JP2015008946A - Underpants type wearing article and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a pants-type disposable diaper having a high visibility of side seal portions and a method for manufacturing the same. A diaper 50A includes an exterior body 3 that forms an outer surface, and a pair of left and right side edges of the exterior body 3 in a front body F and a left and right side edge of the exterior body 3 in a back body R are joined together. Side seal portions 4, 4, a waist opening 8, and a pair of leg openings 9, 9 are formed. The side seal part 4 is a seal edge part in which the edge part 3F of the exterior body in the front body and the edge part 3R of the exterior body in the back body are joined by a continuous linear fusion part extending in the longitudinal direction of the side seal part. 41. The vicinity of the seal edge 41 is colored in a color different from the ground color of the front body F and the back body R. [Selection] Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a pants-type wearing article having a side seal portion.

  A conventional pant-type wearing article includes an absorbent main body and an exterior body that forms the outer surface of the wearing article, and both side edges of the exterior body in the front body and both side edges of the exterior body in the back body are joined together. A pants-type disposable diaper in which a side seal portion is formed is known.

  Usually, when removing a pants-type disposable diaper from a wearer's body, the diaper is torn into a front body and a back body at a side seal portion. In order to quickly remove the diaper from the body when changing after using the diaper, it is preferable that the side seal portion can be easily torn. Regarding tearability of the side seal part, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a three-stage joint to the side seal part from the viewpoint of sufficient joint strength that does not come off while wearing a diaper and improvement in tearability. It is described that the strengths coexist.

  Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins, a heat roll device has been widely used for joining stacked sheets. Generally, the side seal portion is heated as described later. It is formed using a roll device. As another bonding method, a method of welding using laser light is also known. For example, in Patent Document 2, a sheet laminate in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is deformed into a shape along the peripheral surface of a rotary roll having a laser light transmitting portion on the peripheral surface, and the sheet is conveyed. A method of irradiating the laminated body with laser light from the inside of the rotary roll to fuse the sheets in the laminated sheet is described.

  A pants-type disposable diaper is usually manufactured through the following steps. That is, a diaper continuous body having a structure in which a plurality of diapers are connected in one direction (conveying direction) is manufactured, and in the diaper continuous body, the front body side exterior body and the back body side overlap each other at the side seal portion formation scheduled site. After the exterior body is joined by a joining means such as a heat roll device, the joint part is cut by a cutting means such as a cutter, thereby being divided into individual diapers. The side seal part of the conventional pants-type disposable diaper manufactured in this way is formed by overlapping the side edge part of the front body and the side edge part of the back body in the shape of a palm, and the top of the palm-shaped portion is Since it protrudes outward from the diaper than the part, it can be easily recognized visually.

JP 2001-120595 A JP 2010-188629 A

  In the manufacturing process of the pants-type disposable diaper described above, when the diaper continuous body is cut using a heat source such as laser light or thermocompression bonding, the diaper continuous body is cut (melted) into individual diapers. At the same time, the cut edge portions of the laminated outer package produced by the division are fused together, and a pants-type disposable diaper having a pair of side seal portions is continuously manufactured. The side seal part obtained through the process in which the splitting and welding are performed at the same time is compared with the joint width between the exterior bodies as compared with the palm-shaped side seal part obtained through the manufacturing process described above. Because it is narrow, it can improve the feeling of wearing the diaper and the touch of the outer surface, etc., but it is not formed protruding outward from the diaper like a palm-shaped side seal part, so the wearing state or natural state of the diaper In the (contracted state), the visual visibility is low, and it may be difficult to visually recognize its presence. In particular, when the visibility of the side seal portion is low when the diaper is worn, it is difficult to find the side seal portion when the guardian (for example, mother) removes the diaper from the infant who is the wearer after using the diaper, for example. There is a risk of taking time to remove the diaper. Each of the above-mentioned patent documents does not describe a side seal part obtained through such a process in which splitting and welding are performed at the same time, and problems specific to it.

  Therefore, the subject of this invention is providing the underpants type wearing article which can eliminate the fault which the prior art mentioned above has, and its manufacturing method.

The present invention includes an exterior body that forms an outer surface of a worn article, and a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening portion, and both side edge portions of the exterior body in the front body and both side edge portions of the exterior body in the back body are joined together A pants-type wearing article in which a pair of leg openings are formed,
The side seal portion includes a seal edge portion in which the edge portion of the exterior body in the front body and the edge portion of the exterior body in the back body are joined by a continuous linear fusion portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the side seal portion. A pants-type wearing article is provided which has a seal edge portion and is colored in a color different from the ground color of the front body and the back body.

In addition, the present invention provides a suitable method for producing the above pants-type wearing article,
A polymerization pressurizing step for pressing the formation planned site of the side seal part in the belt-shaped exterior body in a state where the front body side and the back body side are overlapped; and
While cutting the exterior body by irradiating a laser beam through a light passage portion extending in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the exterior body to the formation planned site of the side seal portion in a pressurized state A side seal part forming step of forming the side seal part by fusing the cut edges of the laminated outer package produced by the division,
Before irradiating the laser beam, an irreversible thermochromic agent is applied to the site where the side seal portion is to be formed, and then the laser beam is irradiated to the site so that the heat and the fusion are simultaneously performed. The present invention provides a method for producing a pants-type wearing article that changes the color-changing agent.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while having a side seal part excellent in the softness | flexibility or the touch, the underpants type wearing article with high visibility by visual observation of a side seal part is provided.

FIG. 1: is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the manufacturing method of the underpants type disposable diaper using the laser type | mold joining apparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the underpants type disposable diaper which is one embodiment of the manufacturing method of this invention. . FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a pants-type disposable diaper of the basic technology manufactured by carrying out the manufacturing method shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line II of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a developed and extended state of the diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a manufacturing process of the diaper continuous body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a state where the diaper continuous body is introduced into the laser-type bonding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 on a plane, and FIG. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c) respectively cut the side seal portion (seal edge) simultaneously with dividing the diaper continuous body (strip-shaped exterior body) using the laser-type bonding apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining a mode that it forms. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7C of another example of a method for manufacturing a pants-type disposable diaper using the laser-type bonding apparatus shown in FIG. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are respectively a side seal portion (seal edge portion) on one side and the vicinity thereof in FIG. 3 in a state where the waist opening of the diaper shown in FIG. 3 is expanded. . FIG. 10 is a side view of the first embodiment of the pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of a process for manufacturing the pants-type disposable diaper illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a light passage part of a laser beam and the vicinity thereof in the laser type bonding apparatus used in the manufacturing method of the present invention.

One of the main features of the present invention includes an exterior body that forms an outer surface of a worn article, and a pair of side seals in which both side edges of the exterior body in the front body and both side edges of the exterior body in the back body are joined. A pant-type wearing article in which a waist opening and a pair of leg openings are formed, the side seal part is the edge of the exterior body in the front body and the edge of the exterior body in the back body is the side seal Device having a seal edge joined by a continuous linear fusion part extending in the longitudinal direction of the part (hereinafter also referred to as a side seal part visibility improving means). ).
Adoption of this side seal portion visibility improving means is, for example, irradiating a predetermined portion of the belt-shaped exterior body in a state where the front body side and the back body side are overlapped in the manufacturing process of the pant-type wearing article, for example, with laser light, etc. Then, at the same time as dividing the outer body into lengths for individual wearing articles, the cut edges of the laminated outer body produced by the division are fused together to form a pair of side seal portions This is especially useful when The side seal portion formed by such a method has low visibility when worn on (wearing state), and is particularly worn from the viewpoint of tearing the side seal portion to remove the worn article from the body. It is useful to improve the visibility of the side seal part at the time. Moreover, since such a side seal part is also a side seal part with low visual visibility even in the natural state (contracted state) of the worn article, it is also for the purpose of identifying the worn article before and after and on the left and right. It is also useful to improve the visibility of the side seal part in the natural state (contracted state before wearing) of the worn article.

  Hereinafter, first, a pant-type wearing article of a basic technology and a method for manufacturing the same that can apply the side seal portion visibility improving means employed in the present invention will be described, and then the present invention to which the side seal portion visibility improving means is applied. Preferred embodiments of the pants-type wearing article and the manufacturing method thereof will be described.

[Basic technology]
The outline of the manufacturing method of the underpants type disposable diaper using the laser type | mold joining apparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the underpants type disposable diaper which is one embodiment of the manufacturing method of this invention is shown by FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the diaper 1, which is a manufacturing object of the manufacturing method using the laser bonding apparatus, includes an absorbent main body 2 and an exterior body 3 that forms the outer surface of the wearing article. Left and right side edges A1, A1 along the longitudinal direction X of the exterior body 3 in the front body F (ventral side 1A) and left and right side edges along the longitudinal direction X of the exterior body 3 in the rear body R (back side part 1B) A pants-type disposable diaper in which B1 and B1 are joined to form a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4, a waist opening 8 and a pair of leg openings 9 and 9. The exterior body 3 is positioned on the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent main body 2 and fixes the absorbent main body 2. In addition, the pair of side seal portions 4, 4 in the diaper 1 extends in the longitudinal direction of the side seal portion 4, with the edge of the exterior body 3 in the front body F and the edge of the exterior body 3 in the back body R, respectively. The sealing edge part couple | bonded by the continuous linear fused part 40 to form is formed.

  The diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction X corresponding to the wearer's front-rear direction and a lateral direction Y perpendicular to the wearer's front-rear direction in a developed and extended plan view as shown in FIG. The diaper 1 can be divided into a crotch part 1C arranged at the crotch part at the time of wearing, and an abdominal side part 1A and a back side part 1B located in the longitudinal direction X. The exterior body 3 in the crotch part 1 </ b> C is formed with recesses for forming leg openings 9, 9 at the left and right side edges along the vertical direction X. As shown in FIG. 4, the diaper 1 can be divided into a front body F and a back body R with a virtual center line CL that bisects the diaper 1 in the vertical direction X as a boundary.

  In the present specification, the skin contact surface is a surface directed to the skin side of the wearer when worn in a pants-type wearing article or a constituent member thereof (for example, an absorbent main body), and the non-skin contact surface is In the pants-type wearing article or its constituent members, it is a surface directed to the side opposite to the wearer's skin side (clothing side) when worn. In the diaper 1, the vertical direction X corresponds to the direction (longitudinal direction) along the long side of the absorbent main body 2 which is a disposable diaper or its constituent member, and the horizontal direction Y is the absorbent which is a disposable diaper or its constituent member. It coincides with the width direction of the main body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the absorbent main body 2 has a vertically long shape in one direction (longitudinal direction X), and a surface sheet (not shown) that forms a skin contact surface; A back sheet (not shown) that forms a non-skin contact surface, and a liquid-retaining absorbent (not shown) interposed between the two sheets. And has a long shape in the same direction. The absorptive main body 2 is joined to a central portion of the outer package 3 by a known joining means (adhesive or the like) with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1 in the expanded and extended state. Here, the expanded and extended state means that the side seal part is peeled off, the diaper is set in the expanded state, the elastic member of each part is expanded, and the design dimensions (the influence of the elastic member is completely eliminated). In this state, it is expanded until it becomes the same size as when expanded in a flat shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer package 3 is arranged on the outer layer sheet 31 that forms the outer surface of the diaper 1 (the non-skin contact surface of the outer package 3), and the inner surface side of the outer layer sheet 31. An inner layer sheet 32 that forms the inner surface of 1 (skin contact surface of the exterior body 3), and a plurality of thread-like or belt-like elastic members 5, 6, and 7 fixed between the sheets 31 and 32 with an adhesive. It is configured to include. The two sheets 31 and 32 are joined to each other at a predetermined site by an adhesive or heat seal (not shown).

  The exterior body 3 (the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32) includes a resin material and is formed using the resin material as a main component. As an example of the outer package 3 (the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32), the resin material includes a heat-sealable synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene, and includes a nonwoven fabric, a film, a laminate sheet of a nonwoven fabric and a film, and the like. The thing which becomes. Examples of the nonwoven fabric include air-through nonwoven fabric, heat roll nonwoven fabric, spunlace nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, and melt blown nonwoven fabric.

  The manufacturing method of the diaper 1 exists in the superposition | polymerization pressurization process which makes the formation planned site | part of the side seal part in the strip | belt-shaped exterior body 3 of the state which accumulated the front body side and the back body side into a pressurization state, and a pressurization state. The exterior body 3 is divided by irradiating the portion where the side seal portion is to be formed with a laser beam through the light passage portion 27 extending in the direction intersecting the transport direction A of the exterior body 3. A side seal portion forming step of forming the side seal portion 4 by fusing the cut edge portions of the laminated exterior body produced by the above. Moreover, the main body fixing process which fixes the absorptive main body 2 to the strip | belt-shaped exterior body 3 (the outer layer sheet | seat 31, the inner layer sheet | seat 32) is comprised before the superposition | polymerization pressurization process.

  More specifically, in the manufacturing method of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 5, in the polymerization pressurizing step, the belt-shaped outer package 3 (outer layer sheet 31, inner layer sheet 32) is folded in the width direction. The front body side and the back body side of the strip-shaped exterior body 3 to which the absorbent main body 2 is fixed are overlapped with each other, whereby “a precursor of a pants-type disposable diaper in which a side seal portion is not formed is unidirectional. A continuous diaper 10 "is produced. And in the said side seal | sticker part formation process, as shown in FIG. 1, the strip | belt-shaped exterior body 3 in this diaper continuous body 10 is cut | disconnected (melting | fusing) separately by irradiation of the laser beam 30, and the division | segmentation is carried out. The pants comprising the exterior body 3 having a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4 by fusing the cut edges of the plurality of exterior bodies 3 (the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32) in a laminated state generated by The mold disposable diaper 1 is continuously manufactured.

  More specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 5, a belt-like outer layer sheet 31 continuously supplied from a raw fabric roll (not shown) and continuously supplied from a raw fabric roll (not shown). Between the belt-shaped inner layer sheets 32 to be formed, the waist elastic member 5 that forms the waist gather, the waist elastic member 6 that forms the waist gather, and the leg elastic member 7 that forms the leg gather have a predetermined elongation rate. A plurality of each are arranged in the stretched state. At this time, the leg elastic member 7 is arranged while forming a predetermined leg-circumferential pattern via a known swing guide (not shown) that reciprocates perpendicular to the sheet flow direction. In addition, the belt-shaped outer layer sheet 31 and the belt-shaped inner layer sheet 32 are coated with an adhesive coating machine (see FIG. (Not shown) to apply hot melt adhesive. Note that the elastic members such as the waist elastic member 5 and the waistline elastic member 6 are divided by the laser light irradiation in the sheets 31 and 32 (parts where the side seal part 4 is to be formed, reference numeral 10C in FIG. 6). In order to avoid inconveniences such as significant shrinkage of the elastic member after the division and disconnection of the elastic member, etc. It is preferable to apply an adhesive to the adhesive. A hot melt adhesive is intermittently applied to the waist elastic member 5 and the waist elastic member 6 by an adhesive application machine (not shown) before being arranged between the sheets 31 and 32. May be.

And as shown in FIG. 5, between the pair of nip rolls 11, 11, a belt-shaped outer layer sheet 31 and a belt-shaped outer layer sheet 5 in which a waist elastic member 5, a waistline elastic member 6 and a leg elastic member 7 are sandwiched in an expanded state. By feeding and pressurizing the inner layer sheet 32, the band-shaped exterior body 3 in which a plurality of elastic members 5, 6, 7 are arranged in an expanded state between the band-shaped sheets 31, 32 is formed.
In the formation process of the exterior body 3, a plurality of joint portions (not shown) for joining the belt-like outer layer sheet 31 and the belt-like inner layer sheet 32 between the two adjacent waistline elastic members 6 and 6, It is also preferable to use a convex roll and a corresponding joining means (not shown) such as an anvil roll.
Thereafter, if necessary, a plurality of waistline elastic members 6 and a plurality of leg portion elasticities are made by using elastic member precut means (not shown) so as to correspond to positions where the absorbent main body 2 described later is disposed. The member 7 is pressed and divided into a plurality of pieces so that the contraction function is not expressed. Examples of the elastic member precut means include an elastic member dividing portion used in the method for manufacturing a composite elastic member described in JP-A-2002-253605.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive is applied in advance to the absorbent main body 2 manufactured in a separate process (not shown), and the absorbent main body 2 is rotated by 90 degrees. Then, it is intermittently supplied and fixed on the inner layer sheet 32 constituting the strip-shaped outer package 3. The adhesive for fixing the absorbent main body may be applied in advance to the position where the absorbent main body 2 is to be arranged in the inner layer sheet 32 instead of the absorbent main body 2.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a leg hole LO ′ is formed inside the annular portion that is annularly surrounded by the leg elastic member 7 in the strip-shaped exterior body 3 in which the absorbent main body 2 is disposed. This leg hole forming step can be carried out by using a technique similar to that in a conventional method for manufacturing this type of article, such as a rotary cutter and a laser cutter. In the illustrated embodiment, the leg hole is formed after the absorbent main body 2 is arranged on the belt-shaped outer package 3, but the leg hole may be formed before the absorbent main body 2 is arranged.

  Next, the belt-shaped exterior body 3 is folded in the width direction (a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the exterior body 3). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, both side portions 3 a, 3 a along the transport direction of the strip-shaped exterior body 3 are folded back so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 2. After fixing both ends in the longitudinal direction, the outer package 3 is folded into two in the width direction together with the absorbent main body 2 (polymerization step in the polymerization pressure step). In this way, the diaper continuous body 10 is obtained.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the diaper continuous body 10 thus manufactured is irradiated with laser light using a laser bonding apparatus 20 to form a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4 (side seal portion). Forming step), a pants-type disposable diaper 1 having an exterior body 3 having a pair of side seal portions 4 is continuously manufactured.

The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 will be described. The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 is arranged in a hollow cylindrical roll 23 that is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A and a hollow portion of the cylindrical roll 23 as shown in FIG. The irradiation head 35 which irradiates the laser beam 30 toward the cylindrical support member 21 forming the peripheral surface portion 23, and the belt type pressure device 26 including the endless pressure belt 24 (pressing member). ing.
The laser-type bonding apparatus 20 includes a tension adjustment mechanism (not shown) that can increase or decrease the tension of the pressure belt 24 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the support member 21 (the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23). The pressure applied to the diaper continuous body 10 (sheet laminated body) can be appropriately adjusted by the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24.

  The support member 21 forms a peripheral surface portion (contact portion with the workpiece) of the cylindrical roll 23, and is between a pair of annular frames 22, 22 that form both ends of the cylindrical roll 23 in the rotation axis direction. It is pinched and fixed. The support member 21 is made of a metal material such as iron, aluminum, stainless steel, or copper, or a material having heat resistance such as ceramics.

  The support member 21 has a light passage portion 27 through which laser light can pass. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the support member 21 has a slit-shaped opening 27 that penetrates the support member 21 in the thickness direction as a light passage portion. The opening 27 has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the longitudinal direction of the opening 27 intersects with the conveyance direction A of the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped exterior body 3). A plurality of cylinders are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21 so as to coincide with the direction parallel to the axial length direction of the rotation shaft (the direction indicated by the symbol X in FIG. 6A). The support member 21 allows the laser light to pass through the opening 27, but does not allow the laser light to pass (transmit) at portions other than the opening 27. As a method of forming the opening 27 in the support member 21, 1) etching, punching, laser processing, or the like at a predetermined position of the support member 21 made of a single annular member having the same length as the circumferential length of the annular frame 22. 2) The support member 21 is replaced with a single annular member, and a plurality of curved rectangular members are used as the support member 21, and the plurality of members are connected between the pair of frames 22, 22. In addition, a method of arranging the frame body 22 at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction may be mentioned. In the method 2) described above, the interval between two adjacent members forms a slit-shaped opening 27. In the embodiment of the basic technique and the manufacturing method of the present invention described later, the method 2) is used.

  In FIG. 6, from the viewpoint of easy explanation, the support member 21, the pressure belt 24 (pressing member), and the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped exterior body) sandwiched between them are viewed from the left side to the right side in FIG. 6. Although described as if they were moving horizontally, in actuality, these members are rotatingly moved in a curved state corresponding to the cylindrical peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23.

  In the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 (manufacturing apparatus for a sheet-fused body having a seal edge fused in a state where the edges of a plurality of sheets are overlapped), a light passage part through which laser light can pass is Since it consists of the opening part 27 (slit shape) which penetrates the supporting member 21 in the thickness direction, the part (scheduled part 10C) which overlaps with the opening part 27 in the diaper continuous body 10 (sheet laminated body) is the pressure belt 24. The contact member 21 is not sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 (pressing member). Strictly speaking, therefore, no pressure is generated in the parting portion 10C due to being sandwiched between the members 21 and 24. However, the parting portion 10C that overlaps with the opening 27 itself is not sandwiched between the members 21 and 24, but the vicinity thereof, that is, the portion that overlaps with the vicinity of the opening 27 (opening edge) in the diaper continuous body 10. Is sandwiched between the members 21 and 24, and therefore does not move before and after the laser light irradiation, and therefore, the cutting edge portion generated by the division of the diaper continuous body 10 by the laser light irradiation does not move. That is, the parting planned portion 10C of the diaper continuous body 10 (portion overlapping the opening 27 in the sheet laminate) is a portion restrained by the pressing force between the members 21 and 24, and the pressing force is practically the same. It is an affected part.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the support member 21 has a recess 28 on its outer surface (contact surface with the workpiece). A plurality of recesses 28 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21, and a slit-shaped opening 27 is formed in a region (convex part) located between two adjacent recesses 28, 28. Is formed. The opening 27 is formed in the center in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21 in the convex portion.

  Thus, when the thickness of the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminated body) is not uniform by forming the recess 28 on the outer surface of the support member 21, the relative thickness of the diaper continuous body 10 is relatively small. It is possible to introduce the diaper continuous body 10 onto the outer surface of the support member 21 so that a large portion (for example, an arrangement region of the absorbent main body 2) is accommodated in the recess 28. Then, when the diaper continuous body 10 is introduced onto the support member 21 in such a manner, as shown in FIG. 6B, the contact surface (the other surface) of the diaper continuous body 10 with the pressure belt 24 (pressing member). 10b) is substantially flat, and when the pressure belt 24 is pressed against the diaper continuous body 10, the portion of the diaper continuous body 10 located on the convex part where the opening 27 is formed is the diaper continuous body. By the winding of the ten support members 21 with a predetermined tension and the pressure belt 24, the pressure is uniformly applied in the thickness direction with a predetermined pressure. In this way, by cutting the portion that is pressed in the thickness direction from before laser beam irradiation and dividing the portion, the cut edge portion of the plurality of sheets constituting the divided portion It becomes possible to fuse | melt more reliably, and the further improvement of the fusion strength of the side seal part 4 (seal edge part) is achieved.

  The belt-type pressure device 26 includes an endless pressure belt 24 (pressing member) and three rolls 25a, 25b, and 25c that rotate in a state where the pressure belt 24 is stretched. The rolls 25a, 25b, and 25c may be drive rolls or driven rolls that rotate with the pressure belt 24. The pressure belt 24 moves at the same speed as the cylindrical roll 23 (supporting member 21) by using any one or more of the rolls 25a, 25b, and 25c as a driving roll or with the cylindrical roll 23. The support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 are preferably maintained in a predetermined temperature range by air cooling, water cooling, or the like.

  As the pressure belt 24 (pressing member), a heat-resistant metal or resin belt that can withstand the heat generated during processing can be used. For example, the pressure belt 24 is made of a metal material such as iron, aluminum, or stainless steel. Can be used. In addition, as the pressure belt 24, a belt that does not transmit the laser beam irradiated to the workpiece (strip-shaped outer package 3) is usually used. You can also.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an irradiation head 35 that irradiates a laser beam 30 toward a support member 21 that forms a peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23 is provided in the hollow portion of the hollow cylindrical roll 23. The irradiation head 35 is a galvano scanner (device having a mirror on the motor shaft) that freely scans the laser light 30, and the laser light 30 is in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical roll 23 (reference numeral in FIG. 6A). On the circumferential surface of the cylindrical roll 23, and a mechanism for moving the position (irradiation point) where the laser beam 30 hits the diaper continuous body 10 on the support member 21 in the circumferential direction. A mechanism for making the spot diameter of the laser beam 30 constant is provided. The laser irradiation mechanism has such a configuration, so that the irradiation point of the laser light 30 is the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23 and a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction (a direction indicated by a symbol X in FIG. 6A). It can be arbitrarily moved in both directions of a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the roll 23).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the diaper continuous body 10 includes a support member 21 that forms a peripheral surface portion of a cylindrical roll 23 that is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in a state where a predetermined tension is applied by a guide roll (not shown). After being transported by a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction by rotation of the cylindrical roll 23 so as to be wound around the support member 21, it is separated from the support member 21 by an unillustrated lead roll, nip roll or the like. . As described above, the diaper continuous body 10 is wound around the support member 21 forming the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23 with a predetermined tension and is conveyed so as to be in pressure contact with the pressure belt 24. The portion sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 and the vicinity thereof are in a state of being pressurized (compressed) in the thickness direction from before being divided by the laser light irradiation. For this reason, when the diaper continuous body 10 contains a nonwoven fabric, the diaper continuous body 10 can be more efficiently compressed, and as a result, the diaper continuous body 10 being compressed is irradiated with laser light. When this is divided, it becomes possible to fuse the cut edges of the plurality of sheets (exterior body 3) constituting the divided portion more reliably, and the side seal portion 4 can be fused. The strength is improved.

  The rotation angle of the support member 21 (cylindrical roll 23) from when the diaper continuous body 10 is introduced onto the support member 21 to when the diaper continuous body 10 leaves the diaper continuous body 10 can be, for example, 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less. Is 120 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less. The range of the angle (pressure contact angle) at which the diaper continuous body 10 is pressed against the support member 21 by the pressure belt 24 (pressing member) is the pressure contact over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical support member 21 (cylindrical roll 23). In the case of 360 degrees, it is preferably 90 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less, more preferably 120 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, a slit-like opening that continuously conveys the diaper continuous body 10, forms the peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical roll 23 on one surface 10 a and allows the laser light 30 to pass therethrough. The diaper continuous body 10 (formation of the side seal portion 4) brought into contact with the outer surface of the support member 21 having the portion 27 (light passage portion) and brought into a pressurized state by the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 (pressing member). When the diaper continuous body 10 is divided by irradiating the planned portion) with the laser beam 30 from the support member 21 side through the opening 27, a plurality of the diaper continuous body 10 in the pressurized state generated by the division. The side seal portions 4 are formed by fusing the cut edges of the sheets (the outer package 3) together (side seal portion forming step).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the side seal portion 4 (seal edge) is formed at the same time as the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) is divided using the laser bonding apparatus 20. 7 (a) schematically shows a portion 10C to be divided by the laser beam 30 of the diaper continuous body 10 (that is, a portion where the side seal portion 4 is to be formed) and its vicinity. As shown in FIG. 6A, the diaper continuous part 10C of the diaper continuous body 10 in the illustrated embodiment is the center in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction A) in the region where the absorbent main body 2 of the diaper continuous body 10 is not disposed. It is. 10 C of such parting plan parts are the opening edge part of the waist opening part 8 (refer FIG. 2) and its vicinity, the 8 layer structure part on which 8 sheets were piled up, and other parts are 4 sheets. It is a four-layer structure part that is superimposed. As shown in FIG. 7A, the four-layer structure portion includes two sheets (an outer layer sheet 31 and an inner layer sheet 32) constituting one exterior body 3 in the ventral side part 1A, and a back side part 1B. It consists of the same two sheets 31 and 32 that constitute one exterior body 3, and these four sheets are laminated. On the other hand, as described above, the eight-layer structure portion is folded so that both side portions 3a and 3a of the strip-shaped outer package 3 cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 2 when the diaper continuous body 10 is manufactured ( (See FIGS. 4 and 5), because there are two exterior bodies 3 on each of the abdominal part 1A and the back side part 1B, and these four exterior bodies 3, 3 are laminated, As a result, eight sheets 31 and 32 are laminated. In each of the four-layer structure portion and the eight-layer structure portion, elastic members such as the waist elastic member 5 and the waistline elastic member 6 may be interposed between the overlapping sheets 31 and 32, In FIG. 7, the illustration of the elastic member is omitted from the viewpoint of easy explanation. Hereinafter, the 4-layer structure portion will be mainly described, but unless otherwise specified, the 8-layer structure portion is configured in the same manner as the 4-layer structure portion, and the side seal portion 4 is formed.

  Other than the sheet constituting the outer layer sheet 31 and the one surface 10a constituting the one surface 10a (the contact surface with the support member 21) of the diaper continuum 10 in the planned division portion 10C of the four-layer structure in the diaper continuum 10 The sheet (inner layer sheet 32) is a sheet in which either one or both absorb the laser beam 30 and generate heat. In the illustrated embodiment, all of the four sheets 31 and 32 constituting the parting planned portion 10 </ b> C are sheets (nonwoven fabrics) that absorb the laser beam 30 and generate heat. Further, the two sheets of the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32 that overlap each other in the portion 10C to be divided and in the vicinity thereof may be bonded by an adhesive or the like before irradiation with the laser beam 30, or are not bonded at all. It does not have to be.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the diaper continuous body 10 has one surface 10a in contact with the support member 21 and a parting planned part 10C (part where the side seal part 4 is to be formed) is on the slit-shaped opening 27. The pressure belt 24 (pressing member) is pressed against the other surface 10b so as to be conveyed in the direction of the arrow A while being introduced onto the support member 21 that rotates in the direction of the arrow A so as to be positioned in the direction of the thickness A. Pressure (compression). And the laser beam 30 is irradiated through the opening part 27 from the supporting member 21 side with respect to the parting schedule part 10C in such a conveyance and a pressurized state. As described above, the irradiation point of the laser beam 30 is configured to be arbitrarily movable in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23 and is set so as to follow the movement of the opening 27 along the circumferential direction. Therefore, the laser beam 30 is continuously irradiated for a certain period of time to the parting planned portion 10C located on the opening 27 during the conveyance.

  When the laser beam 30 is irradiated to the parting portion 10C having the four-layer structure, the forming materials (fibers, etc.) of the sheets 31 and 32 existing in the parting portion 10C are vaporized by the heat generated by the direct irradiation of the laser light 30 and disappear. However, the forming material existing in the vicinity of the parting portion 10 </ b> C is indirectly heated by the laser beam 30 and melted. As a result, as shown in FIG.7 (c), the parting plan part 10C of a four-layer structure is melted, and in a form in which a single sheet sheet laminate (diaper precursor) is cut from the diaper continuous body 10, At the same time that the diaper continuum 10 is divided, the cut edges of the four sheets 31 and 32 in the sheet laminate of the single sheets produced by the division, and the diaper continuous 10 separated. The cut edges of the four sheets 31 and 32 are fused together. Each of these cut edges is pressed (compressed) by being sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 from before the formation (before the diaper continuous body 10 is divided by irradiation with the laser beam 30). ). According to the diaper manufacturing method of the illustrated embodiment, the strip-shaped exterior body 3 is divided by the single laser light irradiation, and the exterior body 3 in the two pressurized states generated by the division is thus obtained. In order to carry out the fusion of the cutting edges at the same time, approximately half of the lasers compared to the method of fusion of the two fusion locations by two laser beam irradiations (method outside the scope of the present invention) Fusion and splitting can be performed in the same process by output, and the diaper 1 can be manufactured efficiently.

  The cut edges of the sheets 31 and 32 are heated and melted during the irradiation of the laser beam 30 and immediately after the end of the irradiation, but are separated from the diaper continuous body 10 by the irradiation of the laser beam 30. Each of the leaf diaper precursor and the diaper continuum 10 is maintained in the pressurized state by the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24, and after the irradiation is completed, the air is applied to the outside air, the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24. The material is quickly cooled and solidified by heat transfer to form the fused portion 40 in which the forming material (fibers, etc.) of the cut edge is fused and integrated. Thus, by forming the fused part 40, one of the pair of side seal parts 4, 4 in one diaper 1 is formed. In addition, if necessary, the cutting edge portions of the sheets 31 and 32 may be forcibly cooled by using known cooling means such as a suction device and an exhaust device to promote the formation of the fused portion 40.

  When one portion 10C (scheduled portion where the side seal portion 4 is to be formed) is divided in this way, the laser beam 30 seems to hit another opening 27 adjacent to the irradiation direction in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction A. And is irradiated to another parting planned portion 10C located thereabove through the other opening 27. As a result, another part 10C to be divided is divided and fused in the same manner as described above, and the other side seal part 4 (fused part 40) that forms a pair with the previously formed side seal part 4 is formed. Thereafter, by repeating the same operation, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 including the exterior body 3 having the pair of side seal portions 4 and 4 is continuously manufactured.

  Note that the diaper is larger than the width W of the slit-shaped opening 27 irradiated with the laser beam 30 (see FIG. 7B. The length of the opening 27 along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical roll 23). When the diameter φ of the spot of the laser beam 30 (the portion irradiated with the laser beam 30) in the continuum 10 (band-shaped sheet laminate) is small (when φ / W is less than 1), it is shown in FIG. As described above, the pair of side seal portions 4, 4 (fused portions 40, 40) formed by the irradiation of the laser beam 30 overlaps with the opening portion 27 in the diaper continuous body 10 (slit-like opening in plan view). The portion 27 may be located at a portion sandwiched between a pair of opening edges along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction A. That is, even in the diaper continuous body 10, even in a portion not sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 (pressing member), the vicinity of the opening 27 (opening edge), that is, as described above, both The fused part 40 can be formed if the pressure applied by the clamping between the members 21 and 24 is practically affected.

As one of the main features of the diaper 1 manufactured in this manner, the side seal portion 4 includes an edge portion 3F of the outer body 3 in the front body F and an edge portion 3R of the outer body 3 in the rear body R. The sealing edge part 41 couple | bonded by the continuous linear fusion part 40 extended in the longitudinal direction of this is mentioned.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the seal edge 41 has a cross section orthogonal to the direction in which the side seal portion 4 extends when worn, and the outer edge 4 a of the fused portion 40 is inward of the worn article. It has a shape that is recessed toward. Further, the fused portion 40 in the side seal portion 4 has a narrow width W4 appearing on the outer surface of the diaper in the same cross section, and the width W4 is preferably 5 mm or less, more preferably 3 mm or less, and even more preferably 2 mm or less. It is.

  In addition, as shown in FIG.7 (c) and FIG. 3, in the plane state which accumulated the abdominal part 1A (exterior body F) and the back side part 1B (rear body R), the seal edge 41 at the time of wear | wearing The side seal portion 4 (seal edge portion 41) generated by the division in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the seal portion 41 is such that the outer edge 4 a of the fused portion 40 in the seal edge portion 41 protrudes inward of the diaper 1. The four sheets 31 and 32 constituting the outer package 3 are formed on the inner side of the diaper 1 including the outer edge 4a and more on the inner side of the diaper 1 than that. 40 is wider at the center in the thickness direction of the exterior body 3 (the vertical direction in FIG. 7C or FIG. 8) than at both ends (upper and lower ends). That is, when the diaper 1 is viewed in a cross-section in the lateral direction Y (direction perpendicular to the dividing direction by the laser beam), the fusion part 40 gradually increases in width toward the central part in the thickness direction. It is wide and is formed in a so-called crescent or half-moon shape (the fused portion 40 shown in FIG. 7 (c) has a crescent shape).

  The side seal portion 4 is harder and softer than other parts of the diaper 1 due to the presence of the fused portion 40 formed by melting and solidifying the sheet forming material, and causes the feeling of wearing the diaper 1 to be reduced. When the fusion part 40 is formed in a crescent shape or a half moon shape when the diaper 1 is viewed in a cross-section in the width direction, the fusion part in the conventional side seal part (for example, a patent) The corner of the side edge portion of the exterior body 3 that constitutes the side seal portion 4 is compared with the case where it is formed in a rectangular shape in the same cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. Since the ratio of the fusion | melting part 40 which exists in the part 3S reduces, and the softness | flexibility and the touch feeling which the corner | angular part 3S originally have are hard to be impaired by this, the wearing feeling of a diaper improves compared with a conventional product. On the other hand, the central portion in the thickness direction of the side edge of the exterior body 3 (the corner 3S on the one surface side of the exterior body 3 and the 3S on the other surface side, which is a part that greatly affects the fusion strength of the side seal portion 4) Since a sufficient amount of the fused portion 40 exists in the center portion between the side portions), the side seal portion 4 has a practically sufficient fusion strength, and the side seal portion 4 is worn while the diaper 1 is worn. Inconveniences such as tearing of the seal 4 hardly occur.

  Moreover, the side seal part 4 (fusion | fusion part 40) has the characteristic that it is hard to visually recognize from the outside in the wearing state or natural state (contraction state) of the diaper 1. 9A and 9B show the side seal portion 4 (fused portion 40) in a state where the waist opening 8 is expanded when the diaper 1 is worn. In the state where the waist opening 8 is expanded, the side seal portion 4 is normally in a state where the fused portion 40 is exposed as shown in FIG. 9A, but the outer edge 4a of the side seal portion 4 is the exterior. It is difficult to visually recognize from the outside due to the convex arc shape toward the inside of the body 3 and the fact that the fused portion 40 is smaller than the conventional side seal portion (fused portion). In particular, the outer edge 4a of the side seal portion 4 has a convex arc shape toward the inner side of the exterior body 3, so that depending on the forming material of the sheets 31, 32, as shown in FIG. In a state where the waist opening 8 is expanded when the diaper 1 is worn, the corner 3S of the side edge of the exterior body 3 on the abdominal side 1A side and the corner of the side edge of the exterior body 3 on the back side 1B side The portion 3S may approach and the separation distance between the corner portions 3S and 3S may be reduced. Therefore, the fusion part 40 located between the two corners 3S and 3S is difficult to touch by the hand and is externally located by the two corners 3S and 3S located closer to the outer side of the diaper 1 than the fusion part 40. Therefore, not only the feeling of wearing the diaper 1 but also the appearance is improved.

Explaining the laser beam, the wavelength of the laser beam irradiated to the diaper continuous body 10 (band-shaped outer package 3) is absorbed by the sheets (outer layer sheet 31 and inner layer sheet 32) constituting the outer package 3 and generates heat. The laser beam is used. Here, the “sheet constituting the exterior body” is not limited to the sheet (for example, the outer layer sheet 31 in the above-described embodiment) constituting one surface of the exterior body (the contact surface with the support member 21). Any sheet may be used as long as it constitutes. Whether or not the laser light applied to the exterior body is a wavelength that is absorbed by the sheet and generates heat for the individual sheets constituting the exterior body depends on the material of the sheet and the wavelength of the laser light to be used. It depends on the relationship. When the sheet constituting the exterior body is a non-woven fabric or film made of synthetic resin that is widely used in the manufacture of absorbent articles (sanitary goods) such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins, the laser light may be CO ₂ laser, YAG It is preferable to use a laser, an LD laser (semiconductor laser), a YVO4 laser, a fiber laser, or the like. Moreover, when the sheet | seat which comprises an exterior body contains polyethylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polypropylene etc. as a synthetic resin, as a wavelength which can be absorbed by this sheet | seat and can make this sheet | seat generate | occur | produce favorably, 8.0 micrometers or more and 15. It is preferable to use 0 μm or less, and it is particularly preferable to use a wavelength of 9.0 μm or more and 11.0 μm or less of the oscillation wavelength of a CO ₂ laser in which a high-power laser device exists. The spot diameter of laser light, laser output, and the like can be appropriately selected in consideration of the material and thickness of the sheet constituting the exterior body.

[Means for improving visibility of side seal part]
A pair of side seals 4 and 4 obtained through the process in which the diaper 1 which is the manufacturing object of the manufacturing method using the laser type bonding apparatus described above, that is, the division and welding of the outer package 3 are performed simultaneously. The diaper 1 which comprises is excellent in the softness | flexibility of the side seal part 4, and the touch, and a feeling of wear is favorable. On the other hand, as can be seen from the description of FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 and the like, at least when wearing, the side seal portion 4 is more outward than the peripheral portion of the side seal portion 4 on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the diaper 1. Since the state of the outer surface and the inner surface of the diaper 1 does not substantially change across the side seal portion 4, it is difficult to visually recognize the side seal portion 4 from the outside, and the visibility of the side seal portion 4 is visually recognized. Low.

  And when the visibility of the side seal part 4 is low, it is difficult to find the side seal part 4 when the guardian (for example, mother) removes the diaper 1 from an infant who is a wearer after using the diaper 1, for example. There is a risk of taking time to remove the diaper 1. Therefore, in the present invention, for the purpose of improving the visibility of the side seal part 4, the diaper 1 is provided with means for improving the side seal part visibility.

  Hereinafter, the pants-type wearing article and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments (and embodiments) with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the embodiment (and embodiment) mentioned later, a different component part from the said [basic technique] is mainly demonstrated, the same component is attached | subjected the same code | symbol and description is abbreviate | omitted. For the components that are not particularly described, the description of [Basic Technology] is appropriately applied.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a pants-type wearing article of the present invention (pants-type disposable diaper 50A).
The pair of side seal portions 4A in the diaper 50A of the embodiment shown in the figure is the same as the pair of side seal portions 4 in the diaper 1 described above, the outer edge portion 3F of the exterior body 3 in the front body F and the exterior body in the rear body R. The edge portion 3R of the body 3 has a seal edge portion 41 joined by a continuous linear fusion portion 40 extending in the longitudinal direction of the side seal portion 4A.
The difference between the diaper 50 </ b> A of the present embodiment and the diaper 1 described above is that the vicinity of the seal edge 41 joined by the fusion part 40 is colored in a color different from the ground color of the front body F and the back body R. Is a point. By adopting this configuration, the side seal portion 4A becomes excellent in flexibility and touch, and the colored portion functions as a side seal portion visibility improving means, so that the side seal portion 4A can be visually confirmed. Will also be excellent.

  The “ground color of the front body F and the back body R” described above is a color that occupies the widest area in the front body F and the back body R. When the front body F and the back body R are a single pattern, the color is the ground color. On the other hand, when the front body F and the back body R are provided with patterns or characters, figures, symbols, or the like and have two or more colors, the color that occupies the widest area is the ground color. When the ground color of the front body F and the ground color of the back body R are different, a color different from both the ground color of the front body F and the ground color of the back body R is employed for the seal edge 41.

  The ground color of the front body F and the back body R and the color of the seal edge 41 may be either chromatic or achromatic. A large difference between the lightness L1 of the ground color of the front body F and the back body R and the lightness L2 of the color of the seal edge portion 41 is preferable because the visibility of the side seal portion 4A is increased. For example, the difference between the lightness L1 and the lightness L2 is preferably 1 or more, particularly 4 or more, and preferably 10 or less, particularly 9 or less, when the lightness of a white surface having a reflectance of 100% is 10. For the same reason, it is also preferable that the difference in hue between the ground color of the front body F and the back body R and the color of the seal edge 41 is large. For example, the ground color of the front body F and the back body R and the color of the seal edge 41 are preferably in a complementary color relationship. The lightness can be measured, for example, by LabScan XE, which is a colorimeter manufactured by HunterLab.

  In one embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention for manufacturing the diaper 50 </ b> A of the present embodiment, before irradiation with the laser beam 30, an irreversible thermochromic agent is formed at the site where the side seal portion is to be formed in the diaper continuum 10 described above. Then, the thermal discoloring agent is discolored simultaneously with the division and fusion by irradiating the predetermined site with the laser beam 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, prior to supplying the diaper continuous body 10 to the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1, the diaper continuous body 10 is irreversible toward the formation site 10C of the side seal portion. A thermal thermochromic agent 51 is applied. The thermochromic agent 51 can be applied, for example, by spraying the thermochromic agent 51 from the nozzle 50, but is not limited to this method. In this way, the diaper continuum 10 in which the thermochromic agent 51 is applied to the predetermined site 10C is subjected to the above-described dividing and fusing process by the laser beam, so that the thermochromic agent 51 is generated by the heat generated at that time. Develops into a predetermined color. The colored portion becomes the seal edge 41 described above. This method has an advantage that the position accuracy of the portion to be colored is higher than that in the case where the seal edge 41 is colored after the seal edge 41 is formed. In addition, this method has an advantage that the degree of coloring of the seal edge 41 can be increased as compared with the case where the seal edge 41 is formed in the predetermined site 10C after coloring the planned site 10C.

  In addition, it is preferable that the site | part which applies the thermochromic agent 51 in the above-mentioned method is only in the vicinity of the site 10C where the side seal portion is to be formed in the diaper continuum 10, and in a region other than the vicinity of the site 10C in the diaper continuum 10 It is preferable that the thermochromic agent 51 is not applied.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned method, although the state which applies the thermochromic agent 51 only to one surface in the diaper continuous body 10 was shown, it replaces with this and the formation planned site | part 10C of the side seal part in both surfaces of the diaper continuous body 10 is shown. A thermochromic agent 51 may be applied in the vicinity. When the thermochromic agent 51 is applied to both surfaces, colored lines extending in the same direction as the seal edge 41 extend are formed on both the front body F side and the back body side R across the seal edge 41. The

  As the thermochromic agent 51, a substance having a thermal irreversibility that changes color or develops due to a temperature rise and does not return to the primary color once the color is changed or developed is used. As such a thermochromic agent 51, for example, “Thermo Paint” manufactured by NOF Corporation can be used. Although it depends on the wavelength of the laser beam 30 to be used, it is preferable that the thermochromic agent 51 is discolored at a temperature of 130 ° C. or higher and 500 ° C. or lower from the viewpoint that the seal edge portion 41 can be reliably colored.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to coloring the seal edge portion 41 in a color different from the ground color of the front body F and the back body R, for example, the color of the constituent member of the diaper 1 that crosses the side seal portion 4 is changed. The ventral side (front side) and the back side (rear side) may be different from the side seal portion 4. For example, there is a method in which the waist part elastic member 5 or the exterior body 3 (the outer layer sheet 31 and the inner layer sheet 32) is different in color between the ventral part 1A (front body) and the back side part 1B (rear body) of the diaper 1. Can be mentioned. Specifically, as described above, the exterior body 3 in the front body F and the exterior body 3 in the back body R each have a structure in which an elastic member is disposed between two sheets. The color of the elastic member can be made different between the exterior body 3 in F and the exterior body 3 in the back body R. Instead of this, or in addition to this, the ground color of the non-woven sheet constituting the exterior body 3 may be different between the exterior body 3 in the front body F and the exterior body 3 in the back body R. When such a method is employed, the side seal portion 4 is positioned at the color switching portion, so that the visibility of the side seal portion 4 is further enhanced.

  In the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 described in the basic technology, the light passing portion through which the laser light can pass is composed of a slit-shaped opening 27 that penetrates the support member 21 in the thickness direction. The portion of the exterior body 3) that overlaps with the opening 27 (partition scheduled portion 10C) does not generate pressure applied by being sandwiched between the support member 21 and the pressure belt 24 (pressing member). Since the portion 10 </ b> C is a portion in which the applied pressure is substantially affected, the fused portion 40 is formed. In order to form the fused portion 40 more stably, it is effective to further increase the pressure applied by the clamping between the members 21 and 24.

  FIG. 12 shows a modified example in which a part of the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 is improved to enable more stable formation of the fused portion 40. In the modification shown in FIG. 12, from the peripheral part to the vicinity of the slit-like opening 27 (area within 35 mm from the edge of the opening 27) on the outer surface 21a of the support member 21B on which the diaper continuous body 10 is arranged. Also, a protruding portion 45 is formed on the outer surface 21a so as to protrude toward the diaper continuous body 10 side (pressure belt 24 side). More specifically, the protrusion 45 is formed on each of a pair of opening edges extending in the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of openings 27 (the width direction of the support member 21B) on the outer surface 21a of the support member 21B. Each protrusion 45 is continuous over the entire length in the longitudinal direction along the opening 27 and has a rectangular shape in plan view. The protrusion height 45 h (protrusion height from the peripheral portion) of each protrusion 45 is constant without changing over the entire length of the protrusion 45. The top of the protrusion 45 may be flat or a curved surface having a predetermined curvature, and the curved surface may be parallel to the outer surface 21a of the cylindrical support member 21B.

  In this way, the protrusion 45 is formed in the vicinity (opening edge) of the opening 27 on the outer surface 21a of the support member 21B, and a step is provided between the vicinity of the opening 27 and its peripheral portion, so that Since the vicinity of the part to be divided in the diaper continuous body 10 is located at the top of the projecting part 45 at a higher position, the applied pressure at the corresponding part in the vicinity of the opening locally increases. Therefore, the fall of the local pressurizing force in the diaper continuous body 10 is effectively prevented, the fusing of the diaper continuous body 10 is performed more stably, and the finally obtained diaper 1 (sheet fusion) The fusing strength of the side seal part 4 (seal edge part) in the body is further improved.

From the viewpoint of more surely exhibiting such an effect, the protrusion height 45h (see FIG. 12) of the protrusion 45 is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 1 mm or more, and preferably 10 mm or less. More preferably, it is 8 mm or less, more specifically, it is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or more and 8 mm or less.
The width 45w of the protrusion 45 (see FIG. 12, the length in the direction orthogonal to the width direction of the support member 21B) is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 20 mm or less, more preferably. Is 10 mm or less, more specifically, preferably 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the embodiment, this invention can be suitably changed without being restrict | limited to the embodiment mentioned above.
For example, a strip-shaped outer package (sheet laminate) is a stack of four sheets as shown in FIG. 7 (a), or two, three, or five or more sheets. May be. Moreover, in order to wind the diaper continuous body 10 around the cylindrical roll 23 (support member 21) without generating wrinkles or slack, the laser-type bonding apparatus 20 is provided with a mechanism for controlling the tension of the diaper continuous body 10. Also good.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the exterior body 3 in the embodiment (mode) is not divided into the abdominal part 1A and the dorsal part 1B, but the abdominal part 1A, the crotch part 1C, and the dorsal part 1B. However, the exterior body in the present invention is not limited to such a continuous shape. For example, the abdominal sheet placed on the abdomen side (front side) of the wearer It is divided | segmented into the member and the back | dorsal sheet | seat member distribute | arranged to a wearer's back | dorsal side (rear side), and the absorptive main body may be bridge | crossed and fixed to these both sheet | seat members. In the method for producing a pants-type disposable diaper having such a split-type exterior body, the polymerization pressurizing step includes a front body side (a belt-like stomach side sheet member) of the belt-like exterior body to which the absorbent main body is fixed. A site where the side seal portion is to be formed in the belt-shaped exterior body having a configuration in which the back body side (band-shaped backside sheet member) is superimposed is brought into a pressurized state.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, before implementation of the said superposition | polymerization pressurization process, as shown in FIG. 5, both sides 3a and 3a along the conveyance direction of the strip | belt-shaped exterior body 3, ie, strip | belt-shaped outer-layer sheet | seat 31 and strip | belt-shaped. Although the both side parts along the conveyance direction of each inner layer sheet 32 were folded back so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 2, the width direction (longitudinal direction) of the band-shaped outer layer sheet 31 was more than the band-shaped inner layer sheet 32. Absorbs only the extension part of the outer layer sheet 31 that extends outward from the side edge of the inner layer sheet 32 when the sheets 31 and 32 are overlapped. The body 2 may be folded back so as to cover both ends in the longitudinal direction. In that case, the parting plan part 10C of the diaper continuous body 10 is a six-layer structure part in which the opening end part of the waist opening part 8 and its vicinity are overlapped with six sheets, and the other part is four sheets. Becomes a four-layer structure part. Moreover, the both side parts 3a and 3a along the conveyance direction of the strip | belt-shaped exterior body 3, ie, the both sides along the conveyance direction of each of the strip | belt-shaped outer layer sheet 31 and the strip | belt-shaped inner layer sheet 32, do not need to be folded.

Further, the pant-type wearing article in the present invention is not limited to a pant-type disposable diaper, and may be a pant-type sanitary napkin. It may be a diaper cover or the like that does not include
The description omitted in one embodiment described above and the requirements of only one embodiment can be applied to other embodiments as appropriate, and the requirements in each embodiment can be appropriately changed between the embodiments. Can be substituted.

In the present invention, the outer body is divided and the joint is formed in the side seal portion forming step by melting the outer body using a heat source, and when the diaper is worn by forming the joint. As described above, the melting of the exterior body using a heat source is not limited to the irradiation of the laser beam to the exterior body, and infrared or halogen light is used as a non-contact heat source. Other methods other than that, for example, thermocompression bonding of the exterior body using a known heat roll device, etc., or application of ultrasonic vibration to the exterior body using a known ultrasonic vibration device, etc. Can also be implemented.
Moreover, the division | segmentation of an exterior body and formation of a junction part in the said side seal part formation process may be simultaneous, and may be divided after formation of a junction part.

In addition to the above-described embodiment (aspect) of the present invention, the following additional notes (pants-type wearing articles, methods for producing pants-type wearing articles) are disclosed.
<1>
An exterior body that forms the outer surface of the wearing article is provided, and a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening portion, and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both side edges of the exterior body in the front body and both side edges of the exterior body in the back body A pants-type wearing article in which a part is formed,
The side seal portion includes a seal edge portion in which the edge portion of the exterior body in the front body and the edge portion of the exterior body in the back body are joined by a continuous linear fusion portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the side seal portion. A pants-type wearing article having a seal edge portion and being colored in a color different from the ground color of the front body and the back body.

<2>
In a cross-section orthogonal to the direction in which the seal edge extends when worn, a fusion part between sheets constituting the exterior body is formed on the outer edge of the seal edge, and the fusion part is formed of the exterior body. The underpants type wearing article as described in <1> whose center part of the thickness direction is wide compared with both ends.
<3>
In the cross section orthogonal to the direction in which the seal edge extends when worn, the outer edge of the seal edge has an arcuate shape convex toward the inside of the worn article, and includes the outer edge and the worn article more than that. A melt-bonded portion between the sheets constituting the exterior body is formed inward, and the melt-bonded portion is wider at the center portion in the thickness direction of the exterior body than both end portions, <1> The article for wearing underpants type.
<4>
The exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body each have a structure in which an elastic member is disposed between two sheets,
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the color of the elastic member is different between the exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body.
<5>
The exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body each have a sheet and an elastic member,
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein a ground color of the sheet is different between the exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body.
<6>
Further comprising an absorbent body,
The pants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein the exterior body is positioned on the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent body, and the exterior body fixes the absorbent body. .

<7>
The exterior body includes an outer layer sheet that forms the outer surface of the wearing article, an inner layer sheet that is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer layer sheet and forms the inner surface of the wearing article, and a plurality of sheets that are fixed between the sheets with an adhesive. The pants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <6>, comprising a string-like or belt-like elastic member.
<8>
The pants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the exterior body is a nonwoven fabric, a film, or a laminate sheet of a nonwoven fabric and a film.
<9>
The pants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <8>, wherein the nonwoven fabric is an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, or a meltblown nonwoven fabric.
<10>
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein a difference between the lightness L1 of the ground color of the front body and the back body and the lightness L2 of the color of the seal edge is large.
<11>
The difference between the lightness L1 and L2 is 1 or more, particularly 4 or more, preferably 10 or less, particularly preferably 9 or less, <10>.

<12>
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein a difference in hue between the ground color of the front body and the back body and the color of the seal edge is large.
<13>
Further comprising a waist elastic member,
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of <1> to <12>, in which a color of the waist elastic member or the exterior body is different between the front body and the back body.
<14>
The pants-type wearing article according to <13>, wherein the color of the elastic member is different between the exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body.
<15>
<1> thru | or the manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article of any one of <14>,
A polymerization pressurizing step for pressing the formation planned site of the side seal part in the belt-shaped exterior body in a state where the front body side and the back body side are overlapped; and
While cutting the exterior body by irradiating a laser beam through a light passage portion extending in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the exterior body to the formation planned site of the side seal portion in a pressurized state A side seal part forming step of forming the side seal part by fusing the cut edges of the laminated outer package produced by the division,
Before irradiating the laser beam, an irreversible thermochromic agent is applied to the site where the side seal portion is to be formed, and then the laser beam is irradiated to the site so that the heat and the fusion are simultaneously performed. A method for producing a pants-type wearing article, wherein the discoloring agent is discolored.
<16>
The manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article as described in <15> given by spraying the said thermochromic agent from a nozzle.

<17>
<15> or <16> The method for producing a pants-type wearing article according to <15>, wherein the thermochromic agent is a substance having a thermal irreversibility that changes color or develops due to an increase in temperature and does not return to the primary color once changed or developed.

1,50A Pants-type disposable diapers (pants-type wearing articles)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A Abdominal side part 1B Back side part 1C Crotch part F Front part R Rear part 2 Absorbent main body 3 Exterior body 31 Outer layer sheet 32 Inner layer sheet 4, 4A Side seal part 4a Outer edge of fusion part 40 Fusion part 41 Seal edge part 10 Diaper continuum (band-shaped exterior)
20 Laser type joining device 21, 21B Support member 26 Belt type pressurizing device 27 Opening (light passage part)
30 Laser light 45 Projection

Claims (6)

An exterior body that forms the outer surface of the wearing article is provided, and a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening portion, and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both side edges of the exterior body in the front body and both side edges of the exterior body in the back body A pants-type wearing article in which a part is formed,
The side seal portion includes a seal edge portion in which the edge portion of the exterior body in the front body and the edge portion of the exterior body in the back body are joined by a continuous linear fusion portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the side seal portion. A pants-type wearing article having a seal edge portion and being colored in a color different from the ground color of the front body and the back body.   In a cross-section orthogonal to the direction in which the seal edge extends when worn, a fusion part between sheets constituting the exterior body is formed on the outer edge of the seal edge, and the fusion part is formed of the exterior body. The underpants-type wearing article according to claim 1, wherein a central portion in the thickness direction is wider than both end portions.   In the cross section orthogonal to the direction in which the seal edge extends when worn, the outer edge of the seal edge has an arcuate shape convex toward the inside of the worn article, and includes the outer edge and the worn article more than that. 2, a fusion part between sheets constituting the exterior body is formed inwardly, and the fusion part is wider at the center part in the thickness direction of the exterior body than both end parts. The article for wearing underpants type. The exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body each have a structure in which an elastic member is disposed between two sheets,
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the color of the elastic member is different between the exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body. The exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body each have a sheet and an elastic member,
The underpants-type wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a ground color of the sheet is different between the exterior body in the front body and the exterior body in the back body. It is a manufacturing method of the underpants type wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A polymerization pressurizing step for pressing the formation planned site of the side seal part in the belt-shaped exterior body in a state where the front body side and the back body side are overlapped; and
While cutting the exterior body by irradiating a laser beam through a light passage portion extending in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the exterior body to the formation planned site of the side seal portion in a pressurized state A side seal part forming step of forming the side seal part by fusing the cut edges of the laminated outer package produced by the division,
Before irradiating the laser beam, an irreversible thermochromic agent is applied to the site where the side seal portion is to be formed, and then the laser beam is irradiated to the site so that the heat and the fusion are simultaneously performed. A method for producing a pants-type wearing article, wherein the discoloring agent is discolored.

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