JP6805818B2 - Manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment for absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article that is attached to the inseam of a wearer to absorb and retain a liquid such as urine.

Conventionally, an absorbent article worn on the inseam of a wearer has been known for the purpose of absorbing and retaining excreted body fluid. Examples of absorbent articles include disposable diapers, urine pads, and sanitary napkins. Disposable diapers include, for example, pants-type diapers in which the left and right sides of the front and back bodies are joined, and tape-type diapers that are worn by attaching a fastening tape attached to the back body to the front body. Are known. Such absorbent articles generally include an absorber for absorbing and retaining body fluids such as urine between a liquid permeable top sheet and a liquid impermeable back sheet.

Further, it has been conventionally known that a squeeze groove is formed in a laminate of a top sheet and an absorber (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, after the top sheet is stacked on the skin-facing surface side of the absorber, the absorber and the top sheet are sandwiched and pressed by an embossing roller or the like, and the laminate of the absorber and the top sheet is pressed. It is disclosed to form a squeeze groove.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-169437 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-007226

When forming the squeeze groove, an embossed roller having a protrusion corresponding to the squeeze groove is arranged on the laminated body of the top sheet and the absorber, and is located on the absorber side and provided with a flat surface or a recess corresponding to the protrusion. There is a manufacturing method in which this laminate is sandwiched by an anvil roller or a conveyor.

When such a manufacturing method is used, in the step of transporting the absorber and the top sheet with respect to the pressing groove forming step, these are conveyed substantially linearly / substantially one-dimensionally, whereas the pressing groove forming In the process, directional elements other than the above-mentioned directions are added, such as bending the top sheet in the groove direction and forming a groove in the absorber. Along with this, the top sheet may be pulled and easily torn, or the adhesiveness between the absorber and the top sheet may be deteriorated. The top sheet cannot be aligned with the groove formed in the absorber, and there may be a problem that the top sheet is easily peeled off from the groove, for example. As a result, the manufactured grooves and absorbent articles may not perform as expected.
The above problem is also the same when forming a squeeze groove in a composite in which a sheet other than the top sheet (appropriately referred to as “sheet member”) is placed on the absorbent body.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article capable of forming a squeeze groove in a laminated body of a sheet member and an absorber.

The method for producing an absorbent article according to the present invention is a method for producing an absorbent article in which an absorber and a sheet member are laminated, and includes an absorber transporting step of transporting the absorber and transporting the sheet member onto the absorber. Groove formation to form one or more squeezed grooves in the laminated body by pressing the laminated body of both from the sheet member side by the groove forming portion in the state where the absorbent body and the sheet member are overlapped with each other. The speed at which the sheet member is fed to the groove forming portion in the sheet transporting step including the step is faster than the speed at which the absorber is fed to the groove forming portion in the absorber transporting step.

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present invention is an apparatus for producing an absorbent article in which an absorber and a sheet member are laminated, and the absorber transporting portion for transporting the absorber and the sheet member are placed on the absorber. A groove forming portion for forming one or more squeezed grooves in the laminated body by pressing the laminated body of both from the sheet member side in a state where the sheet transporting portion to be conveyed and the absorber and the sheet member are overlapped with each other. The speed at which the sheet transport unit feeds the sheet member to the groove forming portion is faster than the speed at which the absorber transport portion feeds the absorber into the groove forming portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to form a squeeze groove in a laminated body of a sheet member and an absorber.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a part of steps of a method for producing an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state after the squeezing groove is formed in the laminated body of the top sheet and the absorber. FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of III-III shown in FIG. 2, which schematically shows the structure of the top sheet and the absorber in which the squeezing groove is formed. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an absorber according to another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the method for producing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment, the absorbent article has at least a structure in which an absorber and a sheet member are laminated. The sheet member may be any sheet member that can be stacked on the absorber, and includes, for example, a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet. Specifically, the sheet member is preferably a liquid-permeable top sheet located on the skin facing surface side of the absorber, but is not limited to this, and the liquid located on the skin non-facing surface side of the absorber. It may be an opaque back sheet or the like. Another sheet member may be interposed between the absorber and the sheet member.

The manufacturing method includes an absorber transfer step, a sheet transfer step, and a groove forming step. The absorber transporting step is a step of transporting the absorber. The sheet transporting step is a step of transporting the sheet member onto the absorber (skin facing surface side or skin non-facing surface side). The direction in which these absorbers and sheet members are conveyed is defined as the "transportation direction". The groove forming step is a step of forming one or more squeezed grooves in the laminated body by pressing the laminated body of both from the sheet member side by the groove forming portion in a state where the absorber and the sheet member are overlapped. In the groove forming step, pressure is also applied to the laminated body as a reaction from the absorber side. The speed at which the sheet member is fed into the groove forming portion in the sheet transporting step is faster than the speed at which the absorber is fed into the groove forming portion in the absorber transporting step.

As described above, when the laminated body of the sheet member and the absorber is pressed from the sheet member side by making the speed of feeding the sheet member into the groove forming portion faster than the speed of feeding the absorber into the groove forming portion. It is also possible to prevent the seat member from being torn or easily torn due to being pulled by the protrusion. Since the sheet member can be appropriately inserted into the groove portion of the absorber (following the groove shape formed in the absorber), the state in which the sheet member is effectively attached to the groove portion surface of the absorber can be effectively maintained. It is also possible to make it.

Let L be the length of the absorber in the transport direction, N be the number of squeeze grooves in the transport direction, and D be the depth of the squeeze grooves. Let X be the transport length for transporting the sheet member toward the groove forming portion in the sheet transport step per unit time T required for transporting one absorber in the absorber transport step. In this case, the transport length X is preferably within the range represented by the following formula.
[Equation] L <X ≦ L + N × 2D

As described above, by setting the transport length X of the sheet member to a value exceeding the length L of the absorber, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being pulled and torn or easily torn during pressing. can do. In addition, the sheet member can be easily aligned with the groove portion of the absorber. The transport length X of the sheet member is L + N × 2D or less (the value obtained by multiplying the number N of the squeezing grooves by the double value of the depth D of the squeezing grooves is the value obtained by adding the length L of the absorber to or less). By doing so, it is possible to prevent the sheet from forming a portion (dubbing) that does not follow the surface of the absorber. That is, it is possible to prevent the appearance from being deteriorated or the surface of the absorbent article from being uncomfortable to the touch, and leakage may occur from the place where the absorber and the sheet are separated, or both are easily peeled off. It is possible to prevent it from happening.

The number N of the squeezing grooves is preferably the number of squeezing grooves in the portion having the largest number of squeezing grooves in the transport direction. That is, depending on the pattern of the squeezing groove, the number of intersections between the virtual straight line extending parallel to the transport direction and the squeezing groove may differ depending on the location. In that case, the number N of the squeezing grooves is counted with reference to the portion having the largest number of intersections between the virtual straight line extending parallel to the transport direction and the squeezing grooves. If the number N of the squeezing grooves is counted based on the position where the number of squeezing grooves is small when viewed in the transport direction, the sheet member may be strongly pulled and easily torn at another place where the number of squeezing grooves N is large. However, as described above, such a problem can be avoided by counting the number N of the squeezing grooves with reference to the position where the number of squeezing grooves is the largest.

Further, the transport length X of the sheet member (the length for transporting the sheet member toward the groove forming portion in the sheet transport process per unit time T required to transport one absorber in the absorber transport step). Is more than the length L of the absorber in the transport direction, and is preferably less than or equal to the surface length in the transport direction on the surface of the laminate in which the squeezed groove is formed by the groove forming portion. By adjusting the transport length X of the sheet member so as to satisfy the above conditions, the sheet member can easily enter the groove portion of the absorber, and the sheet member can be easily torn or torn due to being pulled. It can be prevented, and further, the sheet member can be prevented from dubbing.

The surface length is preferably the surface length at the portion where the surface length of the laminated body is the longest in the transport direction. In this way, by determining the transport length X of the sheet member with reference to the portion having the longest surface length of the laminated body, it is possible to avoid the problem that the sheet member is strongly pulled and easily torn.

In the above embodiment, the sheet member to be laminated on the absorber is preferably a non-woven fabric. Although the non-woven fabric has some extensibility, it is easily torn and has a certain restoring force. Therefore, the above manufacturing method can be preferably used in a form in which a sheet member made of a non-woven fabric is laminated on an absorber and a squeezing groove is formed in the laminated body.

In the above embodiment, the elongation stress (also referred to as 5% elongation stress) at 5% elongation in the transport direction of the sheet member may be 10 N or more. It can be said that a sheet member (particularly a non-woven fabric) having a 5% elongation stress of 10 N or more is generally difficult to stretch.

When an attempt is made to form a squeeze groove by superimposing a sheet member that is difficult to stretch on the absorber, as described above, the sheet member does not fit well into the groove portion of the absorber, or the sheet member is partially torn or easily torn. There is a high possibility that it will become. According to the above manufacturing method, even such a sheet member that is difficult to stretch can be appropriately attached along the groove portion surface of the absorber. Therefore, it can be said that the range of material selection used for the sheet member is widened. Further, when a material that is difficult to stretch is intentionally used for the seat member, it is possible to form a beautiful squeezing groove while preventing the seat member from being torn. Further, the elongation rate of the non-woven fabric in the portion where the squeezed groove is provided (particularly the inside of the groove, the portion corresponding to the corner when the cross section of the groove has a corner) and the other portion (non-squeezed region) is omitted. Can be equal.

The absorber transporting step is preferably a step of transporting the absorber by a suction conveyor. The suction conveyor is a conveyor that can convey the absorber in the conveying direction while sucking the absorber in the vertical direction. In this way, by using the suction conveyor, the absorber can be conveyed at a stable speed. Further, it is also possible to sandwich the laminate of the absorber and the sheet member by the suction conveyor and the embossing roller while transporting the absorber by the suction conveyor, and to form a squeeze groove in the laminate.

It is preferable to apply a hot melt adhesive to at least one of the absorber and the sheet member to heat the region where the squeezed groove is formed in the laminated body when the laminated body is pressed in the groove forming step. In this way, by pressing the laminated body while heating to form the squeezing groove, it is possible to enhance the binding force between the sheet member and the absorber at the portion where the squeezing groove is formed. When the sheet member is made of, for example, a non-woven fabric, the stretching force is increased by partially heating the sheet member, so that the sheet member easily enters the groove portion of the absorber.

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article in which an absorber and a sheet member are laminated in the present embodiment can basically be used in the above-described method for producing an absorbent article. That is, this manufacturing apparatus includes an absorber transport section, a sheet transport section, and a groove forming section. The absorber transport unit transports the absorber. The sheet transport unit transports the sheet member onto the absorber. The groove forming portion presses the laminated body of both from the sheet member side in a state where the absorber and the sheet member overlap each other to form one or more squeezed grooves in the laminated body. The speed at which the sheet transport unit feeds the sheet member into the groove forming portion is set to be faster than the speed at which the absorber transport portion feeds the absorber into the groove forming portion.

In the specification of the present application, the "transport direction" is a direction in which the absorber and the sheet member laminated on the absorber are conveyed, and corresponds to the mechanical direction of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus. The "orthogonal direction" is a direction that is planarly orthogonal to the transport direction. The "vertical direction" is a direction extending perpendicularly to a surface composed of the above-mentioned transport direction and orthogonal direction. In the figure of the present application, the transport direction is indicated by reference numeral MD, the orthogonal direction is indicated by reference numeral CD, and the vertical direction is indicated by reference numeral TD. The method of manufacturing the absorbent article and the transport direction, the orthogonal direction, and the vertical direction in the manufacturing apparatus correspond to the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction of the absorbent article manufactured by these methods and devices, respectively. To do.
In the specification of the present application, the "skin facing surface" means a surface facing the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn. Further, the “non-skin facing surface” means a surface that does not face the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, that is, a surface opposite to the skin facing surface.
Further, in the specification of the present application, "A to B" means "A or more and B or less".

FIG. 1 shows a part of the steps of the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the embodiment together with an example of the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 200. In FIG. 1, the absorber 30 is molded, the top sheet 10 is joined to the skin-facing surface of the absorber 30, the laminate of the absorber 30 and the top sheet 10 is embossed, and then the laminates thereof are subjected to embossing. The process of joining the back sheet 20 to the non-skin facing surface is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present manufacturing method, first, the individual absorber 30 is molded in the absorber molding unit 210 (absorbent molding step). The absorber 30 is a member for absorbing body fluid such as urine and holding the absorbed body fluid. The absorber 30 is made of an absorbent material. For example, most of the absorbent material is composed of hydrophilic fluff pulp obtained by crushing a fiber material such as softwood or hardwood, and a granular absorbent polymer (SAP) is contained in the fluff pulp. A mixture can be used. Fluff pulp is an aggregate of fibers formed by entwining ultrafine fiber materials, and is buried and held in an absorbent polymer by being mixed with the fiber material. As the fluff pulp, for example, pulp fibers such as coniferous or broadleaf trees, short fibers of cellulose-based fibers such as rayon fibers or cotton fibers, and synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate are hydrolyzed. Short fibers that have been subjected to the above can be used. One of these fibers may be used alone, or two or more of these fibers may be used in combination.

The absorber molding unit 210 includes a chamber 211 and a molding drum 212. The chamber 211 supplies the absorbent material constituting the absorber 30 to the molding drum 212. The molding drum 212 is provided with a plurality of recesses 213 in the shape of the absorber 30 to be obtained on its peripheral surface, and the recesses 213 are provided with air holes 214 leading to an external suction device and an intake device. Is formed. The absorbent material supplied from the chamber 211 is supplied to the recess 213 provided on the peripheral surface of the molding drum 212, and is molded into the shape of the absorber 30. The absorbent material filled in the recess 213 is sucked by an external suction device through the air holes 214, and is held on the peripheral surface of the molding drum 212 for a certain period of time. Below the molding drum 212, a first absorber transport unit 220 for transporting the absorber 30 is provided. The molding drum 212 rotates according to the transport direction and the transport speed of the first absorber transport unit 220. When the absorbent material held on the peripheral surface of the molding drum 212 reaches a position facing the transport surface of the first absorber transport unit 220, the pressurized air supplied from the external intake device is supplied to the molding drum 212. The absorber 30 made of an absorbent material, which is ejected through the air holes 214 of the above, is placed on the transport surface of the first absorber transport unit 220.

The first absorber transport unit 220 transports the absorber 30 molded by the absorber molding unit 210 to the downstream side of the apparatus (absorbent transport step). The first absorber transport unit 220 is composed of a suction conveyor 221. The suction conveyor 221 includes a drive roller 222, a driven roller 223, and an endless perforated belt 224 spanning these rollers, and an absorber forming portion is provided on the transport surface of the perforated belt 224. The absorber 30 supplied from 210 is placed at a constant pitch. A suction box 225 for sucking air is provided below the transport surface of the perforated belt 224, and the absorber 30 on the transport surface is provided by the suction box 225 through a plurality of holes provided in the perforated belt 224. Be sucked. As a result, the absorber 30 is prevented from falling off from the transport surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the absorber 30 is sent to the groove forming portion 240 by the suction conveyor 221 of the first absorber transport portion 220. In Figure 1, the rate at which the first absorber conveying section 220 feeds the absorbent body 30 to the groove forming portion 240 is indicated with V _1. In order to adjust the speed V ₁ , the speed of the suction conveyor 221 may be uniquely adjusted, and the formation speed of the absorber 30 in the absorber forming unit 210 may be adjusted accordingly.

The continuous body of the top sheet 10 is unwound from the original roll (not shown) and transported by the sheet transport unit 230 onto the skin-facing surface of the absorber 30 (sheet transport step). The continuous body of the top sheet 10 is superposed on the skin-facing surface of the absorber 30 by the sheet transport portion 230, and then sent to the groove forming portion 240. The top sheet 10 is a sheet-like member that comes into direct contact with the skin of the wearer's inseam and allows body fluid such as urine to permeate through the absorber 30. Therefore, the top sheet 10 is made of a highly flexible liquid-permeable material. The liquid permeability means, for example, the property of permeating water in less than 1 minute when 5 ml of water at room temperature is placed on it under standard atmospheric pressure. As the liquid permeable material constituting the top sheet 10, for example, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a porous film or the like can be adopted, and fibers of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or nylon can be used. A non-woven fabric obtained by hydrophilization treatment can also be used. Examples of the non-woven fabric include an air-through non-woven fabric, a point-bonded non-woven fabric, a spun-bonded non-woven fabric, and a melt-blown non-woven fabric.

The sheet transport unit 230 includes a speed adjusting roller 231 as shown in FIG. The speed adjusting roller 231 adjusts the speed at which the continuum of the top sheet 10 is fed into the groove forming portion 240. For example, one speed adjusting roller 231 is provided on each side of the continuous body of the top sheet 10, and the speed adjusting roller 231 rotates so as to sandwich the continuous body of the top sheet 10 from both sides. In Figure 1, the speed of feeding the sheet conveying unit 230 and the absorber 30 to the groove forming portion 240 is indicated with V _2. In order to adjust the speed V ₂ , the rotation speed of the pair of speed adjusting rollers 231 may be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet transport unit 230 includes a glue gun 232 on the downstream side of the speed adjusting roller 231. The glue gun 232 is a device for applying an adhesive such as hot melt, and may be a type that ejects a mist-like adhesive, or a type that applies a liquid adhesive linearly or in a dot shape. You may. In the present embodiment, the glue gun 232 is installed so as to apply an adhesive to the non-skin facing surface (the surface on the absorber 30 side) of the continuum of the top sheet 10 to form an adhesive layer. The glue gun 232 can be installed so as to apply the adhesive to, for example, the skin-facing surface (the surface on the top sheet 10 side) of the absorber 30 instead of the skin-non-facing surface of the top sheet 10. In this way, the glue gun 232 may be provided at a position where the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 can be adhered to each other with an adhesive.

The sheet transport unit 230 may have one or more guide rollers 233 in order to change the traveling direction of the continuum of the top sheet 10. When the guide roller 233 is provided on the downstream side of the glue gun 232 (that is, between the glue gun 232 and the groove forming portion 240), the guide roller 233 is provided so that the adhesive adhering to the top sheet 10 does not touch the guide roller 233. The top sheet 10 is arranged so as to be in contact with the side opposite to the adhesive coating surface. The guide roller 233 is used not only between the glue gun 232 and the groove forming portion 240, but also between the original roll of the top sheet 10 and the speed adjusting roller 231 or between the speed adjusting roller 231 and the glue gun 232 as needed. Can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the continuum of the top sheets 10 transported by the sheet transport unit 230 is stacked on the skin-facing surface side of the absorber 30 transported by the first absorber transport unit 220, and then. It is introduced into the groove forming portion 240 together with the absorber 30. Since the speed V _{1 at} which the first absorber transport unit 220 sends the absorber 30 to the groove forming portion 240 and the speed V _{2 at} which the sheet transport portion 230 sends the top sheet 10 to the groove forming portion 240 are different, the speed V ₂ is different from that of the absorber 30. The top sheet 10 will be introduced into the groove forming portion 240 at different speeds (V ₂ > V ₁ ). The groove forming portion 240 forms a squeezed groove 40 in a desired pattern on the laminated body of the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 (groove forming step). The squeeze groove 40 is formed at least on the surface of the laminated body of the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 on the side where the top sheet 10 is arranged. That is, the squeezing groove 40 is formed on the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 by pressing these laminated bodies from the top sheet 10 side. When the laminate is pressed from the top sheet 10 side, pressure is also applied to the laminate as a reaction from the absorber 30 side.

The groove forming portion 240 includes an embossing roller 241. The embossed roller 241 is formed with a protrusion 242 having a desired pattern for forming a pressing groove 40 on its peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 1, when the laminated body is conveyed to the downstream side by the suction conveyor 221, the surface on the top sheet 10 side is partially compressed by being pressed by the protrusion 242 of the embossing roller 241. That is, the laminated body is sandwiched between the transport surface of the suction conveyor 221 and the protrusion 242 of the emboss roller 241. When the laminated body passes through the embossing roller 241, a pressing groove 40 matching the pattern of the protrusion 242 is formed on the surface of the laminated body on the top sheet 10 side.

The relationship between the speed V ₁ for feeding the absorber 30 to the groove forming portion 240 and the speed V ₂ for sending the top sheet 10 to the groove forming portion 240 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the laminated body of the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 as viewed from the top sheet 10 side (skin facing surface side). In FIG. 2, the top sheet 10 is shown by a solid line, and the absorber 30 and the squeezing groove 40 are shown by a broken line. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the absorber 30 has a substantially rectangular shape with the transport direction (MD) as the longitudinal direction, but the shape of the absorber 30 is not limited to that shown here, for example. Of course, it is also possible to have a shape such as a so-called hourglass shape having a narrow portion in the center of the transport direction.

On the surface (substantially flat surface) of the laminated body on the top sheet 10 side, a plurality of pressing grooves 40 extending in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction (CD) are formed at intervals in the transport direction (4 locations in the illustrated example). .. In the illustrated example, the squeezing grooves 40 are substantially rectangular shapes extending in the orthogonal direction when the laminated body is viewed in a plan view. The shape extending in the orthogonal direction means a shape in which the length in the orthogonal direction (CD direction) is longer than the length in the transport direction (MD direction).

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the cross-sectional structure of the line III-III shown in FIG. 2, in which the continuum of the top sheet 10 on which the squeeze groove 40 is formed and the absorber 30 are conceptually separated. Is shown. The upper part of FIG. 3 conceptually shows a part of the continuum of the top sheet 10 extracted and stretched in the transport direction (reference numeral 10').

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the squeeze groove 40 is rectangular or can be approximated to a rectangle such as a trapezoidal shape. The cross-sectional shape approximated to a rectangle includes not only a trapezoidal shape but also a triangular or semicircular cross-sectional shape. The shape of the protrusion 242 of the embossed roller 241 basically corresponds to the shape of the squeezing groove 40 on the laminated body side, but in consideration of the push-back and restoring force of the laminated body, etc. The shape may be different from the shape of the squeezing groove 40 of). That is, the shape of the protrusion 242 of the embossing roller 241 and the rotation speed of the embossing roller 241 may be set based on the shape of the completed (designed) pressing groove 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the length of the absorber 30 in the transport direction is L. Let T be the time required for the first absorber transport unit 220 (specifically, the suction conveyor 221) to transport one absorber 30 having a length L. Since the first absorber transport unit 220 transports the absorber 30 at a speed V ₁ , the equation L = V ₁ × T holds.

Let N be the number of squeezing grooves 40 in the transport direction. The number N of the squeezing grooves 40 referred to here is the number of squeezing grooves in the portion having the largest number of squeezing grooves 40 in the transport direction. That is, depending on the pattern of the squeezing groove 40, the number of intersections between the virtual straight line extending parallel to the transport direction and the squeezing groove may differ depending on the location. In that case, the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 is counted with reference to the portion having the largest number of intersections between the virtual straight line extending parallel to the transport direction and the squeezing grooves. In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 is 4. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the number N of the pressing grooves in the transport direction differs depending on the CD direction. For example, N at the position indicated by P in the figure is 13. N is 24 at the position indicated by VV. In such an absorbent body, N is set to a number of 13 or more and 24 or less, the vicinity of the average value of the smallest number 13 and the largest number 24 is 18 to 19, or the neighborhood of the smallest number (for example, 11 in this example). ~ 15), and preferably the largest number is 24, or its vicinity (for example, 20 to 26 in this example). As shown in FIG. 2, there is a region in which the squeezing groove 40 is not formed in the transport direction near both side edges in the orthogonal direction of the laminated body. When counting the number N of the squeezing grooves 40, the region where such a squeezing groove 40 is not formed is excluded, and the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 is included in the range including at least one squeezing groove 40 in the transport direction. Should be counted.

As shown in FIG. 3, let D be the depth of the squeeze groove 40. In FIG. 3, the depth D of each squeezing groove 40 is substantially equal, but the depth of each squeezing groove 40 may be different. When the plurality of squeezing grooves 40 have different depths, the depth D of the squeezing grooves 40 referred to here can be an average value (number average) with respect to the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 described above. For example, when the number of squeezing grooves N = 10 in the most abundant part in the transport direction, two squeezing grooves 40 having a depth of 4 mm are formed, and eight squeezing grooves 40 having a depth of 1 mm are formed. The depth D of the squeeze groove 40 may be 1.6 mm. Of course, the median or mode can also be adopted.
The sheet transport unit 230 transports the top sheet 10 toward the groove forming portion 240 per unit time T required for transporting one absorber 30 of length L by the first absorber transport unit 220. Let X be the length. In the present embodiment, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the transport length X is obtained by cutting out a top sheet 10 having a length equal to that of the absorber 30 from the laminate in which the squeeze groove 40 is formed, and the top sheet 10 Corresponds to the length of the top sheet 10 in the transport direction when the squeezing groove 40 formed in the above is extended to a wrinkle-free state. That is, in this example, the transport length X of the top sheet 10 per unit time T is expressed as X = V ₂ × T.

It is preferable that the sheet transport unit 230 adjusts the speed V ₂ of feeding the top sheet 10 toward the groove forming portion 240 so that the transport length X is within the range satisfying the following equation.
[Equation] L <X ≦ L + N × 2D
Here, "2D" means that when a part of the top sheet 10 is to be properly inserted into the pressing groove 40 having a depth D, the top sheet 10 is formed on the side wall of the pressing groove 40. This is because a falling portion and a rising portion are formed along the line, and a length approximately twice the depth D is required. Further, since there is a relationship of X = V ₂ × T, if the value of X is determined within the range of the above equation, an appropriate V ₂ can be determined from the relationship of V ₂ = X / T. Further, when actually determining the speed V ₂ , it is preferable to set the speed particularly in consideration of the extensibility of the top sheet 10.
However, as is clear from the description so far, X can be set outside the above formula range (for example, near the minimum value L or near the maximum value L + N × 2D).

As conveying length X of the top sheet 10 is greater than the length L of the absorber 30, by adjusting the conveying speed V ₂ of the top sheet 10, a margin (excess) is born in the top sheet 10. Therefore, the top sheet 10 can easily enter the groove portion of the absorber 30. Further, the transport length X of the top sheet 10 is L + N × 2D (the appropriate margin value obtained by multiplying the number N of the squeezing grooves by the double value of the depth D of the squeezing grooves is added to the length L of the absorber. as a value) or less, by adjusting the conveying speed V ₂ of the top sheet 10, a load is applied to the top sheet 10 is pulled by the protruding portion 242 in forming the compressed groove 40, the topsheet 10 is torn It can be prevented from being easily torn or torn. That is, when the main purpose is to suppress the load on the top sheet 10, it is preferable that N is set near the maximum value and X is set near the maximum value L + N × 2D as described above. Further, if N is set near the minimum value or X is set near the minimum value L, it is possible to prevent the top sheet 10 from being doubled, and the appearance of the absorbent article 100 as a whole is deteriorated, or the absorbent article 100 is deteriorated. It is possible to prevent the surface from becoming uncomfortable.

Further, in the above relational expression, the transport length X of the top sheet 10 per unit time T exceeds the length L of the absorber 30 in the transport direction, and the groove forming portion 240 forms the squeeze groove 40. In other words, it is equal to or less than the surface length in the transport direction on the surface of the laminated body. The surface length of the surface of the laminate referred to here is the length traced on the surface of the laminate, and since this surface length includes the length of the side wall of the squeezing groove 40, the length of the absorber 30 is correspondingly the length of the absorber 30. It will be longer than L. If the transport length X of the top sheet 10 is equal to the surface length in the transport direction on the surface of the laminated body, there is no gap between the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 in the portion where the squeeze groove 40 is formed, and protrusions are formed. It is preferable that the top sheet 10 can be prevented from being pulled by the portion 242 and the top sheet 10 is not doubled. That is, when the top sheet 10 is folded along the squeeze groove 40 by the protrusion 242, the top sheet 10 is attached in a stretched state (extended state), and the top sheet 10 is easily peeled off from the squeeze groove 40. It is suitable because it can prevent it from becoming loose or easily torn. In particular, when the absorber 30 contains SAP, there is a concern that the SAP will break through the top sheet, especially when forming a squeeze groove. However, if the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 are carried in as described above, the top sheet 10 will be It is possible to extremely effectively prevent the top sheet 10 from being torn / easily torn as compared with the case where the top sheet 10 is brought in in a stretched state. On the other hand, if the top sheet 10 is dubbed at the site where the squeeze groove 40 is formed, fine wrinkles are generated on the surface of the top sheet 10 and the appearance is deteriorated. Such a state in which the top sheet 10 is dubbed is a state in which the top sheet 10 is shorter than the surface length of the laminated body, that is, in a portion where the pressing groove 40 is formed, between the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30. It can be said that the state is worse than the state in which a gap is generated. Therefore, it is preferable that the transport length X of the top sheet 10 is limited to the surface length or less of the laminated body.

The schematic diagram of a manufacturing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1, shows a peripheral speed at the time of rotation of the embossing roller 241 at V _3. The peripheral speed V ₃ is calculated by multiplying the diameter of the circle formed at the base of the protrusion 242 (the outer peripheral portion of the embossed roller 241 without the protrusion 242) by the pi and then multiplying by the number of rotations. it can. The top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 fed to the groove forming portion 240 have a squeezing groove 40 formed by the protrusion 242 of the embossing roller 241 according to the peripheral speed V ₃ of the embossing roller 241 and the conveying speed V _{1 of the} suction conveyor 221. It passes through the groove forming portion 240. Therefore, it is preferable that the peripheral speed V ₃ of the embossing roller 241 and the transport speed V ₁ of the suction conveyor 221 are constant speeds (V ₁ = V ₃ ). In this way, the speeds V ₁ and the speed V ₃ are set to constant speeds. By doing so, the squeezing groove 40 can be formed in each of the plurality of absorbers 30 basically in the same pattern. The relationship between the speed V ₁ for feeding the absorber 30 to the groove forming portion 240, the speed V ₂ for feeding the continuous body of the top sheet 10 to the groove forming portion 240, and the peripheral speed V ₃ of the embossing roller 241 is V ₂ > V. a ₁ = _{V 3.} That is, the velocity V ₂ is faster than the velocity V ₃ .

Further, when the embossing roller 241 forms the pressing groove 40 on the laminated body of the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30, the region where the pressing groove 40 is formed on the laminated body may be heated. For example, the embossing roller 241 is provided with a heating mechanism capable of at least heating the protrusion 242 provided on the peripheral surface thereof. Thereby, when the laminated body is pressed by the protrusion 242 to form the pressing groove 40, the pressed portion can be heated. In this example, since the hot melt adhesive is applied to the top sheet 10 by the glue gun 232, the hot melt adhesive is melted by the heating mechanism to bond the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 in the crimping groove 40. be able to. Further, by pressing the laminated body while heating to form the squeezing groove 40, the binding force between the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 at the portion where the squeezing groove 40 is formed can be enhanced. When the top sheet 10 is formed of, for example, a non-woven fabric made of a thermoplastic resin, the stretching force is increased by partially heating the top sheet 10, so that the top sheet 10 enters the groove portion of the absorber 30. It will be easier.

On the downstream side of the groove forming portion 240, a bonding portion 250 of a continuous body of the back sheet 20 is provided. The back sheet 20 is a sheet-like member for preventing the body fluid that has passed through the top sheet 10 and is absorbed by the absorber 30 from leaking to the outside of the diaper. Therefore, the back sheet 20 is preferably made of a liquid-impermeable material. The liquid impermeability means, for example, the property that when 5 ml of water at room temperature is placed on it under standard atmospheric pressure, the water does not permeate even after 1 minute or more. An example of the liquid-impermeable material constituting the back sheet 20 is a liquid-impermeable film made of polyethylene resin. In particular, as the back sheet 20, it is preferable to use a microporous polyethylene film in which a plurality of fine pores of 0.1 to 4 μm are formed in order to secure air permeability while maintaining liquid impermeableness.

The bonding portion 250 of the back sheet 20 includes a glue gun 251 and a bonding roller 252. The glue gun 251 has the same configuration as the glue gun 231 for bonding the top sheet 10 described above. In the glue gun 251, an adhesive is applied to the skin-facing surface (the surface on the absorber 30 side) of the back sheet 20 drawn out from the original roll (not shown). The laminating roller 252 conveys the back sheet 20 coated with the adhesive toward the downstream side, and superimposes the back sheet 20 on the laminated body of the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30. As a result, a laminated body in which the top sheet 10, the absorber 30, and the back sheet 20 are laminated in this order is formed.

A second absorber transporting portion 260 is provided on the downstream side of the bonding portion 250 of the back sheet 20. The second absorber transport unit 260 includes a transport conveyor 261 and a compression roller 262. The conveyor 261 conveys the laminated body of the top sheet 10, the absorber 30, and the back sheet 20 toward the downstream side of the apparatus. The compression roller 262 compresses the laminated body in the thickness direction by pressing the laminated body from the surface side of the top sheet 10. That is, the laminated body is sandwiched between the transport surface of the transport conveyor 261 and the peripheral surface of the compression roller 262.

Through the above steps, a laminated body is obtained in which the top sheet 10 is bonded to the skin-facing surface of the absorber 30 and the back sheet 20 is bonded to the skin-opposed surface of the absorber 30. By cutting the laminate thus obtained between the absorbers 30, an individual absorbent article 100 can be obtained. Although the cut portion is not shown, a known cutter roller or the like provided with a cutter blade on the peripheral surface may be used. In the above embodiment, the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 are manufactured as a continuous body, but it is naturally possible to cut the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 in the middle of the process to individually manufacture the absorbent article. ..

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a cover sheet 21 may be further provided on the non-skin facing surface side of the back sheet 20. An adhesive layer may be provided between the cover sheet 21 and the back sheet 20 in all or part of the area where the two come into contact with each other, and the two may be joined. As a method for forming the adhesive layer and a method for joining the adhesive layer, a known method as described above may be adopted.

The above manufacturing method can be particularly preferably used when the top sheet 10 is made of a material that is difficult to stretch (that is, has low extensibility). That is, when the top sheet 10 is difficult to stretch and an attempt is made to form a squeeze groove 40 in the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 without providing a margin in the top sheet 10, when the top sheet 10 is pressed. There is a risk of partial damage. Further, if the top sheet 10 is difficult to stretch, the top sheet 10 does not reach the bottom surface of the groove portion of the absorber 30, and a gap is formed between the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30, or the time is required. With the passage of time, problems such as the top sheet 10 being peeled off from the groove portion of the absorber 30 may occur. When the squeeze groove 40 is formed while the top sheet 10 is pulled, the top sheet 10 is easily torn. Therefore, the SAP contained in the absorber 30 may break the top sheet 10 when squeezing, but this problem is caused by squeezing the top sheet 10 after making it less stretched than in the steady state. Can be resolved / improved. That is, in the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, even when the top sheet 10 is made of a material that is difficult to stretch, the top sheet 10 is appropriately adhered to the groove portion of the absorber 30 without causing damage to the top sheet 10. be able to.

For example, it can be said that the top sheet 10 is difficult to stretch when the elongation stress (5% elongation stress) at 5% elongation in the transport direction is 10 N or more, and the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment is this. It is particularly suitable for manufacturing the absorbent article 100 using such a top sheet 10. Further, this manufacturing method is also suitable for the top sheet 10 having a 5% elongation stress of 15 N or more, and further 20 N or more or 25 N or more. The elongation stress is measured by extending the sheet member (top sheet 10) to be measured in the transport direction in accordance with JIS L 1913: 2010) 63.1. At this time, the gripping interval of the tensile tester is set to 100 mm, and the load at 5% elongation when the sheet member is pulled at a tensile speed of 300 mm / min is obtained as the elongation stress at 5% elongation. The 5% elongation stress is measured at standard time (not wet).

As described above, when the top sheet 10 is made of a material that is difficult to stretch, the transport length X of the top sheet 10 per unit time T described above is the transport on the surface of the laminate in which the squeeze groove 40 is formed. It is preferable that the value is closer to the surface length in the direction. For example, when the surface length in the transport direction on the surface of the laminated body in which the squeeze groove 40 is formed is A and the length of the absorber 30 in the transport direction is L, the top sheet 10 is transported per unit time T. The length X is preferably a value closer to A than the average value of A and L ((A + L) / 2). That is, when the 5% elongation stress of the top sheet 10 is 10 N or more, the transport length X is preferably in the range of the following relational expression.
[Formula] (A + L) / 2 <X≤A
L + N × 2D can be substituted for the value of A. It is also possible to set X to a value before and after A (for example, a value exceeding A).

As described above, since the absorber 30 is made of pulp, SAP, or the like, it is easily deformed by a pressure in the vertical direction, whereas the top sheet 10 is made of a non-woven fabric or the like, and in some cases. Is made of a material that does not stretch easily. As described above, the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment is to create and maintain the squeezing groove 40 as designed in the combination of the easily deformable absorber 30 and the hard-to-deform sheet member (particularly the top sheet 10). It is practically possible.

Even when a stretchable material is used for the top sheet 10, if the top sheet 10 is bent so as to be stretched when the pressing groove 40 is formed, the stretched portion is easily torn. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even when such a material is used, the squeezing groove 40 can be formed in a state where the top sheet 10 is not stretched / almost not stretched, and thus the same as above. It plays the action and effect of.

Subsequently, another preferred embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 100 manufactured by the above manufacturing method, and FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view in the transport direction in the VV line of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the absorbent article 100, an absorber 30 is provided between the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20, and a squeezing groove 40 is formed in the thickness direction over the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30. It becomes a formed structure.

The squeeze groove 40 is formed by simultaneously pressing the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 by the groove forming portion 240 shown in FIG. As a result, the squeezing groove 40 is formed in the thickness direction over the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30. At the site where the squeeze groove 40 is formed, the density of the absorbent material constituting the absorber 30 is increased.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the squeezing groove 40 is a first squeezing groove 41 inclined in one direction with respect to a virtual line P extending in parallel with the transport direction, and the other side with respect to the virtual line P. Includes a second squeeze groove 42 that is inclined to the side. A plurality of the first squeezing grooves 41 and the second squeezing grooves 42 are formed respectively, and the plurality of first squeezing grooves 41 are all parallel (the inclination angles with respect to the virtual line P are equiangular), and similarly, the plurality of second squeezing grooves 41 are formed. The grooves 42 are also all parallel (the inclination angles with respect to the virtual line P are equiangular). Further, the first squeezing groove 41 and the second squeezing groove 42 intersect with each other. Specifically, each of the first squeezing grooves 41 preferably intersects with a plurality of second squeezing grooves 42, and similarly, each of the second squeezing grooves 42 has a plurality of first squeezing grooves 41. It is preferable that it intersects with.

More specifically, in FIG. 4, the squeezing grooves 40 formed in the top sheet 10 and the absorber 30 are formed in an oblique lattice pattern. The "oblique grid pattern" referred to here is a pattern in which a plurality of squeezing grooves extending in a direction inclined with respect to a transport direction and an orthogonal direction intersect to partition an oblique (diamond) non-squeezed region. To say. Therefore, the angle θ at which each squeeze groove is inclined with respect to the virtual line P extending parallel to the transport direction is less than 90 degrees, particularly in the range of 20 to 80 degrees, 30 to 60 degrees, or 40 to 50 degrees. It is preferable to have. In the illustrated example, the inclination angle θ of each pressing groove is 45 degrees. Further, the oblique lattice-like pattern is a regular pattern in which all the non-compressed regions 43 surrounded on all sides by the respective pressing grooves 41 and 42 are in the regular oblique shape (regular rhombus). As described above, in the oblique lattice pattern, a plurality of first squeezed grooves 41, a plurality of second squeezed grooves 42, a non-squeezed region 43 surrounded by these squeezed grooves 41, 42, and a first squeezed groove 41. It can be considered that the intersection 44 where the pressing groove 41 and the second pressing groove 42 intersect is formed.

Here, specific numerical values regarding the absorber 30 will be described. The thickness of the absorber 30, that is, the thickness of the non-squeezed region 43 is preferably 10 mm to 40 mm, and particularly preferably 15 mm to 30 mm. Further, the depth of the squeezing groove 40 is preferably 30 to 95%, particularly preferably 50 to 95% or 60 to 95% with respect to the thickness of the absorber 30. For example, the thickness of the absorber 30 at the site where the squeeze groove 40 is formed may be at least 1 mm or more, and particularly preferably 2 mm or more or 5 mm or more.

The width of the squeeze groove 40 is preferably 1 mm to 5 mm, particularly preferably 2 mm to 4 mm. The diagonal length D ₁ of the non-squeezed region 43 shown in FIG. 4 in the transport direction is preferably 10 mm to 50 mm, and particularly preferably 20 mm to 40 mm or 30 mm. The preferred numerical range of the diagonal length D ₂ in the orthogonal direction of the non-squeezed region 43 is the same as the length D ₁ described above. The length D ₁ and the length D ₂ are preferably approximately equal, but may be different. The shape of the non-squeezed region 43 is not limited to the regular oblique shape (regular rhombus), and other oblique shapes can be used.

The squeezing groove 40 formed in the absorber 30 is formed over a wide range in the transport direction so that the body fluid discharged in the vicinity of the crotch portion of the absorber 30 can be widely diffused to the front body and the back body. Is preferable. Specifically, the length of the region in which the squeeze groove 40 is formed in the transport direction is preferably 60% or more, preferably 60% to 100%, 70, with respect to the length in the transport direction of each absorber 30. It is particularly preferably% to 100%, or 80% to 100%. The squeezing groove 40 formed in the absorber 30 is formed in a wide range in the orthogonal direction so that the body fluid discharged near the center in the orthogonal direction can be widely diffused to the outside in the orthogonal direction. preferable. Specifically, the maximum width of the region in which the squeeze groove 40 is formed in the orthogonal direction is preferably 60% or more with respect to the minimum width in the orthogonal direction of each absorber 30, and is 60% to 100%, 70. It is particularly preferably% to 100%, or 80% to 100%.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the squeezing grooves 40 are formed in an oblique lattice shape, the number of squeezing grooves 40 in the above-mentioned transport direction varies depending on the site. Therefore, the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 is the number of squeezing grooves in the portion having the largest number of squeezing grooves 40 in the transport direction. Specifically, counting is performed based on the portion having the largest number of intersections between the virtual straight line extending parallel to the transport direction and the squeezing groove 40. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the VV line extending parallel to the transport direction is a virtual straight line passing through the portion having the largest number of intersections with the squeeze groove 40. Assuming the pattern of the squeezing grooves 40 shown in FIG. 4, the number N of the squeezing grooves 40 is the number of intersections between the VV line and the squeezing grooves 40, that is, 24.

The pattern of the squeezing groove 40 is not limited to the above-mentioned oblique grid-like pattern, and may be, for example, a square grid-like pattern. The "square grid pattern" referred to here means that a plurality of squeezing grooves extending parallel to the transport direction and a plurality of squeezing grooves extending parallel to the orthogonal direction intersect to partition a square non-squeezed region. Refers to a pattern. In particular, a regular pattern in which all non-squeezed areas surrounded by squeezing grooves are square-shaped is called a square grid pattern.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to form the squeeze groove 40 in a "lattice-like pattern" including an oblique grid-like shape and a square grid-like shape. That is, it is preferable that the squeezed grooves 40 formed in the absorber 30 and the top sheet 10 are used as a grid pattern to form a square or oblique non-squeezed region surrounded by the squeezed grooves 40. According to such a form, the squeezing grooves 40 intersect at least partially, so that the body fluid can be diffused over a wide range. Further, since the squeezing grooves 40 formed in the lattice pattern create an appropriate gap with the wearer's skin, the breathability and the touch of the top sheet 10 can be further improved. From this point of view, it can be said that this manufacturing method is suitable for forming a squeeze groove 40 in the laminate of the liquid permeable top sheet 10 and the absorber 30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the embodiment in which the absorber 30 is composed of only the absorbent material has been described as an example. However, the absorber 30 may have a structure in which an absorbent material is coated with a core wrap sheet. The core wrap sheet wraps the absorbent core made of the absorbent material to prevent the absorbent material from leaking out. The core wrap sheet is preferably made of a hydrophilic non-woven fabric having softness and strength. Examples of the non-woven fabric constituting the core wrap sheet include those obtained by hydrophilizing spunbonded non-woven fabric, air-through non-woven fabric, point-bonded non-woven fabric, spunlace non-woven fabric and the like. Further, as the core wrap sheet, a known tissue paper or the like can be used in addition to the non-woven fabric.

As described above, in the present specification, in order to express the content of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes modifications and improvements which are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in the present specification.

The present invention can be suitably used in the manufacturing industry of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers.

10 ... Top sheet 20 ... Back sheet 21 ... Cover sheet 30 ... Absorber 40 ... Squeezed groove 41 ... First squeezed groove 42 ... Second squeezed groove 43 ... Non-squeezed area 44 ... Intersection 100 ... Absorbent article 200 ... Manufacturing equipment 210 ... Absorber molding unit 211 ... Chamber 212 ... Molding drum 213 ... Recessed 214 ... Air hole 220 ... First absorber transport unit 221 ... Suction conveyor 222 ... Drive roller 223 ... Driven roller 224 ... Perforated belt 225 ... Suction box 230 ... Sheet conveyor 231 ... Speed adjustment roller 232 ... Glue gun 233 ... Guide roller 240 ... Groove forming part 241 ... Embossing roller 242 ... Protrusion 250 ... Bonding part 251 ... Glue gun 252 ... Bonding roller 260 ... Second absorber Conveyor unit 261 ... Conveyor conveyor 262 ... Compression roller

Claims (10)

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article in which an absorber and a top sheet are laminated.
The absorber transporting step of transporting the absorber and
A sheet transporting step of transporting the top sheet onto the absorber, and
A groove forming step of forming one or more squeezed grooves in the laminated body by pressing the laminated body of both from the top sheet side by the groove forming portion in a state where the absorbent body and the top sheet are overlapped with each other. Including
A method for producing an absorbent article, in which the speed at which the top sheet is fed into the groove forming portion in the sheet transporting step is faster than the speed at which the absorber is fed into the groove forming portion in the absorber transporting step. Let L be the length of the absorber in the transport direction.
Let N be the number of the squeezing grooves in the transport direction.
When the depth of the squeezing groove is D,
The transport length X for transporting the top sheet toward the groove forming portion in the sheet transport step is L <X per unit time required for transporting one absorber in the absorber transport step. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein ≦ L + N × 2D. The manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the number N of the squeezing grooves is the number of the squeezing grooves in the portion having the largest number of the squeezing grooves in the transport direction. The transport length X for transporting the top sheet toward the groove forming portion in the sheet transport step per unit time required to transport one absorber in the absorber transport step is defined as a transport length X.
It exceeds the length of the absorber in the transport direction and
The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the surface length of the laminated body in which the squeezed groove is formed by the groove forming portion is equal to or less than the surface length in the transport direction. The manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein the surface length is the surface length at a portion where the surface length of the laminated body is the longest in the transport direction. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the top sheet is a non-woven fabric. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elongation stress at 5% elongation in the transport direction of the top sheet is 10 N or more. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the absorber transporting step, the absorber is transported by a suction conveyor. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the groove forming step, at the same time as pressing the laminated body, the region where the squeezed groove is formed in the laminated body is heated. It is a manufacturing device for absorbent articles in which an absorber and a top sheet are laminated.
An absorber transporting unit that transports the absorber and
A sheet transport unit that transports the top sheet onto the absorber,
In a state where the absorber and the top sheet are overlapped with each other, the laminate includes a groove forming portion that presses the laminate from the top sheet side to form one or a plurality of squeezed grooves in the laminate.
An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, in which the speed at which the sheet transport unit feeds the top sheet into the groove forming portion is faster than the speed at which the absorber transport portion feeds the absorber into the groove forming portion.

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