Absorbent-article manufacturing device

Abstract

Provided is an absorbent-article manufacturing device capable of suppressing the scattering of an absorbent material and the bleeding of an adhesive.　Recesses (13a-13c) are formed in the outer circumferential surface (14k) of a first drum (14) that conveys a first sheet (2), and suction holes (13x) are formed in the bottom surfaces of the recesses (13a-13c). Dispersion ports (12a-12c) of a granule supply device (12) are disposed so as to face the recesses (13a-13c). A guide roll (18) for guiding a second sheet (4) is disposed on the downstream side of the dispersion ports (12a-12c) in the rotation direction of the first drum (14) so as to form a sheet laminate (6) as a result of one main surface of the second sheet (4) overlapping one main surface of the first sheet (2). Prior to the one main surface of the second sheet (4) overlapping the one main surface of the first sheet (2), an adhesive application device (19a, 19b) applies an adhesive to the one main surface of the first sheet (2) and / or the one main surface of the second sheet (4). A press unit (31) compresses the sheet laminate (6) in the thickness direction.

Description

Absorbent manufacturing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for manufacturing an absorbent body used in an absorbent article.

[0002] Absorbent bodies are used in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, disposable pants, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, etc. Absorbent bodies have an absorbent material that absorbs and retains liquid sandwiched between two sheets.

[0003] For example, Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus that manufactures absorbent bodies for use in absorbent articles. Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus, a first printing unit 134 deposits absorbent material on a first sheet 16, a second printing unit 132 deposits absorbent material on a second sheet 16', and the first sheet 16 and the second sheet 16' are joined together to form an absorbent body.

[0004] In the first printing unit 134, the auxiliary adhesive applicator 148 applies a thermoplastic adhesive material 72 to the first sheet, and the movable surface 30 of the first drum 152 transports the first sheet 16 while applying suction, and as the first sheet passes between the first drum 152 and the first printing roll 156, an absorbent material is deposited on the first sheet 16, onto which the adhesive applicator 158 applies adhesive 74.

[0005] Holes 22 are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first printing roll 156, and a plurality of chambers communicating with the holes 22 are formed inside the first printing roll 156. When the holes 22 in the outer peripheral surface of the first printing roll 156 face the hopper 154 that stores the absorbent material, the holes 22 communicate with a negative pressure chamber as shown by arrow 28, and suction-hold the absorbent material. When the holes 22 in the outer peripheral surface of the first printing roll 156 face the first sheet 16 being suction-transported by the movable surface 30 of the first drum 152, the holes 22 communicate with a chamber to which positive pressure is applied as shown by arrow 29, and the absorbent material 61 held in the holes 22 moves to and accumulates on the first sheet 16.

[0006] The second printing unit 132 is configured similarly to the first printing unit 134, with an auxiliary adhesive applicator 136 applying thermoplastic adhesive material 72' to the second sheet 16', and the absorbent material 62 moving and depositing on the second sheet 16' via a hopper 142 and a second printing roll 144, on which the adhesive applicator 146 applies adhesive 74'.

[0007] The first sheet 16 and the second sheet 16', on which the absorbent material has been accumulated, are joined together at the nip 162, and then transported along the second drum 140, and as they pass between the auxiliary joining roll 160 and the second drum 140, the areas of the first sheet 16 and the second sheet 16' that do not contain the absorbent material are compressed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0008] Special table 2017-507705 publication

[0009] In such an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus, if the conveying speed of the sheets 16, 16' is increased to increase production efficiency, the time it takes for the absorbent materials 61, 62 to move from the printing rolls 156, 144 to the sheets 16, 16' becomes shorter, and therefore it is necessary to increase the positive pressure applied to the holes 22 of the printing rolls 156, 144 when the absorbent materials 61, 62 are moving. In this case, the force pushing the absorbent materials 61, 62 out of the holes 22 increases, which creates the problem of some of the pushed-out absorbent materials 61, 62 scattering around.

[0010] Furthermore, the adhesive disposed between the first sheet 16 and the second sheet 16' may seep out from the sheets 16, 16' due to the pressure generated when the sheets pass between the auxiliary bonding roll 160 and the second drum 140. If the adhesive seeps out, problems may occur such as the sheets 16, 16' adhering to and wrapping around the roll, requiring the production line to be stopped periodically for cleaning, which reduces production efficiency.

[0011] In view of the above circumstances, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus that can suppress scattering of absorbent material and oozing of adhesive.

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus configured as follows.

[0013] The absorbent body manufacturing apparatus includes: (a) a first drum having an outer peripheral surface with suction holes formed therein, and conveying a first sheet wrapped around the outer peripheral surface while sucking it; (b) a powder / granular material supplying device having a spray port arranged opposite the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and spraying powder / granular material including an absorbent material from the spray port onto one main surface of the first sheet; (c) a guide roll arranged downstream of the spray port of the powder / granular material supplying device in the direction of rotation of the first drum and opposite the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and guiding the second sheet so that one main surface of the second sheet overlaps with the one main surface of the first sheet onto which the powder / granular material has been sprayed to form a sheet stack; (d) an adhesive application device that applies adhesive to either or both of the one main surface of the first sheet and the one main surface of the second sheet before the one main surface of the second sheet overlaps with the one main surface of the first sheet; and (e) a press unit that compresses the sheet stack in the thickness direction. The area of ​​the outer surface of the first drum where the first sheet is wrapped has a recess formed that continues circumferentially around the first drum, the suction hole is formed in the bottom surface of the recess, and the spray port of the powder / granular material supply device is positioned opposite the recess.

[0014] According to the above configuration, the portion of the first sheet facing the recessed portion is sucked in and recessed. The powder is dispersed into this recess, which prevents the powder from scattering outside the dispersion area. Furthermore, even if the amount of powder dispersed per unit area increases, the powder tends to remain in the recessed portion of the first sheet, thereby preventing the powder from scattering.

[0015] Furthermore, by forming recesses on the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, the amount of compression of the portions of the first and second sheets that sandwich the powder or granular material when the first and second sheets pass between the guide roll and the first drum can be reduced. This prevents the adhesive from seeping out even if more adhesive is applied to the portions that sandwich the powder or granular material, making it easy to strengthen the adhesion of the powder or granular material.

[0016] Preferably, the depth of the recess of the first drum to the bottom surface is smaller than the thickness of the first sheet.

[0017] In this case, since the first sheet has a shallow depression in the portion facing the recess, the powder or granular material can be scattered more accurately at a predetermined position on the first sheet.

[0018] Preferably, the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus further includes (f) a heater inside the press unit or on the upstream side of the press unit in the conveying direction of the sheet laminate. The press unit compresses the sheet laminate in the thickness direction over the entire width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet laminate.

[0019] In this case, the sheet stack is heated with a heater to increase the fluidity of the adhesive, facilitating the diffusion of the adhesive throughout the sheet stack, forming an absorbent body with the powder particles firmly adhered to it. This prevents the powder particles from moving within the absorbent body, thereby reducing variation in the quality of the absorbent body.

[0020] Preferably, a plurality of the recesses are formed at intervals in the region of the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and the powder / granular material supplying device has a plurality of the sprinkling ports arranged to face the recesses, respectively.

[0021] In this case, an absorbent body can be formed having channel regions where no absorbent material is dispersed between regions where the absorbent material is dispersed.

[0022] According to the present invention, scattering of absorbent material and bleeding of adhesive can be suppressed.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus. (Example 1) FIG. 2(a) is a development view of a main part of the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and FIG. 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part as seen along line B-B in FIG. 2(a). (Example 1) FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of a plate-like member, and FIG. 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a welded portion. (Example 1) FIG. 4(a) is an explanatory diagram of when powder and granular material is scattered, and FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram of when a sheet stack is pressed. (Example 1) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus. (Conventional Example 1) FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus. (Conventional Example 1)

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] Example 1 An absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 according to Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0026] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a first adhesive applicator 19a, a first intermediate roll 11, a first drum 14, a second drum 21, and a first press unit 31 arranged along the transport path of a first sheet 2 transported in the direction indicated by arrow 2x. A powder / granular material supply device 12, a guide roll 18, and a press roll 19 are arranged around the first drum 14. Press rolls 24 and 26 are arranged around the second drum 21. Additionally, a second adhesive applicator 19b and a second intermediate roll 17 are arranged along the transport path of a second sheet 4 transported toward the guide roll 18 in the direction indicated by arrow 4x.

[0027] The absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 sprinkles powder on a first sheet 2 conveyed along the outer peripheral surface 14k of a first drum 14, then overlays a second sheet 4 on top of the first sheet 2 to form a sheet stack 6, and compresses the sheet stack 6 in the thickness direction with a first press unit 31 to form an absorbent body 8. The absorbent body 8 is conveyed to a subsequent process (not shown), as indicated by arrows 8x, cut at appropriate positions, and used in individual pieces for absorbent articles.

[0028] The first adhesive applicator 19a is disposed so as to face one main surface 2s (see FIG. 4) of the first sheet 2, and applies adhesive to one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 by spraying or the like.

[0029] The second adhesive applicator 19b is disposed so as to face one main surface 4s (see FIG. 4) of the second sheet 4, and applies adhesive to one main surface 4s of the second sheet 4 by spraying or the like.

[0030] The first drum 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 14x with an outer peripheral surface 14k. As will be described in detail later, the first drum 14 conveys the first sheet 2 wound around the outer peripheral surface 14k while sucking it.

[0031] The powder / granular material supplying device 12 has three spraying ports 12a to 12c arranged to face the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, and sprays powder / granular material containing an absorbent material such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymers) from the spraying ports 12a to 12c onto one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 being transported along the first drum, i.e., onto one main surface 2s opposite to the other main surface 2t (see FIG. 4) supported by the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14. The number of spraying ports 12a to 12c may be one, two, four or more.

[0032] The guide roll 18 is disposed downstream of the spraying ports 12a to 12c of the powder / granular material supplying device 12 in the direction of rotation of the first drum 14, facing the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, and guides the second sheet 4 so that one main surface 4s of the second sheet 4 overlaps one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 onto which the powder / granular material has been sprayed, thereby forming a sheet stack 6. In the sheet stack 6, one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 and one main surface 2s of the second sheet 4 are joined to each other via adhesive applied by the first and second adhesive application devices 19a and 19b, and the powder / granular material 3 (see FIG. 4) is sandwiched between the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 4.

[0033] The powder and granular material dispersed from the dispersion ports 12a to 12c of the powder and granular material supplying device 12 may scatter or move before the second sheet is placed on top of it. Therefore, it is preferable to position the dispersion ports 12a to 12c of the powder and granular material supplying device 12 and the guide roll 18 as close as possible to each other.

[0034] The pressing roll 19 is disposed downstream of the guide roll 18 in the rotation direction of the first drum 14 so as to face the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, and presses the sheet stack 6 toward the first drum 14. This ensures a more reliable bond between one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 and one main surface 4s of the second sheet 4 of the sheet stack 6. The pressing roll 19 may be provided as needed, and the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 may also be configured without the pressing roll 19.

[0035] The second drum 21 is disposed downstream of the pressure roll 19 in the rotation direction of the first drum 14 so as to face the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, and the outer peripheral surface 21k rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 21x. The sheet stack 6 is transported while being wound from the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 onto the outer peripheral surface 21k of the second drum 21.

[0036] Press rolls 24, 26 arranged around the second drum 21 press the sheet stack 6 toward the second drum 21 when the sheet stack 6 passes between the second drum 21 and the press rolls 24, 26. The second drum 21 and the press rolls 24, 26 form the second press unit 20. The number of press rolls 24, 26 may be one or three or more.

[0037] The second press unit 20 may be provided as needed, and the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 may be configured without the second press unit 20 .

[0038] The first press unit 31 includes a pair of press rolls 32, 34 that rotate synchronously in the directions indicated by arrows 32x, 34x, and compresses the sheet stack 6 in the thickness direction when the sheet stack 6 that has passed through the second drum 21 passes between the pair of press rolls 32, 34.

[0039] Next, the first drum 14 will be further described. Fig. 2(a) is a development view of a main portion of the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14. Fig. 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main portion taken along line B-B in Fig. 2(a). Fig. 3(a) is a plan view of the plate-shaped member 50, and Fig. 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the welded portion.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the outer peripheral surface 14 k of the first drum 14 is formed by a plate-like member 50 , and the plate-like member 50 is configured to support the first sheet 2 .

[0041] 2, an opening 14c is formed in the outer circumferential portion 14b of the drum body 14a of the first drum 14, penetrating the first drum 14 in the radial direction and extending in the circumferential direction, and a step portion 14d is formed adjacent to the opening 14c. The plate-like member 50 is fitted into the step portion 14d so as to cover the opening 14c, and is fixed in place by bolts or the like (not shown).

[0042] The plate-like member 50 is formed by laminating a first layer 52, a second layer 54, and a third layer 56. Grooves 53a to 53c and 57a to 57c are formed in the first layer 52 and the third layer 56 so that the second layer 54 is exposed, and a through-hole 55 is formed in the second layer 54, connecting the first layer 52 side with the third layer 56 side.

[0043] For example, portions 52a, 52b, 52p, 52q; 56a, 56b, 56p, 56q of the first layer 52 and the third layer 56 adjacent to the grooves 53a-53c, 57a-57c are formed from thin metal plates, and the second layer 54 is formed from a thin metal plate, such as a punched plate, with through holes 55 formed therein. As shown in Fig. 3(b) , appropriate locations on the third layer 56 side are welded so that the joints 58 reach the first layer 52, thereby forming the plate-like member 50. The plate-like member 50 is curved and fixed along the stepped portions 14d of the drum body 14a to each of a plurality of sections that circumferentially divide the outer circumferential surface 14k of the first drum 14.

[0044] Grooves 53a to 53c in the first layer 52 of the plate-like member 50 form recesses 13a to 13c that are continuous in the circumferential direction of the first drum 14 on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 (see FIGS. 2(a) and 3). Bottom surfaces 13p to 13r of the recesses 13a to 13c are formed by the second layer 54 of the plate-like member 50 (see FIG. 2(b)), and through holes 55 in the second layer 54 (see FIG. 3) form suction holes 13x (see FIG. 4) in the bottom surfaces 13p to 13r of the recesses 13a to 13c. Spreading ports 12a to 12c of the powder / granular material supplying device 12 are arranged to face the recesses 13a to 13c, respectively.

[0045] Convex portions 14m, 14n, 14p, and 14q adjacent to concave portions 13a to 13c are formed by portions 52a, 52b, 52p, and 52q adjacent to groove portions 53a to 53c of first layer 52 of plate-like member 50. Note that suction holes 13x (see FIG. 4) are not shown in FIG.

[0046] 1 and 2, a suction box 15 is disposed inside the first drum 14. The suction box 15 has an opening 15x formed therein that faces the plate-like member 50 and extends along the first sheet 2 wound around the first drum 14, and has an internal space 15a that communicates with the opening 15x. The internal space 15a of the suction box 15 is under negative pressure. The first sheet 2 wound around the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 is sucked in by the through-holes 55 of the plate-like member 50 that communicate with the internal space 15a.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, the first sheet 2 is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 so as to cover the recessed portions 13a to 13c and be supported by the protruding portions 14m, 14n, 14p, and 14q.

[0048] Next, the operation of the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 will be described.

[0049] The absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 applies adhesive to one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 using a first adhesive application device 19a, and transports the other main surface 2t of the first sheet 2 while supporting and suctioning the other main surface 2t on an outer peripheral surface 14k of a first drum 14. The powder / granular material supply device 12 sprinkles powder / granular material onto one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 from sprinkling ports 12a to 12c.

[0050] 4(a) is an explanatory diagram of the powder / granular material spraying operation. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the spray port 12k of the powder / granular material supplying device 12 is disposed so as to face the recesses 13a to 13c on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14.

[0051] The first sheet 2 is curved by suction from suction holes 13x formed in the bottom surface 13k of the recess 13 on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, forming a depression on one main surface 2s, into which the powder or granular material is scattered as shown by arrow 12x. Therefore, compared to when the recess 13 is not formed on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, i.e., when no depression is formed on one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2, scattering of the powder or granular material outside the scattering area is suppressed.

[0052] For example, powder or granular material scattered from the scattering port 12k of the powder or granular material supplying device 12 near the boundary of the recess 13 bounces off the inclined portion of one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 toward the inside of the scattering area as shown by arrow 12y, thereby suppressing scattering outside the scattering area. Furthermore, even if the amount of powder or granular material scattered per unit area increases, the powder or granular material tends to remain in the depressions of the first sheet 2, thereby suppressing scattering of the powder or granular material. The closer the scattering port 12k of the powder or granular material supplying device 12 is to one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2, the more the scattering outside the scattering area is suppressed.

[0053] The depth D to the bottom surface 13k of the recess 13 is preferably set smaller than the thickness T of the first sheet 2. In this case, the first sheet 2 has a shallow depression in the portion facing the recess 13, so that the powder or granular material can be dispersed at a desired position on the first sheet 2 with greater accuracy.

[0054] The guide roll 18 guides the second sheet 4 so that one main surface 4s of the second sheet 4 overlaps one main surface 2s of the first sheet 2 on which the powder or granular material has been scattered, thereby forming a sheet stack 6. The pressing roll 19 presses the sheet stack 6 to ensure that the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 4 are joined together.

[0055] 4(b) is an explanatory diagram of pressing the sheet stack 6. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the sheet stack 6 has the scattered powder 3 sandwiched between the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 4, and is pressed in the thickness direction by the guide roll 18 and the pressing roll 19.

[0056] Forming the recesses 13 on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 can reduce the amount of compression of the portions 2b and 4b of the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 4 that sandwich the powder or granular material 3 when pressed by the guide roll 18 and the pressure roll 19. This prevents the adhesive from seeping out even if an increased amount of adhesive is applied to the portions 2b and 4b that sandwich the powder or granular material 3, making it easy to strengthen the adhesion of the powder or granular material.

[0057] The guide roll 18 and the pressure roll 19 need to be arranged with a predetermined gap between them and the first drum 14. Even if the guide roll 18 and / or the pressure roll 19 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, they will not come into contact with the bottom surface 13k of the recess 13 where the suction holes 13x are formed and which is prone to deformation and breakage, and therefore the first drum 14 will not be damaged.

[0058] The second drum 21 receives the sheet stack 6 from the first drum 14 and transports it while supporting the other main surface 4t of the second sheet 4 of the sheet stack 6. The press rolls 24, 26 press the other main surface 2t of the first sheet 2 of the sheet stack 6, compressing the sheet stack 6 in the thickness direction.

[0059] The first press unit 31 compresses the sheet stack 6 in the thickness direction when it passes between the pair of press rolls 32, 34. In this way, the absorbent body 8 is formed.

[0060] It is preferable to provide heaters 36a, 36b inside the first press unit 31 or upstream of the first press unit 31, and to compress the sheet laminate 6 in the thickness direction in the first press unit 31 over the entire width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet laminate 6. In this case, the heaters 36a, 36b heat the sheet laminate 6 to increase the fluidity of the adhesive, promoting the diffusion of the adhesive throughout the sheet laminate 6, thereby forming an absorbent body 8 in which the powder and granular material 3 are firmly bonded. This prevents the powder and granular material 3 from moving within the absorbent body 8, thereby suppressing variation in the quality of the absorbent body 8.

[0061] In the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10, a plurality of recesses 13a to 13c are formed at intervals on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14, so that an absorbent body 8 can be formed which has channel regions where no absorbent material is sprayed between regions where the absorbent material is sprayed.

[0062] It is possible to form suction holes 13x in the protrusions 14m, 14n, 14p, and 14q as well, but it is preferable not to form suction holes 13x in the protrusions 14m, 14n, 14p, and 14q on the outer peripheral surface 14k of the first drum 14 so that the scattered powder and granules are not sucked in outside the scattered area.

[0063] As described above, the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 10 can suppress scattering of powder and granular material and seepage of adhesive, thereby reducing material waste, avoiding production line stoppages, and improving production efficiency.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications.

[0065] For example, one, two, four or more recesses may be formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and multiple sprinkler ports of the powder / granular material supplying device may be arranged to face one recess formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first drum.

[0066] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 First sheet 2s One main surface 3 Powder / granular material 4 Second sheet 4s One main surface 6 Sheet stack 10 Absorbent body manufacturing device 12 Powder / granular material supply device 12a, 12b, 12c, 12k Spray port 13, 13a, 13b, 13c Recessed portion 13k, 13p to 13r Bottom surface 13x Suction hole 14 First drum 14k Outer circumferential surface 14m, 14n, 14p, 14q Convex portion 18 Guide roll 19a, 19b Adhesive application device 31 First press unit (press unit) 36a, 36b Heater D Depth T Thickness

Claims

a powdered material supplying device having a spray port arranged to face the outer peripheral surface of the first drum and spraying powdered material including an absorbent material from the spray port onto one main surface of the first sheet; a guide roll arranged downstream in the rotation direction of the first drum from the spray port of the powdered material supplying device and facing the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, for guiding the second sheet so that one main surface of the second sheet overlaps with the one main surface of the first sheet onto which the powdered material has been sprayed to form a sheet laminate; an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to either or both of the one main surface of the first sheet and the one main surface of the second sheet before the one main surface of the second sheet overlaps with the one main surface of the first sheet; and a press unit for compressing the sheet laminate in the thickness direction. an absorbent manufacturing apparatus, wherein a region of the outer peripheral surface of the first drum around which the first sheet is wrapped has a recess that is continuous in the circumferential direction of the first drum, the suction hole is formed in a bottom surface of the recess, and the spray port of the powder / granular material supplying device is positioned to face the recess.

2. The absorbent body manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the recess of the first drum to the bottom surface is smaller than the thickness of the first sheet.

3. The absorbent body manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heater inside the press unit or upstream of the press unit in the conveying direction of the sheet laminate, the press unit compressing the sheet laminate in the thickness direction over the entire width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet laminate.

4. The absorbent manufacturing apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of recesses are formed at intervals in the region of the outer peripheral surface of the first drum, and the powder / granular material supplying device has a plurality of spray ports arranged to face each of the recesses.