Pants-type disposable diaper and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

To provide an underpants type disposable diaper which can be easily pulled up at a waist part, and can be easily and properly worn.SOLUTION: There is provided an underpants type disposable diaper 10 comprising: an abdominal side part 1; a back side part 2; and a crotch part 3 provided between the abdominal side part 1 and the back side part 2, where a direction directed from the abdominal side part 1 to the back side part 2 through the crotch part 3 is a longitudinal direction and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a width direction. The diaper comprises a cylindrical waist part 6 where both side parts of the abdominal side part 1 in the width direction and both side parts of the back side part 2 in the width direction are jointed. The waist part 6 comprises a first fold part 21 and a second fold part 22 being origin points for folding the waist part 6, the fold parts being provided along the width direction and at a prescribed interval in the longitudinal direction and the waist part 6 is folded inward of the waist part with the fold parts as origin points, in a cornice shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pants-type disposable diaper and a method for manufacturing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a pants-type disposable diaper having a ventral portion, a dorsal portion, and a crotch portion located between the ventral portion and the dorsal portion, with both widthwise sides of the ventral portion and both widthwise sides of the dorsal portion joined together to form a tubular waist portion (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Conventional pants-type disposable diapers have a high rise, i.e., the length from the crotch portion to the top end of the waist portion, to adequately cover the entire waist of the wearer and prevent leakage, etc.

[0003] When wearing such pants-type disposable diapers, the wearer inserts their legs into the left and right leg openings, and then either the wearer or a caregiver grabs the waistband near the top end with their hands and pulls it up to the waist. However, because the diaper has a high rise, the waistband must be pulled up a long distance, and this, combined with friction with the wearer's skin, makes it difficult to pull the waistband up to the wearer's waist. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6169467 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5904605 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pants-type disposable diaper whose waist portion can be easily pulled up and which can be easily and properly put on. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the pant-type disposable diaper of the present invention has a ventral part, a dorsal part, and a crotch part located between the ventral part and the dorsal part, with the direction from the ventral part through the crotch part toward the dorsal part being defined as the longitudinal direction and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction being defined as the width direction. The pant-type disposable diaper is provided with a cylindrical body-around part in which both side parts in the width direction of the ventral part and both side parts in the width direction of the dorsal part are joined. The body-around part is provided with two or more bending parts serving as starting points for bending the body-around part, extending along the width direction at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and is folded in a bellows shape toward the inside of the body-around part 6 starting from the two or more bending parts.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] The pant-type disposable diaper of the present invention configured as described above can easily pull up the body-around part and can be worn simply and appropriately.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the pants-type disposable diaper according to the present invention will be described based on the examples shown in the drawings.

[0010] (Example 1) The pants-type disposable diaper in Example 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper 10") has a ventral part 1, a dorsal part 2, and an inguinal part 3 located between the ventral part 1 and the dorsal part 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this specification, the direction from the ventral part 1 through the inguinal part 3 toward the dorsal part 2 is defined as the longitudinal direction L, and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L is defined as the width direction W. Further, in the following description, terms such as "up and down", "left and right", and "front and back" are used with reference to the wearer M wearing the diaper 10.

[0011] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, both side portions in the width direction W of the ventral part 1 and both side portions in the width direction W of the dorsal part 2 are joined to form a cylindrical body surrounding part 6 having a joining part 4 and a waist insertion opening 5, and a pair of leg insertion openings, a pair of leg insertion openings 7 are formed. The joining part 4 has a first joining part 4a provided on the lower side of the body surrounding part 6 and a second joining part 4b provided on the upper side. Between the first joining part 4a and the second joining part 4b, both side portions are not joined and an opening 8 is formed. When wearing the diaper 10, the wearer M inserts the feet M1, M2 into the pair of leg insertion openings 7 and inserts the body M3 into the waist insertion opening 5, whereby the abdomen and the back are covered by the body surrounding part 6.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 3, the diaper 10 comprises a pants-shaped outer body 11 and an inner body 12 arranged on the inner surface of the outer body. The outer body 11 is formed by laminating a back sheet 13, a gather holding sheet 14, and a leak-proof sheet 15 in this order. The back sheet 13 is a sheet material that is arranged on the clothing side when the diaper 10 is worn, and can be made of, for example, a liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric. The gather holding sheet 14 is a sheet material that is made of, for example, a liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric, and is fixed to the surface of the back sheet 13 (the surface facing the skin of the wearer M).

[0013] The leakage prevention sheets 15 are disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction L of the diaper 10, in an upper region 24 (described later), along the upper end 6a of the waistband 6. The leakage prevention sheets 15 are sheet materials formed, for example, from a strip-shaped nonwoven fabric that is liquid-impermeable, and are fixed to the surface of the gather holding sheet 14 (the surface facing the skin of the wearer M).

[0014] The waistband 6 is provided with a plurality of elastic members 16 that are elastic in the width direction W. Each elastic member 16 may be made of, for example, thread-like or strip-like natural rubber. The elastic members 16 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction L of the waistband 6, and are sandwiched between the back sheet 13 and the gather holding sheet 14, and are held in a predetermined stretched state.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 3, the inner body 12 is formed by laminating a water-repellent sheet 17, an absorbent body 18, and a top sheet 19 in this order. The water-repellent sheet 17 can be, for example, a water-repellent nonwoven fabric. The water-repellent sheet 17 is placed on the surface of the gather pressing sheet 14 of the outer body 11 (the surface facing the skin of the wearer M) and is fixed to the gather pressing sheet 14. In this way, the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 are integrated to form the diaper 10.

[0016] The absorbent body 18 is composed of a liquid-retaining absorbent polymer and pulp, and is placed in a position corresponding to the crotch portion 3. The top sheet 19 is a sheet material that is placed on the skin side of the wearer M when the diaper 10 is worn, and can be made of, for example, a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric.

[0017] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the diaper 10 of Example 1 has a folded structure in which the waist portion 6 is folded inward of the waist portion 6 in an accordion-like manner during manufacturing (when not worn). The "accordion-like" structure refers to a structure in which mountain folds and valley folds are repeated. That is, the waist portion 6 is folded inward of the waist portion 6 by at least one mountain fold and one valley fold.

[0018] The following describes the folding structure of the waist portion 6. In the diaper 10 of Example 1, a folding portion 20 extending along the width direction W is formed in the waist portion 6. The folding portion 20 serves as a starting point when the waist portion 6 is folded along the width direction W.

[0019] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, two fold portions 20 are provided at a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction L of the waist portion 6. That is, the fold portion 20 of Example 1 includes a first fold portion 21 located on the leg insertion opening 7 side of the waist portion 6 in the longitudinal direction L and serving as a starting point for folding the waist portion 6 inward (mountain fold), and a second fold portion 22 located on the upper end portion 6a side of the waist portion 6 and serving as a starting point for folding the waist portion 6 outward (valley fold). Note that, in Example 1, the waist portion 6 includes one pair of the first fold portion 21 and the second fold portion 22 (mountain fold and valley fold), but the number of pairs is not limited to one and may be two or more.

[0020] The first folding portion 21 is provided near the end 12a of the inner body 12 in the longitudinal direction L, more preferably closer to the upper end 6a of the waistline portion 6 than the end 12a. This allows the waistline portion 6 to be easily folded starting from the first folding portion 21 at a position where the inner body 12 is not disposed. The second folding portion 22 is provided between the first folding portion 21 and the upper end 6a.

[0021] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist portion 6 is divided by the first folded portion 21 and the second folded portion 22 into a lower region 23 as a first region, an upper region 24 as a second region, and a middle region 25 as a third region disposed therebetween. The lower region 23 is the region from the leg insertion opening 7 (the lower end of the waist portion 6) to the first folded portion 21. The middle region 25 is the region from the first folded portion 21 to the second folded portion 22. The upper region 24 is the region from the second folded portion 22 to the upper end 6a of the waist portion 6.

[0022] Furthermore, the length d1 of the lower region 23 in the longitudinal direction L is longer than the length d3 of the middle region 25 (d1>d3), so that the middle region 25 can be stored inside the lower region 23 when the waistline portion 6 is folded. The length d2 of the upper region 24 is longer than the length d3 of the middle region 25 (d2>d3), so that when folded, the upper end of the upper region 24 (i.e., the upper end 6a of the waistline portion 6) can protrude a predetermined length upward from the first fold portion 21, which is the upper end of the lower region 23, which is the outermost layer. This protruding portion serves as a gripping portion 26 that can be held with the fingers of the wearer M or a caregiver.

[0023] In Example 1, the relationship between lengths d1, d2, and d3 in the longitudinal direction L of each region is d2>d1>d3, and only the upper region 24 protrudes from the first folded portion 21 (lower region 23). However, the dimensions of each region are not limited to this relationship, and as a modified example, the dimensions may be adjusted so that not only the upper region 24 but also the middle region 25 protrudes from the first folded portion 21, or the dimensions may be adjusted so that the entire upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are contained in the lower region 23 and do not protrude from the first folded portion 21.

[0024] In addition, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, both side portions in the width direction W of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 of the waist surrounding portion 6 are notched in a rectangular shape, and notches 27 are provided. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, both side portions in the width direction W of the waist surrounding portion 6 are L-shaped in a plan view. The length in the longitudinal direction L of the notch 27 is the same as the length in the longitudinal direction L of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 which are regions to be folded inward. The length in the width direction W of the notch 27 is the same as the length in the width direction W of the first joint portion 4a, or slightly longer, so that both side portions of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are not joined to the first joint portion 4a. Note that the "same length" includes not only the same length but also lengths within a predetermined error range.

[0025] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist surrounding portion 6 is bent inward at the first bending portion 21 and bent outward at the second bending portion 22, so that the lower region 23, the middle region 25, and the upper region 24 are folded in a state where they are laminated on each other (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Then, near the middle portion in the longitudinal direction L, with the interior body 12 on the inner surface side, the diaper 10 is bent, and in a state where the ventral side portion 1 and the dorsal side portion 2 are overlapped, both side portions of the lower region 23 of the ventral side portion 1 and the lower region 23 of the dorsal side portion 2 are joined to form a first joint portion 4a, and both side portions of the upper region 24 of the ventral side portion 1 and the upper region 24 of the dorsal side portion 2 are joined to form a second joint portion 4b. Further, the middle region 25 of the ventral side portion 1 and the middle region 25 of the dorsal side portion 2 are not joined, and openings 8 are formed on both side portions in the width direction W of the middle region 25.

[0026] Note that in a state where the waist surrounding portion 6 is folded, the surfaces of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 facing each other, and the surfaces of the middle region 25 and the lower region 23 facing each other are joined at both side portions in the width direction W, respectively. This joining force is weaker than the joining forces of the first joint portion 4a and the second joint portion 4b, and when the folded waist surrounding portion 6 is unfolded, it can be easily peeled off. Further, by joining the surfaces of the respective regions facing each other, the folded state of the waist surrounding portion 6 is maintained, and the waist surrounding portion 6 does not unfold unexpectedly before wearing.

[0027] To enable such joining, in Example 1, a leak prevention sheet 15 made of a material with a relatively low melting point is disposed in the upper regions 24 of the ventral part 1 and the dorsal part 2. "Relatively low melting point" means that the melting point of the leak prevention sheet 15 is lower than that of the materials used for the gather holding sheet 14 and the back sheet 13 on which the leak prevention sheet 15 is laminated.

[0028] More specifically, for the gather holding sheet 14 and the back sheet 13, a non-woven fabric made of polypropylene (PP, for example, having a melting point of about 160°C) or the like can be used. Also, for the leak prevention sheet 15, a non-woven fabric made of a polyethylene-based material with a melting point lower than that of PP can be used. For example, the leak prevention sheet 15 can use a non-woven fabric made of polyethylene (PE), a composite material of polypropylene and polyethylene (PP / PE), a composite material of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene (PET / PE), etc. Among these, a non-woven fabric made of PE having a melting point lower than that of PP (for example, about 110°C) can be preferably used.

[0029] Then, in the ventral part 1 and the dorsal part 2, the parts that become the body circumferential part 6 are folded in a bellows shape, and the upper region 24, the middle region 25, and the lower region 23 are laminated. Also, in a state where the ventral part 1 and the dorsal part 2 are overlapped, at a temperature higher than the melting point of the leak prevention sheet 15, positions inside in the width direction W rather than both side parts of the lower region 23, that is, both side parts of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25, are thermocompression bonded. As a result, the leak prevention sheet 15 melts, and the upper regions 24 of the ventral part 1 and the dorsal part 2 are firmly joined at both side parts with a joining force that cannot be easily separated during wearing, and the second joining part 4b is formed. On the other hand, the surfaces of the lower region 23 and the middle region 25 facing each other, and the surfaces of the middle region 25 and the upper region 24 facing each other are joined with a relatively weak joining force that can be easily peeled off or are not joined because the back sheet 13 or the gather holding sheet 14 are in contact with each other.

[0030] On one hand, in the lower region 23 where the notch 27 is not provided, both side portions protrude in the width direction W more than the both side portions of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25. Therefore, separately from the above heat bonding, by heat bonding both side portions of the lower region 23 protruding in the width direction W at a higher temperature (for example, a temperature higher than 160°C which is the melting point of PP), both side portions of the lower region 23 are joined with a bonding force that cannot be easily separated during wearing, and the first joint portion 4a is formed. Also, with this heat bonding, both side portions of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 folded inward are not joined together with the lower region 23.

[0031] Next, the manufacturing method of the pant-type disposable diaper 10 of Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows an example of some steps of the manufacturing method (manufacturing line) of the diaper 10 of Example 1, and the manufacturing method of the diaper 10 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 8. The manufacturing method of the diaper 10 of Example 1 basically has the same steps as the known diaper manufacturing method. Therefore, detailed description of the known steps will be omitted, and hereinafter, mainly the steps different from the known ones will be described.

[0032] The manufacturing line shown in FIG. 8 has a cross-flow form in which the width direction W of the diaper 10 is the flow direction of the line (MD direction, machine direction). Before this manufacturing line, a sheet material for the back sheet that is continuous in the MD direction and a sheet material for the gather holding sheet in a known manufacturing line are used to sandwich the continuous stretchable member 16 in a state of being stretched in the MD direction, and a belt-shaped exterior body is formed continuously. The interior body 12 manufactured by another manufacturing line is attached to the belt-shaped exterior body to form a belt-shaped laminate 30, and it is assumed that the leg insertion opening 7 is punched out.

[0033] The manufacturing line shown in FIG. 8 includes a bonding material laminating step 100, a notch forming step 101, a folding step 102, a double folding step 103, a bonding step 104, and a separating step 105.

[0034] In the bonding material lamination step 100, at both ends in the CD direction (the direction that intersects the MD direction and is the width direction of the manufacturing line, and the longitudinal direction L of the diaper 10) of the strip-shaped laminate 30 that is continuous in a strip shape, at the ends of the portions that become the ventral side portion 1 and the dorsal side portion 2 of the diaper 10, a strip-shaped sheet 31 for a leak prevention sheet having a width equal to the length in the longitudinal direction L of the upper region 24 and continuous in the MD direction is disposed. In Example 1, this strip-shaped sheet 31 also functions as a bonding material for bonding both side portions of the upper region 24 of each diaper 10, and a sheet material having a lower melting point than the sheet material for the back sheet and the sheet material for the gather pressing sheet is used.

[0035] In the next notch forming step 101, both side portions in the CD direction of the strip-shaped laminate 30 on which the strip-shaped sheet 31 is laminated are notched at a predetermined length (corresponding to the length from the upper end portion 6a to the first bending portion 21 in the longitudinal direction L of the diaper 10) with a predetermined interval (corresponding to the length in the width direction W of the diaper 10) in the MD direction to form notches 27. Simultaneously with or before this notching, embossing is performed on the outer periphery of the formation region of the notch 27 to form an embossed portion 28. By this embossed portion 28, both side portions of the elastic member 16 cut by the notch can be fixed to the back sheet 13 and the gather pressing sheet 14, and it is possible to prevent the elastic member 16 from shrinking and being drawn into the diaper 10. Further, both side portions in the MD direction (width direction W) of the leak prevention sheet 15 cut by the notch are fixed to the gather pressing sheet 14. Further, by providing the notch 27, the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are respectively formed in the portion that becomes the ventral side portion 1 and the portion that becomes the dorsal side portion 2.

[0036] In the next folding step 102, the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 of the portion that becomes the ventral side portion 1 and the portion that becomes the dorsal side portion 2 are folded in a zigzag shape in the CD direction starting from the first bending portion 21 and the second bending portion 22. Then, in the next double folding step 103, the strip-shaped laminate 30 is double folded at the center in the CD direction so that the leak prevention sheet 15 of the portion that becomes the ventral side portion 1 and the leak prevention sheet 15 of the portion that becomes the dorsal side portion 2 overlap.

[0037] In the next joining step 104, portions on both sides in the width direction W of the lower region 23 of each diaper 10 are thermocompression bonded and joined at a temperature higher than the melting point of the materials of the backsheet 13 and the gather holding sheet 14 to form the first joint portion 4a. Further, portions on both sides in the width direction W of the upper region 24, which are portions inside the first joint portion 4a, are thermocompression bonded and joined at a temperature higher than the melting point of the material of the leak prevention sheet 15 and at a temperature such that the backsheet 13 and the gather holding sheet 14 do not melt to form the second joint portion 4b. The first joint portion 4a and the second joint portion 4b may be formed either one first or simultaneously.

[0038] In the next separation step 105, the belt-like laminate 30 is cut at the boundary K of each diaper 10. Thereby, the diaper 10 of Example 1 can be obtained.

[0039] Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the pants-type disposable diaper 10 of Example 1 will be described.

[0040] When wearing a pants-type disposable diaper, usually with the wearer's legs inserted into the left and right leg openings, the wearer himself or an assistant who helps the wearer put on the diaper grabs the vicinity of the upper end of the waist portion by hand and pulls up the waist portion upward, and arranges the waist portion around the wearer's waist. However, since a general pants-type disposable diaper has a deep crotch, the distance to pull up the waist portion is long, and furthermore, the contact area between the waist portion and the wearer's skin increases, and combined with the frictional force, a large force is required to pull up the waist portion up to the wearer's waist portion, and it is necessary to pull up at various positions in the front, back, left, and right, which is not easy. In particular, in a state where the skin is wet due to bathing or sweating, the frictional force between the diaper and the skin increases, so the pulling-up operation becomes even more difficult. For this reason, for wearers with reduced muscle strength such as the elderly and wearers with a narrow range of motion of the arms, the operation of pulling up the waist portion is very difficult and may not be worn properly, which has been a great burden both physically and mentally. Also, even when an assistant helps to put it on, depending on the posture of the wearer, etc., it may be difficult to perform the operation of pulling up the waist portion.

[0041] In contrast, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist portion 6 has two folding portions 20 (a first folding portion 21 and a second folding portion 22) that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L and serve as starting points for folding the waist portion 6, extending along the width direction W, and is folded in an accordion-like manner toward the inside of the waist portion 6 starting from the first folding portion 21 and the second folding portion 22.

[0042] Therefore, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, the length of the waist portion 6 in the longitudinal direction L is shortened and the rise of the diaper 10 is shallower, making it easier for the wearer M to insert the legs M1, M2 of the wearer M into the leg insertion openings 7. Furthermore, the folded waist portion 6 is easier to grasp, and the wearer M or the like can easily pull the diaper 10 up to their torso and place the folded waist portion 6 around their lower abdomen.

[0043] Next, as shown in FIG. 4 , the wearer M or the like grasps the upper end of the upper region 24 with their fingers and pulls it upward. This unfolds the folded waistband 6, allowing the middle region 25 and the upper region 24 to be positioned around the waist of the wearer M, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . Because the folded waistband 6 is first pulled up around the lower abdomen, the distance it must be pulled up to the waist is shortened. Furthermore, because the waistband 6 is folded accordion-like, the contact area of the middle region 25 and the upper region 24 with the wearer M's skin is smaller than the contact area of the long waistband in an unfolded state, reducing friction. Therefore, the wearer M or the like can easily unfold the waistband 6 and pull up the middle region 25 and the upper region 24 with less force than before, allowing the waistband 6 to be positioned appropriately along the wearer M's abdomen and back. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a pants-type disposable diaper 10 and a manufacturing method thereof that allows the waist portion 6 to be easily pulled up and can be worn simply and appropriately, thereby reducing the physical and mental burden on the wearer M and the caregiver.

[0044] In addition, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, both sides of the lower region 23 and both sides of the upper region 24 are joined, but both sides of the middle region 25 are not joined, and an opening 8 is formed. Due to this opening 8, the breathability of the diaper 10 is improved, and stuffiness and the like can be appropriately suppressed. Further, if the first folding portion 21 is provided on the upper end portion 6a side rather than the interior body 12, the opening 8 is also located on the upper end portion 6a side rather than the interior body 12, and it is possible to suppress body fluids and the like absorbed by the interior body 12 from leaking from the opening 8. Further, when removing the diaper 10, a finger can be inserted through this opening 8, and the first joining portion 4a and the second joining portion 4b can be easily torn, and the diaper 10 can be quickly and easily removed.

[0045] In addition, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, as the folding portion 20, a set including a first folding portion 21 that serves as a starting point for folding the body circumference portion 6 inward and a second folding portion 22 that is arranged on the upper end portion 6a side of the body circumference portion 6 rather than the first folding portion 21 and serves as a starting point for folding the body circumference portion 6 outward is provided. With this configuration, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, the body circumference portion 6 is folded twice to form a bellows shape, and the upper end portion 6a is arranged upward, and the inner surface of the upper region 24 is arranged along the skin. Thereby, the wearer M and the like can easily pull up the body circumference portion 6 to the waist portion by gripping the upper end portion 6a (the gripping portion 26).

[0046] Further, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, in the state where the waist surrounding portion 6 is folded in a bellows shape, at both side portions in the width direction W and in a region inside the width direction W than both side portions, at least the opposing surfaces of the ventral side portion 1 and the dorsal side portion 2 are joined. Thereby, the first joining portion 4a and the second joining portion 4b are respectively formed at both side portions of the lower region 23 and both side portions of the upper region 24. With this configuration, in the waist surrounding portion 6 folded in a bellows shape, both side portions of the region (lower region 23) disposed on the outermost layer are joined by the first joining portion 4a, and both side portions of the region (upper region 24 and middle region 25) folded inward are joined by the second joining portion 4b. Therefore, both side portions of the waist surrounding portion 6 are properly joined, the waist surrounding portion 6 can properly cover the waist of the wearer M, can maintain the pant shape, and will not easily come off during wearing.

[0047] Further, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, in the waist surrounding portion 6, both side portions in the width direction W of the region folded inward are notched to provide notches 27. With this configuration, the length in the width direction W of the region (upper region 24 and middle region 25) folded inward becomes shorter than the region (lower region 23) disposed on the outside. For this reason, even when both side portions of the lower region 23 are joined by thermocompression bonding or the like in the folded state, both side portions of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are not joined together with the lower region 23, and the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 can be easily developed. Further, the bulkiness when the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are folded inward in the waist surrounding portion 6 is suppressed, and their storability is also improved.

[0048] Further, in the diaper 10 of Example 1, in the state where the waist surrounding portion 6 is folded in a bellows shape, the upper end portion 6a protrudes above the bent portion 20 (first bent portion 21) (see FIGS. 4 and 5). With this configuration, it becomes easier for the wearer M or the like to grip the upper end portion 6a (gripping portion 26), and the waist surrounding portion 6 can be more easily pulled up while unfolding the fold.

[0049] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist region 6 is folded to provide a plurality of regions (a lower region 23, an upper region 24, and a middle region 25) that are continuous in the longitudinal direction L. The opposing surfaces of the regions are joined to each other with a joining strength that is weaker than that of the side regions and that allows the regions to be peeled off when the waist region 6 is unfolded.

[0050] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist portion 6 is provided with a material (leak-proof sheet 15) having a lower melting point than the materials constituting the waist portion 1 and the back portion 2 at the upper end 6a of the opposing surfaces of the ventral portion 1 and the back portion 2. With this configuration, even when the waist portion 6 is folded and both side portions are joined by thermocompression bonding, the opposing surfaces of the ventral portion 1 and the back portion 2 are joined together, so that both side portions are properly joined at the upper end of the waist portion 6 in the longitudinal direction L, but it is possible to prevent the overlapping surfaces of the waist portion 6 from being joined together. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, both side portions of the region on the upper end 6a side of the waist portion 6 (upper region 24) are joined with a strong joining force, but the portions indicated by the imaginary rectangle in FIG. 6 (both sides of the central region 25 and the overlapping portions of the lower region 23 and both ends of the central region 25) are not joined or are joined with a joining force that allows them to be easily peeled apart. Therefore, the wearer M or the like can easily unfold and pull up the folded waist portion 6.

[0051] In addition, in Example 1, a material with a relatively low melting point is used as the leak-proof sheet 15, and by placing this leak-proof sheet 15 in the upper region 24, this leak-proof sheet 15 also serves as a joining member for joining both sides of the upper region 24. This allows the number of parts and manufacturing processes for the diaper 10 to be reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0052] Although the pants-type disposable diaper of the present invention has been described above based on the examples, the specific configuration is not limited to these examples, and design changes, combinations of the examples, additions, etc. are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0053] In the diaper 10 of Example 1, the waist portion 6 has only one set of a first fold portion 21 and a second fold portion 22, and the waist portion 6 has three regions: a lower region 23, an upper region 24, and a middle region 25, but the configuration of the waist portion 6 is not limited to this configuration.

[0054] Alternatively, the waist portion 6 may have two or more pairs of first and second folds 21 and 22, thereby increasing the number of folds. This increases the number of regions defined by the folds 20, shortens the length of each region in the longitudinal direction L, and reduces the surface area of each region, thereby reducing friction with the skin. This allows the wearer M or the like to pull up the waist portion 6 more smoothly. This also makes it possible to make the diaper 10 more compact, thereby reducing the storage volume, etc.

[0055] Furthermore, in a configuration in which two or more pairs of first fold portions 21 and second fold portions 22 are provided, the waist portion 6 is folded an even number of times, four or more times, to form an accordion-like shape, with the upper end portion 6a of the waist portion 6 facing upward and the inner surface of the uppermost region positioned along the skin. This allows the wearer M or the like to grasp the upper end portion 6a and easily pull the waist portion 6 up along the abdomen or back to the waist.

[0056] Furthermore, by increasing the number of folds, the surface area of each region becomes smaller, the frictional force with the skin is further reduced, and the wearer M or the like can pull up the waist portion 6 more easily.

[0057] Furthermore, the positions at which the first folding portion 21 and the second folding portion 22 are provided are not limited to the configuration of Example 1, and can be changed as appropriate depending on the number of the first folding portions 21 and the second folding portions 22, the length of the entire waist portion 6 in the longitudinal direction L, the size of the inner body 12, etc.

[0058] In Example 1, the leak prevention sheet 15 is also used as a bonding material for bonding both sides of the upper region 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a bonding material different from the leak prevention sheet 15 can be used. As a result, the leak prevention sheet 15 is not limited in length or arrangement position, and can be arranged at an arbitrary length and at an arbitrary position.

[0059] In Example 1, in the circumferential portion 6, notches 27 are provided by cutting both sides in the width direction W of the upper region 24 and the middle region 25. However, the notches 27 do not necessarily have to be provided, and it is sufficient that the folded circumferential portion 6 can be easily deployed without strongly bonding both sides of the upper region 24, the middle region 25, and the lower region 23. Further, it is sufficient that the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 can be folded and stored inside the lower region 23.

[0060] In Example 1, the leak prevention sheet 15 is thermocompression-bonded to bond both sides of the upper region 24. However, the bonding means is not limited to thermocompression bonding, and both sides of the upper region 24 can be bonded with an adhesive such as hot melt. In Example 1, the structure is such that both sides in the width direction W of the circumferential portion 6 folded in a bellows shape and the regions inside these both sides are bonded. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. As a modification, in a state where the circumferential portion 6 is deployed, both sides can be bonded, and then the circumferential portion 6 can be folded inward in a bellows shape.

[0061] In the manufacturing method of Example 1, by providing the notches 27 in the notch forming step 101, the portions that become the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are separated individually, and in the subsequent folding step 102, the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 are folded individually. However, the present invention is not limited to this step. As a modification, the portions that become the upper region 24 and the middle region 25 may be folded in a continuous state without being separated. Subsequently, when providing the notches 27, the notch forming step 101 may be performed. Each step described in Example 1 does not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown in Example 1, and it is not necessary to perform all the steps. Depending on the presence or absence of the notches 27, the type of bonding means, etc., the order can be appropriately changed or the steps can be omitted.

Description of Symbols

[0062] 1: Ventral part 2: Dorsal part 3: Lower thigh part 4: Joint part 4a: First joint part 4b: Second joint part 6: Torso part 6a: Upper end part 10: Pant-type disposable diaper 20: Folding part 21: First folding part 22: Second folding part 23: Lower region 24: Upper region 25: Middle region 27: Notch 30: Belt-like laminate 102: Folding process 103: Folding process 104: Joining process 105: Separating process K: Boundary L: Longitudinal direction W: Width direction

Claims

1. A pants-type disposable diaper having a ventral portion, a dorsal portion, and a crotch portion located between the ventral portion and the dorsal portion, wherein a direction from the ventral portion through the crotch portion toward the dorsal portion is defined as a longitudinal direction, and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is defined as a width direction, The waistband portion is formed by joining both widthwise sides of the ventral portion and both widthwise sides of the back portion, The waist portion has two or more folding portions extending along the width direction at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, the folding portions being starting points for folding the waist portion, and the waist portion is folded in an accordion-like shape by mountain folds and valley folds toward the inside of the waist portion from the two or more folding portions as starting points, thereby having a region folded inward and a region disposed outward, The waist portion has rectangular cutouts on both sides in the width direction of the region to be folded inward, The region folded inward has a width shorter than the region disposed outward. A pants-type disposable diaper characterized by:

2. The folding portion has at least one pair of a first folding portion that serves as a starting point for folding the waist portion inward by a mountain fold, and a second folding portion that is disposed closer to the upper end of the waist portion than the first folding portion and serves as a starting point for folding the waist portion by a valley fold.

2. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1.

3. In the state where the waist portion is folded in an accordion-like shape, at least the opposing surfaces of the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion are joined together at first both side portions in the width direction of the region disposed on the outside and second both side portions in the width direction of at least a region disposed on the innermost side of the regions folded inward from the first both side portions in the width direction.

3. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The waist portion is divided into a first region provided closer to the lower end of the waist portion than the first bent portion, a second region provided closer to the upper end of the waist portion than the second bent portion, and a third region provided from the first bent portion to the second bent portion, and by folding, the second region and the third region are arranged inside the first region.

3. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 2.

5. When the waist portion is folded in an accordion-like shape, the upper end portion thereof protrudes above the bent portion.

5. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1, wherein the diaper is made of a material that is resistant to moisture.

6. The waistband portion is folded to provide a plurality of regions that are continuous in the longitudinal direction, and the opposing surfaces of the plurality of regions are joined to each other with a joining force that is weaker than the joining force joining the side portions and that allows the regions to be peeled off when the waistband portion is unfolded.

6. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1, wherein the diaper is made of a material that is resistant to moisture.

7. The waist portion has a material having a lower melting point than the materials constituting the ventral side portion and the back side portion disposed on upper ends of the opposing surfaces of the ventral side portion and the back side portion.

7. The pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1, wherein the diaper is made of a material that is resistant to moisture.

8. A method for manufacturing the pants-type disposable diaper according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a cutout forming step of cutting out cutouts of a predetermined length at predetermined intervals in an MD direction (longitudinal direction) of the strip-shaped laminate formed by laminating a plurality of sheet materials that are materials for the pants-type disposable diaper, on both side edges in a CD direction (width direction) of the strip-shaped laminate; a folding step of folding an end region of the ventral side portion and an end region of the dorsal side portion in the CD direction inward in the CD direction in an accordion-like shape starting from the two or more folding portions; a folding step of folding the strip-shaped laminate in half in the CD direction so that the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion overlap each other; a joining step of joining the ventral side portion and the back side portion of each of the diaper-folded regions to form the lateral sides of the diaper-folded region and joining the ventral side portion and the back side portion of each of the diaper-folded regions to form the lateral sides of at least the innermost diaper-folded region; a separating step of cutting the strip laminate at the boundaries of individual diapers to obtain individual diapers; A method for producing a pants-type disposable diaper, comprising:

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