HK1192440A - Sheet article manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus, a first roller (31) and a third roller (51) are rotated while each first concave portion (312) faces a convex portion (512), and therefore sheet concave portion rows (913) are formed on a first sheet member (91). The first sheet member (91) is transferred from a first roller-outer side surface (311) to a cylinder-outer side surface (211) of a supply cylinder (21), and a lower portion of the cylinder-outer side surface (211) is in contact with the first sheet member (91) while supply concave portions (212) supplied with particles face the sheet concave portion rows (913). Therefore, particles can be supplied accurately into each sheet concave portion (912) included in the sheet concave portion rows (913) and be held in the sheet concave portion (912) while the particles are practically prevented from scattering to the outside of the sheet concave portion (912).

Description

Sheet article manufacturing apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sheet article manufacturing apparatus for processing a sheet article for an absorbent product.

Background

In an absorbent article such as an absorbent pad for light incontinence used by being attached to the inside of a disposable diaper, an absorbent sheet obtained by sandwiching particles of a high-absorbent resin between two sheets made of nonwoven fabric or the like to fix the particles of the high-absorbent resin between the two sheets is conventionally used.

Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-. In this composite sheet, a plurality of recesses are formed on one of the two sheets, and a functional material such as an absorbent polymer is supported in the recesses. In the manufacturing apparatus for the composite sheet of document 1, a first sheet is supplied to a joining zone between two rollers having a concavo-convex shape joined to each other, and the first sheet is supported along the concavo-convex shape on the circumference of the first roller by applying suction force to the first sheet. Then, the functional material stored in the transport tube opposite to the first roller is supported on the first sheet by applying a punching suction force to the first sheet. A second sheet is then placed and bonded onto the first sheet to complete the composite sheet.

International publication No. wo2006/15141 (document 2) relates to a production process of a sandwich structure having a pattern of particulate material (particulate material pattern). In the apparatus of document 2, after the adhesive is coated on the carrier material, an indentation is formed on the carrier material. The particulate material expelled from one of the recesses of the conveyor is conveyed into the corresponding indentation and the covering material is then coated and bonded to the carrier material.

In addition, in the manufacturing apparatus of document 1, since the functional material in the transport tube is supplied onto the first sheet by gravity and air blow, the functional material is supplied not only to the concave portion of the first sheet but also to other portions of the first sheet except for the concave portion. Therefore, it is difficult to produce a composite sheet in which the existing regions of the functional material are distributed in a dotted pattern. The functional material is supported on the first sheet by the suction force of the first roller until the first sheet passing through the transport tube is covered with the second sheet. However, since the rotational speed of the rollers is generally high in such apparatuses, the functional material may be scattered from the first sheet due to centrifugal force.

In the apparatus of document 2, the particulate material is discharged from the conveyor to the carrier material. Thus, when the particulate material collides with the carrier material, the particulate material may scatter outside the indentations. Since the adhesive is pre-coated on the carrier material, the distance between the transport device and the carrier material cannot be reduced below a certain value.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is intended for a sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent product. The main object of the present invention is to accurately supply particles into a sheet concave portion row and to hold the particles in the sheet concave portion row.

A preferred sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a sheet concave portion forming portion for continuously forming sheet concave portions of a sheet concave portion row on a first sheet member in a conveying direction of the first sheet member, the first sheet member being a connected sheet; a supply cylinder including a plurality of supply recesses provided on a cylinder outer side surface in a circumferential direction, the supply cylinder being rotated about a cylinder rotation axis in a horizontal direction, a lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface being in contact with the first sheet member so as to be able to cause each of the supply recesses to face a sheet recess, thereby continuously supplying particles of an absorbent material or an odor preventing material from the plurality of supply recesses into the plurality of sheet recesses of the sheet recess row; a particle filling section for successively filling the plurality of supply concave sections with the particles; and a sheet bonding section for placing a second sheet member, which is a continuous sheet, on the sheet concave portion row supplied with the particles to bond the second sheet member to the first sheet member; wherein the sheet concave portion forming portion includes: a first roller including a plurality of first recesses arranged in a circumferential direction on an outer surface of the first roller in an aligned manner, the first roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member, and the first roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the cylinder to face each of the first recesses toward the supply recess, thereby transferring the first sheet member from the outer surface of the first roller to the outer surface of the cylinder; and a concave portion forming portion for continuously forming the sheet concave portion by recessing a part of the first sheet member into the first concave portion; the sheet bonding portion includes: a second roller including a plurality of second recesses provided on an outer side surface thereof in a circumferential direction, the second roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member supplied with the particles in the sheet recess rows, and being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the cylinder rotation axis so as to be capable of causing each second recess to face the supply recess, thereby transferring the first sheet member from the cylinder outer side surface to the second roller outer side surface; and a second sheet supply portion for supplying the second sheet member onto the first sheet member on the outer side surface of the second roller. In the sheet article manufacturing apparatus, it is possible to accurately supply particles into the sheet concave portion row and hold the particles in the sheet concave portion row.

In this case, since the concave portion forming portion includes a suction portion for sucking the first sheet member from inside the first roller via the plurality of first concave portions, the sheet concave portion row formed in the plurality of first concave portions can be held.

The concave portion forming portion may include a third roller including a plurality of convex portions provided on a third roller outer side surface in a circumferential direction, the third roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drum so that each convex portion is directed toward the first concave portion, thereby pressing a part of the first sheet member toward the first concave portion by the each convex portion. In this case, the third roller includes a convex portion heating portion for heating the plurality of convex portions, and therefore the first sheet member can be easily deformed when pressed by the convex portions.

Another preferred sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a supply cylinder including a plurality of supply recesses provided on a cylinder outer side surface in a circumferential direction, the supply cylinder rotating about a cylinder rotation axis in a horizontal direction, a lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface being in contact with the first sheet member to enable continuous supply of particles of an absorbent material or an odor preventing material from the plurality of supply recesses onto the first sheet member; a particle filling section for successively filling the plurality of supply concave sections with the particles; and a sheet bonding portion for placing a second sheet member on the particles of the absorbent material or the deodorizing material which have been supplied to the first sheet member by the supply cylinder to bond the second sheet member to the first sheet member, the second sheet member being a continuous sheet; wherein the sheet bonding portion includes: a roller including a plurality of suction openings circumferentially provided on an outer surface of the roller, the roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member supplied with the particles, and the roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the cylinder so as to be able to cause the suction openings to face the supply concave portion to transfer the first sheet member from the cylinder outer surface to the roller outer surface; a suction portion for holding the particles by sucking the particles from within the roller via the suction port and the first sheet member; and a second sheet supply portion for supplying the second sheet member onto the first sheet member on the roller outer side surface. In the sheet article manufacturing apparatus, the sheet article for the absorbent product in which the particles are distributed in a dotted form can be easily manufactured.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the vicinity of the supply cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the supply cylinder.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first roller.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the first roller.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the arrangement of the pipes inside the first roller.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the second roller.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the second roller.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the third roller.

Fig. 10 is a front view of the third roller.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the fourth roller.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the second auxiliary bonding roller.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the second auxiliary bonding roller.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the sheet conveying roller.

Fig. 15 is a view showing the vicinity of the supply cylinder.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of an absorbent sheet.

Fig. 17 is a view showing an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a view showing another embodiment of the supply cylinder.

Fig. 19 is a front view of the supply cylinder.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a view showing an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The Absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 is a sheet manufacturing apparatus for processing a sheet-like article for an Absorbent product, and the Absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 manufactures an Absorbent sheet by sandwiching particles of a high Absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) between sheet-like members made of nonwoven fabric or the like. The absorbent sheet is a sheet-like article used in an absorbent product such as a light incontinence disposable diaper or an absorbent pad.

The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a supply cylinder 21, a first roller 31, a second roller 41, a third roller 51, a fourth roller 61, and a sheet conveying roller 71, the supply cylinder 21 being a substantially cylindrical member that surrounds (with its center located at) a cylinder rotation axis R0 in a horizontal direction, the first roller 31 being located at the lower left of the supply cylinder 21, the second roller 41 being located at the lower right of the supply cylinder 21, the third roller 51 being located at the left of the first roller 31, the fourth roller 61 being located at the right of the second roller 41, and the sheet conveying roller 71 being located above the second roller 41 and close to the second roller 41 and the supply cylinder 21. In fig. 1, hatching lines are not drawn on the cross sections of the supply cylinder 21 and the rollers (the same is true in other drawings) in order to facilitate understanding of the drawings.

The first roller 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape about a rotation axis R1, the rotation axis R1 being parallel to a direction along the drum rotation axis R0 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as "axial direction"), and the second roller 41 having a substantially cylindrical shape about a rotation axis R2 parallel to the axial direction. The first roller 31 and the second roller 41 have a similar structure to each other, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane including the cylinder rotation axis R0 of the supply cylinder 21 and parallel to the vertical direction (the gravitational direction). The third roller 51 and the fourth roller 61 have a substantially cylindrical shape about rotation axes R3, R4, respectively, parallel to the axial direction. The sheet conveying roller 71 has a substantially cylindrical shape about a rotation axis R5 parallel to the axial direction.

The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes an auxiliary bonding portion 62 located below the fourth roller 61. The auxiliary bonding portion 62 includes a first auxiliary bonding roller 63 having a substantially cylindrical shape about a rotation axis R6 parallel to the axial direction, and a second auxiliary bonding roller 64 having a substantially cylindrical shape about a rotation axis R7 parallel to the axial direction. The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a pair of nip rollers 81 (i.e., two nip rollers 81) located above and below the left of the first roller 31. Each roll 81 has a substantially cylindrical shape about a central axis parallel to the axial direction. In addition, the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of auxiliary rollers 32, 42 each having a substantially cylindrical shape about a central axis parallel to the axial direction, and an application portion 72 located above the auxiliary roller 42.

In fig. 1, the supply cylinder 21, the third roller 51, the fourth roller 61, the sheet conveying roller 71, and the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the first roller 31, the second roller 41, and the second auxiliary roller 64 rotate in the clockwise direction.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, (each part of) the first sheet member 91 of the continuous sheet formed of the nonwoven fabric or the like is conveyed to the first roller 31 by the auxiliary roller 32, and passes between the first roller 31 and the lower nip roller 81. Subsequently, the first sheet member 91 passes between the first roller 31 and the third roller 51, and passes between the first roller 31 and the upper nip roller 81. The first roller 31 is held in contact with the third roller 51 by the first sheet member 91, and the first sheet member 91 is sandwiched between the first roller 31 and the third roller 51. Therefore, the sheet concave portions of each sheet concave portion row 913 (shown in fig. 15) are continuously formed on the first sheet member 91 in the conveying direction of the first sheet member 91, which will be described later. In the following description, components for forming the sheet concave portion rows 913, such as the first roller 31 and the third roller 51, are collectively named a sheet concave portion forming portion 30.

The first sheet member 91 is conveyed from the first roller-outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31 to the cylinder-outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21, and particles of high-absorbent resin (hereinafter simply referred to as "particles") supplied through the supply cylinder 21 continuously enter the sheet concave portions of the sheet concave portion rows 913 on the first sheet member 91. Further, the first sheet member 91 is conveyed from the cylinder outside surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 to the second roller outside surface 411 of the second roller 41.

On the other hand, the second sheet member 92 (continuous sheet made of nonwoven fabric or the like) is guided to the sheet conveying roller 71 by the auxiliary roller 42. An adhesive (hot melt adhesive in the present embodiment) is coated on almost the entire surface of one main surface of the second sheet member 92 by the coating portion 72. The second sheet member 92 is conveyed from the sheet conveying roller 71 to the second roller 41, and is supplied onto the first sheet member 91 laid on the second roller outer side surface 411 of the second roller 41. That is, the sheet conveying roller 71 is a second sheet supply portion for supplying the second sheet member 92 onto the first sheet member 91. The laminated (layered) first sheet member 91 and second sheet member 92 pass between the second roller 41 and the fourth roller 61, and then pass between the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 and the second auxiliary bonding roller 64. Thus, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are bonded to each other, thereby forming an absorbent sheet. In the following description, components for joining the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92, such as the second roller 41, the fourth roller 61, the sheet conveying roller 71, and the auxiliary joining portion 62 (including the first auxiliary joining roller 63 and the second auxiliary joining roller 64), are collectively named as a sheet joining portion 40.

A particle filling section 23 is provided above the supply cylinder 21. The particle filling section 23 includes a particle tank 231, the particle tank 231 is located above the supply cylinder 21 and stores the particles, and the particle tank 231 is provided with a level sensor 233. When the level sensor detects that the total amount of particles stored in the particle bin 231 is equal to or below a certain level, particles are added to the particle bin 231. The particle tank 231 extends almost parallel to the vertical direction, and a particle filling opening 232 opposed to the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 is provided at the lower end of the particle tank 231. The particle filling opening 232 is directed toward a portion including the highest portion of the supply cylinder 21.

A first cover 221 covering a part of the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 and a second cover 222 covering another part of the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 are provided around the supply cylinder 21. The first cover 221 extends from the particle filling opening 232 toward the vicinity of a portion of the supply cylinder 21 closest to the first roller 31 in the rotation direction of the supply cylinder 21 (i.e., counterclockwise in fig. 1) to cover the cylinder outer side surface 211 on the left side of the supply cylinder 21. The second cover 222 extends from the particle filling opening 232 toward the vicinity of the right end portion of the supply cylinder 21 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the supply cylinder 21, i.e., toward the rear side of the rotation direction (i.e., clockwise direction in fig. 1), to cover the cylinder outer side surface 211 on the right side of the supply cylinder 21.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of the supply cylinder 21, and shows a section orthogonal to the cylinder rotation axis R0. Fig. 3 is a view showing the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21, and in fig. 3, an appearance of the cylinder outer side surface 211 as viewed in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder rotation axis R0 is shown. In fig. 2, the particle areas are filled with dense cross-hatching. In fig. 3, the first cover 221 and the second cover 222 are omitted.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, with respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction, a plurality of supply concave portions 212 are arrayed on (inside) the drum outer side surface 211 at fixed intervals in the circumferential direction around the drum rotation axis R0 so as to be spaced from each other. As shown in fig. 3, when a plurality of supply concave portions 212 arranged in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction are named as supply concave portion rows 213, three supply concave portion rows 213 are provided on the supply cylinder 21. In the present embodiment, the shape of each supply concave portion 212 as viewed in the direction orthogonal to the drum rotation axis R0 is approximately circular. As shown in fig. 2, in a cross section orthogonal to the drum rotation axis R0, the bottom surface of each supply recess 212 is shaped approximately in an arc. The supply concave portions 212 may have different shapes, for example, the shape of each supply concave portion 212 as viewed in the direction orthogonal to the drum rotation axis R0 may be approximately rectangular. Also, in a cross section orthogonal to the drum rotation axis R0, the shape of each supply recess 212 may be approximately rectangular. In the barrel outer side surface 211, one, two, four, or more supply recess rows 213 may be provided. In each supply recess row 213, the plurality of supply recesses 212 are not necessarily arranged at fixed intervals.

In a region where the supply recess 212 is not provided, the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 is very close to the inner side surface of the first cover 221 and the inner side surface of the second cover 222, and the cylinder outer side surface 211 is almost in contact with the inner side surface of the first cover 221 and the inner side surface of the second cover 222.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the supply cylinder 21 is rotated at a high speed about the cylinder rotation axis R0, and by gravity, the particles are successively filled from the particle tank 231 of the particle filling portion 23 into the plurality of supply concave portions 212 through the particle filling opening 232. In fig. 2, the communication portion 26 adjacent to the particle filling opening 232 is provided on the right side of the particle filling opening 232 (i.e., on the rear of the particle filling opening 232 in the rotational direction of the supply cylinder 21). The communication portion 26 is provided across almost the entire range of the supply cylinder 21 in which the three supply recess rows 213 (shown in fig. 3) are provided in the axial direction.

A supply concave portion 212a (which is denoted by reference numeral 212a so as to be distinguished from other supply concave portions 212) of the plurality of supply concave portions 212 opposed to the rear edge of the particle filling opening 232 of the supply cylinder 21 (i.e., the rear portion of the supply cylinder 21 in the rotational direction) communicates with the external space through the communicating portion 26. Therefore, when particles are filled from the particle filling portion 23 to the supply concave portion 212a, the air in the supply concave portion 212a is forced out by the particles entering the supply concave portion 212a and easily discharged to the external space through the communication portion 26. Therefore, the density of particles filled in the supply concave portion 212a can be increased.

In the communicating portion 26, the first end portion 261 is one end portion opposed to the supply cylinder 21, the second end portion 262 is the other end portion located on the external space side of the communicating portion 26, and the first end portion 261 is located below the second end portion 262. The communication path 260 of the communication portion 26 includes at least two curved portions (i.e., the communication path 260 is curved at least two points). In the present embodiment, the communication path 260 includes three bent portions, and the first end portion 261 of the communication path 26 is almost just below the second end portion 262 in the vertical direction. This can reduce escape of particles from the supply recess 212a to the external space through the communication portion 26.

A communicating portion suction portion 264 for suction in the communicating portion 26 is connected to the second end portion 262 of the communicating portion 26 through a tube 263. The communication portion suction portion 264 includes a regulator for regulating the suction pressure and weakly performs suction. Therefore, the air in the supply recess 212a is more effectively discharged, and thus the density of particles filled in the supply recess 212a can be further increased.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the first roller 31, and shows a section orthogonal to the rotation axis R1. Fig. 5 is a view showing the first roller-outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31, and in fig. 3, an appearance of the first roller-outer side surface 311 viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1 is shown. With respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction, a plurality of first concave portions 312 are arrayed on the first roller outside surface 311 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R1 so as to be spaced from each other. As shown in fig. 5, when the plurality of first recesses 312 aligned in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction are named as first recess rows 313, the first roller 31 is provided with three first recess rows 313. In the present embodiment, the shape of each first concave portion 312 viewed in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1 is approximately circular. As shown in fig. 4, in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis, the bottom surface shape of each first concave portion 312 is approximately arc-shaped.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, in the first roller 31, a plurality of first suction ports 314 are provided on the first roller outer side surface 311. The shape of each first suction port 314 as viewed in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1 is approximately circular, and the first suction port 314 is sufficiently small compared to the first recess 312. The first suction port 314 is provided across the entire circumference of the first roller outer side surface 311 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R1. In fig. 5, for the sake of understanding, only the first suction port 314 located above the rotation axis R1 is drawn with a thin line (the same applies to fig. 8). The plurality of first suction openings 314 are arranged (from side to side) across the three first recess rows 313 in the axial direction. That is, the plurality of first suction ports 314 overlap the entire region where the plurality of first recess rows 313 are disposed, and naturally the plurality of first suction ports 314 are disposed inside each first recess 312. As shown in fig. 4, a first suction duct 315 extends from each first suction opening 314 towards the axis of rotation R1.

Fig. 6 is a view showing an arrangement of inner ducts at an upper portion of the first roller 31. A plurality of first suction pipes 315 extending from the plurality of first suction ports 314 are connected to a common pipe 316 extending in the axial direction. In fig. 6, hatching lines are drawn in the areas of the first roller 31 other than the first suction pipes 315 and the common pipe 316, and a portion overlapping with the first suction port 314 is drawn with a dotted line in the cross section of each first concave portion 312 for easy understanding of the drawing. The common tubes 316, which extend from one end of the first roller 31 to the other end of the first roller 31 in the axial direction, are connected to the first suction parts 33 provided on both sides of the first roller 31 in the axial direction. The first suction part 33 is supported by a support not shown, and the first suction part 33 does not rotate together with the first roller 31. In the present embodiment, the first suction part 33 is disposed slightly spaced from the first roller 31, and the air in the common duct 316 is sucked by the first suction part 33 performing air suction.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 1, the first suction portion 33 extends from the vicinity of a position where the first roller 31 and the third roller 51 are in contact with each other through the first sheet member 91 (so as to sandwich the first sheet member 91 between the first roller 31 and the third roller 51) toward the front side in the rotational direction of the first roller 31 (i.e., the clockwise direction in fig. 1) to reach the vicinity of a position where the first roller 31 and the supply cylinder 21 are in contact with each other through the first sheet member 91. As shown in fig. 4, in the first roller 31, among the plurality of first suction ports 314, only some of the first suction ports 314 connected to the common pipes 316 facing (substantially connected to) the first suction part 33 with a small interval therebetween perform suction.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the second roller 41, and shows a section orthogonal to the rotation axis R2. Fig. 8 is a view showing the second roller-outer side surface 411 of the second roller 41, and an appearance of the second roller-outer side surface viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R2 is shown in fig. 8. The second roller 41 has a similar structure to the first roller 31. Specifically, with respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction, the plurality of second recesses 412 are arrayed on the second roller outside surface 411 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R2 so as to be spaced from each other. As shown in fig. 8, in the second roller 41, three second recess rows 413 are provided.

In the second roller-outer side surface 411, a plurality of second suction ports 414 are provided so as to overlap with the entire region where the plurality of second concave portion rows 413 are provided. As shown in fig. 7, a second suction pipe 415 extends from each second suction opening 414 toward the rotation axis R2 to be connected to the common pipe 416. The common pipe 416 is connected to the second suction portions 43 provided on both sides of the second roller 41 in the axial direction. As shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 1, the second suction portion 43 extends from the vicinity of a position where the second roller 41 contacts the supply cylinder 21 through the first sheet member 91 toward the front in the rotation direction of the second roller 41 (i.e., clockwise in fig. 1) to reach the vicinity of a position where the second roller 41 contacts the fourth roller 61 through the first sheet member 91. As shown in fig. 7, in the second roller 41, only some of the second suction ports 414 connected to the common tube 416 facing the first suction part 43 with a small interval therebetween perform suction, among the plurality of second suction ports 414.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the third roller 51, and shows a section orthogonal to the rotation axis R3. Fig. 10 is a view showing the third roller-outer side surface 511 of the third roller 51, and in fig. 10, an appearance of the third roller-outer side surface 511 viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R3 is shown. With respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction, a plurality of convex portions 512 are arrayed on the third roller-outer side surface 511 of the third roller 51 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R3 so as to be spaced from each other. As shown in fig. 10, when a plurality of convex portions 512 arranged in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction are named as convex portion rows 513, three convex portion rows 513 are provided in the third roller 51. As shown in fig. 9, the third roller 51 includes a heater 514 located inside the third roller 51, and the heater 514 is a projection heating section for heating the plurality of projections 512.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the fourth roller 61, and shows a section orthogonal to the rotation axis R4. The fourth roller outside surface 611 of the fourth roller 61 is a smooth cylindrical surface that rotates around the rotation R4. The fourth roller 61 includes a heater 614 inside the fourth roller 61, and the heater 614 is an outer surface heating portion for heating the fourth roller outer surface 611. The first auxiliary bonding roller 63 of the auxiliary bonding part 62 shown in fig. 1 has a similar structure to the fourth roller 61, and includes a heater 634 inside the first auxiliary bonding roller 63.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 of the auxiliary bonding portion 62, and shows a section orthogonal to the rotation axis R7. Fig. 13 is a view showing the outer side surface 641 of the second auxiliary bonding roller 64, and in fig. 13, an appearance of the outer side surface 641 as viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R7 is shown. The second auxiliary bonding roller 64 has a similar structure to the supply cylinder 21, and a plurality of auxiliary concave portions 642 are arrayed on (in) the outer side surface 641 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R7 so as to be spaced from each other with respect to each of a plurality of positions in the axial direction. As shown in fig. 13, when a plurality of auxiliary concave portions 642 arranged in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction are named as auxiliary concave portion rows 643, three auxiliary concave portion rows 643 are provided on the second auxiliary bonding roller 64. Fig. 14 is a front view of the sheet conveying roller 71. The conveying roller outer side surface 711 of the sheet conveying roller 71 is a smooth cylindrical surface.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the plurality of supply recess rows 213 (see fig. 3) of the supply cylinder 21, the plurality of first recess rows 313 (see fig. 5) of the first roller 31, the plurality of second recess rows 413 (see fig. 8) of the second roller 41, the plurality of projection rows 513 (see fig. 10) of the third roller 51, and the plurality of auxiliary recess rows 643 (see fig. 13) of the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 are respectively located at the same positions in the axial direction. In addition, the diameters of the supply cylinder 21, the first roller 31, the second roller 41, the third roller 51, and the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 are the same as each other. The pitch of the supply concave portions 212 in the circumferential direction, the pitch of the first concave portions 312 in the circumferential direction, the pitch of the second concave portions 412 in the circumferential direction, the pitch of the convex portions 512 in the circumferential direction, and the pitch of the auxiliary concave portions 642 in the circumferential direction are the same. In the present embodiment, the diameters and volumes of the first concave portion 312, the second concave portion 412, and the auxiliary concave portion 642 are equal to or larger than those of the supply concave portion 212.

As shown in fig. 15, in the process of processing the absorbent sheet by the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the first roller 31 rotates in the clockwise direction in fig. 15 about the rotation axis R1 to convey the first sheet member 91 located on the first roller outer side surface 311. Meanwhile, the third roller 51 rotates about the rotation axis R3, and each convex portion 512 faces (engages) one of the first concave portions 32 (that is, the third roller 51 rotates so that the convex portion 512 continuously faces the first concave portion 312), and the convex portion 512 heated by the heater 514 presses a part of the first sheet member 91 toward the first concave portion 312. Thus, the part of the first sheet member 91 (due to the depression) forms a dent that is depressed into the first concave portion 312, thereby forming the sheet concave portion 912, and the sheet concave portion rows 913 in the conveying direction of the first sheet member 91 are continuously formed on the first sheet member 91.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the first sheet member 91 is pressed by the plurality of convex portions 512 of the third roller 51, that is, throughout the formation process of the sheet concave portion rows 913, the first sheet member 91 is pressed toward the first roller 31 at all times by the upper and lower sides (i.e., both sides in the conveying direction of the first sheet member 91) of the contact position between the first roller 31 and the third roller 51 by the two nip rollers 81.

In the region of the first roller-outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31 between the third roller 51 and the supply cylinder 21, air is drawn from within the first roller 31 by the first suction portions 33. Therefore, the plurality of sheet concave portions 912 of the first sheet member 91 are sucked from inside the first roller 31 via the plurality of first concave portions 312, and each sheet concave portion 912 is deformed to fit the inner surface of the first concave portion 312, that is, the volume of the sheet concave portion 912 is increased. In fig. 15, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are depicted as being slightly spaced apart from the first roller 31, the second roller 41, the supply cylinder 21, and the like.

Here, when an assembly for continuously forming sheet concave portions of the sheet concave portion rows 913 by recessing a part of the first sheet member 91 into the first concave portion 312 is named a concave portion forming portion 301, the concave portion forming portion 301 includes the first suction portion 33, the third roller 51, and the pair of nip rollers 81. The sheet concave portion forming portion 30 includes a first roller 31 and a concave portion forming portion 301. Due to the rotation of the first roller 31 and the supply cylinder 21, (a part of) the first sheet 91 formed with the sheet concave portion rows 913 by the sheet concave portion forming portion 30 is conveyed from the first roller-outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31 to the cylinder-outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21.

As described above, in the supply cylinder 21, the particles are continuously filled from the particle filling portion 23 into the plurality of supply concave portions 212. Each of the supply concave portions 212 filled with the pellets reaches the lower end of the first cover 221 and the outer end of each of the supply concave portions 212 filled with the pellets is closed by the first cover 221 (i.e., the outer end of each of the supply concave portions 212 filled with the pellets is covered on the cylinder outer side surface 221). In the following description, with respect to the rotation direction of the supply cylinder 21, a region from the lower end of the first cover 221 to the lower end of the second cover 222 is named "particle supply region 210".

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the first roller 31 rotates while causing each first concave portion 312 to face (contact) one of the supply concave portions 212 of the supply cylinder 21 (i.e., the first roller 31 rotates so that the first concave portions 312 successively face the supply concave portions 212 one by one). Therefore, in the particle supply region 210, the sheet concave portion rows 913 (sheet concave portions 912) of the first sheet member 91 face the supply concave portion 212 of the supply cylinder 21. In this state, the lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface 211 is in contact with the first sheet member 91, and thus particles are continuously supplied from the plurality of supply concave portions 212 into the plurality of sheet concave portions 912 of the sheet concave portion rows 913. Each of the supply concave portions 212, which supplies particles to the sheet concave portion 912 through the particle supply region 210, moves to the upper portion of the supply cylinder 21 with the outer end closed by the second cover 222, and then moves toward the particle filling opening 232 of the particle filling portion 23.

The first sheet member 91 (a part of the first sheet member 91) to which the sheet concave portion rows 913 have been supplied with particles is conveyed from the cylinder outside surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 to the second roller outside surface 411 of the second roller 41 by the second roller 41 rotating about the rotation axis R2. At this time, each second concave portion 412 faces the supply concave portion 212 (i.e., the second concave portions 412 successively face the supply concave portion 212 one by one) with the rotation of the second roller 41, and thus each sheet concave portion 912 storing particles is put into the second concave portion 412. In the area of the second roller-outer-side surface 411 between the supply cylinder 21 and the fourth roller 61, air is sucked from inside the second roller 41 by the second suction portion 43. Therefore, the plurality of sheet recesses 912 of the first sheet member 91 are sucked from inside the second roller 41 via the plurality of second recesses 412, and each sheet recess 912 is supported by suction to fit on the inner surface of the second recess 412. In the present embodiment, the second suction portion 43 also belongs to the sheet joining portion 40.

On the other hand, the adhesive-coated second sheet member 92 is guided to the second roller 41 by the sheet conveying roller 71, and on the second roller-outer side surface 411, the second sheet member 92 is placed on the sheet concave portion rows 913 (on the openings of the sheet concave portions 912) of the first sheet member 91 supplied with particles. Then, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 overlapped with each other are sandwiched between the second roller 41 and the fourth roller 61 (where the fourth roller outer side surface 611 is heated by the heater 614), and thus the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are bonded to each other.

As shown in fig. 1, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 bonded to each other are guided to the auxiliary bonding portion 62, and are sandwiched between the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 and the second auxiliary bonding roller 64. At this time, the plurality of sheet concave portions 912 are put into the plurality of auxiliary concave portions 642 of the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 (see fig. 12 and 13). Therefore, the sheet concave portion 912 can be prevented from being deformed. In the auxiliary bonding portion 62, the outer side surface of the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 is heated by the heater 634, and the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are sandwiched between the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 and the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 to be bonded more firmly. Thus, as shown in fig. 16, an absorbent sheet 95 having a plurality of particle existence regions 951 arranged in a dot form is formed. In each particle existence region 951, high absorbent resin particles are dispersed (existing), and the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are bonded in a region (surrounding each particle existence region 951) other than the plurality of particle existence regions 951.

As described above, in the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1, the sheet concave portion rows 913 are formed on the first sheet member 91 by the sheet concave portion forming portion 30. While the sheet concave portion rows 913 are facing the supply concave portion 212, the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 is in contact with the first sheet member 91. Therefore, particles can be accurately supplied into each sheet concave portion 912 of the sheet concave portion rows 913 and held in the sheet concave portion 912 while the particles are practically prevented from being scattered to the outside of the sheet concave portion 912.

In the sheet concave portion forming portion 30, since the plurality of convex portions 512 of the third roller 51 press a part of the first sheet member 91 against the first concave portions 312 of the first roller 31, the sheet concave portion rows 913 can be easily formed. The plurality of projections 512 are heated by the heater 514, and the first sheet member 91 can be easily deformed by the projections 512 at the time of pressing. As a result, the sheet concave portion rows 913 can be easily formed. In addition, the first sheet member 91 is pressed toward the first roller 31 by the two rolling rollers 81 (the paired rolling rollers 81) at both sides of the contact position between the first roller 31 and the third roller 51, and therefore, the displacement of the first sheet member 91 in the conveying direction during pressing of the first sheet member 91 by the convex portions 512 can be reduced (suppressed) or prevented.

In the sheet concave portion forming portion 30, since the first sheet member 91 is sucked by the first suction portion 33 via the plurality of first concave portions 312, the sheet concave portion rows 913 formed in the plurality of first concave portions 312 can be held. In addition, each sheet concave portion 912 of the sheet concave portion rows 913 is adapted to the shape of the inner surface of the first concave portion 312. It is thereby possible to increase the volume of each sheet concave portion 912 and equalize the shape of the sheet concave portion 912.

In the sheet bonding portion 40, the sheet concave portion rows 913 are located in the second concave portions 412 of the fourth roller 41. Therefore, each sheet concave portion 912 holding particles can be prevented from being deformed on the fourth roller 41, and the particles in the sheet concave portion 912 can be prevented from being dispersed to the surroundings. Since the first sheet member 91 is sucked by the second suction portion 43 via the plurality of second concave portions 412, the sheet concave portion rows 913 can be easily held in the plurality of second concave portions 412. In addition, particles in each sheet concave portion 912 can be prevented from dispersing to the surroundings. Further, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 overlapped with each other are positioned (sandwiched) between the second roller 41 and the fourth roller 61. This makes it easy and firm to join the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92.

Hereinafter, an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 17 is a view showing an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a according to a second preferred embodiment. In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a, a first roller 31a is provided instead of the first roller 31 in fig. 1, and a first roller outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31a is substantially cylindrical and has a smooth surface. And the concave portion forming portion 301 for forming the sheet concave portion rows 913 in the first sheet member 91, that is, the third roller 51, the rolling roller 81, and the first suction portion 33 are removed. Other constituent elements are the same as those of the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1, and the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

In the process of processing (producing) an absorbent sheet by the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a, the first roller 31a rotates about the rotation axis R1 in the clockwise direction in fig. 17, and thus the first sheet member 91 is transferred from the first roller-outer side surface 311 of the first roller 31a to the cylinder-outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21. In the supply cylinder 21, each particle-filled supply concave portion 212 reaches the lower end of the first cover 221 and the outer end of each particle-filled supply concave portion 212 is closed by the first cover 221, and in the particle supply region 210, the lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface 211 (the portion including the supply concave portion 212) is in contact with the first sheet member 91. Therefore, the particles are continuously supplied from the plurality of supply concave portions 212 onto the first sheet member 91. On the first sheet member 91, the particles supplied from the plurality of supply concave portions 212 are distributed in a dotted pattern. In the following description, a plurality of regions where particles are arranged on the first sheet member 91 are named "particle arrangement region".

The first sheet member 91 supplied with particles is transferred from the cylinder outside surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 to the second roller outside surface 411 of the second roller 41 by the second roller 41 rotating about the rotation axis R2. At this time, while the second roller 41 rotates, each second concave portion 412 faces the supply concave portion 212 (i.e., each second concave portion 412 faces the particle arranging region). And, the first sheet member 91 is sucked from inside the second roller 41 through the second suction port 414 (see fig. 7 and 8). Therefore, the particle arrangement regions distributed in a dot pattern on the first sheet member 91 are put into the second concave portion 412 together with the particles. The particles are held in the particle arranging region by the suction through the first sheet member 91 and the second suction port 414.

On the other hand, the second sheet member 92 coated with the adhesive is guided to the second roller 41 through the sheet conveying roller 71, and on the second roller outside surface 411 of the second roller 41, the second sheet member 92 is overlaid on the first sheet member 91 supplied with particles. Then, where the fourth roller outer side surface 611 is heated by the heater 614, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 overlapped with each other are sandwiched between the second roller 41 and the fourth roller 61, and thus the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 are bonded to each other. The first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 bonded to each other are guided to the auxiliary bonding portion 62, and are sandwiched between the second auxiliary bonding roller 64 and the first auxiliary bonding roller 63 whose outer side surface is heated to be more firmly bonded. Thus, as shown in fig. 16, an absorbent sheet 95 having a plurality of particle existence regions 951 distributed in a dotted pattern is formed.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a according to the second preferred embodiment, the particles are supplied onto the first sheet member 91 while the lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21 is in contact with the first sheet member 91. Thus, the particles may be distributed on the first sheet member 91 in a desired dot-like form. The second roller 41 is rotated while the second concave portions 412 each provided with the second suction port 414 are directed toward one of the particle arranging regions of the first sheet member 91. Thereby, the first sheet member 91 and the second sheet member 92 can be bonded while particles distributed in a dotted pattern are supported in the plurality of second concave portions 412. Therefore, an absorbent sheet in which particles are distributed in a desired dot-like form can be easily manufactured.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first preferred embodiment, a supply cylinder having a structure different from that of the supply cylinder 21 described above may be provided. Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing another example of the supply cylinder. Fig. 18 shows a section of the supply cylinder 21a orthogonal to the rotation R1, and in fig. 18, components near the section are also shown. Fig. 19 is a view showing the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21a, and in fig. 19, the appearance of the cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21a viewed in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1 is shown.

As shown in fig. 18 and 19, the supply cylinder 21a is an approximately cylindrical member that surrounds the rotation axis R1, and has an annular side wall 214. The supply cylinder 21a is rotated about the rotation axis R1 by driving a belt wound around the cylinder outer side surface 211 in the circumferential direction. As shown in fig. 18, as an alternative to the particle filling portion 23 in fig. 1, a cylindrical discharge portion 24 is provided above the supply cylinder 21, and an upper opening of the discharge portion 24 is closed by a bag-shaped filter 241 made of a nonwoven fabric or the like. A first cover 221 and a second cover 222 similar to those in fig. 1 are provided around the supply cylinder 21 a. In fig. 19, the first cover 221 and the second cover 222 are omitted.

As shown in fig. 18 and 19, the supply cylinder 21a includes a plurality of through holes 212b as holes passing through the side wall 214. The plurality of through holes 212b are arranged at fixed intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R1 with respect to each of a plurality of positions in the axial direction. As shown in fig. 19, three through-hole rows 213a (i.e., one through-hole row is a plurality of through-holes 212a provided in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction) are provided on the supply cylinder 21 a. In the present embodiment, the shape of each through-hole 212b is approximately rectangular, however, the through-holes 212b may have a different shape (e.g., approximately circular shape). In the supply cylinder 21a, one, two, four, or more through-hole rows 213a may be provided. In each of the through-hole rows 213a, the through-holes 212b are not necessarily arranged at fixed intervals.

As shown in fig. 18, a spacer 25 covering a part of the inner surface 215 of the side wall 214 of the supply cylinder 21a is provided in the inner space of the supply cylinder 21 a. In fig. 18, a partition 25 is provided in the right portion of the inner space and covers the right portion of the inner surface 25 from the vicinity of the lowermost portion to the vicinity of the uppermost portion of the supply cylinder 21 a. The outer surface of the partition 25 (i.e., the surface facing the inner surface 215 of the supply cylinder 21 a) faces the lower end portion of the first cover 221, the entire particle supply region 210, and the entire second cover 222.

In the supply cylinder 21a, a portion of the inner space where the partition 25 does not exist is a particle storage space 217 for storing particles of the high absorbent resin. In fig. 18, (regions of) the particles are drawn with dense cross-hatching. The lower portion of the inner surface of the separator 25 moves downward while approaching the lower portion of the first cover 221. Accordingly, the particles in the particle storage space 217 move toward the inner surface 215 of the supply cylinder 21a along the inner surface of the partition 25. The partition 25 is provided across almost the entire width of the inner surface 215 of the supply cylinder 21a in the axial direction, and thus the through-hole 212b in the region of the inner surface 215 covered with the partition 25 is isolated from the particle storage space 217. Therefore, in the particle supply region 210, the through-hole 212b is also isolated from the particle storage space 217.

In fig. 19, the particle filling section 23 and the level sensor 233 are provided on the right side of the supply cylinder 21 a. The level sensor 233 is a light-sensitive, ultrasonic, or contact sensor. The particle filling section 23 is an auger having a screw therein, and replenishes particles from one end portion (right end portion in fig. 19) of the supply cylinder 21a in the axial direction into the particle storage space 217 of the supply cylinder 21 a. When the level sensor 233 detects that the total amount of particles stored in the particle storage space 217 is equal to or less than a certain level, the particles are replenished into the particle storage space 217. When the particles are replenished into the particle storage space 217, the air in the particle storage space 217 is mainly discharged through the discharge portion 24. Even if the particles come out of the supply cylinder 21a into the discharge portion 24, the particles can be prevented from escaping to the outside by the filter 241.

Replenishment of particles into the particle storage space 217 does not necessarily have to be done axially from one end of the feed cylinder 21 a. For example, a particle tank storing particles of a high-absorbent resin may be provided above the supply cylinder 21a in place of the above-described discharge portion 24, and the particles in the particle tank fall by gravity into the particle storage space 217 through the plurality of through holes 212b of the supply cylinder 21a, thereby replenishing the particles into the particle storage space 217.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus, the supply cylinder 21a is rotated at a high speed about the rotation axis R1 to enable the particles in the particle storage space 217 to be filled into the through-hole 212b facing the particles stored in the particle storage space 217 among the plurality of through-holes 212b of the supply cylinder 21 a. That is, the rotating mechanism (the above-described belt or the like) for rotating the supply cylinder 21a is a particle filling portion for continuously filling particles into the plurality of through holes 212 b. Until each of the through-holes 212b filled with particles reaches the particle supply region 210 provided at the lower portion of the supply cylinder 21a, the outer end of the through-hole 212b is closed (covered) by the first cover 221 (i.e., the through-hole 212b is covered by the cylinder outer side surface 211). The through hole 212b is moved to a position where the through hole 212b faces the partition 25, and thus the particles in the through hole 212b are isolated (separated) from the particles in the particle storage space 217.

In the particle supply region 210, the lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface 211 is in contact with the first sheet member 91 while the sheet concave portion rows 913 (see fig. 15) of the first sheet member 91 and the through holes 212b of the supply cylinder 21a are opposed to each other, and thus particles are continuously supplied from the plurality of through holes 212b into the plurality of sheet concave portions 912 of the sheet concave portion rows 913. In the supply cylinder 21a, the plurality of through holes 212b are a plurality of supply concave portions for supplying particles to the sheet concave portion rows 913. Each through-hole 212b, which has supplied particles into the sheet recess 912, passes through the particle supply region 210 and moves to the upper portion of the supply cylinder 21a with the outer end closed by the second cover 222.

The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus including the supply cylinder 21a of fig. 18 and 19 has a similar pattern to the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1, and the sheet concave portion rows 913 are formed on the first sheet member 91 by the sheet concave portion forming portion 30 (see fig. 1). The cylinder outer side surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21a is in contact with the first sheet member 91 while the sheet concave portion rows 913 are directed toward the supply concave portion 212. Therefore, the particles can be accurately supplied into the respective sheet concave portions 912 of the sheet concave portion rows 913 and held in the sheet concave portions 912 while actually preventing the particles from being scattered to the outside of the sheet concave portions 912.

The supply cylinder 21a of fig. 18 and 19 may be provided in the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a (see fig. 17) according to the second preferred embodiment. In this case, the lower portion of the cylinder outside surface 211 of the supply cylinder 21a is in contact with the first sheet member 91 while the particles are supplied onto the first sheet member 91. Therefore, the particles (particle arrangement region) can be easily distributed on the first sheet member 91 in a desired dot-like form.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above, but may be variously modified.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first preferred embodiment, the first suction ports 314 may be provided only in the plurality of first concave portions 31 of the first roller 31. Even in this case, the sheet concave portion 912 may be deformed to fit along the inner surface of the first concave portion 312, and the sheet concave portion rows 913 may be held. If the sheet concave portion rows 913 can be easily held in the plurality of first concave portions 312, suction by the first suction parts 33 can be omitted. In addition, if the sheet concave portion rows 913 are formed by only the first suction portions 33 sucking the first sheet member 91 via the first concave portions 312, pressing of the first sheet member 91 by the convex portions 512 of the third roller 51 may be omitted.

In the second roller 41, the second suction ports 414 may be provided only in the plurality of second concave portions 412. Even in this case, deformation of each sheet concave portion 912 on the second roller 41 can be prevented, and particles can be prevented from escaping from the sheet concave portion 912. If the detachment of particles from the sheet recess 912 does not actually occur, the suction from the inside of the second roller 41 via the second recess 412 may be omitted. In the sheet bonding portion 40, the second roller 41 may also be provided with a heater for heating the second roller outside surface 411. There may be a case where the second roller 41 is provided with a heater, and the heater 614 in the fourth roller 61 is omitted. When suction through the second concave portion 412 is performed in the second roller 41, it is preferable that the fourth roller 61 is provided with a heater 614 so as to avoid heat loss due to the suction.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus 1a according to the second preferred embodiment, the second roller outer side surface of the second roller 41 need not be provided with the plurality of second concave portions 412, but only the plurality of second suction ports 414 need to be provided. In this case, the second roller 41 is rotated while the second suction ports 414 face the sheet concave portion 912, and the second suction portions 43 hold the particles supplied on the first sheet member 91 in a dotted form by sucking the particles from the inside of the second roller 41 via the second suction ports 414 and the first sheet member 91. Therefore, the arrangement of the particles on the first sheet member 91 can be maintained. Therefore, an absorbent sheet in which particles are arranged in a dot form can be easily manufactured.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus, the particles of the absorbent material are partially neutralized crosslinked polyacrylic acid (crosslinked polyacrylic acid), hydrolyzed starch-acrylic acid graft polymer (hydrolyzed starch-acrylic acid copolymer), saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer (hydrolyzed vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer), hydrolyzed acrylonitrile copolymer (hydrolyzed acrylic acid copolymer), crosslinked acrylonitrile copolymer (crosslinked acrylonitrile copolymer), hydrolyzed acrylamide copolymer (hydrolyzed acrylamide copolymer), crosslinked cationic monomer (crosslinked cationic monomers), or crosslinked polyamino acid (crosslinked polyamino acid).

The structure of the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus can be applied to a sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a deodorizing sheet (a sheet article used in an absorbent product such as a light incontinence disposable diaper or an absorbent pad) by supplying a deodorizing material such as activated carbon, silica, aluminum, zeolite, ion exchange resin, or molecular sieve on the first sheet member 91.

The constituent elements in the preferred embodiments and the modified examples discussed above may be appropriately combined with each other without being exclusive.

The invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description being in all aspects and not restrictive. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications and variations may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1, 1a absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus

21, 21a feeding cylinder

23 particle filling section

30 sheet concave part forming part

31, 31a first roller

33 first suction part

40 sheet joining part

41 second roll

43 second suction part

51 third roller

61 fourth roll

71 sheet conveying roller

81 roll

91 first sheet member

92 second sheet member

95 absorbent sheet

211 roller outer surface

212, 212a supply recess

212b through hole

301 concave part forming part

311 first roll outer side surface

312 first recess

411 second roll outer side surface

412 second recess

414 second suction opening

511 third roller outer surface

512 convex part

514 heater

913 rows of concave portions of the sheet

R0 drum axis of rotation

R1-R7 rotation axis

Claims (9)

1. A sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent product, the sheet article manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a sheet concave portion forming portion for continuously forming sheet concave portions of a sheet concave portion row on a first sheet member in a conveying direction of the first sheet member, the first sheet member being a continuous sheet;

a supply cylinder including a plurality of supply recesses provided on a cylinder outer side surface in a circumferential direction, the supply cylinder being rotated about a cylinder rotation axis in a horizontal direction, a lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface being in contact with the first sheet member so as to be able to cause each of the supply recesses to face a sheet recess, thereby continuously supplying particles of an absorbent material or an odor preventing material from the plurality of supply recesses into the plurality of sheet recesses of the sheet recess row;

a particle filling section for successively filling the plurality of supply concave sections with the particles; and

a sheet bonding section for placing a second sheet member, which is a continuous sheet, on the sheet concave portion row supplied with the particles to bond the second sheet member to the first sheet member; wherein

The sheet concave portion forming portion includes:

a first roller including a plurality of first recesses provided on an outer side surface of the first roller in a circumferential direction, the first roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member, and the first roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the cylinder rotation axis to be able to face each of the first recesses toward the supply recess so as to transfer the first sheet member from the outer side surface of the first roller to the outer side surface of the cylinder; and a concave portion forming portion for continuously forming the sheet concave portion by recessing a part of the first sheet member into the first concave portion;

the sheet bonding portion includes:

a second roller including a plurality of second recesses provided on an outer side surface thereof in a circumferential direction, the second roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member supplied with the particles in the sheet recess rows, and being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the cylinder rotation axis so as to be capable of causing each second recess to face the supply recess, thereby transferring the first sheet member from the cylinder outer side surface to the second roller outer side surface; and

a second sheet supply portion for supplying the second sheet member onto the first sheet member on the outer side surface of the second roller.

2. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,

the concave portion forming portion includes a suction portion for sucking the first sheet member from inside the first roller via the plurality of first concave portions.

3. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the concave portion forming portion includes a third roller including a plurality of convex portions provided on an outer side surface thereof in a circumferential direction, the third roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drum so as to be able to direct each convex portion toward a first concave portion, thereby pressing a part of the first sheet member toward the first concave portion by the each convex portion.

4. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3,

the third roller includes a projection heating section for heating the plurality of projections.

5. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,

the concave portion forming section further includes two nip rollers for pressing the first sheet member toward the first roller on both sides of a contact position between the first roller and the third roller in the conveying direction.

6. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the sheet bonding portion further includes a fourth roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the drum rotation axis, the fourth roller being configured to bond the first sheet member and the second sheet member to each other by placing the first sheet member and the second sheet member between the fourth roller and the second roller.

7. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the sheet bonding portion further includes a suction portion for sucking the first sheet member from inside the second roller via the plurality of second recesses.

8. A sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent product, the sheet article manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a supply cylinder including a plurality of supply recesses provided on a cylinder outer side surface in a circumferential direction, the supply cylinder rotating about a cylinder rotation axis in a horizontal direction, a lower portion of the cylinder outer side surface being in contact with the first sheet member to enable continuous supply of particles of an absorbent material or an odor preventing material from the plurality of supply recesses onto the first sheet member;

a particle filling section for successively filling the plurality of supply concave sections with the particles; and

a sheet bonding portion for placing a second sheet member on the particles of the absorbent material or the odor preventing material that have been supplied to the first sheet member by the supply cylinder to bond the second sheet member to the first sheet member, the second sheet member being a continuous sheet; wherein

The sheet bonding portion includes:

a roller including a plurality of suction ports provided on an outer surface of the roller in a circumferential direction, the roller being in contact with the supply cylinder through the first sheet member supplied with the particles, and the roller being rotated about a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the cylinder so that the suction ports are directed toward the supply concave portion to transfer the first sheet member from the outer surface of the cylinder to the outer surface of the roller;

a suction portion for holding the particles by sucking the particles from within the roller via the suction port and the first sheet member; and

a second sheet supply portion for supplying the second sheet member onto the first sheet member on the roller outer side surface.

9. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8,

the roller includes a plurality of concave portions provided on an outer side surface of the roller in a circumferential direction, and the plurality of suction ports are formed in the plurality of concave portions, the suction portions sucking the first sheet member from inside the roller via the plurality of concave portions.