JP2013123513A - Apparatus for manufacturing absorber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing an absorber, capable of securely removing absorber raw materials remaining in a suction accumulating part after transfer; and to provide a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: The apparatus 1 for manufacturing the absorber includes a rotary drum 2 with the suction accumulation part 22 for sucking and accumulating the absorber raw materials on the outer peripheral surface. The apparatus 1 is configured to feed the absorber raw materials onto the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2 while rotating the rotary drum in one direction to accumulate the raw materials on the suction accumulation part 22, separate the accumulated substance from the suction accumulation part 22 thereafter, and transfer the separated accumulated substance onto a conveying part 4. The apparatus 1 also includes a cleaning blow device 30, disposed inside the rotary drum 2, for removing the absorber raw materials remaining in the suction accumulation part 22 after the transfer by blowing air outward from inside of the rotary drum 2. The cleaning blow device 30 includes a plurality of nozzles 32 along the lateral direction of the rotary drum 2 for blowing air.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an absorbent body manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus used for various absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins.

  In the manufacture of absorbents used in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinence pads, the raw materials of the absorbents supplied in an air stream (for example, fiber materials such as defibrated pulp and water-absorbing polymers) Is sucked and deposited on a concave suction deposition portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and the deposit formed in a shape corresponding to the suction deposition portion is transferred to a conveyor or the like. . The bottom of the suction deposition part is formed of a breathable member. During suction deposition, the raw material of the absorber is sucked by the air flow from the outside of the rotating drum to the inside through the breathable member. Deposit on the deposit. The material of the absorber is deposited again on the suction deposition portion that is emptied by transferring the deposit. At that time, if the absorber material that could not be transferred to the conveyor remains at the bottom of the suction deposition unit, the remaining material hinders the air permeability of the bottom of the suction deposition unit and newly enters the suction deposition unit. It may affect the shape of the deposit that is deposited and transferred.

  As a technique for removing the raw material remaining in the suction deposition portion of the rotating drum, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, the constituent material that has not been delivered after delivering the deposit from the suction drum to the recovery device, There is known a method of removing air by blowing air outward from the inside of the drum in a cleaning blow area provided on the drum.

JP 2006-340940 A

  Patent Document 1 does not describe a specific shape of the air blow device provided in the cleaning blow region. However, in consideration of the conventional technology in the technical field, it is considered that a single nozzle is used when air is blown from the inside of the drum to the suction deposition portion on the outer peripheral surface of the drum. However, when cleaning blow is performed with a single nozzle, the nozzle outlet must be formed to have a certain length in this direction in accordance with the width of the suction deposition portion in the width direction of the rotating drum. First, when air is blown onto the back surface of the suction deposition portion in a planar or linear manner by such a nozzle, the air volume tends to be small at both ends of the suction deposition portion in the width direction, and cleaning of the end portion is difficult. It may become insufficient. If the pressure of the air supplied to the nozzle and the air volume are increased, the air volume blown to the end portion also increases. However, in that case, the apparatus may be increased in size or the manufacturing cost may be increased.

  Therefore, the subject of this invention is providing the manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing apparatus of an absorber which can eliminate the fault which the prior art mentioned above has.

The present invention includes a rotating drum having a suction deposition portion on the outer peripheral surface for sucking and depositing the absorber raw material, and supplying the absorber raw material to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum while rotating the rotating drum in one direction. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body configured to cause the deposit to be released from the suction deposition unit and transferred onto a transport unit after being deposited on the suction deposition unit,
A cleaning blow device for removing the absorbent material remaining in the suction deposition portion after the transfer by blowing air from the inside of the rotating drum to the outside is provided inside the rotating drum,
The said cleaning blow apparatus solves the said subject by providing the manufacturing apparatus of the absorber provided with the several nozzle for spraying the said air along the width direction of the said rotating drum.

The present invention also provides a deposition step in which the absorbent material supplied in an air flow is sucked into a suction deposition section provided on the outer peripheral surface of a rotating drum that rotates in one direction and deposited in the suction deposition section, the suction deposition A transfer step of transferring deposits in the unit onto the conveying unit, and a cleaning step of removing the absorber raw material remaining in the suction deposition unit after transfer by blowing air from the inside of the rotating drum to the outside. A manufacturing method of an absorbent body comprising:
In the cleaning step, there is provided an absorbent body manufacturing method in which the air is blown by a plurality of cleaning blow nozzles arranged inside the rotary drum along the width direction of the rotary drum.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the absorber manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing apparatus which can remove effectively the absorber raw material which remained in the suction deposition part after transcription | transfer, without making the pressure and air volume of the air supplied to a nozzle high. Provided.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a structure of an embodiment of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the rotating drum in the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing a cleaning blower installed in a rotating drum in the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are schematic views showing another embodiment of the cleaning blow device used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views showing still another embodiment of the cleaning blow apparatus used in the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing still another embodiment of a cleaning blow apparatus used in the absorbent body manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing still another embodiment of a cleaning air blowing device used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic views showing another example of the suction deposition unit used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing still another example of the suction deposition unit used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic views showing still another example of the suction deposition portion used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing still another example of a suction deposition unit used in the absorber manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an absorbent body manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a rotating drum 2 that is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R 1, a duct 3 that supplies the raw material of the absorber to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 2, and a lower portion of the rotating drum 2. An air-permeable conveyor belt 4 is provided. The conveyor belt 4 runs in the direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. The conveyor belt 4 is a transport unit for transporting the intended absorber in the direction of arrow R2.

  The duct 3 conveys the fiber material 6 supplied from the defibrator 5 to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2 by conveying it in an air flow. The defibrator 5 is for defibrating a fiber material 6 such as pulp. The fiber material 6 is supplied to the defibrator 5 by a lattice 7. A tubular polymer shooter 8 is attached in the middle of the duct 4. The polymer shooter 8 is for supplying the particles into the duct 3 from a reservoir (not shown) of superabsorbent polymer particles. The superabsorbent polymer particles supplied into the duct 3 are mixed with the fiber material conveyed in the air flow, and supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 2 together with the fiber material.

  The rotating drum 2 has a cylindrical shape and rotates around a horizontal axis by receiving power from a driving source (not shown) such as a motor. The rotary drum 2 has a suction deposition portion 22 that sucks and deposits the raw material of the absorber on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The suction accumulation portion 22 is a portion that is recessed in a concave shape from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2 toward the inside. The suction accumulation unit 22 is formed along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2, and proceeds in one direction indicated by R <b> 1 in the drawing as the rotary drum 2 rotates.

  FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the main part of the rotating drum 2. The bottom of the suction deposition part 22 of the rotary drum 2 is formed by a porous plate 26 made of a porous material. A plurality of vertical rails 22 a extending along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2 are arranged in the suction accumulation unit 22. At the same time, a plurality of horizontal rails 22 b extending in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 are arranged in the suction accumulation unit 22. As a result, a lattice defined by the vertical bars 22a and the horizontal bars 22b is formed in the suction deposition portion 22. A rectangular region in plan view defined by the pair of opposed vertical bars 22 a and the pair of opposed horizontal bars 22 b is a concave part 23, and the bottom part of the concave part 23 is a ventilation part made of a porous plate 26. 29a (see FIG. 3). Absorber material is deposited on each recess 23, that is, on each ventilation portion 29a. A plurality of the recesses 23 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2 to form a recess row. The recess rows are arranged in multiple rows along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. Further, the portion where the vertical rail 22a and the horizontal rail 22b are arranged on the porous plate 26 and has no air permeability is a non-venting portion 29b (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the suction depositing part 22 has a plurality of ventilation parts 29a and a plurality of non-venting parts 29b located between the ventilation parts 29a along the width direction of the rotary drum 2.

  With continued reference to FIG. 2, the rotary drum 2 is disposed so as to overlap the pattern forming plate 27, the above-described porous plate 26 disposed on the inner surface side of the pattern forming plate 27, and the inner surface side of the porous plate 26. And a frame body 25 made of a metal rigid body. The porous plate 26 and the pattern forming plate 27 are detachably attached to the frame body 25 by known fixing means such as bolts. If necessary, ring members (not shown) extending in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2 may be disposed on both left and right side portions on the outer surface side of the pattern forming plate 27. The pattern forming plate 27 can be sandwiched and fixed between the ring member and the frame body 25. In the present specification, the inner surface of the constituent member of the rotating drum 2 refers to a surface facing the center of the rotating drum 2.

  The pattern forming plate 27 has a pair of annular rims 27a. The diameter of the rim 27a is the same. The pair of rims 27a are disposed to face each other at a predetermined interval so that the center positions of the annular rings coincide. The upper surface of the rim 27 a forms the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2. The plurality of vertical bars 22a and the plurality of horizontal bars 22b described above are disposed between the pair of rims 27a. Each end of the horizontal rail 22b is connected to each rim 27a. The vertical rail 22a is formed in an annular shape by connecting both ends. The vertical cross-sectional shape of the vertical beam 22a and the horizontal beam 22b, that is, the shape of the cross section cut along the radial direction of the rotary drum 2 is, for example, rectangular. However, the longitudinal cross-sectional shape is not limited to this. The height of the vertical beam 22a and the horizontal beam 22b, that is, the length along the radial direction of the rotary drum 2 is the same. However, depending on the shape of the intended absorber, the vertical beam 22a may be higher than the horizontal beam 22b, and conversely, the horizontal beam 22b may be higher than the vertical beam 22a. It has also become. The absorber material can be deposited up to the position of the upper surface of the rim 27a. The positions of the upper surfaces of the vertical rails 22a and 22b are made lower than the positions of the upper surfaces of the rims 27a, and the positions of the upper surfaces of the rims 27a and the upper surfaces of the vertical rails 22a and 22b are the same height. The aforementioned ring member (not shown) may be attached to the outer surface side of the rim 27a, and the upper surface of the ring member may be the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2.

  The porous plate 26 is made of a porous material having a large number of pores, and can transmit only air without transmitting the absorber raw material supplied on the air flow. As the porous plate 26, those conventionally used in this type of fiber stacking apparatus can be used without particular limitation. For example, a metal or resin mesh plate or a metal or resin plate formed with a large number of pores by etching or punching can be used.

  The frame body 25 has a pair of ring-shaped frame members 25a and 25a. Each ring-shaped frame member 25a has an annular shape and the same diameter. The ring-shaped frame members 25a are arranged to face each other with a predetermined interval so that the center positions of the circular rings coincide. The frame body 25 also has a plurality of horizontal members 25b arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the ring-shaped member 25a. The horizontal member 25b is hung between the ring-shaped frame members 25a so as to connect the pair of ring-shaped frame members 25a and 25a.

  Returning to FIG. 1 again, in the inside (rotation shaft side) of the rotating drum 2, spaces 2A, 2B, which are partitioned from each other by partition plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d extending in the radial direction of the rotating drum 2, 2C and 2D are formed. The space 2 </ b> A mainly corresponds to a portion covered by the duct 3 in the suction accumulation portion 22 in the rotary drum 2. The space 2B is located downstream of the space 2A in the rotation direction of the rotary drum 2. The space 2B corresponds to a site before the deposit accumulated in the suction deposition unit 22 is transferred to the conveyor belt 4 as the conveyance unit. The space 2 </ b> C corresponds to a portion between before and after the deposit accumulated in the suction deposition unit 22 is transferred to the conveyor belt 4. The space 2 </ b> D corresponds to a portion from when the deposit is transferred to the conveyor belt 4 to when a new raw material is deposited on the suction deposition portion 22 of the rotary drum 2. In the rotary drum 2, the outer peripheral surface 21 including the suction deposition portion 22 described above, specifically, the pattern forming plate 27, the porous plate 26, and the frame body 25 described above receive power from a drive source (not shown). Receiving and rotating in the circumferential direction. However, the partition plates 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d located in the rotary drum 2 are arranged so as not to rotate. Accordingly, the spaces 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D defined by these partition plates do not rotate, and these spaces maintain a fixed position regardless of the rotation of the rotating drum 2. Moreover, the rotating drum 2 is sealed with a side plate 24 (see FIG. 3A) at one end and the other end in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. The side plate 24 does not rotate with the rotating drum 2.

  The space 2A is connected to a known exhaust device (not shown) such as an intake fan. By operating the exhaust device during operation of the device 1, the space 2A is maintained at a negative pressure by suction. It is preferable that the space 2B adjacent to the space 2A is not sucked or sucked with a suction force weaker than the suction force of the space 2A even if it is sucked. If the space 2B is sucked with the same suction force as the space 2A, transfer failure may occur due to the influence of the residual pressure when transferring the deposit of the absorber material formed in the suction deposition portion 22. For this reason, a space 2B is provided between the space 2A and the space 2C separately from the space 2A. A release air blow device (not shown) is installed in the space 2C. The release air blow device is used for releasing the deposit of the absorbent material formed in the suction deposition section 22 by blowing air and transferring it to the conveyor belt 4. In the space 2D, a cleaning blow device 30 whose details are shown in FIG. 3 is installed. In both the spaces 2C and 2D, suction from the outside toward the inside of the rotary drum 2 is not performed. The release air blow device and the cleaning blow device 30 are connected to an air source (not shown). Each of the air blowing ports in the release air blow device and the cleaning blow device 30 is a position close to the surface facing the center of the rotating drum 2, that is, the inner surface, of the two surfaces of the porous plate 26 in the rotating drum 2. In FIG. 2, the opening is opened so as to face the inner surface. The air supplied from the air source to the release air blow device and the cleaning blow device 30 is blown outward from the inside of the rotary drum 2 through the porous plate 26 in the suction deposition portion 22 of the rotary drum 2. It has become.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B show a cleaning blow device 30 </ b> A installed in the space 2 </ b> D in the rotary drum 2. FIG. 3A shows a state where the rotary drum 2 is cut along the width direction. FIG. 3B shows the cleaning blower 30A shown in FIG. ) Viewed from below, and the horizontal direction of the figure coincides with the width direction of the rotary drum 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> A includes a plurality of nozzles 32 having branched air outlets along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The provision along the width direction means that nozzles exist in the width direction, and the nozzles are not necessarily arranged on the same straight line. In the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> A shown in FIG. 3, the nozzles 32 are arranged on the same straight line along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The cleaning blow device 30A supplies air to a plurality of nozzles 32 branched from the conduit 31 through a single conduit 31 connected to an air source (not shown). The cleaning blow device 30 </ b> A is configured such that air is blown in a dot array along the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the space 2 </ b> D of the rotary drum 2.

  The nozzles 32 are arranged so as to blow air individually to each of a plurality of ventilation portions 29 a arranged along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. That is, one or two or more nozzles 32 are arranged to correspond to one ventilation portion 29a. In FIG. 3A, one nozzle 32 is arranged so as to correspond to one ventilation part 29a. Therefore, when the apparatus 1 is in operation, the air blown from one nozzle 32 is blown to one ventilation portion 29 a through the porous plate 26. Therefore, the width of each nozzle 32 is substantially equal to or smaller than the width of each ventilation portion 29a. Although not shown, the length of the nozzle 32 along the rotation direction of the rotary drum 2 may be longer or shorter than the length of the ventilation portion 29a along the same direction. Here, the width and length of the ventilation portion 29a are substantially equal to the width and length of the recess 23, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the cleaning blow apparatus 30 </ b> A, all of the plurality of nozzles 32 are branched from the same end 31 a of the conduit 31. The plurality of nozzles 32 have the same cylindrical shape, but the shape of the nozzles 32 is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of nozzles 32 are arranged in a straight line along the width direction of the rotary drum 2, and each of the plurality of nozzles 32 faces the direction in which the conduit 31 faces. The angle between the directions is different. Here, the direction in which the nozzle 32 faces is the direction from the branch point 32b from the conduit 31 in the nozzle 32 toward the jet port 32a, and the direction in which the conduit 31 faces is the direction in which the end portion 31a of the conduit 31 on the nozzle 32 side faces. And is radially outward of the rotating drum 2. Specifically, among the plurality of nozzles 32, the nozzle 32 c located at the center in the width direction of the rotating drum 2 faces the same direction as the conduit 31. In the width direction of the rotary drum 2, the angle between the direction of the nozzle 32 and the direction in which the conduit 31 faces increases as the nozzle 32 is spaced from the nozzle 32 c. As a result, the distance L between the ejection port 32a of each nozzle 32 and the back surface of the suction depositing unit 22 is the smallest in the nozzle 32c located in the center, and the distance L between the nozzles 32 located outward in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 is smaller. Is getting bigger. The back surface of the suction deposition part 22 is the inner surface of the porous plate 26.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 has a vacuum means 50 that sucks and collects the absorber raw material removed from the suction deposition unit 22 by air blowing using the cleaning blow apparatus 30 </ b> A. The raw material receiving hood 51 connected to the vacuum means 50 is provided close to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2 in the space 2D.

  The manufacturing method of the absorber using the manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above structure will be described. The space 2A inside the rotating drum 2 while rotating the rotating drum 2 in one direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 1). The exhaust device connected to these spaces is operated to make negative pressure. By making the space 2 </ b> A have a negative pressure, an air flow is generated in the duct 3 to convey the absorbent material to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2. Along with these operations, a release air blow device (not shown) installed in the space 2C and a cleaning blow device 30 installed in the space 2D are actuated to face outward from the inside of the rotary drum 2. Blow out air. Further, the vacuum means 50 is operated, and the belt conveyor 4 is caused to travel in one direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 1). When the belt conveyor 4 is caused to travel, the core wrap sheet 9 (see FIG. 1) is placed on the upper surface thereof, and the sheet 9 is caused to travel together with the belt conveyor 4. The core wrap sheet 9 is made of a sheet material having liquid permeability such as paper or nonwoven fabric.

  Then, when the fiber material is supplied into the duct 3 by operating the defibrating machine 5 (see FIG. 1) and further supplying the superabsorbent polymer particles through the polymer shooter 8, these flow into the air flow flowing through the duct 3. It is fed to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 2 in a scattered state.

  While the portion covered by the duct 3 is being transported, the deposit 42 deposited by sucking the raw material into the recess 23 of the suction deposition portion 22 of the rotary drum 2 is transported together with the conveyor belt 4. 9 is transferred onto. Although not shown, the deposit 42 is a continuous deposit that is formed by filling the inside of the recess 23 with a raw material, and is further formed outside the block deposit to connect the block deposits. Consists of layers.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the raw material tends to remain particularly at both end portions in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the suction accumulation portion 22 that has been emptied by delivering the deposit 42 to the conveyor belt 4. Therefore, air is blown to the back surface of the suction deposition unit 22 passing through the space 2D by the plurality of nozzles 32 provided along the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the cleaning blow device 30, and remains in the suction deposition unit 22. Remove raw material. Specifically, the plurality of nozzles 32 individually blow air to the plurality of ventilation portions 29 a of the suction deposition unit 22. For this reason, air can be blown to the ventilation part 29a at a pinpoint without blowing air toward the non-venting part 29b extending in the rotation direction of the rotary drum 2. In this way, air is blown from the cleaning air blow device 30 toward the back surface of the suction deposition unit 22 in a dot sequence along the width direction of the rotary drum 2, so that the non-venting part is compared with the conventional technique in which air is blown in a planar shape. Since the wasteful air volume that has been sprayed on 29b can be omitted and the saved air volume can be directed to spray on the ventilation portion 29a, the blow to the absorbent material can be strengthened. The amount of air blown against both ends can be increased. This makes it possible to effectively remove the raw material at both ends of the suction deposition unit 22 without increasing the air pressure supplied from the air source to the nozzle. The raw material removed from the suction deposition unit 22 is collected by the vacuum means 50 through the hood 51. The recovered raw material can be reused. Since the air ejected from the nozzles 32 is also sucked by the vacuum means through the hood 51, the shape of the deposit 42 transferred onto the conveyor belt 4 is not disturbed.

In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, the distance L between the ejection port 32a of each nozzle 32 and the back surface of the suction accumulation unit 22 increases as the nozzle 32 is located outward in the width direction of the rotary drum 2. ing. As a result, the air blown from the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> A is directed to the ventilation portion located in the center in the width direction rather than to the ventilation portion located in the outer side in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 of the suction accumulation portion 22. , It will be more extruding. Therefore, the cleaning blow apparatus 30 </ b> A is suitable for removing residual raw materials in a suction deposition unit that deposits a large amount of raw material in a ventilation portion located in the central portion in the width direction, for example.
As described above, the cleaning blow device 30A according to the present embodiment has a strong pushing force with respect to the ventilation portion located in the central portion in the width direction, but the air volume ejected from the ejection port 32a of each nozzle is equal. The reason is that the plurality of nozzles 32 are all branched from the same end portion 31a of the conduit 31, and the paths from the conduit 31 to the ejection ports 32a of the nozzles 32 have the same shape. . Since the air volume ejected from the nozzle outlet 32a of each nozzle is the same, the cleaning blow device 30A can secure the air volume reaching the both ends in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the suction deposition section 22, and remains at both ends in the width direction. The raw material to be removed can be more reliably removed.

  In the present invention, instead of the cleaning blow device 30A shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), cleaning blow devices 30B to 30E shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 may be used. 4 (a), FIG. 5 (a), FIG. 6 (a) and FIG. 7 are equivalent to FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 4 (b), FIG. 5 (b) and FIG. FIG. 3B is an equivalent diagram.

  The cleaning blow device 30A shown in FIG. 3 has a plurality of nozzles 32 branched from the same end 31a of the conduit 31, but the cleaning blow device 30B shown in FIG. A hollow member 33 having a hollow chamber therein is provided. The hollow chamber provided in the hollow member 33 has a shape in which the dimension in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 is gradually enlarged from the conduit 31 side toward the plurality of nozzles 32 side. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the hollow chamber has a tip region 33a located on the conduit 31 side and a bottom region formed on the plurality of nozzles 32 side and formed in a substantially planar shape. 33b. The end 31a on the nozzle side of the conduit 31 is connected to the distal end region 33a, and a plurality of nozzles 32 are branched from the bottom region 33b. Thus, in the hollow chamber, air diffuses from the tip region 33a toward the bottom surface region 33b.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the plurality of nozzles 32 in the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> B are arranged in a linear row along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The bottom surface region 33b of the hollow chamber has an elongated, substantially rectangular shape that is long in the width direction of the rotary drum 2. Further, when viewed along the width direction of the rotary drum 2, the distance between the bottom surface region 33 b and the porous plate 26 is constant. Further, each nozzle 32 has the same shape, and all of the nozzles 32 are oriented in the same direction as the end portion 31a of the conduit 31 (outward in the radial direction of the rotating drum 2). The distance L between the nozzle 32 a of each nozzle 32 and the back surface of the suction deposition unit 22 is the same.

  In the cleaning blow apparatus 30B shown in FIG. 4, since the air diffusion hollow chamber formed in the hollow member 33 having the above-described shape is provided between the plurality of nozzles 32 and the conduit 31, the hollow The air spreads in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the chamber, so that the amount of air blown from the nozzles 32 located at both ends in the direction can be secured. Therefore, the raw material remaining at the both end portions of the suction deposition portion 22 can be effectively used. Can be removed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4C, the horizontal member 25b that connects the pair of ring-shaped frame members 25a and 25a in the rotary drum 2 has a comb-like slit at its inner edge. It may be. In the figure, a perspective view of the rotary drum 2 as seen from the inner surface side of the porous plate 26 is shown. As shown in the figure, the horizontal member 25 b is a plate-like member extending in the width direction of the rotary drum 2, and the direction of the main plate surface coincides with the radial direction of the rotary drum 2. The main plate surface is a plate surface having the largest area among the plate surfaces of the plate-like horizontal member 25b. In the horizontal member 25 b, the outer end edge located near the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 2 is in contact with the inner surface of the porous plate 26. Further, the inner end edge of the horizontal member 25b located near the center of the rotating drum is a comb-like slit. Of the inner edges that are comb-shaped slits, the depths of the slit portions located between adjacent comb teeth 28 are the same. In other words, the height of each comb tooth 28 is the same. The widths of the slit portions are the same, and the widths of the comb teeth 28 are also the same. The width of the slit portion and the width of the comb teeth 28 may be the same or different. When viewed along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2, the positions where the slit portions and the comb teeth 28 are formed are the same in all the horizontal members 25 b. Each nozzle 32 is arrange | positioned in the slit located between the adjacent comb teeth 28 in this inner end edge which is a comb-tooth shaped slit. Therefore, the tip of each nozzle 32 comes close to the concave portion 23 of the suction deposition portion 22. As a result, it is possible to stably remove the raw material remaining in the suction deposition unit 22 without increasing the amount of air to be blown.

  In the cleaning blow apparatus 30B of the present embodiment, as described above, the distances L from the ejection ports 32a of the nozzles 32 to the back surface of the suction deposition unit 22 are all equal. However, the distance from the nozzle-side end 31a of the conduit to each nozzle outlet 32a is the smallest for the nozzle 32c located at the center in the width direction of the rotary drum 2, and the nozzle 32 located on the outer side in the width direction The distance from the end 31a to the jet port 32a is increased. For this reason, the air blown from the cleaning blow device 30B is directed to the ventilation portion located in the central portion in the width direction, rather than to the ventilation portion located outside the suction drum 22 in the width direction of the rotary drum 2. , It will be more extruding. Accordingly, the cleaning blow device 30B is also suitable for removing residual raw materials in a suction deposition unit that deposits a larger amount of raw material in a ventilation portion located in the central portion in the width direction, for example.

  On the other hand, in the cleaning blow devices 30C and 30D of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 described in detail below, the paths from the nozzle-side end portion 31a of the conduit 31 to the nozzle outlet 32a have the same shape. Accordingly, the distances from the end portions 31a to the respective nozzle ejection ports 32a are all equal, and the distances L from the respective nozzle ejection ports 32a to the suction deposition portions 22 are also equal to each other. This is realized by arranging the plurality of nozzles 32 in the cleaning blow devices 30B and 30C so as not to be collinear with the conduit 31. The fact that the plurality of nozzles 32 are not collinear with the conduit 31 means that the extension line of the conduit 31 and the extension line of each nozzle 32 are not located on the same line. The extension line of the conduit 31 is an imaginary line in which the nozzle-side end portion 31a of the conduit 31 is further extended outward in the radial direction of the rotating drum. In the cleaning blow devices 30C and 30D, each nozzle 32 has the same shape.

  In the cleaning blow device 30C of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, each nozzle 32 branches from the end 31a of the conduit 31 in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the same manner as the cleaning blow device 30A of the embodiment shown in FIG. A plurality of nozzles 32 are provided along. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), in the cleaning blow device 30C, each nozzle 32 in the direction in which the conduit 31 faces (that is, the end 31a on the nozzle side of the conduit 31 faces outward in the radial direction of the rotating drum 2). The angles formed by the directions facing each other are equal, and thereby, the plurality of nozzles 32 are configured not to be located on the same straight line as the conduit 31. As shown in FIG. 5B, the cleaning blow device 30C is provided with five nozzles 32, and each nozzle 32 changes the direction facing each other around the nozzle side end portion 31a of the conduit 31 and the position of the ejection port 32a. Thus, the positions in the width direction of the respective rotating drums 2 are different, and accordingly, the nozzles 32 are provided along the width direction of the rotating drum 2.

  In the cleaning blow device 30D of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, similarly to the cleaning blow device 30B of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, each nozzle 32 and the plurality of conduits 31 are connected via the hollow member 33 branched from the bottom surface region 33 b. Nozzle 32 is in communication. The distance between the bottom surface area 33 b and the back surface of the suction deposition part 22 is constant in each nozzle 32. Each nozzle 32 faces in the same direction as the direction in which the end 31a of the conduit 31 faces.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when viewed from the bottom along the radial direction of the rotating drum 2, the branch point 32 b of each nozzle 32 in the bottom surface region 33 b of the hollow member 33 is the bottom portion 33 b and the extension of the conduit 31. It arrange | positions so that it may be located on the same periphery of the circle | round | yen centering on intersection 31a 'with a line. Accordingly, in the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> D, none of the plurality of nozzles 32 is configured to be positioned on the same straight line as the conduit 31. As shown in FIG. 6B, the cleaning blow device 30D includes five nozzles 32, and each nozzle 32 has a branch point 32b and a jet port 32a at the nozzle end 31a of the conduit 31. The position of each rotary drum 2 in the width direction is different by changing the position of the rotary drum 2, thereby providing the nozzle 32 along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the bottom surface region 33b of the hollow member 33 is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow chamber formed inside the hollow member 33 has a funnel shape extending from the tip region 33a toward the bottom surface portion 33b.

  In the cleaning blow devices 30C and 30D of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, by making the path from the end portion 31a on the nozzle 32 side of the conduit 31 to the jet port 32a of each nozzle 32, the same shape, The air volume blown from the nozzles 32 is the same. In addition, in these cleaning blow devices 30C and 30D, the distance L from the nozzle outlet 32a to the back surface of the suction deposition unit 22 is equal in each nozzle 32, so suction is performed in the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The air volume received by the bottom of the deposition unit 22 can be made uniform. Thus, the remaining raw material can be reliably removed from the entire suction deposition unit 22.

  In the cleaning blow device 30 </ b> E shown in FIG. 7, the air supply to the plurality of nozzles 32 can be individually supplied to each nozzle 32 from the air source. As a result, in the cleaning blow device 30E, the amount of air blown from the nozzles 32 can be individually adjusted for each nozzle. The cleaning blow device 30E uses a plurality of conduits 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, and 31e that are individually connected to an air source (not shown), and has a structure in which air is blown from the nozzle 32 at the tip of each conduit. ing. The tip 32 a of each nozzle 32 is arranged linearly along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The distances between the tip portions 32a and the back surface of the suction deposition portion 22 are all equal. Valves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e for adjusting the air volume of air are attached to the respective conduits in the middle thereof. By adjusting the opening degree of this valve, the air volume of the air blown from each nozzle 32 can be adjusted independently. For example, the amount of air blown to the part located in the central region in the width direction of the rotary drum 2 in the deposit is set higher than the amount of air blown to the part located in the side region in the width direction of the rotary drum 2. Or conversely, it can be lowered. This makes it possible to effectively remove the raw material by increasing the amount of air blown in the portion of the suction deposition portion 22 where the raw material tends to remain.

  8 to 10 show another embodiment of the suction deposition unit. 8 (a), 9 (a), and 10 (a) are plan views showing the surface side of the suction deposition portion that faces the outside of the rotary drum 2, and FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (B) and FIG.10 (b) are the bb sectional view taken on the line in Fig.8 (a), Fig.9 (a), Fig.10 (a). In the porous plate 26 shown in FIG. 8B, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 10B, the upper surface in these drawings is the surface on which the absorbent material is deposited. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, also in the suction depositing portions 22A to 22C, a plurality of ventilation portions 29a and one or more ventilation portions located between the plurality of ventilation portions along the width direction of the rotary drum 2 are provided at the bottom. The non-venting part 29b is provided. Although not shown in these drawings, the nozzles of the cleaning blow device are arranged so as to face the respective ventilation portions 29a along the width direction of the rotary drum 2. The air ejected from the nozzle is preferably blown against the suction deposition part 22A shown in FIG. 8 so as to avoid the convex part 22c. Similarly, air is preferably blown against the suction accumulation portion 22B shown in FIG. 9 so as to avoid the non-porous region 26a, and the convex portion 22e is avoided against the suction accumulation portion 22C shown in FIG. It is preferable to blow air on the surface.

  In the suction deposition part 22A shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of convex parts 22c projecting radially outward of the rotary drum 2 are arranged on the porous plate 26 forming the bottom part. The convex portions 22 c are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction and the width direction of the rotary drum 2. In the suction deposition part 22A, on the porous plate 26 in the suction deposition part 22A, the part where the convex part 22c is located is the non-venting part 29b, and the part where the convex part 22c is not located is the ventilation part 29a.

  The suction deposition part 22B shown in FIG. 9 has a non-porous region 26a in a part of the porous plate 26 forming the bottom thereof. The non-porous region 26a on the porous plate 26 in the suction deposition portion 22B constitutes the non-venting portion 29b, and the portion other than the non-porous region 26a constitutes the venting portion 29a. The non-porous region 26a is formed by sealing the porous plate 26 with a sealing agent such as resin.

  In the suction deposition part 22 </ b> C shown in FIG. 10, a pair of ridges 67 extending in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 2 are fixed to the porous plate 26 forming the bottom part. The ridges 67 are for forming a pair of linear slits extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorber in the intended absorber. The protruding portion 67 is made of, for example, resin, and forms a protruding portion 22 e on one surface side of the porous plate 26, while partially melting the protruding portion 67 and penetrating the molten resin into the through hole 68 of the porous plate 26. Thus, the surface is shifted to the other surface side of the porous plate 26, and is formed on the other surface side by being spread over a larger area than each hole and solidifying.

  In the suction deposition unit 22D shown in FIG. 11, the pattern forming plate 27 is provided with a substantially oval main opening that is long in the rotation direction (R1) of the rotary drum 2. Further, a pair of sub-openings are provided before and after the rotation direction R1 in the main opening. The sub-opening has a substantially bow shape with the chord facing the main opening, and the chord has a curved shape curved convexly toward the arc. In each opening, the porous plate 26 is exposed, and the exposed porous plate 26 forms a ventilation portion 29a. A portion of the pattern forming plate 27 located between the substantially oval main opening and the substantially arcuate sub-opening has an arc shape in plan view and serves as a first non-venting portion 291b. Yes. A portion of the pattern forming plate 27 other than the first non-venting portion 291b is a second non-venting portion 292b.

  Among the absorbent material used in each of the above-described embodiments, as the fiber material that is the main material, various materials conventionally used for absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and disposable diapers are used. Can be used without particular limitation. For example, pulp fibers such as defibrated pulp, short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as rayon fibers and cotton fibers, and short fibers of synthetic fibers such as polyethylene are used. These fibers can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Moreover, a deodorizer, an antibacterial agent, etc. can also be supplied in the duct 3 with a fiber material as an absorber raw material as needed. Moreover, as a fibrous raw material, a fibrous water-absorbing polymer can be used alone or mixed with a fiber material.

  The absorbent body produced according to the present invention is used as an absorbent body for absorbent articles. Absorbent articles are used mainly to absorb and retain body fluids excreted from the body such as urine and menstrual blood. Absorbent articles include, for example, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, panty liners, etc., but are not limited to these, and widely include articles used to absorb liquid discharged from the human body. To do.

  The absorbent article typically includes a top sheet, a back sheet, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body disposed between both sheets. The upper and lower surfaces of the absorber may be covered with one or a plurality of core wrap sheets. The back sheet may or may not have water vapor permeability. The absorbent article may further include various members according to specific uses of the absorbent article. Such members are known to those skilled in the art. For example, when the absorbent article is applied to a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin, a pair or two or more pairs of three-dimensional guards can be disposed on the outer side of both side portions where the absorbent body stands.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment. For example, the absorber manufactured by the apparatus 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has a plurality of block shapes that are intermittently arranged in the same direction as the width direction of the rotating drum 2 on one surface of the absorber. The convex portion made of deposit and the concave portion made of deposit with a low basis weight were alternately arranged between the convex portions adjacent to each other in the width direction. The convex part which consists of is intermittently arrange | positioned over the same direction as the width direction of the rotating drum 2, The shape between the block-shaped deposits adjacent in this direction becomes the space where deposits do not exist substantially. It is also possible to produce an absorber. In addition, it is possible to manufacture an absorber having a flat shape on both the front and back sides.

  As a modification of the cleaning blow device shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, a cleaning blow device in which a valve is individually attached to each nozzle 32 may be used. In such a cleaning blow apparatus, there is one conduit connected to an air source (not shown), but by individually adjusting the opening degree of the valve attached to each nozzle, The air blowing air volume can be individually adjusted.

  Further, the plurality of nozzles shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 are all cylindrical with the same diameter. However, the nozzles do not necessarily have the same diameter. For example, the nozzle diameters may be changed individually to reduce the air flow from each nozzle. The blowing air volume can be adjusted individually. The nozzle may not be cylindrical, may not be linear, and may be curved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manufacturing apparatus 2 Rotating drum 3 Duct 4 Conveyor belt 5 Defibrillator 6 Textile material 7 Lattice 8 Polymer shooter 22,22A-22C Suction accumulation part 22a Vertical beam 22b Horizontal beam 23 Raw material deposition recessed part 30 Cleaning blow apparatus 31 Conduit 31a Conduit Nozzle side end 32 Nozzle 32a Spout 33 33 Hollow member 33a Tip area 33b Bottom area

Claims (9)

A suction drum for suctioning and depositing the absorber material is provided on the outer peripheral surface, and the suction material is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum while rotating the rotary drum in one direction. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body configured to release the deposit from the suction deposition unit and transfer the deposit onto the transport unit,
A cleaning blow device for removing the absorbent material remaining in the suction deposition portion after the transfer by blowing air from the inside of the rotating drum to the outside is provided inside the rotating drum,
The said cleaning blow apparatus is a manufacturing apparatus of the absorber provided with the several nozzle for spraying the said air along the width direction of the said rotating drum. The suction deposition portion has a plurality of ventilation portions and one or more non-venting portions located between the plurality of ventilation portions along the width direction of the rotating drum at the bottom thereof.
The absorber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles for individually blowing air to each of the plurality of ventilation portions are provided along the width direction.   In addition to the plurality of nozzles, the cleaning blow device includes a conduit for supplying air to the plurality of nozzles, and each of the plurality of nozzles branches from the same end of the conduit. Item 3. An apparatus for producing an absorbent body according to Item 1 or 2. In addition to the plurality of nozzles, the cleaning blow device is provided with one conduit for supplying air to the plurality of nozzles, and interposed between the conduit and the plurality of nozzles, and a hollow chamber is provided therein. A hollow member
The hollow chamber has at least a width dimension that gradually increases from the conduit side toward the plurality of nozzles, and has a tip region located on the conduit side and a position on the plurality of nozzles. A bottom surface region formed in a planar shape, the conduit is connected to the tip region, the plurality of nozzles branch from the bottom region, and air flows from the tip region toward the bottom region. The manufacturing apparatus of the absorber according to claim 1 or 2, which is adapted to diffuse.   5. The absorber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the paths from the nozzle-side end portion of the conduit to the ejection ports of the plurality of nozzles all have the same shape.   The manufacturing apparatus of the absorber according to claim 5, wherein none of the plurality of nozzles is located on the same straight line as the conduit.   3. The absorber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the cleaning blow device, air supply to the plurality of nozzles can be individually supplied to each nozzle from an air source. 4. A deposition step of sucking and depositing the absorber raw material supplied in an air flow into the suction deposition section provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum rotating in one direction, and depositing the deposit in the suction deposition section A transfer step for transferring onto a transport unit, and a cleaning step for removing the absorber raw material remaining in the suction deposition unit after transfer by blowing air from the inside of the rotating drum to the outside. A manufacturing method comprising:
In the cleaning step, the air is blown by a plurality of cleaning blow nozzles arranged inside the rotating drum along the width direction of the rotating drum. As the suction deposition portion, using a bottom portion having a plurality of ventilation portions and one or more non-venting portions located between the plurality of ventilation portions along the width direction of the rotating drum,
The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 8, wherein in the cleaning step, air is individually blown to each of the ventilation portions to remove the absorbent raw material remaining on the ventilation portions.

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