Method and apparatus for manufacturing disposable worn article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9320654-B2
Application number	US-201113825628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2011
Priority date	Nov 16, 2010
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a disposable worn article, including: severing a continuous web W along a cut-off line L 1 having a predetermined wave shape, dividing the continuous web W into a first and second divided webs W 1 , W 2 ; allowing the first and second divided webs W 1 , W 2 to cross each other in a width direction X so as to reverse positions of the first and second divided webs W 1 , W 2 in the width direction X; reversing the second divided web W 2 by twisting the second divided web W 2 by 180°; rotating a second side panel which is cut off from the second divided web W 2 by 180°, thereby producing a second side panel PR in line symmetry with a first side panel PL which is cut off from the first divided web W 1 ; and placing and fastening the side panels PL, PR to the side portions of the body 20.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing a disposable worn article comprising an absorbent body, the absorbent body including a liquid-absorbing core and having a front portion covering a front surface of a torso of a wearer, a crotch portion covering a crotch of the wearer, and a back portion covering a back surface of the torso of the wearer, continuous with one another in a longitudinal direction, with first and second side panels projecting in a girth direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the first and second side panels being fastened to a pair of side portions of the absorbent body, the method comprising:
a step of carrying the absorbent body along the longitudinal direction;
a step of carrying a band-shaped continuous web to become the first and second side panels along a carrying direction of the continuous web, the continuous web having a first side edge and a second side edge continuous in the carrying direction of the continuous web;
a step of severing the continuous web being carried along a virtual cut-off line having a predetermined wave shape continuous in the carrying direction of the continuous web, thereby dividing the continuous web into a first divided web being continuous along the first side edge without including the second side edge and having first depressed portions and first protruding portions alternating each other along the cut-off line, and a second divided web being continuous along the second side edge without including the first side edge and having second protruding portions and second depressed portions alternating each other along the cut-off line;
a first changing step of changing a carrying direction of at least one of the first divided web and the second divided web while carrying the first divided web and the second divided web so as to allow the first divided web and the second divided web to three-dimensionally cross each other in a width direction crossing the carrying direction of the continuous web so as to reverse positions of the first divided web and the second divided web in the width direction;
a second changing step of changing the carrying direction of at least one of the first divided web and the second divided web while carrying the divided webs so that carrying paths of the divided webs are parallel to each other;
a step of successively severing the first divided web at the first depressed portions of the first divided web, thereby successively obtaining the first side panels each having at least one of the first protruding portions and a part of the first side edge;
a reversing step of reversing a front and a back of the second divided web;
a step of, after the reversing step, successively severing the second divided web in a reversed state at the second depressed portions of the second divided web, thereby successively obtaining the second side panels each having at least one of the second protruding portions and a part of the second side edge;
a step of separating adjacent ones of the first side panels from each other in a carrying direction of the first side panels after the first side panels are obtained and before each of the first side panels is fastened to the absorbent body,
a step of separating adjacent ones of the second side panels from each other in a carrying direction of the second side panels after the second side panels are obtained and before each of the second side panels is fastened to the absorbent body;
placing and fastening the first side edge of each of the first side panels to one of the pair of side portions of the absorbent body;
a rotation step of rotating each of the second side panels by 180° on a surface of each of the second side panels, thereby successively obtaining the second side panels in line symmetry with the first side panels; and
a step of, after the rotation step, placing and fastening the second side edge of each of the second side panels to another one of the pair of side portions of the absorbent body.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the protruding portions has a lower edge extending in the girth direction and forming a part of a leg opening through which a leg of the wearer is passed, and a line of the lower edge is inclined with respect to a virtual line extending parallel to the girth direction, thereby obtaining a worn article in which the lower edge is inclined upwardly as the lower edge extends into a front portion of the torso.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first side panels has a first projecting portion projecting in the girth direction from the first side edge, with a first fastener member to be fastened to the front portion of the absorbent body placed on the first projecting portion, and each of the second side panels has a second projecting portion projecting in the girth direction from the second side edge, with a second fastener member to be fastened to the front portion of the absorbent body placed on the second projecting portion, the method further comprising:
a step of placing the first fastener member on a first surface of the band-shaped continuous web being carried, and the second fastener member on a second surface opposite to the first surface.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the reversing step is executed by twisting the second divided web by 180° about an axial line along the carrying direction of the continuous web.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein:
the first and second changing steps are executed by performing an operation of changing the carrying direction of at least one of the first divided web and the second divided web by an angle θi a plurality of times, wherein settings are such that an algebraic sum of angles θi for one of the divided webs is 0° with respect to that of the other one of the divided webs, whereby the first divided web and the second divided web are carried parallel to each other.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the reversing step is executed by performing an operation of reversing the front and the back of the second divided web one time.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first and second changing steps are executed by performing an operation of changing the carrying direction of at least one of the first divided web and the second divided web by an angle θi a plurality of times, wherein settings are such that an algebraic sum of angles θi for one of the divided webs is 0° with respect to that of the other one of the divided webs, whereby the first divided web and the second divided web are carried parallel to each other.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
in the first and second changing steps, the first and second divided webs are carried so that a relationship between the first divided web and the second divided web before the front and the back of the second divided web are reversed is such that the first protruding portions and the second protruding portions are apart from each other in the width direction, with the first and second protruding portions located outside of a space between the first side edge and the second side edge.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
in the first and second changing steps, the first and second divided webs are carried so that a relationship between the first divided web and the second divided web after the front and the back of the second divided web are reversed is such that the first protruding portions and the second side edge are apart from each other in the width direction, with the first protruding portions and the second side edge located outside of a space between the second protruding portions and the first side edge.

10. An apparatus for manufactur

Assignees

• Umebayashi Toyoshi
• Zuiko Corp

Inventors

• Umebayashi Toyoshi

Classifications

• A61F13/49

  specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers, nappies · CPC title

• A61F13/56

  Supporting or fastening means · CPC title

• A61F13/15 Primary

  Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators · CPC title

• A61F13/15756 Primary

  Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads · CPC title