ARTIGO ABSORVENTE EMBALADO INDIVIDUALMENTE
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DAIO PAPER CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[001] The present invention relates to individually wrapped absorbent articles. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE TECHNIQUE
[002] Many absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads and the like, are supplied as individually wrapped absorbent articles (individually packaged) in a state of being individually wrapped and sealed with a packaging sheet for reasons of hygiene during storage, convenience during transport and the like. As a packaging structure of the individually wrapped absorbent article, a form is widely known, for example, in which the absorbent article is placed on the inner surface of the packaging sheet, the packaging sheet is folded to the side of the inner surface along with the absorbent article and then the two edge portions are sealed.
[003] Although a resin film, a nonwoven fabric or something similar has been the main material of the packaging sheet, a packaging sheet made of a difficult-to-melt material, such as paper, is also known, as described, for example, in Patent Document 1. In the case of using a difficult-to-melt material for the packaging sheet, the packaging sheet cannot be joined by thermal fusion or cannot be joined sufficiently and therefore it is possible to physically deform (forming irregularities or something similar) the packaging sheet to seal the packaging sheet. DOCUMENTS OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE PATENT DOCUMENTS
[004] Patent document 1: Unexamined Japanese patent publication no. 2022-24624 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, page 88 / 130 2 / 28
[005] However, a seal with sufficient strength cannot be obtained solely by physical deformation of the packaging sheet, and sufficient sealing properties of the individually packaged absorbent article may not be achieved. On the other hand, for example, sealing with an adhesive, tape, or something similar along both edge portions is also possible, but the sealing strength of the sealing portion becomes excessively large, and there is a possibility that the seal cannot be detached when the individually packaged absorbent article is opened, or that the packaging sheet may be broken when the seal is detached.
[006] In view of the foregoing, an objective of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a configuration that includes a sealing portion with adequate sealing strength for an individually packaged absorbent article, formed from a packaging sheet made of a difficult-to-melt material. WAYS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
[007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an individually packaged absorbent article is provided, wherein an absorbent article is individually packaged by a packaging sheet made of a hard-to-melt material, wherein a sealing portion is formed by folding the packaging sheet towards one side of the inner surface of the packaging sheet in a first direction and by sealing both edge portions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the sealing portion includes a plurality of pressed portions that are spaced from each other in a surface direction and that are formed by pressing the packaging sheet in a thickness direction, a thermal sealing agent is applied in a predetermined pattern to at least one region corresponding to the sealing portion on an inner surface of the packaging sheet, and the pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent applied to the packaging sheet. EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 89 / 130 3 / 28
[008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a configuration is obtained in which a sealing portion with an appropriate sealing strength is provided for an individually packaged absorbent article, formed from a packaging sheet made of a hard-to-melt material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an individually packaged absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention; [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a developed plan view of the individually packaged absorbent article of FIG. 1; [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1; [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion III of FIG. 1; [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a modified example of a pattern of pressed portions of a sealing portion; [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a developed plan view of the individually packaged absorbent article, illustrating a modified example of an application of a thermal sealing agent; [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of portion IV of FIG. 2; [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an overlapping relationship between the thermal sealing agent and the pressed portions in a first region R1 included in portion V of FIG. 5; [FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a modified example of an overlapping relationship between the thermal sealant and the pressed portions; [FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a developed plan view of the individually packaged absorbent article, illustrating a modified example of an application of the thermal sealing agent. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES
[009] Next, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 90-130 4 / 28 Reference to drawings. In the drawings, the same components or corresponding components are indicated by the same reference numbers, unless otherwise specified, and their description may be omitted. (Basic structure of the individually packaged absorbent article)
[010] First, a basic structure of the individually wrapped absorbent article will be described. FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an individually wrapped absorbent article 100. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the individually wrapped absorbent article of FIG. 1 in a developed state, as seen from the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10, i.e., the skin contact side of the absorbent article 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.
[011] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the individually wrapped absorbent article 100 includes a packaging sheet 10 and an absorbent article 1 individually wrapped by the packaging sheet 10. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the packaging sheet 10 may have an elongated shape in an developed state and has a longitudinal direction (first direction) D1 and a lateral direction (second direction) D2 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction D1 and the lateral direction D2 of the packaging sheet 10 may correspond to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the absorbent article 1, respectively. (Absorbent article)
[012] The absorbent article 1 packaged by the packaging sheet 10 may be a flat, elongated article to be used so as to face an orifice for the discharge of a bodily fluid (menstrual blood, vaginal secretion, urine or similar). Specific examples of the absorbent article 1 may include a sanitary napkin, a panty liner and a light incontinence pad. In this descriptive report, the embodiments will be described based on an example in which the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin.
[013] The absorbent article 1 may include, for example, as illustrated in FIG. Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 91 / 130 5 / 28, a liquid-permeable top sheet 3, a liquid-impermeable back sheet (not shown) and an absorber 4 disposed between the top sheet 3 and the back sheet.
[014] As a backsheet, a sheet material that has at least water impermeability may be used, such as a polyethylene, polypropylene or similar olefin-based resin sheet. A laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating a nonwoven fabric onto a polyethylene or similar sheet may be used, or a laminated sheet of a nonwoven fabric that is substantially impermeable to liquids by interposing a waterproof film between them. Alternatively, a moisture-permeable material may be used.
[015] As top sheet 3, it is preferable to use a porous or non-porous nonwoven fabric, a porous plastic sheet or something similar. As fiber material constituting the nonwoven fabric, for example, synthetic fibers such as olefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, mixed fibers of the same and natural fibers such as cotton, alone or in combination of two or more types, may be used.
[016] Absorbent 4 is not limited, provided it is a material capable of absorbing and retaining body fluids, but preferably includes cotton-like pulp and a water-absorbing polymer. As a water-absorbing polymer, granular superabsorbent polymer powder (superabsorbent polymer (SAP)), superabsorbent polymer fiber (superabsorbent fiber (SAF)) and a combination thereof may be used. Examples of pulp include chemical pulp obtained from wood, cellulose fibers such as dissolving pulp, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon and acetate. The pulp may be hardwood pulp obtained from hardwood, softwood pulp obtained from softwood, or a mixture of these pulps. The pulp may be recycled and regenerated from used pulp.
[017] The thickness of absorber 4 can be from 0.5 mm to 25 mm. The absorber may have a structure in which a region facing the discharge orifice of Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 92 / 130 6 / 28 body fluid or a region facing the intergluteal cleft located behind the region facing the body fluid discharge orifice is bulged. The absorber 4 has a size and shape that prevents the absorber 4 from protruding from the top sheet 3 and the back sheet, and in the portions of the front and back end edges of the absorber, the outer edges of the back sheet and the top sheet 3 are joined by an adhesive, such as hot melt, or by an adhesion means, such as thermal sealing or ultrasonic sealing.
[018] As illustrated in FIG. 2, on the periphery of the sides of the absorber 4, side sheets 7 may be provided, 7 at the respective ends of the lateral direction D2, along the longitudinal direction D1. As side sheet 7, a water-repellent nonwoven fabric or a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric may be used.
[019] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the absorbent article 1 is of the flapless type, but it can be configured as an article with flaps that extend to the sides. The flaps can be formed by joining the side sheets and the back sheet.
[020] An adhesive portion to prevent displacement of the absorbent article 1 from being displaced from the underwear when the absorbent article 1 is attached to the underwear can be provided on the back sheet side of the absorbent article 1 (the side not in contact with the skin, i.e., the side facing the underwear when the absorbent article 1 is being worn). The adhesive portion to prevent displacement can be formed in a plurality of strips extending in the longitudinal direction D1 or in the lateral direction D2.
[021] The total length of absorbent article 1 can be from 140 mm to 430 mm, and the width of absorbent article 1 (the width of the main body, excluding the flaps, if it has flaps) can be from 40 mm to 130 mm. (Packaging sheet)
[022] In the present embodiment, the packaging sheet 10 can be made of a material that is difficult to melt. In the present embodiment, the packaging sheet made of a material that is difficult to melt includes a packaging sheet made of a material that is difficult to melt and a packaging sheet with a layer of a material that is difficult to melt in Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 93 / 130 7 / 28 surface. A difficult-to-melt material is a material in which the packing sheets cannot be melted or are hardly melted even when heated (e.g., heated to 80 °C or more).
[023] The difficult-to-melt material may be an aggregate of difficult-to-melt fibers. The hard-to-melt aggregate is preferably paper. The use of paper packaging sheet 10 can contribute to the reduction of plastics and to the achievement of sustainable development goals. Paper can also provide comfort to users because it can offer a unique texture, such as the smooth appearance of a natural material. In this descriptive report, paper refers to a thin, flat sheet obtained by bonding vegetable fibers or other fibers with a binding agent. In particular, paper may refer to a sheet containing a vegetable fiber as the main raw material, for example, a sheet containing 50% or more, preferably 80% or more, of a vegetable fiber, especially a cellulose fiber, among the fibers contained.Examples of vegetable fiber as a raw material for paper include wood pulp, non-wood pulp, waste paper pulp, and cotton cellulose, and the pulp can be either mechanical pulp or chemical pulp. Vegetable fibers can be regenerated fibers, such as rayon and cupra, or they can be recycled vegetable fibers from a constituent element of an absorbent article and / or from a packaging sheet for an absorbent article (recycled pulp or similar).
[024] Additives may be added to paper. Specific examples of paper include various types of paper, such as Western paper, Japanese paper, processed paper, and synthetic paper. In addition, paper may be paper conventionally used for other purposes, for example, paper called newsprint, printing paper (including high-quality paper), writing paper, drawing paper, packaging paper, tissue paper, hybrid paper, or similar. As thin paper, thin vellum paper, Indian paper, rice paper, glassine paper, tissue paper, toilet paper, filter paper, or similar may be used. Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 94 / 130 8 / 28
[025] In this descriptive report, the paper packaging sheet refers primarily to a sheet containing the paper described above. The paper packaging sheet may include a laminated sheet in which paper and a sheet made of a non-paper material are laminated, as well as a packaging sheet made only of paper. In the case of the packaging sheet 10 including a sheet made of a non-paper material, the non-paper material may be a resin film, a non-woven fabric or something similar. However, the packaging sheet 10 is particularly, preferably, made of paper without being laminated with a sheet of non-paper material, from the point of view of reducing plastic and / or from the point of view of the ability to impart a unique natural paper texture to a product.Although, in general, a paper packaging sheet is torn relatively easily, the sealing strength of a sealing portion can be suitably adjusted by a pattern of application of a thermal sealing agent and by the ratio between the pressed portions and the portions to which the thermal sealing agent is applied according to the present embodiment, and an individually packaged absorbent article with sufficient sealing properties and which is not torn when the seal is opened can be provided.
[026] Provided that adequate sealing strength can be ensured in the sealing portion in the present embodiment, the paper packaging sheet 10 may be subjected to other processing besides the application of the thermal sealing agent described above. The processing may include, for example, processing to physically deform the packaging sheet 10, such as creasing, embossing, calendering, cutting or folding, or processing to add a substance to the packaging sheet 10, such as water-repellent processing, mold release processing or ink printing processing. However, when processing to add the substance is carried out, it is preferable to carry out the processing in a region other than the region corresponding to the sealing portion to avoid influencing the sealing strength of the sealing portion. Furthermore, it is preferable that the substance addition processing be Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 95 / 130 9 / 28 performed in a region where the thermal sealing agent is not provided, which is formed on the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10 (an example of this region will be described later with reference to FIG. 7).
[027] The anti-fouling function can be enhanced by the release treatment or water-repellent treatment mentioned above (for example, an application of a water-repellent agent or a release agent containing a silicone-based resin, a paraffin-based resin, a fluororesin or something similar). In the case where the side of the packing sheet 10 facing the adhesive displacement prevention portion on the back surface of the absorbent article 1 (the inner surface of the packing sheet) is subjected to a water-repellent treatment, the adhesive displacement prevention portion can be placed in contact with the packing sheet 10 without a release sheet.
[028] Furthermore, ink can be printed on the outer surface of the packaging sheet 10 in the present embodiment. The design of the individually packaged absorbent article is enhanced by ink printing. If ink printing is performed on the packaging sheet 10, it is preferable to use a material (non-creped paper or non-embossed paper) that is not subjected to a process of forming irregularities on the surface of the packaging sheet, such as creping or embossing, like the packaging sheet 10.
[029] The basis weight of the packaging sheet 10 used in this embodiment may preferably be from 8 g / m2 to 50 g / m2, more preferably from 10 g / m2 to 40 g / m2 or less. By using packaging sheet 10 with a basis weight in the above range, it is possible to obtain an individually packaged absorbent article with a good texture and a suppressed stiffness feel, as well as avoiding the generation of noise during transport, seal opening and the like. The thickness of the packaging sheet 10 (the thickness after creping, in the case of crepe paper) may preferably be from 30 µm to 200 µm and, more preferably, from 35 µm to 100 µm.
[030] The dimensions of the packaging sheet 10 can be determined from Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 96 / 130 10 / 28 according to the size and shape of the absorbent article 1 to be packaged. For example, the longitudinal dimension D1 (sometimes simply called length) can be from 100 mm to 450 mm, and the lateral dimension D2 (sometimes simply called width) can be from 70 mm to 250 mm, when the packaging sheet 10 is fully unfolded (not folded). In the example illustrated in the drawings, the packaging sheet 10 has a rectangular shape in an unfolded state, but it can have an oblong shape, for example. (Packaging structure)
[031] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the absorbent article 1 is packaged by being folded together with the packaging sheet 10, forming an individually packaged absorbent article 100. When folded, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the absorbent article 1 is placed on the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10, so that the back side of the sheet of the absorbent article 1 faces the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10. Then, the packaging sheet 10 and the absorbent article 1 are folded together in the longitudinal direction D1 along a first fold line F1 and a second fold line F2 along the width direction D2.More specifically, a first region R1, including one end 11 of the packaging sheet 10 in the longitudinal direction D1, is folded back in the longitudinal direction D1 along the first fold line F1, and a second region R2, including the other end 12 of the packaging sheet 10 in the longitudinal direction D1, is folded back along the second fold line F2. The region between the first region R1 and the second region R2 of the packaging sheet 10 is a third region R3. In the illustrated example, the packaging sheet 10 is folded so that the second region R2 is folded first and the first region R1 is folded to overlap the outer surface of the second region R2 (FIGS. 1 and 2), but the folding order of the first region R1 and the second region R2 can be reversed.Thus, after the absorbent article 1 is wrapped by the packaging sheet 10, which is folded into three sections along with the absorbent article 1, the two edge portions of the lateral direction D2 are sealed along the longitudinal direction D1, and the portions... Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 97 / 130 11 / 28 of sealing 15, 15 are formed.
[032] This packaging, folded into three or more sections, can be formed relatively simply, and it is possible to hygienically package the absorbent article 1 and easily remove the absorbent article 1 with this packaging. The folding method is not limited to folding into three, but can be folded into four or more, or it can be folded into two. (Sealing portions)
[033] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the individually packaged absorbent article 100, the locations where the absorbent article 1 is not present, which are located on both edges of the lateral direction D2, are sealed to form the sealing portions 15, 15. The sealing portions 15, 15 can be formed along the entire length of the longitudinal direction D1 of the packaging sheet 10. This is preferable from the point of view that dust, dirt, a finger or a small object can be prevented from entering through the end edge in the lateral direction (i.e., the sealing properties can be obtained).The sealing portions 15, 15 can be formed, for example, by inserting both edge portions of the folded packaging sheet 10 (both edge portions of the lateral direction D2 of the packaging sheet 10) by means of a pair of rollers and pressing and heating the edge portions with the rollers to press the layers of the folded packaging sheet 10 against each other in the thickness direction.
[034] The lateral direction D2 strip in which the sealing portion 15 is provided can be 20 mm from the end edge of the lateral direction D2. The sealing portion 15 can be formed in the entire strip or in a part of the strip, for example, at a position distant from the end edge of the lateral direction D2. The length (width) of the sealing portion 15 in the lateral direction D2 is preferably from 3 to 15 mm.
[035] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion III, including the sealing portion. 15. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sealing portion 15 may include a plurality of pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... which are separated from each other in a view Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 98 / 130 12 / 28 in plan view. The pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... are formed by being sandwiched and pressed between a patterned roll with a plurality of protrusions, each with a shape corresponding to the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... on the roll surface, and a non-patterned roll (an anvil roll or similar) without irregularities on the roll surface facing the patterned roll. Therefore, the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... can be considered portions where the fold of the wrapping sheet is pressed in the thickness direction, or pressed marks. The pressed portion 15a may be a recessed portion of its periphery (a protruding portion of its periphery when viewed upside down). In the example illustrated in the drawings, the portions other than the plurality of pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... are non-pressed portions, in which the layers of folded packaging sheets are not pressed against each other by the protrusions described above on the surface of the roll.In this way, the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... are spread out so that they are separated from each other in the direction of the surface, and the unpressed portions are formed between the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ...; thus, it is possible to prevent the layers of the folded packaging sheet from being continuously joined to each other throughout the sealing portion 15 and the sealing resistance from being excessively increased. Therefore, when the layers of the packaging sheet are separated from each other at the moment of opening the seal, the seal can be easily released, while tearing of the packaging sheet 10 is suppressed. Furthermore, as the air that entered the interior is discharged to the exterior through the unpressed portions by applying pressure to the individually packaged absorbent article 100, it is possible to prevent the individually packaged absorbent article from being unintentionally ruptured before the packaging seal is opened.Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the two edge portions of the individually wrapped absorbent item 100 from becoming excessively hard and the texture from being compromised.
[036] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of rows of the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... arranged in a straight line along the lateral direction D2 are Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 99 / 130 13 / 28 formed, and these rows are arranged in the longitudinal direction D1. The positions of the pressed portions 15a located on the innermost side of the lateral direction D2 are not aligned with each other in the lateral direction D2, and the inner contour line L of the sealing portion 15 is formed by a wavy line (see also FIG. 1). The wavy inner contour line L of the sealing portion 15 improves the design of the sealing portion 15 and enhances the aesthetic property of the individually packaged absorbent article 100. The inner contour line L of the sealing portion 15 can be a line obtained by smoothly connecting in the longitudinal direction D1 the inner ends of the pressed portions 15a located on the innermost side of the lateral direction D2.
[037] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the shape of each pressed portion 15a is circular, and the areas of the pressed portions 15a vary in a row of the plurality of pressed portions 15a arranged in the lateral direction D2. In the illustrated example, the areas of the pressed portions 15a increase towards the inner side of the lateral direction D2. This can increase the resistance of the innermost portion of the lateral direction D2 corresponding to the start of detachment position when the sealing portion 15 is released and, therefore, can prevent the unintentional opening of the seal before use.
[038] In the present embodiment, the sealing portion 15 consists of a plurality of pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... which are spaced apart from each other, and the arrangement, size, shape and the like of the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... are not particularly limited, provided that the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... overlap the thermal sealing agent, as described below.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6(a), a pressed portion 15a can be a square or, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), a pressed portion 15a can be a rhombus. The pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... can be arranged in a lattice pattern (FIG. 6(a)), in a stepped pattern (FIG. 6(b)), or in a random pattern. Furthermore, even in the case of a lattice or zigzag arrangement, the number of innermost pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... in the lateral direction D2 can be reduced (FIG. 6(a) and similar). Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pages 100 / 130 14 / 28
[039] The shape of a pressed portion 15a is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, and may be, for example, an ellipse, a square, a quadrilateral other than a rhombus, a polygon other than a quadrilateral, a heart shape, a star shape, a teardrop shape or similar. In the sealing portion 15, the size of a pressed portion 15a may be a circle with a radius of approximately 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm or a size with an equivalent area.
[040] The area ratio of the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... in the sealing portion 15, that is, the ratio of the total areas occupied by the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... in relation to the area of the sealing portion 15, may preferably be from 5% to 50% and, more preferably, from 10% to 40%. (Thermal sealing agent)
[041] In the present embodiment, a thermal sealing agent is used to increase the sealing strength of the sealing portions 15, 15. The thermal sealing agent may contain a thermoplastic resin, preferably a resin that softens or melts between 70 °C and 170 °C, and the thermal sealing agent is preferably an olefin-based thermal sealing agent. The thermal sealing agent may be an aqueous dispersion of resin particles. Specific examples of the thermal sealing agent include the Chemipearl series (registered trademark) manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
[042] By using the heat-sealing agent, even when the packaging sheet 10 is made of a material that is difficult to melt, the layers of folded packaging sheet can be joined to each other by means of heat sealing (heat sealing). The heat-sealing agent placed between the layers of the packaging sheet is melted or softened to come into close contact with the packaging sheet and then cooled to solidify, which causes the layers of the folded packaging sheet to be strongly bonded to each other. Therefore, it is possible to obtain greater sealing strength compared to sealing that uses physical deformation of the packaging sheet. Depending on the type Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 101 / 130 Depending on the thickness of the thermal sealing agent, the basis weight, the packaging sheet material, and similar factors, the sealing strength may be excessively high. However, in the present example, the thermal sealing agent is applied in a predetermined pattern, and therefore the sealing strength can be adjusted favorably.
[043] For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the thermal sealing agent 20 can be applied to the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10. In this case, the strip to which the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied can be the entire inner surface or a part of the inner surface, but it is a strip that includes at least one region corresponding to the sealing portions 15, 15 (FIG. 1). More specifically, the regions corresponding to the sealing portions 15, 15 can be regions 14 where the sealing portions 15 are to be formed (regions of sealing portion to be formed), as illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a development view of the individually packaged absorbent article 100, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, but the outline of the absorbent article 1 is illustrated with a dashed line and two dots. As illustrated in FIG.7, the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied at least to the edge regions 18, 18, including the regions corresponding to the sealing portion described above (regions of the sealing portion to be formed 14, 14). The edge regions 18, 18 may be regions of constant width and are regions that include the entire region of the sealing portion to be formed 14 and that do not overlap the absorbent article 1 in the state of the individually packaged absorbent article 100.
[044] In region 19 other than the edge regions 18, 18, the thermal sealing agent 20 may be applied at a lower basis weight than the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent 20 in the edge regions 18, 18, or substantially not applied, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 7. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of the thermal sealing agent and, at the same time, ensures the sealing strength of the sealing portion 15. On the other hand, as some types of thermal sealing agents 20 have the effect of reinforcing the packaging sheet 10, it is possible to increase the Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 102 / 130 16 / 28 resistance of the packaging sheet 10 increasing the area where the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied. In a case where a material that tears easily, such as paper, is used as packaging sheet 10, from the point of view of increasing the resistance of the packaging sheet 10 itself, it is preferable to apply the thermal sealing agent 20 also in the region 19 other than the edge regions 18, 18, and it is more preferable to apply the thermal sealing agent 20 in both edge regions 18, 18 and in the other region 19 with the same basis weight.
[045] The predetermined pattern of the thermal sealing agent 20 applied to the packaging sheet 10 is not particularly limited, but may be a pattern in which the thermal sealing agent 20 is dispersed in a dotted manner, for example. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of portion IV of FIG. 2. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the thermal sealing agent 20 is arranged in a pattern of dots of varying size. Because the thermal sealing agent is applied in a pattern of dots of varying size, the thermal sealing agent can be dispersed and arranged in a regular pattern, and thus the thermal sealing agent can be uniformly dispersed in the region of application of the thermal sealing agent, and the sealing strength of the sealing portion 15 can be prevented from becoming non-uniform.Furthermore, although the rigidity of the packaging sheet 10 changes and the tactile or similar feel changes to a greater or lesser degree due to the application of the heat-sealing agent 20, it is also possible to suppress the change in tactile or similar feel (for example, suppressing the loss of flexibility of the packaging sheet 10) by making the pattern discontinuous.
[046] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the thermal sealing agent 20 is printed in a 70% dot percentage. In the variable-size dot pattern, microscopically, the dots of the thermal sealing agent can be arranged separately from each other to be discontinuous, or the dots of the sheet thermal sealing agent can be arranged in contact with each other to be continuous.
[047] The application area ratio of thermal sealing agent 20 in the region Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pages 103 / 130 The application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 is not particularly limited, provided that the formation of the sealing portions 15 by thermal sealing is possible, but it may preferably be 40% or more, more preferably 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more, and even more preferably 70% or more. When the application area ratio is 40% or more, the area of the thermal sealing agent 20 extending over the packaging sheet 10 increases, and therefore the sealing strength of the sealing portion 15 can be improved. The ratio may be 95% or less, 90% or less, or 80% or less, depending on conditions such as the type and grammage of the thermal sealing agent 20, the material of the packaging sheet 10, and the pattern and area ratio of the pressed portion 15a (FIGS. 5 and 6, etc.) of the sealing portion 15.In the case of the variable-size dot pattern, the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent mentioned above is the percentage of dots mentioned above. More specifically, the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 can be a ratio of the total area of the thermal sealing agent 20 in the edge region 18 to the area of the edge region 18 (described above) of the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10 before folding. The case where the application area ratio is 100% indicates the case where the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied solidly.
[048] Examples of methods of applying the thermal sealing agent 20 include flexographic printing, offset printing, screen printing and gravure printing. Among these, flexographic printing is preferable because it is possible to obtain a stable application quantity and pattern, and it is also possible to use a low-cost water-based ink. (Relationship between the pattern of the thermal sealing agent and the pressed portions)
[049] As described above, the sealing portion 15 formed by sealing after folding the packaging sheet 10 includes the pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... and the pressed portions 15a may be formed in a predetermined area ratio in the sealing portion 15. The thermal sealing agent 20 is formed Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 104 / 130 18 / 28 in a predetermined pattern on the packaging sheet 10 before it is folded, and the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied at a predetermined application area ratio in the application region of the thermal sealing agent 20. In this case, to reliably form the sealing portion 15 of the individually packaged absorbent article 100, it is important to place the thermal sealing agent in the position of the pressed portions 15a when the edge portion of the lateral direction D2 of the folded packaging sheet is heated and pinched by the pair of rollers at the moment of forming the sealing portion 15.
[050] In the present embodiment, when the region of application of the thermal sealing agent 20 on the inner surface of a packaging sheet 10 is visualized, the pressed portion 15a overlaps the thermal sealing agent 20. The sealing portion 15 is formed on the edge of the lateral direction D2 after the packaging sheet 10 is folded, and the portion corresponding to the sealing portion 15 (the portion included in the sealing portion 15) includes a portion in which the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10 faces and a portion in which the inner surface and the outer surface of the packaging sheet 10 face each other (a portion in which the inner surface of the first region R1 and the outer surface of the second region face, FIGS. 1 and 4, etc.).Even where the inner and outer surfaces of the packaging sheet 10 face each other, provided that the region of the pressed portion 15a overlaps at least the thermal sealing agent 20 applied to the inner surface of the packaging sheet 10, as in the present embodiment, the overlap of the directly heated region and the region heated by the roller and the thermal sealing agent 20 is guaranteed, and the formation of a reliable seal is therefore possible.
[051] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a packaging sheet 10 (first region R1) included in portion V of FIG. 5. In FIG. 9, the thermal sealing portion 20 applied to the inner surface of the first region R1 is indicated by a gray color surrounded by dotted lines, and the contours of the pressed portions 15a, 15a are indicated by solid lines. The overlapping portion C, where the pressed portion Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pages 105 / 130 19 / 28 15a overlaps the thermal sealing agent 20, and is illustrated in black. The overlapping portion C can be considered a common part to the thermal sealing agent 20 and the pressed portion 15a in a packaging sheet 10.
[052] When viewed from the inner surface of a packaging sheet 10, for example, the ratio Pc (Pc = Sc / Sc χ 100) of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a on the inner surface of the first region R1 may preferably be 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more, and may be 95% or less, 90% or less, or 80% or less. When the ratio Pc is 50% or more, the sealing strength can be guaranteed and sufficient sealing properties can be obtained before the seal of the individually packaged absorbent article is opened. Furthermore, when the ratio Pc is equal to or less than 95%, the seal of the packaging sheet can be opened without problems, without the need to apply a load to the packaging sheet at the time of opening the seal, and the ease of opening the seal is greater.Since the packaging sheet can be prevented from tearing, a packaging sheet that tears relatively easily can be used, such as paper, especially paper with a small basis weight. In the pressed portion pattern and the thermal sealing agent pattern, according to the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a is approximately 61.5%.
[053] When defining the ratio Pc of the sum Sc of the areas of the overlapping portions C for the sum of the areas of the pressed portions 15a (also called the area ratio of the overlapping portions C) within a predetermined range, the sealing portions 15, 15 can be formed with an appropriate sealing strength, regardless of the pattern (the shape and size of a pressed portion, spacing, pitch and arrangement of a pressed portion) and the area ratio of the pressed portions 15a, 15a, and the pattern (the shape and size of the applied thermal sealing agent in a plan view, whether the applied thermal sealing agent is continuous or discontinuous) and the applied area ratio of the agent. Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 106 / 130 20 / 28 thermal seal 20. In other words, if the Pc ratio is set within a predetermined range, the degree of freedom of the thermal sealing agent pattern 20 and / or the sealing portion pattern 15 will also be increased.
[054] From the point of view of increasing sealing strength, as illustrated in FIG. 9, it is preferable that all pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... at least partially overlap the thermal sealing agent 20, but the pressed portion 15a that does not overlap the thermal sealing agent 20 may be present. However, it is preferable that two or more pressed portions 15a (pressed portions 15a that do not include the overlapping portion C) that do not overlap the thermal sealing agent 20 are not adjacent to each other, i.e., at least one of any two adjacent pressed portions 15a, 15a overlaps the thermal sealing agent 20. This can prevent a local decrease in sealing strength. In other words, it is possible to avoid irregularities in the sealing strength of the sealing portion 15.
[055] As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the thermal sealing agent 20 is formed in a pattern of variable-size dots, the pitch of the variable-size dots of the thermal sealing agent 20 (the length between the center of a dot and the center of a dot adjacent to the dot) is preferably smaller than the pitch of the pressed portions 15a, 15a (the length between the center of a pressed portion 15a and the center of a pressed portion 15a adjacent to the pressed portion 15a). This reduces the presence of the pressed portion 15a which does not have the overlapping portion C.
[056] The ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a can be measured, for example, by observing the inner surface of a packaging sheet 10 in an enlarged manner using a microscope or something similar or by capturing an image and analyzing the image after detaching the sealing portion 15 from the individually packaged absorbent article 100. <Exemplos modificados> Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 107 / 130 21 / 28
[057] FIG. 10 illustrates modified examples of overlapping portions C. In FIG. 10(a), the pattern of the thermal sealing agent 20 is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 8. The pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... in FIG. 10(a) have the same size. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10(a), the ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a is 62.61%.
[058] As illustrated in FIG. 10(b), even in the case of a pattern in which the thermal sealing agent 20 is arranged in point form, the shape of the points that constitute the pattern can be a square. In this case, the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 can be increased while the discontinuity of the thermal sealing agent 20 is maintained. When the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 is high, even if the same pattern of pressed portions 15a, 15a, ... is used, it becomes easy to increase the ratio (the Pc described above) of the overlap portion C between the thermal sealing agent 20 and the pressed portion 15a.On the other hand, since the thermal sealing agent 20 is discontinuous, it is possible to suppress a change in the tactile or similar feel of the packaging sheet 10 that may be caused by the application of the thermal sealing agent 20, as described above. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10(b), the ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a is 68.73%.
[059] As illustrated in FIG. 10(c), the thermal sealing agent 20 can be arranged in a lattice pattern. The example in FIG. 10(c) can be considered a pattern in which the thermal sealing agent 20 is arranged so that a plurality of lines extending along each of the longitudinal D1 and lateral D2 directions intersect. This continuous pattern of the thermal sealing agent 20 can improve the strength of the packaging sheet 10 throughout the packaging sheet 10 and is therefore suitable for the case where a material that tears easily, such as paper, or a material with a small basis weight is used as packaging sheet 10. In the example illustrated in FIG. 810(c), the ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 108 / 130 22 / 28 pressed portions 15a is 65.35%.
[060] Furthermore, the application pattern of the thermal sealing agent 20 may have the form of a strip in which the strips of the thermal sealing agent 20 are arranged so as to be separated from each other. In this case, the direction of extension of the strip may be along the longitudinal direction D1 or the lateral direction D2, or it may be oblique to the longitudinal direction D1 or the lateral direction D2, as illustrated in FIG. 10(d). In the example illustrated in FIG. 10(d), the ratio Pc of the sum (Sc) of the areas of the overlapping portions C to the sum (Se) of the areas of the pressed portions 15a is 67.26%. <Exemplos modificados de aplicação do agente de vedação térmica>
[061] As described above, the individually packaged absorbent article 100 according to the present embodiment may have a structure in which the packaging sheet 10 is folded into three or more sections. In this case, zones may be formed in which the number of overlapping layers of the packaging sheet 10 varies according to the location. For example, in the triple-fold packaging structure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, a thick zone Za is formed, in which the packaging sheet 10 is arranged in three layers, and a thin zone Zb, in which the packaging sheet 10 is arranged in two layers. When the sealing portion 15 is formed, for example, by heating and pressing with a pair of rollers, the sealing resistance in the thick zone Za tends to be greater than the sealing resistance in the thin zone Zb.
[062] On the other hand, the area ratio Pc of the overlapping portions C in the packing sheet 10 included in the thick zone Za may be relatively small, and the area ratio Pc of the overlapping portions C in the packing sheet 10 included in the thin zone Zb may be relatively large. This may suppress variations in sealing strength along the longitudinal direction D1 of the sealing portion 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the packing sheet 10 from tearing due to a load applied to the packing sheet 10, which is caused by a change in sealing strength in the middle of the detachment of the sealing portion 15 in Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pages 109 / 130 23 / 28 moment of opening the seal, and suppress a feeling of discomfort, such as being caught at the moment of opening the seal. Therefore, in the present example, for instance, the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 applied to the packaging sheet 10 included in the thick zone Za may be relatively small, and the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 applied to the packaging sheet 10 included in the thin zone Zb may be relatively large.
[063] A more specific configuration is illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a development view of the individually wrapped absorbent article 100, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, but the outline of the absorbent article 1 is illustrated with a dashed line and two dots. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the thermal sealing agent 20 is applied to the entire inner surface of the packaging sheet 10, but the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 varies according to the location. The application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 in the Ra1 and Ra2 regions of the packaging sheet 10 corresponding to the thick zone Za may be less than the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent 20 in the Rb1, Rb2 and Ra3 regions of the packaging sheet 10 corresponding to the thin zone Zb.
[064] The present invention has been described above based on embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. The embodiments described above may be altered, modified, substituted, added to, deleted, combined and the like, in various ways within the scope described in the claims, and they also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. The components described above may be combined in a discretionary manner.
[065] The preferred aspects of the present invention will be described in more detail below.
[066] A first aspect is an individually wrapped absorbent article in which an absorbent article is individually wrapped by a packing sheet made of a hard-to-melt material, in which the packing sheet is folded towards one side of the inner surface in a first direction of the sheet Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 110 / 130 24 / 28 packaging, both edge portions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction are sealed to form a sealing portion, the sealing portion includes a plurality of pressed portions separated from each other in a surface direction in which the packaging sheet is pressed in a thickness direction, a thermal sealing agent is applied in a predetermined pattern to at least one region corresponding to the sealing portion of the inner surface of the packaging sheet, and the pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent applied to the packaging sheet.
[067] In the first aspect, since the thermal sealing agent is applied at least to the region corresponding to the sealing portion on the inner surface of the packaging sheet, even if the packaging sheet is made of a material that is difficult to fuse, a thermal seal can be used as a means of sealing both edge portions. Therefore, it is possible to ensure greater sealing strength compared to a seal that uses physical deformation (formation of irregularities or something similar) of the packaging sheet without using an adhesive substance. The sealing strength can be excessively increased depending on the type, basis weight, and the like of the thermal sealing agent; however, according to the present aspect, since the thermal sealing agent is formed in a predetermined pattern, the sealing strength can be adjusted accordingly.Furthermore, since the pressed portion overlaps the heat-sealing agent applied to the inner surface of the packaging sheet, the sealing portion can be formed more reliably with a more suitable sealing strength, regardless of the pattern of the pressed portion and the application pattern of the heat-sealing agent.
[068] In a second aspect, the ratio of a total area of overlapping portions in which the pressed portions overlap the thermal sealing agent in relation to a total area of the pressed portions is 50 to 95%.
[069] According to the second aspect, the ratio between the total area of the portions in which the pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent (the common part) Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 111 / 130 25 / 28 to the pressed portion and the thermal sealing agent) and the total area of the pressed portion is within a predetermined range, and therefore the effect described above, that a sealing portion with adequate sealing strength can be formed independently of the pattern of the thermal sealing agent and / or the pattern of the pressed portion of the sealing portion, can be improved. In other words, it is possible to improve the effect of obtaining a sealing portion that has sufficient sealing properties before the seal of the individually packaged absorbent article is opened and that can be easily detached without the packaging sheet being torn at the moment of opening the seal.
[070] In a third aspect, the material that is difficult to melt is paper.
[071] According to the third aspect, paper has a unique natural texture (appearance and feel) and can provide comfort to users. The use of paper can also contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. Although paper is generally a material that tears easily, according to this aspect, even in the case of a packaging sheet using this material, it is possible to form a sealing portion with adequate sealing strength.
[072] In a fourth aspect, the predetermined pattern of the thermal sealing agent is a pattern of points of varying size.
[073] According to the fourth aspect, the thermal sealing agent is microscopically dispersed in the application region of the thermal sealing agent and, therefore, the thermal sealing agent can be more uniformly distributed in the application region. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the sealing strength from being reduced due to an increase in the number of pressed portions that do not overlap the thermal sealing agent.
[074] In a fifth aspect, the application area ratio of the heat-sealing agent on the packaging sheet is 40% or more.
[075] According to the fifth aspect, the thermal sealing agent is applied in a predetermined application area ratio and therefore the resistance of Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 112 / 130 26 / 28 sealing on the sealing portion can be further increased. Furthermore, the packaging sheet itself is reinforced by the thermal sealing agent, and even if a packaging sheet that tears easily is used (a packaging sheet made of paper, a packaging sheet with a small grammage, or something similar), it is possible to prevent the packaging sheet from tearing when the seal is opened.
[076] In a sixth aspect, at least one of any two adjacent pressed portions overlaps the thermal sealing agent.
[077] According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of a portion that is not thermally sealed, regardless of the pattern of the thermal sealing agent and / or the pattern of the pressed portion, and it is possible to avoid a local decrease in sealing strength.
[078] In a seventh aspect, the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent in a region other than the region corresponding to the sealing portion is less than the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent in a region corresponding to the sealing portion of the packaging sheet, or the thermal sealing agent is not substantially applied in the region other than the region corresponding to the sealing portion.
[079] According to the seventh aspect, the amount of thermal sealing agent in the region of the packaging sheet that is not the region corresponding to the sealing portion in the individually packaged absorbent article is reduced and therefore the cost of the thermal sealing agent can be reduced, while at the same time the effect that the sealing portion has an adequate sealing resistance is maintained.
[080] In an eighth aspect, the packaging sheet has a thin zone in which the packaging sheet is folded into two sections and a thick zone in which the packaging sheet is folded into three or more sections, and the application area ratio of the heat-sealing agent on the packaging sheet included in the thick zone is less than the application area ratio of the heat-sealing agent on the packaging sheet. Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pages 113 / 130 27 / 28 packaging included in the thin zone.
[081] In individually packaged absorbent articles, zones with different numbers of layers of a folded packaging sheet are formed, and the sealing strength tends to be greater in a zone with a greater number of layers (thick zone) than in a zone with a smaller number of layers (thin zone), and the sealing strength tends to be uneven in the longitudinal direction of the packaging sheet. In contrast, according to the eighth aspect, the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent is changed according to the zone and, specifically, the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent of the packaging sheet included in the thick zone is reduced and the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent of the packaging sheet included in the thin zone is increased, so that the sealing strength can be standardized.
[082] This application claims priority based on Japanese patent application No. 2023-055942 filed on March 30, 2023, the full content of which is incorporated herein by reference. LIST OF REFERENCES Absorbent article Top sheet Absorber Side panel Packing sheet One end in the longitudinal direction The other end in the longitudinal direction. Sealing portion 15th Pressed Portion Border region Region that is not the border region. Thermal sealing agent Fastening tape Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 114 / 130 28 / 28 100 Individually packaged absorbent items C Overlap portion (a portion in which a pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent 20) D1 Longitudinal direction of the packaging sheet (first direction) D2 Side direction of the packaging sheet (second direction) F1 First fold line F2 Second fold line R1 First region R2 Second region R3 Third region Thick Zone Zb Thin Zone
Claims
1. An individually packaged absorbent article, characterized in that it is individually packaged by a packaging sheet made of a hard-to-melt material, wherein a sealing portion is formed by folding the packaging sheet towards one side of the inner surface of the packaging sheet in a first direction and by sealing both edge portions in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the sealing portion includes a plurality of pressed portions that are spaced from each other in a surface direction and that are formed by pressing the packaging sheet in a thickness direction, a thermal sealing agent is applied in a predetermined pattern in at least one region corresponding to the sealing portion on an inner surface of the packaging sheet and the pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent applied to the packaging sheet.
2. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of the total area of overlapping portions in which the pressed portion overlaps the thermal sealing agent to the total area of the pressed portions is 50% to 95%.
3. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the non-melting material is paper.
4. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the predetermined pattern of the thermal sealing agent is a pattern of dots of variable size.
5. Individually packaged absorbent article in accordance with Petition 870250083513, dated 09 / 17 / 2025, pp. 116 / 130 2 / 2, claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the application area ratio of the thermal sealing agent on the packaging sheet is 40% or more.
6. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of any two adjacent pressed portions overlaps the heat-sealing agent.
7. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent in a region other than the region corresponding to the sealing portion is less than the basis weight of the thermal sealing agent in a region of the packaging sheet corresponding to the sealing portion, or the thermal sealing agent is not substantially applied in a region other than the region corresponding to the sealing portion.
8. Individually packaged absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individually packaged absorbent article includes a thin zone in which the packaging sheet is folded into two sections and a thick zone in which the packaging sheet is folded into three or more sections and the ratio of application area of the heat-sealing agent on the packaging sheet included in the thick zone is less than the ratio of application area of the heat-sealing agent on the packaging sheet included in the thin zone.