Method for manufacturing absorbent article and absorbent article

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of improving wearing feeling of an absorbent article.SOLUTION: A manufacturing method of an absorbent article having an absorber for absorbing liquid discharged from a wearer, includes: a SAP arrangement step for arranging a particle group of SAP which is a super absorbent polymer on the non-skin surface side of the absorber; a compression step for forming a compression part by compressing the absorber from the non-skin surface side;, and a recess formation step for forming a recess on a position corresponding to the compression part on the skin surface side of the absorber by pressing the absorber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article and the absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In absorbent articles for absorbing liquids such as urine and body fluids, it is known to squeeze an absorbent body (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-103782 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is known that in absorbent articles, the absorbent body is compressed to form compressed grooves, which allow liquid to be diffused throughout the absorbent body. However, the compressed parts of the absorbent body become hard, and the direct or indirect contact of these parts with the skin reduces the comfort of wearing the absorbent article.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of improving the wearing comfort of an absorbent article. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the absorbent body is squeezed from the non-skin facing side.

[0007] In detail, the present invention is a manufacturing method for an absorbent article equipped with an absorbent body that absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer, and includes an SAP arrangement step of arranging a particle group of SAP, which is a highly absorbent polymer, on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body, a squeezing step of forming a compressed portion by squeezing the absorbent body from the non-skin facing side, and a recess formation step of pressing the absorbent body to form a recess at a position corresponding to the compressed portion on the skin facing side of the absorbent body.

[0008] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing an absorbent article, in the squeezing step, the compressed portion may be formed in a groove shape, and in the recess forming step, the recess may be formed in a groove shape.

[0009] The manufacturing method of the above-mentioned absorbent article may include a non-skin-facing sheet attachment step of attaching the non-skin-facing sheet to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, which step causes at least a portion of the surface of the compressed portion to be non-adhered to the non-skin-facing sheet.

[0010] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing an absorbent article, the absorbent body may have an absorbent core, and the method may include a hole forming step of forming a through hole penetrating the absorbent core from the skin-facing side to the non-skin-facing side.

[0011] The method for manufacturing an absorbent article may further include, after the recess forming step, a skin-facing side sheet attaching step of attaching a skin-facing side sheet in a stretched state to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body.

[0012] In the above-mentioned method for manufacturing an absorbent article, in the compression step, the compression portions are formed in a lattice pattern, and in the recess forming step, the recesses are formed in a lattice pattern, and the lattice points of the recesses are not adhered to the skin-facing sheet.

[0013] The present invention can also be viewed from the perspective of an absorbent article. For example, the present invention may be an absorbent article having an absorbent body that absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer, the absorbent body having a particle group of SAP, which is a highly absorbent polymer, disposed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body, a compressed portion formed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body, and a recess formed on the skin facing side of the absorbent body at a position corresponding to the compressed portion. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the wearing comfort of an absorbent article. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the diaper according to the first embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin-facing side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the first embodiment taken along the width direction. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the recessed portion of the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for producing the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a compression section forming device of the manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method for producing a diaper according to Modification 1-1 of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a diaper according to Modification 1-1 of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the absorbent body as viewed from the skin facing side. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the diaper according to the second embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin facing side. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the second embodiment taken along the width direction. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a method for producing a diaper according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0017] <Embodiment 1> In this embodiment, for a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of an "absorbent article" as referred to in this application, hereinafter simply referred to as a "diaper"), the direction connecting the front body arranged opposite the wearer's abdomen and the rear body arranged opposite the wearer's back is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the rear body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), the crotch part is located under the wearer's crotch (opposed to the crotch). Furthermore, when the diaper is worn by a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is defined as the skin-facing side, and the side opposite the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is defined as the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is defined as the thickness direction, and whether the longitudinal direction or the thickness direction is the longitudinal direction or the thickness direction, the crotch part is defined as the skin-facing side. The direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is the width direction.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to the present embodiment. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which is a region corresponding to the crotch of the wearer covering the pubic area when worn, a front body region 1F, which is located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the front body of the wearer, and a back body region 1R, which is located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the back body of the wearer. Tapes 2L and 2R that can be attached to a front patch 2F provided on the non-skin-facing surface of the front body region 1F are provided on both left and right edges of the back body region 1R. When the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F with the front body region 1F positioned on the wearer's abdomen and the back body region 1R positioned on the wearer's back, the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in a state surrounding the wearer's waist circumference and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can stand and walk while wearing the diaper 1.

[0019] In the diaper 1, an absorbent capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly disposed near the crotch region 1B. In addition, in order to prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin that can be a liquid outflow path, the diaper 1 is provided with leg gathers 3AL, 3AR at a portion surrounding the wearer's legs (thighs), and three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are provided on the inside of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1, and a waist gather 3R is provided at a portion surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, and the waist gathers 3R are in close contact with the wearer's skin by the elastic force of the elastic members. Therefore, liquid discharged from the wearer's private parts is absorbed by the absorbent of the diaper 1 without leaking out of the diaper 1. Note that the elastic member may be a thread-like or strip-like rubber or the like.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms an outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with constrictions 4KL, 4KR at the portions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constrictions 4KL, 4KR are provided at the portions where the wearer's thighs are located. The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the back sheet 5 described later and to improve the feel. For example, in order to suppress leakage of excrement, a liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric made of a thermoplastic resin can be used as the material for the cover sheet 4. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, but may be a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

[0021] The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5 (an example of the "non-skin-facing sheet" in the present application), an absorbent 6, and a top sheet 7 (an example of the "skin-facing sheet" in the present application) which are laminated in this order on the wearer-facing surface of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, the absorbent 6, and the top sheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are laminated in this order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, like the cover sheet 4, is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material to suppress leakage of excrement. The back sheet 5 is preferably made of a material that also has moisture permeability in order to suppress stuffiness when worn. The top sheet 7 is made of an air-through nonwoven fabric formed containing thermoplastic resin fibers, and is disposed on the wearer's skin-facing surface so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent 6. The top sheet 7 is liquid-permeable in part or in whole. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, liquid excreted by the wearer passes through the top sheet 7, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and enters the absorbent body 6, where it is absorbed. The top sheet 7 may be hydrophilic. The longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is the same as the longitudinal directions of the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 7.

[0022] The back sheet 5, the absorbent body 6, and the top sheet 7 are all from the front body region 1F to the rear body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's private parts are covered with the cover sheet 4 in which the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 7 are laminated, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 7 are located on the wearer's ventral side and back side. In other words, the wearer's private parts are covered by the absorbent body 6 from the ventral side to the back side of the wearer. Therefore, whether the wearer is in a ventral position or a back position, when liquid is discharged from the body, the discharged liquid comes into contact with the absorbent body 6 via the top sheet 7.

[0023] The diaper 1 also has elastic members 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR described above, which are provided between the cover sheet 4 and the back sheet 5 so as to stretch in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The elastic members 4SL, 4SR are provided in an appropriate number (three in this embodiment) determined according to the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1.

[0024] The diaper 1 also has long, narrow, strip-like side sheets 8L, 8R. The side sheets 8L, 8R are liquid-impermeable sheets provided on the long sides of the top sheet 7. Like the cover sheet 4, the side sheets 8L, 8R have constrictions 8KL, 8KR at the locations where the wearer's thighs are located. The side sheets 8L, 8R have elastic members 8EL, 8ER arranged along the longitudinal direction for forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. When the diaper 1 is worn, i.e., when the diaper 1 is U-shaped in side view, the side sheets 8L, 8R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contractile force of the elastic members 8EL, 8ER and rise from the top sheet 7, forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that prevent liquid from leaking out.

[0025] The cover sheet 4 is provided with elastic members 4C, which prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference, on the inner side in the width direction of the diaper 1 than the elastic members 4SL, 4SR and along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The elastic members 4C are provided according to the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1.

[0026] Furthermore, the elastic member 9ER for forming the above-mentioned waist gather 3R is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7, at a position further back than the end of the absorbent body 6. The elastic member 9ER is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 with its longitudinal direction, which is the stretch direction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Thus, when the tapes 2L, 2R provided on both the left and right sides of the elastic member 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdominal side of the wearer, the elastic member 9ER exerts a contractile force to bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference.

[0027] The absorbent body 6 has an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet that wraps the entire absorbent core (see FIG. 4). The core wrap sheet is made of tissue paper or liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric. The absorbent core is made of short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers of synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate that have been hydrophilically treated.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an extended state, as viewed from the skin side. Fig. 4 is a widthwise cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 taken along line AA in Fig. 3. Note that the front patch 2F, elastic members 4C, 4SR, 4SL, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER, and side sheets 8L, 8R are omitted from Figs. 3 and 4.

[0029] The diaper 1 according to this embodiment comprises compressed sections 20 and recessed sections 21 formed in a diagonal lattice pattern on a rectangular absorbent body 6. The compressed sections 20 are formed by compressing the absorbent body 6 from the non-skin facing side. The recessed sections 21 are formed at positions corresponding to the compressed sections 20 on the skin facing side of the absorbent body 6 by pressing the absorbent body 6 after forming the compressed sections 20. Here, the corresponding positions are positions that overlap in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. Note that in the process of forming the compressed sections 20 and the recessed sections 21, More on this later.

[0030] In this embodiment, the compressed parts 20 and the recesses 21 are formed in the shape of grooves extending obliquely in the absorbent body 6. In the diaper 1, urine discharged by the wearer can be diffused throughout the absorbent body 6 along the recesses 21 provided on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. In addition, in the diaper 1, urine that has permeated the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 can be diffused throughout the absorbent body 6 along the compressed parts 20. This allows the diaper 1 to efficiently absorb urine discharged by the wearer with the entire absorbent body 6. In addition, the diaper 1 can make the absorbent body 6 easier to bend by providing the compressed parts 20 and the recesses 21 in the absorbent body 6, thereby improving the fit of the diaper 1 to the wearer. In addition, the diaper 1 can ensure breathability on the skin-facing side by providing the recesses 21 on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, thereby suppressing stuffiness when worn.

[0031] Moreover, the compressed portions 20 are formed by compressing the absorbent body 6. Since the compressed portions become hard, if the compressed portions 20 indirectly touch the wearer's skin through a sheet, the texture will be unpleasant and the fit will be reduced. However, in this embodiment, the compressed portions 20 are formed on the non-skin side, so the compressed portions 20 will not indirectly touch the wearer's skin through a sheet. Moreover, the recesses 21 are formed by pressing, not by compression, and are therefore less hard than the compressed portions 20. Therefore, the diaper 1 can suppress the fit from being reduced even if the recesses 21 touch the wearer through the top sheet 7, thereby improving the fit.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the compressed portion 20 and the recess 21 in FIG. 4. The top sheet 7 is not bonded to the entire surface of the recess 21, and is bonded to the surface of the absorbent body 6 outside the recess 21 by a hot melt adhesive 30. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the absorbent body 6 has SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) particles 32, which are highly absorbent polymers, arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A. SAP is a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure that can absorb and retain water. SAP is granular, and the SAP particles 32 are formed by gathering a large number of SAP. In the absorbent core 6A, the volume change of SAP before and after absorbing liquid basically occurs within the short fibers that hold the SAP in the gaps. Therefore, when the entire absorbent core 6A is viewed from above, it can be said that the expansion rate of the thickness of the absorbent core 6A that absorbs liquid is not as large as the expansion rate of the SAP itself.

[0033] In addition, the SAP particles of this embodiment refer to a resin composition containing SAP in a granular form. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein includes both a composition consisting of SAP alone and a composition containing SAP as the main component and containing other substances to the extent that they do not adversely affect the water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to make the particle surface hydrophobic) and unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP.

[0034] In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, SAP particle groups 32 are disposed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A, so that the fibers on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A and the SAP particles are entangled with each other to exert an anchoring effect. When the absorbent core 6A is squeezed or compressed, a restoring force is generated in response to this, but the anchoring effect of the SAP suppresses the restoring force of the absorbent core 6A. In the diaper 1, the anchoring effect suppresses the restoring force of the absorbent core 6A, which makes it easier for the shape of the compressed portions 20 to be maintained. The anchoring effect is exerted to a greater extent as the density of SAP in the absorbent core 6A increases and the entanglement between the SAP and the absorbent core 6A becomes stronger.

[0035] In addition, by disposing the SAP particle group 32 on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A, the absorbent core 6A mainly absorbs and retains urine on the non-skin facing side, so that the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A expands after absorbing urine. This makes it easier for the shape of the recesses 21 formed in the diaper 1 to be maintained. As a result, the diaper 1 can ensure breathability by maintaining the shape of the recesses 21 even after urine absorption, thereby improving the wearing comfort.

[0036] Next, a method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is characterized by the steps of forming the compressed parts 20 and the recesses 21 in the absorbent body 6, and therefore these steps will be mainly described below. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an outline of the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. In the method for manufacturing the diaper according to this embodiment, first, SAP particles are dispersed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A (step S101, an example of the "SAP arrangement step" in this application). Next, the absorbent body 6 is compressed from the non-skin-facing side to form the compressed parts 20 (step S102, an example of the "compression step" in this application). Next, the absorbent body 6 is pressed to form the recesses 21 at positions corresponding to the compressed parts 20 on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 (step S103, an example of the "recess formation step" in this application). By pressing the absorbent body 6, the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 at positions corresponding to the compressed parts 20 is recessed to the non-skin-facing side, and the recesses 21 are formed. Next, the top sheet 7 is attached in a stretched state to the skin facing side of the absorbent body 6 (step S104, an example of the "skin facing side sheet attaching step" in this application). In this embodiment, the top sheet attaching step is performed after the recess forming step.

[0037] Next, the manufacturing method of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing apparatus for the diaper 1. The manufacturing apparatus M used in the manufacturing method for the diaper 1 includes a conveying line M10, a SAP spraying device M11, a conveying line M20, a compression section forming device M2, a pressing device M3, an application device M4, and a top sheet supply roller M5. The conveying line M10 is a conveyer that conveys the absorbent core 6A in a fixed direction (the direction of the arrow A1 in the figure). The conveying line M20 is a conveyer that conveys the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 7 in a fixed direction (the direction of the arrow A1 in the figure). In the manufacturing process, the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 7 are continuous bodies, and the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 7 for one diaper are obtained by dividing them individually.

[0038] The absorbent core 6A is transported on the transport line M10 with the non-skin facing side facing up. The SAP spraying device M11 sprays SAP particles onto the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A (step S101 shown in FIG. 6). After the SAP particles are sprayed onto the absorbent core 6A, it is wrapped in a core wrap sheet 6B (not shown). This completes the absorbent body 6. The absorbent body 6 is then transported to the transport line M20 where the next manufacturing process is carried out.

[0039] In the conveyor line M20, the absorbent body 6 is conveyed with the skin-facing side facing up. The compression section forming device M2 has an anvil roller M21 and a compression roller M22. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the compression section forming device M2. The anvil roller M21 is disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 (upper side in the figure), and the compression roller M22 is disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 (lower side in the figure). The anvil roller M21 and the compression roller M22 are disposed opposite each other with a predetermined clearance. The compression roller M22 has protrusions M22C that compress the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. The protrusions M22C are formed in a diagonal lattice pattern with respect to the absorbent body 6 passing through. In FIG. 8, the protrusions M22C in the parts hidden by the absorbent body 6 are also shown by solid lines for explanation. The anvil roller M21 and the compression roller M22 are made of metal such as iron. The compressed-portion forming device M2 passes the absorbent body 6 flowing from the upstream side of the conveyor line M20 between the anvil roller M21 and the compression roller M22, thereby compressing the non-skin-facing side with the convex portions M22C (step S102 shown in FIG. 6). As a result, compressed portions 20 are formed in the absorbent body 6.

[0040] A press device M3 is provided downstream of the compression section forming device M2 in the conveying path of the conveying line M20. The press device M3 has a press roller M31 and an anvil roller M32. The press roller M31 and the anvil roller M32 face each other with a predetermined clearance. The press roller M31 and the anvil roller M32 are made of a metal such as iron. The press device M2 presses the absorbent body 6 by passing the absorbent body 6, which has flowed from the upstream side of the conveyor line M20, between the press roller M31 and the anvil roller M32 (step S103 shown in FIG. 6). By pressing the absorbent body 6, the skin-facing side at the position corresponding to the compression section 20 is recessed toward the non-skin-facing side, and a recess 21 is formed.

[0041] An applicator M4 is provided downstream of the press device M3 on the conveying path of the conveyor line M20. The applicator M4 applies hot melt adhesive to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. The applicator M4 has multiple nozzles, and applies the hot melt adhesive to the absorbent body 6 in stripes or dots by ejecting the hot melt adhesive from each nozzle.

[0042] A top sheet supply roller M5 is provided downstream of the coating device M4 on the transport path of the transport line M20. The top sheet supply roller M5 places the top sheet 7, which is a continuous body, from a long raw material roll onto the absorbent body 6 placed on the transport line M20. At this time, the top sheet 7 is placed on the absorbent body 6 in a stretched state (step S104 shown in FIG. 6).

[0043] In the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the absorbent body 6 is compressed from the non-skin-facing side to form compressed sections 20, and the absorbent body 6 is pressed to form recesses 21 at positions corresponding to the compressed sections 20 on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. The recesses 21 are formed by pressing, not by compression, and are therefore less hard than the compressed sections 20. Therefore, according to the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, deterioration in fit can be suppressed even if the recesses 21 come into contact with the wearer through the top sheet 7, thereby improving the fit.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after forming the recesses 21, the top sheet 7 is attached in a stretched state to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. This prevents the top sheet 7 from sinking into the recesses 21, or causes the top sheet 7 to sink only slightly into the recesses 21, and prevents the recesses 21 from touching the wearer's skin via the top sheet 7, improving the wearing comfort.

[0045] Furthermore, if the absorbent body 6 is squeezed from the skin-facing side with the top sheet 7 attached to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, the top sheet 7 may be subjected to a load and may tear. In this embodiment, the absorbent body 6 is squeezed from the non-skin-facing side before the top sheet 7 is attached to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, so that the top sheet 7 is not squeezed as well, and squeezing the absorbent body 6 from the non-skin-facing side prevents the skin-facing side of the core wrap sheet 6B from tearing due to squeezing. This prevents the SAP contained in the absorbent core 6A from spilling onto the skin-facing side.

[0046] Furthermore, by arranging the SAP particles 32 on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A, an anchor effect is exhibited, the restoring force of the absorbent core 6A is suppressed, and the shape of the compressed portions 20 is easily maintained.

[0047] <Variation 1-1> Next, a method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to the modified example 1-1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an outline of the method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this modified example. In the method for manufacturing the diaper according to this modified example, after the top sheet 7 is attached in a stretched state to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 (after step S104), the back sheet 5 is attached to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 (step S105, an example of the "non-skin-facing sheet attachment step" in this application). In step S105, at least a part of the surface of the compressed portion 20 is not bonded to the back sheet 5. This forms a gap between the compressed portion 20 and the back sheet 5, allowing the compressed portion 20 to function as a flow path for diffusing urine. This allows the diaper 1 to easily diffuse urine on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, and to absorb and retain more urine on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. Therefore, the diaper 1 can maintain the shape of the recesses 21 formed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 even after absorbing urine, and the recesses 21 ensure breathability. Furthermore, by covering the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, which is the side that is squeezed, with the back sheet 5, SAP can be prevented from spilling out of the diaper 1 even if the non-skin-facing side of the core wrap sheet 6B is torn.

[0048] Next, the manufacturing method of the diaper 1 according to this modification will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing apparatus for the diaper 1. The manufacturing apparatus M used in the manufacturing method for the diaper 1 includes a conveying line M30, an applicator M7, and a backsheet supply roller M8. The conveying line M30 is a conveyor that conveys the backsheet 5, the absorbent body 6, and the topsheet 7 in a fixed direction (the direction of the arrow A1 in the figure). In the manufacturing process, the backsheet 5, the absorbent body 6, and the topsheet 7 are continuous bodies, and the backsheet 5, the absorbent body 6, and the topsheet 7 for one diaper are obtained by dividing them individually. Note that the topsheet 7 has already been attached to the absorbent body 6, and the absorbent body 6 and the topsheet 7 are conveyed with the absorbent body 6 facing up.

[0049] The applicator M7 has a plurality of nozzles for discharging hot melt adhesive, and applies the hot melt adhesive in stripes or dots to the absorbent body 6. A backsheet supply roller M8 is provided downstream of the applicator M7 on the conveying path of the conveying line M30. The backsheet supply roller M8 places the backsheet 5, which is a continuous body, from a long original roll onto the absorbent body 6 placed on the conveying line M30. At this time, the backsheet 5 is placed on the absorbent body 6 in a stretched state (step S105 shown in FIG. 9). As in this modification, by not adhering at least a part of the surface of the compression section 20 to the backsheet 5, a gap can be formed between the compression section 20 and the backsheet 5.

[0050] Furthermore, urine that reaches the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body 6 spreads throughout the absorbent body 6 through the compression sections 20. Because SAP is disposed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core 6A, the absorbent body 6 retains urine on the non-skin facing side, which causes the non-skin facing side to expand. Therefore, the absorbent core 6A is less likely to expand on the skin facing side even after absorbing urine, and the shape of the recesses 21 formed on the skin facing side can be easily maintained.

[0051] <Variation 1-2> Next, a method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to Modification 1-2 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the absorbent body 6, viewed from the skin-facing side, to which the hot melt adhesive 30 has been applied. In this modification, lattice points 21A where recesses 21 formed in a lattice pattern intersect with each other are not bonded to the top sheet 7.

[0052] In the manufacturing method of the diaper 1 according to this modification, the hot melt adhesive 30 is applied in stripes, avoiding the lattice points 21A, as shown in Fig. 6, by an applicator M4 shown in Fig. 7. This allows the top sheet 7 to be non-adhered to the top sheet 7 at the lattice points 21A even if the top sheet 7 falls into the recesses 21 during the manufacturing process of the diaper 1. The lattice points 21A are the harder parts of the recesses 21, and by not adhering the lattice points 21A to the top sheet 7, the lattice points 21A feel softer against the wearer's skin, improving the fit.

[0053] <Embodiment 2> Next, a diaper 1 according to a second embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 and manufacturing apparatus M according to the above-mentioned embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as viewed from the skin-facing side. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 in the width direction taken along line BB in Fig. 12. The front patch 2F, elastic members 4C, 4SR, 4SL, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER, and side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

[0054] The diaper 1 according to this embodiment has a through hole 22 extending from the skin-facing side to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A. The through hole 22 is formed at the center of the absorbent body 6 in the width direction on the front body region 1F side of the crotch region 1B. This position is the position where the urethral opening of the wearer is located when the diaper 1 is worn. As shown in FIG. 13, the through hole 22 is formed by penetrating the absorbent core 6A from the skin-facing side to the non-skin-facing side. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment moves urine to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 by the through hole 22. In addition, in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, by making at least a part of the surface of the compressed portion 20 and the back sheet 5 non-adhesive as in the modified example 1-1 of the above embodiment 1, when a gap is formed between the compressed portion 20 and the back sheet 5, the urine is moved to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 by the through hole 22, so that a larger amount of urine can be diffused to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 by the compressed portion 20. The diaper 1 allows urine to be easily diffused on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body 6, and can absorb and retain a larger amount of urine on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body 6. Therefore, the diaper 1 can maintain the shape of the recesses 21 formed on the skin facing side of the absorbent body 6 even after absorbing urine, and the recesses 21 ensure breathability.

[0055] Next, a method for manufacturing the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The manufacturing method according to this embodiment includes a hole forming step for forming the through holes 22 in the absorbent body 6. FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an outline of the manufacturing method for the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. In the manufacturing method according to this embodiment, SAP particles are first dispersed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A (step S201, an example of the "SAP arrangement step" in this application). The step 201 is the same as the step S101. Next, the through holes 22 are formed in the absorbent core 6A of the absorbent body 6 by a punching device (step S202, an example of the "hole forming step" in this application). Next, steps S203 to S206 are the same as steps S102 to S105 in the above-mentioned embodiment 1. Note that the order of the steps S201 and S202 can be reversed. The through holes 22 may also be formed so as to penetrate the core wrap sheet 6B as well.

[0056] <Other embodiments> Next, other embodiments will be described. The diaper 1 according to the above embodiment is a tape-type diaper, but the manufacturing method and manufacturing device for absorbent articles according to the present invention can be applied to the manufacture of pants-type diapers. In the above embodiment, the compressed parts 20 and the recesses 21 are formed in a lattice pattern, but this is not limited thereto, and they may be formed in a dot pattern or a stripe pattern. By providing the recesses 21 on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, the diaper 1 can reduce the area that comes into contact with the wearer's skin, improving the wearing comfort.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the top sheet 7 may be composed of two nonwoven fabrics, and the lower sheet may be an example of the skin-facing sheet. The absorbent body 6 may not have a core wrap sheet 6B. SAP particles may be disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A. In this case, more SAP particles are disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6A than on the skin-facing side. The above embodiments and modifications may be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1. Diapers 1B...Inseam area 1F: Front body area 1R: Back body area 2F: Front patch 2L, 2R Tape 3BL, 3BR: 3D gathers 3R: Waist gather 4. Cover sheet 4KL, 4KR... Constriction 4C, 4SL, 4SR, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER Elastic material 5. Back sheet 6. Absorber 6A··Absorbent core 6B··Core wrap sheet 7. Top sheet 8. Side seat 20. Pressing section 21. Recess 21A...grid point 22. Through hole 30. Hot melt adhesive 32...SAP particle swarm M··Manufacturing equipment M2...Squeezed part forming device M3··Press device M4·Coating device M5··Top sheet feed roller M6··Press device M7··Applicator M8··Backsheet supply roller M10, M20, M30...Transport line M11...SAP spraying device

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article having an absorbent body that absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer, comprising: a SAP arranging step of arranging a particle group of SAP, which is a highly absorbent polymer, on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body; a squeezing step of squeezing the absorbent body from the non-skin facing side to form a squeezed portion; a recess forming step of pressing the absorbent body to form recesses at positions corresponding to the compressed portions on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body; A method for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising the steps of:

2. In the squeezing step, the squeezing portion is formed in a groove shape, In the recess forming step, the recess is formed in a groove shape. A method for producing the absorbent article according to claim 1.

3. a non-skin-facing sheet attaching step of attaching a non-skin-facing sheet to the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, the non-skin-facing sheet attaching step being performed such that at least a portion of the surface of the compressed portion is not bonded to the non-skin-facing sheet; The method for producing the absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

4. The absorbent body has an absorbent core, A hole forming step of forming a through hole penetrating the absorbent core from the skin-facing side to the non-skin-facing side A method for producing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

5. a skin-facing sheet attaching step of attaching a skin-facing sheet in a stretched state to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body after the recess forming step; A method for producing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

6. In the squeezing step, the squeezing portion is formed in a lattice shape, In the recess forming step, the recess is formed in a lattice shape; The lattice points of the recesses are not bonded to the skin-facing sheet. A method for producing the absorbent article according to claim 5.

7. An absorbent article having an absorbent body that absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer, A group of particles of SAP, which is a highly absorbent polymer, arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body; A compressed portion formed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body; A recess formed at a position corresponding to the compressed portion on the skin side of the absorbent body; An absorbent article comprising:

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