JP6513533B2 - Stacking device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fiber-stacking device suitably used to obtain an absorbent body having a predetermined shape by sucking and stacking fiber materials, water-absorbent polymer and other raw materials.

  As an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent used for absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and incontinence pads, a rotary drum having a recess for accumulation on the outer peripheral surface, and a supply passage for supplying raw materials such as pulp to the outer peripheral surface And a duct having the inside, and while rotating the rotary drum about the rotation axis, the raw material is supplied in a scattered state to the outer peripheral surface, and the collection recess is formed of a porous member in which a large number of suction holes are formed. There is known a fiber stacking device that stacks raw materials in the accumulation recess by suction from the bottom (stacking surface of raw materials). Further, as an absorbent for an absorbent article, a medium-high absorbent body is known which has a so-called mid-high part in which a central part protrudes more than a peripheral part. The medium and high absorbent body can significantly improve the fit and the leakage prevention property when the absorbent article is worn, as compared with a normal flat absorbent body having no unevenness on the surface.

  Conventionally, when manufacturing a medium-to-high absorbent body using a fiber-stacking device, the fiber-stacking device is used in which the shape of the bottom of the accumulation recess corresponds to the uneven shape of the medium- to-high-absorbent material that is the production object. It was being done. However, in the case of piled fibers in the accumulation recess, the suction force generated at the bottom of the accumulation recess gradually decreases with an increase in the pulp deposition thickness, and therefore, the accumulation is such that the bottom of the accumulation recess is uneven. When pulp fiber stacking is carried out as usual using a fiber device, the fiber density unintendedly becomes uneven at a relatively deep portion (portion corresponding to the middle and high portion) in the accumulation recess, There is a risk that inconvenience may occur such as incomplete stacking of the entire stacking recess and unintended depressions on the surface of the stacked material in the stacking recess.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an improvement technique of the above-mentioned "fiber-stacking device in which the bottom portion of the accumulation recess has a concavo-convex shape", which has been made in view of the problem relating to the production of such a middle and high absorber. The fiber deposition apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a main feature in a duct (chamber chamber 3C surrounded by the casing 3) that functions as a supply path when supplying the raw material to the accumulation recess, and the inner shape of the duct The air flow carrying raw materials such as pulp in the duct can be adjusted to be suitable for the formation of the inside and the outside by devising the above.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2007-260297

  The fiber stacking device described in Patent Document 1 has a bulging portion that bulges inward from the outer side in the rotational axis direction of the rotary drum in the duct for the purpose of adjusting the air flow in the duct. By the way, there is a possibility that the raw material to be supplied to the accumulation recess may be accumulated in the bulging portion, whereby the quality of the fiber material (absorbent body), the production efficiency and the like may be lowered. In addition, the fiber stacking device described in Patent Document 1 is configured by arranging a special member, which is a "stacked plate" having the bulging portion, at a predetermined position in a duct through which a raw material flows on the air flow, There is also a disadvantage that the configuration is relatively complicated and maintenance management is troublesome.

  An object of the present invention relates to providing a fiber laying apparatus capable of efficiently producing fiber piled products having different amounts of fiber laying.

  The present invention comprises a rotating drum having a recess for accumulation formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a duct having therein a supply path for supplying the raw material to the outer peripheral surface, and rotating the rotating drum around the rotation axis. A fiber-stacking device for stacking raw materials transported on air flow generated in the supply path by suction from the inner side of a rotary drum in the accumulation recess, the downstream side of the raw material supply direction in the duct An opening is disposed opposite to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, and the downstream end of the duct defining the opening extends in the rotational direction of the rotary drum across the accumulation recess. A pair of drum rotation direction corresponding parts are present, and the pair of drum rotation direction corresponding parts are respectively disposed with a gap to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, and the gap is adjusted. With a stacking device equipped with a clearance adjustment mechanism That.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an absorbent using the fiber laying device according to the present invention, wherein raw materials supplied on an air stream and supplied are sucked into the accumulation recess of the fiber laying device to pile fibers. Producing an absorbent body including a fiber stacking step, and adjusting the gap by the gap adjusting mechanism in the fiber stacking step to adjust the amount of air flowing from the outside to the inside of the duct through the gap It is a method.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the fiber laying apparatus which can manufacture efficiently the fiber piled product from which the amount of fiber laying differs partially is provided. The fiber stacking apparatus of the present invention is provided between the outer circumferential surface and the duct for supplying the raw material to the stacking recess at both outward positions in the drum width direction of the accumulating recess formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum. By adjusting the clearance, the amount of air flowing into the duct from the outside of the duct can be adjusted by adjusting the clearance, and by adjusting the amount of air, it is possible to adjust The absorber can be manufactured efficiently.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a fiber deposition apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a schematic configuration of the fiber deposition apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a gap adjusting plate as a gap adjusting mechanism in the fiber stacking apparatus shown in FIG. FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are cross-sectional views along the rotational axis direction of the rotary drum, schematically showing how the raw materials are piled up in the stacking recess in the fiber stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 4 (a) shows the state of fiber stacking at the upstream side of the rotating drum in the rotational direction, FIG. 4 (c) shows the state of fiber stacking at the downstream side in the rotational direction, and FIG. 4 (b) The appearance of fiber laying at an intermediate position between the two is shown. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a gap adjusting plate and a jack mechanism as a gap adjusting mechanism in another embodiment of the fiber stacking device of the present invention. 6 (a) is a schematic front view of the gap adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 (b) is a schematic side view of the gap adjusting mechanism.

  Hereinafter, the fiber depositing apparatus of the present invention will be described based on its preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the fiber depositing apparatus of the present invention. The fiber stacking apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a rotary drum 2 having a recess 22 for accumulation formed on an outer peripheral surface 2 f, and a duct 3 having a supply passage 32 for supplying raw materials to the outer peripheral surface 2 f. The raw material carried on the air flow (vacuum air) generated in the supply path 32 by suction from the inside of the rotary drum 2 while being rotated around the rotation shaft 2C is accumulated in the accumulation recess 22 It is done like that. In the drawing, the direction indicated by the symbol X is the rotational direction of the rotary drum 2 (drum circumferential direction), and the direction indicated by the symbol Y is the direction (drum width direction) parallel to the rotational axis 2C of the rotary drum 2.

  To explain further, the fiber stacking device 1 is a manufacturing device of an absorber, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, has an accumulation recess 22 for accumulating raw materials such as pulp on the outer peripheral surface 2 f The rotary drum 2 is rotationally driven, the duct 3 for conveying the raw material in a scattered state toward the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2, and the opening 30 on the opposite side of the duct 3 to the rotary drum 2 side A raw material supply mechanism 4 and a piled material transport mechanism 5 disposed below the rotary drum 2 and receiving the piled material F of the raw material released from the accumulation recess 22 and transporting it to the next step are provided.

  The rotary drum 2 includes a cylindrical drum main body 20 made of a rigid metal body and an outer peripheral member 21 disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the drum main body 20 so as to form an outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2. ing. The outer peripheral member 21 receives power from a prime mover such as a motor and rotates in the drum circumferential direction X about the rotation shaft 2C as a rotation center, but the drum main body 20 disposed inside the outer peripheral member 21 is fixed. Do not rotate. Both ends in the drum width direction Y of the drum main body 20 are airtightly sealed by a side wall not shown and a sealing material such as felt.

  The outer peripheral member 21 is a bottom of the accumulation recess 22, that is, the air permeable porous plate 23 which forms the pile surface of the raw material, and the air permeability which forms the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2 other than the pile surface. Alternatively, it is configured to include a non-air-permeable pattern forming plate 24. In the present embodiment, the pattern forming plate 24 has an annular shape extending continuously along the entire length in the drum circumferential direction X, and a pair of the pattern forming plates 24 is provided at both ends in the drum width direction Y. , 24 and the porous plate 23 is located. That is, as shown in FIG. 1 in this embodiment, the accumulation recess 22 having the porous plate 23 as the bottom is located at the central portion in the drum width direction Y of the outer peripheral member 21 (the outer peripheral surface 2f of the rotary drum 2). And extends continuously along the entire length in the drum circumferential direction X.

  The porous plate 23 transmits an air flow generated by suction from the inside of the apparatus (inward of the rotating drum 2) to the outside of the apparatus (outward of the rotating drum 2), and is carried on the air flow It is a breathable plate that holds raw materials without permeation and allows only air to permeate. In the porous plate 23, a large number of suction holes penetrating the porous plate 23 in the thickness direction are formed in a uniform distribution throughout the porous plate 23, and the accumulation recess 22 is maintained at a negative pressure in the rotating drum 2. While passing over the space, the suction hole functions as a through hole of the air flow. As the porous plate 23, for example, a mesh plate made of metal or resin, or a plate made of metal or resin, in which a large number of pores are formed by etching, punching or the like can be used. Further, as the pattern forming plate 24, for example, a plate made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum or resin can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the drum main body 20 is divided into a plurality of spaces A, B, C, D in the drum circumferential direction X by a plurality of partitions 20p extending from the rotation shaft 2C toward the outer peripheral member 21. It is done. Further, a pressure reducing mechanism (not shown) for reducing the pressure inside is connected to the drum body 20. The decompression mechanism includes an exhaust pipe (not shown) connected to a side wall (not shown) constituting the drum main body 20 and an exhaust fan (not shown) connected to the exhaust pipe. There is. The plurality of spaces A, B, C, and D in the drum main body 20 are independent of each other, and the negative pressure (suction force) of the plurality of spaces can be independently adjusted by the pressure reducing mechanism. .

  The rotary drum 2 has a predetermined range in the drum circumferential direction X, specifically, a space A in which the outer peripheral portion is covered with the duct 3, a stacking zone in which stacking of raw materials can be performed by suction from inside. It is done. When the outer peripheral member 21 is rotated around the rotation axis 2C in a state where the space A is maintained at a negative pressure, the integration concave portion 22 is formed while the integration concave portion 22 formed in the outer peripheral member 21 passes over the space A. The negative pressure in the space A acts on the bottom of the (the porous plate 23), and suction of air is performed through the many suction holes formed in the bottom. By the suction through the suction holes, the raw material transported in the supply path 32 in the duct 3 is guided to the accumulation recess 22 and piled on the bottom thereof.

  Generally, the space B of the rotary drum 2 is set to a negative pressure or pressure zero (atmospheric pressure) weaker than the space A. Until the fiber F in the accumulation recess 22 is transferred onto the vacuum conveyor 5, the space B is made a negative pressure weaker than the space A from the viewpoint of transportability, and the accumulated material F is deposited in the accumulation recess 22. It is preferable that the space B be at a pressure of zero in consideration of the transferability if there is no particular problem in the transportability. In addition, since the spaces C and D are regions including the transfer position of the fiber material F in the accumulation recess 22 and the positions before and after it, zero pressure or positive pressure is preferable. In order to promote the release of the accumulated fiber material F from the accumulation recess 22, an air blowing means is disposed at the transfer position (for example, the space C) of the accumulated fiber material F in the non-rotating drum body 20. The air blowing means may blow air on the accumulation recess 22 (of the outer circumferential member 21) rotating on the outer periphery.

  The piled material conveyance mechanism 5 includes a vacuum conveyor 50 for sucking and conveying the piled material F released from the accumulation recess 22. The vacuum conveyor 50 can be configured in the same manner as a normal vacuum conveyor in this type of fiber deposition apparatus, and although not shown, for example, an endless air-permeable belt spanned by a drive roll and a driven roll; It can be set as the structure provided with the vacuum box arranged in the opposing position with the rotating drum 2 on both sides of this air permeable belt.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a core wrap sheet CS made of tissue paper, liquid permeable non-woven fabric or the like is introduced onto a vacuum conveyor 50, and accumulated fiber released from the accumulation recess 22. F is delivered to the core wrap sheet CS on the vacuum conveyor 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the duct 3 extends continuously from the raw material supply mechanism 4 to the rotary drum 2 and has an opening 30 on the upstream side and an opening 31 on the downstream side in the raw material supply direction. The supply passage 32 exists between the two openings 30 and 31. The raw material supply mechanism 4 is installed in the opening 30. The raw material supply mechanism 4 includes a crusher 41 that crushes the wood pulp sheet 40 into a fiber material and feeds the fiber material to the supply passage 32 in the duct 3. The opening 31 is a part of the outer peripheral surface 2 f (the outer peripheral member 21) of the rotary drum 2, specifically, a portion of the outer peripheral surface 2 f located in the space A which is maintained under negative pressure when the fiber stacking device 1 is operated. It is arranged oppositely. By operating the decompression mechanism connected to the rotary drum 2, an air flow from the opening 30 on the side of the raw material supply mechanism 4 toward the opening 31 on the rotary drum 2 side is generated in the supply passage 32 in the duct 3 The raw material fed from the machine 41 is supplied to the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2 while riding on the air flow. When using absorbent polymer particles as a raw material, a means for supplying absorbent polymer particles to the supply passage 32 in the duct 3 is provided at an appropriate position between the opening 30 and the opening 31 in the duct 3 Also good.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a part of the opening 31 on the downstream side in the raw material supply direction in the duct 3 which is one of the main parts of the fiber deposition apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and the vicinity thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the opening 31 is defined by the downstream end (lower end) 33 of the duct 3 in the raw material supply direction, and the lower end 33 of the duct 3 is a recess for stacking 22, a pair of drum rotation direction corresponding portions 330, 330 extending in the rotation direction (drum circumferential direction) X of the rotary drum 2 and a pair of drum width direction correspondence portions 331, 331 extending in the drum width direction Y And each corresponding portion 330, 331 is mutually connected at their ends. The outer peripheral member 21 forming the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotating drum 2 rotates in the direction indicated by the reference symbol X, so between the lower end 33 of the duct 3 and the outer peripheral surface 2 f, more specifically, the lower end 33 of the duct 3 Between the outer circumferential surface 2 f and the radially outermost portion of the rotary drum 2 (both ends in the drum width direction Y including the pattern forming plate 24 in the present embodiment). There is a gap for In FIG. 3, a gap G between the pair of drum rotation direction corresponding parts 330 and 330 and the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2 is shown.

  As one of the main features of the fiber depositing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a gap adjusting mechanism is provided which adjusts the gap G between each of the pair of drum rotation direction corresponding parts 330, 330 and the outer peripheral surface 2f of the rotating drum 2. Can be mentioned.

  When the fiber depositing apparatus 1 is in operation, suction from the inner side of the rotary drum 2 further than the accumulation recess 22 (the porous plate 23) generates an air flow toward the accumulation recess 22 in the supply passage 32 in the duct 3 At this time, the air outside the duct 3 flows into the duct 3 through the gaps G located on both sides in the drum width direction Y of the stacking recess 22 and flows toward the stacking recess 22, this gap G Depending on the air volume, the inflow and intake air from the air flow affect the stacking state of the raw material in the accumulation recess 22 not a little. Usually, the amount of inflowing intake air from the gap G is proportional to the size of the gap G, and when the gap G is relatively small, the flow rate of the inflowing air is small, so the inflowing air affects the stacking of the accumulation recess 22 The impact is low and such fiber buildup is substantially controlled by the air flow in the duct 3. On the other hand, when the gap G is relatively large, the amount of air flowing in is large, so the influence of the inflowing air on stacking of the accumulation recess 22 is large. Specifically, the vicinity of the gap G in the accumulation recess 22 That is, raw materials are difficult to be accumulated by the inflowing air from the gap G at both ends in the drum width direction Y (portions other than the center in the drum width direction Y). Instead, the center portion in the drum width direction Y Raw materials will be piled intensively. Accordingly, by appropriately adjusting the gap G, it is possible to arbitrarily change the stacking state of the raw material in the drum width direction Y, and by applying this, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a so-called middle and high absorbent body It becomes possible. The clearance adjustment mechanism is adopted from such a viewpoint.

  The clearance adjusting mechanism in the fiber stacking apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is fixed to each of the pair of drum rotational direction corresponding parts 330 and 330 of the lower end part 33 of the duct 3 as shown in FIG. A flat clearance adjusting plate 6 movable in the approaching / separating direction Z approaching or separating with respect to 2f is included. The contact / separation direction Z coincides with the radial direction of the rotary drum 2. The gap adjusting plate 6 has a hole 60 penetrating through the gap adjusting plate 6 in the thickness direction, and is movably fixed to the drum rotation direction corresponding part 330 by a fixing tool 35 such as a bolt inserted into the hole 60. The number of the holes 60 is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set so as not to affect the fixing of the gap adjusting plate 6.

  The gap adjusting plate 6 is movably fixed to the drum rotational direction corresponding portion 330 in the shape of the hole 60 used for such fixing. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the length L1 of the hole 60 in the contact / separation direction Z is the length of the contact / separation direction Z of the portion located in the hole 60 in the fixture 35 inserted into the hole 60. The difference (L1-L2) between the length L1 of the hole 60 and the length L2 of the fixing member 35 is longer than the length L2 and the movable range of the clearance adjustment plate 6 in the contact / separation direction Z ( Distance). For example, from the state shown in FIG. 3, the fixed state of the gap adjusting plate 6 by the fixing tool 35 is released, and the gap adjusting plate 6 is moved upward (a direction away from the outer peripheral surface 2f of the rotating drum 2). The gap G can be increased by again fixing the gap adjustment plate 6 to the drum rotation direction corresponding portion 330 with the fixing tool 35.

  In the present invention, one gap adjusting plate 6 which is continuous over the entire length in the rotation direction X of the section is fixed to the adjustment scheduled section of the gap G in each of the pair of drum rotation direction corresponding parts 330, 330. Alternatively, the plurality of gap adjusting plates 6 may be arranged and fixed in a row along the rotational direction X in the section. According to the latter, it is possible to partially make the gap G different in the stacking zone of the raw material in the stacking device 1 (the portion where suction is performed from the inside of the rotary drum 2), whereby stacking is performed. It will be able to do more effectively. In the present embodiment, the latter is adopted. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, three gap adjusting plates 6A, 6B, 6C are provided in each of the pair of drum rotational direction corresponding parts 330, 330. The gap adjustment plates 6A, 6B, 6C are arranged to form a line in the rotational direction X, and are independently movable. That is, in the present embodiment, three pairs of air flow adjusting members are disposed on both sides along the rotational direction X in the duct 3. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of gap adjusting plates are mutually distinguished by using an alphabet of “6” followed by an alphabet as a symbol of the gap adjusting plate from the viewpoint of easy explanation. The symbols “A”, “B”, and “C” are given in order from those located on the upstream side in the rotational direction X.

  4 (a) to 4 (c), a schematic view of the stacking of raw materials in the stacking recess 22 in the stacking zone of the stacking device 1, ie, the portion corresponding to the space A of the rotary drum 2 is schematically shown. Is shown. In a pair of drum rotation direction corresponding portions 330, 330 of the lower end portion 33 defining the opening 31 of the duct 3 constituting the fiber stacking zone of the fiber stacking device 1, the upstream side of the rotation direction X is indicated by reference numeral 6A. A gap adjusting plate is disposed (see FIG. 4 (a)), and a gap adjusting plate indicated by reference numeral 6C is disposed on the downstream side in the rotational direction X (see FIG. 4 (c)). A clearance adjustment plate indicated by 6B is disposed (see FIG. 4 (b)). Further, regarding the gap G being adjusted by these gap adjusting plates 6A, 6B, 6C, the magnitude relationship such as "the gap G by the gap adjusting plate 6B> the gap G by the gap adjusting plate 6A = the gap G by the gap adjusting plate 6C" The “inflowing air from the gap G” is positively taken into the duct 3 in the central region of the rotational direction X at the opening 31 of the duct 3 which is the placement region of the gap adjusting plate 6B. It is done like that.

  In addition, three in the central region of the rotational direction X at the opening 31 of the duct 3, that is, in the duct 3, in which the gap G is set relatively large by the gap adjusting plate 6 B in correspondence with the setting of the gap G The arrangement area of the gap adjustment plates 6A, 6B, 6C located at the center in the rotational direction among the three pairs of gap adjustment plates 6A, 6B, 6C is the length (opening of the drum width direction Y) by the air flow adjustment member 34 provided in the duct 3. Width is narrowed. The air flow adjusting members 34 are disposed in a pair on both sides in the drum rotation direction X in the duct 3. Specifically, the air flow adjusting member 34 is made of a difficult or non-air-permeable member, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4B, on the inner surface of each of the pair of drum rotational direction corresponding portions 330, 330 of the duct 3. It is fixed. In the arrangement portion of the air flow adjusting member 34 in the supply passage 32 in the duct 3, the length (opening width) in the drum width direction is an air flow (vacuum width) in a cross sectional view in the drum width direction Y as shown in FIG. In the direction of flow of the air (raw material supply direction), it is gradually shrinking.

  The manufacturing method of the absorber using the fiber laying apparatus 1 of the above structure is demonstrated below. The manufacturing method of the absorbent according to the present embodiment includes a fiber laying process in which the raw material supplied on an air stream and supplied is sucked into the stacking recess 22 of the fiber stacking device 1 to pile up fibers; By adjusting the gap G with the three (3 pairs of) gap adjusting plates 6A, 6B, 6C as the gap adjusting mechanism, air flowing from the outside of the duct 3 to the inside through the gap G (FIG. 4 (b Adjust the amount of inflowing air IA) shown in). The adjustment of the gap G by the gap adjusting plates 6A, 6B, 6C in the stacking step is such that the gap adjusting plates 6A, 6B, 6C are arranged such that the gap G is partially different in the rotational direction X, ie, the rotating drum It carries out by adjusting the position with respect to 2 f of outer peripheral surfaces.

  In the stacking device 1, when the stacking recess 22 is introduced onto the space A covered with the duct 3 and maintained at a negative pressure, stacking of the raw material is first performed in the arrangement region of the gap adjusting plate 6A. . In the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6A, as shown in FIG. 4A, the gap G is set small by the gap adjusting plate 6A to such an extent that the inflowing air from the gap G does not substantially exist. The air flow substantially present in the inside (supply path 32) is only so-called vacuum air generated by suction from the inside of the rotary drum 2 as indicated by the arrow in the figure. In the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6A in such a state, the raw material is deposited substantially uniformly over the entire bottom portion (porous plate 23) of the accumulation recess 22, and a piled material F having a substantially uniform thickness is formed. .

  The gap G in the arrangement region of the gap adjusting plate 6A is preferably 0.5 mm or more, more preferably 1 mm or more, and preferably 1 mm or more from the viewpoint of uniformly depositing raw materials in the drum width direction Y with respect to the accumulation recess 22. It is 10 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or less, more specifically, preferably 0.5 to 10 mm, further preferably 1 to 5 mm.

  The accumulation recess 22 is moved in the rotational direction X by the rotation of the outer peripheral member 21 and is introduced into the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6B following the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6A. In the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6B, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the gap G is set relatively large by the gap adjusting plate 6B, much inflow air IA from the gap G is taken into the duct 3 As a result, the raw materials are difficult to deposit on both ends in the drum width direction Y in the accumulation recess 22, and the raw materials concentrate on the central portion in the drum width direction Y. The uneven distribution of the raw material due to the inflowing air IA narrows the opening width of the opening 3 of the duct 3 by the installation of the air flow adjusting member 34, and the vacuum air carrying the raw material is concentrated in the central portion in the drum width direction Y As a result, the piled material F of the accumulation recess 22 has a so-called medium-high structure in which the raw materials are unevenly distributed in the drum width direction Y.

  The gap G in the arrangement region of the gap adjusting plate 6B is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and preferably 20 mm or less, from the viewpoint of making the raw material unevenly distributed in the central portion in the drum width direction Y with respect to the accumulation recess 22. More preferably, it is 15 mm or less, more specifically, preferably 2 to 20 mm, further preferably 5 to 15 mm.

  Subsequently, in the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6C, as shown in FIG. 4C, the gap G is set small to such an extent that the inflowing air from the gap G does not substantially exist by the gap adjusting plate 6C. Therefore, the air flow substantially present in the duct 3 is only vacuum air. That is, the state of the air flow in the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6C is the same as that in the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6A, and the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6C is the same as the arrangement area of the clearance adjustment plate 6A. Raw materials are uniformly deposited on the accumulation recess 22 in the drum width direction Y. Therefore, in the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6C, the raw materials are deposited substantially uniformly over the entire piled fiber F which has a medium-high structure in the previous steps. The size of the gap G in the arrangement area of the gap adjustment plate 6C can be set similarly to that in the arrangement area of the gap adjustment plate 6A.

  The accumulated fiber material F in the accumulation recess 22 which has passed through the arrangement area of the gap adjusting plate 6C is a drum located on the downstream side in the rotational direction X of the lower end portion 33 of the duct 3 in the duct 3 as shown in FIG. The excess raw material is scraped off by the scuffing roll 7 disposed in the vicinity of the width direction corresponding portion 331. Thereafter, the accumulated fiber material F in the accumulation recess 22 is conveyed onto the space C by the rotation of the rotary drum 2, where it is released from the accumulation recess 22 and the core wrap sheet CS introduced onto the vacuum conveyor 50. It is delivered to the top. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, both side portions of the core wrap sheet CS along the transport direction MD1 are folded back, and the upper and lower surfaces of the piled material F are covered with the core wrap sheet CS. Then, the accumulated fiber material F in the state of being covered with the core wrap sheet CS is conveyed in the direction MD2 opposite to the conveyance direction MD1 and compressed by the pressing device 8 as a whole. Cut to size. Thus, the absorbent body 10 to be manufactured, ie, the medium-high absorbent body 10 comprising the liquid-retaining absorbent core consisting of the piled fiber F having a medium-high structure and the liquid-permeable core wrap sheet CS wrapping it can get.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show a main part of another embodiment of the fiber depositing apparatus of the present invention, specifically, the gap adjusting mechanism and the vicinity thereof. The other embodiments to be described later will be mainly described with respect to components different from those of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The description of the embodiment is applied as appropriate to components that are not particularly described.

  The clearance adjusting mechanism in the fiber stacking apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is fixed to each of the pair of drum rotational direction corresponding portions 330 and 330 of the lower end portion 33 of the duct 3 and approaches the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2 Alternatively, it comprises a flat gap adjusting plate 6 movable in the separating direction Z, and a jack mechanism 61 for displacing the gap adjusting plate 6 in the separating direction Z.

  The jack mechanism 61 is a so-called screw-nut type jack mechanism, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the drum mechanism 61 is outward in the drum width direction Y from the outer surface of the drum rotation direction corresponding portion 330 (opposite to the inside of the duct 3). And the plate-side screw shaft support portion 63 protruding outward from the outer surface of the gap adjusting plate 6 in the drum width direction Y, and both support portions 62 and 63 in the thickness direction. And a screw shaft 64 inserted into the screw hole. The screw holes of the two support portions 62 and 63 are at the same position in the rotational direction X and the drum width direction Y, and the screw shaft 64 is in the contact and separation direction Z in a state of being inserted into these two screw holes. It extends. A nut body 65 is fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of each of the support portions 62 and 63, and a screw shaft 64 is screwed to the plurality of nut bodies 65. The jack mechanism 61 configured as described above extends or extends and contracts in the contact and separation direction Z by rotating the screw shaft 64. The operation of rotating the screw shaft 64 can be performed according to a conventional method using a known tool such as a ratchet wrench. In order to reduce the gap G, the screw shaft 64 may be rotated to extend the jack mechanism 64. When the gap G is to be increased, the screw operation may be reversed to rotate the jack 64 in the opposite direction. The mechanism 64 may be shortened.

  Further, on the outer surface of the drum rotational direction corresponding portion 330, a pressing plate 66 is disposed which supports the gap adjusting plate 6 so as to press the gap adjusting plate 6 to the outer surface side. The pressing plates 66 are arranged in a pair so as to be able to support both end portions of one gap adjusting plate 6 in the rotational direction X. A gap of substantially the same size as the thickness of the gap adjusting plate 6 is formed between each pressing plate 66 and the outer surface of the drum rotational direction corresponding portion 330, and the gap is slid in the contact and separation direction Z It is made movable.

  An absorbent body manufactured by the fiber laying apparatus according to the present invention, in particular, a mid-high absorbent body having a structure in which the central portion in the lateral direction (direction orthogonal to the anteroposterior direction of the absorbent article wearer) protrudes from the peripheral portion. It is preferably used as an absorbent of an article. Absorbent articles are mainly used to absorb and hold body fluids excreted from the body such as urine and menstrual blood. Absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, for example, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, panty liners, etc., and widely include articles used for absorbing fluid discharged from the human body. Do. The absorbent article typically comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, and a liquid-retaining absorbent interposed between the two sheets. The absorbent article may further comprise various members according to the specific use. Such components are known to those skilled in the art.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified. The gap adjusting mechanism according to the present invention may be any means capable of adjusting the gap between the drum rotation direction corresponding portion at the lower end of the duct and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and is limited to the embodiment including the above-mentioned gap adjusting plate I will not. The adjustment of such a gap is not limited to one performed manually as in the above embodiment, but may be performed automatically. However, the above-described form (claying device 1) including the clearance adjustment plate can be configured by making relatively minor changes based on the existing stacking device, and the configuration is relatively simple and maintenance It is a useful form because it is easy to manage. Further, although the accumulation recess 22 in the above embodiment is continuously formed on the outer peripheral surface 2 f of the rotary drum 2 along the entire length in the circumferential direction, the accumulation recess is formed intermittently in the circumferential direction. Also good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 stacking device 2 rotating drum 2f outer peripheral surface of rotating drum 2C rotating shaft 20 drum main body 21 outer peripheral member 22 recess for accumulation 23 porous plate 24 pattern forming plate 3 duct 30 opening in upstream side of raw material supply direction in duct 31 duct Downstream side opening in the raw material supply direction 32 supply path 33 downstream end (lower end) of the duct in the raw material supply direction
330 Drum rotation direction corresponding portion at the lower end of the duct 331 Drum width direction corresponding portion at the lower end of the duct 34 air flow adjustment member 35 fixture 4 raw material supply mechanism 5 piled material conveying mechanism 50 vacuum conveyor 6,6A, 6B, 6C Clearance adjustment Plate 60 hole portion 61 jack mechanism 62, 63 screw shaft support portion 64 screw shaft 65 nut body 66 pressing plate 7 scuffing roll 8 press roll 9 cutter roll 10 absorber 10A middle high portion G drum rotational direction corresponding portion and outer peripheral surface of rotating drum Clearance F accumulated fiber (absorbent core)
CS Core wrap sheet X Rotation direction of rotating drum (drum circumferential direction)
Direction parallel to the rotation axis of the Y rotary drum (drum width direction)
Z contact direction

Claims (8)

A rotating drum having a recess for accumulation formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a duct having therein a supply path for supplying the raw material to the outer peripheral surface, the inside of the rotating drum being rotated around the rotation axis. What is claimed is: 1. A fiber-stacking device for stacking raw materials transported by carrying air flow generated in the supply path by suction from the side in the accumulation recess,
An opening on the downstream side in the raw material supply direction in the duct is disposed opposite to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and the downstream end of the duct defining the opening sandwiches the accumulation recess. And includes a pair of drum rotational direction corresponding portions extending in the rotational direction of the rotary drum, and the pair of drum rotational direction corresponding portions are disposed with a gap from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum. Has been
A stacking device provided with a gap adjusting mechanism for adjusting the gap. The gap adjusting mechanism is configured to include a gap adjusting plate fixed to the drum rotational direction corresponding portion and movable in the approaching and separating direction approaching or separating from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum.
The gap adjusting plate has a hole passing through the gap adjusting plate in the thickness direction, and is movably fixed to the drum rotational direction corresponding part by a fixture inserted into the hole.
The length of the gap adjusting plate in the contact and separation direction at the hole is longer than the length of the contact and separation direction of a portion of the fixture inserted into the hole and located in the hole. The stacking device according to Item 1.   The gap adjusting mechanism is fixed to the drum rotational direction corresponding portion, and is capable of moving in the contacting or separating direction approaching or separating from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum, and the gap adjusting plate in the contact or separating direction The stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising a jack mechanism for displacing.   The plurality of clearance adjustment plates are arranged in a row in the rotation direction at the drum rotation direction corresponding portion, and the plurality of clearance adjustment plates are movable independently of each other. Stacking device. Three of the gap adjusting plates are arranged in a row in the rotational direction corresponding to the drum rotational direction corresponding portion,
A pair of air flow adjustment members are disposed on both sides along the rotational direction of the arrangement region of the three gap adjustment plates located at the center in the rotational direction in the duct. The stacking device as described in any one of 4.   The product according to claim 5, wherein the gap adjusted by one of the three gap adjusting plates positioned at the center in the rotational direction is larger than the gap adjusted by the other two. Textile equipment. It is a manufacturing method of the absorber using the fiber laying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-6,
The raw material provided on the air flow is suctioned into the accumulation recess of the fiber stacking device, and the fiber laying step is carried out.
The manufacturing method of the absorber which adjusts the quantity of the air which flows inside from the exterior of the duct via the crevice by adjusting the crevice by the crevice adjustment mechanism in the piling process. The gap adjusting mechanism in the fiber stacking device is configured to include a gap adjusting plate fixed to the drum rotational direction corresponding portion and movable in a contacting or separating direction approaching or separating from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum.
A plurality of the gap adjusting plates are arranged in a row in the rotation direction at the drum rotation direction corresponding portion,
The manufacturing method of the absorber according to claim 7 which adjusts arrangement of said a plurality of gap adjustment plates so that said gaps may differ partially in said rotation direction.