Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article which is excellent in absorption performance and ease of walking while the article is thin.SOLUTION: An absorbent article 1 comprises: a liquid permeable top sheet 2; a liquid impermeable back sheet 3; and an absorber 4 arranged between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. The absorber 4 includes an upper layer absorber 7 and a lower layer absorber 8, and includes: a liquid permeable first intermediate sheet 13 wrapping the upper layer absorber 7 and the lower layer absorber 8; and a liquid permeable second intermediate sheet 14 which is provided between the upper layer absorber 7 and the lower layer absorber 8. The upper layer absorber 7 includes: pulp fibers which are included by 50 weight% or more and 100 weight% or less and have basis weight of 50 g / m2 or more and 130 g / m2 or less; and a high absorbent polymer included by 0 weight% or more and 50 weight% or less and the upper layer absorber has a slit 10 which is along a longer direction and provided on a width center part and on which no absorber is arranged. The lower layer absorber 8 is formed of a high absorbent polymer and has an X-shaped cross shaped part 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as light incontinence pads, pants-type disposable diapers, and tape-fastened disposable diapers. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, absorbent articles such as light incontinence pads, pants-type paper diapers, and tape-fastened paper diapers are composed of a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body arranged between the two sheets. As a result, body fluids such as urine are absorbed into the absorbent body through the top sheet, and the back sheet prevents the body fluids from leaking to the outside. Various ideas have been implemented in such absorbent articles to improve the absorbency of body fluids, improve the wearing comfort of the wearer, prevent leakage, etc.

[0003] For example, the absorbent article disclosed in Patent Document 1 is described as having a configuration in which a plurality of regions in which a water-absorbent resin powder is present are formed in an absorbent sheet, and between adjacent regions in which a water-absorbent resin powder is present and at both ends in the width direction of the absorbent sheet, there are regions in which no water-absorbent resin powder is present, so that the absorbent article is thin and is unlikely to suffer from inhibition of swelling of the water-absorbent resin powder, and has excellent performance against body fluids. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-061230 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the structure of Patent Document 1 has a slow absorption rate, and once liquid has been absorbed, the absorbency is likely to decrease with repeated use. The feel on the skin and ease of walking after absorption are also poor. In addition, absorbent articles such as those described above are required to use thin absorbents from the viewpoints of wearing comfort, ease of movement, effect on outerwear, storability, transportability, etc. Among the absorbent fibers and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) that constitute the absorbent body, the thickness can be reduced by reducing the ratio of absorbent fibers, but there is a problem that increasing the ratio of the superabsorbent polymer reduces the water absorption speed and also reduces the feel on the skin. In addition, the thickness can be reduced by reducing the total weight of the absorbent body, but there is a problem that reducing the total weight reduces the maximum absorption capacity of the absorbent article and makes it more likely to cause liquid backflow when a load is applied.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide an absorbent article which is thin yet has excellent absorption performance and is easy to walk in. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, (1) the present invention provides an absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, The absorbent body includes an upper absorbent body and a lower absorbent body, a liquid-permeable first intermediate sheet that encases the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body; a liquid-permeable second intermediate sheet disposed between the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body; The upper absorbent body has a weight of 50% or more and 100% or less and a weight of 50 g / m 2 More than 130g / m 2 The pulp fiber is composed of the following pulp fiber and 0% to 50% by weight of a superabsorbent polymer, and the slit in the longitudinal direction in the center of the width direction is provided with no absorbent body, The lower absorbent body is made of a highly absorbent polymer and has an X-shaped cross portion.

[0008] (2) In the configuration of (1), the length of the slit in the longitudinal direction is 50% or more and 100% or less of the total length of the maximum part of the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body, The width of the slit in the width direction is 5% to 20% of the total width of the narrowest part of the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body in the width direction. (3) In the configuration of (1) or (2), the slit and the cross area of ​​the cross-shaped portion overlap each other in a plan view.

[0009] (4) In the configuration of (1) or (2), the fixing portion of the X-shaped cross portion is formed between the back sheet and the nonwoven fabric sheet. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article which is thin yet has excellent absorption performance and is easy to walk in. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the absorbent article according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the width direction taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an upper absorbent body in the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a lower absorbent body in the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a fixing portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an absorbent article 1 according to a first embodiment. These drawings are schematic views and do not stipulate the shapes, dimensions, size relationships, etc. of the components in the absorbent article 1.

[0013] In the description of this specification, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the length direction (or longitudinal direction) of an absorbent article is the direction indicated by Y in the figure that extends from the front to the back of the body via the crotch of the wearer when the absorbent article is worn on the body, and the width direction is the width direction of the absorbent article, which is perpendicular to the length direction and indicated by X in the figure. The thickness direction is the direction indicated by Z in the figure in which each component is laminated. The skin side is the surface that contacts the wearer's skin and faces the skin when the absorbent article is worn, and the non-skin side is the surface that contacts the wearer's clothing or faces the clothing. Body fluids refer to liquids discharged from the body to the outside, such as urine, blood, and water in loose stools.

[0014] The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment can be used as various absorbent articles for both adults and non-adults, and representative examples include light incontinence pads, urine absorption pads, pants-type paper diapers, tape-fastened paper diapers, sanitary products, etc. Various paper diapers as outerwear may be combined with the absorbent article 1 as innerwear. The absorbent article 1 is thin yet has an absorbent body with excellent absorption performance and ease of walking, and can be used suitably by users who do not want others to notice that they are wearing it.

[0015] (Absorbent articles) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 that is positioned relatively closer to the skin when the absorbent article 1 is worn, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3 that is disposed opposite the top sheet 2 and positioned relatively closer to the skin when the absorbent article 1 is worn, an absorbent body 4 that is disposed between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, and an intermediate sheet that is positioned between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. The absorbent body 4 has two absorbent layers, an upper absorbent body 7 and a lower absorbent body 8. The intermediate sheet has a first intermediate sheet 13 and a second intermediate sheet 14. If necessary, a pair of three-dimensional gathers 5 is provided on the skin-facing surface of the top sheet 2.

[0016] In this configuration, an upper absorbent body 7 and a lower absorbent body 8 are sandwiched between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, and body fluids such as urine are absorbed and retained in the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8 through the top sheet 2. The first intermediate sheet 13 and the back sheet 3 are adhered to each other by a fixing part 16 such as a hot melt adhesive layer having an X-shaped planar shape as shown in Fig. 5.

[0017] (Absorbent) (Upper absorber) FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing only the upper absorbent body 7. As shown in FIG. 1 to 3, the upper absorbent body 7 has a slit 10 along the longitudinal direction in the widthwise center where no absorbent body is present. As shown in Fig. 3, the provision of the slit 10 divides the absorbent body of the upper absorbent body 7 into a left absorbent body 7a and a right absorbent body 7b. The provision of the slit 10 allows moisture located in the widthwise center of the upper absorbent body 7 to quickly permeate toward the lower absorbent body 8.

[0018] The length of the slit 10 in the longitudinal direction is preferably 50% or more and 100% or less of the total length of the maximum part of the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8, and the width of the slit 10 in the width direction is preferably 5% or more and 20% or less of the total width of the minimum part of the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8 in the width direction. The upper absorbent body 7 is 50 g / m 2 More than 130g / m 2 It is composed of the following pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymers. The composition of these is 50% to 100% by weight of pulp fibers, and 0% to 50% by weight of superabsorbent polymers.

[0019] The superabsorbent polymer used in the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8 is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb body fluids such as urine and prevent backflow, and examples of such polymers include polyacrylates, polyaspartates, (starch-acrylic acid) graft copolymers, (acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymers, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymers, and saponified versions thereof. Among these, polyacrylates are preferred from the viewpoint of absorption per weight, and sodium polyacrylate is more preferred. In the upper absorbent body 7, the pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer are preferably in the form of a mixture of pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer particles.

[0020] Regarding the function of the upper absorbent body 7, the highly absorbent polymer contained in the upper absorbent body 7 can suppress liquid return. In addition, since the upper absorbent body 7 contains 50% or more of pulp fiber and has slits 10, it can obtain a high water absorption rate. Similarly, since the upper absorbent body 7 contains 50% or more of pulp fiber, it can obtain a good feel against the skin. Furthermore, the weight of the pulp fiber of the upper absorbent body 7 is 130 g / m 2 Since this is equal to or less than this, the thickness of the absorbent body 4 can be reduced.

[0021] (Lower absorbent layer) FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing only the lower absorbent body 8. As shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower-layer absorbent body 8 has an X-shaped cross-shaped portion 11. Specifically, a first inclined portion 11a extending from the upper left to the lower right in the width direction of the lower-layer absorbent body 8 and a second inclined portion 11b extending from the upper right to the lower left in the width direction cross each other in a cross region 11c in the longitudinal center. In addition, in the plan view shown in Fig. 1, the slits 10 formed in the upper-layer absorbent body 7 and the cross region 11c of the cross-shaped portion 11 are configured to overlap each other. The lower absorbent body 8 is made of a highly absorbent polymer that does not contain pulp fibers.

[0022] For this reason, bodily fluids in the upper absorbent body 7 are quickly absorbed into the cross region 11c of the cross-shaped portion 11 through the slit 10 provided in the center. The upper side of the lower absorbent body 8 is covered with the second intermediate sheet 14 described below, and the lower side is sandwiched between the lower layer 13a (see Fig. 2) of the first intermediate sheet 13, so that the lower absorbent body 8 has regions 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d where bodily fluids that reach the lower absorbent body 8 can expand in the planar and thickness directions, as shown in Fig. 4. In this specification, "X-shaped" includes "approximately X-shaped".

[0023] With the above-described lower absorbent body 8, the superabsorbent polymer of the lower absorbent body 8 can suppress liquid backflow. Furthermore, since the lower absorbent body 8 has X-shaped cross-shaped portions 11 made of superabsorbent polymer, bodily fluid that has penetrated through the upper slits 10 can be allowed to escape radially to the outside of the crotch area, and even if the superabsorbent polymer expands, the impact on the crotch area is reduced. Furthermore, since the lower absorbent body 8 does not contain pulp fibers, the thickness can be reduced. Furthermore, by constructing the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8 as described above, an absorbent article can be obtained which is thin, has excellent water absorption properties, feels good against the skin, and is easy to walk in even after absorption.

[0024] (First intermediate sheet, second intermediate sheet) 2, the first intermediate sheet 13 is a liquid-permeable sheet that encases the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8. The second intermediate sheet 14 is a liquid-permeable sheet that is present between the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8.

[0025] As the liquid-permeable sheet, any hydrophilic nonwoven fabric having excellent diffusibility of body fluids can be used without any particular limitation, and examples thereof include air-through nonwoven fabrics and spunbond nonwoven fabrics containing one or more types of fibers made of synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester. Among these, spunbond nonwoven fabrics are more preferable from the viewpoint of thinning. The first intermediate sheet 13 and the second intermediate sheet 14 can be made of the same or different hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics.

[0026] (First intermediate sheet) The first intermediate sheet 13 is liquid permeable and is used to collectively encase the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8. The first intermediate sheet 13 allows bodily fluids to be quickly diffused into the absorbent body 4, and stabilizes the shape of the two-layer absorbent body. The base material of the first intermediate sheet 13 may be any material that has a faster body fluid permeability rate than the top sheet 2 and quickly diffuses body fluid into the absorbent body 4. Examples of the base material include hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics such as tissue, absorbent paper, airlaid nonwoven fabrics, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics. The basis weight of the first intermediate sheet 13 is 10 g / m 2 More than 40g / m 2 The following is preferable: When the basis weight is within the above range, the liquid can be sufficiently diffused over the entire upper surface of the absorbent body, and the shape of the absorbent body 4 can be stabilized. (Second intermediate sheet) The second intermediate sheet 14 is liquid permeable and is used to be interposed between the upper absorbent body 7 and the lower absorbent body 8. This second intermediate sheet 14 can quickly diffuse bodily fluid that cannot be absorbed by the upper absorbent body 7 to the lower absorbent body 8. The base material of the second intermediate sheet 14 may be any material that has hydrophilicity, and examples of such materials include hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics such as tissue, absorbent paper, air-laid nonwoven fabrics, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics.

[0027] (Fixed part) Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the fixing part. In Fig. 5, the length of the fixing part 16 in the width direction is drawn thicker for ease of understanding. The fixing parts 16 that fix the lower-layer absorbent body 8 to the back sheet 3 are configured with X-shaped adhesive means that cross in substantially the same manner as the cross-shaped part 11, centered on the area that contacts the wearer's crotch part. By fixing the X-shaped cross-shaped part 11 with the X-shaped fixing parts 16a, 16b, a sufficient fixing effect can be obtained over the entire area of ​​the cross-shaped part 11. Furthermore, by appropriately reducing the adhesive area, the texture and fit of the absorbent body 4 are not impaired.

[0028] Examples of the adhesive means include hot melt adhesives. Examples of hot melt adhesives include hot melt adhesives such as styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, synthetic rubber hot melt adhesives such as styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymers, and olefin hot melt adhesives such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. As a method for applying the hot melt adhesive, known methods can be used, such as the curtain coat method or spiral method in which the molten hot melt adhesive is applied from a nozzle in a non-contact manner, or the slot method in which the adhesive is applied in a contact manner.

[0029] Other constituent members of the absorbent article according to this embodiment will be further described below in the order of the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3 and the standing gathers 5. (Top sheet) The top sheet 2 is a liquid-permeable sheet-like member that quickly passes bodily fluids toward the absorbent body 4, and is disposed opposite the back sheet 3 with the absorbent body 4 sandwiched therebetween. Since the top sheet 2 may come into contact with the wearer's skin, a substrate that is soft to the touch and does not irritate the skin is preferable. Examples of the substrate include hydrophilic sheets, composite nonwoven fabrics that are laminates of the same or different hydrophilic sheets, open-ended films such as open-ended polyethylene films, and foamed films such as polyethylene foam and urethane foam. Examples of hydrophilic sheets include air-through nonwoven fabrics, thermal bond nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, and the like, which are made using one or more of synthetic fibers made of synthetic resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton.

[0030] From the viewpoint of improving liquid permeability, the surface of the top sheet 2 may be embossed or perforated according to a known method. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of reducing irritation to the skin, the top sheet 2 may contain one or more of lotions, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, pH adjusters, antibacterial agents, moisturizers, etc. The shape of the top sheet 2 is not particularly limited, and may be any shape that covers all or part of the absorbent body 4, which is necessary to guide bodily fluids to the absorbent body 4 without leakage.

[0031] (Back seat) The back sheet 3 may be formed using a liquid-impermeable substrate that prevents the body fluid held by the absorbent 4 from wetting clothing, and examples of the substrate include a resin film and a composite sheet that is a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric used in the composite sheet is not particularly limited in its manufacturing method, and examples thereof include spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, composite nonwoven fabric that is a laminate of spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric, composite nonwoven fabric that is a laminate of spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric, and composite materials that are laminates of two or more of these. Examples of the resin film include films of polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., and composite films of polyethylene and polypropylene.

[0032] In order to prevent stuffiness during wearing, the back sheet 3 is preferably breathable. In order to impart breathability to the back sheet 3, for example, a method of blending a filler in a resin film or a method of embossing the back sheet 3 to form holes can be used.

[0033] (3D gathers) 2, the absorbent article 1 has a pair of three-dimensional gathers 5 near both side edges of the skin side of the top sheet 2 along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 1 in order to prevent, for example, lateral leakage of bodily fluids excreted by the user. In this embodiment, one widthwise end 5a of the three-dimensional gathers 5 is fixed near both side edges of the skin side of the back sheet 3, a widthwise intermediate portion 5b is fixed near both side edges of the skin side of the top sheet 2, and the other widthwise end is a free end 5c that is not fixed to the top sheet 2. If an elastic stretchable member (not shown) is provided along the longitudinal direction near the free end 5c, the free end 5c is given an upstanding property and can be deformed to fit the body shape of the wearer.

[0034] The fixing position of one widthwise end of the three-dimensional gathers 5 is not limited to this embodiment, and examples include near both widthwise ends of the non-skin side of the back sheet 3, near both widthwise ends of a bag in which the edges of the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 are partially or entirely joined and the absorbent body 4 is housed, near both widthwise ends of the skin side of the top sheet 2, etc. As described above, the absorbent article 1 of this embodiment also includes embodiments that do not include three-dimensional gathers 5.

[0035] As the sheet member constituting the three-dimensional gathers 5, a water-repellent and / or liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric formed of hydrophobic fibers can be used without any particular limitation, such as spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, composite nonwoven fabric which is a laminate of spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric, etc. As the elastically stretchable member, a common product in this field can be used without any particular limitation, such as polyurethane thread, strip-shaped polyurethane film, thread-shaped or strip-shaped natural rubber, etc.

[0036] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the invention described in the above embodiments, and it is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the description of the claims that forms including such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1: Absorbent articles 2: Top sheet 3: Back seat 4: Absorbent 7: Upper absorber 8: Lower absorber 10: Slit 11, 11a, 11b: Cross-shaped portion 11c: Cross area 13: First intermediate sheet 14: Second intermediate sheet 16,16a,16b: Fixed part

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, The absorbent body includes an upper absorbent body and a lower absorbent body, a liquid-permeable first intermediate sheet that encases the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body; a liquid-permeable second intermediate sheet disposed between the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body; The upper absorbent body has a weight of 50% or more and 100% or less and a weight of 50 g / m ２ 130g / m or more ２ The pulp fiber is composed of the following pulp fiber and 0% to 50% by weight of a superabsorbent polymer, and the slit in the longitudinal direction is provided in the center of the width direction, in which the absorbent body is not present. The lower absorbent body is made of a highly absorbent polymer and has an X-shaped cross portion.

2. The length of the slit in the longitudinal direction is 50% or more and 100% or less of the total length of the maximum portion of the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body, 2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the width of the slit in the width direction is 5% to 20% of the total width of the narrowest part of the upper absorbent body and the lower absorbent body in the width direction.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slits and the cross areas of the cross-shaped portions overlap each other in a plan view.

4. 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a fixing portion of the X-shaped cross portion is formed between the back sheet and the nonwoven fabric sheet.

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