the granular material distribution apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a rough cross-sectional view which shows typically the principal part of the granular material distribution apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder body supply port 2 Conveyor belt 3 Side ring 4 Powder body supply apparatus 5 Fiber assembly 6 Powder body 7 Pattern ring 8 Recessed part 9 Flat part 10 Powder body distribution apparatus 21-26, 28 Guide roll 27 Drive roll 38 Convex part 88 Concave and convex part

Claims (10)

A powder distribution device for distributing powder particles in a predetermined distribution pattern on a fiber assembly that is continuously conveyed,
A transport belt for transporting the fiber assembly;
A driving device for driving the conveyor belt, and a cylindrical pattern that rotates around a predetermined central axis and transfers the powder particles to the fiber aggregate on the conveyor belt in a predetermined distribution pattern. Ring,
Side rings that are rotatably arranged independently of the pattern ring on both sides in the axial direction of the pattern ring, and rotate around a predetermined central axis in conjunction with the conveyor belt;
It is arranged outside the upper part of the pattern ring, and has a powder supply means for supplying the powder to the pattern ring,
On the outer peripheral surface of the pattern ring, a concave portion of a predetermined pattern for holding and distributing the powder is formed.
The pattern ring and the side ring are arranged so that the rotation center axis of the pattern ring is positioned above the apparatus from the rotation center axis of the side ring, and at the initial stage of transfer of the granular material to the fiber assembly Is a device for distributing powder particles in which the pattern ring and the fiber aggregate are in contact with or close to each other, and the fiber aggregate is gradually separated from the pattern ring as the rings rotate.   2. The powder particle dispersal device according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the side ring is the same as the outer diameter of the pattern ring or larger than the outer diameter of the pattern ring.   The conveying belt has air permeability, and is sucked under a negative pressure on the side opposite to the position where the fiber assembly is arranged on the conveying belt at a position opposite to the pattern ring at a portion where the conveying belt is wound around the side ring. The powder particle dispersal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portion is disposed.   The supply part of a member sheet | seat is provided in the upstream of the said conveyance belt, The said fiber assembly is attached on the said member sheet | seat, and is conveyed on the said conveyance belt. Powder distribution equipment. A method for distributing powder particles in a predetermined distribution pattern on a fiber assembly that is continuously conveyed, the conveyor belt conveying the fiber assembly, and for driving the conveyor belt And a predetermined pattern of recesses are formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the powder particles are transferred to the fiber aggregate on the conveyor belt in a predetermined distribution pattern and distributed. A cylindrical pattern ring is arranged on both sides of the pattern ring so as to be rotatable independently of the pattern ring and with a different rotation center axis, and is linked to the conveyor belt around a predetermined center axis. Using a powder distribution device having a rotating side ring and powder supply means arranged on the outside of the upper part of the pattern ring and supplying the powder to the pattern ring,
The granular material is supplied from the granular material supply means to the concave portion of the pattern ring, and the conveying belt carrying the fiber aggregate is moved in conjunction with the rotation of the pattern ring, and is conveyed on the conveying belt. The granular material in the concave portion of the pattern ring is transferred to the coming fiber aggregate at a position where the pattern ring and the fiber aggregate are in contact with or close to each other, and the fiber aggregate is transferred to the pattern ring as both the rings rotate. The method of spreading a granular material, wherein the fiber aggregate is formed and conveyed by gradually separating the fiber assembly from the first and second fibers, and the granular material is dispersed in a predetermined distribution pattern.   The said conveyance belt has air permeability, It attracts | sucks with the said conveyance belt by attracting | sucking with the negative pressure from the opposite side to which the said fiber assembly was arrange | positioned of this conveyance belt. To distribute powder and granule.   The method for distributing powder particles according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fiber aggregate is conveyed to the pattern ring in a state where the fiber aggregate is laminated on a member sheet wider than the fiber aggregate.   The fiber aggregate is supplied in a state of being cut into strips, and is conveyed so as to pass through a position at which the powder particles are distributed from the distribution device at regular intervals, and the powder is formed in a predetermined pattern on the fiber assembly. The method for distributing powder particles according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the particles are distributed.   The concave portion of the predetermined pattern and the flat portion without the concave portion are arranged on the peripheral surface of the pattern ring, and the powder particles form a spreading portion corresponding to the concave portion and a non-spreading portion corresponding to the flat portion. When distributing the body, the granular material is supplied from the supply route of the granular material supply means in accordance with the timing when the flat portion rotates so as not to supply the granular material to the flat portion of the patterning forming the non-distributed portion. The method for distributing powder particles according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the body is recovered.   An absorptive article for producing an absorptive article comprising, as an absorbent member, a fiber aggregate formed by the method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 and having a granular material dispersed in a predetermined pattern. Production method.

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