JP2968029B2 - Fiber stacking method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for stacking fibers on a breathable sheet or the like in a method for manufacturing sanitary articles such as napkins and diapers. About.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, a napkin or disposable diaper is provided with an absorber for absorbing excrement.

The absorbent body is manufactured by placing a predetermined amount of defibrated fibers (web) on a backing such as a breathable sheet and covering it with a continuous sheet from above. The web is sequentially supplied with the web at regular intervals.

For example, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-48443, cavities (pockets) are formed at equal intervals on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and defibrated fibers are sprayed on the peripheral surface to enter the cavity. A web is formed by storing the defibrated fibers, and the web is placed from the cavity at regular intervals on the mount supplied to the peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and subsequently, the mount web is covered so as to cover the web. After sealing the web and sealing between the webs, the sealed portion is cut.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-236646 discloses that in the same invention as the above-mentioned invention, further, in order to sharpen the edge of the web transferred to the backing paper, the defibrated fibers stored in the cavity are compressed. Is disclosed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in any of the above-mentioned inventions, when supplying the defibrated fibers to the cavity formed in the rotary drum, the defibrated fibers are also supplied between the cavities on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum and the small amount thereof. There is, but it may be placed.

For example, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-48443 described above, the defibrated fibers supplied on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum are directed only to the cavity by applying a negative pressure to the cavity side. It is difficult to supply all the defibrated fibers supplied to the surface to the cavity only by the negative pressure, and a small amount of the defibrated fiber may be placed on the peripheral surface between the cavities.

In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-236646, it is conceivable that the defibrated fibers coming out of the cavities are taken into the cavities by compression of the defibrated fibers in the cavities. It does not actively remove the defibrated fibers, and the defibrated fibers may remain between the cavities on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum.

If the defibrated fibers remain between the cavities on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum in this manner, when the web is transferred from the cavities onto the backing paper, the defibrated fibers also remain between the webs on the backing paper. Is transferred, and in the next step, there is a disadvantage that the sheet seal between the webs on the mount cannot be reliably performed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reliably prevent the interposition of the defibrated fibers between the webs transferred on the backing paper, and thereby, a fiber-laying method capable of producing an absorbent having excellent sealing properties and It is to provide the device.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention provides a fiber supply step of supplying fibers to a pocket formed on a peripheral surface of a first rotating body, and a first step of sucking fibers supplied into the pocket from inside the first rotating body.
A suction step, a transfer step of transferring the fiber sucked into the pocket to a mount supplied on a peripheral surface of the first rotating body, a fiber supplying step on a peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and the transfer A second rotating body step of rolling the second rotating body having the suction opening at a position where the second rotating body is in contact with the peripheral surface between the pockets adjacent to each other with the first rotating body;
A second suction step of sucking, via the suction opening, a peripheral surface of the first rotating body that comes into contact with the second rotating body through the suction opening. Is achieved.

The present invention also provides a device that can be suitably used when performing the above method, a first rotating body provided with a plurality of pockets having air permeability on a peripheral surface, and a peripheral surface of the first rotating body. A fiber supply unit for supplying fibers to the pocket, a first suction unit provided inside the first rotating body, for suctioning fibers supplied from the fiber supply unit into the pocket, and a fiber in the pocket. A transfer unit that transfers the image onto the mount supplied on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and the fiber rotating unit and the transfer unit on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body. A second rotating body having suction openings corresponding to adjacent pocket portions on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body, and a pocket between peripheral pockets of the first rotating body formed through the suction opening of the second rotating body. Suction The fiber stacking apparatus of the fibers, characterized in that it comprises a second suction unit together there is provided.

[Action]

In the present invention, first, the defibrated fibers supplied toward the peripheral surface of the first rotating body are sucked into the pocket of the first rotating body by the first suction unit.

Subsequently, in the second rotating body that comes into contact with the first rotating body, the second suction unit sucks the peripheral surface of the first rotating body via the suction opening. At this time, the suction opening is connected to the first rotating body. Since it is located only between the pockets on the peripheral surface, only the defibrated fibers placed between the adjacent pockets are removed by suction.

Next, the defibrated fibers in the pocket are transferred to the mount supplied on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body.

Therefore, since the defibrated fibers between the adjacent pockets on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body are positively removed by suction,
When transferring the defibrated fibers in the pocket to the backing paper as webs, no unnecessary defibrated fibers are interposed between the webs.

Therefore, the seal between the webs in the next step can be reliably performed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a description will be given using the manufacture of a sanitary napkin as an example.

 First, the fiber stacking device of the present invention will be described.

The fiber stacking apparatus 1 includes a first rotating body 3 provided with a plurality of pockets 2, a fiber supply unit 4, a first suction unit 5 for sucking the supplied fibers into the pocket 2, and a pocket 2.
A transfer unit 7 for transferring the fibers in the paper to the mount 6, a second rotator 8 that comes into contact with the first rotator 3, and a second suction unit 11 that suctions excess fibers from the suction opening 9 of the second rotator 8. It is composed of

The first rotating body 3 is formed in a hollow drum shape, and a plurality of pockets 2 having a predetermined shape are arranged at equal intervals on a peripheral surface thereof. On the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3, urethane rubber or the like is adhered to a portion other than the pocket 2 in order to reduce contact resistance with a second rotating body 8 described later. Although not shown, the first rotating body 3 is connected to a driving mechanism, and is rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow B.

The pockets 2 provided on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3 form a web (cotton-like material) 12, and
The shape and quantity of 12 are determined by the shape and volume of the pocket.

The pocket 2 has a box-shaped mesh as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2. For example, a rim 14 formed by forming a wire mesh, a plastic mesh, or a perforated one into a predetermined shape. It is configured to be attached to.

The rim 14 is made of iron or FRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic) or the like, is inserted into an opening formed on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3, and is fixed to the first rotating body by screws 13. I have.

Incidentally, the volume of the pocket 2 is within a range of receiving the weight of the target pile fiber or more.

The fiber supply unit 4 is provided with a hood 16 in which a supply port 15 at the lower end is opened toward the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3. As shown by an arrow A, a cotton-like material is pneumatically conveyed to the hood 16 from above. In the hood 16, a defibrating roll 17 for defibrating the sent cotton-like material is arranged. The defibrated fibers defibrated by the defibrating roll 17 are supplied toward the supply port 15 by the centrifugal force of the defibrating roll 17.

The first suction unit 5 is provided with a first suction port 18 inside the first rotating body 3 at a position facing the supply port 15 of the hood 16 so that the defibrated fibers supplied from the supply port 15 can be pocketed. It sucks on two sides. The first suction port 18 has a plurality of pockets 2 inside the first rotating body 3, for example,
It has an area that includes two or three fibers, and holds the defibrated fibers sucked into the pocket 2 until immediately before the position where the defibrated fibers come into contact with the second rotating body 8.

In the first suction unit 5, a suction pressure of about 200 mmAq is applied.

The second rotating body 8 is formed in the same or similar drum shape as the above-mentioned first rotating body 3, and a plurality of suction openings 9 are formed on the peripheral surface at equal intervals. The second rotating body 8 is
It is formed to have substantially the same size as the rotating body 3, and is rotated in the direction of arrow C at the same speed in synchronization with the first rotating body 3.

The suction opening 9 is located between the pockets on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3.
It is formed at a position corresponding to 21, and through this suction opening 9, the defibrated fibers existing in the inter-pocket portion 21 of the first rotating body 3 are removed. In other words,
At the rolling contact position between the first rotating body 3 and the second rotating body 8, the pockets 2 and the suction openings 9 pass alternately.

The non-opening portion on the peripheral surface of the second rotating body 8 is the first opening.
To prevent frictional resistance between metals with the rotating body 3, rubber or the like
For example, it is covered with silicon rubber.

The second suction unit 11 is provided with a second suction port 23 inside the second rotating body 8 at a rolling contact position between the first rotating body 3 and the second rotating body 8. This second suction port 23 is
Through the suction opening 9 of the rotator 8, only the defibrated fibers in the portion between the pockets of the first rotator 3 are sucked.

The second suction port 23 has an area that includes a plurality of suction openings, for example, two or three, inside the second rotating body 8.

In the second suction unit 11, a suction pressure of about 200 mmAg is applied in consideration of a negative pressure balance with the first suction unit 5.

The transfer unit 7 includes an air supply port 24 disposed inside the first rotating body 3 and configured to supply air from the mesh side so as to discharge the defibrated fibers in the pocket 2, and outside the rotating body,
Third suction port 25 arranged at a position opposed to air supply port 24
Are provided.

Between the first rotating body 3 and the third suction port 25, a mount 6 for sequentially placing the defibrated fibers stored in the pockets 2 as the web 12 is supplied. The mount 6 has an arrow D
And is supported on the first rotating body 3 side by the conveyor belt 26 at the transfer position 7.
It is interposed between the rotating body 3 and the third suction port 25.

Note that the transport belt 26 is driven while being stretched over rollers 27, 28, and 29.

Next, an embodiment of a fiber stacking method using the fiber stacking apparatus of the above embodiment will be described.

First, defibrated fibers are supplied from the hood 16 of the fiber supply unit 4 toward the peripheral surface of the first rotating body that rotates in the direction of arrow A (fiber supply step).

In this fiber supply step, the cotton-like material supplied to the hood 16 is defibrated by the defibrating roll 17 and supplied from the supply port 15 toward the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3 by the centrifugal force.

At this time, unnecessary fibrillated fibers may be placed or attached to the inter-pocket portions 21 on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3.

The fiber supplied toward the first rotating body 3 is sucked into the pocket 2 by the first suction opening 18 of the first suction unit 5 that sucks the fiber from inside the first rotating body 3 (first suction step).

In the first suction step, the fiber supplied to the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3 is supplied toward the pocket 2 and compressed.

Next, the second rotator 8 that is in contact with the first rotator 3 is placed in the inter-pocket portion 21 of the first rotator 3 at the contact position.
The rotating body 8 is rotated so that the suction opening 9 is located (second rotating body step).

On the other hand, at the rolling contact position between the first rotating body and the second rotating body 8, the second suction unit disposed inside the second rotating body 8
With 11, unnecessary fibers in the inter-pocket portion 21 of the first rotating body 3 are sucked through the suction opening 9 of the second rotating body 8 (second suction step).

At this time, only the fibers in the pocket portion 21 are positively removed without affecting the fibers stored in the pockets 2 of the first rotating body 3.

Subsequently, the pocket 2 in which the fibers are stored is the first rotor 3
Reaches the transfer position below.

At this transfer position, the fibers stored in the pockets 2 of the first rotating body 3 are transferred to the mount 6 (transfer step).

In this transfer step, the mount 6 is conveyed to the transfer position, and the mount 6 is supported on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body 3 by the belt 26.

When the pocket 2 reaches the transfer position, air of a predetermined pressure is supplied to the pocket 2 from the air supply port 24 of the transfer unit 7, and the defibrated fibers in the pocket 2 are discharged toward the mount 6. . At the same time, air is suctioned from the back side of the mount 6 through the third suction port 25. Therefore, the defibrated fibers in the pocket 2 are
The fibers in the pocket 2 can be transferred to the web 12 reliably and at a predetermined position by the air supply from the air supply 24 and the air suction from the third suction port 25.

On the other hand, in the transfer step, the defibrated fibers interposed in the pocket-to-pocket portion 21 are surely removed by the second suction unit 11, so that in the transfer step 6
The presence of the defibrated fibers between the webs 12 transferred above is reliably prevented.

The third suction port 25 holds the web on the backing paper 6 for a short time after the transfer of the fibers.

The above operation is repeated, and the webs 12 having a desired shape and weight are placed on the mount 6 at equal intervals and continuously.

Subsequently, the backing sheet 6 is sent to the next step, and a cover sheet (not shown) is covered, and a space between the webs is sealed. At this time, as described above, since the defibrated fibers are not interposed between the webs, the seal between the mount and the cover sheet between the webs can be reliably ensured.

Then, after sealing, the seal portion is cut, and a sanitary napkin having a predetermined size is manufactured.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, the pocket provided on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body is:
The plane is not limited to the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape shown in FIG. 2, but may be a substantially elliptical shape or a roughly gourd shape as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

The unit for sucking the inter-pocket portion of the first rotating body may further include a brush or the like for cleaning the moving inter-pocket portion.

Further, the third suction port may have a wide range of dimensions for transporting the web placed on the backing paper.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the fiber stacking method and apparatus of the present invention, the interposition of the defibrated fibers between the webs transferred onto the backing paper can be reliably prevented, and an absorbent having excellent sealing properties can be manufactured. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stacking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view showing the pocket portion shown in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.
3 and 4 are perspective views showing a modification of the pocket. 1; fiber stacking device, 2; pocket 3; first rotating body, 4; fiber supply unit 5; first suction unit 6; mount, 7; transfer unit 8; second rotating body, 9; suction opening

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A fiber supplying step of supplying fibers to pockets formed on a peripheral surface of the first rotating body; and a first suction for sucking fibers supplied into the pockets from inside the first rotating body. A transfer step of transferring the fiber sucked into the pocket to the mount supplied to the peripheral surface of the first rotating body; a fiber supplying step on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body; and the transferring step A second rotating body step of rolling the second rotating body having the suction opening at a position where the second rotating body is in contact with the peripheral surface between the pockets adjacent to the first rotating body; And a second suction step of sucking the peripheral surface of the first rotating body to be rolled through the suction opening. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer step includes a third suction step of sucking the fiber in the pocket from the outside of the first rotating body to the mount via the mount. ). 3. The fiber transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer step includes an exhaust step of exhausting the fibers in the pockets from the inside of the first rotating body toward the mount. Stacking method. 4. A first rotating body provided with a plurality of pockets having air permeability on a peripheral surface; a fiber supply unit for supplying fibers to the pockets on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body; A first suction unit provided inside the body and for suctioning the fiber supplied from the fiber supply unit into the pocket; and transferring the fiber in the pocket to the backing paper supplied on the peripheral surface of the first rotating body. A transfer unit that is disposed between the fiber supply unit and the transfer unit on the peripheral surface of the first rotator, and a suction opening corresponding to a portion between adjacent pockets on the peripheral surface of the first rotator. A fiber product comprising: a formed second rotating body; and a second suction unit that sucks a portion between pockets on a peripheral surface of the first rotating body via a suction opening of the second rotating body. Textile equipment. 5. The transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the transfer device includes a third suction unit provided outside the first rotating body and suctioning the fibers in the pocket to the backing paper.
A fiber stacking device according to the above. 6. The fiber transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the transfer device includes an exhaust device provided inside the first rotating body and exhausting the fiber in the pocket to the mount. Stacking device.