JP2019034079A - Absorbent article and method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article capable of suppressing the diffusion of a body fluid in a surface sheet to limit the diffusion of the body fluid in the surface direction to a narrower range and reducing discomfort due to contact of the body fluid with the skin. .. SOLUTION: This is an absorbent article including a main body having a liquid-permeable front sheet, an impermeable back sheet, and an absorber provided between the two sheets, and the main body is attached at the time of mounting. The surface sheet has a first region including the center of the region corresponding to the body fluid discharge port of the wearer, and a second region extending around the first region and having an area larger than the area of the first region. Hydrophobic particles are coated on the surface, and the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the first region is smaller than the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area coated to the second region. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

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

  Conventionally, absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads, for the purpose of absorbing bodily fluids are known. Many of such absorbent articles have a basic structure including a main body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impervious back sheet, and an absorbent body provided between the two sheets. ing.

  When the absorbent article is used, the body fluid is discharged onto the liquid-permeable surface sheet and absorbed through the surface sheet into the absorbent body. However, when the body fluid remains on the surface sheet, the body fluid is separated from the skin. Discomfort tends to occur on contact. For this reason, it is preferable to leave as little body fluid as possible on the top sheet. Therefore, ingenuity such as applying a substance to the surface sheet is known in order to control the transfer of body fluid in the surface sheet.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that a blood slipperiness imparting agent is applied to a top sheet (surface sheet). According to the disclosures of Patent Literatures 1 and 2, the blood slipperiness imparting agent is a substance that comes into contact with menstrual blood that has reached the top sheet and slides down into the recess together with menstrual blood.

Japanese Patent No. 5717685 Japanese Patent No. 5998000

  Patent Document 1 discloses an absorptivity that prevents menstrual blood from diffusing out of the excretory opening contact area by applying a blood slipperiness imparting agent and a predetermined embossed configuration surrounding the excretion opening contact area. The article is listed. Patent Document 2 describes a nonwoven fabric that suppresses lateral (surface direction) diffusion by applying a blood slipperiness-imparting agent and a configuration having a collar, a groove, and a through hole.

  However, the structure which can further improve the function which suppresses the spreading | diffusion of the surface direction of a bodily fluid in a surface sheet, and can suppress the spreading | diffusion in the surface direction of a bodily fluid is calculated | required.

  In view of the above points, according to one aspect of the present invention, the diffusion of the body fluid in the surface sheet is suppressed, so that the diffusion in the surface direction of the body fluid is kept in a narrower range, and the body fluid does not contact the skin. It is an object to provide an absorbent article that can reduce pleasure and the like.

  1st form of this invention is absorption provided with the main body which has a liquid-permeable surface sheet, a liquid-impermeable back surface sheet, and the absorber provided between the said surface sheet and the said back surface sheet. The body is a first region including a center of a region corresponding to a body fluid discharge port of the wearer at the time of wearing, and extends around the first region and is larger than an area of the first region. A second region having an area, and at least surfaces of the first region and the second region are coated with hydrophobic particles, and the hydrophobic particles per unit area coated on the first region The amount is less than the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region.

  According to the first embodiment, the hydrophobic particles are applied to the surface of the topsheet. Since the hydrophobic particles have a relatively low wettability with respect to the body fluid, when the body fluid is discharged onto the surface sheet and comes into contact with the hydrophobic particles, the body fluid is unlikely to move from the position. Therefore, the movement of the body fluid on the top sheet can be suppressed. Thereby, the range which a bodily fluid diffuses to a surface direction can be made small, and tactile discomfort by a bodily fluid contacting skin can be reduced. In addition, during use, discomfort (visual discomfort) due to the appearance of body fluid spreading on the topsheet can be reduced.

  However, if the action of suppressing diffusion of body fluids by such hydrophobic particles is large, the absorption rate from the topsheet to the absorber tends to be small. On the other hand, in the said form, the quantity of the hydrophobic particle per unit area which exists in the 1st area | region including the center of a bodily fluid discharge | emission opening corresponding | compatible area | region exists in the 2nd area | region extended around the 1st area | region. The amount is smaller than the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area. Thereby, the body fluid can be transferred to the absorber relatively quickly in the first region where most of the discharged body fluid can reach first. Therefore, it is difficult for body fluid to remain on the first region, and discomfort caused by body fluid adhering to the skin in the vicinity of the body fluid discharge port can be reduced.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the second region is 20 to 100 g / m ² , and the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the first region is 10 g / m ^2. m ² or less.

  According to the second aspect, since the range of the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area in the second region is defined, the effect of favorably suppressing the diffusion of the body fluid in the surface direction in the second region. While maintaining the above, it is possible to avoid problems such as the amount of the hydrophobic particles being excessively large and the pores of the surface sheet being blocked. In addition, since the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area in the first region is not more than a predetermined value, the above-described effect that body fluid can be more rapidly absorbed from the topsheet to the absorber in the first region is improved. Can be made.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, hydrophobic particles are not applied to the first region.

  According to the third aspect, since the hydrophobic particles are not applied to the first region, the absorption of the body fluid from the top sheet to the absorber is further performed in the first region where most of the body fluid reaches first. Promptly. Thereby, the discomfort felt in the vicinity of the body fluid discharge port can be reduced. This embodiment in which the hydrophobic particles are not applied to the first region can be suitably used particularly when the amount of body fluid is large.

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the area of the first region is 75 to 1300 mm ² .

  According to the fourth embodiment, the area of the first region has a predetermined size, and the region where the absorption from the topsheet to the absorber proceeds relatively quickly has an appropriate area. . As a result, the body fluid discharged from the body fluid discharge port is transferred from the surface sheet to the absorber in the vicinity of the region corresponding to the body fluid discharge port while maintaining the effect of the hydrophobic particles that keep the region where the body fluid diffuses within a small range. It becomes possible to absorb more reliably.

  In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the center of the shape of the first region coincides with the center of the region corresponding to the body fluid discharge port.

  According to the fifth aspect, since the center of the shape of the first region coincides with the center of the region corresponding to the bodily fluid discharge port, the first region is located in the region corresponding to the bodily fluid discharge port and its vicinity. It is possible to make it correspond reliably. Thereby, the bodily fluid discharged | emitted from a bodily fluid discharge port can be more reliably absorbed from a surface sheet to an absorber in a 1st area | region.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the shape of the first region is a line-symmetric polygon, circle, or ellipse with the center line in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article as a symmetry line.

  According to the sixth aspect, since the first region has a predetermined shape, the first region can be a region having a predetermined spread in all directions. Thereby, in a 1st area | region, it can be made to absorb from a surface sheet to an absorber more reliably.

  In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a main body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impervious back sheet, and an absorber provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, A method for producing an absorbent article, wherein the main body has a first region including a center of a region corresponding to the body fluid discharge port of the wearer when worn, and a second region extending around the first region, A step of applying hydrophobic particles to the surface of the topsheet, wherein the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the first region is determined by the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region. Less than the amount.

  According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an absorbent article that exhibits the same effect as the first aspect.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, by suppressing diffusion of body fluid in the surface sheet, diffusion in the surface direction of body fluid can be kept in a narrower range, and discomfort caused by contact of body fluid with the skin can be reduced. Absorbent articles can be provided.

It is a partially broken top view for demonstrating the basic structure of the absorbent article by one form of this invention. It is an II line sectional view of an absorptive article by one form of the present invention. It is a top view of an absorptive article by one form of the present invention. It is a top view of an absorptive article by one form of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the sample used in the Example. It is a figure for demonstrating the instrument used by the absorption test in an Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view of a sanitary napkin as an example of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along line II of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 includes a liquid-impermeable back sheet 2, a liquid-permeable surface sheet 3, and an absorbent body 4 provided between the sheets 2 and 3. And a main body (absorbent article main body) 8. In order to maintain the shape of the absorbent body 4, the absorbent body 4 may be wrapped with an encapsulating sheet 5 made of crepe paper or nonwoven fabric.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 8 as a whole has an elongated shape having a predetermined length in the front-rear direction and a predetermined width in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The width of the main body 8 is substantially constant in the illustrated example, but may vary in the front-rear direction. The absorbent article (sanitary napkin) 1 can have a substantially line-symmetric shape with respect to a center line (front-rear direction center line or longitudinal center line) CL extending in the front-rear direction.

  Further, the absorbent article body 8 has a region (body fluid discharge port corresponding region) 50 corresponding to a body fluid discharge port including the wearer's vagina mouth, small labia and the like when worn, It has a center 50A. The center 50A is on the front-rear direction center line CL, and is located at the center of the front-rear direction length of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50. The main body 8 has a central region RM including the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50, a front region RF in front of the central region RM, and a rear region RR in the rear of the central region RM.

  The center region RM may have wings W, W extending from both sides thereof for securely fixing the absorbent article 1 to the underwear when the absorbent article 1 is attached. The front region RF is a region from a position that is the starting point of the wings W and W to the front edge of the main body 8, and the rear region RR is a position that is the starting point of the wings W and W and is the rear end of the main body 8. It can be the area to the edge. When the wings W and W are provided, the center 50A of the bodily fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 is located at the midpoint position of the longitudinal end length of the side edges of the wings W and W when viewed in the front and rear direction. Or may be in a position intermediate between the front and rear edges of the wings W, W.

  In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 has wings W and W, but the absorbent article 1 can be configured without the wings W and W. In this case, when the wings W and W are formed at positions where the wings W and W are conventionally formed, the front area RF is defined as the front area RF from the position where the wings W and W start, and the rear of the wings W and W. The region behind from the position that becomes the starting point can be the rear region RR. The length in the front-rear direction of the central region RM can be 50 to 90 mm.

  At the periphery of the main body 8, the outer edge of the back sheet 2 and the outer edge of the top sheet 3 may be joined by an adhesive such as hot melt, or an adhesive means such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing. Moreover, the side nonwoven fabric 7 may be provided in the both sides by the side of the surface sheet 3 along the front-back direction (longitudinal direction), respectively. The side nonwoven fabric 7 partially protrudes to the side of the main body 8 and is laminated on the back sheet 2 which also protrudes to the side. The side nonwoven fabric 7 is bonded by an adhesive such as hot melt or an adhesive means such as heat seal or ultrasonic seal. Thus, the above-described wings W and W are formed on both side portions of the main body 8.

  As the back sheet 2, a sheet material having at least water shielding properties such as an olefin resin sheet such as polyethylene or polypropylene can be used. A laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating a nonwoven fabric on a polyethylene sheet or the like, or a laminated sheet of a nonwoven fabric that is substantially impervious to liquid by interposing a waterproof film can be used. Further, it is more desirable to use a material having moisture permeability from the viewpoint of preventing stuffiness. As such a water-impervious / breathable sheet material, a sheet obtained by melt-kneading an inorganic filler in an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene to form a sheet and then stretching it in a uniaxial or biaxial direction can be obtained. A porous sheet can be used.

  The top sheet 3 is a liquid-permeable sheet that quickly permeates bodily fluids such as menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, and urine. As the surface sheet 3, a porous or non-porous nonwoven fabric, a porous plastic sheet, or the like is preferably used. Examples of the material fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric include olefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, and blended fibers thereof, and natural fibers such as cotton alone or Two or more types can be used in combination. Examples of the nonwoven fabric processing method include a spunlace method, a spunbond method, a thermal bond method, a melt blown method, and a needle punch method. Among these processing methods, the spunlace method is preferable in terms of flexibility and the spunbond method is preferable in that it can produce a nonwoven fabric rich in drapeability, and the thermal bond method is preferable in terms of the ability to manufacture a bulky and soft nonwoven fabric. In addition, a composite fiber such as a core-sheath fiber, a side-by-side fiber, or a split fiber having a fiber having a high melting point as a core and a fiber having a low melting point as a sheath can be used.

  The topsheet 3 may be perforated as described above, and may have, for example, a plurality of apertures 20 as shown in FIG. The opening 20 is a through-hole penetrating from one side of the top sheet 3 to the other side. The opening 20 may be, for example, a circle having a diameter of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, or another shape such as an ellipse or a rectangle having an area equivalent to the circle. Moreover, the pitch between the openings 20 can be set to 5 to 15 mm. By providing such an opening 20 in the topsheet 3, even when highly viscous body fluid is discharged onto the topsheet 3, such body fluid can be transmitted through the topsheet 3 more quickly. Can do. Therefore, the opening 20 contributes to the above-described effect of suppressing the diffusion of the body fluid in the surface direction on the top sheet 3.

  In the illustrated example, the opening 20 is formed over the entire surface sheet 3, but the opening 20 is formed in a part of the surface sheet 3, for example, the bodily fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 or the central region RM. It can also be set as the form which is not formed in the area | regions other than. In addition, the size and / or pitch of the openings 20 in the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 and the central region RM can be made different from the size and / or pitch of the openings 20 in other regions.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface sheet 3 may be formed with a dot-shaped compressed portion (emboss) 30 over the whole. The dot-shaped pressing part 30 may be formed between the openings 20, and the region surrounded by the opening 20 and the dot-shaped pressing part 30 has a quadrangle such as a square as in the illustrated example. It may be.

  The absorbent body 4 interposed between the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 3 is not limited as long as it is a material that can absorb and retain body fluid, but preferably contains cotton-like pulp and a water-absorbing polymer. As the water-absorbing polymer, a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), a superabsorbent fiber (SAF), and a combination thereof can be used. Examples of pulp include cellulose fibers such as chemical pulp obtained from wood and dissolved pulp, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon and acetate. As raw materials for chemical pulp, hardwood, softwood, etc. are used, but softwood is preferably used because of its long fiber length.

  Further, the absorbent body 4 may be mixed with synthetic fibers. As synthetic fibers, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, and copolymers thereof can be used. It can also be used. In addition, composite fibers such as a core-sheath fiber, a side-by-side fiber, and a split fiber having a fiber having a high melting point as a core and a fiber having a low melting point as a sheath can also be used. In addition, it is also possible to use a hydrophobic fiber that has been surface treated with a hydrophilizing agent to impart affinity to body fluids.

  The thickness of the absorber 4 can be in the range of 0.5 to 25 mm, and is preferably in the range of 1.5 to 6.5 mm. The absorbent body 4 may not have a uniform thickness over the front surface, and may have a structure in which the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 and the vicinity thereof, and the center portion in the width direction of the rear region RR bulge out. . In addition, the absorbent body 4 is preferably manufactured by a stacking fiber or an airlaid method.

  As the side nonwoven fabric 7, a water-repellent treated nonwoven fabric or a hydrophilic treated nonwoven fabric can be used. For example, when enhancing the effect of preventing menstrual blood or vaginal penetration or the feeling of touch, it is preferable to use a water repellent nonwoven fabric coated with a silicon-based, paraffin-based, alkylchromic chloride-based water repellent or the like. . Moreover, when improving the absorbability of the menstrual blood etc. in the wings W and W, it is preferable to use the nonwoven fabric which carried out the hydrophilic process as a material of a nonwoven fabric. As a kind of the nonwoven fabric, a soft air-through nonwoven fabric which is difficult to crease and does not easily wrinkle is preferable.

  On the outer edges of the wings W and W, for the purpose of joining the side nonwoven fabric 7 and the back sheet 2 and for the purpose of increasing the rigidity, a compressed portion (emboss) having a dot shape or a predetermined shape is provided at a predetermined location. May be.

  The full length of the absorbent article 1 can be 130-450 mm, and it is preferable in it being 140-360 mm.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the main body 8 extends around the first region A including the center 50 </ b> A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 of the wearer when worn. And a second region B (shown in gray) having an area larger than the area of the first region A, the surface of the surface sheet 3 being coated with hydrophobic particles, and the unit coated on the first region A The amount of hydrophobic particles per area is an absorbent article that is less than the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region B.

  Since the topsheet 3 is liquid permeable, when the body fluid is discharged onto the topsheet 3, the body fluid can pass through the topsheet 3 to the absorber provided therebelow. At this time, in the conventional absorbent article, although depending on the amount and viscosity of the body fluid, the body fluid diffuses on the surface sheet 3 in the surface direction, and part of the body sheet can diffuse in the surface sheet 3. The body fluid diffused on the top sheet 3 may come into contact with the skin and cause discomfort such as stickiness.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, hydrophobic particles are applied to a predetermined region on the surface sheet side of the absorbent article. Here, the state in which the hydrophobic particles are applied means that the hydrophobic particles are present on the surface of the surface sheet 3 by applying the hydrophobic particles to the surface of the surface sheet 3. It is also present inside. When the top sheet 3 is made of a nonwoven fabric, hydrophobic particles are attached to the surface of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric.

  Since the wettability of the hydrophobic particles to the body fluid is small, when the body fluid discharged on the surface sheet 3 comes into contact with the hydrophobic particles present on the surface sheet 3 and / or in the surface sheet 3, the body fluid spreads from the place. It becomes difficult. Therefore, in the surface sheet 3 to which the hydrophobic particles are applied, compared with the surface sheet to which the hydrophobic particles are not applied, in the surface sheet 3, that is, on the surface sheet 3 and / or in the surface sheet 3. , Body fluid diffusion is suppressed. Thereby, the area in the planar view which a bodily fluid spreads in the surface sheet 3 can be made small, and tactile discomfort due to the bodily fluid contacting the skin in a wide range can be reduced. Further, visual discomfort due to the appearance of body fluid spreading in the top sheet 3 during use can also be reduced.

  However, if the action of suppressing diffusion of body fluid as described above is large, the absorption rate from the topsheet 3 to the absorber 4 tends to be small. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area included in the first region A including the center A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 is set to be hydrophobic per unit area included in the second region B. The amount is less than the amount of sex particles. Therefore, in the 1st area | region A where most of the discharged | emitted body fluid can reach | attain initially, a bodily fluid can be transferred comparatively rapidly, Therefore In 1st area | region A, the body fluid from the surface sheet 3 to the absorber 4 Can be absorbed relatively quickly. Therefore, it is difficult for body fluid to remain on the first region A, and discomfort caused by body fluid adhering to the skin in the vicinity of the body fluid discharge port can be reduced. Further, since rapid absorption is performed in the first region A, the amount of body fluid spreading around can be reduced, and diffusion of the body fluid in the surface direction can be suppressed even when the amount of body fluid is relatively large.

  Further, when the body fluid is absorbed from the topsheet 3 to the absorber 4 in the first region A, it can diffuse into the second region B within the absorber 4. Here, since the bodily fluid once absorbed by the absorbent body 4 in the first region A and the second region B is returned to the surface again when the skin is pressed against the main body 8 at the time of wearing, so-called reversal may occur. May cause discomfort. In this embodiment, the return of such body fluid can be made substantially equal to that of the conventional product.

  The area of the second region B can be larger than the area of the first region A. By increasing the area of the second region B where the application amount of the hydrophobic particles is large, it is possible to more effectively prevent the body fluid from spreading from the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 and diffusing. Further, the second region B may be all regions except the first region A from the region where the topsheet 3 is exposed, or the first region A is excluded from the central region RM as in the illustrated example. The first region A may be excluded from at least a part of the region or the central region RM and the front region RF and the rear region RR adjacent thereto. Providing a region where particles are not applied at the front or rear end of the absorbent article 1 is economically advantageous.

  The hydrophobic particles may be inorganic particles or organic particles having hydrophobicity on the surface. Examples of the inorganic particles include talc, bentonite, kaolin, mica, sericite, silica, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium carbonate. Examples of the organic particles include nylon, acrylic resin, silicone, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyester. The organic particles may be a polymer alloy or a copolymer. These particles can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Of the above particles, inorganic particles are preferable, and talc is preferably used because it has appropriate hydrophobicity.

  Moreover, the surface of the predetermined particle can be used as the hydrophobic particle in the present embodiment by obtaining a particle having hydrophobicity imparted or improved by subjecting it to a hydrophobic treatment such as a silylation treatment. What carried out the hydrophobization process with respect to said particle | grains can also be used as a hydrophobic particle in this form.

  The color of the hydrophobic particles is not particularly limited but is preferably white. By using the white particles, it becomes difficult to see the body fluid absorbed in the top sheet 3 or the absorber 4, and the visual discomfort can be further reduced. Moreover, since the surface sheet 3 is often white or a light color close to white, if the particles are white, the surface sheet 3 does not stand out even when applied, and the absorbent article 1 can be formed without causing an uncomfortable appearance. Can be used.

The average particle size of the hydrophobic particles is preferably 100 μm or less. When the average particle size is within this range, the applied particles are likely to adhere to the fibers of the surface sheet, and the above-described effect of suppressing the diffusion of body fluid is easily exhibited. The average particle size of the hydrophobic particles is more preferably 1 to 80 μm, further preferably 3 to 50 μm, and further preferably 5 to 20 μm. By setting it as the said range, while improving the effect | action which suppresses spreading | diffusion of a bodily fluid, it can be made hard to feel the roughness of a particle | grain etc. The average particle diameter in the present specification is a median diameter calculated from volume-based particle size distribution measured by laser diffraction scattering measuring method (D _50).

Preferably the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the second region B is 20 to 100 g / ^{m 2,} more preferable to be 30~90g / ^{m 2,} further preferably a 40~70g / ^{m 2.} By setting the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the second region B to 20 g / m ² or more, it is possible to more favorably suppress the diffusion of the body fluid in the surface sheet. Further, by setting the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the second region B to 100 g / m ² , the particles are excessively applied on the top sheet 3, and the porous formed in the top sheet 3, that is, the above-mentioned It is possible to avoid obstructing the flow of bodily fluids in the thickness direction of the absorbent article by closing the openings 20 and the gaps between the fibers.

The amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the first region A is preferably 0 to 10 g / m ² or less. The form in which the hydrophobic particles of 10 g / m ² or less are present in the first region A can favorably suppress the diffusion of the body fluid in the first region A. Therefore, particularly when the amount of the body fluid discharged is relatively small Is preferable.

Further, the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the first region A can be as small as 5 g / m ² or less, and in that case, it is more preferably 1 g / m ² or less, and 0.1 g / m ² or less. Is more preferable. More preferably, the first region A is not coated with hydrophobic particles. When the amount of discharged body fluid is relatively large, the body fluid is more likely to remain on the top sheet 3, so that the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the first region A is within the above range, and the top sheet in the first region A By increasing the absorption rate of body fluid from 3 to the absorber 4, discomfort due to the remaining body fluid can be reduced. Therefore, the form in which the hydrophobic particles are not applied to the first region A can be suitably used as an absorbent article used particularly when the discharge amount or discharge speed of body fluid is large.

Difference between the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the second region B and the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the first region A ((the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region B)) -(Amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the first region A)) is preferably 10 g / m ² or more, more preferably 20 g / m ² or more, and 30 g / m ² or more. More preferably, it is 50 g / m ² or more. By setting it as the above range, it is difficult for body fluid to move from the first region A to the second region B at the boundary between the first region A and the second region B, so the surface in the first region A Absorption from the sheet 3 to the absorbent body is further promoted, and diffusion of body fluid in the surface direction on the top sheet 3 can be further suppressed.

More area of the first region A is appropriately determined depending on the size and application of the absorbent article 1, preferable to be 75～1300Mm ^2, more preferable to be 100～1200Mm ^2, When it is 200 to 1000 mm ² Preferably, it is more preferable in it being 250-750 mm < ² >. By setting the area of the first region A to 75 mm ² or more, it is possible to secure a region in which the transfer of body fluid from the topsheet 3 to the absorber 4 proceeds promptly with an appropriate area. Thereby, much body fluid can be absorbed in the 1st field A, and the quantity of body fluid which diffuses from the 1st field A to the circumference can be reduced. In addition, by setting the area of the first region A to 1300 mm ² or less, it is possible to reduce the range in which the body fluid easily diffuses in the surface direction.

  It is preferable that the center of the shape of the first region A and the center 50A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 coincide as shown in FIG. Since the center of the shape of the first region A coincides with the center 50A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50, the body fluid discharged from the body fluid discharge port can be more reliably absorbed in the first region A. In addition, the center of the shape of the first region A and the center 50A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 may be separated by a distance of 10 mm or less in the front-rear direction.

  The center 50 </ b> A of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 may be at a position 70 to 100 mm from the front end of the main body 8. 1 and 3, when the pair of front and rear squeezing grooves 14 and 14 are provided on both sides of the bodily fluid discharge port corresponding region 50, the center 50A has a pair of front and rear squeezing grooves. It may be at the center position in the front-rear direction.

  The shape of the first region A is not particularly limited, but is preferably a line-symmetric shape with the front-rear direction center line CL of the absorbent article 1 as a symmetry line, and more preferably a point-symmetric shape. For example, it may be a polygon such as a square such as a square, a rectangle, or a rhombus, a circle, or an ellipse. Since the first region A has such a shape, a predetermined area can be secured in all directions, and in the first region A, the body fluid is more reliably transferred from the topsheet 3 to the absorber 4. Can be absorbed. The shape of the first region A is preferably long in the front-rear direction in view of the shape of the liquid discharge port, particularly when the absorbent article 1 is a sanitary napkin.

  The amount of hydrophobic particles per unit in the first region A and the second region B may or may not be uniform in each region. Each region can be divided into a plurality of sections, and the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area can be varied for each of the divided sections. For example, in at least one of the first region A and the second region B, a striped section in the front-rear direction or the width direction is formed, and a section having a relatively small amount of hydrophobic particles and a section having a large amount are arranged alternately. You can also.

  In the above embodiment, the main body 8 has the first region A and the second region B, and the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied in each region is different, but the main body 8 has three or more regions. The amount of applied hydrophobic particles can be different in each region. For example, an annular third region C surrounding the first region A is provided between the first region A and the second region B, and the amount of hydrophobic particles applied to the third region C is It can be larger than the amount of hydrophobic particles in the first region A and smaller than the amount of hydrophobic particles in the second region B. Similarly, two or more regions may be formed between the first region A and the second region B, and the amount of hydrophobic particles to be applied may be changed stepwise.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 8 of the absorbent article 1 may have a pressing groove (emboss) formed by pressing the top sheet 3 and the absorbent body 4. As such pressing grooves, it is preferable that a pair of front-rear direction pressing grooves 14, 14 extending in the front-rear direction is provided along at least the side of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50 in the central region RM. The central region RM can be easily bent laterally along the front-rear direction squeezing grooves 14 and 14 at the time of wearing, and has a function of raising the center in the width direction of the central region RM in the direction of the body and improving fit. It also has a function of suppressing the diffusion of body fluid to the side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to suppress the transition of the body fluid to the end and / or to allow deformation of the body 8 along the shape of the body, the front compressed groove 12, the rear The rear pressing groove 16 may be formed in the region RR.

  Furthermore, the main body 8 of the absorbent article 1 may be formed with a blocking pressing groove 18 as shown in FIG. The blocking pressing groove 18 can be formed in at least one of the front and rear of the first region A, and is preferably formed both in the front and rear as in the illustrated example. The blocking pressing groove 18 can effectively suppress leakage of body fluid from the first region A forward and / or backward. In particular, even when body fluid remains on the surface of the topsheet 3 in the second region B, it is possible to prevent such body fluid from flowing and leaking.

  In the example shown in the drawing, the blocking pressing groove 18 has a substantially V shape with the tip portion facing the body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50, but may have another shape. For example, the blocking pressing groove 18 may have a shape that is linear or curved and extends in the width direction. Moreover, it is preferable that the blocking pressing groove 18 is formed in the front end and / or the rear end of the front-rear direction pressing grooves 12, 12 and a region in the vicinity thereof.

  One aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent article. Specifically, the liquid-permeable top sheet 3, the liquid-impervious back sheet 2, and between the top sheet 3 and the back sheet 2. An absorbent article 1 comprising a main body 8 having an absorbent body 4 provided in the first area A, wherein the main body 8 includes a center of a region corresponding to a body fluid discharge port of the wearer when worn; A method for manufacturing an absorbent article 1 having a second region B extending around a first region A, which includes a step of applying hydrophobic particles to the surface of the topsheet 3 and is applied to the first region A In the manufacturing method, the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area is smaller than the amount of hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region B.

  The application method in the step of applying the hydrophobic particles to the surface of the surface sheet 3 is not particularly limited, and a known application means can be used. For example, a dispersion liquid can be prepared by dispersing hydrophobic particles in a liquid medium, and the dispersion liquid can be printed on a desired region of the main body 8 using a known printing means. As the medium, a volatile medium may be used, or a non-volatile medium that promotes the bonding between the surface sheet 3 and the hydrophobic particles after application may be used. Examples of printing means include flexographic printing and gravure printing. When preparing a dispersion by dispersing hydrophobic particles in a liquid, a resin or the like may be contained in addition to the particles and the medium.

  As another application method, the dispersion liquid can be sprayed onto a desired region using a sprayer. Hydrophobic particles can be sprayed with air using a fluid nozzle, or can be applied using an electrostatic coating apparatus.

  Although the above-mentioned form was a sanitary napkin, the absorbent article according to the present embodiment can be used as a panty liner, an incontinence pad, a diaper or the like in addition to the sanitary napkin. The position and size of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region can be appropriately determined according to each application.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example are shown and this invention is further explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to an Example.

[Sample preparation]
Example 1
An absorbent article (sanitary napkin) having a total length of 21 cm having the same configuration as that of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1 was prepared. Applying baby powder (Pigeon Co., Ltd., “medicinal baby powder J”) to the application area B (FIG. 5A) of this absorbent article using a puff, the application amount per unit area is 58.8 g / It was uniformly coated to a m ^2. In Example 1, the region B is a region colored in gray as shown in FIG. 5A, and the center of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region from the region where the surface sheet is exposed in the central region RM of the main body. This is a region excluding the region (first region) A including. In this example, the region A was a circular region having a diameter of 1 cm, and the area of the region A was 79 mm ² . Further, the center of the region A coincided with the center of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region. In addition, the coating amount of the particles was obtained by measuring the weight of the absorbent article before and after coating and dividing the difference in weight by the coating area.

(Example 2)
A sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the diameter of the circular shape of the region A was 2 cm and the area was 314 mm ² .

(Example 3)
A sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the diameter of the circular shape of the region A was 3 cm and the area was 707 mm ² .

Example 4
A sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the diameter of the circular shape of the region A was 4 cm and the area was 1256 mm ² .

(Example 5)
The absorbent article was produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that a V-shaped blocking pressing groove as shown in FIG. 5B was formed in front and rear of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region of the absorbent article.

(Comparative Example 1)
The absorbent article before applying baby powder in Example 1 was used as a sample (FIG. 5C).

(Comparative Example 2)
A sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the area where the baby powder was applied was the entire area where the topsheet of the main body was exposed (FIG. 5D).

[Test method]
<Absorption rate test>
An absorption rate test was performed using a predetermined instrument 60. A general perspective view and plan view of a given instrument 60 are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), respectively. The instrument 60 has a structure in which a recess 62 is provided at the center and a through hole 64 is provided on the bottom surface. The through-hole 64 on the bottom surface of the instrument 60 has the shape of three through slits that intersect each other at the center of the bottom surface, and the length of each slit was 23 mm. The device was placed on a sanitary napkin so that the center of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region and the center of the device coincided with each other. 1 cc of artificial menstrual blood at 37 ° C. was injected through the instrument 60, and the time until the artificial menstrual blood soaked (time until the artificial menstrual blood disappeared from the surface sheet) was measured. After the completion of the first absorption, the sample was allowed to stand for 3 minutes, and then 1 cc of artificial menstrual blood was injected again in the same manner as in the first time, and the time until the artificial menstrual blood soaked was measured and taken as the absorption time.

<Diffusion test>
The sample subjected to the above-described absorption rate test was visually observed, and the length in the front-rear direction and the width direction of the portion of the artificial menstrual blood diffused on the surface sheet was measured to obtain the diffusion length. The diffusion length was the longest length in each of the front-rear direction and the width direction. In this observation, artificial menstrual blood absorbed and diffused by the absorber can be seen through the surface sheet, but such diffusion in the absorber is not included in the diffusion length.

<Return amount test>
After performing the above absorption rate test, the sample was allowed to stand for 1 minute. Thereafter, a filter paper having a size covering the central region RM was placed, a weight was placed on the filter paper, a load of 5 g / m ² was applied, and the amount of artificial menstrual blood absorbed by the filter paper was measured.

<Liquid flow test>
The sample was placed on a 30 ° inclined surface (a surface having an inclination of 30 ° with respect to the horizontal direction) so that the surface sheet side was up. At that time, the sanitary napkin was placed so that the front-rear direction was the same as the inclination direction and the front was at a higher position. Using a fixed burette, 1 cc of artificial menstrual blood was dropped from above 1.0 cm toward the center of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region. At that time, the cock of the burette was squeezed until the artificial menstrual blood was continuously dropped from the buret one by one.

  Drops dropped on the top sheet are immediately absorbed at that position, or are not absorbed or sufficiently absorbed at that position, and flow down on the surface of the top sheet toward the back of the absorbent article. . When the droplets flowed down, the distance that the droplets moved on the surface of the surface sheet was visually measured, and the distance was defined as the liquid flow length. Specifically, the length in the front-rear direction between the trailing edge position of the droplet immediately before being dropped on the top sheet and starting to flow and the trailing edge position of the droplet when the droplet has stopped flowing after flowing down is defined as the liquid flow length. did. When the droplet is immediately absorbed at the dropping position, the liquid flow length is 0 mm.

  In this test, the liquid flow length of the first drop of 1 cc of artificial menstrual blood dropped was measured and recorded as the liquid flow length of the first drop. Furthermore, the liquid flow length was measured for the second and subsequent drops and recorded as a liquid flow length of 1 cc. The liquid flow length of 1 cc is the length of the flow when the dropped droplets are combined together to form a single flow. In this case, the liquid flow length of the droplet showing the longest liquid flow length was recorded.

  After dropping 1 cc as described above, the sample was allowed to stand for 3 minutes, and further 1 cc was dropped. In this way, the dropping of 1 cc of artificial menstrual blood was repeated 5 times in total.

The liquid flow length was evaluated according to the following criteria.
A: 0 mm
B: Over 0 mm to 20 mm
C: Over 20 mm to 40 mm
D: Over 40 mm to 70 mm
E: Over 70 mm to less than 110 mm F: 110 mm (no absorption)

  Table 1 shows the results of each of the absorption rate test, diffusion test, and reverse amount test, and Table 2 shows the results of the liquid flow test.

From Table 1, in Examples 1 to 4 in which baby powder was applied to the first region A including the center of the body fluid discharge port corresponding region and applied to the second region B around it, the diffusion distance was determined as follows. It can be seen that it is smaller than Comparative Example 1 (conventional product) that is not coated on the surface, and diffusion in the surface direction is well suppressed. In particular, the diffusion distances of Examples 1 to 3 in which the area of the first region A is in the range of 75 to 1000 mm ² are significantly smaller in both the front-rear direction and the width direction than in Comparative Example 1.

Moreover, it turned out that the return amount of Examples 1-4 is also equivalent to the comparative example 1 (conventional product). Further, the absorption times of Examples 1 to 4 were not significantly increased compared to Comparative Example 1 (conventional product). In particular, in Examples 2 to 4 in which the area of the first region A falls within the range of 100 to 1300 mm ² , the absorption time was 1.5 times or less that of Comparative Example 1 (conventional product).

  On the other hand, Comparative Example 2 in which the baby powder is uniformly applied to the entire surface of the central region RM has a small diffusion distance and suppresses diffusion in the surface direction, but the amount of reversion is compared with Examples 1-4. More than Example 1 (conventional product). Moreover, the absorption time of the comparative example 2 was also longer than Examples 1-4 and the comparative example 1 (conventional product), and it turned out that absorptivity is not enough compared with Examples 1-4.

  From Table 2, the evaluation of the liquid flow length of the first drop in Examples 1 to 4 was A, which was the same as Comparative Example 1 (conventional product). Moreover, the evaluation of the liquid flow length of 1 cc in Examples 2 to 4 is equivalent to or higher than that of Comparative Example 1 (conventional product). In Comparative Example 2 in which the baby powder was uniformly applied to the entire central region RM, the evaluation of the first drop and the liquid flow length of 1 cc was lower than those in Examples 1 to 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Absorbent article 2 Back sheet 3 Top sheet 4 Absorber 5 Encapsulating sheet 7 Side nonwoven fabric 8 Main body (absorbent article main body)
12 Front pressing groove 14 Center pressing groove 16 Back pressing groove 18 Closure pressing groove 20 Opening 30 Dot-shaped pressing part (emboss)
50 Body fluid discharge port corresponding region 50A Center of body fluid discharge port corresponding region A First region B Second region CL Front-rear direction center line RF Front region RM Central region RR Rear region W Wing

Claims (7)

An absorbent article comprising a main body having a liquid-permeable surface sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber provided between the surface sheet and the back sheet,
The main body includes a first region including a center of a region corresponding to a body fluid discharge port of the wearer when worn, and a second region extending around the first region and having an area larger than the area of the first region. And
Hydrophobic particles are applied to the surfaces of at least the first region and the second region,
The absorbent article, wherein the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the first region is smaller than the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region. The amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the second region is 20 to 100 g / m ² ;
The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the hydrophobic particles applied to the first region is 10 g / m ² or less.   The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein hydrophobic particles are not applied to the first region. The area of the first region is 75~1300mm ^2, the absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a center of the shape of the first region coincides with a center of a region corresponding to the body fluid discharge port.   6. The absorption according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the first region is a line-symmetric polygon, circle, or ellipse with a center line in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article as a symmetry line. Sex goods. A body having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impervious back sheet, and an absorbent body provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein the body is a body fluid of a wearer when worn A method for manufacturing an absorbent article having a first region including the center of a region corresponding to a discharge port, and a second region extending around the first region,
Including a step of applying hydrophobic particles to the surface of the surface sheet,
The method for producing an absorbent article, wherein the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the first region is smaller than the amount of the hydrophobic particles per unit area applied to the second region.

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