Method and apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearable articles

Abstract

Provided are a method and an apparatus which are for manufacturing a disposable wear, and with which it is possible to shorten a section where an absorbent body is to be folded into two parts.　The present invention involves: conveying, in a first direction (2x), an absorbent-body continuum (2) in which first portions (3) to be made into absorbent bodies (4) are connected in the first direction (2x); and conveying, in a second direction (6x), a waist-member continuum (6) in which second portions (7) to be made into waist members (8) are connected in the second direction (6x). The present invention also involves: forming the absorbent bodies (4) by cutting the absorbent-body continuum (2); and forming folded absorbent bodies (5) by folding the absorbent bodies (4) into two parts while conveying the same along a cylindrical conveyance path (28). The present invention also involves: rotating the folded absorbent bodies (5) by 90 degrees; and forming a wear continuum (9) by placing, onto the waist-member continuum (6), the folded absorbent bodies (5), which have been rotated by 90 degrees, apart from each other, and bonding the folded absorbent bodies (5) to the waist-member continuum (6). The present invention also involves: forming disposable wears (10) by cutting the wear continuum (9) at cutting positions (9x) located between the absorbent bodies (4) adjacent to each other.

Claims

1. A first transport step involves transporting an absorbent body continuum in the first direction, in which the first part that is to become the absorbent body is connected in the first direction, A second conveying step involves conveying a continuous body member in the second direction, in which the second portion intended to become the body member is connected in the second direction, A first cutting step involves cutting the absorbent body continuum that is being transported in the first direction to form the absorbent body, A folding step in which the cut absorbent body is folded in half while being transported along a cylindrical transport path in the first direction, and a fold line is formed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, thereby forming a folded absorbent body, The aforementioned foldable absorbent body is rotated 90 degrees while being transported in a turning process, A joining step in which multiple foldable absorbent bodies rotated by 90 degrees are placed on the continuous body of the waist member being transported in the second direction with spacing between them, and the foldable absorbent bodies are joined to the continuous body member to form a continuous wearable article, A second cutting step involves cutting the continuous wearable article at cutting positions between adjacent foldable absorbent bodies to form a disposable wearable article in which the foldable absorbent bodies are joined at an intermediate position of the waist member, A method for manufacturing disposable wearable articles, comprising the features described above.

2. A temporary fixing step is performed to temporarily fix the first region and the second region, which are demarcated by the fold line of the aforementioned foldable absorbent body, The method for manufacturing a disposable wearable article according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. A first repitch step is performed in which the first moving pad receives the folded absorbent body from the folding step, the received folded absorbent body is transferred to the turning step, the first moving pad receives the folded absorbent body from the folding step while moving at a first receiving speed, and the received folded absorbent body is transferred to the turning step while moving at a first transfer speed different from the first receiving speed. A method for manufacturing a disposable wearable article according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

4. A second repitch step is performed in which the second moving pad receives the foldable absorbent body that has rotated 90 degrees from the rotation step, the received foldable absorbent body is delivered to the joining step, the second moving pad receives the foldable absorbent body that has rotated 90 degrees from the rotation step while moving at a second receiving speed, and the received foldable absorbent body is delivered to the joining step while moving at a second delivery speed different from the second receiving speed. A method for manufacturing a disposable wearable article according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

5. A first repitch step in which the first moving pad receives the folded absorbent body from the folding step using the first moving pad, and delivers the received folded absorbent body to the turning step, and the first moving pad receives the folded absorbent body from the folding step while moving at a first receiving speed, and delivers the received folded absorbent body to the turning step while moving at a first delivery speed different from the first receiving speed, A second repitch step in which the second moving pad receives the foldable absorbent body that has rotated 90 degrees from the rotation step, and the received foldable absorbent body is delivered to the joining step, and the second moving pad receives the foldable absorbent body that has rotated 90 degrees from the rotation step while moving at a second receiving speed, and the received foldable absorbent body is delivered to the joining step while moving at a second delivery speed different from the second receiving speed, A method for manufacturing a disposable wearable article according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

6. A first unit that forms a folded absorbent body by cutting an absorbent body continuum in which the first portion intended to become the absorbent body is connected in a first direction, while being transported along a cylindrical transport path in the first direction, and while transporting the absorbent body along the cylindrical transport path in the first direction, folding it in half so that a fold line is formed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the absorbent body, A rotating unit that rotates 90 degrees while transporting the aforementioned foldable absorbent body, A second unit that, while conveying a continuous body of body members, in which the second portion intended to become a body member is connected in a second direction, rotates a plurality of the foldable absorbent bodies by 90 degrees and places them apart from each other on the continuous body member, joins the foldable absorbent bodies to the continuous body member to form a continuous wearable article, cuts the continuous wearable article at cutting positions between adjacent foldable absorbent bodies to form a disposable wearable article in which the foldable absorbent bodies are joined at intermediate positions of the body member, A manufacturing apparatus for disposable wearable items, equipped with the following features.

7. A temporary fastening device for temporarily fastening the first region and the second region, which are separated by the fold line of the aforementioned foldable absorbent body, The apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearable articles according to claim 6, further comprising:

8. A first ripitch unit having a first moving pad that moves at a first receiving speed to receive the foldable absorbent body from the first unit, and moves at a first handover speed different from the first receiving speed to hand over the received foldable absorbent body to the swivel unit, The apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearable articles according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising:

9. A second ripitch unit having a second moving pad that, while moving at a second receiving speed, receives the foldable absorbent body rotated 90 degrees from the rotating unit, and while moving at a second handover speed different from the second receiving speed, hands over the received foldable absorbent body to the second unit, The apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearable articles according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising:

10. A first ripitch unit having a first moving pad that receives the foldable absorbent body from the first unit while moving at a first receiving speed, and delivers the received foldable absorbent body to the swivel unit while moving at a first delivery speed different from the first receiving speed, A second ripitch unit having a second moving pad that, while moving at a second receiving speed, receives the foldable absorbent body rotated 90 degrees from the rotating unit, and while moving at a second handover speed different from the second receiving speed, hands over the received foldable absorbent body to the second unit, The apparatus for manufacturing disposable wearable articles according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising:

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