Absorbent article and method for manufacturing absorbent article

Abstract

This absorbent article includes an elongated body including a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The body has a pair of longitudinal compressed grooves extending along a longitudinal direction on both sides of a center line extending in the longitudinal direction and recessed from a skin side toward a non-skin side. A first agent-applied portion to which a first agent is applied is formed on a skin side of the absorbent body, a second agent-applied portion to which a second agent is applied is formed on a skin side of the top sheet, and the first agent-applied portion is disposed between the pair of longitudinal compressed grooves.

Description

Absorbent article and method for manufacturing absorbent article

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article and a method for manufacturing an absorbent article.

[0002] A technology is known in which an agent containing a functional component that acts on the skin sensation of a wearer is applied to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a panty liner, or an incontinence pad to improve wearing comfort.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which microcapsules containing a cooling-sensitive component are provided on flap portions on both sides of an absorbent article main body. In this configuration, the microcapsules are provided inside a skin contact sheet extending continuously from the absorbent article main body, the fiber density on the skin contact surface side of the skin contact sheet is higher than that on the non-skin contact surface side, and the number density of microcapsules on the skin contact surface side in the skin contact sheet is lower than that on the non-skin contact surface side.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 6045655

[0005] However, as described in Patent Document 1, adjusting the number density of microcapsules in the thickness direction within a single sheet requires advanced technology, which may complicate the manufacturing process. In addition, in a configuration where the cooling-sensitive component is originally applied only to the flap portions, the effect of the component perceived by the wearer is relatively weak, so depending on the wearer or the environment in which the absorbent article is used, a sufficient effect of the component may not be obtained.

[0006] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an absorbent article provided with an agent containing a functional component, which can sufficiently exert the effect of the functional component and can be manufactured without complicated processes.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is an absorbent article having an elongated body comprising a permeable top sheet, an impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein the body has a pair of longitudinal compression grooves extending along the longitudinal direction on both sides of a longitudinally extending center line, recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, a first drug application portion formed on the skin side of the absorbent, a second drug application portion formed on the skin side of the top sheet, the first drug application portion disposed between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves.

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to provide an absorbable article comprising a drug containing a functional component, wherein the functional component acts sufficiently and can be manufactured without complicated processes.

[0009] This is a plan view of an absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in Figure 1. This is a plan view of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1 after the wings have been folded. This is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present disclosure. This is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the present disclosure.

[0010] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted. Also, the scale in the drawings may differ from the actual scale for the sake of clarity.

[0011] [Absorbent Articles] In the following description, this disclosure will be described primarily based on embodiments of pad-type sanitary napkins. However, the embodiments described herein can be used not only as pad-type sanitary napkins, but also as panty-type sanitary napkins, panty liners (discharge sheets), incontinence pads, or pad-type diapers.

[0012] <Basic Structure> Figure 1 shows a plan view of an absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 comprises a permeable top sheet 3 positioned on the side facing the wearer's skin when worn, i.e., the skin side, and an impermeable back sheet 2 positioned on the non-skin side (or underwear side) opposite to the skin side. Furthermore, an absorbent material 4 is positioned between the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 3. In this way, the back sheet 2, absorbent material 4, and top sheet 3 are laminated to form the main body (also called the absorbent article body) 8. In this specification, the main body 8 is the part excluding the wings WG, WG described later.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the absorbent article 1 has an elongated shape in plan view. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 is pad-shaped overall, that is, its thickness is small compared to its width and length. When the absorbent article 1 is worn, the longitudinal direction D1 of the absorbent article 1 or the main body 8 is aligned with the front-to-back direction of the wearer's body, and the transverse direction (short direction) D2, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1, is aligned with the left-to-right direction of the wearer's body.

[0014] The total length of the absorbent article 1 or the main body 8, that is, the total length in the longitudinal direction D1, may be 170 mm or more and 650 mm or less, and in the case of a pad-type sanitary napkin, it may be 170 mm or more and 450 mm or less. The length of the main body 8 in the lateral direction D2 may be 50 mm or more and 320 mm or less, and in the case of a pad-type sanitary napkin, it may be 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less, preferably 60 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0015] In this embodiment, the main body 8 is symmetrical when viewed in the plan view of Figure 1, that is, it has a plan view shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line (longitudinal center line) CL extending in the longitudinal direction D1, but it does not necessarily have to be symmetrical. In addition, the configuration other than the shape of the absorbent article 1 and the main body 8 (including the thickness and density of the absorbent 4, the size and position of the compression grooves, etc.) may be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

[0016] The absorbent article 1 and the main body 8 have a groin area B that primarily corresponds to the wearer's groin when worn, a front area F adjacent to the front of the groin area B and extending to the front end of the absorbent article 1, and a rear area R adjacent to the rear of the groin area B and extending to the rear end of the absorbent article 1. The groin area B is a region that faces the wearer's bodily fluid outlets, such as the urethra and vagina. Note that the opposing relationship between each area of ​​the absorbent article 1 or the main body 8 and the wearer's body parts shown is not precise, but rather an approximate opposing relationship when a standard wearer wears the absorbent article in the usual way.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the absorber 4 is positioned so that it does not extend beyond the backsheet 2 and topsheet 3 in a plan view. At both ends in the longitudinal direction D1, the edges of the backsheet 2 and the topsheet 3 may be joined by an adhesive such as hot melt, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc.

[0018] The backsheet 2 may be a sheet that is at least water-impermeable, and may be, for example, a sheet made of an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Alternatively, a laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating a nonwoven fabric onto a polyethylene sheet, or a laminated nonwoven fabric sheet in which a waterproof film is interposed to ensure substantially liquid impermeability can be used. Furthermore, it is even more desirable to use a material that is permeable to moisture from the viewpoint of preventing stuffiness. As such a water-impermeable and moisture-permeable sheet material, a microporous sheet obtained by melt-kneading an inorganic filler into an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, forming a sheet, and then stretching it in a uniaxial or biaxial direction can be used. The backsheet 2 may be a sheet that has the same external shape as the overall external shape of the absorbent article 1.

[0019] The top sheet 3 can be a permeable sheet that allows bodily fluids such as urine, menstrual blood, and vaginal discharge to pass through quickly. Suitable materials for the top sheet 3 include perforated or non-perforated nonwoven fabrics and porous plastic sheets. As material fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupro, and blends thereof, as well as natural fibers such as cotton, can be used individually or in combination of two or more. Processing methods for the nonwoven fabric include the spunlace method, spunbond method, thermal bond method, meltblown method, and needle punch method. Of these processing methods, the spunlace method is preferred for producing flexible nonwoven fabrics, the spunbond method for producing nonwoven fabrics with good drape, and the thermal bond method for producing bulky and soft nonwoven fabrics. Furthermore, composite fibers such as core-sheath type fibers, side-by-side type fibers, and split type fibers, with a high melting point fiber as the core and a low melting point fiber as the sheath, can also be used.

[0020] The absorbent material 4 is not limited to any material that can absorb and retain bodily fluids, but it is preferable to include cotton-like pulp and a superabsorbent polymer. As the superabsorbent polymer, superabsorbent polymer granules (SAP), superabsorbent polymer fibers (SAF), and combinations thereof can be used. As the pulp, examples include cellulose fibers such as chemical pulp and dissolved pulp obtained from wood, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon and acetate. Recycled pulp and recycled fibers can also be used. As the raw material for chemical pulp, hardwoods and softwoods can be used, but softwoods are preferably used due to their long fiber length.

[0021] Furthermore, synthetic fibers may be mixed into the absorbent body 4. Suitable synthetic fibers include polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, and copolymers thereof. Two of these can also be mixed and used. Additionally, composite fibers such as core-sheath fibers (with a high melting point fiber as the core and a low melting point fiber as the sheath), side-by-side fibers, and split fibers can also be used. Hydrophobic fibers can also be surface-treated with a hydrophilizing agent to impart affinity to bodily fluids. The absorbent body 4 is preferably manufactured by a fiber stacking or airlaid method.

[0022] The thickness of the absorbent material 4 (length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1 and the transverse direction D2) may be 0.5 mm or more and 25 mm or less, preferably 1.0 mm or more and 10 mm or less. The absorbent material 4 does not need to have a uniform thickness over its entire surface. For example, the absorbent material 4 may be locally bulging or locally compressed. In that case, the thickness of the absorbent material 4 shall be the thickness of the portion without localized bulging or compression. The transverse direction D2 length of the absorbent material 4 may be 60 mm or more and 320 mm or less, and in the case of a pad-type sanitary napkin, it may be 60 mm or more and 120 mm or less.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that the absorbent body 4 is wrapped in a covering sheet made of uncolored (white) or colored crepe paper, nonwoven fabric, etc., to prevent twisting, cracking, or spillage of polymer particles. The covering sheet is not shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0024] A second sheet 5 is placed between the top sheet 3 and the absorbent material 4. The second sheet 5 may be made of the same material as the top sheet 3, and may be made of a material with a lower basis weight and / or lower density than the top sheet 3. The second sheet 5 is not necessarily required, but its presence promotes the transfer of bodily fluids discharged to the skin side of the top sheet 3 to the non-skin side. Furthermore, the presence of the second sheet 5 creates a separate layer between the top sheet 3 and the absorbent material 4, preventing the first drug, described later, applied to the skin side of the absorbent material 4 from transferring to the skin side, and allowing the second drug, described later, applied to the skin side of the top sheet 3, to remain on the top sheet 3.

[0025] Side sheets 7, 7 are positioned on both sides of the main body 8, overlapping the skin-facing side of the top sheet 3. The side sheets 7 may be made of a nonwoven fabric material that has been treated with an appropriate water-repellent or hydrophilic treatment, depending on the purpose of preventing the penetration of bodily fluids or enhancing the feel against the skin. The material of the side sheets 7 may be natural fibers, synthetic fibers, recycled fibers, etc. Furthermore, if the side sheets 7 are treated with a water-repellent treatment, a water-repellent agent such as a silicone-based or paraffin-based agent may be used for the treatment.

[0026] The absorbent article 1 preferably includes a pair of wings WG, WG extending outward in the lateral direction D2 from both sides of the main body 8. The wings WG may be formed by joining a side sheet 7 and a back sheet 2 that extend outward in the lateral direction D2. More specifically, the wings WG, WG extend outward in the lateral direction D2 from the crotch area B. In other words, the crotch area B can correspond to the range from the front starting point to the rear starting point in the longitudinal direction D1 of the wings WG, WG. When worn, the wings WG, WG are folded back to the inside of the underwear and are attached to the underwear by adhesive parts wa, wa provided on the non-skin side in the state before folding, thereby preventing the absorbent article 1 from shifting away from the underwear while worn.

[0027] <Compression Grooves> The skin-facing side of the main body 8 may have a compression section that is recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side. The compression section can be formed by pressing a compression mold having a protrusion corresponding to the shape of the compression section against a laminate, which consists of at least the top sheet 3 to the absorbent 4, from the skin side in the thickness direction. For example, it can be formed by sandwiching the laminate between a roll having a protrusion on its surface corresponding to the shape of the compression section and a roll without a protrusion on its surface. Multiple compression sections may be formed on the main body 8, and may include compression grooves formed in a groove shape. The formation of compression grooves can improve the shape retention of the main body 8, and can also promote deformation of the main body 8 to conform to the wearer's body when worn, and promote the guidance of discharged bodily fluids.

[0028] In the absorbent article according to this disclosure, the compression grooves include at least a pair of longitudinal compression grooves that extend along the longitudinal direction D1 and are separated from each other in the lateral direction D2. The pair of longitudinal compression grooves are formed in the groin area B, and more specifically, may be formed to straddle the center of the groin area B in the longitudinal direction D1. Alternatively, the pair of longitudinal compression grooves may be formed to be contained within the groin area B, or at least one of the front and rear ends of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves may be positioned beyond the groin area B. The presence of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves allows, for example, discharged bodily fluids to be guided in the longitudinal direction, thereby preventing leakage outward in the lateral direction D2.

[0029] In the example shown in Figure 1, a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 extending along the longitudinal direction D1 are formed on both sides of the longitudinal centerline CL, symmetrically with respect to the centerline CL. In the example shown in Figure 1, compression grooves 11f and 11r are formed in front of and behind the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, respectively. The front end of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 is connected to compression groove 11f at the front, and the rear end of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 is connected to compression groove 11r at the rear, forming a single elliptical annular compression groove as a whole. In this specification, "along a predetermined direction" includes not only extending in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction, but also extending in a direction that preferably forms an angle of ±10°, preferably ±5°, from the predetermined direction.

[0030] The pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 have a plan view shape that is gently curved so as to be convex outward in the lateral direction D2, but the longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 may be formed in a straight line parallel to the lateral direction D2, or they may have a plan view shape that is curved so as to be convex inward in the lateral direction D2.

[0031] In the example shown in Figure 1, a pair of longitudinal auxiliary compression grooves 12, 12 are formed on the outside of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 in the lateral direction D2. In addition, the main body 8 has a front compression groove 15 in the front region F that has a plan view shape that is convex forward, and a rear compression groove 16 in the rear region R that has a plan view shape that is convex rear.

[0032] <Folding> If the absorbent article 1 is individually packaged and provided as an individually packaged absorbent article for easy carrying, it may be folded in the longitudinal direction D1 toward the skin. In that case, as shown in Figure 3, after folding the pair of wings WG, WG, it is folded along the fold line along the transverse direction D2. The position of the fold line is not limited, but for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the boundary line between the front region F and the crotch region B can be used as one fold line, and the boundary line between the crotch region B and the rear region R can be used as another fold line, allowing it to be folded into three or more folds. Furthermore, it can also be folded along the fold line along the transverse direction D2 within the rear region R, allowing it to be folded into four or more folds.

[0033] <Pharmaceuticals> The absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment has a pharmaceutical coating area on which a pharmaceutical containing a functional component is applied. More specifically, the absorbent article 1 has a first pharmaceutical coating area C1 formed on the skin side of the absorbent body 4, and a second pharmaceutical coating area C2 formed on the skin side of the top sheet 3. Hereinafter, the first pharmaceutical and the second pharmaceutical may be collectively referred to simply as the pharmaceutical, and the first pharmaceutical coating area C1 and the second pharmaceutical coating area C2 may be collectively referred to simply as the pharmaceutical coating area.

[0034] The drug in the drug application area of ​​absorbent article 1 may consist of a functional component, or it may be a microcapsule in which the functional component is encapsulated or contained, or the functional component may be dispersed or dissolved in a medium. However, if the drug is a microcapsule in which the functional component is encapsulated, the release of the functional component can be suppressed until it is subjected to an external stimulus, which is preferable because the effect of the functional component is less likely to be lost even if absorbent article 1 is stored unused for a long period of time.

[0035] When the drug is in the form of microcapsules containing a functional ingredient, the average particle size of the microcapsules may be between 5 μm and 50 μm. In this specification, the average particle size may be the median diameter based on the volume of the primary particle size.

[0036] Furthermore, when the drug is in the form of microcapsules, the microcapsules may be crushable or water-degradable (water-disintegrating), but crushable microcapsules are preferred. Crushable microcapsules break when subjected to physical stimuli such as pressure or friction, releasing the enclosed components. In other words, the microcapsules can be adjusted to break due to the wearer's normal wearing and wearing movements. For example, water-degradable microcapsules may break rapidly when bodily fluids are released, releasing the functional components all at once, which can cause the wearer to suddenly feel an excessively strong irritation. However, with crushable microcapsules, such problems do not occur, and the drug's sustained effect can be obtained regardless of the timing of bodily fluid excretion. Also, when the drug is in the form of water-degradable microcapsules, it is necessary to consider the surrounding environment such as humidity, making the individual packaging structure of the absorbent article highly airtight, or the packaging sheet material for individual packaging highly barrier material, which can complicate the manufacturing process and increase costs. In contrast, with crushable microcapsules, which are not significantly affected by humidity, such restrictions on individual packaging structure and packaging sheet are unnecessary.

[0037] The functional components contained in the drug are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that they act on the wearer's skin sensation (act on the nervous system) or activate TRP channels (Transient Receptor Potential Channels). Functional components may be, for example, cooling components that act on the sense of cold, warming components that act on the sense of warmth, moisturizing components, etc. Of these, it is preferable that the functional component is a cooling component. In the case of a cooling component, an endothermic component may be used, and in the case of a warming component, an exothermic component may be used.

[0038] In this specification, "cooling component" refers to a component that causes a cold or refreshing sensation and / or a cool sensation. More specifically, a "cooling component" may be one or more of the following: a component that can lower the skin temperature when brought in close proximity to the wearer's skin (an endothermic component), a component that makes the wearer feel that their temperature has decreased when brought in close proximity to their skin, and a component that makes the wearer feel that their temperature has cooled when brought in close proximity to their skin. Therefore, it is sufficient if the component produces an effect that makes the wearer feel that their temperature has decreased or that they feel cool, even if it does not actually cause a decrease in skin temperature. Cooling components make it easier for the wearer to feel a reduction in stuffiness and stickiness. Therefore, a form in which the functional component is a cooling component is preferred for absorbent articles used in high temperature and / or high humidity environments. The above-mentioned cooling component may or may not have a fragrance.

[0039] Examples of cooling components that act on the nervous system include menthol (e.g., l-menthol) and its derivatives, methyl salicylate, camphor, mint, eucalyptus and other plant-derived essential oils. Examples of cooling components with endothermic effects include sugar alcohols such as xylitol, erythritol, dextrose, and sorbitol, and sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, lactose, and maltose. These cooling components can be used individually or in combination of two or more.

[0040] Examples of warming ingredients include capsaicin, vanillyl alcohol alkyl ether and its derivatives, and plant-derived essential oils.

[0041] For the microcapsules themselves, crushable microcapsules can be made from water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble materials such as melamine resin, urea resin, or urethane resin. For water-loosable microcapsules, readily water-soluble materials such as gelatin can be used.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the drug application portions are provided in two layers in the thickness direction, namely a first drug application portion C1 and a second drug application portion C2. Therefore, when the absorbent article 1 starts to be used, the second drug in the second drug application portion C2 applied to the top sheet 3 acts first, and then after a period of time, the first drug in the first drug application portion C1 applied to the absorber 4 inside the absorbent article 1 can act. When the drug is a collapsible microcapsule encapsulating a functional ingredient, for example, the microcapsules of the second drug may be broken due to contact with the skin-side surface of the absorbent article 1 during the wearing operation and friction with the wearer's skin during wearing, thereby releasing the functional ingredient. In addition, for example, due to body movement caused by walking or the like during wearing, the internal microcapsules of the first drug may be broken, thereby releasing the functional ingredient.

[0043] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the drug, more specifically the functional ingredient contained in the drug, can act in a stepwise manner, so that the wearer can feel the effect of the drug quickly and can also feel it over a long period of time. That is, both the immediate effect and durability of the drug action can be ensured. In particular, since the second drug is present on the skin side of the top sheet, the second drug can act particularly quickly.

[0044] In addition, in the conventional configuration where the drug is provided only on one member, it is necessary to use a suction device or the like to adjust the different amounts of drug on the skin side and the non-skin side in one member, which tends to result in large-scale manufacturing equipment. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the first drug and the second drug only need to be applied to different members respectively, and the drugs can be arranged at two different positions when viewed in the thickness direction, so a suction device or the like is not required.

[0045] When a non-woven fabric is used for the topsheet 3, the fiber density of the topsheet 3 may be different in the thickness direction. For example, the fiber density on the skin-facing side of the topsheet 3 can be set higher than the fiber density on the non-skin-facing side. This makes it easy to retain the applied second agent on the skin-facing surface of the topsheet 3, further improving the effect that the second agent exerts its effect quickly. On the other hand, the fiber density on the skin-facing side of the topsheet 3 can be set lower than the fiber density on the non-skin-facing side. As a result, the applied second agent easily penetrates into the interior on the skin-facing side of the topsheet 3, and the second agent is easily retained between the fibers of the topsheet 3, while further migration to the adjacent non-skin-facing layer can be suppressed, thereby improving the effect of providing a rapid and long-lasting drug action on the skin-facing side. Such a difference in fiber density in the thickness direction can be obtained, for example, by varying the fineness of the fibers contained in the topsheet 3 in the thickness direction, or by varying the degree of compression in the thickness direction during the production of the topsheet 3.

[0046] From the viewpoint of improving the effect of exerting the stepwise drug action as described above, it is preferable that a second sheet 5 is disposed between the topsheet 3 and the absorbent body 4 as shown in FIG. 2, to suppress migration of the first agent and the second agent. The second sheet 5 may also have different fiber densities in the thickness direction. In that case, it is preferable that the fiber density on the skin-facing side of the second sheet 5 is higher than the fiber density on the non-skin-facing side. To achieve this, the fineness of the fibers on the skin-facing side contained in the second sheet 5 can be set lower than the fineness of the fibers on the non-skin-facing side.

[0047] The absorbent body 4 is preferably wrapped with an encapsulating sheet, and more preferably the encapsulating sheet is crepe paper. When the absorbent body is wrapped in the encapsulating sheet, the first agent is applied to the encapsulating sheet. In that case, if the encapsulating sheet is crepe paper, it is preferable from the viewpoints that the function of retaining the first agent is high, so that it is possible to prevent the first agent from penetrating into the main body of the absorbent body 4 and making it difficult for the drug to exert its effect, and also prevent the first agent from impairing the body fluid absorption capacity of the absorbent body 4.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first drug application area C1, which is applied to the skin side of the absorbent material 4, is located between a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11. In the manufacturing process of the absorbent article 1, as will be described in detail later, the compression grooves (fit embossing) formed on the main body 8 are formed after the top sheet 3 is placed on top of the absorbent material 4 after the first drug has been applied. The compression grooves are formed by pressing the protrusions of the compression mold from the skin side to the non-skin side, as described above. For this reason, if the drug application area C1 overlaps the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, the first drug is likely to adhere to the protrusions that are pressed against the main body 8 with particularly high pressure, via the top sheet. If the drug adheres to the protrusions of the compression mold repeatedly in the manufacturing line, the drug may accumulate in the compression mold or the device, which may cause malfunctions. In contrast, by ensuring that the first drug application section C1 avoids overlapping with the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 and is positioned between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, it is possible to prevent the drug from adhering to the compression mold or device, and to operate the production line continuously for a long period of time.

[0049] If the main body 8 has multiple pairs of longitudinal compression grooves extending along the longitudinal direction D1, the first drug application section C1 is formed between the innermost pair of longitudinal compression grooves. For example, in the illustrated example, a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 and a pair of longitudinal auxiliary compression grooves 12, 12 are formed, and the first drug application section C1 is formed between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11.

[0050] As described above, from the viewpoint of reducing or preventing the adhesion of the drug to a compression type or device such as a roll, it is preferable that the first drug application portion C1 applied to the absorbent 4 does not overlap with the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11. Therefore, the first drug application portion C1 may be provided in an area other than the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, but from the viewpoint of making it easier for the wearer to feel the effects of the functional ingredients even with a small amount of drug, it is preferable that the drug application portion be formed in an area opposite or close to the wearer's bodily fluid outlet, for example, in the central area in the lateral direction D2 of the groin area B. For this purpose, the first drug application portion C1 can be formed with a predetermined width that spans the longitudinal center line CL between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 in the lateral direction D2. In this case, it is preferable that the first drug application portion C1 is provided with as wide a width as possible between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the adhesion of the drug to the compression type or device described above, it is preferable that the first drug application section C1 is not in contact with the inner edge of the longitudinal compression groove 11 in the lateral direction D2. For example, it is preferable that the first drug application section C1 is provided at a distance of 1 mm or more, preferably 2 mm or more, from the inner edge of the longitudinal compression groove 11 in the lateral direction D2.

[0051] Furthermore, it is preferable that the first drug application section C1 is formed so as not to overlap not only the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 but also other compression grooves or compression sections formed in the main body 8, because this further reduces the adhesion of the drug to the mold (e.g., roll) or device when the compression grooves are formed.

[0052] As shown in Figure 1, when a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 are formed in the groin area B, the first drug application area C1 located between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 will also be positioned in the central area of ​​the lateral direction D2 of the groin area B. In particular, if the functional component contained in the drug is a cooling component, the wearer is more likely to feel the effect of the cooling component, i.e., the effect of suppressing stuffiness and stickiness, so the arrangement of the first drug application area C1 between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 according to this embodiment is preferable.

[0053] Furthermore, the first drug application section C1 may be provided outside the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 in the lateral direction D2, provided that it does not overlap with the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, and in some cases, it may be provided in front of and / or behind the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11. However, from the viewpoint of avoiding a complicated process for applying the first drug and effectively utilizing the functional components, it is preferable to form the first drug application section C1 between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 and not form it in other areas.

[0054] Furthermore, the first drug application section C1 may be a region where the drug is applied continuously, or a region where the drug is applied discontinuously, as long as it is located between a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11. Discontinuous application of the drug means, for example, that the drug is applied in a dot pattern, a grid pattern, or the like, and that there are discontinuous parts.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, the second drug application area C2 is also provided in the groin area B, similar to the first drug application area C1. When the drug is present in the groin area B, the wearer is more likely to feel the effects of the functional ingredients even with a small amount of drug. Therefore, as shown in the figure, it is preferable for the second drug application area C2 to be formed in the groin area B so that the wearer can feel the effects of the functional ingredients, especially immediately after putting it on.

[0056] The pair of wings WG, WG on the absorbent article 1 are folded before use. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 1 in the state where the pair of wings WG, WG of Figure 1 are folded toward the skin. Figure 3 also shows the release paper 20 placed toward the skin side (the front side in Figure 3) of the folded pair of wings WG, WG. In Figure 1, the area in which the release paper 20 is placed until immediately before use of the absorbent article 1, or the planned area in which the release paper 20 is placed during the manufacturing process, is indicated by reference numeral 20'.

[0057] The release paper 20 is intended to cover and protect the adhesive portions wa, wa provided on the wings WG, WG, respectively, until the absorbent article 1 is put into use. Therefore, at least the surface of the release paper 20 facing the adhesive portions wa, wa is treated with a release process (such as applying silicone), making it easy to peel off even when it comes into contact with the adhesive portions wa, wa. The release paper 20 is sized to protect the entire adhesive portions wa, wa, that is, to cover the entire adhesive portions wa, wa. In the manufacture of the absorbent article 1, as described later, the release paper 20 with the adhesive portions wa, wa applied to a predetermined position is prepared, and the release paper 20 with the adhesive portions wa, wa is placed on the pair of wings WG, WG, which are folded toward the skin side so that the side with the adhesive portions wa, wa faces the folded wings WG, WG. In this case, the adhesive parts wa, wa are positioned at predetermined locations on the back side (backsheet 2 side) of the wings WG, WG.

[0058] Here, as shown in Figure 3, the second drug application section C2 is located within the area where the release paper 20 is placed, in a plan view. In other words, the second drug application section C2 can be positioned so as not to exceed the planned area where the release paper 20 is placed. This prevents the second drug from adhering to equipment used in subsequent processes, such as the process of folding the entire absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction D1, or the individual packaging process of wrapping each item in a packaging sheet. If the drug adheres to the equipment and accumulates, it can cause malfunctions, but according to this embodiment, such a possibility can be avoided.

[0059] Furthermore, since the release paper 20 covers at least the adhesive portions wa, wa of the wings WG, WG, the length D1 in the longitudinal direction of the release paper 20 is at least greater than the length of the adhesive portions wa, wa. However, the size and shape of the release paper 20 may be determined considering the range of the second drug application area C2.

[0060] Preferably, both the first and second drugs are microcapsules containing a functional ingredient, and preferably the encapsulated functional ingredient is a cooling ingredient. However, the types of drugs may be the same or different. Here, the type of drug includes one or more of the type and amount of the functional ingredient used in both drugs, the thickness of the microcapsule, the diameter of the microcapsule, and the fragility of the microcapsule.

[0061] If the first and second drugs are of different types, for example, the microcapsules of the second drug can be made more easily destroyed than the microcapsules of the first drug. In this case, the second drug present on the skin side of the top sheet 3 becomes more effective, allowing the effects of the functional ingredients to be felt immediately after application. In other words, the immediate effect of the drug is improved.

[0062] The fragility of drug microcapsules can be adjusted by changing one or more of the material used for the microcapsule itself, the thickness of the microcapsule, and the diameter of the microcapsule.

[0063] Furthermore, by differentiating the functional components encapsulated in the first drug and the second drug, for example, the volatilization rate per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the second drug can be made greater than the volatilization rate per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the first drug. Here, the volatilization rate may be the mass of the component that volatilizes per unit time. In this configuration as well, the second drug present on the skin side of the top sheet 3 becomes more effective, so the effects of the functional component can be felt immediately after application, that is, the immediate effect of the drug is improved.

[0064] As described above, in order to make the volatility per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the second drug greater than the volatility per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the first drug, for example, the functional component encapsulated in the second drug can be sublimable menthol, and the functional component encapsulated in the first drug can be a non-sublimable menthol derivative. In this way, the types of the first drug and the second drug can be determined based on the temperature behavior of the functional components.

[0065] Furthermore, regardless of whether the first and second drugs are of the same type or different types, the planar area and the amount or basis weight of the first drug application section C1 and the second drug application section C2 may be the same or different.

[0066] For example, the planar area of ​​the second drug application area C2 can be made larger than the planar area of ​​the first drug application area C1. In this case as well, the effect of the second drug present on the skin side of the top sheet 3, which comes into direct contact with the wearer's skin, becomes stronger, and the effects of the functional ingredients can be felt immediately after application. In other words, the immediate effect of the drug is improved.

[0067] The planar area of ​​the first drug coating portion C1 formed on the absorbent body 4 is 1,000 mm². ２ 5,000 mm ２ The following may apply: The planar area of ​​the first drug application section C1 formed on the top sheet 3 is 2,000 mm². ２ The above is 16,000 mm ２ The following is acceptable:

[0068] Furthermore, the basis weight of the first drug in the first drug application section C1 can be increased compared to the basis weight of the second drug in the second drug application section C2. In this case, the amount of drug applied to the absorbent material 4, i.e., the amount of drug per unit area present inside the absorbent article 1, can be increased, so the drug's effect can be maintained for a longer period of time without being lost prematurely. In other words, the persistence of the drug is improved.

[0069] The basis weight of the first drug coating section C1 formed on the absorbent body 4 may be 50 gsm (grams per square meter) or more and 250 gsm or less. The basis weight of the first drug coating section C1 formed on the top sheet 3 may be 5 gsm or more and 30 gsm or less. All of the above basis weights are the basis weight of the drug in a fluid state (slurry state) that is applied in the first drug coating section formation step (S2) and the second drug coating section C2 formation step (S6) described later.

[0070] [Method for Manufacturing Absorbent Articles] A method for manufacturing absorbent articles 1 according to one embodiment includes preparing an absorbent body 4 (S1), applying a first agent to the skin side of the absorbent body 4 to form a first agent application area C1 (S2), placing a top sheet 3 on the skin side of the absorbent body 4 (S3), forming a pair of longitudinal compression grooves (S4), placing an impermeable back sheet 2 on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 4 (S5), and applying a second agent to the skin side of the top sheet 3 to form a second agent application area C2 (S6). The method for manufacturing absorbent articles 1 further includes, after step S6, folding a pair of wings WG, WG towards the skin side (S7), preparing a release paper 20 with adhesive parts wa, wa for fixing the pair of wings to underwear at predetermined positions (S8), and arranging the release paper 20 so that adhesive parts are placed on each of the wings WG, WG (S9). Furthermore, after arranging the release paper 20 (S9), the absorbent article 1 may be folded in the longitudinal direction D1 toward the skin (S10), if necessary.

[0071] The method for manufacturing the absorbent article 1 has been explained to some extent in the paragraph above, but will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figure 2, that is, the cross-sectional view along line I-I in Figure 1.

[0072] As shown in Figure 4(a), first the absorbent body 4 is prepared (S1), and then the first drug is applied to the skin side of the absorbent body 4 to form the first drug application area C1 (S2). If the intention is to form a drug application area inside the absorbent article 1, the drug must be applied at this stage, that is, before the absorbent body 4 is laminated together with other sheets.

[0073] If the drug is a microcapsule containing a functional ingredient, a fluid is prepared by dispersing such microcapsules in a medium, preferably as a slurry or paste, and the prepared fluid is applied to the surface of the absorber 4 using a coating device. When preparing a dispersion in which microcapsules are dispersed as a fluid, the medium can be an aqueous medium, such as water, if crushable microcapsules are used, or a hydrophobic organic solvent if water-degradable microcapsules are used. The fluidity or viscosity of the prepared fluid is not particularly limited, as long as it is in a form that can be applied.

[0074] The method of applying the first agent is not particularly limited and may be a contact type, i.e., a type in which the applicator comes into contact with the surface to which the agent is to be applied, or a non-contact type, i.e., a type in which the applicator does not come into contact with the surface to which the agent is to be applied. Examples of coating devices used for application include slot coaters (slot die coaters), bar coaters, gravure coaters, flexo coaters, roll coaters, contact type devices such as brushes, and non-contact type devices such as sprayers. Of these, it is preferable to use a contact type device for application because it minimizes the scattering of the agent.

[0075] Figure 4(a) shows the planned formation positions of a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, which will be formed in the subsequent step (S4) of forming the compression grooves, indicated by P, P. The first drug application section C1 is applied so as to avoid the planned formation positions P, P of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves, more specifically, between the planned formation positions P, P of the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11.

[0076] In this embodiment, during the process of forming the compression grooves, compression grooves may also be formed at other locations on the absorber 4. For example, as shown in Figure 1, a pair of longitudinal auxiliary compression grooves 12, 12 may be formed. However, in Figures 4 and 5, for the sake of simplicity, only the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 are shown as compression grooves, and the other compression grooves are not shown.

[0077] After the step of applying the first drug (S2), the top sheet 3 is then placed on the skin side (S3), as shown in Figure 4(b). A second sheet 5 can be placed between the top sheet 3 and the absorbent 4. Side sheets 7, 7 are placed on the lateral edge D2 on the skin side of the top sheet 3, respectively. In the manufacturing line, the component indicated by reference numeral 3 in Figure 4(b) is specifically a long strip of top sheet that will later be cut to become the top sheet 3, but for convenience, in this specification and drawings, reference numeral 3 is used for both the top sheet and the top sheet strip. The same applies to the second sheet 5, the side sheets 7, and the back sheet 2 described later.

[0078] After joining the arranged members in the thickness direction to obtain a joint, a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 are formed by compression, as shown in Figure 4(c) (S4). As shown in Figure 4(c), a mold 50 having protrusions corresponding to the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 is pressed against the joint. More specifically, for example, the joint is passed between a roll having protrusions and an opposing roll facing the said roll, and pressure is applied in the thickness direction. Therefore, a large pressure is applied to the protrusions of the mold 50, especially the tops of the protrusions. Here, if the first drug application section C1 were also applied to the positions corresponding to the protrusions, although the absorbent 4 is covered by a sheet placed on the skin side, the first drug would seep out in the thickness direction and adhere to the protrusions of the mold 50. And even if the amount of adhesion is small, if the mold 50 is used repeatedly on the manufacturing line, the adhesion of the drug will accumulate on the mold 50, which may cause malfunctions in the equipment. In contrast, in this embodiment, in the step of forming the first drug application section C1 (S2), the first drug application section C1 is formed between a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11, thereby reducing or eliminating the adhesion of the drug to the mold. This eliminates the need for equipment maintenance and prevents the manufacturing process from becoming complicated.

[0079] Furthermore, in order to avoid malfunctions in the device due to the adhesion of the drug, it is conceivable to dry the drug after applying it to the absorbent material 4. However, including a drying step would complicate the manufacturing method, and installing a drying device would also incur costs. Therefore, this embodiment, in which the first drug application section C1 is formed at a predetermined position, allows for the manufacture of an absorbent article 1 containing a functional component without complicating the manufacturing process or increasing costs.

[0080] Figure 4(d) shows the state after a pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 have been formed. Figure 4(d) also shows that the first drug application section C1 is formed avoiding the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11.

[0081] Next, as shown in Figure 4(e), the backsheet 2 is placed on the non-skin side of the absorbent 4 to form the structure with the pair of longitudinal compression grooves 11, 11 shown in Figure 4(d) (S5). The resulting joint is shown in Figure 4(f).

[0082] Next, the second agent is applied to the skin side of the top sheet 3 to form the second agent application area C2 (S6). Figure 5(a) shows the state in which the second agent application area C2 has been formed. The second agent application area C2 is formed within the planned placement area 20' (Figure 1) of the release paper 20 to be placed in the subsequent step of placing the release paper 20 (S9), in other words, it is formed so as not to exceed the planned placement area of ​​the release paper 20. The form of the second agent or the application method of the second agent may be the same as that described for the first agent. Note that if the first agent and the second agent are applied using the same application method, the design of the manufacturing apparatus is further simplified, which is preferable.

[0083] With the second drug application area C2 shown in Figure 5(a) formed, the pair of wings WG, WG are folded towards the skin side of the main body 8 (S7). Figure 5(b) shows the absorbent article after the wings WG, WG have been folded. Note that the procedure may include a step of cutting the joint to define the outer shape of the absorbent article 1 before folding the pair of wings WG, WG.

[0084] Each of the pair of wings WG, WG is provided with adhesive parts wa, wa for securing the wings WG, WG to underwear when worn. A separate release paper 20 on which these adhesive parts wa, wa are arranged is prepared (S8). Then, as shown in Figure 5(c), the release paper 20 on which the adhesive parts wa, wa are provided is placed from the skin side (S9). At this time, the adhesive parts wa, wa are positioned in predetermined locations on each of the folded pair of wings WG, WG.

[0085] Figure 5(d) shows the absorbent article 1 after the release paper 20 has been placed. Figure 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 corresponding to the state shown in Figure 5(d).

[0086] Although not shown in the figures, after the release paper 20 is placed, the absorbent article 1 is folded in three or more folds in the longitudinal direction D1 toward the skin for individual packaging (S10). More specifically, the absorbent article 1 is placed on the packaging sheet and folded together with the packaging sheet. This makes it possible to obtain a compact individual package. Thus, after the step of placing the release paper 20 (S9), there is a step including the folding step (S10). Here, if the drug application area is exposed toward the skin, the drug may adhere to the folding device, for example, and the accumulation of the drug in the device may cause malfunction of the device. In contrast, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5(d), the formation range of the second drug application area C2 can be made to be within the range in which the release paper 20 is placed. As a result, the entire second drug application area C2 is covered by the release paper 20, so that the drug does not adhere to the device in the step following the release paper placement step (S9), for example, the folding step (S10).

[0087] It is also conceivable to include a drying step to dry the second drug after the formation step (S6) of the second drug coating section C2, as in the case of the first drug. However, this would complicate the manufacturing process and increase costs. Therefore, this embodiment, in which the second drug coating section C2 is applied to a predetermined area, avoids the complexity of manufacturing and the increase in costs. It is also conceivable to pre-apply the second drug to the top sheet 3 (top sheet band) before stacking it on the absorbent 4. However, when a drug is applied to a thin sheet like the top sheet 3, there is a possibility that the drug may seep through to the opposite side of the application and adhere to the device. This embodiment avoids the possibility of such drug adhesion.

[0088] In the above explanation of the [Method for Manufacturing Absorbent Articles], some details that have already been described in the explanation of [Absorbent Articles] have been omitted. For example, the characteristics of the drugs, such as the types of functional ingredients, the area where the drug is applied, the relationship between the first drug and the second drug, and the relationship between the first drug application area and the second drug application area are as described in the explanation of [Absorbent Articles].

[0089] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be modified, altered, replaced, added, deleted, and combined in various ways within the scope of the claims, and these also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0090] Furthermore, the specific aspects of this disclosure are further described below.

[0091] (Note 1) The embodiment of Note 1 is an absorbent article having an elongated body comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein the body has a pair of longitudinal compression grooves that extend along the longitudinal direction on both sides of a center line extending in the longitudinal direction and are recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, a first drug application portion is formed on the skin side of the absorbent, a second drug application portion is formed on the skin side of the top sheet where a second drug is applied, and the first drug application portion is disposed between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves.

[0092] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 1 above, the first drug is applied to the absorbent material to form a first drug application area, and the second drug is applied to the top sheet to form a second drug application area. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drug application areas are formed in two locations in the thickness direction, i.e., in at least two layers. For this reason, immediately after application, the second drug applied to the top sheet acts first, and then, after some time, the action of the first drug applied to the absorbent material inside the absorbent article is exerted. Therefore, the drug, more specifically the functional components contained in the drug, can act quickly and continuously. Furthermore, since the second drug is located on the skin side of the top sheet, the second drug acts particularly quickly.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first drug is applied to the absorbent material. In other words, the drug is applied not to the outside of the absorbent article, but to the absorbent article itself, that is, to a position close to the center of the wearer's body when worn. As a result, the wearer is more likely to feel the effects of the functional components contained in the drug, so a high effect can be obtained even with a small amount of drug.

[0094] Furthermore, the absorbent article according to this embodiment has a pair of longitudinal compression grooves formed therein, which are recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side. Such compression grooves can be formed by pressing a mold having protrusions corresponding to the compression grooves to be obtained against a laminate or joint including at least a top sheet and an absorbent body from the skin side and compressing it. If the first drug were also applied to the skin side of the absorbent body at positions corresponding to the protrusions of the mold, the drug could seep out to the skin side through the top sheet during compression and adhere to the protrusions. In that case, if the compression device is used for a long period of time, malfunctions of the device due to drug adhesion may occur. It is also conceivable to dry the drug applied to the absorbent body before placing the top sheet, but in that case, the manufacturing process would become complicated, and the installation of a drying device would also be costly. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the first drug application portion of the absorbent body is positioned between a pair of longitudinal compression grooves. Since the first drug application portion is formed to avoid the pair of longitudinal compression grooves, it is possible to avoid the drug adhering to the device, and maintenance of the device for drug removal can be reduced or made unnecessary.

[0095] (Note 2) In the embodiment of Note 2, the first drug and the second drug are crushable microcapsules containing functional components.

[0096] Crushable microcapsules release their encapsulated functional components when they break under physical force. As described in Appendix 2 above, since the first and second drugs are crushable microcapsules, the functional components can be released by the pressure and frictional force applied to the absorbent article during and while wearing. Such crushable microcapsules do not act rapidly in the presence of water, such as when bodily fluids are expelled, as water-disintegrating or water-degrading microcapsules do, thus preventing the wearer from suddenly experiencing excessively strong irritation.

[0097] Furthermore, when using crushable microcapsules, there is no need to consider the environment in which the absorbent article is provided, such as humidity, and there is no need to use highly barrier packaging sheets or highly airtight individual packaging to protect from moisture. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the absorbent article can be provided in a simpler form than when water-crushing microcapsules are used.

[0098] (Note 3) In the embodiment of Note 3, the functional component is a cooling component.

[0099] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 3 above, the wearer can be given a sufficient cooling or refreshing sensation quickly and continuously. This embodiment is suitable when using absorbent articles in environments with high temperature and / or humidity.

[0100] (Note 4) In the embodiment of Note 4, the absorbent article further has a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the main body, the pair of wings being folded toward the skin, each of the pair of wings being provided with an adhesive portion for fixing the pair of wings to underwear when worn, and a release paper covering the entire adhesive portion is placed on the pair of wings, and the second drug application portion is within the range of the release paper in a plan view.

[0101] The embodiment described in Appendix 4 above has a pair of wings, which allows the absorbent article to be securely fixed by the underwear and prevents the absorbent article from twisting or shifting.

[0102] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entire second drug coating area of ​​the absorbent article is covered with release paper that covers the adhesive portion for fixing the pair of wings before use. In manufacturing, after applying the second drug to the top sheet, there are subsequent steps such as folding the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, so there is a possibility that the drug may adhere to the manufacturing equipment. In this case, it is also conceivable to dry the second drug after application before moving on to the next step, but this would complicate the process and increase costs due to the need for equipment such as drying devices. Therefore, as in this embodiment, by limiting the area of ​​the second drug coating area to the area covered by the release paper placed on top of the folded pair of wings, it is possible to prevent the drug from adhering to the manufacturing equipment in subsequent steps such as the longitudinal folding mentioned above. Thus, maintenance of equipment for drug removal can be reduced or eliminated.

[0103] (Note 5) In the embodiment of Note 5, the area of ​​the second drug application portion on the skin-facing surface of the top sheet is larger than the area of ​​the first drug application portion on the skin-facing surface of the absorbent.

[0104] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 5 above, the area of ​​the drug application portion located on the surface that directly contacts the wearer's skin in the absorbent article is larger, so the drug can exert its effect more quickly after application.

[0105] (Note 6) In the embodiment of Note 6, the basis weight of the first drug is greater than the basis weight of the second drug.

[0106] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 6 above, by placing a larger amount of the drug inside the absorbent article, it is possible to increase the amount of the drug that acts gradually over a long period of time, thus allowing the drug to act more sustainably.

[0107] (Note 7) In the embodiment of Note 7, the microcapsules of the second drug are more easily destroyed than the macrocapsules of the first drug.

[0108] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 7 above, the microcapsules of the drug that are closer to the wearer's skin are more easily destroyed, and the functional ingredients are more easily released, so that the effects of the functional ingredients are exerted more quickly after application.

[0109] (Note 8) In the embodiment of Note 8, the amount of volatilization per unit amount of the functional component enclosed in the second drug is greater than the amount of volatilization per unit amount of the functional component enclosed in the first drug.

[0110] According to the embodiment described in Appendix 8 above, the microcapsules of the drug that are closer to the wearer's skin are more easily destroyed, and the functional ingredients are more easily volatile, so that the effects of the functional ingredients are exerted more quickly after application.

[0111] (Note 9) A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, comprising: preparing an absorbent; applying a first agent between the skin-side and non-skin-side positions on the skin-side of the absorbent; placing a permeable top sheet on the skin-side of the absorbent; forming a pair of longitudinal compression grooves that extend along the longitudinal direction and are recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, in the embodiment of Note 9, the method for manufacturing an absorbent article, comprising: preparing an absorbent; applying a first agent between the positions where the pair of longitudinal compression grooves are to be formed on the skin side of the absorbent; placing a permeable top sheet on the skin side of the absorbent; forming a pair of longitudinal compression grooves that are recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side; placing a permeable back sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent; and applying a second agent to the skin side of the top sheet to form a second agent application area.

[0112] The manufacturing method according to the embodiment described in Appendix 9 above yields the same effects as those obtained in the embodiment described in Appendix 1 above.

[0113] (Note 10) In the embodiment of Note 10, the absorbent article further comprises a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the main body, the manufacturing method further comprises applying the second drug, folding the pair of wings toward the skin, preparing a release paper having adhesive portions at predetermined positions for fixing the pair of wings to underwear, and arranging the release paper such that the adhesive portions are positioned on each of the folded pair of wings, the second drug application area being formed within the range of the release paper.

[0114] The manufacturing method according to the embodiment described in Appendix 10 above yields the same effects as those obtained in the embodiment described in Appendix 4 above.

[0115] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-053775, filed on 27 March 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0116] 1 Absorbent material 2 Back sheet 3 Top sheet 4 Absorbent material 5 Second sheet 7 Side sheet 11 Longitudinal compression groove (fit emboss) 12 Longitudinal auxiliary compression groove 20 Release paper B Groin area C1 First drug application area C2 Second drug application area CL Longitudinal center line D1 Longitudinal direction D2 Lateral direction (short direction) F Front area R Rear area wa Adhesive part WG Wing

Claims

1. An absorbent article having an elongated body comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein the body has a pair of longitudinal compression grooves extending along the longitudinal direction on both sides of a longitudinally extending center line, recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, a first drug application portion formed on the skin side of the absorbent, a second drug application portion formed on the skin side of the top sheet, and the first drug application portion disposed between the pair of longitudinal compression grooves.

2. The absorbable article according to claim 1, wherein the first drug and the second drug are crushable microcapsules containing functional components.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the functional component is a cooling component.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the main body, the pair of wings being folded toward the skin, each of the pair of wings being provided with an adhesive portion for fixing the pair of wings to underwear when worn, a release paper covering the entire adhesive portion of the pair of wings being arranged, and the second drug application portion being within the range of the release paper in a plan view.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of ​​the second drug application portion on the skin-facing surface of the top sheet is larger than the area of ​​the first drug application portion on the skin-facing surface of the absorbent body.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the basis weight of the first drug is greater than the basis weight of the second drug.

7. The absorbable article according to claim 2, wherein the microcapsules of the second drug are more easily destroyed than the macrocapsules of the first drug.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the amount of volatilization per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the second drug is greater than the amount of volatilization per unit amount of the functional component encapsulated in the first drug.

9. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article having a body comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and having a pair of longitudinal compression grooves extending along the longitudinal direction on both sides of a longitudinally extending center line, recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, comprising: preparing an absorbent; applying a first agent between the positions where the pair of longitudinal compression grooves are to be formed on the skin side of the absorbent to form a first agent application area; placing a liquid-permeable top sheet on the skin side of the absorbent to form a pair of longitudinal compression grooves recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side; placing a liquid-impermeable back sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent; and applying a second agent to the skin side of the top sheet to form a second agent application area.

10. The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the absorbent article further comprises a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the main body, the manufacturing method further comprises: applying the second agent, folding the pair of wings toward the skin, preparing a release paper having adhesive portions provided at predetermined positions for fixing the pair of wings to underwear, and arranging the release paper such that adhesive portions are positioned on each of the folded pair of wings, the second agent application portion being formed within the area of ​​the release paper.

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