JP2021094254A - Absorbent article, manufacturing apparatus of absorbent article and manufacturing method of absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article, an apparatus for producing an absorbent article, and a method for producing an absorbent article, which suppresses the disappearance of grooves due to pressing even in a bulky nonwoven fabric as much as possible. With the goal. The present invention is an absorbent article worn in the inseam of a wearer, which is arranged on the wearer side of the absorbent body and the absorbent body, and is a core sheath fiber that the wearer's skin comes into contact with. A non-woven fabric top sheet, a squeezing groove formed on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing from the top sheet side to the absorber side, and at least a portion of the top sheet corresponding to the intersection of the squeezing grooves are provided. The non-woven fabric made of core-sheath fiber is provided with a low-bulk portion having a lower bulk than the surroundings. [Selection diagram] Fig. 5

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, an apparatus for producing an absorbent article, and a method for producing an absorbent article.

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, urine pads, and sanitary napkins include absorbers that absorb liquids such as urine and body fluids. Various non-woven fabrics are used for these absorbent articles (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2019/106964

The non-woven fabric used for the absorbent article is manufactured at the non-woven fabric manufacturing factory and transported to the absorbent article manufacturing factory. Therefore, the non-woven fabric is usually a long raw fabric, and is transported in a roll-like state wound around a core material. Therefore, in a manufacturing plant for an absorbent article using the non-woven fabric, for example, the raw materials are different from each other in the core portion and the sheath portion in order to recover the bulk of the non-woven fabric that has been physically compressed and lost by being wound in a roll shape. In the case of a non-woven fabric using core-sheath fibers, hot air is passed through the non-woven fabric to recover the bulk by utilizing the difference in heat shrinkage between the two materials.

By the way, some absorbent articles are provided with a groove on the surface that the wearer's skin comes into contact with in order to improve the air permeability. Such a groove can be formed by, for example, squeezing a laminated body in which various materials such as non-woven fabric are stacked from the surface where the wearer's skin comes into contact. However, for example, when the sheet forming the surface with which the skin comes into contact is a non-woven fabric whose bulk has been restored by the hot air described above, the non-woven fabric is bulky, so that the non-woven fabric is sufficiently different from other materials even when pressed. The groove may disappear even if it is pressed.

Therefore, the present invention provides an absorbent article, an apparatus for producing an absorbent article, and a method for producing an absorbent article, which suppresses the disappearance of grooves due to pressing even in a bulky nonwoven fabric as much as possible. The purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, at least the portion of the top sheet corresponding to the intersection where the squeezing grooves intersect is provided with a low-bulk portion in which the bulk of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric is lower than the surroundings.

Specifically, the present invention is an absorbent article worn in the inseam of the wearer, which is a core-sheath fiber that is arranged on the wearer side of the absorber and the wearer's skin. A non-woven fabric top sheet, a squeezing groove formed on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing from the top sheet side to the absorber side, and at least a portion of the top sheet corresponding to the intersection of the squeezing grooves are provided. The non-woven fabric made of core-sheath fiber is provided with a low-bulk portion having a lower bulk than the surroundings.

The high-bulk portion around the low-bulk portion may be formed to have a high bulk due to thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the top sheet.

Further, the low bulk portion may be provided in a solid line, a dotted line or a broken line in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and overlapping the intersection.

Further, the bulky portion may be provided in a solid line, a dotted line or a broken line in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and not overlapping the intersection.

Further, the bulky portions may be provided at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and not overlapping the intersections.

Further, the bulky portions may be provided at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and overlapping the intersections.

Further, the low bulk portion may be provided in each straight portion constituting the squeeze groove.

Further, the bulky portion may be provided next to the straight line forming the squeeze groove in a dotted line or a broken line shape along the straight line.

Further, the bulky portion may be provided in the central portion in the frame defined by the straight line forming the squeeze groove.

Further, the bulky portion may be regularly or irregularly provided on the top sheet in the form of dots.

The present invention can also be grasped from the side of the manufacturing apparatus. For example, the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article to be attached to the inseam of a wearer, and is directed from the top sheet side of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric arranged on the wearer side of the absorber toward the absorber side. A squeezing mechanism that forms a squeezing groove on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing, and a bulky portion of the top sheet other than the intersection where the squeezing grooves intersect is provided with a bulky portion of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric having a higher bulk than the surroundings. It may be provided with a recovery mechanism.

The present invention can also be grasped from the aspect of the manufacturing method. For example, the present invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article to be attached to the inseam of a wearer, from the top sheet side of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric arranged on the wearer side of the absorber toward the absorber side. A high-bulk portion of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric having a higher bulk than the surroundings is provided at least in a portion of the top sheet other than the intersection where the squeezed grooves intersect with each other in the squeezing step of forming a squeezed groove on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing. It may have a bulk recovery step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the groove disappearing due to the pressing process as much as possible even if the non-woven fabric is bulky.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a diaper in a non-wearing state when the center in the longitudinal direction is cut along the width direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a squeeze groove. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first example of a structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a first example showing a part of the diaper manufacturing process. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example of a structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a structural diagram of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 11 is a diagram of a second example showing a part of the diaper manufacturing process. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the concave roller having a hot air blowing function.

Hereinafter, the absorbent article according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

<Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, the tape-type disposable diaper (an example of the "absorbent article" in the present application, hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") faces the front body and the back, which are arranged to face the abdomen of the wearer. The direction connecting the back body to be arranged is the longitudinal direction. An inseam placed in the wearer's inseam (opposed to the crotch) between these front bodies (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body (other side in the longitudinal direction) (center in the longitudinal direction). The part is located. In addition, when the disposable diaper is worn on the wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "wearing state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (inside when worn) is the skin surface side, and the opposite side of the skin surface side. (Outside when attached) is the non-skin side. Further, the direction connecting the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side is the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is defined as a plan view.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to the present embodiment. The diaper 1 is located in the inseam area 1B, which is a part corresponding to the inseam area covering the wearer's genital area in the worn state, and the front body area 1F, which is a part corresponding to the wearer's front body, located on the front side of the inseam area 1B. And the back body region 1R, which is located behind the inseam region 1B and corresponds to the back body of the wearer. Tapes 2L and 2R that can be attached to the front patch 2F provided on the non-wearer side surface of the front body area 1F are provided on the left and right side edges of the back body area 1R. Therefore, in the diaper 1, when the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F with the front body area 1F arranged on the ventral side of the wearer and the back body area 1R arranged on the back side of the wearer. , It is fixed to the wearer's body in a state surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference and thigh. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in such a form, the wearer can walk while wearing the diaper 1.

In the diaper 1, an absorber capable of absorbing and holding the liquid is mainly arranged around the inseam region 1B. Further, in the diaper 1, in order to suppress the formation of a gap that serves as a liquid outflow route between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin, three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are formed on the portion surrounding the wearer's thigh. Is provided, and a waist gather 3R is provided at a portion surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR and the waist gathers 3R come into close contact with the wearer's skin due to the elastic force of the rubber thread. Therefore, the liquid discharged from the pubic area of the wearer is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 with almost no leakage from the diaper 1.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 in the non-wearing state when the center in the longitudinal direction is cut along the width direction. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms an outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with 4KL and 4KR constricted in a portion corresponding to a long side, and forms an exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constriction 4KL and 4KR are provided at a position where the wearer's thigh is located. The cover sheet 4 is provided for reinforcing the back sheet 5 and improving the feel, which will be described later. For example, in order to suppress leakage of excrement, a non-woven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin is used as the material thereof. be able to. Examples of the liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, and may have a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5, an absorber 6C, and a top sheet 7 that are sequentially laminated on the wearer-side surface of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, the absorber 6C, and the top sheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are laminated in order on the cover sheet 4 in a state where the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. There is. Like the cover sheet 4, the back sheet 5 is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin as a material in order to suppress leakage of excrement. The back seat 5 is preferably made of a material having moisture permeability in order to suppress stuffiness in the wearing state. Further, the top sheet 7 is a sheet-like member arranged on the skin surface side of the wearer so as to cover the water absorption surface of the absorber 6C. The top sheet 7 has liquid permeability in a part or all of it. Therefore, in the state where the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid excreted from the wearer enters the absorber 6C through the top sheet 7 which can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and is absorbed there. For example, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a porous film can be used as a material for the top sheet 7. The top sheet 7 may have hydrophilicity.

The back sheet 5, the absorber 6C, and the top sheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's pubic area is covered with the cover sheet 4 in which the back sheet 5, the absorber 6C, and the top sheet 7 are laminated, both ends of the back sheet 5, the absorber 6C, and the top sheet 7 in each longitudinal direction are displayed. It will be located on the ventral and dorsal sides of the wearer. That is, the genital area of the wearer is covered with the absorber 6C from the ventral side to the dorsal side of the wearer. Therefore, regardless of whether the wearer discharges the liquid to the outside of the body in either the abdomen-down posture or the back-down posture, the discharged liquid contacts the absorber 6C via the top sheet 7. Will be done.

Further, the diaper 1 has elongated strip-shaped side sheets 8L and 8R for forming the above-mentioned three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR. The side sheets 8L and 8R are liquid-impermeable sheets provided on the long side portion of the top sheet 7. Similar to the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR of the diaper 1, the side seats 8L and 8R are provided with 8KL and 8KR constricted at the position where the wearer's thigh is located. The rubber threads 8EL and 8ER are woven into the side sheets 8L and 8R along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the side seats 8L and 8R are attracted in the longitudinal direction by the contraction force of the rubber threads 8EL and 8ER when the diaper 1 is in the mounted state, that is, when the diaper 1 is in the U-shaped side view. It becomes a three-dimensional gather that rises from and prevents the outflow of liquid.

Further, the thread rubber 9ER for forming the waist gather 3R described above is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 at a position further back than the end portion of the absorber 6C. The rubber thread 9ER is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 in a direction in which the longitudinal direction, which is the expansion and contraction direction, is the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Therefore, when the tapes 2L and 2R provided on the left and right sides of the rubber thread 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the ventral side of the wearer, the rubber thread 9ER exerts a contraction force to give the diaper 1 to the wearer. It is brought into close contact to prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. The cover sheet 4 is also provided with thread rubbers 4SL and 4SR along the longitudinal direction of the thread rubber 4C to prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. The rubber threads 4SL and 4SR are provided at appropriate positions in an appropriate number determined according to the elastic force (contraction force) required for the design of the diaper 1.

The absorber 6C contains water in the gaps between short fibers of cellulose-based fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, and short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. It has a structure in which a granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and retaining a fiber, is retained. Therefore, in the absorber 6C, the volume fluctuation of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing the liquid is basically performed in the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gap. Therefore, when the entire absorber 6C is viewed from a bird's-eye view, it can be said that the expansion coefficient of the thickness of the absorber 6C that has absorbed the liquid is not as large as the expansion coefficient of the absorbent resin itself.

The SAP particles of the present embodiment refer to particles of a resin composition containing SAP. The term "resin composition containing SAP" as used herein refers to both a composition consisting of SAP alone and a composition containing SAP as a main component and containing other substances to the extent that it does not adversely affect water absorption. Is a concept that includes. Examples of the "other substance" include additives (surface modifiers added for the purpose of hydrophobizing the particle surface), unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP, and the like.

By the way, the diaper 1 of the present embodiment is provided with squeezing grooves formed in a grid pattern on the surface of the top sheet 7 by squeezing from the top sheet 7 side to the absorber 6C side. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a squeeze groove. The squeeze grooves 9 are formed in a grid pattern in a main region of the surface of the top sheet 7 including the portion of the absorber 6C, for example, as shown in FIG. The main area is an area including the central part of the top sheet 7, for example, the entire surface of the top sheet 7, a part of the surface of the top sheet 7 corresponding to the urethral meatus and anus of the wearer, and various other parts. It may be any of. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the squeezing groove 9 is not limited to a form in which straight lines forming the groove intersect at right angles to form a lattice. The squeezing groove 9 may have a form in which straight lines forming the groove intersect diagonally to form a lattice. Further, the squeezing groove 9 is not limited to a form in which a plurality of straight lines forming the groove are arranged in parallel. In the squeezing groove 9, the straight lines forming the groove may be non-parallel to each other. Further, the squeezing groove 9 is not limited to the shape in which the straight line forming the groove is in the shape of a solid line, and may be in the form of a dotted line or a broken line, for example.

Further, the diaper 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a low bulk portion 7T. The low-bulk portion 7T is a portion where the bulk (thickness) of the top sheet 7 is lower than the surroundings. Since the low-bulk portion 7T is a low-bulk portion, the periphery of the low-bulk portion 7T is a high-bulk portion 7F. As shown in FIG. 4, the low-bulk portion 7T has a solid line shape in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 and overlapping with an intersection 9K where the straight lines forming the grooves of the squeezing groove 9 intersect. It is provided. The low bulk portion 7T may be provided in a dotted line or a broken line instead of the solid line.

The low bulk portion 7T will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first example of a structural diagram of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. The low-bulk portion 7T is a low-bulk portion provided on the top sheet 7, and the thickness of the top sheet 7 is thinner than that of the high-bulk portion 7F around the low-bulk portion 7T. As described above, since the low-bulk portion 7T and the high-bulk portion 7F exist in the top sheet 7 itself, as shown in the cross-sectional view of A1-A1 of FIG. 5, the top sheet 7 is located between the squeezing grooves 9. The thickness is not uniform, and a low-bulk portion 7T and a high-bulk portion 7F may exist between the squeezing grooves 9.

In the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the top sheet 7 has a low-bulk portion 7T and a high-bulk portion 7F, and the intersection 9K is squeezed so as to be located at the low-bulk portion 7T. At least at the intersection 9K of the grooves 9, the pressing force of the pressing process is difficult to disperse due to the thickness of the top sheet 7, and the pressing force is easily transmitted from the surface of the top sheet 7 to the absorber 6C. Therefore, the shape of the intersection 9K is firmly maintained by sufficient squeezing of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. Therefore, in the diaper 1 of the above embodiment, the squeezing groove 9 is less likely to disappear after water absorption in the absorber 6C, for example, as compared with the absorbent article in which the low bulk portion 7T does not exist in the top sheet 7. When the possibility that the squeezing groove 9 disappears is reduced, the possibility that the air permeability provided to the surface of the top sheet 7 by the squeezing groove 9 is lost is also reduced. Therefore, it can be said that the diaper 1 of the above embodiment has higher air permeability on the surface of the top sheet 7 than the absorbent article in which the low bulk portion 7T does not exist in the top sheet 7. Further, in the diaper 1 of the above embodiment, since the top sheet 7 has not only the low bulk portion 7T but also the high bulk portion 7F, the squeezing groove is compared with the one in which the top sheet 7 does not have the high bulk portion 7F. 9 is hard to touch the skin, and the surface of the top sheet 7 can be softened.

The low bulk portion 7T and the high bulk portion 7F can be formed as follows. For example, when the top sheet 7 is a non-woven fabric made of core-sheath fibers made of two or more kinds of raw materials whose raw materials are different from each other in the core portion and the sheath portion, the fibers constituting the top sheet 7 are raw materials. In the state of being wound on the anti-roll, it is crushed by the winding force of the roll. However, when the core-sheath fiber is heated, the bulk is restored due to the difference in the heat shrinkage rate between the substance constituting the core portion and the substance constituting the sheath portion. Therefore, when the bulk of the top sheet 7 is restored by heating, for example, the nozzle that blows hot air onto the top sheet 7 is made a long and narrow opening that intersects the MD direction (MD: Machine Direction) of the device that handles the top sheet 7. By partially providing the portion where the hot air does not blow out, the high bulk portion 7F can be provided at the portion where the hot air hits, and the low bulk portion 7T can be provided at the portion where the hot air does not hit. The heating of the top sheet 7 for forming the bulky portion 7F may be performed before the formation of the squeeze groove 9, after the formation of the squeeze groove 9, or the formation of the squeeze groove 9. It may be done at the same time.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a first example showing a part of the manufacturing process of the diaper 1. In order to make the top sheet 7 bulky and form a squeeze groove 9 on the surface of the top sheet 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a heating nozzle 10 that blows hot air (in an example of the "bulk recovery mechanism" in the present application). The concave roller 11 and the support roller 12 that form the squeezing groove 9 in the top sheet 7 that has passed through the heating nozzle 10 are provided in the diaper 1 manufacturing apparatus. The heating nozzle 10 blows hot air onto the surface of the top sheet 7 to heat the top sheet 7 and restore the bulk of the top sheet 7. The opening of the heating nozzle 10 has an elongated shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (MD direction) of the top sheet 7. The opening of the heating nozzle 10 is closed at a portion corresponding to the low bulk portion 7T, forming a broken line-shaped opening as a whole. That is, since the heating nozzle 10 has a broken line-shaped opening, only the portion of the top sheet 7 that is exposed to the hot air is restored to the bulky portion 7F by heating, and the portion that is not exposed to the hot air is restored to the bulk. Instead, the low bulk portion 7T remains. The top sheet 7 having the high bulk portion 7F and the low bulk portion 7T formed on the surface in a streak pattern has a concave portion having a grid-like squeeze end 11B (an example of the "squeeze mechanism" in the present application) on the outer peripheral surface. It is squeezed by the roller 11. The squeezing by the concave roller 11 is performed together with the support roller 12 arranged on the opposite side of the concave roller 11 with the top sheet 7 interposed therebetween. Therefore, on the surface of the top sheet 7, a pressing groove 9 formed by sandwiching the top sheet 7 between the pressing end 11B of the concave roller 11 and the supporting roller 12 is formed. Further, since the concave roller 11 has a concave portion 11A other than the squeezed end 11B, the high bulk portion 7F formed by the heating nozzle 10 is squeezed by the squeezed end 11B to form the squeezing groove 9. The bulky state is maintained without being crushed by the concave roller 11 except for the portion.

Here, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the concave roller 11 is arranged at a portion where the intersection of the grids of the squeezed ends 11B formed on the outer peripheral surface corresponds to the low bulk portion 7T. Therefore, the intersection 9K of the squeezing groove 9 formed by squeezing the concave roller 11 is formed not in the high bulk portion 7F but in the low bulk portion 7T. In this way, when the heating nozzle 10, the concave roller 11, and the support roller 12 are provided in the manufacturing apparatus of the diaper 1, the intersection 9K is squeezed so as to be located at the low bulk portion 7T, so that the squeezing groove 9 is formed. Of these, at least at the intersection 9K, the pressing force of the pressing process by the pressing end 11B is difficult to disperse due to the thickness of the top sheet 7, and the pressing force is easily transmitted from the surface of the top sheet 7 to the absorber 6C. Therefore, the shape of the intersection 9K is firmly maintained by sufficient squeezing of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. As a result, the possibility that the squeezing groove 9 disappears can be suppressed, and the air permeability imparted to the surface of the top sheet 7 by the squeezing groove 9 and the feel of the surface of the top sheet 7 can be improved.

<Modification example>
By the way, the low bulk portion 7T is not limited to the form provided at the intersection 9K. The low-bulk portion 7T may be provided in the entire portion of the squeezing groove 9, for example. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a structural diagram of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. The low bulk portion 7T may be provided over the entire portion of the squeeze groove 9, for example, as shown in FIG. According to this, since the pressing process is performed so that not only the intersection 9K but also the entire portion of the pressing groove 9 is located in the low bulk portion 7T, the pressing force of the pressing process in the pressing groove 9 is the thickness of the top sheet 7. The pressing force is easily transmitted from the surface of the top sheet 7 to the absorber 6C. Therefore, the shape of the squeezing groove 9 is firmly maintained by sufficient squeezing of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. Therefore, in the diaper 1 of this modified example, the possibility that the squeezing groove 9 disappears is low. Therefore, it is possible to improve the air permeability provided to the surface of the top sheet 7 by the pressing groove 9 and the touch of the surface of the top sheet 7. That is, for example, even if the absorber 6C swells due to the absorption of urine and the squeezing groove 9 disappears, the high-bulk portion 7F and the low-bulk portion 7T are formed on the top sheet 7, so that the squeezing groove 9 causes the top sheet. 7 The same breathability as that given to the surface is maintained.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, in this modified example, it can be said that the bulky portions 7F are arranged at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 and overlapping the intersection of the intersection 9K. Further, in FIG. 7, it is shown that all parts other than the squeezing groove 9 are high-bulk portions 7F, but the high-bulk portion 7F is formed linearly along the squeezing groove 9. , It may be formed so as to draw a rhombic line in each lattice frame of the squeeze groove 9. In this case, the bulky portion 7F is formed in the shape of a solid line, a dotted line, or a broken line.

Further, the low bulk portion 7T is not limited to the form of being provided in a streak shape on the surface of the top sheet 7. The top sheet 7 may have, for example, substantially the entire low-bulk portion 7T, and the circular high-bulk portion 7F may be discretely arranged in a dot shape. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example of a structural diagram of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the top sheet 7 has a low-bulk portion 7T substantially as a whole, and the circular high-bulk portion 7F may be discretely arranged along the squeezing groove 9. According to this, since the pressing process is performed so that the entire portion of the pressing groove 9 is located in the low bulk portion 7T, the pressing force of the pressing process is difficult to disperse in the pressing groove 9 due to the thickness of the top sheet 7. The pressing force is easily transmitted from the surface of the top sheet 7 to the absorber 6C. Therefore, the shape of the squeezing groove 9 is firmly maintained by sufficient squeezing of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. Therefore, in the diaper 1 of this modified example, the possibility that the squeezing groove 9 disappears is low. Therefore, it is possible to improve the air permeability provided to the surface of the top sheet 7 by the pressing groove 9 and the touch of the surface of the top sheet 7. That is, for example, even if the absorber 6C swells due to the absorption of urine and the squeezing groove 9 disappears, the surface of the top sheet 7 is formed by the squeezing groove 9 by the high bulk portion 7F and the low bulk portion 7T formed on the top sheet 7. The same breathability that was given to is maintained.

Further, the dot-shaped high bulk portion 7F is not limited to the form in which those having the same size are discretely arranged along the squeezing groove 9. The high-bulk portion 7F may be, for example, in a form in which circular high-bulk portions 7F of various sizes and sizes are discretely arranged in a dot shape. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a structural diagram of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the top sheet 7 has a low-bulk portion 7T as a whole, and a circular, small-diameter, high-bulk portion 7F is discretely arranged along the squeezing groove 9, and is circular and has a large diameter. The bulky portion 7F may be arranged in the center of the grid of the squeezing groove 9. According to this, since the large-diameter high-bulk portion 7F is provided in the center of the grid of the squeezing groove 9, the surface feel of the top sheet 7 is improved as compared with the modified example shown in FIG. Can be done.

Further, the dot-shaped high bulk portion 7F is not limited to the form of being discretely arranged along the squeezing groove 9. The high bulk portion 7F may be arranged, for example, along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a structural diagram of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the top sheet 7 has a low-bulk portion 7T almost entirely, and a circular high-bulk portion 7F arranged next to the intersection 9K is along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7. May be arranged. According to this, it is possible to improve the feel of the surface of the top sheet 7 in the vicinity of the intersection 9K while suppressing the possibility that the squeezing groove 9 disappears.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, in this modified example, it can be said that the bulky portions 7F are arranged at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 7 and not overlapping the intersection of the intersection 9K. .. Further, the dot-shaped high bulk portion 7F is not limited to the form of being regularly arranged as described above, and may be irregularly arranged on the surface of the top sheet 7, for example. Further, the squeezing groove 9 is not limited to the form of forming a rhombic lattice frame as described above, and may be, for example, a rectangular lattice frame formed by vertical and horizontal lattice lines. Alternatively, it may be in an irregularly formed form. Further, the low bulk portion 7T may be provided at an intersection 9K where the squeezing grooves 9 intersect with each other, and may be provided at an intersection 9K where the squeezing grooves 9 forming a non-lattice shape intersect with each other.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a second example showing a part of the manufacturing process of the diaper 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to provide the low bulk portion 7T in the entire portion of the squeezing groove 9 and the high bulk portion 7F in other portions, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a concave roller 11 is provided with a function of blowing hot air, and the heating nozzle 10 is omitted. When hot air is blown from the concave portion 11A of the concave roller 11, the volume of the surface of the top sheet 7 other than the portion squeezed by the squeezed end 11B is restored. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the low-bulk portion 7T is formed in the entire portion of the squeezing groove 9, and the high-bulk portion 7F is formed in the other portion.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the concave roller 11 having a hot air blowing function. When it is desired to provide the concave roller 11 with a hot air blowing function, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the concave roller 11 is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape, and a ventilation hole 11C is provided on the bottom surface of each recess 11A. In addition, ventilation holes are also provided on the entire outer peripheral surface of the support roller 12. The ventilation hole 11C is a through hole that communicates the internal space of the concave roller 11 with the outside, and has a form in which a large number of fine holes are arranged. An intake chamber 11D and a hot air chamber 11E (which is an example of the "bulk recovery mechanism" in the present application) are provided inside the concave roller 11. The intake chamber 11D is connected to a suction device (not shown). Further, the hot air chamber 11E is connected to a hot air blowing device (not shown). While the concave roller 11 rotates, the intake chamber 11D and the hot air chamber 11E inside the concave roller 11 are fixed by a member (not shown). In such a concave roller 11, the laminated body of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C fed out from the feeding roller 13 is attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the concave roller 11 by the force of air sucked into the intake chamber 11D through the ventilation hole 11C. Will be done. As a result, the laminated body of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C is in a state along the outer peripheral surface of the concave roller 11. Then, when the concave roller 11 rotates, the laminated body is heated by the heat of the hot air blown from the hot air chamber 11E through the ventilation hole 11C, and the bulk of the top sheet 7 is restored at the portion of the concave portion 11A. Further, the laminated body is squeezed at the squeezed end 11B portion, and the squeezing groove 9 is formed. The laminated body of the top sheet 7 and the absorber 6C is cooled by blowing air after passing through the concave roller 11 having a hot air blowing function, so that the high-bulk portion 7F whose bulk has been restored by heating is a post-process such as packaging. It is processed so that it will not be crushed again.

If the concave roller 11 is formed in this way, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the low bulk portion 7T may be provided in the entire portion of the squeezing groove 9, and the high bulk portion 7F may be provided in the other portion. it can. Further, by appropriately changing the shape pattern of the ventilation holes 11C, for example, the bulky portion 7F having various shapes shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 can be formed.

The bulky portion 7F is not limited to the one formed in the manufacturing process shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, and may be formed in another manufacturing process. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the high-bulk portion 7F is arranged next to the intersection 9K (in the width direction), in other words, the high-bulk portion 7F is not arranged on the virtual straight line on the MD direction of the intersection 9K. In the case where the high bulk portion 7F is formed in a solid line, a dotted line, or a broken line along the longitudinal direction (MD direction) of the top sheet 7, a heating mechanism for bulk recovery and a pressing groove 9 are formed. It is possible to form the high bulk portion 7F at a position where it does not overlap with the intersection 9K without synchronizing with the pressing mechanism for forming the above. When the high bulk portion 7F is formed in a dot shape or a broken line shape, the spacing between the high bulk portions 7F is set to a non-integer multiple of the spacing between the squeezing grooves 9, or the spacing between the squeezing grooves 9 is each high bulk. By setting the interval of the portions 7F to a non-integer multiple, the number of bulky portions 7F overlapping the squeezing groove 9 can be suppressed as much as possible.

Further, since the raw fabric roll of the top sheet 7 is obtained by winding the raw fabric around the core material, the core material side of the roll is compressed more than the outer peripheral side, and the volume is low. Therefore, it is preferable that the heating time for bulk recovery is gradually increased from the start end side to the end side of the original roll. For example, if the speed of the raw fabric unwound from the raw fabric roll is gradually reduced, the heating time for bulk recovery can be gradually increased.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and modification, the tape-type diaper is illustrated, but it can also be applied to pants-type diapers and other various forms of absorbent articles.

1 ... diaper 1B ... inseam area 1F ... front body area 1R ... back body area 2F ... front patch 2FT ... vent holes 2L, 2R ... tape 3BL, 3BR ... 3D gather 3R ... waist gather 4・ ・ Cover sheet 4KL, 4KR ・ ・ Constriction 4C, 4SL, 4SR, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER ・ ・ Thread rubber 5 ・ ・ Back sheet 6C ・ ・ Absorber 7 ・ ・ Top sheet 7F ・ ・ High bulk part 7T ・ ・ Low Bulk part 8 ・ ・ Side sheet 8KL, 8KR ・ ・ Constriction 9 ・ ・ Squeezing groove 9K ・ ・ Intersection 10 ・ ・ Heating nozzle 11 ・ ・ Concave roller 11A ・ ・ Recess 11B ・ ・ Squeezing end 11C ・ ・ Vent hole 11D ・ ・ Intake Chamber 11E ... Hot air chamber 12 ... Support roller 13 ... Feeding roller

Claims (12)

An absorbent article that is worn on the wearer's inseam
Absorber and
A non-woven fabric top sheet made of core-sheath fiber, which is arranged on the wearer side of the absorber and is in contact with the wearer's skin,
A squeezing groove formed on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing from the top sheet side to the absorber side,
The top sheet is provided at least at a portion corresponding to an intersection where the squeezed grooves intersect, and includes a low-bulk portion in which the bulk of the core-sheath fiber nonwoven fabric is lower than the surroundings.
Absorbent article. The high-bulk portion around the low-bulk portion is formed to have a high bulk due to thermal deformation of two or more types of core-sheath fibers constituting the top sheet.
The absorbent article according to claim 1. The low bulk portion is provided in a solid line, a dotted line, or a broken line in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and overlapping the intersection.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The bulky portion is provided in a solid line, a dotted line, or a broken line in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and not overlapping the intersection.
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The bulky portions are provided at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and not overlapping the intersection.
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The bulky portions are provided at equal intervals in a virtual straight line along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet and overlapping the intersections.
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The low bulk portion is provided in each straight line portion constituting the squeeze groove.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The bulky portion is provided next to a straight line forming the squeeze groove in a dotted line or a broken line along the straight line.
The absorbent article according to claim 1, 2 or 7. The bulky portion is provided in a central portion within a frame partitioned by straight lines forming the squeeze groove.
The absorbent article according to claim 1, 2 or 7. The bulky portion is regularly or irregularly provided on the top sheet in the form of dots.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. A device for manufacturing absorbent articles that is worn on the inseam of the wearer.
A squeezing mechanism that forms a squeezing groove on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing from the top sheet side of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric arranged on the wearer side of the absorber toward the absorber side.
The top sheet is provided with a bulk recovery mechanism for providing a bulky portion of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric at least at a portion other than the intersection where the squeezed grooves intersect with each other.
Equipment for manufacturing absorbent articles. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article that is attached to the inseam of the wearer.
A squeezing step of forming a squeezing groove on the surface of the top sheet by squeezing from the top sheet side of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric arranged on the wearer side of the absorber toward the absorber side.
The top sheet includes a bulk recovery step of providing a bulky portion of the core-sheath fiber non-woven fabric at least at a portion other than the intersection where the squeezed grooves intersect with each other.
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

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