JP2012050744A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article capable of quickly absorbing urine and the like.SOLUTION: The absorbent article 1 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, and an absorbent core 4 provided therebetween. The absorbent article 1 has a longitudinal direction (y) and a width direction (x). The absorbent core 4 has an opening and a diffuser 5 made from a foamed polymer is provided in the opening. The diffuser 5 is formed on its back sheet 3 side with a groove 6 extending in the longitudinal direction (y) up to the rear end of the diffuser 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as urine pads (including incontinence pads), disposable diapers, and sanitary napkins.

  Conventionally, in order to improve the diffusibility of urine etc. in an absorbent article, an absorbent article provided with a foamed polymer is known. For example, Patent Document 1 includes a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent laminate provided therebetween, and the absorbent laminate is disposed under a storage layer having an opening and the opening of the storage layer. And an absorbent article having a liquid handling layer made of a foamed polymer.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-60645

  However, in the absorbent article disclosed in Patent Document 1, urine or the like may remain in the liquid handling layer made of the foamed polymer, and urine or the like may not be quickly absorbed into the storage layer. This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The objective is to provide the absorbent article which can absorb urine etc. rapidly.

  The absorbent article of the present invention capable of solving the above problems has a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent core provided therebetween, and the front-rear direction The absorbent core has an opening, and the absorbent core has an opening, and the opening is provided with a diffuser made of a foamed polymer, and the diffuser has a diffuser in the front-rear direction on the backsheet side. It is characterized in that a groove extending to the rear end is formed. In the absorbent article of the present invention, urine or the like that passes through the top sheet and is accommodated in the diffuser moves to a space formed by the groove, and urine or the like can quickly diffuse in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article in this space. Since the groove extends to the rear end of the diffuser, urine or the like diffuses beyond the rear end of the diffuser and is quickly absorbed by the absorbent core.

  In the diffuser, part or all of the side surfaces intersecting with the width direction are formed to be liquid-impermeable, or part or all of the side surfaces intersecting with the width direction are provided with a liquid-impermeable layer. It is preferable. If the side surface that intersects the width direction of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, or if a liquid-impermeable layer is provided on the side surface that intersects the width direction of the diffuser, urine contained in the diffuser, etc. However, it becomes easy to preferentially diffuse in the front-rear direction through the inside of the diffuser or the space of the groove. Further, urine or the like hardly crosses the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser and moves to the absorbent core, and side leakage of urine or the like in the width direction is less likely to occur.

  The groove is formed so that part or all of the side surface intersecting the width direction is liquid-impermeable, or part or all of the side surface intersecting the width direction is provided with a liquid-impermeable layer. Is preferred. If the side surface that intersects the width direction of the groove is formed in a liquid-impermeable manner or a liquid-impermeable layer is provided on the side surface that intersects the width direction of the groove, urine that has moved into the space formed by the groove And the like are easily diffused in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article in the space without being absorbed by the diffuser again.

  The top sheet is preferably embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and joined directly or indirectly to the absorbent core. If the top sheet is bonded to the absorbent core in this way, it is easy to prevent the diffuser from protruding from the opening of the absorbent core.

  Between the top sheet and the absorbent core, a sheet-like absorbent layer having a water-absorbing resin between the nonwoven fabric sheets and having no pulp fibers may be provided on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser. Since the absorbent article is provided with a diffuser in the opening of the absorbent core, there is a possibility that the absorption capacity may be insufficient. By providing a sheet-like absorbent layer, the absorption capacity of the absorbent article can be increased. . Further, by providing sheet-like absorbent layers on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser, lateral leakage of urine or the like in the width direction is prevented.

  Between the back sheet and the diffuser, crepe paper or spunlace nonwoven fabric may be provided as a shape-retaining sheet. If the shape-retaining sheet is provided, the shape-retaining property of the absorbent article is improved, and urine that has moved to the lower side of the diffuser diffuses in the shape-retaining sheet, so that urine is absorbed more quickly into the absorbent core. Will come to be.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, since the diffuser in which the groove is formed on the back sheet side is provided in the opening of the absorbent core, urine and the like can be quickly diffused in the space of the groove of the diffuser. And the urine etc. which diffused in the space of a slot come to be absorbed into an absorptive core quickly.

As one embodiment of the absorbent article of this invention, the partially cutaway view which looked at the absorbent article (urine pad) from the top sheet side is represented. The AA sectional view of the absorptive article shown in Drawing 1 is expressed. The perspective view of the diffuser of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1 is represented. 3A shows a perspective view of the diffuser as seen from the top sheet side, and FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the diffuser as seen from the back sheet side. As other embodiment of the absorbent article of this invention, the partially cutaway view which looked at the absorbent article (urine pad) from the top sheet side is represented. The BB sectional view of the absorptive article shown in Drawing 4 is expressed.

  The absorbent article of the present invention has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent core provided therebetween. Examples of the absorbent article of the present invention include urine pads (including incontinence pads), disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and the like.

  The shape of the absorbent article is not particularly limited. When the absorbent article is, for example, a urine pad or a sanitary napkin, the shape of the absorbent article includes a substantially rectangular shape, an hourglass shape, a gourd shape, a battledore shape, and the like.

  When the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, the disposable diaper may be an open-type disposable diaper that is provided with a pair of fastening members on the left and right sides and formed into a pants shape when worn by the fastening member, and a waist opening And a pair of legged disposable diapers in which a pair of leg openings are formed.

  When the absorbent article is, for example, a disposable diaper, the disposable diaper includes a front abdomen, a back part, and a crotch part that is positioned between these parts and is provided with an absorbent core. As a disposable diaper, a laminated body composed of an inner sheet and an outer sheet forms a diaper body composed of a front abdomen, a back part, and a crotch located therebetween, and has an absorbent core in the crotch of the diaper body. Absorbent articles may be provided. At this time, a substantially rectangular shape or the like is shown as the shape of the absorbent article. In the case where the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, the absorbent article may form a front abdomen, a back part, and a crotch part positioned therebetween, and the crotch part may be provided with an absorbent core. . When wearing disposable diapers, the front abdomen, back part, and crotch part are referred to as the front part of the abdomen and the part applied to the back side of the wearer is referred to as the back part. A portion located between the back portion and applied to the wearer's crotch is referred to as a crotch portion.

  The absorbent article has a front-rear direction and a width direction. The front-rear direction of the absorbent article means a direction extending in the front-rear direction of the wearer's crotch when the wearer wears the absorbent article. The width direction of the absorbent article means a direction that is on the same plane as the absorbent article in a state where the absorbent article is spread on a plane and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Moreover, in this invention, the upper side means the wearer side at the time of wearing an absorbent article, and a lower side means the opposite side, ie, an outer side, from the wearer at the time of wearing an absorbent article. The direction extending from the upper side to the lower side or the opposite direction is referred to as the thickness direction.

  A top sheet is a sheet | seat located in the wearer side in the case of wear of an absorbent article, and the material will not be specifically limited if it is liquid-permeable. The back sheet is a sheet located on the side opposite to the wearer when the absorbent article is worn, that is, the outside, and the material is not particularly limited as long as it is liquid-impermeable. In the present invention, liquid impermeability includes the meaning of water repellency.

  Examples of the top sheet include a nonwoven fabric formed from hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose, rayon, and cotton; and a nonwoven fabric formed from hydrophobic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, and nylon. The surface of which is hydrophilized with a surfactant can be used. As the top sheet, a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, or a plastic film in which holes are formed may be used.

  As the back sheet, a nonwoven fabric formed from hydrophobic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, nylon, a plastic film, or the like can be used. Moreover, you may use the laminated body of a nonwoven fabric and a plastic film.

  When a nonwoven fabric is used as the material of each sheet described above, the nonwoven fabric is preferably manufactured by a spunbond method, an air-through method, a point bond method, a melt blow method, an airlaid method, or a combination of these methods. Moreover, you may use the nonwoven fabric manufactured by SMS method which combined the spun bond method and the melt blow method.

  As described above, when the absorbent article is provided in the crotch portion of the diaper main body formed of the laminate including the inner sheet and the outer sheet, the inner sheet is hydrophilic or liquid impermeable. Preferably, the outer sheet is liquid impermeable.

  The absorbent core is not particularly limited as long as it includes an absorbent material that can absorb excrement such as urine. As the absorbent core, for example, a molded body obtained by molding the absorbent material into a predetermined shape is used, or the absorbent material is covered with a sheet member such as a paper sheet (for example, tissue paper or thin paper) or a liquid-permeable nonwoven sheet. Can be used. Examples of the absorbent material contained in the absorbent core include hydrophilic fibers such as pulverized pulp fiber and cellulose fiber, and water-absorbent resins such as polyacrylic acid-based, polyaspartic acid-based, cellulose-based, starch and acrylonitrile-based resins. Etc. The water-absorbing material may include polyolefin fibers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester fibers such as PET, and heat-fusible fibers such as polyamide fibers. These heat-fusible fibers may be subjected to a hydrophilic treatment with a surfactant or the like in order to increase the affinity with body fluid such as urine.

  The absorbent material preferably contains hydrophilic fibers so that urine or the like can be rapidly absorbed. Moreover, it is preferable that an absorptive material contains a water absorbing resin in addition to a hydrophilic fiber from the point which raises the absorption capacity of an absorptive core. As the absorbent material, for example, it is preferable to use a material in which a water-absorbing resin is mixed or dispersed in an aggregate of hydrophilic fibers.

  The outer edge shape (planar shape) of the absorbent core is not particularly limited. What is necessary is just to determine the outer edge shape of an absorptive core suitably according to a use, for example, a substantially rectangular shape, an hourglass type, a gourd type, a battledore type etc. are mentioned.

  The absorbent core has an opening. The shape of the opening is not particularly limited as long as it penetrates the absorbent core in the thickness direction (vertical direction). In addition, since an absorbent article generally has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction, it is preferable that urine or the like is promoted to diffuse in the front-rear direction from the viewpoint of achieving rapid absorption of urine by the absorbent core. Therefore, it is preferable that the shape of the opening is longer in the front-rear direction than in the width direction of the absorbent article. As will be described later, a diffuser is provided in the opening, and basically the space of the opening is closed with the diffuser. However, the opening and the diffuser need not have the same shape.

  A diffuser made of a foamed polymer is provided in the opening of the absorbent core. The diffuser is provided so as to penetrate the absorbent core in the thickness direction. Since the foamed polymer has a large number of small voids therein, a part or all of urine or the like that has passed through the top sheet can diffuse through the voids through the voids. It is preferable that the diffuser is substantially composed only of a foamed polymer.

  The diffuser may be provided entirely in the opening of the absorbent core, part of which is provided in the opening of the absorbent core, and the other part overlaps the absorbent core (that is, the absorbent material constituting the absorbent core). It may be provided. The diffuser is preferably provided so as to be fitted into the opening of the absorbent core so as to substantially block the entire opening. In this case, it is not excluded that a slight gap is formed between the edge of the opening of the absorbent core and the diffuser.

  The foamed polymer is not particularly limited as long as the polymer is foam-molded. The foamed polymer is preferably one that can be elastically deformed under the handling conditions of general absorbent articles. For example, foamed urethane, foamed rubber, foamed polyester, and the like can be used.

  The shape of the diffuser is not particularly limited. The planar shape of the diffuser is preferably a shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than in the width direction of the absorbent article. In this case, it becomes easy to form the groove | channel extended in the front-back direction of an absorbent article so that it may mention later in a diffuser. Examples of the planar shape of the diffuser include a rectangle, a rectangle with rounded corners, a polygon, and an ellipse. In addition, the diffuser may be formed in a wide vicinity in the vicinity of the wearer's urination portion, or the rear end may be branched, for example, in order to promote diffusion in multiple directions in the diffuser. In addition, planar shape means the shape on the surface formed from the front-back direction and width direction of an absorbent article.

  The diffuser is preferably disposed on the absorbent core so that the vicinity of the wearer's urine portion faces when the absorbent article is worn. If the diffuser is provided in this way, a larger amount of urine or the like excreted from the wearer and passed through the top sheet can be received by the diffuser. Therefore, a larger amount of urine or the like diffuses through the diffuser and is quickly absorbed by the absorbent core.

  The diffuser has a relative position with respect to the front-rear direction of the absorbent core, where the front end is 0% and the rear end is 100%, and the front end of the diffuser is in the range of 10% to 35% (more preferably 15% It is preferable that the rear end of the diffuser is located in the range of 50% to 80% (more preferably in the range of 55% to 70%). If the front end of the diffuser is at a position of 35% or less from the front end of the absorbent core, when the absorbent article is worn, the diffuser can easily face the vicinity of the urination part of the wearer. If the rear end of the diffuser is located at 50% or more from the front end of the absorbent core, urine or the like diffuses the diffuser in the front-rear direction, and the urine easily reaches the rear portion of the absorbent core. It becomes like this. If the front end of the diffuser is at a position of 10% or more from the front end of the absorbent core, even if urine or the like diffuses to the front end of the diffuser, urine is suitably absorbed by the absorbent core and urine etc. Leakage in the front-rear direction is less likely to occur. If the rear end of the diffuser is at a position of 80% or less from the front end of the absorbent core, even if urine or the like diffuses to the rear end of the diffuser, the urine is suitably absorbed by the absorbent core. Leakage in the front-rear direction such as urine is less likely to occur, and the absorption capacity of the absorbent core can be increased.

  In the diffuser, a groove is formed on the back sheet side so as to extend to the rear side end of the diffuser in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article. Since the diffuser has a groove formed on the back sheet side, a space is formed in the groove portion, and urine or the like can diffuse through the space in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article. The space formed in the groove is larger than a large number of voids inside the foamed polymer. Therefore, urine etc. that passes through the top sheet and is accommodated in the diffuser passes through the foamed polymer of the diffuser and moves to the space formed by the groove, and in this space, urine etc. diffuses more quickly than in the foamed polymer. become able to. As a result, urine and the like are more diffuse in the front-rear direction, and urine and the like diffused in the groove space in the front-rear direction are quickly absorbed by the absorbent core.

  The groove may be formed in the diffuser so as to face a member (for example, a back sheet or a shape retaining sheet described later) disposed on the back sheet side of the diffuser. The groove is not formed so as to penetrate the diffuser in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the absorbent core. Therefore, the space formed by the groove is surrounded by the diffuser and the member disposed on the back sheet side of the diffuser. Specifically, in the space formed by the grooves, the upper side and side surfaces (side surfaces in the width direction) are covered with a diffuser, and the lower side is covered with a member disposed on the back sheet side of the diffuser. By covering the upper side and the side surface of the space formed by the groove with the diffuser, the space formed by the groove is easily held even when the absorbent article is pressed in the thickness direction or the width direction. Moreover, since the groove | channel does not penetrate to the top sheet side of a diffuser, the urine etc. which accumulated in the space of the groove become difficult to return to a top sheet, and the wearing feeling of an absorptive article improves.

  A groove | channel is formed in a diffuser so that it may extend in the front-back direction of an absorbent article. The planar shape of the groove is not particularly limited as long as it is a shape extending in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article. The groove preferably has a center line in the width direction extending substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the absorbent article in terms of enhancing the diffusibility of urine and the like in the front-rear direction. The cross-sectional shape of the groove is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a U shape, a V shape, and a rectangular shape.

  The groove extends in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article and extends to at least the rear end of the diffuser. Therefore, a larger amount of urine or the like that has moved into the groove space is diffused to the rear end of the diffuser and absorbed by the rear portion of the absorbent core. In general, the absorbent article is often formed so that the rear portion of the absorbent core in the front-rear direction has a large area. Therefore, if the groove extends at least to the rear end of the diffuser, urine or the like can be quickly discharged. It will be absorbed into the absorbent core.

  The length of the groove in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is preferably 40% or more of the length of the diffuser in the longitudinal direction, more preferably 60% or more, and further preferably 80% or more. There is no particular upper limit for the ratio of the length in the longitudinal direction of the groove to the length in the longitudinal direction of the diffuser. Therefore, the groove may extend to both the front end and the rear end of the diffuser.

  A plurality of grooves may be formed. In this case, it is preferable that the plurality of grooves are formed in parallel with the width direction of the absorbent article. However, in order to improve the diffusibility of urine or the like in the groove space, it is more effective to provide one wider groove than to provide a plurality of narrow grooves. Therefore, it is preferable that only one groove is formed in the diffuser.

  The width of the groove (length in the width direction) is not particularly limited as long as urine can diffuse in the groove space, but is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 8 mm or more, preferably 25 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less. If the width of the groove is 5 mm or more, urine and the like easily diffuse smoothly in the groove space. On the other hand, if the width of the groove exceeds 25 mm, the space formed by the groove becomes large, and the amount of absorbent material that can be provided in the absorbent core may be reduced. In this case, the absorbent capacity of the absorbent article is lowered and becomes inefficient. Moreover, when the width | variety of a groove | channel is too wide, when a load is applied to a diffuser with respect to the thickness direction of an absorbent article, there exists a possibility that the space formed by a groove | channel may be crushed. In this case, urine or the like may not easily diffuse in the groove space.

  The height of the groove (length in the thickness direction of the absorbent article) is not particularly limited as long as urine can diffuse in the groove space, but is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, preferably 20 mm or less, and 15 mm or less. Is more preferable. If the height of the groove is 3 mm or more, urine and the like are likely to diffuse smoothly in the groove space. On the other hand, if the height of the groove exceeds 20 mm, the thickness of the diffuser located on the upper side of the groove becomes thin, and urine or the like accumulated in the space of the groove may return to the top sheet.

  The preferable length, width, and height of the groove described above are based on the state in which the diffuser is provided in the opening of the absorbent core. Therefore, in order to measure dimensions such as the length, width, and height of the groove, a member (for example, a back sheet or a shape retaining sheet to be described later) disposed on the back sheet side of the diffuser is used only for the portion overlapping the groove. Remove and measure the dimensions of the groove. In addition, the preferable length, width, and height of the above-described groove are based on a state in which the elastic member is stretched and the absorbent article is completely expanded when the elastic member is disposed on the absorbent article.

  It is preferable that a part or all of the side surfaces of the diffuser that intersect with the width direction of the absorbent article are liquid-impermeable. In this way, if a part of the side surface of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, urine or the like contained in the diffuser preferentially diffuses in the front-rear direction through the interior of the diffuser or the groove space. It becomes easy to do. Further, urine or the like hardly crosses the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser and moves to the absorbent core, and side leakage of urine or the like in the width direction is less likely to occur. In the present invention, the side surface of the diffuser that intersects the width direction of the absorbent article may be referred to as the side surface of the diffuser in the width direction.

  When a part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser has a larger area of the liquid-impermeable portion in the lower half than in the upper half. Is preferred. In this case, in the lower part of the diffuser where urine or the like tends to accumulate, it becomes difficult for urine or the like to move to the absorbent core beyond the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser. It becomes easy to diffuse in the front-rear direction through. And when urine accumulates to the upper part of a diffuser, urine etc. will pass the side surface of the diffuser in the width direction easily, and will transfer to an absorptive core, and it is prevented that urine etc. overflow with a diffuser.

  When a part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is preferably formed to be liquid-impermeable as follows. That is, when the diffuser is divided into a front part, a rear part, and an intermediate part located therebetween in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article, the front part and / or the rear part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is It may not be liquid-impermeable (that is, the front portion and / or the rear portion of the side surface may be liquid-permeable). If the front part and / or the rear part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser are not liquid-impermeable, urine or the like easily moves from the diffuser to the absorbent core at the front part or rear part of the diffuser. Etc. are quickly absorbed into the absorbent core.

  When a part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is not particularly liquid-impermeable in the rear part (that is, the rear part is liquid-permeable). Are preferred). Absorbent articles are generally formed so that the rear part of the absorbent core has a large area. Therefore, if the rear part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is not liquid-impermeable, A larger amount is easily transferred to the rear portion of the absorbent core, and urine and the like are quickly absorbed into the absorbent core.

  When the rear part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is not liquid-impermeable, the length in the front-rear direction of the rear part that is not liquid-impermeable may be 3% or more of the length in the front-rear direction of the diffuser. Preferably, it is 5% or more, more preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 30% or less. Moreover, when the front part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is not liquid-impermeable, the length of the front part that does not become liquid-impermeable is 3% or more of the length of the diffuser in the front-rear direction. Is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 30% or less, and even more preferably 20% or less.

  When a part of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser is formed to be liquid-impermeable, the liquid-impermeable portion and the liquid-permeable portion may be mixed. For example, the liquid-impermeable portion may be surrounded by the liquid-permeable portion, or the liquid-permeable portion may be surrounded by the liquid-impermeable portion. Moreover, a liquid-impermeable part and a liquid-permeable part may be provided alternately. The side surface in the width direction of the diffuser can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the ratio of the liquid-permeable part and the liquid-impermeable part, so that urine etc. diffuses well in the front-rear direction through the groove of the diffuser. It is possible to adjust so as not to overflow from the diffuser.

  The method for forming part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser in a liquid-impermeable manner is not particularly limited. For example, what is necessary is just to form the heated part liquid-impermeable by heating a part or all of the side surface of the width direction of the foaming polymer which comprises a diffuser.

  Instead of forming part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser to be liquid-impermeable, a liquid-impermeable layer may be provided on part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser. The liquid-impermeable layer may be provided, for example, by applying a paint or a hot melt adhesive on the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser, or a liquid-impermeable sheet is attached to the side surface in the width direction of the diffuser. May be provided.

  It is preferable that a part or all of the side surface of the groove that intersects the width direction of the absorbent article is liquid-impermeable. In this way, if a part of the groove is formed to be liquid-impermeable, urine or the like that has moved into the space formed by the groove is not absorbed again by the diffuser, and the absorbent article in the front-rear direction It becomes easy to diffuse. Further, lateral leakage of urine or the like in the width direction is less likely to occur. In the present invention, the side surface of the groove that intersects the width direction of the absorbent article may be referred to as the side surface of the groove in the width direction.

  It is preferable that part or all of the region from the lower end of the side surface to a predetermined height is formed to be liquid-impermeable on the side surface in the width direction of the groove. Thus, if the side surface in the width direction of the groove is formed to be liquid-impermeable, diffusion of urine or the like in the front-rear direction is promoted in the groove space. Specifically, when the height of the groove is H, a part of a region having a height within 0.6H (more preferably, a height within 0.5H) from the lower end of the side surface in the width direction of the groove or All are formed in a liquid-impermeable manner, and the groove is not formed in a liquid-impermeable manner in a region exceeding 0.6H (more preferably a region exceeding 0.5H) from the lower end of the side surface. That is, the upper surface of the groove is preferably liquid permeable. In addition, the upper surface of a groove | channel and the lower end of the side surface of a groove | channel are based on the state in which the top sheet of an absorbent article exists in the upper side, ie, the state where the groove | channel (opening of the groove | channel) of the diffuser faced down.

  The method for forming part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the groove to be liquid-impermeable is not particularly limited. For example, what is necessary is just to form the heated part liquid imperviously by heating a part or all of the surface of the foaming polymer located in the side surface of the width direction of a groove | channel.

  Instead of forming part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the groove to be liquid-impermeable, a liquid-impermeable layer may be provided on part or all of the side surface in the width direction of the groove. The liquid impervious layer may be provided, for example, by applying a paint or a hot melt adhesive on the side surface in the width direction of the groove, or by attaching a liquid impermeable sheet on the side surface in the width direction of the groove. It may be provided.

  The absorbent article is preferably provided with crepe paper or spunlace nonwoven fabric as a shape-retaining sheet between the back sheet and the diffuser. Since the crepe paper has a large number of fine wrinkles formed on the surface thereof, the crepe paper is formed to be bulky as compared with ordinary paper having no wrinkles. The spunlace nonwoven fabric is also formed to be relatively bulky because the fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric are intertwined. Therefore, by providing the absorbent article with a shape-retaining sheet made of crepe paper or spunlace nonwoven fabric, rigidity is imparted to the absorbent article and the absorbent article is easily held in a predetermined shape.

  Furthermore, if a shape-retaining sheet made of crepe paper or spunlace nonwoven fabric is provided between the back sheet and the diffuser, urine or the like that has migrated to the lower side of the diffuser can be diffused by the shape-retained sheet. That is, urine and the like can diffuse through the gap between the crepe paper and the diffuser and the fiber gap constituting the spunlace nonwoven fabric. Accordingly, urine and the like are absorbed into the absorbent core more quickly.

  In the absorbent article of the present invention, an opening is formed in the absorbent core, and a diffuser made of a foamed polymer is provided in the opening. Therefore, the absorbent capacity of the absorbent core is reduced by the amount of the opening, and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent article as a whole may be insufficient. In such a case, it is preferable to provide a sheet-like absorbent layer having a water-absorbing resin between the nonwoven fabric sheets and having no pulp fibers between the top sheet and the absorbent core. Since the sheet-like absorbent layer has a water absorbent resin between the nonwoven fabric sheets, a high absorption capacity can be realized. Therefore, the absorption capacity of the absorbent article can be increased by providing a sheet-like absorbent layer between the top sheet and the absorbent core. Moreover, since a sheet-like absorption layer does not have a pulp fiber between nonwoven fabric sheets, it can be formed thinly without being bulky. Furthermore, since the sheet-like absorbent layer has a water-absorbing resin between the nonwoven fabric sheets and does not have pulp fibers, the surface is maintained in a relatively dry state even when urine is absorbed. Therefore, by providing a sheet-like absorbent layer between the top sheet and the absorbent core, urine and the like are unlikely to return from the absorbent core to the top sheet, and the wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be improved.

  The sheet-like absorbent layer is preferably provided on both sides in the width direction with respect to the diffuser. Since the width of the absorbent core (the length in the width direction between the outer edge of the absorbent core and the opening) is formed narrow on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser, the absorption capacity of urine and the like in that portion is reduced. In addition, there is a risk of side leakage of urine or the like in the width direction. However, if the sheet-like absorbent layer is provided on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser, urine or the like that has not been absorbed by the absorbent core at that portion is absorbed by the sheet-like absorbent layer, and side leakage of urine or the like is prevented. It becomes like this. Further, once the sheet-like absorbent layer absorbs urine or the like, the water-absorbing resin swells and it becomes difficult to pass urine or the like. Therefore, after the sheet-like absorbent layer absorbs urine etc., even if the absorbent core cannot accommodate urine etc. at both sides in the width direction of the diffuser, Or the like is difficult to return to the top sheet over the sheet-like absorbent layer, and urine or the like is easily diffused in the front-rear direction at the portion, thereby preventing side leakage of urine or the like. The sheet-like absorbent layer may be further provided on one or both of the front and rear directions with respect to the diffuser.

  When the sheet-like absorbent layer is provided on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser, the sheet-like absorbent layer may be provided so as to overlap a part of the diffuser, but may not be provided so as to overlap the entire diffuser. preferable. If the sheet-like absorbent layer is provided so as to overlap the entire diffuser, urine or the like that has passed through the top sheet becomes difficult to be accommodated in the diffuser, and the diffusibility of absorbent articles such as urine in the front-rear direction may be reduced. Because there is. More preferably, the sheet-like absorbent layer is provided so as not to overlap the diffuser.

  As the water-absorbing resin disposed in the sheet-like absorbent layer, it is preferable to use a polyacrylic acid-based water-absorbing resin such as sodium polyacrylate in terms of having a high absorption capacity.

  The nonwoven fabric sheet used for the sheet-like absorbent layer is liquid permeable. Examples of such a nonwoven fabric sheet include hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose, rayon, and cotton; and hydrophobic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and polyamide. What has been made hydrophilic with a surfactant may be used.

  The sheet-like absorbent layer is formed, for example, by placing a water-absorbing resin between two nonwoven fabric sheets composed of an upper nonwoven fabric sheet on the top sheet side and a lower nonwoven fabric sheet on the back sheet side. In this case, each of the upper nonwoven fabric sheet and the lower nonwoven fabric sheet may be composed of a single nonwoven fabric sheet, or two or more nonwoven fabric sheets may be overlapped. Further, the upper nonwoven fabric sheet and the lower nonwoven fabric sheet may be formed by folding one nonwoven fabric sheet with a fold, with one side being the upper nonwoven fabric sheet and the other side being the lower nonwoven fabric sheet. In this case, an absorptive resin is arranged on the inner side where one nonwoven fabric sheet is folded.

  The sheet-like absorbent layer has a water-absorbing resin-existing region in which a water-absorbing resin is arranged between the nonwoven fabric sheets, and a water-absorbing resin non-existing region adjacent to the water-absorbing resin existing region. It is preferable that the nonwoven fabric sheets are joined in the region. Even if the sheet-like absorbent layer absorbs water, it is preferable that the bonding between the nonwoven fabric sheets is maintained in the water-absorbing resin-free region. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric sheets are bonded by heat fusion, ultrasonic fusion, or rubber-based adhesion. It is preferable to join with an adhesive such as an agent or a styrene-based elastomer. If such a joining means is used, even if the water absorbent resin absorbs water and swells, the joining of the nonwoven fabric sheets is easily maintained. When a rubber adhesive or styrene elastomer is used as the adhesive, examples of the rubber adhesive include natural rubber, butyl rubber, polyisoprene, and the like. Examples of the styrene elastomer include styrene. -Isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS), styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer Examples include coalescence (SEPS).

  It is preferable that the water absorbent resin existing region and the water absorbent resin non-existing region are provided in a substantially rectangular shape having a length substantially equal to the length in the front-rear direction of the sheet-like absorbent layer. If the water absorbent resin existing area and the water absorbent resin nonexistent area are thus provided, the water absorbent resin existing area and the water absorbent resin nonexistent area are dispersed by continuously spraying the water absorbent resin in one direction with a predetermined width. Since it can form, manufacture of a sheet-like absorption layer becomes easy.

  The top sheet is preferably embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and joined directly or indirectly to the absorbent core. Since the diffuser is made of a material different from that of the absorbent core, when the absorbent article is deformed, a gap is generated between the diffuser and the absorbent core, so that the diffuser protrudes from the absorbent core opening. There is a risk of doing so. Therefore, in order to prevent the diffuser from trying to protrude from the opening of the absorbent core, the top sheet is preferably embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and joined to the absorbent core.

  When the top sheet and the absorbent core are provided adjacent to each other, it is preferable that the top sheet is embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and directly joined to the absorbent core. When a sheet-like absorbent layer is provided between the top sheet and the absorbent core, the top sheet must be embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and indirectly joined to the absorbent core. Is preferred. In any case, it is preferable that the top sheet and the absorbent core are joined to each other at a portion pressed by embossing.

  The embossed portion of the top sheet and the absorbent core may be fused or may not be fused. In the former case, for example, the top sheet is fused with the absorbent core by being heat embossed or ultrasonically embossed in a state of being superimposed on the absorbent core. In the latter case, for example, the top sheet is bonded to the absorbent core with an adhesive, and further embossed in this state, whereby the bonding force of the adhesive is reinforced at the embossed portion. In any case, another sheet member such as a sheet-like absorbent layer may be interposed between the top sheet and the absorbent core.

  When joining a top sheet and an absorptive core with an adhesive agent, it is preferred that an adhesive layer (layer formed with an adhesive agent) is formed in a net shape. If the adhesive layer is formed in this way, a void through which urine or the like is passed is formed in the adhesive layer in the unembossed portion, and urine or the like can pass through the void. On the other hand, in the embossed portion, the top sheet and the absorbent core are firmly bonded directly or indirectly, and the diffusion body is prevented from trying to protrude from the opening of the absorbent core. As a method of forming the adhesive layer in a net shape, an adhesive coating method such as a spiral coating method, a curtain spray method, or an omega coating method may be used.

  When the top sheet is embossed and joined to the absorbent core, it is preferable that the top sheet is less embossed as long as the diffuser is prevented from protruding from the opening of the absorbent core. This is because the permeability of the top sheet such as urine may be reduced at the portion where the top sheet is embossed. Therefore, it is preferable that the top sheet is entirely embossed and not joined to the absorbent core. In particular, it is preferable that the top sheet is not joined to the diffuser by being embossed at a portion overlapping the diffuser.

  The absorbent article may be provided with rising flaps on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent core. The rising flaps may be provided, for example, on the upper side of the absorbent core, along both side edges of the absorbent core, or on both outer sides in the width direction of the absorbent core. The rising flap is bonded to, for example, the top sheet, the back sheet folded back on the top sheet, or both the top sheet and the back sheet. By providing the rising flap, side leakage of urine or the like can be prevented. The rising flaps may be formed by raising the inner ends of the side sheets provided on both sides of the top sheet in the width direction. The rising flap and the side sheet are preferably liquid-impermeable.

  An example of the embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1: represents the partially cutaway view which looked at the urine pad as an absorbent article from the top sheet side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the absorbent article in FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the diffuser of the absorbent article in FIG. 1 as viewed from the top sheet side, and FIG. 3B shows the diffuser of the absorbent article in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back sheet side. FIG. In the drawings of the present application, the arrow x represents the width direction, the arrow y represents the front-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the surface formed by the arrows x and y represents the thickness direction z.

  The absorbent article 1 has a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, and an absorbent core 4 provided therebetween, and has a front-rear direction y and a width direction x. The top sheet 2 is disposed so as to face the wearer's skin, and allows excretion such as urine to pass through. The excrement passing through the top sheet 2 is accommodated by the absorbent core 4. The back sheet 3 prevents excrement from leaking outside.

  Side sheets 13 extending in the front-rear direction y are joined to both ends of the top sheet 2 in the width direction x (FIGS. 1 and 2). The side sheet 13 is composed of a liquid-impermeable plastic film, a liquid-impermeable nonwoven fabric, or the like. The side seat 13 is provided with a standing elastic member 15 at the inner end in the width direction x. The side sheet 13 rises toward the wearer's skin due to the contraction force of the standing elastic member 15, thereby forming a rising flap 14, and lateral leakage in the width direction x such as urine is caused. Is prevented. The inner surface of the front and rear end portions of the rising flap 14 may be joined to the top sheet 2, thereby preventing leakage of urine or the like in the front-rear direction y.

  The absorbent core 4 has an opening, and a diffuser 5 made of a foamed polymer is provided in the opening. In the absorbent article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped diffuser 5 is provided. In the diffuser 5, a groove 6 extending to the rear side end of the diffuser 5 in the front-rear direction y is formed on the backsheet 3 side. In FIG. 3, the right side of the figure corresponds to the rear side of the absorbent article. 3A, the lower surface of the diffuser 5 represents the back sheet side, and in FIG. 3B, the upper surface of the diffuser 5 represents the back sheet side. Urine or the like that has passed through the top sheet 2 and is accommodated in the diffuser 5 passes through the foamed polymer of the diffuser 5 and moves to the space formed by the groove 6, and quickly diffuses in the front-rear direction y in the space of the groove 6. it can. As a result, urine or the like is quickly absorbed by the absorbent core 4 beyond the rear end of the diffuser 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the absorbent article 1, the liquid impermeable layer 7 is provided on a part of the side surface that intersects the width direction x of the diffuser 5. The groove 6 is also provided with a liquid-impermeable layer 8 on a part of the side surface that intersects the width direction x. If the liquid-impermeable layers 7 and 8 are thus provided, the diffusibility of the urine or the like in the front-rear direction y is enhanced in the space of the diffuser 5 and the groove 6.

  A shape-retaining sheet 9 made of crepe paper or spunlace nonwoven fabric is provided between the back sheet 3 and the diffuser 5. If the shape-retaining sheet 9 is provided in this way, the shape-retaining property of the absorbent article 1 is improved, and urine or the like that has migrated to the lower side of the diffuser 5 is diffused by the shape-retaining sheet 9 so that the urine and the like further The absorbent core 4 is quickly absorbed.

  Another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 and 5 show an absorbent article in which a sheet-like absorbent layer 10 is provided between the absorbent core 4 and the top sheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a partially cutaway view of a urine pad as an absorbent article as seen from the top sheet side. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the absorbent article in FIG. In the following description, the description of the part which overlaps with the embodiment of FIGS.

  The absorbent article 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a sheet-like absorbent layer 10 having a water absorbent resin 11 between the nonwoven fabric sheets 12 and 12 between the absorbent core 4 and the top sheet 2 and no pulp fibers. Is provided. The sheet-like absorbent layer 10 is provided on both sides of the diffuser 5 in the width direction x. By providing the sheet-like absorbent layer 10 in this manner, the absorption capacity of the absorbent article 1 is increased. Further, by providing the sheet-like absorbent layer 10 on both sides of the diffuser 5 in the width direction x, side leakage of urine or the like in the width direction x is prevented.

1: Absorbent article (urine pad)
2: Top sheet 3: Back sheet 4: Absorbent core 5: Diffuser 6: Groove 9: Shape retaining sheet

Claims (6)

The absorbent article has a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent core provided therebetween, and has a front-rear direction and a width direction,
The absorbent core has an opening, and the opening is provided with a diffuser made of a foamed polymer,
The said diffuser is formed with a groove extending on the backsheet side in the front-rear direction to the rear end of the diffuser.   In the diffuser, a part or all of the side surface intersecting with the width direction is formed to be liquid-impermeable, or a part or all of the side surface intersecting with the width direction is provided with a liquid-impermeable layer. The absorbent article according to claim 1.   The groove is formed such that a part or all of the side surface intersecting the width direction is liquid-impermeable, or a part or all of the side surface intersecting the width direction is provided with a liquid-impermeable layer. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.   The absorptivity according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top sheet is embossed on both sides in the width direction of the diffuser and directly or indirectly joined to the absorbent core. Goods.   Between the said top sheet and the said absorptive core, the sheet-like absorption layer which has a water absorbing resin between nonwoven fabric sheets and does not have a pulp fiber is provided in the both sides of the said width direction of the said diffuser. The absorbent article as described in any one of 1-4.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a crepe paper or a spunlace nonwoven fabric is provided as a shape-retaining sheet between the back sheet and the diffuser.

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