JP2019063368A - Method for manufacturing absorber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing an absorber containing a sheet piece containing synthetic fibers, in which the shape of the aggregate of the absorber is suppressed. A method for producing an absorber 100 for an absorbent article containing synthetic fibers 10b. A transfer step of transporting a plurality of sheet pieces 10b including synthetic fibers 10b to an accumulation recess 41 using a duct 3, and a plurality of transferred sheet pieces 10b are integrated in the accumulation recess 41 to form an absorber 100. In the integration step of obtaining the aggregate 100a which is a member, the obtained aggregate 100a is placed on the strip-shaped core wrap sheet 100b being transported, and is placed on both sides of the core wrap sheet 100b along the transport direction. Both side portions bR and bL along the transport direction of the core wrap sheet 100b are folded back so as to cover both side portions aR and aL along the transport direction of the integrated aggregate 100a, and the core wrap sheet 100b covers the aggregate 100a. It has a process. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

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

  As an absorber used for absorbent articles, such as a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, and an incontinence pad, an absorber including, for example, pulp fibers and synthetic fibers is known. As a method for producing an absorbent containing pulp fibers and synthetic fibers, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.

  Patent Document 1 describes an absorbent article in which a non-woven fabric having a three-dimensional structure in which fibers are bonded in advance is formed, and then the non-woven fabric is crushed to form non-woven fabric pieces, and the non-woven fabric pieces are mixed with hydrophilic fibers. A method of making the absorber is described. Further, Patent Document 1 describes that a cutter mill method is adopted as a means for crushing a non-woven fabric.

JP 2002-301105 A

  When a non-woven fabric is crushed and a non-woven fabric piece is formed using a cutter mill method as in the method of manufacturing an absorbent body described in Patent Document 1, a non-woven fabric piece having a relatively large size is present. When an aggregate obtained by accumulating such non-woven fabric pieces is covered with a core wrap sheet to form an absorbent, depending on the coating method, the aggregate can not be coated in a fixed state, and the aggregate is lost in shape And it becomes difficult to form the absorber into a desired shape. Patent Document 1 does not describe at all the problem of the shape of the aggregate.

  In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an absorbent body, in a method of manufacturing an absorbent body including a sheet piece containing a synthetic fiber, in which the shape of an aggregate of the absorbent body is suppressed. .

  The present invention is a method of manufacturing an absorbent for an absorbent article containing a synthetic fiber, wherein the conveying step conveys a plurality of sheet pieces containing the synthetic fiber to a stacking unit using a conveying unit, and the conveying step Stacking the plurality of sheet pieces transported in the stack in the stacking unit to obtain a stack, which is a component of an absorbent body, and a strip in which the stack obtained in the stacking step is transported The sheet is placed on the covering sheet, and at both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet, both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet are covered so as to at least cover the both sides of the stacked body placed in the conveying direction. And a covering step of folding the part and covering the aggregate with the covering sheet.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in manufacture of the absorber which contains the sheet piece containing a synthetic fiber, a form collapse of the accumulation body which this absorber has can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of an absorbent body produced by the method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the absorber shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a supply unit provided in the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a view schematically showing a state in which a sheet piece clump collides with an air flow in the duct and the sheet pieces are dispersed and conveyed. FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing a state in which the hydrophilic fibers collide with the lumps of the sheet pieces in the duct and the sheet pieces are dispersed and conveyed. FIG. 7 is a view schematically showing a state in which the absorbent particles collide with the lumps of the sheet pieces in the duct and the sheet pieces are dispersed and conveyed. FIG. 8 is a view schematically showing a state in which the aggregate of absorbents of the present invention is covered with a core wrap sheet. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another form of the absorber shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The production method of the present invention is a method for producing an absorbent containing synthetic fibers. The absorbent produced in the present invention is an absorbent for an absorbent article. An absorbent article is mainly used to absorb and hold body fluids excreted from the body such as urine and menstrual blood. Absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, for example, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, panty liners, etc., and widely include articles used for absorbing fluid discharged from the human body. Do. The absorbent article typically comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent back sheet, and a liquid-retaining absorbent interposed between the two sheets. The absorber is an absorber formed by the method for producing an absorber of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an absorber 100 of an embodiment manufactured by the method of manufacturing an absorber of the present embodiment. Absorbent body 100 contains synthetic fiber 10b. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent body 100 includes an aggregate 100 a including not only the synthetic fiber 10 b but also the hydrophilic fiber 10 a and the absorbent particle 10 c. Here, "including the synthetic fiber 10b" means having the sheet piece 10bh containing the synthetic fiber 10b. The absorbent body 100 may be a single layer or two or more layers as long as it includes the synthetic fiber 10b, but in the present embodiment, the hydrophilic fiber 10a, the synthetic fiber 10b and the absorbent particle 10c are uniformly dispersed. A single-layer assembly 100a. The stack 100a is a component of the absorber 100, and the absorber 100 of the present embodiment is formed by covering the stack 100a with a core wrap sheet 100b. The absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment has a shape that is long in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer when the absorbent article is worn.

  In the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, both side portions bR and bL along the longitudinal direction of the core wrap sheet 100 b are at the side edges aR1 and aL1 along the longitudinal direction of the aggregate 100 a. It is folded back from the corresponding position, and is formed by covering the stack 100a with the core wrap sheet 100b. In the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment, the entire assembly 100a is covered by overlapping the side portions bR and bL along the longitudinal direction of the core wrap sheet 100b.

  The stacked body 100a includes a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh (hereinafter, also simply referred to as sheet pieces 10bh) including the synthetic fibers 10b, and each sheet piece 10bh has a substantially rectangular shape. The average length of each sheet piece 10bh is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or more and 15 mm or less, and particularly preferably 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less. Here, the average length indicates the average value of the lengths of the sides in the longitudinal direction when each sheet piece 10bh has a rectangular shape. When each sheet piece 10bh has a square shape, it indicates the average value of the lengths of any one side of the four sides. When the average length of the sheet piece 10bh is 0.3 mm or more, it is easy to form a sparse structure in the absorber 100, and when it is 30 mm or less, it is difficult for the wearer to feel discomfort due to the absorber 100 The absorption performance is unlikely to be uneven depending on the position in the body 100. The average width of each sheet piece 10bh is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and particularly preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. Here, the average width indicates the average value of the lengths of the sides in the short direction when each sheet piece 10bh has a rectangular shape. When each sheet piece 10bh has a square shape, it indicates the average value of the lengths of any one side of the four sides. When the average width of the sheet piece 10bh is 0.1 mm or more, it is easy to form a sparse structure in the absorber 100, and when it is 10 mm or less, it is difficult for the wearer to feel discomfort due to the absorber 100. It is hard to produce nonuniformity in absorption performance by the position in 100.

  As a fiber material which forms the absorber 100, the various things conventionally used for the absorber for absorbent articles can be used without a restriction | limiting especially. Examples of the hydrophilic fibers 10a include pulp fibers, rayon fibers, cotton fibers and the like. Examples of the synthetic fiber 10 b include short fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The sheet piece 10bh is not particularly limited as long as it has a sheet shape, but a non-woven fabric is preferable. In addition to the hydrophilic fibers 10a and the synthetic fibers 10b, absorbent particles 10c are also contained in the raw material constituting the absorber 100. Examples of the absorbent particles 10c include starch-based, cellulose-based, synthetic polymer-based, and superabsorbent polymer-based ones. Examples of the superabsorbent polymer include starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymer, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymer, crosslinked product of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and acrylic acid (salt) polymer. It can be used. As a component which constitutes absorber 100, a deodorizer, an antibacterial agent, etc. can also be used if needed. Examples of the core wrap sheet 100 b include fibrous sheets such as tissue paper and liquid permeable nonwoven fabric.

  Next, the method of manufacturing the absorbent according to the present invention will be described by taking the method of manufacturing the absorbent 100 according to the above-described embodiment as an example and referring to FIGS. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the overall configuration of the manufacturing apparatus 1 of one embodiment used to carry out the manufacturing method of the present embodiment. In describing the method of manufacturing the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described first.

  The constituent member of the absorber only needs to contain at least the synthetic fiber 10b. However, in the above-described absorber 100, the sheet piece 10bh including the synthetic fiber 10b and the hydrophilic fiber 10a are included. In the absorber 100 of the present embodiment, the absorbent particles 10 c are further included. That is, in the present embodiment, the absorbent body 100 includes, in addition to the synthetic fiber 10b, the hydrophilic fiber 10a and the absorbent particle 10c. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, at least the manufacturing apparatus 1 for manufacturing the absorber 100 is disposed on the downstream side of the transport direction in the duct 3 as the transport unit for transporting the raw material of the absorber 100 and absorbs A stacking recess 41, which is an example of a stacking unit for stacking the raw materials of the body 100, and a supply unit 5 that supplies the sheet piece 10bh to the inside of the duct 3 are provided. The manufacturing apparatus 1 includes, from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, a fibrillation unit 2 that fibrillates the hydrophilic sheet 10as including the hydrophilic fiber 10a using the fibrillation machine 21, and the raw material of the absorbent 100 as air. A duct 3 for carrying on a stream, a feeding portion 5 for feeding sheet pieces 10bh into the duct 3 from the middle of the duct 3, a rotary drum 4 disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the duct 3 and having an accumulation portion And a pressing belt 7 disposed along the outer peripheral surface 4 f opposite to the duct 3 of the rotating drum 4, and a covering portion 200 disposed below the rotating drum 4. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, a stacking recess 41, which is an example of the stacking unit, is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 4.

In the following description, the direction in which the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs including the synthetic fiber 10b and the absorbent 100 are conveyed is the Y direction, the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and the width direction of the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs and the absorbent 100 which are conveyed. Is the X direction, and the thickness direction of the conveyed synthetic fiber sheet 10bs and the absorber 100 is the Z direction.
Further, the first direction described later is a direction extending in the transport direction Y, and means a direction in which the angle formed with the transport direction Y is less than 45 degrees. In the present embodiment, the first direction coincides with the direction parallel to the transport direction Y.
Moreover, the 2nd direction mentioned later is a direction which intersects with the 1st direction. In the present embodiment, the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and coincides with a direction parallel to the width direction X of the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs to be conveyed and the absorber 100.

The manufacturing apparatus 1 is equipped with the disentanglement part 2 which disentangles the strip | belt-shaped hydrophilic sheet 10as containing the hydrophilic fiber 10a, as shown to FIG. 2 and FIG. The defibrating unit 2 includes a defibrator 21 that defibrates the hydrophilic sheet 10 as, and a casing 22 that covers the upper side of the defibrator 21. The defibrating unit 2 is a portion that supplies the disintegrated hydrophilic fiber 10 a that is a raw material of the absorber 100 to the inside of the duct 3. Further, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the defibrating unit 2 includes a pair of feed rollers 23 and 23 that supply the hydrophilic sheet 10 as to the defibrating machine 21.
At least one of the pair of feed rollers 23, 23 is configured to be rotated by a driving device (not shown). The pair of feed rollers 23 are nip-type rollers. As said drive device, a servomotor is mentioned, for example. From the viewpoint of preventing the hydrophilic sheet 10as from slipping, it is preferable that both of the pair of feed rollers 23, 23 be rotated by the driving device. In this case, the pair of feed rollers 23, 23 may be directly driven by the drive device, or one of the rollers may be driven by the drive device, and the drive may be transmitted to the other roller by transmission means such as a gear. Further, from the viewpoint of further preventing the slip with the hydrophilic sheet 10as, the pair of feed rollers 23, 23 may be made less slippery by forming a groove extending in the axial direction on the entire surface thereof. In addition to the pair of feed rollers 23, a roller may be provided to assist the transport of the hydrophilic sheet 10 as.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 has the duct 3 as a conveyance part which conveys the raw material of the accumulation body 100a, as shown to FIG. 2 and FIG. The duct 3 extends from the defibrating unit 2 to the rotary drum 4, and the opening on the downstream side of the duct 3 covers the outer peripheral surface 4f located in the space A of the rotary drum 4 maintained at a negative pressure. . The duct 3 has a top plate 31 forming a top surface, a bottom plate 32 forming a bottom surface, and both side walls 33 and 34 forming both side surfaces. Inside of the duct 3 surrounded by the top plate 31, the bottom plate 32 and both side walls 33 and 34 by the operation of the intake fan (not shown) of the rotary drum 4, the absorber 100 is directed toward the outer peripheral surface 4 f of the rotary drum 4. Air flow is made to flow the raw materials of That is, the inside of the duct 3 is a flow passage 30.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manufacturing apparatus 1 has an absorbent particle scattering pipe 36 for supplying the absorbent particles 10 c into the duct 3 on the top plate 31 of the duct 3. In the absorbent particle dispersion tube 36, the absorbent particles 10 c are discharged from a dispersion port provided at the tip of the absorbent particle dispersion tube 36 through an apparatus (not shown) such as a screw feeder and supplied into the duct 3. It has become so. The amount of the absorbent particles 10c supplied to the absorbent particle scattering tube 36 can be adjusted by an apparatus such as each screw feeder.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 has a rotating drum 4 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rotary drum 4 has an accumulation recess 41 as an accumulation portion for accumulating the raw material of the absorber on the outer peripheral surface 4 f to obtain an accumulation body. The rotary drum 4 has a cylindrical shape, and receives power from a motor (not shown) such as a motor, and a member 40 forming the outer peripheral surface 4f rotates in the direction of arrow R1 about a horizontal axis. The rotary drum 4 has a member 40 forming the outer peripheral surface 4 f and a drum main body 42 located inside the member 40. The drum body 42 is fixed and does not rotate. The accumulation recess 41 of the rotating drum 4 is formed in the member 40 forming the outer peripheral surface 4 f, and is continuously disposed over the entire circumference of the rotating drum 4 in the circumferential direction (2Y direction). In the figure, 2Y is the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 4 and X is the width direction of the rotary drum 4 (direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary drum 4). As described above, in the present embodiment, the stacking recess 41 of the manufacturing apparatus 1 is continuously disposed over the entire circumference of the rotating drum 4 in the circumferential direction 2Y, but the circumferential direction 2Y of the rotating drum 4 is It may be in the form of being disposed in plural numbers at predetermined intervals.

  The drum body 42 of the rotary drum 4 has a plurality of mutually independent spaces, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and has, for example, three spaces A to C. The spaces A to C are partitioned by a plate provided from the rotary shaft side of the rotary drum 4 toward the outer peripheral surface 4 f side. An intake fan (not shown) as an intake mechanism is connected to the rotary drum 4, and the pressure of a plurality of partitioned spaces in the rotary drum 4 can be adjusted by driving the intake fan. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the suction force of the area corresponding to the space A, which is the upstream area located in the area covered by the outer peripheral surface 4 f with the duct 3, is the area corresponding to the spaces B to C which is the downstream area. It can be made stronger or weaker than the suction force, and the space A is maintained at a negative pressure.

  The bottom surface of the accumulation recess 41 is formed of a porous member (not shown), and the accumulation recess 41 in the outer peripheral surface 4 f passes over the space maintained at a negative pressure in the rotating drum 4. During the operation, the porous member (not shown) functions as a suction hole for sucking the raw material of the absorber 100.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with the supply part 5 which supplies the sheet piece 10bh to the inside of the duct 3, as shown to FIG. 2 and FIG. The supply unit 5 has cutter blades 51 and 52 for cutting the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs including the synthetic fiber 10b in a first direction and a second direction with a predetermined length to form a sheet piece 10bh. And the supply part 5 has the suction nozzle 58 which attracts | sucks the sheet piece 10bh formed using the cutter edge 51,52. The supply unit 5 includes, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a first cutter roller 53 having a plurality of cutter blades 51 for cutting in the first direction, and a plurality of cutter blades 52 for cutting in the second direction. And a second cutter roller 54. In the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the supply unit 5 includes one receiving roller 55 disposed to face the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54.

  On the surface of the first cutter roller 53, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the entire circumference of the first cutter roller 53 is continuous along the circumferential direction of the first cutter roller 53. A plurality of extending cutter blades 51, 51, 51,... Are arranged in the axial direction (X direction) of the first cutter roller 53. The first cutter roller 53 is adapted to rotate in the direction of arrow R3 in response to power from a motor such as a motor. The distance between the cutter blades 51, 51, 51, ... adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the first cutter roller 53 is the width of the sheet piece 10bh formed by cutting (the length in the short direction, the length in the X direction) Generally correspond to the More precisely, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut in a state of being shrunk in the width direction X depending on the tension at the time of sheet conveyance, so that the tension is released in the finished sheet piece 10bh. The width of the sheet piece 10bh may be wider than the interval between the blades 51, 51, 51,.

  On the surface of the second cutter roller 54, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plurality of continuously extending across the entire width of the second cutter roller 54 along the axial direction of the second cutter roller 54. The cutter blades 52, 52, 52,... Are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the second cutter roller 54. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the second cutter roller 54 receives power from a motor such as a motor and rotates in the direction of arrow R 4.

  The receiving roller 55 is a flat roller whose surface is flat as shown in FIGS. The receiving roller 55 receives power from a motor such as a motor and rotates in the direction of the arrow R5.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the supply unit 5 receives the receiving roller 55 and the first cutter roller 53 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotational direction (arrow R5 direction) on the opposing surface of the receiving roller 55. And a free roller 56 for introducing a band-shaped synthetic fiber sheet 10bs, a first cutter roller 53 for cutting the band-shaped synthetic fiber sheet 10bs in a first direction, a plurality of cut in a first direction and extending in the first direction The sheet strip continuum 10bh1 has a nip roller 57 introduced between the receiving roller 55 and the second cutter roller 54 and a second cutter roller 54 sequentially cutting the sheet continuum 10bh1 in the second direction. ing. Moreover, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the supply part 5 has a feed roller (not shown) which conveys a strip | belt-shaped synthetic fiber sheet 10bs. The feed roller is configured to be rotated by a drive device such as a servomotor, for example. From the viewpoint of preventing the slip of the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs, the feed roller is made less slippery by forming a groove extending in the axial direction on its surface over the entire circumference or applying a coating treatment for improving the frictional force over the entire circumference. May be Furthermore, the slip may be prevented by nipping between the feed rolls with a nip roll.

  The supply part 5 has the suction nozzle 58 which attracts | sucks the sheet piece 10bh formed of the 2nd cutter roller 54, as shown in FIGS. The suction nozzle 58 has a suction port 581 below the second cutter roller 54, that is, downstream of the second cutter roller 54 and the closest point of the receiving roller 55 in the rotational direction R4 of the second cutter roller 54. Is located in Further, the suction nozzle 58 has its suction port 581 extending over the entire width of the second cutter roller 54. From the viewpoint of improving the suction performance of the sheet piece 10bh, the suction roller 581 of the receiving roller 55 and the second cutter roller 54 is arranged such that the suction port 581 of the suction nozzle 58 faces between the receiving roller 55 and the second cutter roller 54. It is preferable to arrange below. Then, from the viewpoint of further improving suction performance of the sheet piece 10bh, the suction port 581 of the suction nozzle 58 views the receiving roller 55 and the second cutter roller 54 from the side as shown in FIG. It is preferable to cover the outer surface of the second cutter roller 54 so that the arc length of the suction port 581 facing the second cutter roller 54 is longer than the arc length of the suction port 581 facing the.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction nozzle 58 is connected to the top plate 31 side of the duct 3 via a suction pipe 59. The sheet piece 10 bh sucked from the suction port 581 of the suction nozzle 58 is supplied to the inside of the duct 3 from the middle of the duct 3 via the suction pipe 59. The connecting position of the suction pipe 59 and the duct 3 is located between the defibrating unit 2 side and the rotary drum 4 side in the duct 3, and is located downstream of the absorbent particle scattering pipe 36 in the duct 3. ing. However, the connection position of the suction pipe 59 and the duct 3 is not limited to this. For example, the connection position between the suction pipe 59 and the duct 3 may not be the top plate 31 side of the duct 3 but the bottom plate 32 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the presser belt 7 is disposed along the outer peripheral surface 4 f adjacent to the downstream side of the position of the duct 3 and located in the space B of the rotating drum 4. The space B is set to a negative pressure or pressure zero (atmospheric pressure) weaker than the space A of the rotary drum 4. The presser belt 7 is an endless air-permeable or non-air-permeable belt, and is stretched over the rollers 71 and 72 so as to rotate along with the rotation of the rotary drum 4. The pressing belt 7 can hold the stack 100a in the stacking recess 41 in the stacking recess 41 until the stack 100a is transferred onto the first vacuum conveyor 8a.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 has a covering portion 200 for covering the aggregate 100 a with a core wrap sheet 100 b as a covering sheet. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the covering portion 200 includes the first vacuum conveyor 8a, a second vacuum conveyor 8b disposed downstream of the first vacuum conveyor 8a in the conveyance direction of the core wrap sheet 100b, and the second vacuum conveyor 8b. And a folding guide plate 201 disposed above the conveying surface of the sheet. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first vacuum conveyor 8 a is disposed below the rotary drum 4 and is set to a weak positive pressure or zero pressure (atmospheric pressure) of the rotary drum 4. It is disposed to face the outer peripheral surface 4 f located in the space C. For example, by blowing air from the inside of the drum main body 42 to the outside of the outer peripheral surface 4 f, a weak positive pressure can be obtained. The first vacuum conveyor 8a includes an endless breathable belt 83a stretched over a driving roller 81a and driven rollers 82a and 82a, and an outer peripheral surface 4f located in the space C of the rotary drum 4 with the breathable belt 83a interposed therebetween. And a vacuum box 84a disposed at the opposite position. On the first vacuum conveyor 8a, a core wrap sheet 100b made of tissue paper, liquid permeable nonwoven fabric or the like is introduced. The second vacuum conveyor 8b includes an endless air-permeable belt 83b stretched over the drive roller 81b and the driven rollers 82b and 82b, and a vacuum box disposed at a position facing the folding guide plate 201 with the air-permeable belt 83b interposed. And 84b. The core wrap sheet 100b conveyed from the first vacuum conveyor 8a is delivered onto the second vacuum conveyor 8b. The folding guide plate 201 covers the entire stacked body 100a by folding in the width direction both side portions bR and bL along the conveyance direction of the core wrap sheet 100b introduced onto the second vacuum conveyor 8b.

  Moreover, the manufacturing apparatus 1 is equipped with the cutting device 6 more downstream than the coating | coated part 200, and each absorber 100 is manufactured by this cutting device 6. As shown in FIG. As the cutting device 6, for example, in the production of absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, light incontinence pads, panty liners, diapers, etc., those conventionally used for cutting absorbent continuous bodies are used without particular limitations. Can. Examples of the cutting device 6 include a cutter roller 62 provided with a cutting blade 61 on a pair of peripheral surfaces, and a smooth anvil roller 63 having a smooth peripheral surface for receiving the cutting blade 61.

Next, a method of manufacturing the absorber 100 using the manufacturing apparatus 1 described above, that is, an embodiment of a method of manufacturing the absorber of the present invention will be described.
The manufacturing method of the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh including the synthetic fiber 10b using the duct 3 as the transport portion as a stacking recess as the stacking portion 41. A conveying step of conveying up to 41, an accumulation step of accumulating the plurality of sheet pieces 10bh conveyed in the conveying step in the accumulation concave portion 41 which is an accumulation portion to obtain an integrated body 100a which is a component of the absorber 100; The stacked body 100a obtained in the stacking step is placed on the core wrap sheet 100b as a band-like covering sheet being transported, and is placed on both sides bR and bL along the transport direction of the core wrap sheet 100b. The core wrap sheet 100b is folded back on both sides bR and bL along the transport direction so as to at least cover the both sides aR and aL along the transport direction of the stacked body 100a. And a coating step of coating the stack 100a in seat 100b. Moreover, the manufacturing method of the absorbent body 100 of this embodiment is a sheet including the synthetic fiber 10b by cutting the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs including the synthetic fiber 10b in a first direction and a second direction at a predetermined length. A cutting step of forming the piece 10bh and a suction step of suctioning the sheet piece 10bh obtained in the cutting step and supplying the sheet piece 10bh to the inside of the duct 3 are provided. Moreover, the manufacturing method of the absorber 100 of this embodiment has the disintegrating process which disintegrates strip | belt-shaped hydrophilic sheet 10as using the fibrillation machine 21, and obtains the hydrophilic fiber 10a. Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the absorber 100 is explained in full detail.

  First, the intake fan (not shown) connected to each of the space A in the rotary drum 4, the vacuum box 84a for the first vacuum conveyor 8a and the vacuum box 84b for the second vacuum conveyor 8b are operated. Apply negative pressure. By making the space A negative pressure, an air flow for conveying the raw material of the absorber 100 to the outer peripheral surface 4 f of the rotating drum 4 is generated in the duct 3. Further, the defibrator 21 and the rotary drum 4 are rotated, and the first cutter roller 53, the second cutter roller 54 and the receiving roller 55 are rotated, and the pressing belt 7, the first vacuum conveyor 8a and the second vacuum conveyor 8b are Activate.

  Next, in the present embodiment, a belt-like hydrophilic sheet 10as is supplied to the fibrillation machine 21 using the feed roller 23, and the fibrillation step is performed to fibrillate the fiber to obtain the hydrophilic fiber 10a. The pair of feed rollers 23, 23 is configured to control the supply rate of the hydrophilic sheet 10as to the fibrillation machine 21. In the fibrillation step in the method of manufacturing the absorber 100 of the present embodiment, the hydrophilic sheet is used. The supply of 10 as to the opener 21 is controlled.

  In the fibrillation step of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hydrophilic sheet 10as supplied to the fibrillation machine 21 is fibrillated and the hydrophilic fibers 10a which are fibrillated fiber materials are disintegrated. It is supplied to the duct 3 from the fiber machine 21.

  Moreover, the manufacturing method of the absorber 100 has a cutting process separately from a fibrillation process. In the cutting step, as shown in FIG. 4, the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is made to have a predetermined length in the first direction and the second direction using the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54. Cut to form a sheet piece 10bh. In the cutting step of the present embodiment, a first cutter roller 53 for cutting the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs in the first direction at a predetermined length, and a second cutter roller 53 for cutting the synthetic fiber sheet 10b in the second direction at a predetermined length A belt shape is formed between the first cutter roller 53 and the receiving roller 55 using the cutter roller 54 and one receiving roller 55 disposed to face the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54. The synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is introduced and cut in the first direction to form a continuous sheet piece 10bh1, and the formed continuous sheet piece 10bh1 is conveyed by the receiving roller 55 and is subjected to the second cutter roller 54 and the receiving roller 55. Between the two in the second direction to form a sheet piece 10bh. The sheet piece 10bh formed in this manner is cut only in the first direction and the second direction. Hereinafter, the cutting process of the present embodiment will be specifically described.

  In the cutting process, as shown in FIG. 4, the synthetic fiber sheet 10 bs is conveyed using the above-described feed roller (not shown). The feed roller is configured to control the transport speed of the synthetic fiber sheet 10 bs, and the transport speed of the synthetic fiber sheet 10 bs is controlled in the cutting process in the method of manufacturing the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment.

  In the cutting process, as shown in FIG. 4, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs conveyed by the feed roller is received by the receiving roller 55 which is a flat roller that rotates in the direction of arrow R5 via the free roller 56, and in the direction of arrow R3. The synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is introduced between the rotating first cutter roller 53 and the plurality of cutter blades 51, 51, 51, ... in the first direction at a position spaced in the second direction. Cut into By cutting in this manner, a plurality of sheet piece continuous members 10bh1 extending in the first direction juxtaposed in the second direction are formed. The plurality of cutter blades 51, 51, 51,... Are arranged on the surface of the first cutter roller 53 at equal intervals in the second direction. Therefore, since the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut at equal intervals, a plurality of continuous sheet pieces 10bh1 having the same width (length in the second direction) are formed. The average width of the continuous sheet piece 10bh1 formed in the cutting step is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less from the viewpoint of securing dimensions necessary for the sheet piece 10bh to exhibit a predetermined effect, etc. It is more preferable that it is 0.3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and particularly preferable that it is 0.5 m or more and 5 mm or less. In the present embodiment, the width of the continuous sheet piece 10bh1 cut by the first cutter roller 53 corresponds to the length of the short side of the finally formed sheet piece 10bh. However, the width of the continuous sheet piece 10bh1 cut by the first cutter roller 53 may be cut so as to correspond to the length of the longitudinal side of the finally formed sheet piece 10bh. In that case, the average width of the continuous sheet piece 10bh1 cut by the first cutter roller 53 is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or more and 15 mm or less, and 2 mm or more It is particularly preferable that the diameter is 10 mm or less. The formed plurality of continuous sheet pieces 10bh1 are conveyed on the circumferential surface of the receiving roller 55 rotating in the direction of the arrow R5, conveyed between the receiving roller 55 and the nip roller 57, and received via the nip roller 57. It is introduced between 55 and the second cutter roller 54.

  Then, in the cutting step, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of continuous sheet fragments introduced between the receiving roller 55 rotating in the direction of arrow R5 and the second cutter roller 54 rotating in the direction of arrow R4. The 10 bh 1 is intermittently cut in the first direction in the second direction by the plurality of cutter blades 52, 52, 52,. By cutting in this manner, a plurality of rectangular sheet pieces 10bh having a length in the first direction longer than a length in the second direction are formed. The plurality of cutter blades 52, 52, 52,... Are arranged on the surface at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the second cutter roller 54, respectively. Therefore, since the plurality of continuous sheet pieces 10bh1 are cut at equal intervals, a plurality of rectangular sheet pieces 10bh having the same length in the first direction are formed. The average length of the sheet pieces 10bh formed in the cutting step is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 30 mm or less from the viewpoint of securing dimensions necessary for the sheet pieces 10bh to exhibit a predetermined effect, and is 1 mm. The diameter is more preferably 15 mm or less, and particularly preferably 2 mm to 10 mm. In the present embodiment, the length of the sheet piece 10bh cut by the second cutter roller 54 corresponds to the length of the side in the longitudinal direction of the sheet piece 10bh. However, the length of the sheet piece 10bh cut by the second cutter roller 54 may be cut so as to correspond to the length of the side of the sheet piece 10bh in the short direction. The length (width) of the sheet piece 10bh cut by the cutter roller 54 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and more preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm It is particularly preferred that

In the cutting step, the strip-like synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut at a predetermined length in the first direction and the second direction to obtain the sheet piece 10bh, so the size of the sheet piece 10bh obtained is intended. Easy to adjust to size. As described above, since the sheet piece 10bh of the intended size can be formed with high accuracy, it is possible to efficiently and continuously manufacture an absorbent body having a target absorption performance. Even if the sheet piece 10bh is formed by cutting in the first direction or the second direction using the first cutter roller 53 having the cutter blade 51 or the second cutter roller 54 having the cutter blade 52, it is formed In the sheet piece 10bh to be cut, a fluff due to a synthetic fiber may be generated by cutting around the sheet piece 10bh. Further, as the cutter blades 51 and 52 wear and deteriorate with long-term use, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs may not be cut well, and a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh may be connected.

  Next, a suction step of suctioning the sheet piece 10 bh obtained in the cutting step and supplying it into the inside of the duct 3 is performed. As described above, the suction port of the suction nozzle 58 on the downstream side of the second cutter roller 54, that is, on the downstream side of the second cutter roller 54 in the rotational direction R4 with respect to the nearest point of the second cutter roller 54 and the receiving roller 55. When 581 is provided, the plurality of sheet pieces 10bh cut and formed by the second cutter roller 54 and the receiving roller 55 can be efficiently sucked.

  Next, a conveying step of conveying the sheet piece 10bh supplied inside the duct 3 to the accumulation recess 41 as the accumulation portion using the duct 3 is performed. By the way, when the sheet piece 10bh is supplied to the inside of the duct 3, as described above, the sheet piece 10bh with fluff formed on the periphery is formed or a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh are in a row, If the sheet pieces 10bh in which the fluffs are formed are connected to each other, a lump 10K of the sheet pieces 10bh as shown in FIG. 5 may be formed. Therefore, in the transport process, the sheet piece 10bh is transported in a scattered state by the air flow generated inside the duct 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of sheet pieces 10 bh suctioned in the suction step enter the flow path 30 of the duct 3 from the top plate 31 side of the duct 3 via the suction pipe 59 of the suction nozzle 58. It is supposed to be supplied. In the flow passage 30 of the duct 3, an air flow for conveying the raw material of the absorber 100 toward the outer peripheral surface 4 f of the rotary drum 4 has already been generated. Therefore, the plurality of sheet pieces 10 bh are supplied to the inside of the duct 3 at a position midway in the flow direction of the air flow in the duct 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, even if the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh is unintentionally supplied, the downstream velocity of the air flow already flowing in the flow path 30 of the duct 3 is the suction pipe 59. When the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh is supplied into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 because the speed to the downstream side of the plurality of sheet pieces 10bh supplied halfway into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 is higher , The lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh collides with the air flow already flowing. As shown in FIG. 5, the lumps 10K of the sheet pieces 10bh colliding with the air flow are formed by connecting the sheet pieces 10bh due to excessive entanglement or cutting failure due to the fluff formed at the time of cutting due to the impact of contact with the air flow. The parts and the like are disassembled, and the sheet pieces are separated into the individual sheet pieces 10bh and transported in the scattering state toward the downstream side. As described above, in the transport step of the present embodiment, the sheet pieces 10bh are separated and transported in the scattered state into the individual sheet pieces 10bh, so the stack 100a of the absorber 100 in which the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly distributed is stably obtained. Easy to manufacture. The velocity of the air flow is preferably 3 m / sec or more and 150 m / sec or less, more preferably 10 m / sec or more and 100 m / sec or less, and 15 m / sec or more and 50 m / sec or less Particularly preferred. Within this range, the sheet pieces 10bh can be separated and transported to the individual sheet pieces 10bh more effectively, and the stack 100a of the absorber 100 in which the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly distributed is stabilized. Easy to manufacture.

  The absorbent body 100 manufactured by the method for manufacturing the absorbent body 100 includes the above-mentioned sheet piece 10bh and the hydrophilic fiber 10a, and in the transport step, it is obtained by the sheet piece 10bh obtained in the cutting step and the fibrillation step. The hydrophilic fiber 10a and the sheet piece 10bh are caused to collide with each other in the air flow by the air flow while the conveyed hydrophilic fiber 10a is conveyed to the accumulation recess 41, and the sheet piece 10bh and the hydrophilic fiber 10a is carried by the air flow in a scattered state in which both are mixed.

  In the transport step, the hydrophilic fiber 10a and the sheet piece 10bh are respectively supplied at different positions along the flow direction of the air flow inside the duct 3 (the flow path 30), and the hydrophilic fiber 10a is a sheet piece It supplies and conveys on the upstream side of the flow direction of the air flow from the position to supply 10 bh. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fibrillation machine 21 used in the fibrillation step is disposed on the upstream side of the duct 3 with respect to the suction nozzle 58. In the transport step, the hydrophilic fibers 10a obtained in the disentanglement step are supplied from the upstream side in the flow direction of the air flow in the duct 3 into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 and a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh subjected to the suction step Are supplied into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 from the middle of the duct 3. Then, in the transport step of the present embodiment, the hydrophilic fibers 10a supplied from the disintegrating machine 21 into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 by the air flow flowing in the flow path 30 of the duct 3 are divided into a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh The sheet is conveyed from the upstream side in the flow direction of the air flow from the supply position toward the outer peripheral surface 4 f of the rotary drum 4.

  Here, in the conveyance step of the present embodiment, when the sheet piece 10bh and the hydrophilic fiber 10a merge in the duct 3, the conveyance speed Vb of the sheet piece 10bh and the conveyance speed Va of the hydrophilic fiber 10a are different. ing. The velocity component Va1 to the downstream side at the transport velocity Va of the hydrophilic fiber 10a is larger than the velocity component Vb1 to the downstream side at the transport velocity Vb of the sheet piece 10bh. The velocity component Va1 on the downstream side of the transport velocity Va of the hydrophilic fiber 10a is the velocity component Vb1 in the horizontal direction when the transport velocity Va is projected as viewed from the side of the duct 3 as shown in FIG. And the velocity component Va2 in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction. Similarly, the velocity component Vb1 to the downstream side at the conveying velocity Vb of the sheet piece 10bh is the velocity component in the horizontal direction when the duct 3 is viewed from the side and projected as shown in FIG. It is a horizontal velocity component when it is decomposed into Vb1 and a vertical velocity component Vb2. In the transport step, since the hydrophilic fiber 10a is supplied from the upstream side of the sheet piece 10bh, when the sheet piece 10bh and the hydrophilic fiber 10a merge, the velocity component Va1 on the downstream side of the hydrophilic fiber 10a is It is larger than the velocity component Vb1 to the downstream side of the sheet piece 10bh. In particular, in the present embodiment, the sheet piece 10 bh is supplied to the flow path 30 of the duct 3 by the suction pipe 59 extending in the direction intersecting the flow direction of the air flow of the duct 3. Therefore, the moving speed of the sheet piece 10bh immediately before being supplied to the flow path 30 of the duct 3 does not increase the speed component to the downstream side of the flow direction of the air flow inside the duct 3, so the transport speed of the hydrophilic fiber 10a The velocity component Va1 of the air flow downstream in the flow direction of Va tends to be larger than the velocity component Vb1 of the conveyance speed Vb of the sheet piece 10bh in the flow direction of the air flow. Therefore, even if the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh is unintentionally supplied into the flow path 30 of the duct 3, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh collides with the hydrophilic fiber 10a already flowing. As shown in FIG. 6, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh colliding with the hydrophilic fiber 10a is further disentangled by the fluff formed at the time of cutting by the impact of contact with the hydrophilic fiber 10a, and the individual sheets It is separated into pieces 10bh and transported in the scattering state toward the downstream side. In the transport step, the lumps 10K of the sheet pieces 10bh collide with the hydrophilic fibers 10a in the air flow to further separate the individual sheet pieces 10bh and mix the hydrophilic fibers 10a and the sheet pieces 10bh in a scattered state Because the sheet is transported by the air flow, the sheet piece 10bh is formed around the periphery, or even if a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh are connected before being supplied to the inside of the duct 3, the sheet piece It is easy to stably manufacture an aggregate 100a of the absorber 100 in which 10bh and the hydrophilic fibers 10a are uniformly distributed.

  Moreover, the absorber 100 manufactured by the manufacturing method of the absorber 100 contains the absorptive particle | grains 10c other than the hydrophilic fiber 10a. In the conveying step, in addition to the collision between the sheet piece 10bh and the hydrophilic fiber 10a, while conveying the sheet piece 10bh including the synthetic fiber 10b obtained in the cutting step and the absorbent particle 10c to the accumulation recess 41 Then, the sheet piece 10bh and the absorbent particle 10c are caused to collide in the air flow, and the sheet piece 10bh and the absorbent particle 10c are transported by the air flow in a scattered state in which both are mixed.

  In the transport step, the absorbent particles 10c and the sheet pieces 10bh are supplied at different positions along the air flow direction, and the absorbent particles 10c are supplied from the air pieces rather than the sheet pieces 10bh. Supply and transport upstream in the flow direction. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbent particle scattering pipe 36 is disposed upstream of the suction nozzle 58 on the upstream side of the duct 3. In the transport step, the absorbent particles 10c are supplied from the upstream side of the duct 3 into the flow path 30 of the duct 3 from the suction nozzle 58, and the plurality of sheet pieces 10bh subjected to the suction step are It supplies in the flow path 30 of the duct 3 from the downstream side of the duct 3 rather than the arrangement position. Then, in the transport step, the absorbent particles 10c supplied from the absorbent particle scattering tube 36 into the flow passage 30 of the duct 3 are supplied with a plurality of sheet pieces 10bh by the air flow flowing in the flow passage 30 of the duct 3 To the outer peripheral surface 4 f of the rotary drum 4 from the upstream side in the flow direction of the air flow from the position where

  Here, in the transport step, when the sheet piece 10bh and the absorbent particle 10c merge, the transport speed Vb of the sheet piece 10bh and the transport speed Vc of the absorbent particle 10c are different. The velocity component Vc1 to the downstream side at the transport velocity Vc of the absorbent particles 10c is larger than the velocity component Vb1 to the downstream side at the transport velocity Vb of the sheet piece 10bh. The velocity component Vc1 on the downstream side at the transport velocity Vc of the absorbent particle 10c is the velocity component Va1 in the horizontal direction when the transport velocity Va is projected and viewed as viewed from the side of the duct 3 as shown in FIG. And the velocity component Va2 in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction. In the transport step, the absorbent particle 10c is supplied from the upstream side of the sheet piece 10bh, so when the sheet piece 10bh and the absorbent particle 10c merge, the velocity component Vc1 on the downstream side of the absorbent particle 10c is It is larger than the velocity component Vb1 to the downstream side of the sheet piece 10bh. Therefore, when the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh is supplied into the flow path 30 of the duct 3, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh collides with the absorbent particle 10c which has already flowed. As shown in FIG. 7, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh colliding with the absorbent particle 10c is further unentangled by the fluff formed at the time of cutting by the impact of contact with the absorbent particle 10c, and the individual sheets It is separated into pieces 10bh and transported in the scattering state toward the downstream side. In the transport step, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh collides with the hydrophilic fiber 10a in the air flow and also collides with the absorbent particle 10c, whereby the individual sheet pieces 10bh are further separated and the hydrophilic fiber 10a, The sheet pieces 10bh and the absorbent particles 10c are transported by the air flow while being mixed in the scattered state, so that the aggregate 100a of the absorbent body 100 in which the hydrophilic fibers 10a, the sheet pieces 10bh and the absorbent particles 10c are uniformly distributed is stabilized. Easy to manufacture. In particular, since the absorbent particles 10c have a larger specific gravity than the sheet pieces 10bh, the individual sheet pieces 10bh are more easily separated. The velocity of the air flow in the flow passage 30 of the duct 3 is preferably 3 m / sec or more and 150 m / sec or less, more preferably 10 m / sec or more and 100 m / sec or less, 15 m / sec or more, Particularly preferably, it is 50 m / sec or less. Within this range, the hydrophilic fibers 10a or the absorbent particles 10c which are different materials can be more effectively collided with the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh, and the sheet pieces 10bh are further separated and separated by the individual sheet pieces 10bh. 10bh can be transported in a scattered state, and it is easy to stably produce an aggregate 100a of the absorber 100 in which the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly distributed.

  Then, not only the sheet pieces 10bh transported in the scattering state by the air flow in the transport step but also the hydrophilic fibers 10a and the absorbent particles 10c are accumulated in the accumulation recess 41 disposed on the outer peripheral surface 4f of the rotating drum 4 An integration step is performed to obtain the integrated body 100a. In the stacking step, since the individual sheet pieces 10bh are separated and transported in the scattering state in the transporting step, the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly mixed and stacked substantially in the entire area of the stack 100a in plan view.

  As described above, the sheet piece 10bh is conveyed so as to be substantially uniformly distributed over the entire area in the accumulation recess 41 of the rotary drum 4, and the hydrophilic fiber 10a, the sheet piece 10bh and the absorbent particle 10c are mixed. An accumulation body 100a of the accumulated raw materials of the absorber is formed. The accumulation body 100 a thus formed in the accumulation recess 41 is continuously manufactured over the entire circumference of the rotary drum 4 in the circumferential direction (2Y direction). As described above, after the integrated body 100a in which the hydrophilic fibers 10a, the synthetic fibers 10b, and the absorbent particles 10c are accumulated in the accumulation recess 41 is obtained, as shown in FIG. While pressing the stack 100a in the stacking recess 41 by the pressing belt 7 disposed on the outer peripheral surface 4f located in the space B of the drum 4, the sheet is conveyed onto the first vacuum conveyor 8a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the stack 100a obtained in the stacking step is placed on a core wrap sheet 100b as a belt-like covering sheet being transported, and in the transport direction Y of the core wrap sheet 100b. The stack 100a is folded with the core wrap sheet 100b, which is the covering sheet, so as to at least cover the two sides aR, aL along the transport direction Y of the stacked body 100a mounted at the two sides bR, bL along Perform a coating process to coat. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the stack 100a in the stacking recess 41 comes to the opposite position of the vacuum box 84a located in the space C of the rotary drum 4, the stack 100a is stacked by suction from the vacuum box 84a. The mold is released from the recess 41. Then, the stack 100a extending continuously along the transport direction Y is delivered onto the central portion in the width direction X of the core wrap sheet 100b introduced onto the first vacuum conveyor 8a. In the covering step of the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 100b to which the stack 100a has been delivered is conveyed while being sucked using the first vacuum conveyor 8a, and is delivered to the second vacuum conveyor 8b.

  Then, in the second vacuum conveyor 8b, the core wrap sheet 100b on which the stack 100a is placed is suctioned and transported. In the covering step, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, for example, an aggregate on which one side bR of the core wrap sheet 100b is placed on the second vacuum conveyor 8b using a folding guide plate 201R. Starting from a position where the distance d from one side edge aR1 of 100a is 5 mm or less, it is folded back so as to cover one side portion aR of the aggregate 100a (FIGS. 8A to 8C). Then, using the folding guide plate 201L, the other side bL of the core wrap sheet 100b is accumulated starting from a position at which the distance d from the other side edge aL1 of the stacked body 100a placed is 5 mm or less It folds back so that the other side aL of the body 100a may be covered (FIG.8 (d)-(e)). In the covering step, both side portions bR and bL along the transport direction Y of the core wrap sheet 100b are folded back in this way, and the folded back side portions bR and bL are overlapped to cover the entire periphery of the stack 100a. In the coating step, a band-like absorbent body 100 is thus produced by covering the whole of the aggregate 100 a with the core wrap sheet 100 b. The side portions aR and aL along the transport direction Y of the stack 100a mean areas corresponding to one end located at both ends when the stack 100a is virtually divided into four in the width direction. Further, the side edges aR1 and aL1 along the transport direction (Y direction) of the stack 100a mean portions located at the outermost side in the width direction of the stack 100a.

  As described above, in the covering step, the both sides bR and bL of the core wrap sheet 100b are folded back so as to cover the both sides aR and aL of the accumulation body 100a, and the entire circumference of the accumulation body 100a is covered with the core wrap sheet 100b. Even if the softness of the aggregate 100a is improved by having the sheet piece 10bh containing the synthetic fiber 10b, the side portions aR and aL of the aggregate 100a are used as the side portions of the core wrap sheet 100b. Because it is covered with bR and bL, it is difficult to cause a shape collapse such as, for example, the aggregate 100a spreading in the width direction, and the absorber 100 with good formability can be stably manufactured.

  Further, in the method of manufacturing the absorber 100 according to the present embodiment, both sides bR of the core wrap sheet 100b start from a position where the distance d from the side edges aR1 and aL1 along the transport direction Y of the stack 100a is 5 mm or less. , BL are folded to cover the entire circumference of the aggregate 100 a. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, by setting the distance d between the side edges aR1 and aL1 along the transport direction Y of the stack 100a and the side points bR and bL of the core wrap sheet 100b within 5 mm, respectively. It is possible to suppress the spread of the stacked body 100a in the core wrap sheet 100b to cause a shape deformation, and to stably manufacture the absorber 100 as designed.

In the method of manufacturing the absorbent body 100 of the present embodiment, it is preferable to fix the overlapping portion 100bC of the side portions bR and bL of the core wrap sheet 100b with an adhesive to cover the aggregate 100a. By fixing the overlapping portion 100bC with an adhesive, it is possible to further suppress the deformation of the aggregate 100a and stably manufacture an absorbent having a good formability. As an adhesive which fixes the overlap part 100bC of the core wrap sheet 100b, a hot-melt adhesive etc. are preferable. The coating amount of the hot melt adhesive is preferably 0.1 g / m ² or more and 20 g / m ² or less. Further, as a bonding apparatus for applying an adhesive to the overlapping portion 100bC of the core wrap sheet 100b, a known means such as a slot coat gun, a spiral spray gun, a spray gun, or a dot gun can be used.

  In the covering step, the aggregate 100a is covered with the core wrap sheet 100b to form a band-like absorber 100, and then the band-like absorber 100 is cut at a predetermined interval in the transport direction Y by the cutting device 6. , Individual absorbers 100 are manufactured. In the absorbent 100 thus produced, as shown in FIG. 1, the hydrophilic fibers 10a, the sheet pieces 10bh and the absorbent particles 10c are uniformly mixed and accumulated substantially in the entire area, and are covered with the core wrap sheet 100b. It has the accumulation body 100a.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the manufacturing method of the absorber 100 mentioned above, although the absorber 100 which covered the whole of the accumulation body 100a with one core wrap sheet 100b is manufactured, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, two sheets You may manufacture the absorber which coat | covered the whole integrated body 100a with the above sheet | seat. For example, when manufacturing the absorber shown in FIG. 9, the stack 100a is placed on the first sheet 100b1 using the two covering sheets of the first sheet 100b1 and the second sheet 100b2, The side portions bR and bL of the first sheet 100b1 are folded back so that the side portions aR and aL of the stack 100a are covered with the side portions bR and bL of the sheet 100b1. And it can manufacture by covering the part which is not covered with the 1st sheet 100b1 of accumulation object 100a with the 2nd sheet 100b2 using the 2nd sheet 100b2. It is preferable to fix the both sides bR and bL of the first sheet 100b1 and the both sides of the second sheet 100b2 with an adhesive.

  Further, in the covering step of the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 100b is collected using the folding guide plate 201 while suctioning and transporting the core wrap sheet 100b on which the stacked body 100a is mounted using the second vacuum conveyor 8b. Although folded, the core wrap sheet 100b may be folded using the folding guide plate 201 without using the second vacuum conveyor 8b.

  In addition, in the transport step of the present embodiment, the strip-like hydrophilic sheet 10as is split by the split device 21 to obtain the hydrophilic fiber 10a, but the split step is not included. May be Moreover, in the manufacturing method of the absorber 100, although the absorptive particle 10c is supplied using the absorptive particle dispersion tube 36, it is not necessary to supply the absorptive particle 10c. That is, in the transport step of the present embodiment, even if the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh is unintentionally supplied, not only the air flow but also the hydrophilic fibers 10a and the absorbent particles 10c collide with the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh Although the sheet piece 10bh is separated, it may be separated by causing only the air flow to collide with the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh. Alternatively, the air flow and either the hydrophilic fibers 10a or the absorbent particles 10c may be caused to collide with the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh and be separated into the sheet piece 10bh.

  Moreover, although the supply position of the hydrophilic fiber 10a is supplied on the upstream side of the position where the sheet piece 10bh is supplied in the transport step of the present embodiment, the sheet piece 10bh is supplied at the position where the hydrophilic fiber 10a is supplied. It may be supplied downstream of the position where the When the position for supplying the hydrophilic fibers 10a is on the downstream side of the position for supplying the sheet pieces 10bh, even if the lump 10K of the sheet pieces 10bh is unintentionally supplied, the sheet pieces 10bh and the hydrophilic fibers 10a and When the pieces merge, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh flowing from the upstream side collides with the hydrophilic fiber 10a in the air flow, so that the lump 10K is separated into individual sheet pieces 10bh and the air is scattered. It will be carried by the stream. Therefore, it is easy to stably manufacture an aggregate 100a of the absorber 100 in which the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly distributed.

  Further, in the transport step of the present embodiment, the absorbent particles 10c are supplied on the upstream side of the position for supplying the sheet piece 10bh, but the absorbent particles 10c are provided on the downstream side of the position for supplying the sheet piece 10bh It may be supplied. When the position for supplying the absorbent particles 10c is on the downstream side of the position for supplying the sheet pieces 10bh, even if the lumps 10K of the sheet pieces 10bh are unintentionally supplied, the sheet pieces 10bh and the absorbent particles 10c and When the pieces merge, the lump 10K of the sheet piece 10bh flowing from the upstream side collides with the absorbent particle 10c in the air flow, whereby the lump 10K is separated into individual sheet pieces 10bh and the air is scattered It will be carried by the stream. Therefore, it is easy to stably manufacture an aggregate 100a of the absorber 100 in which the sheet pieces 10bh are uniformly distributed.

  Moreover, in the manufacturing method of the absorber 100, although the sheet piece 10bh is formed by the cutting process, it is not necessary to provide the cutting process in-line, and it is not necessary to use the sheet piece 10bh cut in a predetermined length in advance. May be In the cutting step, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut using the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54. However, a cutter blade that cuts in the first direction instead of the two cutter rollers The synthetic fiber sheet 10bs may be cut using a single cutter roller provided on the same circumferential surface with a cutter blade 52 that cuts 51 and the cutter blade 52 in the second direction. In the case of using the one cutter roller, it is preferable to use one receiving roller disposed opposite to the one cutter roller. In a manufacturing apparatus having the one cutter roller and the one receiving roller, the suction port 581 of the suction nozzle 58 is preferably disposed below the one cutter roller.

  Further, in the cutting process of the present embodiment, a first cutter roller 53 provided with a cutter blade 51 for cutting in a first direction, and a second cutter roller 54 provided with a cutter blade 52 for cutting in a second direction, A belt-shaped synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is formed into a predetermined length in the first direction and the second direction using one receiving roller 55 disposed to face the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54. The sheet is cut to produce a sheet piece 10bh containing the synthetic fiber 10b. On the other hand, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs may be cut using different receiving rollers disposed opposite to the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54 to manufacture the sheet piece 10bh.

  Further, in the cutting step of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a first cutter roller 53 provided with a plurality of cutter blades 51 arranged at equal intervals, and a plurality of cutters arranged at equal intervals, respectively. The synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut using the second cutter roller 54 provided with the blade 52 to produce sheet pieces 10bh of the same size, but a plurality of cutter blades so as to have two or more types of intervals 51 is used to cut the synthetic fiber sheet 10 bs by using the first cutter roller 53 provided with 51 or the second cutter roller 54 provided with a plurality of cutter blades 52 so as to have two or more kinds of intervals. May be manufactured. When manufactured in this manner, sheet pieces 10bh of two or more types of sizes can be formed, but unlike the manufacture using a cutter mill method, sheet pieces 10bh of the intended size can be formed with high accuracy. Thus, absorbents with targeted absorption performance can be produced efficiently and continuously.

  Further, in the cutting process of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut using the first cutter roller 53 and the second cutter roller 54 to manufacture a sheet piece 10bh. However, the synthetic fiber sheet 10bs is cut using a press equipped with the cutter blade 51 that cuts in the first direction without using a cutter roller and a press equipped with the cutter blade 52 that cuts in the second direction. The sheet piece 10bh may be manufactured.

  In addition, the shape of the manufactured aggregate 100 a may be flexibly changed by changing the shape of the accumulation recess 41. Moreover, you may hydrophilize the fiber used for the synthetic fiber 10b.

With respect to the embodiment described above, the following method of manufacturing an absorbent will be further disclosed.
<1>
A method of manufacturing an absorbent for an absorbent article containing a synthetic fiber, comprising: conveying step of conveying a plurality of sheet pieces containing the synthetic fiber to a stacking portion using a conveying portion; and conveyed in the conveying step A stacking step of stacking a plurality of the sheet pieces in the stacking portion to obtain a stacked body which is a component member of an absorber, and a band-shaped covering sheet on which the stacked body obtained in the stacking step is transported On both sides along the transport direction of the covering sheet, and fold back the both sides along the transport direction of the covering sheet so as to at least cover both sides along the transport direction of the stacked body placed thereon. And a covering step of covering the aggregate with the covering sheet.
<2>
In the covering step, both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet are folded back from positions at which distances from both side edges along the conveying direction of the stacked body placed are 5 mm or less from the covering sheet. The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in said <1> which coat | covers this accumulation body.
<3>
In the covering step, one covering sheet is used, and both sides along the conveyance direction of the covering sheet are folded back so as to cover both sides along the conveyance direction of the stacked body placed thereon. The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in said <1> or <2> which piles up both sides and coat | covers the whole said aggregate | assembly.
<4>
In the conveying step, the method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to <3>, wherein the overlapping portions of the both sides of the covering sheet are fixed with an adhesive to cover the entire assembly.
<5>
In the covering step, while suctioning and conveying the covering sheet, both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet are folded back to cover the accumulation body, in any one of <1> to <4>. The manufacturing method of the described absorber.
<6>
A cutting step of forming a plurality of sheet pieces by cutting a belt-like synthetic fiber sheet containing the synthetic fibers in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction to form a plurality of sheet pieces, In a process, the manufacturing method of the absorber given in any 1 of the <1>-<5> which accumulates a plurality of said sheet pieces formed at this cutting process, and obtains the accumulation object.
<7>
In the cutting step, the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet is cut using a first cutter roller provided with a cutter blade for cutting in the first direction to form a strip-like continuous sheet piece, and the second The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in said <6> which cut | disconnects this strip | belt-shaped sheet piece continuous body, and forms two or more said sheet pieces using the 2nd cutter roller provided with the cutter blade which cut | disconnects in a direction.
<8>
The first direction is a direction in which the band-like synthetic fiber sheet is conveyed in the cutting step, and the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction, described in <6> or <7>. Method of producing an absorbent.
<9>
And a suction step of suctioning the sheet piece formed in the cutting step and supplying the sheet piece to the inside of the conveyance unit, wherein, in the conveyance step, the sheet piece supplied to the inside of the conveyance unit in the suction step The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in any one of said <6>-<8> which carries on an air flow and conveys to the said accumulation part.
<10>
The average length of each of the sheet pieces formed in the cutting step is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or more and 15 mm or less, and particularly preferably 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in any one of said <6>-<9>.

<11>
The average width of each of the sheet pieces formed in the cutting step is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less, more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in any one of said <6>-<10> which is especially preferable.
<12>
In the suction process, the sheet piece formed in the cutting process is supplied to the inside of the transport unit through a supply rod, the production of the absorber according to any one of <6> to <11> Method.
<13>
The method for manufacturing an absorber according to <12>, wherein the supply rod extends in a direction intersecting a flow direction of the air flow of the transport unit.
<14>
In the accumulation step, the method for manufacturing an absorber according to any one of <1> to <13>, wherein the accumulation portion is an accumulation concave portion disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a rotating drum.
<15>
The manufacturing method of the absorber any one of said <1>-<14> which has a disintegrating process of obtaining a hydrophilic fiber by disintegrating a strip | belt-shaped hydrophilic sheet.
<16>
In the transporting step, the absorbent fiber according to <15>, wherein the hydrophilic fiber and the sheet piece are respectively supplied and transported at different positions along the flow direction of the air flow inside the transport unit. Manufacturing method.
<17>
In the said conveyance process, the manufacturing method of the absorber any one of said <1>-<16> which supplies an absorptive particle | grain to the inside of the said conveyance part.
<18>
In the transporting step, the absorbent particles according to <17>, wherein the absorbent particles and the sheet piece are respectively supplied and transported at different positions along the flow direction of the air flow inside the transport unit. Manufacturing method.
<19>
The absorbent particles according to <17> or <18>, wherein in the transport step, the absorbent particles are supplied and transported on the upstream side in the flow direction of the air flow from the position where the sheet piece 10bh is supplied. Production method.
<20>
In the covering step, both sides along the transport direction of the covering sheet are folded back to cover the entire circumference of the stack, and the overlapping portions of the both sides are fixed by an adhesive. The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in any one of <>.

<21>
In the coating step, the method according to <20>, wherein the coating amount of the adhesive is preferably 0.1 g / m 2 or more and 20 g / m 2 or less.
<22>
In the covering step, using the first sheet and the second sheet, the stacked body obtained in the stacking step is placed on a band-shaped first sheet being conveyed, and the conveying direction of the first sheet The first sheet is folded back on both sides along the conveying direction of the first sheet so as to at least cover both sides along the conveying direction of the stacked body placed on both sides along the The manufacturing method of the absorber any one of said <1>-<21> which coat | covers and coat | covers the part which is not coat | covered with the 1st sheet of an accumulation body using said 2nd sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 manufacturing apparatus 2 defibrating unit 21 defibrating machine 3 duct 30 channel 4 rotating drum 41 recessed part for accumulation 10a hydrophilic fiber 10b synthetic fiber 10bh sheet piece 10c absorbent particle 10K sheet piece lump 100 absorbent body 100a accumulated body aR, aL Both sides of the stack aR1, aL1 Both sides of the stack 100b Core wrap sheet bR, bL Both sides of core wrap sheet 100bC Core wrap sheet overlapping portion 201R, 201L Folded guide plate Va Hydrophilic fiber transport speed Va1 Hydrophilicity The velocity component of the downstream side in fiber transport velocity Vb The velocity of conveyance of the sheet piece Vb1 The velocity component of downstream side in the velocity of sheet transport Vc The velocity of transport of absorbent particles Vc1 The velocity component of downstream side of the transport velocity of absorbent particles Y1 One direction X1 second direction

Claims (9)

A method of manufacturing an absorbent for an absorbent article comprising a synthetic fiber, comprising:
Conveying the plurality of sheet pieces including the synthetic fiber to the accumulation unit using the conveyance unit;
Stacking the plurality of sheet pieces transported in the transporting step in the stacking unit to obtain a stacked body which is a component member of the absorber;
The stacked body obtained in the stacking step is placed on a band-like covering sheet being conveyed, and on both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet, along the conveying direction of the piled sheet. And covering the accumulation body with the covering sheet by folding the both sides along the transport direction of the covering sheet so as to at least cover the both sides.   In the covering step, both sides along the conveying direction of the covering sheet are folded back from positions at which distances from both side edges along the conveying direction of the stacked body placed are 5 mm or less from the covering sheet. The manufacturing method of the absorber of Claim 1 which coats the said accumulation body.   In the covering step, one covering sheet is used, and both sides along the conveyance direction of the covering sheet are folded back so as to cover both sides along the conveyance direction of the stacked body placed thereon. The manufacturing method of the absorber as described in any one of Claim 1 or 2 which piles up both sides and coat | covers the whole said aggregate | assembly.   The manufacturing method of the absorber according to claim 3, wherein in the transporting step, the overlapping portions of the both sides of the covering sheet are fixed by an adhesive to cover the entire assembly.   The coating process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the accumulation body is covered by folding back both sides along the conveyance direction of the covering sheet while conveying the covering sheet while suctioning. Method of manufacturing an absorber. And c) cutting the strip-like synthetic fiber sheet containing the synthetic fibers in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction at a predetermined length to form a plurality of the sheet pieces,
The method for manufacturing an absorbent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the accumulation step, the plurality of sheet pieces formed in the cutting step are accumulated to obtain the accumulation body.   In the cutting step, the belt-like synthetic fiber sheet is cut using a first cutter roller provided with a cutter blade for cutting in the first direction to form a strip-like continuous sheet piece, and the second The manufacturing method of the absorber of Claim 6 which cut | disconnects this strip | belt-shaped sheet piece continuous body, and forms two or more said sheet pieces using the 2nd cutter roller provided with the cutter blade which cut | disconnects in a direction.   The said 1st direction is a direction which conveys the said strip | belt-shaped synthetic fiber sheet in the said cutting process, The said 2nd direction is a direction orthogonal to the said 1st direction, The absorber of Claim 6 or 7 Manufacturing method. And a suction step of suctioning the sheet piece formed in the cutting step and supplying the sheet piece to the inside of the conveyance unit.
The absorber according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein in the conveying step, the sheet piece supplied to the inside of the conveying portion in the suction step is carried on an air flow and conveyed to the accumulation portion. Manufacturing method.