Method for producing absorber, method for producing absorbent article, apparatus for producing absorber, and apparatus for producing absorbent article

Abstract

To provide a method for producing an absorber that suppresses leakage of discharged liquid such as urine while preventing deterioration in wearing comfort.SOLUTION: A method for producing an absorber includes a transport step of transporting pulp that forms the absorber by an air flow; a suction step of providing, on a lower side in the gravity direction of the transport step, a rotary body in the form of a hollow cylinder having a mold on its outer peripheral portion and suctioning the pulp in the inner peripheral direction of the rotary body; and an SAP crushing step of crushing SAP particles suctioned by the suction step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorber, a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorber, and an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article.

Background Art

[0002] Disposable diapers, absorbent pads, absorbent articles such as sanitary products, etc. have been developed. Absorbent articles are provided with an absorber that absorbs liquids such as urine. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an absorber that holds SAP particles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a worn state, the absorber may be compressed by the body pressure of the wearer, and there is a risk of leakage of discharged liquid such as urine. In addition, there is a risk of reducing the wearing feeling by suppressing the leakage of discharged liquid such as urine.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an absorber that suppresses leakage of discharged liquid such as urine while suppressing a decrease in the wearing feeling.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A method for manufacturing an absorber according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a conveying step of conveying pulp for forming the absorber by an air flow; a suction step of having a rotating body having a mold frame on the outer periphery on the lower side in the gravitational direction of the conveying step, and sucking the pulp in the inner circumferential direction of the rotating body; a SAP crushing step of crushing SAP particles sucked by the suction step.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress leakage of discharged liquid such as urine while suppressing a decrease in the feeling of wearing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments shown below are one aspect of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0010] <Embodiment> In this embodiment, for a disposable absorbent pad (an example of the "absorbent article" referred to in the present application), the direction connecting the front body part facing the wearer's abdomen and the back body part facing the back is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between the front body part side (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body part side (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), there is a crotch part arranged (opposite to the crotch) under the wearer's crotch. Further, in a state where the absorbent pad is worn by the wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as the "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side in the worn state) is defined as the skin surface side, and the opposite side of the skin surface side (the outer side in the worn state) is defined as the non-skin surface side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction. In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is defined as a plan view. The absorbent pad has a length along the longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer and a length along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Also, the terms related to the directions used in the present application mean the directions that coincide with the front, back, left, and right of the wearer in a state where the absorbent pad is worn by the wearer. For example, when referring to the left-right direction in the present application, it means the direction that coincides with the left and right of the wearer in a state where the absorbent pad is worn by the wearer.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the absorbent pad 1 according to the embodiment. The absorbent pad 1 is used to absorb and hold liquids such as urine, and can be used alone by being arranged on the skin surface side of the undergarment, or can also be used by being stacked inside a disposable diaper. The absorbent pad 1 has a crotch region 1B corresponding to the crotch covering the wearer's genitals in the worn state, a front body part region 1F located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponding to the front side of the wearer, and a back body part region 1R located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponding to the back side of the wearer.

[0012] Figure 2 is a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 according to the embodiment. The absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment has a shape of a wing plate that is wider on the back region 1R side than the thigh region 1B and the front body region 1F in a plan view. Due to this planar shape, the absorbent pad 1 easily follows along the abdomen and buttocks of the wearer in the worn state. Note that the planar shape of the absorbent pad 1 is not limited to a substantially wing plate shape, and may be, for example, a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially gourd shape.

[0013] The absorbent pad 1 includes a topsheet 8 disposed on the skin surface side in the worn state. The topsheet 8 is a water-permeable sheet that is a portion of the absorbent pad 1 that contacts the skin of the wearer in the worn state and is formed of a liquid-permeable material that allows liquids such as urine to pass through. For the topsheet 8, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, porous film, etc. are used. Note that for the non-woven fabric, those obtained by hydrophilizing fibers of thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and nylon may be used, or air-through non-woven fabric, point-bond non-woven fabric, spunbond non-woven fabric, meltblown non-woven fabric, etc. may be used.

[0014] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad 1 according to the embodiment cut along the line A-A in Figure 2. In the cross-sectional view shown below, each structure is illustrated thicker than actual in order to clearly show the internal structure of the absorbent pad 1, but actually the absorbent pad 1 is very thin.

[0015] The absorbent pad 1 includes an absorber 6 (an example of the "absorber" referred to in the present application) that absorbs and holds liquids such as urine. The absorber 6 is disposed on the non-skin surface side of the topsheet 8 including the thigh region 1B in order to absorb the liquid discharged by the wearer. On the skin surface side of the absorber 6, hot melt adhesive HM is applied in a plurality of stripe-shaped rows spaced apart in the width direction, and the absorber 6 and the topsheet 8 are adhered by this hot melt adhesive HM. In the present embodiment, the absorber 6 has an absorption core 6C containing an absorbent material and a core wrap sheet 7 that covers at least the upper side of the absorption core 6C. Note that the longitudinal direction of the absorber 6 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the absorption core 6C and the core wrap sheet 7 and the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1.

[0016] The absorbent core 6C has a structure in which granular absorbent resin (high molecular water absorbent material) such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulose-based fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by subjecting synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate to a hydrophilization treatment. These short fibers and SAP are examples of absorbent materials.

[0017] The SAP particles in this embodiment refer to those obtained by granulating a resin composition containing SAP. The "resin composition containing SAP" as used herein is a concept that includes both a composition consisting only of SAP and a composition having SAP as the main component and containing other substances to such an extent that it does not adversely affect water absorption. Examples of the "other substances" include additives such as surface modifiers added for the purpose of hydrophobizing the particle surface, and unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP. The SAP particles can absorb a liquid about 10 to 100 times their own weight. For the SAP particles, for example, granular ones having a diameter of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm in the state before liquid absorption may be used. Further, it is preferable to use pearl-shaped SAP particles formed by the inverse phase suspension polymerization method. In the case of pearl-shaped SAP particles, even if they are crushed during production or the like, among the crushed SAP particles, the pearl-shaped SAP particles with a large volume have many spherical surface portions. Therefore, by arranging them on the skin side of the wearer, it is possible to suppress a decrease in skin contact compared to the case where SAP particles with many corners and irregularities on the surface are arranged on the skin side of the wearer. In this embodiment, the crushed SAP particles refer to those obtained by crushing pearl-shaped SAP particles during production or the like.

[0018] While the SAP particles can gel and retain the liquid, it takes a certain amount of time to absorb the liquid. The absorbent pad 1 suppresses the backflow of the liquid by allowing the short fibers to diffuse the discharged liquid inside the absorbent core 6C while decelerating it until the SAP particles absorb the liquid, and causing the discharged liquid to be absorbed by a wide range of SAP particles.

[0019] The absorbent core 6C has an upper absorbent mat 6A disposed on the top sheet 8 side and a lower absorbent mat 6B disposed on the non-skin surface side. The absorbent core 6C has a structure in which two layers of mats, the upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B, are laminated. The upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B are formed of the above-mentioned short fibers.

[0020] The upper absorbent mat 6A has a ladle shape with a constricted crotch region 1B that is wider on the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R side than the crotch region 1B in plan view. The lower absorbent mat 6B is disposed on the non-skin surface side of the upper absorbent mat 6A when viewed from the top sheet 8 side, and has a rectangular shape (a rectangular shape) with the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1 as the long side. The upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B are laminated in the thickness direction so that the centers in the width direction of each substantially coincide. Also, in plan view, the lower absorbent mat 6B is formed smaller than the upper absorbent mat 6A. Note that the longitudinal direction of the absorber 6 coincides with the longitudinal directions of the upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B and the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the upper absorbent mat 6A is formed of pulp fibers and SAP particles. Also, on one side in the thickness direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A, large-volume SAP particles among the crushed SAP particles are deposited, and on the opposite side in the thickness direction, small-volume SAP particles among the crushed pearl-shaped SAP particles are held in a dispersed state.

[0022] Also, the SAP particles may be disposed unevenly in either the upper absorbent mat 6A or the lower absorbent mat 6B. In the present embodiment, the SAP particles are disposed only in the upper absorbent mat 6A and not in the lower absorbent mat 6B. In this case, the lower absorbent mat 6B consists only of short fibers, and plays a role of holding, diffusing, and suppressing backflow of the discharged liquid until the discharged liquid flowing in is absorbed by the SAP particles contained in the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0023] Further, the absorbent pad 1 is provided in the absorbent core 6C and includes a groove portion 6H that penetrates the absorbent core 6C in the thickness direction. The groove portion 6H is provided within the longitudinal length of the absorbent core 6C, and the front and rear ends are contained within the absorbent core 6C. The groove portion 6H may be formed with a concave shape on the skin side by having less absorbent material such as short fibers forming the absorbent core 6C in the portion other than the groove portion 6H, or may be formed by squeezing the absorbent material forming the skin side of the absorbent core 6C in the thickness direction. It can be said that the groove portion 6H that penetrates the absorbent core 6C in the thickness direction has no laminated absorbent material and has a smaller laminated thickness of the absorbent material than other portions. The groove portion 6H is provided at the center in the width direction of the absorbent core 6C so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core 6C. The groove portion 6H in the present embodiment is formed to penetrate the absorbent core 6C formed by the upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B at a position corresponding to the midline of the wearer in the wearing state of the wearer, and the upper surface on the skin side and the bottom surface on the non-skin side are formed of the core wrap sheet 7. The discharged liquid such as urine flows into the groove portion 6H and moves longitudinally along the groove portion 6H, and is rapidly absorbed over a wide range in the longitudinal direction of the absorber 6. Therefore, the absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment can rapidly diffuse the discharged liquid by including the groove portion 6H. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the groove portion 6H does not reach the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6. For this reason, the discharged liquid that has moved to the outside in the longitudinal direction stays inside the groove portion 6H without reaching the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 and is sequentially absorbed.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, in plan view, the groove portion 6H has a rectangular shape with both front and rear ends formed in an arc shape. The front end of the groove portion 6H is located in the middle of the front body region 1F, and the rear end of the groove portion 6H is located in the front part of the rear body region 1R. Note that the groove portion 6H may be formed in a shape other than a rectangular shape, such as another polygonal shape or an elliptical shape, in plan view.

[0025] Further, the absorbent core 6C is disposed between the upper absorbent mat 6A and the lower absorbent mat 6B, and has a SAP layer 6S formed by a large number of SAP particles. The SAP layer 6S is disposed on both sides of the groove portion 6H and extends to the front side and the rear side of the groove portion 6H. The absorbent core 6C diffuses liquid such as urine in the lower absorbent mat 6B and holds the liquid by the SAP contained in the SAP layer 6S and the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0026] The absorber 6 according to the present embodiment has a core wrap sheet 7. The core wrap sheet 7 is a water-permeable sheet that wraps the entire absorbent core 6C. More specifically, it covers the skin side, the non-skin side, and the side surface of the absorbent core 6C. The core wrap sheet 7 protects the shape of the absorbent core 6C and prevents it from collapsing in a state where it is not in contact with the discharged liquid, and prevents the SAP particles contained in the upper absorbent mat 6A and the SAP particles contained in the SAP layer 6S from deviating. Further, the SAP particles in a state where they have not absorbed moisture are hard and granular like sand, and if the SAP particles in a state where they have not absorbed the deviated moisture directly touch the skin surface of the wearer, it may cause discomfort to the wearer. Therefore, the absorbent core 6C is wrapped with the core wrap sheet 7 to prevent the absorbent core 6C from collapsing and prevent the SAP particles from deviating outside the absorber 6.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 is formed of two sheets, an upper core wrap sheet 7A disposed between the upper absorbent mat 6A and the top sheet 8, and a lower core wrap sheet 7B disposed on the non-skin side of the lower absorbent mat 6B, covering the side surface of the absorbent core 6C, and further covering the outer side in the width direction of the upper core wrap sheet 7A. For the core wrap sheet 7, a pulp fiber sheet, a thin non-woven fabric, or the like is used. In the present embodiment, tissue paper is used for the core wrap sheet 7. When the core wrap sheet 7 is formed of two sheets, the upper core wrap sheet 7A and the lower core wrap sheet 7B can also be formed of different materials. As an example, the upper core wrap sheet 7A can be a pulp fiber sheet, and the lower core wrap sheet 7B can be a resin non-woven fabric. Note that the core wrap sheet 7 may be formed of one sheet.

[0028] As described above, the absorbent core 6C has a groove portion 6H. The topsheet 8 is configured not to fall into the groove portion 6H. Also, the core wrap sheet 7 is configured not to fall into the groove portion 6H. Therefore, the upper surface on the skin side of the groove portion 6H is formed by the upper core wrap sheet 7A, and the bottom surface on the non-skin side of the groove portion 6H is formed by the lower core wrap sheet 7B. Thus, the upper surface and the bottom surface of the groove portion 6H are formed by the core wrap sheet 7 which is a tissue paper.

[0029] The absorbent pad 1 includes a water-impermeable backsheet 5 disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 6. The backsheet 5 has substantially the same planar shape (a wing shape) as the absorbent pad 1. The backsheet 5 is a sheet formed of a thermoplastic water-impermeable resin such as a polyethylene film as a material to suppress leakage of the discharged liquid that has flowed into the absorbent body 6. The backsheet 5 has water repellency to prevent urine and moisture from seeping outside the absorbent pad 1 and breathability to suppress stuffiness in the worn state. The backsheet 5 may have breathability by forming a large number of minute ventilation holes.

[0030] The absorbent pad 1 may include a cover sheet disposed on the further non-skin side of the backsheet 5. The cover sheet forms the exterior surface of the absorbent pad 1, has rigidity capable of withstanding friction with disposable diapers, underwear, etc. used in combination, and prevents the backsheet 5 from being damaged. Generally, a non-woven fabric composed of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate is used for the cover sheet. The cover sheet has liquid impermeability and moisture permeability.

[0031] Further, the absorbent pad 1 includes a pair of side sheets 9L and 9R that are arranged on both sides of the absorbent pad 1 on the skin surface side in the width direction and have non-water permeability extending along the longitudinal direction. The side sheets 9L and 9R are arranged such that the longitudinal ends thereof coincide with the longitudinal ends of the top sheet 8. The side sheets 9L and 9R have fixed ends 9LA and 9RA arranged on the outer side in the width direction. The fixed ends 9LA and 9RA are adhered to the top sheet 8, the absorber 6, and the back sheet 5, which are members arranged on the non-skin surface side thereof, by a hot melt adhesive HM.

[0032] The side sheets 9L and 9R are adhered to the top sheet 8 by a hot melt adhesive HM. The inner ends of the hot melt adhesive HM in the width direction are used as folding lines 3LL and 3LR (see FIG. 2), and the inside of the folding lines 3LL and 3LR forms leak-proof walls 3L and 3R that can stand up. The inner ends of the side sheets 9L and 9R in the width direction are free ends 9LB and 9RB that are the tips of the leak-proof walls 3L and 3R. Near the free ends 9LB and 9RB, thread rubbers 3BL and 3BR, which are filamentous elastic members, are fixed by the hot melt adhesive HM in an extended state along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. The side sheets 9L and 9R are adhered to the top sheet 8 side also on the inner side in the width direction near the longitudinal ends, but on the inner side in the longitudinal direction, the inside in the width direction is not adhered more than the hot melt adhesive H M, and can stand up on the skin surface side. When the leak-proof walls 3L and 3R stand up on the skin surface side due to the contraction of the thread rubbers 3BL and 3BR, the free ends 9LB and 9RB inside the folding lines 3LL and 3LR become the tips on the skin surface side. The standing leak-proof walls 3L and 3R inhibit the movement of liquid and soft feces to the outer side in the width direction of the leak-proof walls 3L and 3R, and suppress these lateral leaks.

[0033] On the non-skin surface side of the folding lines 3LL and 3LR, thread rubbers 3LB and 3RB, which are filamentous elastic members, are fixed by the hot melt adhesive HM in an extended state along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1, two on each side in the width direction. By arranging the thread rubbers 3LB and 3RB in an extended state, the absorbent pad 1 can be fitted around the wearer's legs due to the contraction of the thread rubbers 3LB and 3RB.

[0034] Further, in a plan view, regions extending outward in the width direction of the folding lines 3LL and 3LR of the leak-preventing walls 3L and 3R are the ear portions 10L and 10R. In the present embodiment, the ear portions 10L and 10R are formed in the back body region 1R. Further, the lower layer absorption mat 6B is disposed including the outer sides in the width direction of the free end portions 9LB and 9RB. The absorbent pad 1 can increase the liquid absorption amount by increasing the formation of the lower layer absorption mat 6B while enhancing the cushioning property in the ear portions 10L and 10R. Note that the ear portions 10L and 10R may be formed in the front body region 1F, or may be formed in both the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of the absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a part of the configuration of a manufacturing apparatus M (an example of the “manufacturing apparatus for an absorbent body” referred to in the present application; hereinafter abbreviated as “manufacturing apparatus M”) of the absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the manufacturing apparatus M is a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the upper layer absorption mat 6A. Note that the manufacturing apparatus M is not limited to the manufacturing apparatus for the upper layer absorption mat 6A, and may be used when manufacturing the lower layer absorption mat 6B in which SAP needs to be uniformly distributed. Further, the vertical direction of the manufacturing apparatus M means the gravitational direction.

[0036] The manufacturing apparatus M for manufacturing the upper layer absorption mat 6A includes a pulp supply unit 11 that defibrates a pulp sheet, a SAP crushing mechanism 13 (an example of the “SAP crushing mechanism” referred to in the present application) that crushes SAP particles while dispersing the SAP particles in the CD direction, a transport unit 12 (an example of the “transport unit” referred to in the present application) that transports the pulp supplied from the pulp supply unit 11 and the SAP particles dispersed by the SAP crushing mechanism 13, and a suction mechanism 14 (an example of the “suction mechanism” referred to in the present application) that sucks the pulp and the SAP particles.

[0037] The pulp supply unit 11 has a pulp crusher (not shown), defibrates a pulp sheet formed of pulp fibers with the pulp crusher, and discharges the defibrated pulp to the transport unit 12.

[0038] The conveying unit 12 is provided below the pulp supply unit 11 and conveys the pulp for forming the upper-layer absorbent mat 6A by an air flow. The conveying unit 12 is a duct that extends obliquely downward and has openings at both ends in the MD direction. The lower end portion of the conveying unit 12 is arranged to cover a part of the suction mechanism 14 described later. Also, an air flow is flowing from the pulp supply unit 11 side toward the suction mechanism 14, and the pulp and SAP particles are conveyed by the air flow. Therefore, the pulp discharged from the pulp supply unit 11 is conveyed by the air flow along the conveying unit 12 to the suction mechanism 14 provided below the conveying unit 12. Note that the CD direction of the conveying unit 12 coincides with the width direction of the upper-layer absorbent mat 6A.

[0039] The SAP crushing mechanism 13 extends obliquely downward starting from the upper SAP supply unit 13S (see FIG. 7), and the lower end is inserted into the conveying unit 12 near the center upward, and SAP particles are discharged into the conveying unit 12. The details of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 will be described later.

[0040] The suction mechanism 14 includes a forming drum 14D (an example of the "rotating body" in the present application), which is a hollow cylindrical rotating body provided at the lower end of the conveying unit 12 with its upper end positioned and having a mold (an example of the "mold" in the present application) on its outer periphery, and a driving unit 14M (an example of the "driving unit") provided on one side in the CD direction of the forming drum 14D. Note that the arc-shaped arrow Y in FIG. 4 indicates the rotation direction of the forming drum 14D. The MD direction (rotation direction) of the forming drum 14D coincides with the longitudinal direction of the upper-layer absorbent mat 6A. The forming drum 14D has its central axis arranged in the CD direction and rotates in the direction of arrow Y with this central axis as the rotation axis.

[0041] The driving unit 14M rotates the forming drum 14D in the direction of arrow Y by receiving power supply and driving a motor. Note that in FIG. 4, the central axis of the forming drum 14D extends in the depth direction of the drawing paper.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a view showing the drive unit 14M on the side where the forming drum 14D is not provided. The drive unit 14M communicates with a mold described later of the forming drum 14D and has a suction unit 14F (an example of a "suction unit") that sucks pulp on one side in the width direction (CD direction) orthogonal to the MD direction of the forming drum 14D. The suction unit 14F is provided inside the drive unit 14M. The suction unit 14F makes the inside negative pressure by driving, for example, a suction fan, and sucks external air. The suction unit 14F is connected to the mold via the drive shaft of the forming drum 14D and the internal space of the forming drum 14D from one side surface side of the forming drum 14D.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the forming drum 14D viewed obliquely from above. The bottom of the mold 14C formed in the forming drum 14D is composed of a porous member such as a metal mesh plate, for example. That is, the bottom of the mold 14C has air permeability, and external air of the forming drum 14D can be sucked into the inside thereof through the mold 14C by the negative pressure generated by the suction unit 14F.

[0044] The mold 14C is a mold for forming the upper absorbent mat 6A, and is formed along the outer periphery of the forming drum 14D over the entire outer periphery. The mold 14C has substantially the same ladle shape as the upper absorbent mat 6A. The mold 14C may be formed directly on the outer peripheral portion of the forming drum 14D, for example, or may be formed by attaching a mold plate configured to be detachable to a cylindrical frame.

[0045] The mold 14C has a convex portion 14CU that protrudes outward from the forming drum 14D and extends in the longitudinal direction of the mold 14C at the central portion in the width direction of the mold 14C corresponding to the groove portion 6H. By providing the convex portion 14CU on the mold 14C, the basis weight of the pulp and SAP particles deposited on the convex portion 14CU becomes lower than that of the surroundings, and the groove portion 6H is formed.

[0046] With such a configuration, in the deposition region R1, which is the facing region between the conveying unit 12 and the forming drum 14D, the pulp and SAP particles supplied from the conveying unit 12 are sucked to the bottom side of the mold 14C of the forming drum 14D together with the air sucked by the suction unit 14F. Here, although the air is sucked into the forming drum 14D through the bottom of the mold 14C, the pulp and SAP particles cannot pass through the porous member provided at the bottom of the mold 14C and will be deposited in the mold 14C.

[0047] An absorbent pad conveying path 15 is provided below the suction mechanism 14. The pulp and SAP particles deposited in the mold 14C are conveyed to the transfer region R2 facing the absorbent pad conveying path 15 by the rotation of the forming drum 14D. Then, the pulp and SAP particles are released as the upper absorbent mat 6A in the transfer region R2 and transferred onto the member (in this embodiment, the lower absorbent mat 6B with the SAP layer 6S formed on the upper surface) below the upper absorbent mat 6A in the absorbent 6 flowing on the absorbent pad conveying path 15. Note that the MD direction of the absorbent pad conveying path 15 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the SAP crushing mechanism 13. FIG. 8 is a top view of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 viewed from the back side. The SAP crushing mechanism 13 includes a SAP supply unit 13S (an example of a "SAP discharge unit") that supplies SAP particles, an inclined portion 13K (an example of a "SAP dispersion unit") that conveys the SAP particles from the SAP supply unit 13S to the conveying unit 12, a conveying direction changing portion 13C (an example of a "conveying direction changing portion") provided at the lower end of the inclined portion 13K for conveying the SAP particles upward, and an air discharge portion 13A (an example of an "air discharge portion") that discharges an air flow that biases the SAP particles in the conveying direction changed by the conveying direction changing portion 13C. Note that the CD direction of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 coincides with the width direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0049] The SAP supply part 13S has a cylindrical shape in which the CD direction of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 is the longitudinal direction, and has a SAP supply port 13M extending in the longitudinal direction of the SAP supply part 13S. The SAP supply part 13S is rotating in the MD direction. Since the SAP supply part 13S is rotating, SAP particles are continuously discharged from the SAP supply port 13M. The SAP particles are supplied to the SAP supply part 13S and supplied to the inclined part 13K via the SAP supply port 13M.

[0050] The SAP supply part 13S is supplied with pearl-shaped SAP particles formed by the inverse suspension polymerization method. Also, the SAP particles supplied to the SAP supply part 13S are uncrushed SAP particles. For pearl-shaped SAP particles, even if they are crushed during production or the like, among the crushed SAP particles, the SAP particles with a large volume have many spherical surface parts, so there are few corners and irregularities on the surface. Therefore, by arranging them on the skin side of the wearer, it is possible to suppress a decrease in skin contact compared to the case where SAP particles with many corners and irregularities on the surface are arranged on the skin side of the wearer.

[0051] The SAP particles discharged from the SAP supply port 13M are discharged in a range narrower than the length in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A. The SAP particles discharged from the SAP supply part 13S are conveyed while being dispersed in the CD direction of the inclined part 13K by the inclined part 13K. Since the CD direction of the inclined part 13K corresponds to the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A, the SAP particles are discharged in a range narrower than the length in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A so that the state of being dispersed by the inclined part 13K corresponds to the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A.

[0052] The inclined portion 13K has a substantially rectangular shape with the MD direction of the SAP crushing mechanism 13 being the longitudinal direction, and is inclined obliquely downward toward the suction mechanism 14, and discharges the SAP particles discharged from the SAP supply section 13S to the conveying section 12 by the self-weight of the SAP particles. In the present embodiment, non-round SAP particles are used. Since non-round SAP particles are likely to be entangled with pulp, uneven distribution of SAP in the absorber 6 is less likely to occur. Further, since the SAP particles are not round, in the inclined portion 13K, the SAP particles are conveyed in the MD direction while being dispersed in the CD direction.

[0053] The inclined portion 13K has wall portions 13W extending upward at both ends in the CD direction of the inclined portion 13K. The wall portions 13W suppress the SAP particles that have reached the CD-direction end of the inclined portion 13K before the SAP particles reach the lower end of the inclined portion 13K from falling outside the CD direction of the inclined portion 13K.

[0054] The length of the inclined portion 13K in the MD direction is such that the SAP particles do not reach the wall portion 13W and are dispersed inside the wall portion 13W. It is preferable that the length of the wall portion 13W in the MD direction is longer because it enables the SAP particles to be dispersed. However, when the SAP particles are dispersed in the CD direction of the inclined portion 13K and reach the wall portion 13W, the SAP particles may be conveyed in the MD direction of the inclined portion 13K along the wall portion 13W and may not be dispersed in the CD direction. Therefore, the length of the inclined portion 13K is set such that the SAP particles are conveyed in the MD direction while being dispersed in the CD direction and do not reach the wall portion 13W. Thereby, an increase in the SAP density at the CD-direction end of the inclined portion 13K can be suppressed, and variation in the SAP density in the CD direction of the inclined portion 13K at the stage of being introduced into the conveying section 12 can be suppressed.

[0055] The pearl-shaped SAP particles supplied to the SAP supply section 13S collide with each other while being conveyed from the SAP supply section 13S to the inclined portion 13K via the SAP supply port 13M, or the SAP particles are chipped and crushed due to collision with the inclined portion 13K or the like, resulting in crushed SAP particles.

[0056] The conveyance direction changing section 13C extends obliquely upward with the lower end of the inclined section 13K as the lower end. As the SAP particles conveyed while being dispersed in the inclined section 13K pass through the conveyance direction changing section 13C, a force that causes them to move upward in the gravitational direction is applied, and they are discharged obliquely upward. Even after the SAP particles are supplied from the inclined section 13K to the conveyance section 12, the momentum of the SAP particles dispersing in the CD direction of the inclined section 13K is not lost because it is not canceled out by the force in the MD direction of the SAP particles. Therefore, the SAP particles continue to disperse in the CD direction of the inclined section 13K.

[0057] By providing the conveyance direction changing section 13C, the time from the inclined section 13K to reaching the mold 14C becomes longer compared to the case where the conveyance direction changing section 13C is not provided. Therefore, the time for the SAP particles to disperse becomes longer, and the SAP particles are likely to be uniformly deposited over the entire width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A. The SAP particles discharged obliquely upward are conveyed in the MD direction of the conveyance section 12 while the momentum toward the obliquely upward direction is canceled out by the downward (MD direction) air flow of the conveyance section 12, and are deposited on the mold 14C. The SAP particles continue to disperse because the momentum in the CD direction of the inclined section 13K is not canceled out even while being conveyed by the air flow. Therefore, by providing the conveyance direction changing section 13C, the time for the SAP particles to disperse can be extended by the time of being discharged obliquely upward from the conveyance direction changing section 13C and the time of canceling out the momentum toward the obliquely upward direction by the air flow of the conveyance section 12, and the SAP particles are widely dispersed and uniformly deposited in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A.

[0058] The air discharge portion 13A is a tube provided along the rear side (lower side) end of the inclined portion 13K and through which air can pass, and discharges air from a plurality of air holes 13H provided in the air discharge portion 13A below the conveyance direction changing portion 13C. The air discharged from the air holes 13H forms an air flow and flows in the MD direction of the conveyance direction changing portion 13C. The SAP particles that pass through the inclined portion 13K, have their conveyance direction changed by the conveyance direction changing portion 13C, and are discharged obliquely upward are urged by the air flow discharged from the air holes 13H and conveyed obliquely upward. Therefore, when the SAP particles are conveyed by the air flow discharged from the air holes 13H, the SAP particles can be conveyed to a position higher than the conveyance direction changing portion 13C. Thus, it becomes possible to extend the time of being discharged obliquely upward from the conveyance direction changing portion 13C and the time of canceling the momentum directed obliquely upward by the air flow of the conveyance portion 12, and the SAP particles can be more dispersed in the width direction of the upper layer absorption mat 6A. Note that the air discharge portion 13A does not have to be combined with the conveyance direction changing portion 13C. Even without the conveyance direction changing portion 13C, if it is provided at the lower end of the inclined portion 13K, it is possible to convey the SAP particles obliquely upward by the discharged air flow.

[0059] Also, by adjusting the direction of the air flow discharged from the air holes 13H or the speed of discharging the air flow, it is possible to adjust the time of being discharged obliquely upward from the conveyance direction changing portion 13C and the time of canceling the momentum directed obliquely upward by the air flow of the conveyance portion 12, and the spread of the SAP particles in the CD direction can be adjusted. The direction of the air discharge portion 13A is such that the higher the air holes 13H are directed upward, the longer the time until the SAP particles reach the mold 14C, and the SAP particles are in the CD direction It is easy to disperse. On the other hand, the more the air holes 13H are directed horizontally, the shorter the time until the SAP particles reach the mold 14C, and the less likely the SAP particles are to disperse in the CD direction. Also, the discharge speed of the air flow can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure of the air flowing into the air holes 13H. When the pressure of the air flowing into the air holes 13H is high, the rising speed of the air flow increases, and it is difficult to be canceled by the downward air flow flowing into the conveying section 12, the time until the SAP particles reach the mold 14C becomes long, and the SAP particles are likely to disperse in the CD direction. When the pressure of the air flowing into the air holes 13H is low, the rising speed of the air flow is slow, and it is easily canceled by the obliquely downward air flow flowing into the conveying section 12, the time until the SAP particles reach the mold 14C becomes short, and the SAP particles are less likely to disperse in the CD direction. Note that the spread of the SAP particles in the CD direction may be adjusted by combining the direction of the air discharge section 13A and the discharge speed of the air flow.

[0060] The air holes 13H provided on the driving section 14M side preferably discharge less air than the air holes 13H provided on the opposite side of the driving section 14M. On the driving section 14M side where the suction force of the SAP particles by the suction section 14F is high, the SAP particles are likely to accumulate due to the suction by the suction section 14F. Therefore, by reducing the amount of air discharged from the air holes 13H provided on the opposite side of the driving section 14M, it is possible to suppress the deposition of the SAP particles supplied from the inclined section 13K to the conveying section 12 on the driving section 14M side where the suction section 14F with high suction force is provided.

[0061] The amount and pressure of the air flow discharged from the air holes 13H can be adjusted by the size or the number of the air holes 13H. For example, the amount of air discharged from the air holes 13H provided on the driving section 14M side may be reduced by reducing the number of the air holes 13H provided on the driving section 14M side, or the amount of air discharged from the air holes 13H provided on the driving section 14M side may be reduced by reducing the size of the air holes 13H provided on the driving section 14M side. Also, the amount of air discharged from the air discharge section 13A may be adjusted by combining the number and size of the air holes 13H.

[0062] When a suction part is provided on the side plate surface side of the forming drum, since the suction force on the side where the suction part is provided is high, the density of SAP particles on the side where the suction part is provided is increased compared to the side where the suction part is not provided, and there is a possibility that the density of SAP particles in the width direction of the upper absorption mat becomes uneven. For this reason, when the suction parts are provided on both side surfaces of the forming drum, it is necessary to provide drive parts on both sides of the forming drum, which may complicate the suction mechanism and make maintenance difficult. Further, by providing the suction parts on both side surfaces of the forming drum, there is a possibility that the density of SAP particles at both end parts in the width direction of the upper absorption mat becomes higher than the density of SAP particles inside in the width direction.

[0063] On the other hand, the manufacturing apparatus M according to the present embodiment is provided with an SAP crushing mechanism 13 so that SAP particles are unevenly arranged on one side in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A. For example, the SAP crushing mechanism 13 is provided on one side in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A (the side where the suction part 14F is not arranged), or the SAP supply port 13M is provided on one side in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A (the side where the suction part 14F is not arranged), etc., so that SAP particles are unevenly arranged on one side in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the SAP particles supplied from the inclined part 13K to the conveying part 12 from gathering on the suction part 14F side with a high suction force. Further, since the SAP particles supplied from the inclined part 13K to the conveying part 12 have a momentum to disperse in the CD direction of the inclined part 13K, they can continue to disperse in the CD direction of the inclined part 13K also in the conveying part 12, and can spread in the width direction of the upper absorption mat 6A to hold the SAP particles.

[0064] Further, the manufacturing apparatus M may be provided with a substantially cylindrical pressing roll 16 that is arranged in the region between the deposition region R1 and the transfer region R2 and has a function of pressing the pulp and SAP particles deposited on the mold 14C of the forming drum 14D toward the bottom side of the mold 14C.

[0065] FIG. 10 is a view showing the pressing roll 16 extracted. FIG. 10(A) is a perspective view of the pressing roll 16. FIG. 10(B) is a view of the pressing roll 16 viewed from the MD direction of the forming drum 14D. As shown in FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B), the pressing roll 16 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a constricted recess 16H in the central portion in the width direction corresponding to the convex portion 14CU of the mold 14C, and is configured to be rotatable about the central axis of the cylinder as a rotation axis. However, the pressing roll 16 itself does not mainly rotate, but can rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the forming drum 14D by receiving the rotational force of the forming drum 14D. And the width of the entire pressing roll 16 is approximately the same as or slightly shorter than the length of the width of the central portion of the mold 14C.

[0066] The pressing roll 16 is biased toward the inside of the forming drum 14D by, for example, a biasing means (not shown), and presses the absorbent material deposited on the mold 14C toward the inside of the forming drum 14D.

[0067] Also, since the length in the width direction of the pressing roll 16 is such that it can press the entire region in the width direction of the mold 14C, the absorbent material pushed by the pressing roll 16 has no escape space between the side surface of the convex portion 14CU and the end portion in the width direction of the mold 14C and is pressed firmly. That is, the thickness can be made uniform over the entire width direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0068] When the mold 14C is configured such that the front end and the rear end of the region corresponding to each of the plurality of upper absorbent mats 6A communicate with each other, it is possible to suppress an unintended state in which SAP particles and pulp are biased and the density becomes high at one of the longitudinal ends of the upper absorbent mat 6A. That is, by being pressed by the pressing roll 16, it moves in the width direction of the mold 14C and toward the rear side in the rotation direction of the forming drum 14D. If the configuration is such that there is a boundary between the molds, the SAP particles and pulp that have moved toward the rear side in the rotation direction of the forming drum 14D are restricted in movement at the rear end side of the mold, and the density becomes high at that portion.

[0069] In this regard, if the front end and the rear end of the region corresponding to each of the plurality of upper absorbent mats 6A in the mold 14C communicate with each other as in the forming drum 14D of the manufacturing apparatus M according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the density of pulp and SAP particles from varying between one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A.

[0070] Next, with reference to FIG. 11, a method for manufacturing the absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart relating to the method for manufacturing the absorbent pad 1 according to the present embodiment. First, in the defibering step, a pulp sheet formed from pulp fibers constituting the upper absorbent mat 6A is defibered in the pulp supply unit 11, and the defibered pulp is supplied to the transport unit 12 (step S101). Further, in the SAP discharging step, SAP particles are discharged from the SAP supply unit 13S through the SAP supply port 13M in a range narrower than the CD direction orthogonal to the MD direction of the upper absorbent mat 6A (step S102). Then, in the SAP crushing step, the SAP particles discharged from the SAP supply port 13M are obliquely downwardly transported from the inclined portion 13K to the transport unit 12 by their own weight, and the SAP particles are crushed while being dispersed inward from the end in the CD direction during the transport (step S103). Next, in the transport step, the air flow flowing in the transport unit 12 transports the pulp and the dispersed SAP particles along the transport unit 12 to the suction mechanism 14 (step S104). Next, in the suction step, while the hollow cylindrical forming drum 14D having the mold 14C on the outer peripheral portion rotates, the defibered pulp and the dispersed SAP particles are suctioned in the inner circumferential direction of the forming drum 14D (step S105). Finally, in the transfer step, the formed upper absorbent mat 6A is transferred to the skin surface side of the material (in the present embodiment, the lower absorbent mat 6B having the SAP layer 6S formed on the upper surface) on the non-skin surface side of the upper absorbent mat 6A among the absorbent pads 1 being transported on the absorbent pad transport path 15 (step S 106).

[0071] In the defibration step (step S101), in the pulp supply unit 11, the pulp sheet formed from pulp fibers is defibrated, and the defibrated pulp is discharged to the transport unit 12.

[0072] In the SAP discharge step (step S102), the SAP particles supplied to the SAP supply unit 13S are discharged from the SAP supply port 13M to the inclined portion 13K. Next, in the SAP crushing step (step S103), while the pearl-shaped SAP particles supplied to the SAP supply unit 13S are dispersed in the CD direction, the SAP particles are crushed by colliding with each other or colliding with the inclined portion 13K or the like. The SAP particles pass through the inclined portion 13K while being dispersed and crushed in the CD direction, and are discharged obliquely upward by the transport direction changing unit 13C. At this time, since an air flow is generated obliquely upward from the lower side of the transport direction changing unit 13C by the air discharge unit 13A, among the crushed SAP particles, the SAP particles with a small volume are urged by the air flow discharged from the air holes 13H provided in the air discharge unit 13A and are transported upward in the gravitational direction. Here, among the crushed SAP particles, the momentum in the CD direction, which is the direction in which the SAP particles with a small volume are dispersed, is not canceled, so the SAP particles are dispersed in the CD direction even while being transported obliquely upward. On the other hand, among the crushed SAP particles, those with a large volume are not easily carried by the air flow discharged from the air discharge unit 13A due to their own weight and tend to fall downward. Therefore, among the crushed SAP particles, the SAP particles with a large volume accumulate in the mold 14C.

[0073] In the transport step (step S104), the pulp discharged from the pulp supply unit 11 is transported along the transport unit 12 by an air flow to the mold 14C provided in the suction mechanism 14. At this time, the SAP particles with a small volume transported upward in the gravitational direction by the SAP crushing step (step S103) have the momentum of the air flow flowing upward in the gravitational direction canceled by the air flow flowing obliquely downward in the transport unit 12, and are transported along with the pulp along the transport unit 12 and are transported to the mold 14C provided in the suction mechanism 14. Note that since the momentum in the CD direction, which is the direction in which the SAP particles are dispersed, is not canceled, the SAP particles continue to be dispersed in the CD direction.

[0074] Next, in the suction step (step S105), as the forming drum 14D rotates, the pulp and SAP particles deposited on the mold 14C are suctioned in the inner circumferential direction of the forming drum 14D and conveyed to a position facing the absorbent pad conveyance path 15 by the rotation of the forming drum 14D.

[0075] Finally, in the transfer step (step S106), in the transfer region R2, it is transferred to the skin surface side of the material on the non-skin surface side of the upper absorbent mat 6A among the absorbent pads 1 conveyed to the absorbent pad conveyance path 15.

[0076] Normally, in the worn state, the absorbent pad is compressed in the thickness direction by the body pressure of the wearer, and there is a risk that the discharged liquid such as urine held in the absorbent body may leak to the skin surface side of the wearer. On the other hand, in the absorbent pad 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, SAP particles are arranged on the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side of the upper absorbent mat 6A. Therefore, it is possible to hold the discharged liquid such as urine on the non-skin surface side away from the skin of the wearer, and even when compressed in the thickness direction by the body pressure of the wearer, the SAP particles arranged on the skin surface side of the wearer absorb and hold the discharged liquid such as urine that attempts to leak to the skin surface side, thereby suppressing the leakage of the discharged liquid such as urine to the skin surface side and improving the wearing feeling.

[0077] Also, if crushed SAP particles are arranged on the skin surface side of the absorbent body, there is a risk of deteriorating the wearing feeling due to the unevenness on the surface of the SAP particles. On the other hand, the upper absorbent mat 6A manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment crushes the pearl-shaped SAP particles by the collision of the particles with each other or with the conveyance path or the like during the manufacturing process. Therefore, the pearl-shaped SAP particles are not crushed into a uniform size It is crushed into large-volume SAP particles and small-volume SAP particles. Among the crushed SAP particles, the large-volume SAP particles have many spherical surface portions. By arranging the SAP particles having many spherical surface portions on the skin side of the wearer, compared with the case where the SAP particles having many corners and irregularities on the surface are arranged on the skin side of the wearer, a decrease in skin contact can be suppressed and the wearing feeling can be improved. Further, among the crushed SAP particles, the small-volume SAP particles can absorb and hold excreted fluids such as urine on the non-skin side away from the wearer's skin by the SAP particles having a large surface area per unit volume.

[0078] In the present embodiment, the upper absorption mat 6A transfers the large-volume SAP particles among the crushed SAP particles to the member on the non-skin side of the upper absorption mat 6A in a state where the large-volume SAP particles are deposited on the skin side and the small-volume SAP particles among the crushed SAP particles are deposited on the non-skin side. When the large-volume SAP particles among the crushed SAP particles are deposited on the skin side, the SAP particles having a large surface area per unit volume are deposited at a location away from the skin surface. Therefore, excreted fluids such as urine are easily absorbed and held at a position away from the wearer's skin. Even when the upper absorption mat 6A is compressed in the thickness direction by the body pressure of the wearer and the excreted fluids such as urine are squeezed out, they are absorbed and held by the large-volume SAP particles dispersed and held on the skin side, suppressing the leakage of the excreted fluids such as urine to the skin side.

[0079] In this case, since the SAP particles having a relatively small surface area per unit volume are dispersed and held on the skin side of the wearer, in the wearing state, a decrease in the wearing feeling due to the irregularities on the surface of the SAP particles hitting the wearer can be suppressed. Further, since the SAP particles supplied to the SAP supply unit 13S are not crushed and pearl-shaped particles with few corners and irregularities are used, even if they are crushed during manufacturing, the large-volume SAP particles have many spherical surface portions. Therefore, by arranging the SAP particles having many spherical surface portions on the skin side of the wearer, a decrease in skin contact can be suppressed.

[0080] In the transfer region R2, among the SAP particles crushed on the skin surface side, the SAP particles with a small volume are deposited in a dispersed state, and on the non-skin surface side, the SAP particles with a large volume among the crushed SAP particles are deposited and then transferred to the member on the non-skin surface side of the upper absorption mat 6A. Among the crushed SAP particles, if the SAP particles with a small volume are deposited on the non-skin surface side, since the SAP particles with a small volume have a large surface area, the discharged liquid such as urine is quickly absorbed on the skin surface side, and the discharged liquid such as urine exceeding the absorption amount that can be held by the SAP particles deposited on the skin surface side is absorbed and held at a location away from the wearer's skin surface. Therefore, even when the upper absorption mat 6A is compressed in the thickness direction by the body pressure of the wearer and the discharged liquid such as urine is squeezed out, the discharged liquid such as urine held by the SAP particles with a large volume, which has a larger holding amount for absorbing and holding the discharged liquid such as urine compared with the SAP particles with a small volume, is absorbed and held at a location away from the wearer's skin surface. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the discharged liquid such as urine held by the SAP particles with a large volume, which can hold a larger amount of the discharged liquid such as urine compared with the SAP particles with a small volume, from flowing back to the skin surface side.

[0081] In this case, on the skin surface side of the upper absorption mat 6A, the SAP particles with a small volume are held in a dispersed state. Thereby, since a region with a high density of SAP particles is suppressed on the skin surface side of the upper absorption mat 6A, by arranging the SAP particles with a small volume on the skin surface side and the SAP particles with a large volume on the non-skin surface side, the skin contact of the wearer can be improved in the wearing state.

[0082] The present invention is applicable not only to the absorbent pad but also to pant-type diapers and tape-type diapers.

[0083] The features included in each of the embodiments and their modifications disclosed above can be combined with each other as appropriate.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0084] 1 ··· Absorbent pad 1F ··· Front body region 1B ··· Crotch region 1R ··· Rear body area 3BL, 3BR, 3LB, 3RB ··· Thread rubber 3LL, 3RL ··· Folding line 3L, 3R ··· Leakage prevention wall 5 ··· Back sheet 6 ··· Absorbent body 6C ··· Absorbent core 6A ··· Upper absorbent mat 6B ··· Lower absorbent mat 6H ··· Groove part 6S ··· SAP layer 7 ··· Core wrap sheet 7A ··· Upper core wrap sheet 7B ··· Lower core wrap sheet 8 ··· Top sheet 9L, 9R ··· Side sheet 9LA, 9RA ··· Fixed end part 9LB, 9RB ··· Free end part 10L, 10R ··· Ear part 11 ··· Pulp supply part 12 ··· Conveying part 13 ··· SAP crushing mechanism 13S ··· SAP supply part 13K ··· Inclined part 13C ··· Conveying direction changing part 13A ··· Air discharging part 13M ··· SAP supply port 13W ··· Wall part 13H ··· Air hole 14 ··· Suction mechanism 14C ··· Mold 14D ··· Forming drum 14M ··· Driving part 14F ··· Suction part 15 ··· Absorbent pad conveying path 16 ··· Pressing roll M ··· Manufacturing device R1 ··· Deposition area R2 ··· Transfer area

Claims

1. A conveying step of conveying the pulp forming the absorbent body by an air flow, A suction step having a rotating body with a hollow cylindrical shape having a mold on the outer periphery below the gravity direction of the conveying step, and sucking the pulp in the inner circumferential direction of the rotating body, A SAP crushing step of crushing the SAP particles sucked by the suction step, and A method for manufacturing an absorbent body.

2. The SAP particles crushed by the SAP crushing step are in the form of pearls, The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to Claim 1.

3. A SAP discharging step of discharging the SAP particles in a range narrower than the CD direction orthogonal to the MD direction of the absorbent body, and The SAP crushing step conveys the SAP particles discharged by the SAP discharging step obliquely downward to the conveying step by their own weight, and disperses the SAP particles inside rather than at the end in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction during conveyance, The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, comprising the method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. A conveying unit for conveying the pulp forming the absorbent body by an air flow, A suction mechanism having a rotating body with a hollow cylindrical shape having a mold on the outer periphery below the gravity direction of the conveying unit, and sucking the pulp in the inner circumferential direction of the rotating body, A SAP crushing mechanism for crushing the SAP particles sucked by the suction mechanism, and An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, comprising the apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to Claim 5.

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