Manufacturing method for wearing article and manufacturing device for wearing article

Abstract

Provided are a manufacturing method and a manufacturing device for a wearing article, with which a wearing article in which a pocket is formed can be manufactured relatively easily. The manufacturing method for the wearing article includes a laminate formation step, an absorber arrangement step, an adhesive application step, and a bonding step. In the laminate formation step, after an elastic member is disposed in a belt-shaped first region on a first sheet, a laminate in which the elastic member is covered with a second sheet is formed. In the absorber arrangement step, an absorber is disposed on a first surface of the laminate. In the adhesive application step, a second region to which an adhesive is applied is formed on the first surface of the laminate. In the bonding step, the first region and the second region are folded back along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers an end edge of the absorber, and then the second region is bonded to the first surface. The second region includes: a first portion which is formed, between the first portion and a first end edge, with a belt-shaped gap that overlaps the absorber in the bonding step; and a second portion which is adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and is formed so as to be in contact with the first end edge.

Description

Manufacturing method of worn article and manufacturing device of worn article

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing apparatus for a worn article and a manufacturing method for a worn article.

[0002] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-354948) discloses a wearing article such as a disposable diaper having three-dimensional cuffs (pockets) for preventing leakage of body waste from a waist opening, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0003] The wearing article disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a back sheet, a top sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the back sheet and the top sheet. The wearing article has three-dimensional cuffs provided inside a waist opening and extending toward the absorbent body.

[0004] The method of manufacturing a worn article disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a step of intermittently placing an absorbent body on a web-like back sheet unwound from a winding device (absorbent body placing step), a step of overlapping a top sheet unwound from a roll on the back sheet and absorbent body (overlapping step), a step of placing cuff elastic members and wrapping them with both end edges of the back sheet (cuff forming step), and a step of placing waist elastic members and wrapping them again with both end edges of the back sheet (waist elastic member placing step).

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-354948

[0006] In the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the process of wrapping an elastic member in a sheet to form a pocket (the cuff forming process and the waist elastic member arranging process) is repeated, which tends to complicate the process and manufacturing equipment.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a wearing article that can relatively easily manufacture a wearing article having a pocket formed therein.

[0008] The wearing article manufactured by the manufacturing method of the wearing article of the present disclosure includes a belt-shaped waistband member positioned around the waist of the wearer and having a pocket formed therein, and a belt-shaped absorbent body joined to the waistband member and positioned between the crotch of the wearer.

[0009] The method for manufacturing a worn article includes a laminate forming step, an absorbent body arranging step, an adhesive applying step, and a bonding step.

[0010] In the laminate formation process, elastic members extending along the longitudinal direction are arranged in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet, whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first widthwise edge of the first sheet being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, and then a laminate is formed in which the elastic members arranged on the first sheet are covered with a second sheet. In the absorber arrangement process, an absorber is arranged on the first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a portion of the second edge, which is the other end of the first edge. In the adhesive application process, a second region, in which adhesive is applied in a band-like shape along the longitudinal direction, is formed on the first surface of the laminate. In the bonding process, the first and second regions are folded back along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorber joined to the laminate, and then the second region is bonded to the first surface.

[0011] The second region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a region formed between the first edge in a plan view and the first edge, with a strip-shaped gap extending along the longitudinal direction and overlapping the absorbent body in the bonding step. The second portion is a region adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and formed to contact the first edge in a plan view.

[0012] The apparatus for manufacturing a worn article according to the present disclosure includes a laminate forming unit, an absorbent body placing unit, an adhesive applying unit, and an adhesive bonding unit.

[0013] The laminate forming unit arranges elastic members extending along the longitudinal direction in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet, whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first widthwise edge of the first sheet being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, and then forms a laminate in which the elastic members arranged on the first sheet are covered with a second sheet. The absorbent body arrangement unit arranges the absorbent body on the first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a portion of the second edge, which is the other end of the first edge. The adhesive application unit forms a second region on the first surface of the laminate, in which adhesive is applied in a band-like shape along the longitudinal direction. The bonding unit folds the first and second regions along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorbent body joined to the laminate, and then bonds the second region to the first surface.

[0014] The second region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a region formed between the first edge in a plan view and the first edge, with a strip-shaped gap extending along the longitudinal direction and overlapping the absorbent body by an adhesive portion. The second portion is a region adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and formed to contact the first edge in a plan view.

[0015] According to the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the present disclosure, a wearing article having a pocket formed therein can be manufactured relatively easily.

[0016] 1 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper 1; FIG. 2 is a development view of a disposable diaper 1 in which two waist members 2 are not joined, viewed from the surface that contacts the wearer's skin; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a laminate 2a; FIG. 4 is a schematic process diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus 100 and a manufacturing method for a disposable diaper 1; FIG. 5 is a schematic process diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus 100 and a manufacturing method for a disposable diaper 1; FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an elastic member 23 of a laminate 2a that has passed through an elastic member fixing step; and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a laminate 2a and an absorbent body 3 that have passed through an adhesive application step.

[0017] A method and an apparatus 100 for manufacturing a disposable diaper 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0018] (1) Disposable Diaper First, a disposable diaper 1 will be described. The disposable diaper 1 is an example of a worn article. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the disposable diaper 1. The disposable diaper 1 has two waist members 2 and an absorbent body 3. A pocket P is formed in the waist member 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the longitudinal ends of the two waist members 2 are joined to each other to form a waist opening W into which the wearer's torso is inserted. The absorbent body 3 has two ends 3e joined to the longitudinal centers of the two waist members 2. Fig. 2 is a development view of the disposable diaper 1 in which the two waist members 2 are not joined, as seen from the side that contacts the wearer's skin.

[0019] (1-1) Waist Member The waist member 2 is a strip-shaped laminate having a pocket P formed therein, which is positioned around the waist of a wearer when the wearer wears the disposable diaper 1. The waist member 2 has a first sheet 21, a second sheet 22, a first elastic member 23a, a second elastic member 23b, and a third elastic member 23c.

[0020] As will be described in detail later, the waistline member 2 is formed by folding back at predetermined positions a laminate 2a, in which a first elastic member 23a, a second elastic member 23b, and a third elastic member 23c are sandwiched between a first sheet 21 and a second sheet 22. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the laminate 2a. In the following description, the longitudinal direction Dl and width direction Dw of the laminate 2a, the first sheet 21, the second sheet 22, or the waistline member 2 correspond to the directions indicated by arrows in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and 6. Note that FIG. 2 shows a portion of the second sheet 22 in a see-through manner for convenience. Also, in FIG. 2, the area where the absorbent body 3 is disposed is indicated by hatching consisting of diagonal lines.

[0021] Hereinafter, one edge of the laminate 2a in the width direction Dw will be referred to as the first edge 2e, and the other edge will be referred to as the second edge 2e'. The position at which the laminate 2a is folded when forming the waistband member 2 will be referred to as the fold line 2f. The fold line 2f is a line extending in the longitudinal direction Dl. Although not limited thereto, the distance df between the fold line 2f and the first edge 2e of the laminate 2a in the width direction Dw is approximately one-third of the length of the laminate 2a in the width direction Dw.

[0022] The pocket P prevents the wearer's excrement from leaking through the waist opening W. The pocket P is formed so as to open downward when the wearer puts on the disposable diaper 1. As will be described in detail later, the pocket P is the portion of the laminate 2a folded along the fold line 2f that overlaps with the absorbent body 3 in a plan view.

[0023] (1-1-1) First Sheet and Second Sheet The first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 are rectangular sheets formed to the same size and shape. The first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 are formed using nonwoven fabric. The first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 are overlapped so that their edges overlap.

[0024] (1-1-2) First Elastic Member, Second Elastic Member, and Third Elastic Member The first elastic member 23a, second elastic member 23b, and third elastic member 23c are thread-like elastic members that are stretchably arranged along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a. Hereinafter, the first elastic member 23a, second elastic member 23b, and third elastic member 23c will also be collectively referred to as elastic members 23. The elastic members 23 are formed using materials such as polyurethane, natural rubber, and thermoplastic resin. In this embodiment, the elastic members 23 are rubber threads.

[0025] One or more first elastic members 23a are arranged in the first arrangement region a1. The first arrangement region a1 is a band-shaped region on the first sheet 21 extending in the longitudinal direction Dl of the first sheet 21 (i.e., the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a). The width d1 of the first arrangement region a1 in the width direction Dw of the laminate 2a is set to be the same as or smaller than the depth dp of the pocket P in the width direction Dw of the waistband member 2. One of the edges of the first arrangement region a1 extending in the longitudinal direction Dl of the first sheet 21 overlaps with the first edge 2e. The first arrangement region a1 is an example of a first region.

[0026] One or more second elastic members 23b are arranged in the second arrangement region a2. The second arrangement region a2 is a strip-shaped region extending in the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a on the first sheet 21. The second arrangement region a2 has a width d2 in the width direction Dw of the laminate 2a that is set to be equal to or smaller than the difference between the distance df and the depth dp. In the second arrangement region a2, an edge of the first sheet 21 extending in the longitudinal direction Dl that is located on the first edge 2e side overlaps with the fold line 2f.

[0027] One or more third elastic members 23c are arranged in the third arrangement region a3. The third arrangement region a3 is a band-shaped region extending in the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a on the first sheet 21. The width d3 of the third arrangement region a3 in the width direction Dw of the laminate 2a is set to be the same as or smaller than the distance in the width direction Dw of the first sheet 21 between the second edge 2e' and the edge of the absorbent body 3 joined to the laminate 2a. In the third arrangement region a3, one edge of the first sheet 21 extending in the longitudinal direction Dl overlaps with the second edge 2e'.

[0028] (1-2) Absorbent Body The absorbent body 3 is a strip-shaped laminate that is joined to the waistband member 2 and is positioned between the crotch of the wearer when the wearer puts on the disposable diaper 1. The absorbent body 3 absorbs body fluids such as urine of the wearer. The absorbent body 3 is formed, for example, by sandwiching an absorbent core (not shown) that absorbs body fluids between two sheets (strip-shaped) of the same size and shape, and joining the edges of the two sheets together.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent body 3 is joined such that an end 3e in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 3 is positioned at the center of the waistline member 2 in the longitudinal direction Dl.

[0030] (2) Disposable Diaper Manufacturing Apparatus and Manufacturing Method Next, a description will be given of the manufacturing apparatus 100 and manufacturing method for the disposable diaper 1. The manufacturing apparatus 100 for the disposable diaper 1 includes a laminate forming section 101, an elastic member fixing section 102, an elastic member cutting section 103, an absorber placing section 104, an adhesive applying section 105, an adhesive bonding section 106, and a laminate cutting section 107. Figures 3A and 3B are schematic process diagrams illustrating the manufacturing apparatus 100 and manufacturing method for the disposable diaper 1.

[0031] For convenience, the following description will focus on one of the two waistband members 2 and two laminates 2a, but the same manufacturing method is used for the other waistband member 2 and laminate 2a using the same manufacturing apparatus 100.

[0032] (2-1) Laminate Forming Unit The laminate forming unit 101 executes a laminate forming process. In the laminate forming process, first, a first elastic member 23a extending along the longitudinal direction Dl is arranged in a first arrangement region a1 of a first sheet 21 conveyed in the longitudinal direction Dl, a second elastic member 23b extending along the longitudinal direction Dl is arranged in a second arrangement region a2, and a third elastic member 23c extending along the longitudinal direction Dl is arranged in a third arrangement region a3. Next, a laminate 2a is formed in which the elastic members 23 arranged on the first sheet 21 are covered with a second sheet 22.

[0033] After the laminate formation process is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to the elastic member fixing unit 102 .

[0034] (2-2) Elastic Member Fixing Section The elastic member fixing section 102 performs an elastic member fixing step in which at least a portion of the elastic member 23 is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22.

[0035] More specifically, in the elastic member fixing step, a fixed area r1 and a non-fixed area r2 are formed for the first elastic member 23a. The fixed area r1 is an example of a first area, and the non-fixed area r2 is an example of a second area.

[0036] The fixing range r1 is the range in which the first elastic member 23a is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a. The width of the fixing range r1 in the longitudinal direction of the laminate 2a is the same as the width Wa of the absorbent 3 in the longitudinal direction of the laminate 2a (see FIG. 2). The fixing range r1 is also formed in the longitudinal direction of the laminate 2a so as to correspond to the position where the absorbent 3 will be placed in the absorbent placement step described below. As a result, the fixing range r1 overlaps the absorbent 3 in the bonding step described below.

[0037] The non-fixed area r2 is adjacent to the fixed area r1 in the longitudinal direction D1 of the laminate 2a, and is an area along the longitudinal direction D1 of the laminate 2a where the first elastic member 23a is not fixed to either the first sheet 21 or the second sheet 22. In other words, the non-fixed area r2 is a portion of the first elastic member 23a other than the fixed area r1.

[0038] The second elastic member 23b and the third elastic member 23c are fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 without being interrupted along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the elastic members 23 of the laminate 2a that has passed the elastic member fixing process. For convenience, Fig. 5 shows the second sheet 22 in a see-through manner. In Fig. 5, the elastic members 23 fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 are shown by solid lines, and the elastic members 23 that are not fixed to either the first sheet 21 or the second sheet 22 are shown by dashed lines.

[0040] After the elastic member fixing step is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to an elastic member cutting section 103 .

[0041] In this embodiment, the elastic member fixing portion 102 has an ultrasonic horn (not shown) and an anvil roller 102a. The elastic member fixing portion 102 can ultrasonically weld the elastic member 23 to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 using the ultrasonic horn and the anvil roller 102a. In Fig. 3a, the area to which ultrasonic vibration is applied to the laminate 2a is indicated by hatching made up of diagonal lines.

[0042] The ultrasonic horn has a vibration surface that vibrates ultrasonically. The ultrasonic horn applies ultrasonic vibrations to the laminate 2a that comes into contact with the vibration surface. The anvil roller 102a is arranged to sandwich the laminate 2a together with the vibration surface of the ultrasonic horn. The anvil roller 102a is cylindrical and rotates around its central axis in accordance with the conveyance speed of the laminate 2a.

[0043] (2-3) Elastic Member Cutting Section The elastic member cutting section 103 executes an elastic member cutting process. In the elastic member cutting process, the elastic force of the third elastic members 23c that overlap the absorber 3 arranged in the absorber arrangement section 104 in a planar view is nullified (the elastic force is reduced to a state where there is almost no elastic force). Specifically, the third elastic members 23c that overlap the absorber 3 arranged in the absorber arrangement section 104 in a planar view are cut at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a, with a predetermined gap between them. For convenience, in FIG. 3a, the third elastic members 23c are shown with a portion of the second sheet 22 shown in perspective.

[0044] After the elastic member cutting step is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to the absorbent body placement section 104 .

[0045] The elastic member cutting unit 103 has two rolls 103a that sandwich the transported laminate 2a in the stacking direction. The rolls 103a cut predetermined portions of the third elastic member 23c while rotating in accordance with the transport speed of the laminate 2a.

[0046] (2-4) Absorbent Body Arrangement Unit The absorbent body arrangement unit 104 executes an absorbent body arrangement step in which an end 3e of the absorbent body 3 is arranged and joined on the first surface 2s, which is one surface of the laminate 2a, so as to overlap a part of the second edge 2e'.

[0047] After the absorbent body placement step is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to an adhesive application section 105 .

[0048] (2-5) Adhesive Application Unit The adhesive application unit 105 performs an adhesive application process. In the adhesive application process, an adhesive region 2g is formed on the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a by applying adhesive g in a strip shape along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a. The adhesive region 2g includes a first adhesive region 2ga and a second adhesive region 2gb. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the laminate 2a and absorbent body 3 that have passed through the adhesive application process. The adhesive region 2g is an example of a second region.

[0049] The first adhesive region 2ga is formed by applying adhesive g in a strip shape along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a, leaving a strip-shaped gap s extending along the longitudinal direction Dl between the first adhesive region 2ga and the first edge 2e in a plan view. The gap s is a portion that will become the pocket P in the bonding process described below. Therefore, the first adhesive region 2ga is formed according to the shape of the pocket P. Specifically, the first adhesive region 2ga is formed so that the width ds of the gap s is the same as the depth dp of the pocket P, the length of the gap s in the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a is the same as the width Wa of the absorbent body 3 in the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a, and the first adhesive region 2ga is positioned at the center of the waistline member 2 in the longitudinal direction Dl. This allows the gap s to overlap the absorbent body 3 in the bonding process.

[0050] The second adhesive region 2gb is formed by applying adhesive g in a strip shape along the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a so as to be adjacent to the gap s in the longitudinal direction Dl of the laminate 2a and in contact with the first edge 2e in a planar view.

[0051] 5, in this embodiment, the first adhesive region 2ga and the second adhesive region 2gb have the same width, but the widths of the first adhesive region 2ga and the second adhesive region 2gb may be different from each other. The first adhesive region 2ga is an example of a first portion. The second adhesive region 2gb is an example of a second portion.

[0052] After the adhesive application step is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to the adhesive section 106 .

[0053] In this embodiment, the adhesive g is a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive application unit 105 has a spray nozzle 105 a that applies the hot melt adhesive to the first surface 2 s of the laminate 2 a to form the adhesive region 2 g.

[0054] (2-6) Adhesion Section The adhesion section 106 performs an adhesion process. In the adhesion process, first, the first arrangement region a1 and the adhesion region 2g are folded back along the fold line 2f so that the first arrangement region a1 covers the edge of the end 3e of the absorbent body 3 joined to the laminate 2a. Then, the adhesion region 2g is adhered to the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a. By folding the first arrangement region a1 and the adhesion region 2g back along the fold line 2f, the fixing range r1 and the gap s are placed in a state where they overlap the absorbent body. For convenience, in Figure 3b, the first elastic member 23a is shown through a portion of the first sheet 21.

[0055] After the bonding step is completed, the laminate 2 a is transported to a laminate cutting section 107 .

[0056] In this embodiment, the adhesive portion 106 has a heater 106a that heats the adhesive region 2g. The heater 106a heats the adhesive region 2g, thereby adhering the adhesive region 2g to the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a.

[0057] The first adhesive region 2ga of the adhesive region 2g is formed to have a gap s between it and the first edge 2e in a plan view. Therefore, when the first adhesive region 2ga is adhered to the first surface 2s, a portion of the laminate 2a corresponding to the gap s becomes a pocket P without being adhered to the first surface 2s.

[0058] (2-7) Laminate Cutting Unit The laminate cutting unit 107 executes a laminate cutting step. In the laminate cutting step, the laminate 2a is cut along the width direction Dw so that the absorbent body 3 joined in the absorbent body placement unit 104 is positioned at the center of the laminate 2a in the longitudinal direction Dl. The cut laminate 2a becomes the waistline member 2.

[0059] As described above, the first elastic members 23a are fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 in the fixed range r1, and are not fixed to either the first sheet 21 or the second sheet 22 in the non-fixed range r2. Therefore, when the laminate 2a is cut in the width direction Dw in the laminate cutting step, the first elastic members 23a located in the non-fixed range r2 shrink to the fixed range r1. For convenience, in Figure 3b, the first elastic members 23a are shown with a portion of the first sheet 21 visible.

[0060] The steps described above produce the disposable diaper 1 shown in Fig. 2 in which the two waist members 2 are not joined to each other. Although a detailed description will be omitted, thereafter, the absorbent body 3 is folded back so that the two waist members 2 overlap, and then the ends of the waist members 2 in the longitudinal direction Dl are joined to each other, thereby producing the disposable diaper 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0061] (3) Features (3-1) The disposable diaper 1 includes a belt-shaped waistband member 2 positioned around the waist of a wearer and having a pocket P formed therein, and a belt-shaped absorber 3 joined to the waistband member 2 and positioned between the crotch of the wearer. The manufacturing method of the disposable diaper 1 includes a laminate forming step, an absorber arranging step, an adhesive applying step, and a bonding step.

[0062] In the laminate formation process, first elastic members 23a extending along the longitudinal direction Dl are arranged in a band-shaped first arrangement region a1 on the first sheet 21, where the edge extending in the longitudinal direction Dl overlaps a first edge 2e in the width direction Dw of the first sheet 21 being transported in the longitudinal direction Dl, and then a laminate 2a is formed in which the first elastic members 23a arranged on the first sheet 21 are covered with a second sheet 22. In the absorber arrangement process, the absorber 3 is arranged on the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a so as to overlap a part of the second edge 2e', which is the other end of the first edge 2e. In the adhesive application process, an adhesive region 2g is formed on the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a, where adhesive g is applied in a band-like manner along the longitudinal direction Dl. In the bonding process, the first arrangement area a1 and the bonding area 2g are folded along the longitudinal direction Dl so that the first arrangement area a1 covers the edge of the absorbent body 3 joined to the laminate 2a, and then the bonding area 2g is bonded to the first surface 2s.

[0063] The adhesive region 2g includes a first adhesive region 2ga and a second adhesive region 2gb. The first adhesive region 2ga is a region formed between the first edge 2e in a plan view and the first adhesive region 2ga, with a strip-shaped gap s extending along the longitudinal direction Dl and overlapping the absorbent body 3 in the bonding process. The second adhesive region 2gb is a region adjacent to the gap s in the longitudinal direction Dl and formed to contact the first edge 2e in a plan view.

[0064] In the above-described manufacturing method of the disposable diaper 1, the first elastic members 23a and the second sheet 22 are continuously arranged on the first sheet 21 at substantially the same position, thereby preventing the manufacturing process from becoming complicated. Furthermore, the first elastic members 23a arranged on the first sheet 21 are held by the second sheet 22 that covers them, eliminating the need to secure the first elastic members 23a by folding back the laminate 2a or the like, thereby preventing the manufacturing process from becoming complicated. Furthermore, the pocket P is formed by a relatively simple process of folding back and bonding a portion of the laminate 2a, including the adhesive region 2g formed with the gap s. Furthermore, because the adhesive region 2g includes the second adhesive region 2gb, it is unnecessary to previously fold back the edge of the folded laminate 2a, thereby preventing the manufacturing process from becoming complicated.

[0065] Therefore, according to the above-described method for manufacturing the disposable diaper 1, the disposable diaper 1 having the pocket P can be manufactured relatively easily.

[0066] (3-2) The method for manufacturing the disposable diaper 1 further includes an elastic member fixing step for forming the fixed area r1 and the non-fixed area r2.

[0067] The fixed range r1 is a range in which the first elastic member 23a is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 along the longitudinal direction Dl and overlaps the absorbent body 3 in the bonding process. The non-fixed range r2 is a range adjacent to the fixed range r1 in the longitudinal direction Dl and in which the first elastic member 23a is not fixed to either the first sheet 21 or the second sheet 22 along the longitudinal direction Dl.

[0068] (3-3) The manufacturing apparatus 100 for the disposable diaper 1 includes a laminate forming section 101, an absorbent body placing section 104, an adhesive applying section 105, and an adhesive section .

[0069] The laminate forming unit 101 arranges first elastic members 23a extending along the longitudinal direction Dl in a band-shaped first arrangement region a1 on the first sheet 21, where the edge extending in the longitudinal direction Dl overlaps a first edge 2e in the width direction Dw of the first sheet 21 being transported in the longitudinal direction Dl, and then forms a laminate 2a in which the first elastic members 23a arranged on the first sheet 21 are covered with a second sheet 22. The absorbent arrangement unit 104 arranges the absorbent 3 on the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a so as to overlap a part of a second edge 2e', which is the other end of the first edge 2e. The adhesive application unit 105 forms an adhesive region 2g on the first surface 2s of the laminate 2a, in which adhesive g is applied in a band shape along the longitudinal direction Dl. The adhesive portion 106 folds the first arrangement region a1 and the adhesive region 2g along the longitudinal direction Dl so that the first arrangement region a1 covers the edge of the absorbent body 3 joined to the laminate 2a, and then adheres the adhesive region 2g to the first surface 2s.

[0070] The adhesive region 2g includes a first adhesive region 2ga and a second adhesive region 2gb. The first adhesive region 2ga is a region formed between the first edge 2e in plan view and a strip-shaped gap s extending along the longitudinal direction Dl and overlapping the absorbent body 3 by an adhesive portion. The second adhesive region 2gb is a region adjacent to the gap s in the longitudinal direction Dl and formed to contact the first edge 2e in plan view.

[0071] In the above-described manufacturing apparatus 100 for disposable diapers 1, the first elastic members 23a and the second sheet 22 are arranged consecutively on the first sheet 21 at substantially the same position, thereby preventing the apparatus from becoming complicated. Furthermore, the first elastic members 23a arranged on the first sheet 21 are held by the second sheet 22 that covers them, eliminating the need to secure the first elastic members 23a by, for example, folding back the laminate 2a, thereby preventing the apparatus from becoming complicated. Furthermore, the pocket P is formed by a relatively simple device that folds back and bonds a portion of the laminate 2a, including the adhesive region 2g formed with the gap s. Furthermore, because the adhesive region 2g includes the second adhesive region 2gb, there is no need to previously fold back the edge of the folded laminate 2a, thereby preventing the apparatus from becoming complicated.

[0072] Therefore, according to the above-described manufacturing apparatus for the disposable diaper 1, the disposable diaper 1 having the pocket P can be manufactured relatively easily.

[0073] (3-4) The manufacturing apparatus 100 for the disposable diaper 1 further includes an elastic member fixing portion that defines the fixed area r1 and the non-fixed area r2.

[0074] The fixed range r1 is a range in which the first elastic member 23a is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 along the longitudinal direction Dl and is overlapped by an adhesive portion on the absorbent body 3. The non-fixed range r2 is a range adjacent to the fixed range r1 in the longitudinal direction Dl, in which the first elastic member 23a is not fixed to either the first sheet 21 or the second sheet 22 along the longitudinal direction Dl.

[0075] (4) Modifications In the above-described embodiment, the elastic member 23 is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 using ultrasonic welding, but the method of fixing the elastic member 23 is not limited to this.

[0076] For example, a welding portion where the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 are welded to each other may be provided on both sides of the width of the elastic member 23, and the elastic member 23 may be fixed to the first sheet 21 and the second sheet 22 by sandwiching the elastic member 23 from the width direction at the welding portion.

[0077] (5) Summary Finally, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described.

[0078] The wearing article manufactured by the method for manufacturing a wearing article according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a belt-shaped waistband member positioned around the waist of a wearer and having a pocket formed therein, and a belt-shaped absorbent body joined to the waistband member and positioned between the crotch of the wearer.

[0079] The method for manufacturing a worn article includes a laminate forming step, an absorbent body arranging step, an adhesive applying step, and a bonding step.

[0080] In the laminate formation process, elastic members extending along the longitudinal direction are arranged in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet, whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first widthwise edge of the first sheet being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, and then a laminate is formed in which the elastic members arranged on the first sheet are covered with a second sheet. In the absorber arrangement process, the absorber is arranged on the first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a portion of the second edge, which is the other end of the first edge. In the adhesive application process, a second region, in which adhesive is applied in a band-like shape along the longitudinal direction, is formed on the first surface of the laminate. In the attachment process, the first and second regions are folded back along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorber joined to the laminate, and then the second region is adhered to the first surface.

[0081] The second region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a region formed between the first edge in a plan view and the first edge, with a strip-shaped gap extending along the longitudinal direction and overlapping the absorbent body in the bonding step. The second portion is a region adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and formed to contact the first edge in a plan view.

[0082] According to this manufacturing method, a disposable diaper having a pocket formed therein can be manufactured through a relatively simple process.

[0083] A method for manufacturing a wearing article according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the same as the method for manufacturing a wearing article according to the first aspect, further comprising an elastic member fixing step. In the elastic member fixing step, a first region and a second region are formed. The first region is a region where the elastic member is fixed to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet along the longitudinal direction and overlaps the absorbent body in the bonding step. The second region is a region adjacent to the first region in the longitudinal direction where the elastic member is not fixed to either the first sheet or the second sheet along the longitudinal direction.

[0084] A manufacturing apparatus for a wearing article according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes a laminate forming section, an absorbent body placing section, an adhesive applying section, and an adhesive bonding section.

[0085] The laminate forming unit arranges elastic members extending along the longitudinal direction in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet, whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first widthwise edge of the first sheet being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, and then forms a laminate in which the elastic members arranged on the first sheet are covered with a second sheet. The absorbent body arrangement unit arranges the absorbent body on the first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a portion of the second edge, which is the other end of the first edge. The adhesive application unit forms a second region on the first surface of the laminate, in which adhesive is applied in a band-like shape along the longitudinal direction. The bonding unit folds the first and second regions along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorbent body joined to the laminate, and then bonds the second region to the first surface.

[0086] The second region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a region formed between the first edge in a plan view and the first edge, with a strip-shaped gap extending along the longitudinal direction and overlapping the absorbent body by an adhesive portion. The second portion is a region adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and formed to contact the first edge in a plan view.

[0087] According to this manufacturing apparatus, the disposable diaper 1 having the pocket formed therein can be manufactured relatively easily.

[0088] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a manufacturing device for a wearing article, which is the same as the manufacturing device for a wearing article according to the first aspect, and further includes an elastic member fixing portion. The elastic member fixing portion defines a first region and a second region. The first region is a region where the elastic member is fixed to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet along the longitudinal direction and is overlapped with the absorbent body by an adhesive portion. The second region is a region adjacent to the first region in the longitudinal direction where the elastic member is not fixed to either the first sheet or the second sheet along the longitudinal direction.

[0089] 1: Disposable diaper (wearing article) 2: Waist member 2a: Laminate 2e: First edge 2e': Second edge 2f: Fold-back line 2g: Adhesion area (second area) 2ga: First adhesion area (first portion) 2gb: Second adhesion area (second portion) 2s: First surface 3: Absorbent 21: First sheet 22: Second sheet 23: Elastic member 100: Manufacturing apparatus 101: Laminate forming section 102: Elastic member fixing section 103: Elastic member cutting section 104: Absorbent body disposing section 105: Adhesive application section 106: Adhesion section 107: Laminate cutting section a1: First disposing area (first area) a2: Second disposing area a3: Third disposing area Dl : Longitudinal direction Dw: Width direction g: Adhesive P: Pocket r1: Fixed area (first area) r2: Non-fixed area (second area) s: Gap

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a wearing article having a band-shaped waistband member positioned around the waist of a wearer and having a pocket formed therein, and a band-shaped absorbent body joined to the waistband member and positioned between the crotch of the wearer, comprising: a laminate forming step of arranging an elastic member extending along the longitudinal direction in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first edge in the width direction of the first sheet transported in the longitudinal direction, and then forming a laminate in which the elastic member arranged on the first sheet is covered with a second sheet; an absorbent arranging step of arranging the absorbent body on a first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a part of a second edge which is the other end of the first edge; an adhesive applying step of forming a second region on the first surface of the laminate in which adhesive is applied in a band shape along the longitudinal direction; and an adhesive bonding step of folding back the first and second regions along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorbent body joined to the laminate, and then bonding the second region to the first surface, a first portion formed between the first edge in a plan view and the absorbent body, the first portion extending along the longitudinal direction with a band-shaped gap that overlaps the absorbent body in the bonding step; and a second portion formed adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and in contact with the first edge in a plan view.

2. A method for manufacturing a wearing article as described in claim 1, further comprising an elastic member fixing step in which the elastic member is fixed to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet along the longitudinal direction to form a first area that overlaps the absorbent body in the bonding step, and a second area that is adjacent to the first area in the longitudinal direction and is an area in which the elastic member is not fixed to either the first sheet or the second sheet along the longitudinal direction.

3. A manufacturing device for a worn article having a band-shaped waistband member positioned around the waist of a wearer and having a pocket formed therein, and a band-shaped absorbent body joined to the waistband member and positioned between the crotch of the wearer, comprising: a laminate forming section which arranges an elastic member extending along the longitudinal direction in a band-shaped first region on the first sheet whose longitudinally extending edge overlaps a first edge in the width direction of the first sheet transported in the longitudinal direction, and then forms a laminate in which the elastic member arranged on the first sheet is covered with a second sheet; an absorbent body arrangement section which arranges the absorbent body on a first surface of the laminate so as to overlap a part of a second edge which is the other end of the first edge; an adhesive application section which forms a second region on the first surface of the laminate in which adhesive is applied in a band shape along the longitudinal direction; and an adhesive section which folds back the first and second regions along the longitudinal direction so that the first region covers the edge of the absorbent body joined to the laminate, and then adheres the second region to the first surface, a first portion formed between the first edge in a plan view and a band-shaped gap extending along the longitudinal direction and overlapping the absorbent body by the adhesive portion; and a second portion formed adjacent to the gap in the longitudinal direction and in contact with the first edge in a plan view.

4. A method for manufacturing a wearing article as described in claim 1, further comprising an elastic member fixing portion that defines a first range in which the elastic member is fixed to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet along the longitudinal direction and overlapped with the absorbent body by the adhesive portion, and a second range that is adjacent to the first range in the longitudinal direction and is an area in which the elastic member is not fixed to either the first sheet or the second sheet along the longitudinal direction.

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