JP2008174328A - Sheet transport method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sheet conveying method and widening which can recover a reduction in sheet width caused by applying a tension during conveyance or remove wrinkles generated during conveyance by widening without damaging the sheet. An apparatus and a method for manufacturing an absorbent article using the transport method are provided.
In the sheet conveying method of the present invention, a sheet 120 being conveyed is brought into contact with a curved body 160 having a large number of rotating bodies 162 from the inner side 160A of the curved body 160 toward the outer side 160B. It is a method to convey. The sheet widening device (curved body 160) of the present invention includes a curved fixed shaft 161 and a large number of rotating bodies 162 that are adjacent to each other and are rotatably fixed to the fixed shaft 161.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying method, a widening device, and an absorbent article manufacturing method.

  In an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, as a constituent member thereof, a stretchable sheet having stretchability, a non-stretchable sheet not substantially shrinkable, and substantially stretchable and shrinkable A non-extensible sheet, or a composite sheet obtained by bonding an elastic sheet and a non-extensible sheet. Generally, when manufacturing absorbent articles, these sheets are strip-shaped and are conveyed while applying tension, and composite sheets are also conveyed while applying tension even when the sheets are bonded together. It is formed by joining both sheets together. The reason why tension is applied to the sheet during conveyance is that the belt-like sheet cannot be stably conveyed when it is slackened between the conveyance rolls.

  The elastic sheet stretches when tension is applied in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a large tension to eliminate the slack. However, if a large tension is applied in the longitudinal direction, the stretch sheet is greatly reduced (width is reduced). When processing such as joining with other constituent materials or draping, it is necessary to widen (recover the width). The stretchable sheet widens when the longitudinal tension is removed, but it is difficult to remove the tension due to the processing while being conveyed. In addition, it is not easy to carry in anticipation of reduction during conveyance and widening after removal of tension, and when the absorbent article or composite sheet is completed, the width of the sheet becomes wider or narrower than the designed dimensions. There were many.

  In addition, in the case of a non-extensible sheet, if a slight tension is applied in the longitudinal direction, the looseness is eliminated and the sheet can be stably conveyed. However, when the sheet is conveyed at high speed, wrinkles or meandering occur. It is necessary to provide a mechanism for adjusting the width and position of the sheet.

  In order to remove wrinkles generated on the sheet being conveyed or to adjust the width, an expander roll in which a continuous cylindrical elastic body is rotatably attached to a curved shaft is used in the width direction of the sheet. It is known to apply tension (see Patent Document 1 below). However, conventional expander rolls have a large damage to the sheet, and it is necessary to provide a rotation driving mechanism in order to provide a sufficient widening effect for the sheet with low frictional resistance.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-185668

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to widen a sheet without damaging the sheet, thereby recovering the reduction of the sheet width due to the application of tension during conveyance, or removing wrinkles generated during conveyance. It is in providing the manufacturing method of the absorbent article using this conveyance method, the widening apparatus, and this conveyance method.

  The present invention achieves the above object by providing a sheet conveying method that conveys a sheet by causing the sheet to contact and travel from the inside to the outside of the curved body having a large number of rotating bodies. Is.

  In addition, the present invention achieves the above object by providing a sheet widening device having a curved fixed shaft and a large number of rotating bodies that are adjacent to each other and rotatably fixed to the fixed shaft. .

  The present invention also relates to a method for producing an absorbent article comprising a stretchable sheet having stretchability in the longitudinal direction and a non-stretchable member bonded to the non-stretchable member in a predetermined direction. A stretchable sheet extending step that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a stretchable sheet widened step that widens the stretchable sheet that has been reduced in the stretchable sheet stretched step using the sheet transport method, and a stretch A stretchable sheet joining step for joining the stretchable sheet and the non-stretchable member widened in the stretchable sheet widening step in a state in which the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet and the predetermined direction of the non-stretchable member are matched. The object is achieved by providing a method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

  According to the sheet conveying method and the widening apparatus of the present invention, the width reduction caused by applying tension in the longitudinal direction of the sheet or the sheet generated during sheet conveyance can be efficiently recovered without damaging the sheet. be able to. Further, since the traveling position of the sheet is stable, the sheet can be conveyed stably. Therefore, according to the method for manufacturing an absorbent article of the present invention, the sheet can be stably conveyed, and the absorbent article can be manufactured with high accuracy.

Hereinafter, a sheet conveying method and an absorbent article manufacturing method using the same according to the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the drawings.
First, the underpants type disposable diaper which is one form of the absorbent article manufactured by the manufacturing method of the absorbent article of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The perspective view of an example of the underpants type disposable diaper manufactured by the manufacturing method of this embodiment is shown by FIG. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the deployed state of the disposable diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the disposable diaper shown in FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

  The pants-type disposable diaper 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent back sheet 3, and a liquid-retaining absorption disposed between both sheets 2 and 3. A substantially vertically long absorbent body 10 having a conductive core 4 and an outer packaging material 11 joined to the non-skin contact surface side (back surface sheet 3 side) of the absorbent body 10.

  The outer packaging material 11 has an hourglass shape in which both side edges are bound inward in the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and defines the outline of the diaper. The disposable diaper 1 is divided into an abdominal side A disposed on the wearer's belly side, a back side B disposed on the back side, and a crotch C positioned therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the disposable diaper 1. . In the outer packaging material 11, both side edges A1 and A2 on the ventral side A and both side edges B1 and B2 on the back side B are joined to each other, and a pair of side seal parts are attached to the disposable diaper 1 by the joining. S, S, a waist opening 5 and a pair of leg openings 6, 6 are formed.

  The top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, and the absorbent core 4 each have a rectangular shape, and are integrated to form a vertically long absorbent body 10. As the surface sheet 2, the back surface sheet 3, and the absorbent core 4, those similar to those conventionally used in this type of disposable diaper can be used. For example, as the absorptive core 4, what is comprised from the particle | grains and fiber material of a superabsorbent polymer, and coat | covered with the tissue paper (not shown) can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, side cuffs 8 and 8 made of a liquid-resistant or water-repellent and breathable material are formed on the left and right sides of the absorbent body 10 in the longitudinal direction. In the vicinity of the free end of each side cuff 8, a side cuff elastic member 81 is disposed in an extended state. When the diaper is worn, the side cuff 8 is erected by contracting the side cuff elastic member 81, and the outflow of the liquid in the width direction of the absorbent body 10 is prevented. FIG. 3 shows a sheet material 82 forming the side cuff 8. In the completed disposable diaper 1, the sheet material 82 has a portion 82 </ b> S having a predetermined width on the outer side in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 wound down to the non-skin contact surface side of the back sheet 3. 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer packaging material 11 is a composite in which an outer layer sheet 12 and an inner layer sheet 13 disposed on the inner surface side of the outer layer sheet 12 (on the side facing the absorbent main body 10) are laminated. It consists of a sheet. The outer layer sheet 12 forms the outer surface of the disposable diaper 1, and the inner layer sheet 13 is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer layer sheet 12 and is partially joined. Hereinafter, the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13 are also simply referred to as two sheets 12 and 13 or both sheets 12 and 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, between the two sheets 12 and 13 on the ventral side A and the back side B, respectively, heat sealing and high frequency sealing are performed on both side edges A1, A2 and B1, B2. Alternatively, they are bonded to each other by ultrasonic sealing, and the peripheral edge 50 of the waist opening 5 and the peripheral edge 60 of each of the pair of leg openings 6 are bonded to each other by adhesives 52 and 62 such as a hot-melt adhesive. Yes.

  And between the two sheets 12 and 13 in each of the ventral part A and the back part B is not joined in most of the parts except the joined part. Specifically, between the two sheets 12 and 13, both side edges A 1, A 2 and B 1 and B 2 of the ventral side A and the back side B, the peripheral edge 50 of the waist opening 5, and a pair of leg openings It joins in the peripheral part 60 of each part 6, and is joined by the adhesive agent 14 in the diaper width direction center part of each of the abdominal part A and the back part B in addition to them, and it joins in parts other than those It has not been.

A plurality of waist elastic members 51 and 51 are arranged along the opening peripheral edge of the waist opening 5 on the peripheral edge 50 of the waist opening 5 in each of the ventral side A and the back side B. These waist elastic members 51 and 51 are joined in an extended state between the two sheets 12 and 13 via an adhesive 52.
In addition, the leg elastic members 61a are provided along the peripheral edges of the leg openings 6 along the peripheral edges 60, 60 of the leg openings 6 existing over the ventral side A, the crotch C, and the back side B. , 61b are arranged. These leg elastic members 61 a and 61 b are joined in an extended state between the two sheets 12 and 13 via an adhesive 62.
As the waist elastic member 51 and the leg elastic members 61a and 61b, elastic materials such as natural rubber, polyurethane resin, foamed urethane resin, and hot melt elastic members are used as thread (thread rubber) or belt (flat), respectively. Those formed into (rubber) are preferably used.

  The width | variety of the area | region where two sheets 12 and 13 which exist in the peripheral part 50 of the waist opening part 5 are joined from the peripheral edge 50 of the waist opening part 5 about each of the ventral | abdominal side part A and the back side part B. It is preferably within 50 mm, more preferably within 30 mm. In addition, the width of the region where the two sheets 12 and 13 are joined to each other in the peripheral edge 60 of the leg opening 6 is the leg opening in each part of the abdominal part A, the crotch part C, and the dorsal part B. It is preferably within 50 mm from the peripheral edge 60 of the part 6, and more preferably within 30 mm.

In the diaper width direction in each of the ventral side A and the back side B, the total length of the portions where the two sheets 12 and 13 are not joined (L1 + L2, see FIG. 3) is the left and right side edges A1, The length La (Lb) between A2 is preferably 60% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and still more preferably 80% or more.
Moreover, the area of the part which is not joined between the two sheets 12 and 13 in each of the ventral part A and the dorsal part B is 60 to 100 with respect to the areas of the ventral part A and the dorsal part B. %, Preferably 70 to 100%. Those satisfying this numerical value shall be referred to as “the entire region or most of them are not joined”.

  The dimensions, ratios, and the like of each part described in this specification are the natural states (tensile force, etc.) in which the diaper is in an unfolded state as shown in FIG. 2 and the contraction force by the elastic members in the waist opening 5 and leg opening 6 is released. In a state where no external force is applied) or based on it.

  In the disposable diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the adhesives 62 and 14 are disposed between the two sheets 12 and 13 in the crotch part C at the peripheral part 60 of the leg opening 6 and the diaper width direction central part of the crotch part C. However, it is not joined in other parts. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, leg elastic members 61 a and 61 b for imparting elasticity to the peripheral edge 60 of the leg opening 6 are arranged in the center in the width direction of the crotch C from the peripheral edge 60 of the leg opening 6. In this way, the portion where the leg elastic members 61 a and 61 b for providing the leg opening 6 with circumferential stretchability are arranged at the periphery of the leg opening 6. 60.

  In the disposable diaper 1, the outer layer sheet 12 has a length that extends further than a portion where the waist elastic members 51, 51 are sandwiched and joined by the two sheets 12, 13, as shown in FIG. 3. Extending portions 12a and 12b extending from the inner layer sheet 13 are folded back toward the absorbent body 10 side. Therefore, the absorbent main body 10 is covered with the folded back extended portions 12 a and 12 b of the outer layer sheet 12 on the skin contact surface side at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The covered portions are bonded to the folded back extended portions 12a and 12b of the outer layer sheet 12 via an adhesive (not shown). Thereby, the longitudinal direction both ends of the absorptive main body 10 are firmly joined to the outer packaging material 11.

  As for the absorptive main body 10, only the center part of the width direction is joined via the outer packaging material 11 and the adhesive agent 15 in the part except the both ends of the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. According to such a joining form, since the expansion and contraction in the width direction of the outer packaging material 11 is not easily inhibited by the joining of the absorbent main body 10, good fit is obtained at the waistline portion. The width U1 (see FIG. 4) of the region where the absorbent main body 10 and the outer packaging material 11 are bonded is 20 to 80% of the width U0 of the absorbent main body 10 in each of the ventral part A and the back part B. It is preferable that it is 30 to 70%.

The outer layer sheet 12 is made of an elastic sheet. As the stretchable sheet, various sheets having stretchability in the longitudinal direction can be used. The stretchable sheet is used so that the stretch direction of the outer layer sheet 12 is oriented in the width direction of the absorbent main body 10 (left and right direction in FIG. 2).
Examples of the elastic sheet include (1) a sheet in which a stretchable fiber layer is integrated on both sides or one side of the elastic fiber layer, and (2) a fiber that can be stretched on both sides or one side of a net-like elastic sheet. A sheet in which layers are integrated, (3) a sheet in which an extensible fiber layer is integrated on both sides or one side of an elastic sheet made of an elastic film, and (4) an elastic fiber and an inelastic fiber are mixed. Examples thereof include a sheet formed by stretching a nonwoven fabric formed to develop or improve stretchability. In addition, as an integration method of the elastic fiber layer and the extensible fiber layer, these are laminated and hydroentangled, or the fibers are entangled by air-through, etc., bonded by heat embossing, adhesive, ultrasonic waves, etc. The method of letting it be mentioned.

As the sheet of (1), for example, (a) a substantially inelastic non-elastic fiber layer is disposed on at least one surface of the elastic fiber layer, and both fiber layers have a fiber form of the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer. In a state where the fibers are joined together by thermal fusion at the fiber intersections, a part of the constituent fibers of the inelastic fiber layer has entered the elastic fiber layer and / or a part of the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer Stretchable non-woven fabric in a state where is embedded in the non-elastic fiber layer.
The sheets (1) to (3) include, for example, (b) an elastic layer having elastic stretchability and a substantially inelastic non-elastic fiber layer, and the both layers are laminated in the thickness direction. A stretchable sheet obtained by stretching a laminated sheet that is partially bonded can be preferably used.

The stretchable nonwoven fabric (a) will be described.
At the interface between the elastic fiber layer and the non-elastic fiber layer and in the vicinity thereof, the intersection of the constituent fiber of the elastic fiber layer and the constituent fiber of the non-elastic fiber layer is heat-sealed, and it is bonded substantially uniformly over the entire surface. Has been. By being bonded over the entire surface, it is prevented that both layers are separated from each other to form a space, and a stretchable nonwoven fabric having a multi-layer structure with a sense of unity, such as a single nonwoven fabric. "The state in which the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer maintain the fiber form" means that even if most of the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer are given heat, pressure, etc., they are deformed into a film or film-fiber structure. The state that is not. Further, in the elastic fiber layer, the intersection of the constituent fibers is thermally fused in the layer. Similarly, in the non-elastic fiber layer, the intersection of the constituent fibers is thermally fused in the layer.

  When non-elastic fiber layers are arranged on both sides of the elastic fiber layer, at least one of the constituent fibers is in a state in which a part of the constituent fibers enters the elastic fiber layer and / or the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer A part has entered into at least one of the inelastic fiber layers. In order to allow the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber layer to enter the elastic fiber layer and / or to allow the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer to enter the non-elastic fiber layer, the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber layer and the non-elastic fiber layer It is preferable that at least one of the non-elastic fiber and the elastic fiber is in a web state (a state where the fiber is not heat-sealed) before the process of thermally fusing the constituent fibers.

  From the viewpoint of allowing the constituent fibers to enter into other layers, the fiber layer in the web state is preferable in that the short fibers are more flexible than the long fibers. Moreover, it is preferable to use the air-through method in order to allow the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber layer to enter the elastic fiber layer and / or to allow the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer to enter the non-elastic fiber layer. By using the air-through method, the constituent fibers can be made to enter the opposing fiber layer, and the constituent fibers can be easily made to enter from the opposing fiber layer. Further, by using the air-through method, it becomes easy to allow the constituent fibers of the inelastic fiber layer to enter the elastic fiber layer while maintaining the bulkiness of the inelastic fiber layer.

  In particular, when the constituent fibers of the inelastic fiber layer are entangled with the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber layer, it is preferable that they are entangled only by the air-through method. In order to entangle the fibers by the air-through method, the gas blowing pressure, the blowing speed, the basis weight and thickness of the fiber layer, the conveyance speed of the fiber layer, etc. may be adjusted appropriately. Preferably it is done. In the hot air treatment (particularly, the air-through method), a part of the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber web enters the elastic fiber web, and at the same time, the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber web and / or the constituent fibers of the non-elastic fiber web are elastic. The constituent fibers of the fiber web are heat-sealed at their intersections. In this case, care should be taken so that the constituent fibers of the elastic fiber web do not become a film or film-fiber structure by the hot air treatment.

  The elastic fiber layer has a property that it can be stretched and contracts when released from the stretched force. The elastic fiber layer preferably has a residual strain of 20% or less, particularly 10% or less when contracted after 100% elongation in at least one direction parallel to the surface. This value is preferably satisfied in at least one of the MD direction and the CD direction, and more preferably satisfied in both directions.

  The elastic fiber layer is an aggregate of fibers having elasticity. The elastic fiber forming method includes, for example, a melt blown method in which a molten resin is extruded from a nozzle hole, and the extruded molten resin is elongated by hot air to thin the fiber, and a semi-molten resin is cooled by cold air. And a spunbond method in which stretching is performed by a mechanical draw ratio. As a special method of the melt blown method, there is a spinning blow method in which the spun bond method is combined with the melt blown method.

  The elastic fiber layer may be in the form of a web or a nonwoven fabric made of elastic fibers. For example, it may be a web or a nonwoven fabric formed by a spinning blow method, a spun bond method, or a melt blow method. Particularly preferred is a web obtained by the spinning blow method.

  As the constituent fiber of the elastic fiber layer, for example, a fiber made of thermoplastic elastomer, rubber or the like can be used. In particular, fibers made from thermoplastic elastomers can be melt-spun using an extruder in the same way as ordinary thermoplastic resins, and the fibers thus obtained are easily heat-sealed. Is suitable for stretchable nonwoven fabrics. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include styrene elastomers such as SBS, SIS, SEBS, and SEPS, olefin elastomers, polyester elastomers, and polyurethane elastomers. These can be used individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types.

  The inelastic fiber layer is extensible but substantially inelastic. The extensibility here refers to the case where the constituent fibers themselves are stretched, and even if the constituent fibers themselves are not stretched, the two fibers that have been thermally fused at the intersection of the fibers are separated from each other, or the fibers are thermally fused. For example, the three-dimensional structure formed by a plurality of fibers may be structurally changed, the constituent fibers may be broken, and the entire fiber layer may be elongated.

  Examples of the fibers constituting the inelastic fiber layer include fibers made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET or PBT), polyamide, and the like. The fibers constituting the inelastic fiber layer may be short fibers or long fibers, and may be hydrophilic or water repellent. Further, core-sheath type or side-by-side composite fibers, split fibers, irregularly shaped cross-section fibers, crimped fibers, heat-shrinkable fibers, and the like can also be used. These fibers can be used singly or in combination of two or more. The inelastic fiber layer may be a continuous filament, a short fiber web or a non-woven fabric.

The stretchable sheet (b) will be described.
In the stretchable sheet of (b), a substantially inelastic nonelastic fiber layer is laminated on both sides or one side of an elastic layer having elastic stretchability, and these are partially joined in a regular pattern. It can be obtained by stretching the laminated sheet.

  The laminated sheet used for the production of the stretchable sheet is, for example, supplying an elastic fiber on a fiber web (first inelastic fiber layer) supplied from a card machine to form an elastic layer, A fiber web (second inelastic fiber layer) is supplied from another card machine, and the obtained three-layer laminated sheet is subjected to hot air treatment by an air-through dryer. The laminated sheet after the hot air treatment is subjected to hot embossing by an embossing device including an embossing roll in which embossing convex portions are regularly arranged on the peripheral surface and an anvil roll arranged to face the embossing roll. The hot air treatment with a dryer is performed for the purpose of heat-sealing elastic fibers and non-elastic fibers and entering the fibers. Note that such hot air treatment can be omitted.

  The elastic layer preferably includes elastic fibers made of an elastic material. Examples of the elastic material include thermoplastic elastomers, rubbers, ethylene / propylene copolymers, and the like. Among these, thermoplastic elastomers are preferable because a fibrous elastic body can be formed relatively easily. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include polyurethane, styrene (SBS, SIS, SEBS, SEPS, etc.), olefin (copolymers such as ethylene, propylene, butene, etc.), vinyl chloride, and polyester. These can be used individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types.

  The content of elastic fibers made of an elastic material in the elastic layer is preferably 50 to 100% by weight, and more preferably 75 to 100% by weight. As an elastic layer, it can replace with what consists of a fiber layer, and a film-like thing, a net-like thing, etc. can also be used. As the film or net forming material, the above-mentioned various elastic materials can be used.

  As the elastic fiber used for the sheet of (4), the same elastic fiber as described above as the constituent fiber of the elastic fiber layer of the stretchable nonwoven fabric of (a) can be used. As the non-elastic fiber to be used, the same non-elastic fiber as described above as the constituent fiber of the non-elastic fiber layer of the stretchable nonwoven fabric of (a) can be used. As a nonwoven fabric formed by mixing elastic fibers and non-elastic fibers, for example, a fiber web in which both fibers are mixed is formed by a card machine, and the fiber web is subjected to hot air treatment by air-through method, hydroentanglement Examples of the nonwoven fabric include a treatment or partial embossing. Stretching to express stretchability (including improvement) includes, for example, two concavo-convex rolls having alternately protruding ridges extending in the axial length direction and grooves between the ridges in the circumferential direction. It can be carried out by combining the grooves of the other concavo-convex roll into the groove and introducing a nonwoven fabric between these two rolls. The stretching process using such a concavo-convex roll can also be used for the stretching process of the elastic sheet (b) described above.

  Various known materials can be used as the elastic sheet. For example, a nonwoven fabric made of a mixed fiber containing fibers made of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer described in JP-A-2004-244791 can be used. The stretchable composite non-woven fabric described in JP-A-3-269145, the sheet described as “Extensible Satellite Supplies Surface Sheet” in JP-A-3-269145, the elastic-stretchable composite sheet described in JP-A-2001-18315, and JP-A-2001 A stretchable composite nonwoven fabric described in JP-A No. 140158, a composite elastic nonwoven fabric described in JP-T 9-500936, a laminated sheet described in JP-A-10-29259, and the like can also be used.

  The inner layer sheet 13 is made of a non-extensible sheet that is a non-extensible member. A non-extensible sheet is a sheet that hardly stretches or is slightly stretched when it is pulled by hand, and has substantially no stretchability. The non-extensible sheet has an elongation rate (elongation rate at 1.0 N / 25 mm) of 20% or less when the sheet is stretched in the longitudinal direction until the tensile load per 25 mm width is 1.0 N, preferably 10 % Or less sheet. As the non-extensible sheet, for example, a nonwoven fabric, a laminated material of a nonwoven fabric and a resin film, or a porous film is preferably used. A non-extensible sheet | seat can be manufactured by the method as described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 53-14875, for example.

The elongation percentage is measured as follows using a tensile tester.
A sheet sample having a width of 25 mm and a length of 50 mm is prepared. The sample is pulled between 50 mm with a load of 1.0 N / 25 mm width, and the length of the sample after elongation is A. And the expansion rate at that time is defined as follows. “(A-50) / 50 × 100”. That is, (length of sample after stretching at 1.0 N−length of sample before stretching) / (length of sample before stretching) × 100. For example, when the length of the sample after stretching is 100 mm, the stretching rate is 100%, and when the sample length after stretching is 150 mm, the stretching rate is 200%.

  Next, a method for continuously producing the above-described pants-type disposable diaper 1 using one embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, one embodiment of the sheet conveying method of the present invention constitutes a part of the process in one embodiment of the method of manufacturing an absorbent article of the present invention, and one embodiment of the widening device of the present invention is Since these are used in the sheet conveying method of the above embodiment, they will be described together in the description of one embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present embodiment includes a stretchable sheet 120 having stretchability in the longitudinal direction and a non-stretchable member 130 that is joined to the stretchable sheet 120 and does not substantially stretch in a predetermined direction. The manufacturing method of the absorbent article 1 comprising the following steps S1 to S3.
In this embodiment, the pants-type disposable diaper 1 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured as an absorbent article, and the non-extendable member 130 that does not substantially extend in a predetermined direction is used as a non-extendable strip that does not substantially extend in the longitudinal direction. A sheet 130 is used.

Extension process S1: The belt-shaped elastic sheet 120 which has elasticity in a longitudinal direction is conveyed, extending | stretching in a longitudinal direction.
Stretchable sheet widening step S2: Widens the stretchable sheet 120 that has been reduced by stretching in the stretchable sheet stretching step S1.
Stretchable sheet joining step S3: The stretchable sheet 120 widened in the stretchable sheet widening step S2 and the non-stretchable sheet 130 are matched with each other in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet 120 and the nonstretchable sheet 130. Join in the state.

Moreover, the manufacturing method of the absorbent article of this embodiment joins the strip | belt-shaped elastic sheet 120 and the strip | belt-shaped non-extensible sheet | seat 130 in elastic sheet joining process S3, and obtains the outer packaging material continuous body 110. FIG. And the manufacturing method of the absorbent article of this embodiment further comprises following process S4 and S5.
Diaper continuum forming step S4: After the elastic sheet joining step S3, the absorbent main body 10 is intermittently joined to the outer packaging material continuum 110 to form the diaper continuum 100.
Diaper separation step S5: After the diaper continuous body 100 is folded in half in the width direction of the outer packaging material continuous body 110, the side seal portion S is formed in the outer packaging material continuous body 110, and the diaper continuous body 100 is cut by the side seal portion S. To separate individual pants-type disposable diapers 1.

The manufacturing method of the absorbent article of this embodiment will be described more specifically.
In the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, a belt-like stretchable sheet 120 having stretchability in the longitudinal direction is used as the original fabric of the outer layer sheet 12, and the strip-like stretch that does not substantially extend in the longitudinal direction as the raw fabric of the inner layer sheet 13 is used. A non-extensible sheet 130 is used. The stretchable sheet 120 only needs to have stretchability in at least the longitudinal direction. The non-extensible sheet 130 in the present embodiment does not substantially extend or contract in the longitudinal direction.

  As the stretchable sheet 120, a sheet manufactured as a belt-like sheet having stretchability in the longitudinal direction in advance in the longitudinal direction outside the diaper production line can be used, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Before the stretching step S1 for stretching the stretchable sheet 120 in the longitudinal direction, a non-stretchable strip-shaped sheet 120 ′ is processed to obtain a stretchable sheet 120 that exhibits stretchability, or a low-stretchable strip-shaped sheet A stretchable sheet forming step S0 is provided to obtain a stretchable sheet 120 with improved stretchability by processing 120 ′, and the stretchable sheet 120 thus obtained is stretched in the stretching step S1.

  In the stretchable sheet forming step S0 in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the process of developing the stretchability of the sheet or the process of improving the stretchability is performed in-line with a pair of tooth groove rolls 151 in which teeth and grooves are engaged. It is processing. Specifically, a belt-like sheet 120 ′ in which an inelastic fiber layer is integrated on both sides or one side of an elastic layer made of an elastic fiber layer, a net-like elastic sheet, an elastic film or the like is bitten by a pair of tooth gap rolls 151. Thus, the non-elastic fiber layer is divided, the constituent fibers are stretched, or the heat fusion point between the fibers is destroyed, thereby changing the structure so that the expansion and contraction of the elastic layer is hardly inhibited. By changing the non-elastic fiber layer into a structure that hardly inhibits the expansion and contraction of the elastic layer, the stretchable sheet 120 that exhibits stretchability or has improved stretchability is obtained.

  As described above, before the stretching step S1 for extending the stretchable sheet 120 in the longitudinal direction, the non-stretchable or low-stretchable belt-like sheet 120 ′ is processed in-line so that the belt-like sheet 120 ′ exhibits stretchability. Or by providing a stretchable sheet forming step S0 for improving the stretchability of the belt-like sheet 120 ′, equivalent to a sheet produced as a belt-like sheet having stretchability in the longitudinal direction outside the diaper production line. Elasticity is obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the stretchable sheet 120 obtained in the stretchable sheet forming step S0 is continuously conveyed, while the stretchable sheet 120 is between the first nip roll 152 and a positioning roll 153 described later in the stretching step S1. Elongate in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet 120 is the same as the conveying direction. The first nip roll 152 includes a pair of rolls. The elastic sheet 120 is extended by driving the positioning roll 153 so that its peripheral speed (sheet feed speed) is faster than the peripheral speed (sheet feed speed) of the first nip roll 152.

  The elastic sheet 120 is conveyed while extending in the longitudinal direction between the first nip roll 152 and the positioning roll 153, in other words, before contacting the curved body 160 described later according to the sheet widening device of the present invention. Has been reduced. Ratio (W1 / W0) of the width W1 of the stretchable sheet 120 after stretching to the width W0 of the stretchable sheet 120 before stretching due to the stretching of the stretchable sheet 120 in the longitudinal direction (W1 / W0) [FIGS. 6A and 6B] The reference] varies depending on the setting of the expansion ratio of the stretchable sheet 120, the physical properties of the stretchable sheet 120, and the like, but is preferably 50 to 98%, and more preferably 50 to 90%.

  On the downstream side of the positioning roll 153, a pair of sandwiching rolls 155 that sandwich and join the two sheets 120 and 130 in the stretchable sheet joining step S3 is disposed.

  In the stretchable sheet widening step S2, the stretchable sheet 120 that has been reduced by stretching in the stretching step S1 is widened by an embodiment of the widening device of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the widening device of the present embodiment has a curved fixed body 161 having a curved fixed shaft 161 and a large number of rotating bodies 162 that are rotatably fixed to the fixed shaft 161 adjacent to each other. And is disposed between the positioning roll 153 and the receiving roll 154. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, the positioning roll 153 is disposed on the upstream side of the curved body 160, the supply position of the stretchable sheet 120 with respect to the curved body 160 is determined, and the receiving roll 154 is disposed on the downstream side of the curved body 160. The separation position of the elastic sheet 120 with respect to the curved body 160 is determined. As shown in FIG. 7, the positioning roll 153 is low and the receiving roll 154 is high relative to the height of the curved body 160.

  The stretchable sheet 120 travels in contact with the curved body 160 from the inner side 160A of the curved body 160 toward the outer side 160B. As shown in FIG. 7, the stretchable sheet 120 is supplied to the inner side 160 </ b> A with respect to the curved body 160 by the positioning roll 153. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the curved inner side 160 </ b> A refers to the side closer to the center of curvature of the curved body 160 than the curved outer side 160 </ b> B.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the curved body 160 has a large number of rotating bodies 162, and therefore the stretchable sheet 120 comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating body 162. The stretchable sheet 120 preferably has a holding angle (contact angle) with respect to the contact surface of the curved body 160 of 1 to 300 ° from the viewpoint of expression of the widening effect and prevention of meandering at the center in the width direction. It is particularly preferable that the angle is ˜180 °. The “contact surface” of the curved body 160 is a contact surface of a sheet formed by the peripheral surfaces of a large number of rotating bodies 162. The holding angle is controlled by the positions of the positioning roll 153 and the receiving roll 154 with respect to the curved body 160. The holding angle is arbitrarily adjusted according to the material physical properties of the stretchable sheet 120 and the amount of widening of the stretchable sheet 120.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the curved body 160 includes a fixed shaft 161 that is curved, and a large number of rotating bodies 162 that are rotatably fixed to the fixed shaft 161 adjacent to each other. Both ends of the fixed shaft 161 are fixed to the support bar 166 by fixtures 165 and 165, respectively, and are arranged at predetermined positions by the support bar 166. The elastic sheet 120 is inserted between the curved body 160 and the support bar 166. The fixed shaft 161 is curved in an arc shape. For example, when the width of the reduced sheet is 160 mm, the curvature radius of the inner side 160A of the curved body 160 is preferably about 250 to 350 mm.

  Specifically, the plurality of rotating bodies 162, 162... Are pivotally supported by being penetrated by a core rod that is a fixed shaft 161, and have a bearing mechanism so as to be rotatable with respect to the fixed shaft 161. . The rotator 162 itself does not have a drive source, and is driven to rotate as the stretchable sheet 120 travels in contact. The diameter of the rotating body 162 constitutes the diameter of the contact surface of the curved body 160. For example, when the width of the conveyed sheet is 160 mm, the diameter of the rotating body 162 is preferably 20 to 50 mm. The width 162 (thickness in the axial direction) is preferably 5 to 15 mm.

A spacer (not shown) is arranged between the rotating bodies 162 and 162 adjacent to each other, and the rotating bodies 162 and 162 are separated by the spacer. The rotating body 162 and the spacer are regularly and alternately arranged on the fixed shaft 161 in a daisy chain. That is, the adjacent rotating bodies 162 are arranged apart from each other in the axial length direction of the fixed shaft 161.
The distance between the rotating bodies 162 and 162 adjacent to each other may be equal, but from the viewpoint of reducing damage to the seat and stable running, the outer side in the axial length direction of the fixed shaft 161 should be smaller than the inner side. Is preferred.

  It is preferable that the surface of the rotating body 162 is covered with an elastic material such as silicon or urethane rubber from the viewpoint of improving the holding force with the stretchable sheet 120 to be contacted and the widening property. The hardness of the elastic material is preferably selected from the relationship with the sheet to be brought into contact. In this embodiment, it is Shore A (JIS K6253 type A durometer) 30 to 90. The bearing mechanism is used without particular limitation, but a resin bearing is preferable from the viewpoint of not placing a burden on the seat. The material of the fixed shaft 161 is not particularly limited, but steel, aluminum alloy material, etc. are used.

  The rotating body 162 is inserted into the curved fixed shaft 161, so that each rotating body 162 is arranged in a direction in which the fixed shaft 161 is bent, and has different angles (inclinations) along the curve of the fixed shaft 161. Therefore, each rotating body 162 has an angle that spreads radially with respect to the direction from the inner side 160 </ b> A to the outer side 160 </ b> B of the curved body 160. That is, the distance (interval) between the rotating bodies 162 is wider on the outer side 160B than on the inner side 160A of the curved body 160. Therefore, the elastic sheet 120 supplied to the curved body 160 is held in contact with the rotating body 162 on the inner side 160A, and the rotating body 162 rotates as the elastic sheet 120 travels, and on the outer side 160B. The space between the rotating bodies 162 widens. As a result, the stretchable sheet 120 is widened, received by the receiving roll 154 on the outer side 160 </ b> B, and separated from the curved body 160.

  The stretchable sheet 120 is traveled in contact with the curved body 160 at different pressures in the width direction and the length direction of the sheet by the positioning roll 153 and the receiving roll 154. Since each rotating body 162 is independent from each other, it can respond to the frictional force or contact pressure of the stretchable sheet 120 that differs depending on the contact position, respectively, to achieve stable running of the sheet, Damage can be reduced.

  The receiving speed of the elastic sheet 120 by the receiving roll 154 is preferably larger than the supply speed of the elastic sheet 120 to the curved body 160 by the positioning roll 153. If the receiving speed of the widened sheet after passing through the curved body 160 is increased with respect to the supply speed of the stretchable sheet 120 to the curved body 160, the width is widened in the conveying direction and the direction (width direction) perpendicular thereto. This is preferable because it becomes easy. The feeding speed and the receiving speed of the widened sheet are controlled by a servo motor. The receiving speed is preferably set to 101 to 200% (1.01 to 2 times) of the supply speed.

The elastic sheet 120 is received by the receiving roll 154 after being brought into contact with the curved body 160 and conveyed to the next process. In order to maintain the width of the stretchable sheet 120 widened by the widening device (curved body 160) of this embodiment as much as possible, the widened stretchable sheet 120 is conveyed to the next process while maintaining the widened state. Is preferred. As the means, the side edge part of the stretchable sheet 120 after widening is held by a pin guide, a roll, or the like, or widening by the widening device (curved body 160) is performed immediately before the stretchable sheet joining step S3. It is done.
The ratio (W2 / W0) of the width W2 of the stretchable sheet 120 after widening to the width W0 of the stretchable sheet 120 before stretching due to the widening of the stretchable sheet 120 (see FIGS. 6 (a) and (c)). Although it varies depending on the physical properties of the stretchable sheet 120, it is preferably 70 to 110%, more preferably 80 to 100%.

  In the stretchable sheet widening step S <b> 2, side edge detection sensors (not shown) that detect the width direction positions of both side edges of the stretchable sheet 120 are provided. According to the side edge detection sensor, the position of the positioning roll 153 and the receiving roll 154 is changed by detecting the width direction position of both side edges of the elastic sheet 120, and the supply position of the elastic sheet 120 with respect to the curved body 160, The separation position, contact pressure, contact area, and the like can be adjusted to appropriate values. Therefore, it becomes easy to increase the grip force of the curved body 160 against the stretchable sheet 120 and control the stretchable sheet 120 so that the set widening amount is obtained.

  In the stretchable sheet joining step S <b> 3, the stretchable sheet 120 and the non-extensible sheet 130 are joined continuously or discontinuously and are sandwiched between a pair of sandwiching rolls 155. Since the non-extensible sheet 130 in the present embodiment is a sheet that does not substantially expand, the stretchable stretch sheet 120 and the substantially non-stretchable non-stretchable sheet 130 are joined.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic sheet 120 and the non-extensible sheet 130 are joined in a state where the leg elastic members 61 a and 61 b and the waist elastic member 51 are sandwiched between the sheets 120 and 130. . Specifically, before the sheets 120 and 130 are overlapped, an adhesive for bonding an elastic member is applied to a predetermined portion of one or both of the sheets 120 and 130 facing each other. In a state where the elastic members 61a, 61b, 51 are sandwiched in an expanded state, both the sheets 120, 130 are narrowed by a pair of pressure rolls 155 to join the elastic members 61a, 61b, 51 and the two sheets 120, 130 is joined.

The leg elastic members 61a and 61b are introduced between the sheets 120 and 130 while being swung by a known swing guide in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheets 120 and 130. The pair of turning rolls 156 and 156 turns the transport direction of the joined sheets 120 and 130 in a predetermined direction.
In the stretchable sheet joining step S3, by joining the two sheets 120 and 130, the outer packaging material continuous body 110 in which the extent of extension in the longitudinal direction is limited is obtained.

The pants-type disposable diaper 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured in the same manner as a conventional so-called cross-flow type pants-type disposable diaper, except that the outer packaging material continuum 110 obtained as described above is used. it can.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the diaper continuous body formation step S4, the absorbent main body 10 is intermittently joined on the outer packaging material continuous body 110, and the leg opening is formed by a rotary cutter, a laser cutter, a water jet cutter or the like. The diaper continuous body 100 is obtained by removing the trim 111 for forming the part.

The absorbent main body 10 is joined to the outer packaging material continuous body 110 while maintaining the stretched state of the stretchable sheet 120. In other words, the absorbent main body 10 is joined to the outer packaging material continuous body 110 while the outer packaging material continuous body 110 is maintained so as not to be contracted by the contraction force of the elastic sheet 120.
Note that the adhesive 15 (see FIG. 4) that joins the absorbent main body 10 to the outer packaging material continuous body 110 may be applied to one or both of the absorbent main body 10 and the outer packaging material continuous body 110. it can. Further, the trim 111 can be removed before the absorbent main body 10 is joined to the outer packaging material continuous body 110.

  Next, in the diaper separation step S5, the outer packaging material continuous body 110 in the diaper continuous body 100 is folded in the width direction so that both side portions 112a and 112b of the outer packaging material continuous body 110 cover both ends of the absorbent main body 10. And the folded end portions 112a and 112b are joined. Next, after the side seal portions S, S are formed on the outer packaging material continuous body 110 by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, high frequency sealing, or the like, the diaper continuous body 100 is cut at the side seal portion S individually. The pants-type disposable diaper 1 is obtained.

  According to the method for manufacturing an absorbent article of the present embodiment (including the sheet conveying method and the widening device), the elastic sheet 120 is curved with respect to the curved body 160 having a large number of rotating bodies 162. It is transported by traveling in contact from the inner side 160A to the outer side 160B. Therefore, without causing damage to the elastic sheet 120, it is possible to efficiently recover the wrinkles generated during the conveyance of the elastic sheet 120 and the reduction caused by applying tension in the longitudinal direction of the elastic sheet 120. . Moreover, since the traveling position of the elastic sheet 120 is also stable, the elastic sheet 120 can be conveyed stably.

  Further, the stretchable sheet 120 that has been reduced in width in the stretchable sheet stretching step S1 is widened during conveyance in the stretchable sheet widening step S2. Further, the stretchable sheet 120 widened in the stretchable sheet widening step S2 is made the same as the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet 120 and the non-stretchable sheet 130 in the stretchable sheet joining step S3. It joins in the state made to do. Therefore, since the reduction caused by applying tension in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet 120 during transportation can be recovered, the stretchable sheet 120 is expected to be reduced during transportation and widened after removal of the tension. There is no need to transport. Therefore, the elastic sheet 120 can be stably conveyed, and the absorbent article can be manufactured with high accuracy.

  In addition, although the reduction | decrease of the elastic sheet 120 generate | occur | produces largely in the expansion | extension process S1, when conveying using a conveyance roll, it generate | occur | produces not only in processes other than the expansion | extension process S1. Therefore, the sheet conveying method of the present invention, that is, the method of widening the stretchable sheet 120 that has been reduced by extension, can be applied to the reduction in steps other than the extension step S1, and the effect can be achieved. it can.

  According to the sheet widening apparatus of the present embodiment, power for driving the bending body 160 is not required, and the sheet is configured to be compact. Therefore, energy saving and space saving can be achieved.

The sheet conveying method and absorbent article manufacturing method of the present invention have been described based on the preferred embodiments, but the sheet conveying method and absorbent article manufacturing method of the present invention are limited to the above-described embodiments. It is not a thing and can be changed suitably. Similarly, the sheet widening apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed.
For example, the sheet conveyed or widened by the sheet conveying method and the widening device of the present invention is not limited to a stretchable sheet, and may be a non-stretchable sheet or a non-stretchable sheet.

The sheet conveying method of the present invention can be used for adjusting the width of the sheet and scooping in addition to the widening of the sheet.
Further, the sheet conveying method of the present invention is not limited to the step of widening the stretchable sheet in the method for manufacturing absorbent articles, and can be appropriately applied to the step of widening the stretchable sheet in other various manufacturing methods. The present invention can be appropriately applied to the conveyance of articles and nonwoven fabrics composed of sheets such as cleaning sheets and poultices.

  In the manufacturing method of the absorbent article of the present invention, the non-extensible member that does not substantially extend in a predetermined direction is not limited to the above-described non-extensible sheet 130, for example, an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, and a spunbond. Nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, resin films, or sheet materials obtained by laminating and integrating two or more of these by various production methods such as nonwoven fabrics and melt blown nonwoven fabrics may be used.

In the stretchable sheet joining step in the method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet and the direction in which the non-stretching member does not substantially stretch (predetermined direction) need only substantially match. For example, it may be inclined by 0 to 90 °.
The method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the production of a pants-type disposable diaper having an absorbent main body and an outer packaging material, and can be applied to the production of pants-type or unfolded disposable diapers of other forms. it can. Moreover, it is not restrict | limited to manufacture of a disposable diaper, It can apply to manufacture of other absorbent articles, such as a sanitary napkin and a panty liner.

In the sheet conveying method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the positioning roll 153 and the receiving roll 154 may be arranged at the same height with respect to the height of the curved body 160.
In the sheet widening apparatus of the present invention, the bending body 160 is not limited to the configuration in which the plurality of rotating bodies 162 are fixed to the fixed shaft 161 as in the above-described embodiment. The curved body 160 can be formed by fitting the center of the adjacent rotary body 162 with a block or the like to form a fitted body and bending the fitted body to which the plurality of rotary bodies 162 are connected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a pants-type disposable diaper manufactured by the method for manufacturing an absorbent article of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a developed state of the disposable diaper shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the disposable diaper shown in FIG. 1. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an outline of one embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent article of the present invention. Fig.6 (a)-FIG.6 (c) are top views which show the change of the width | variety of an elastic sheet. FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing a main part of the stretchable sheet widening step. FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view showing the main part of the stretchable sheet widening step, and is a simplified explanatory view of the widened state. FIG. 9 is a front view showing an embodiment of the widening device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a view showing another embodiment of the sheet conveying method of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a plan view showing the arrangement relationship between the stretchable sheet, the curved body, the positioning roll and the receiving roll, and the widened state of the stretchable sheet. FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Pants-type disposable diaper (absorbent article)
2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorbent core 5 Waist opening 51 Waist elastic member 6 Leg openings 61a, 61b Leg elastic member 10 Absorbent body 11 Outer packaging material 12 Outer packaging sheet 13 Inner packaging sheet 100 Diaper continuous body 110 Outer packaging material Continuous 120 Elastic sheet 130 Non-extensible sheet (non-extensible member)
153 Positioning roll 154 Reception roll 160 Curved body (widening device)
161 Rotating shaft 162 Rotating body S1 Stretchable sheet extending step S2 Stretchable sheet widening step S3 Stretchable sheet joining step S4 Diaper continuous body forming step S5 Diaper separating step

Claims (11)

  A sheet conveying method for conveying a sheet by causing the sheet to contact and travel from the inside to the outside of the bending of the bending body with respect to the bending body having a large number of rotating bodies.   The sheet conveying method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is in contact with a contact surface of the curved body at a holding angle of 1 to 180 degrees.   The sheet is received by a receiving roll after being brought into contact with the curved body and conveyed to the next process, and the sheet receiving speed of the receiving roll is made larger than the sheet feeding speed to the curved body. Item 3. A sheet conveying method according to Item 1 or 2.   The sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet has stretchability in at least a longitudinal direction, and is reduced by being conveyed while extending in the longitudinal direction before contacting the curved body. The sheet conveying method described.   A sheet widening apparatus having a curved fixed shaft and a plurality of rotating bodies that are adjacent to each other and rotatably fixed to the fixed shaft.   The sheet widening apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adjacent rotating bodies are spaced apart in the axial direction of the fixed shaft.   7. The sheet widening apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the distance between the adjacent rotating bodies is smaller on the outer side than on the inner side in the axial length direction of the fixed shaft.   The sheet | seat widening apparatus in any one of Claims 5-7 by which the surface of the said rotary body is coat | covered with the elastic material.   9. The sheet widening apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotating body is rotatable with respect to the fixed shaft by a resin bearing. A method for producing an absorbent article comprising a stretchable sheet having stretchability in the longitudinal direction and a non-stretchable member that does not substantially stretch in a predetermined direction joined thereto,
An elastic sheet extending step for extending the elastic sheet in the longitudinal direction;
A stretchable sheet widening step of widening the stretchable sheet reduced by stretching in the stretchable sheet stretching step using the sheet conveying method according to claim 1;
A stretchable sheet joining step for joining the stretchable sheet widened in the stretchable sheet widening step and the non-stretchable member in a state in which the longitudinal direction of the stretchable sheet and the predetermined direction of the nonstretchable member are matched. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article.   The absorbent article according to claim 10, wherein the absorbent article is a pants-type disposable diaper comprising an absorbent body including an absorbent core and an outer packaging material joined to the non-skin contact surface side of the absorbent body. Production method.

Images