JP5919331B2 - Method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

  Conventionally, an absorptive article provided with an absorber containing particles of superabsorbent polymer is known (for example, patent documents 1). The absorber of patent document 1 has the core material containing the particle | grains of a superabsorbent polymer, and the sheet | seat which covers a core material. On the skin facing surface side of the absorbent article, a recess is formed by embossing.

  As a manufacturing method of an absorbent article disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, there is a method including a step of laminating a topsheet and an absorbent body and a step of forming a recess in the topsheet and the absorbent body by embossing. The recess formed by such a method communicates the top sheet and the absorber.

JP 2010-110535 A

  As for the absorbent article of patent document 1, the embossing is given to the surface sheet and the absorber. Since the embossing compresses the top sheet and the absorber in the thickness direction, the top sheet and the sheet covering the core material may be broken by the embossing. If the sheet covering the core material is torn, the superabsorbent polymer particles contained in the core material may be exposed on the skin facing surface side of the absorbent article. As a result, there is a possibility that the superabsorbent polymer particles may spill and the absorption performance may be lowered, or the superabsorbent polymer particles may touch the user's skin and deteriorate the wearing feeling.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and suppresses the exposure of the superabsorbent polymer particles to the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent article, thereby reducing the absorption performance and the feeling of wearing. It aims at providing the manufacturing method of the absorbent article which manufactures the absorbent article which can suppress this.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present disclosure includes a compressed groove forming step (pressed groove forming step S5) for forming a compressed groove by embossing on a liquid-permeable surface sheet, and a high A superabsorbent polymer layer molding step (superabsorbent polymer layer molding step S6) in which an absorbent material containing absorbent polymer particles is covered with a covering sheet to mold a superabsorbent polymer layer, the topsheet and the superabsorbent A superabsorbent polymer layer laminating step (superabsorbent polymer layer laminating step S7) for laminating a polymer layer, and the superabsorbent polymer layer laminating step is a subsequent step of the compressed groove forming step. The gist.

  According to the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present disclosure, the absorption of the superabsorbent polymer particles that is suppressed from being exposed to the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent article and the deterioration of the absorption performance and the feeling of wearing can be suppressed. A product can be manufactured.

It is a top view of an absorptive article concerning an embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the absorbent article which concerns on embodiment.

  With reference to drawings, the manufacturing method of the absorptive article concerning an embodiment and the absorptive article manufactured by the manufacturing method concerned are explained. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones. Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

(1) Configuration of absorbent article The configuration of the absorbent article will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article manufactured by the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. The absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment is a sanitary napkin.

  The absorbent article 1 has a product longitudinal direction L extending to the wearer's body front side and the body rear side, a product width direction W orthogonal to the product longitudinal direction, and a thickness direction T. The thickness direction T has a skin facing surface side T1 and a non-skin facing surface side T2 which is the opposite side.

  The absorbent article 1 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 10, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 20, an absorber 30, and a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet 40. The absorber 30 is disposed between the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 in the thickness direction. The absorber 30 is indicated by a broken line in FIG.

The top sheet 10 is a liquid-permeable sheet that transmits liquid such as body fluid. The top sheet 10 covers at least the skin facing surface of the absorber 30. As the surface sheet 10, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a perforated plastic sheet, a mesh sheet, or the like can be used. The topsheet 10 of this embodiment is the apertured film of polyethylene having a basis weight of 20 g / m ^2.

The back sheet 20 is a liquid-impermeable sheet that does not transmit liquid such as body fluid. The back sheet 20 covers at least the non-skin facing surface of the absorber 30. As the back sheet 20, a polyethylene sheet, a laminated nonwoven fabric mainly composed of polypropylene, a breathable resin film, a sheet in which a breathable resin film is bonded to a nonwoven fabric such as spunbond or spunlace, and the like can be used. The back sheet 20 of the present embodiment is a film made of polyethylene having a basis weight of 20 g / m ² .

  The absorber 30 is formed of an absorbent material that can absorb body fluid such as menstrual blood. Absorbent materials include hydrophilic fibers, pulp, and superabsorbent polymer particles. The absorber 30 includes a superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and a pulp layer 32 disposed on the skin facing surface side T1 with respect to the superabsorbent polymer layer 31. The length of the pulp layer 32 in the product width direction W is longer than the length of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 in the product width direction W. The length in the product longitudinal direction L of the pulp layer 32 is longer than the length in the product longitudinal direction L of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31.

The superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is made of an absorbent material containing particles (not shown) of superabsorbent polymer. Superabsorbent polymer layer 31 of the present embodiment includes a tissue having a basis weight 15 g / ^{m 2} (cover sheet), and the pulp having a basis weight of 60 g / ^{m 2,} and particles of superabsorbent polymers having a basis weight of 60 g / ^{m 2,} the basis weight This is a five-layer structure in which 60 g / m ² of pulp and tissue (covering sheet) with a basis weight of 15 g / m ² are laminated in the thickness direction. The superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is embossed. The embossing is provided in a dot shape in plan view.

  The superabsorbent polymer layer 31 only needs to contain particles of superabsorbent polymer, may contain other absorbent materials other than pulp, and may contain absorbent materials other than particles of superabsorbent polymer. It does not have to be. The superabsorbent polymer layer 31 preferably has a covering sheet such as a tissue in order to prevent the superabsorbent polymer particles from spilling.

The pulp layer 32 is made of an absorbent material that includes pulp and does not include particles of the superabsorbent polymer. The pulp layer 32 of the present embodiment is made of pulp having a basis weight of 450 g / m ² . In addition, the pulp layer 32 should just be the structure which does not contain the particle | grains of a superabsorbent polymer, and may contain absorbent materials other than a pulp, such as a hydrophilic fiber.

The intermediate sheet 40 is a liquid-permeable sheet, and allows the body fluid from the pulp layer 32 to pass through the superabsorbent polymer layer 31. The intermediate sheet 40 of the present embodiment is an SMS nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene having a basis weight of 15 g / m ² . The intermediate sheet 40 may be composed of an air-through nonwoven fabric or an airlaid pulp sheet.

  The intermediate sheet 40 is preferably hydrophilic. According to the hydrophilic intermediate sheet 40, the liquid body fluid from the pulp layer 32 passes through the superabsorbent polymer layer 31, but menstrual blood from the pulp layer 32 hardly passes through the superabsorbent polymer layer 31. Become. As a result, the liquid body fluid can be efficiently absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer particles contained in the superabsorbent polymer layer 31.

  The intermediate sheet 40 is disposed between the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and the pulp layer 32 in the thickness direction. The length of the intermediate sheet 40 in the product width direction W is longer than the length of the absorbent body in the product width direction W, and the length of the intermediate sheet 40 in the product longitudinal direction L is longer than the length of the absorbent body 30 in the product longitudinal direction L. Too long.

  The intermediate sheet 40 has a length in the product width direction W of the intermediate sheet 40 longer than a length in the product width direction W of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and a length in the product longitudinal direction L of the intermediate sheet 40. The superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is preferably configured to be longer than the length in the product longitudinal direction L. Moreover, it is preferable that the intermediate sheet 40 is arrange | positioned in the position which forms the pressing groove 60 mentioned later. In the intermediate sheet 40, the length of the intermediate sheet 40 in the product width direction W is longer than the length of the compressed groove 60 in the product width direction W, and the length of the intermediate sheet 40 in the product longitudinal direction L of the compressed groove 60 is It is preferable that the length is longer than the length in the product longitudinal direction L.

  The absorbent article 1 includes a wing portion 50 that is disposed outside the absorbent body 30 in the product width direction W. The wing part 50 is folded back to the non-skin facing surface side during use and is detachably bonded to the underwear.

  The periphery of the topsheet 10 and the periphery of the backsheet 20 of the present embodiment reach the periphery of the absorbent article 1. The periphery of the surface sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 is joined, and the absorber 30 is enclosed. The absorbent article 1 may be configured to include a side sheet that covers the side edge of the topsheet 10 and extends outward from the side edge of the topsheet 10 in the product width direction W.

  In the back sheet 20, an adhesive (not shown) is applied to the surface in contact with the undergarment in a plurality of regions. In a state before use, the adhesive is in contact with a release sheet (not shown). The release sheet prevents the adhesive from deteriorating before use. And a peeling sheet peels by a wearer at the time of use.

  The top sheet 10, the pulp layer 32, and the intermediate sheet 40 are formed with compressed grooves 60 that are compressed in the thickness direction. The pressing groove 60 has a double annular shape in plan view. The pressing groove 60 includes an annular first pressing groove 61 and an annular second pressing groove 62 positioned on the outer side in plan view than the first pressing groove.

  On the skin facing surface of the top sheet 10 and the skin facing surface of the pulp layer 32, a recess that is recessed toward the non-skin facing surface is formed. On the non-skin facing surface of the pulp layer 32 and the non-skin facing surface of the intermediate sheet 40, a recess is formed that is recessed toward the skin facing surface. On the other hand, compressed grooves are not formed in the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and the back sheet 20. Therefore, a space S is formed between the skin facing surface of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and the non-skin facing surface of the intermediate sheet 40.

(2) Manufacturing method of absorbent article Next, a manufacturing method of the absorbent article will be described with reference to FIG. Drawing 3 is a figure for explaining the manufacturing method of an absorptive article, and has shown the process typically. FIG. 3A is a view of each process viewed from above, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line BB shown in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 3, about the lamination drum 101 which laminates | stacks a pulp, and the embossing roll 102 which performs embossing, the inside of an apparatus is abbreviate | omitted and shown.

  The manufacturing method of the absorbent article includes a surface sheet supply step S1, a pulp layer forming step S2, a pulp layer laminating step S3, an intermediate sheet arranging step S4, a compressed groove forming step S5, and a superabsorbent polymer layer forming step. S6 and superabsorbent polymer layer lamination step S7.

  In the surface sheet supply step S1, the surface sheet continuous body 10c constituting the surface sheet 10 is continuously supplied in the transport direction MD. In addition, you may comprise the surface sheet supply process S1 so that the surface sheet 10 previously cut | disconnected by the product length may be supplied. In the pulp layer forming step S <b> 2, the pulp layer 32 is formed by laminating an absorbent material containing pulp in a recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lamination drum 101. In the pulp layer stacking step S3, the pulp layer 32 is intermittently disposed on the top sheet continuous body 10c, and the top sheet continuous body 10c and the pulp layer 32 are stacked. The topsheet continuous body 10c and the pulp layer 32 are arranged so as to overlap in the thickness direction.

  In addition, the order of surface sheet supply process S1, pulp layer shaping | molding process S2, and pulp layer lamination | stacking process S3 is not limited. For example, after forming the pulp layer 32 by the pulp layer forming step S2, the surface sheet continuous body 10c is supplied by the surface sheet supplying step S1, and the surface sheet continuous body 10c is arranged on the pulp layer 32 by the pulp layer stacking step S3. May be.

  Intermediate sheet arrangement process S4 is a post process of pulp layer lamination process S3. In the intermediate sheet arranging step S4, the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c constituting the intermediate sheet 40 is continuously supplied in the conveying direction MD, and the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c is arranged on the surface of the pulp layer 32 on the superabsorbent polymer layer side. To do. The surface sheet continuous body 10c, the pulp layer 32, and the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c are disposed so as to overlap in the thickness direction. In addition, you may comprise intermediate sheet arrangement | positioning process S4 so that the intermediate sheet 40 previously cut | disconnected by the product length may be arrange | positioned on the pulp layer 32. FIG.

  In the pressing groove forming step S5, the top sheet continuous body 10c, the absorber 30 and the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c are passed between the pair of embossing rolls 102, and the top sheet continuous body 10c, the absorber 30 and the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c are embossed. The compressed groove 60 is formed by processing. In addition, the pressing groove formation process S5 should just form the pressing groove 60 in the surface sheet 10 at least. For example, you may perform pulp layer lamination | stacking process S3 and intermediate | middle sheet arrangement | positioning process S4 as a post process of pressing groove formation process S5.

  In the superabsorbent polymer layer forming step S6, the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 including particles of the superabsorbent polymer is formed. In the superabsorbent polymer layer forming step S6, tissue, pulp, superabsorbent polymer particles, pulp, and tissue are laminated, and then embossed in the thickness direction. In addition, the order of pressing groove formation process S5 and superabsorbent polymer layer shaping | molding process S6 is not limited.

  Superabsorbent polymer layer lamination process S7 is a post process of pressing groove formation process S5, and is a post process of superabsorbent polymer layer forming process S6. In the superabsorbent polymer layer lamination step S7, the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is disposed on the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c in which the compressed grooves 60 are formed. The surface sheet continuous body 10c, the pulp layer 32, the intermediate sheet continuous body 40c, and the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 are arranged so as to overlap in the thickness direction. In addition, in the manufacturing method of the absorbent article which does not have an intermediate sheet, in the manufacturing method of the absorbent article which arrange | positions the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 on the pulp layer 32, and does not have an intermediate sheet and a pulp layer, Arrange the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 on the top sheet.

  The manufacturing method of the absorbent article includes a back sheet laminating step of laminating the back sheet 20 on the super absorbent polymer layer 31 as a post process of the super absorbent polymer layer laminating step S7, and a peripheral sheet of the absorbent article. And a periphery joining step for joining the back sheet and a cutting step for cutting the top sheet and the back sheet at the periphery of the absorbent article. Well-known processes can be used for other processes of the manufacturing method for absorbent articles.

(3) Action / Effect The manufacturing method of an absorbent article laminates the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and the topsheet 10 after forming the pressing groove 60 in the topsheet 10. Therefore, the covering sheet of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is not broken by embossing. Therefore, the superabsorbent polymer particles are prevented from being exposed to the skin facing surface side T1 of the absorbent article 1 due to the tearing of the covering sheet. It is possible to suppress a decrease in absorption performance due to spilling of the superabsorbent polymer particles and a deterioration in wearing feeling due to the superabsorbent polymer particles touching the skin.

  The manufacturing method of an absorbent article forms the pressing groove | channel 60 connected to the pulp layer 32 and the surface sheet 10. FIG. The pulp layer 32 can be easily deformed with the compressed groove 60 as a deformation base point. Therefore, the absorber 30 is arrange | positioned compactly at the time of use, and becomes easy to arrange | position along a wearer's body. In addition, by forming the compressed groove 60 that communicates with the pulp layer 32 and the top sheet 10, the rigidity of the absorbent body 30 is increased, and even when the absorbent body 30 is used for a long time, the sway of the absorbent body 30 can be suppressed. For example, when the absorbent body 30 is swung, particles of the superabsorbent polymer in the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 may leak. By increasing the rigidity of the absorbent body 30, it is possible to suppress the sway of the absorbent body 30 and to suppress leakage of the superabsorbent polymer particles. Moreover, it becomes easy to draw in a bodily fluid to the pulp layer 32 by making the pressing groove 60 connected to the pulp layer 32 and the surface sheet 10.

  Since the length of the pulp layer 32 is longer than the length of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 in the product longitudinal direction L and the product width direction W, the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 can be covered with the pulp layer 32. As a result, even if the superabsorbent polymer particles leak from the superabsorbent polymer layer 31, the transition of the superabsorbent polymer particles to the topsheet 10 can be suppressed.

  Since the intermediate sheet 40 is disposed between the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 and the pulp layer 32, even if the covering sheet of the superabsorbent polymer layer 31 is torn, the particles of the superabsorbent polymer remain in the pulp layer. 32 and the transition to the top sheet 10 can be suppressed.

  Since the top sheet 10, the pulp layer 32, and the intermediate sheet 40 are embossed, a recess by embossing is formed in the intermediate sheet. Therefore, a space S is formed between the intermediate sheet 40 and the superabsorbent polymer layer 31. Even if the superabsorbent polymer particles spill from the superabsorbent polymer layer 31, the superabsorbent polymer particles can be held in the space S between the intermediate sheet 40 and the superabsorbent polymer layer 31, It can suppress that the particle | grains of a superabsorbent polymer transfer to the pulp layer 32 and a surface sheet.

(4) Modifications As described above, the contents of the present invention have been disclosed through the embodiments of the present invention. However, it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. Absent. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, as a manufacturing method of the absorbent article according to the modified example, at least one of a pulp layer forming step, a pulp layer stacking step, and an intermediate sheet arranging step may not be provided. In other words, the absorbent article may not include at least one of the pulp layer and the intermediate sheet.

  The absorbent article is not limited to a sanitary napkin, and may be an absorbent pad or a panty liner.

L ... Product longitudinal direction T ... Thickness direction W ... Product width direction 1 ... Absorbent article 10 ... Top sheet 20 ... Back sheet 30 ... Absorber 31 ... Super absorbent polymer layer 32 ... Pulp layer 40 ... Intermediate sheet 50 ... Wing part 60 ... pressing groove 61 ... first pressing groove 62 ... second pressing groove

Claims (4)

On the liquid-permeable surface sheet, a compressed groove forming step for forming a compressed groove by embossing,
A superabsorbent polymer layer molding step of covering the absorbent material containing the superabsorbent polymer particles with a covering sheet and molding the superabsorbent polymer layer;
A superabsorbent polymer layer laminating step of laminating the topsheet and the superabsorbent polymer layer;
A back sheet laminating step of laminating a back sheet on the superabsorbent polymer layer;
A peripheral joining step of joining the top sheet and the back sheet at the periphery of the absorbent article;
Cutting the top sheet and the back sheet at the periphery of the absorbent article,
The high-absorbent polymer layer lamination step, Ri step der after the compressed groove forming step,
A pulp layer forming step of forming a pulp layer with an absorbent material containing pulp and not containing particles of the superabsorbent polymer;
A pulp layer laminating step of laminating the surface sheet and the pulp layer,
The compressed groove forming step is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article , which is a subsequent step of the pulp layer laminating step . In the pulp layer forming step, the length in the product width direction of the pulp layer is longer than the length in the product width direction of the superabsorbent polymer layer, and the length in the product longitudinal direction of the pulp layer is the high absorption. to be longer than the product length in the longitudinal direction of the sex polymer layer, molding the pulp layer, the manufacturing method of an absorbent article according to claim 1. Surface of the superabsorbent polymer layer side of the pulp layer, or on the surface of the pulp layer side of the high-absorbent polymer layer, further comprising an intermediate sheet arrangement step of arranging the liquid-permeable intermediate sheet, according to claim 1 Or the manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 2 . The intermediate sheet arranging step arranges an intermediate sheet on the surface of the pulp layer on the superabsorbent polymer layer side,
The said pressing groove formation process is a manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 3 which is a post process of the said intermediate | middle sheet arrangement | positioning process.

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