JP7334056B2 - absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric, a laminate containing the nonwoven fabric, and an absorbent article containing the nonwoven fabric or the laminate.

Conventionally, nonwoven fabrics having pores and absorbent articles using such nonwoven fabrics for absorbing liquids and the like are known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a disposable wearing article comprising a cover nonwoven fabric provided with a plurality of holes extending through the front and back and a liquid-impermeable sheet to which the cover nonwoven fabric is attached via a hot-melt adhesive. It is

JP 2018-57810

When trying to maintain a plurality of pores provided in the nonwoven fabric, it is easier to form pores with clear contours if the pores are formed in a slightly stiffer nonwoven fabric. As a result, the nonwoven fabric may feel harder as a whole. In addition, as in Patent Document 1, at least a part of the warped portion of each hole is adhered to another sheet via a hot melt adhesive, so that the adhesion area can be reduced and the flexibility can be maintained. However, the edges of each hole where the adhesive is applied may become stiff, and the non-woven fabric provided with a plurality of such holes may feel stiff as a whole. Also, when the edges of the openings are formed by melting and solidifying, the openings are firmly formed, but the edges of the openings are hardened, which may deteriorate the texture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the texture of a nonwoven fabric and to facilitate the visibility of pores.

The main invention for achieving the above object is
having a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in the unfolded state;
non-woven fabric;
an absorbent main body comprising an absorbent body that absorbs liquid and a liquid-impermeable film sheet that covers the absorbent body from the non-skin side in the thickness direction;
An absorbent article having
The nonwoven fabric has a plurality of pores,
The nonwoven fabric is disposed at least between a first thermoplastic fiber layer, a second thermoplastic fiber layer, and between the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the second thermoplastic fiber layer, each comprising thermoplastic fibers. an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer;
The average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is smaller than the average fiber diameter of each of the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the fibers constituting the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The plurality of openings are openings formed to penetrate the first thermoplastic fiber layer, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The nonwoven fabric is arranged on the non-skin side of the film sheet in the thickness direction, and at least part of the nonwoven fabric is arranged on the most non-skin side of the absorbent article in the thickness direction ,
The nonwoven fabric has an open-hole region in which a plurality of openings are present in a portion overlapping with the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction, and has openings in a portion where the film sheet does not overlap with the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction. An absorbent article characterized by having a non-perforated region in which no pores are present.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specification and accompanying drawings.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, an opening can be made easy to visually recognize, making the touch of a nonwoven fabric favorable.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a nonwoven fabric 1. FIG. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the nonwoven fabric 1, FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the formation process of the holes 5, and FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the formed holes 5. . 3 is an enlarged view of the X region of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the laminate 3 is separated into the nonwoven fabric 1 and another sheet member 2. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the Y area in FIG. 6A is a schematic enlarged view for explaining an example of the openings 5 and 6 of the laminate 3, and FIG. 6B is a schematic enlarged view for explaining an example of the openings 5 and 6 of the laminate 3. be. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 100. FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the skin side. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in the unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the non-skin side. FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view along CC in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the non-skin side in another embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the skin side in another embodiment.

At least the following matters will become apparent from the descriptions of this specification and the accompanying drawings.
A nonwoven fabric having a plurality of apertures, said nonwoven fabric comprising at least a first thermoplastic fiber layer, a second thermoplastic fiber layer, and said first thermoplastic fiber layer and said second It has an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer disposed between the thermoplastic fiber layer, and the average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is the same as the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the It is smaller than the average fiber diameter of each of the fibers constituting the second thermoplastic fiber layer, and the plurality of pores are formed in the first thermoplastic fiber layer, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer. The nonwoven fabric is characterized by pores formed so as to penetrate the layers.

According to such a nonwoven fabric, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer has a small average fiber diameter, so it is the easiest to melt among the three layers. Therefore, for example, when openings are formed with a heated pin or the like, the edges of the openings in the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer are likely to be melted, and the melted fibers are solidified to easily form openings with clear contours. . In addition, even when holes are formed by punching without heating with a pin or the like, the fibers of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer with a small average fiber diameter tend to come close to the edges of the holes, forming holes with a clear shape. easy to do On the other hand, since the average fiber diameter of the first and second thermoplastic fiber layers is large, the fibers are less likely to lean toward the edges of the openings. Therefore, the edges are less likely to harden and can retain their softness. Therefore, by providing the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer with openings with clear outlines, the visibility of the openings is improved, and the edges of the openings of the first and second fiber layers are not hardened, so that the nonwoven fabric is soft to the touch. I will provide a.

In such a nonwoven fabric, the MFR (melt flow rate) of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is preferably higher than the MFR of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the MFR of the second thermoplastic fiber layer.

With such a nonwoven fabric, even at the same temperature, the fibers of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer are likely to melt, so that pores with clear outlines are likely to be formed. On the other hand, since the melting speed of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the second thermoplastic fiber layer is slow, by preventing the edges of the openings from melting, the edges do not become hard and the layers themselves maintain their softness. do. Thus, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer melts at the edges to form apertures that are cooled and solidified to provide visibility of the apertures while providing softness to the layers above and below.

In such a nonwoven fabric, the average fiber density of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer in an intermediate region between one of the plurality of apertures and another aperture adjacent to the one aperture is It is desirable that the average fiber density of the first thermoplastic fiber layer in the intermediate region and the average fiber density of the second thermoplastic fiber layer in the intermediate region be higher.

According to such a nonwoven fabric, the intermediate region has a substantially uniform fiber density, and when openings are formed in the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer having a high average fiber density in the intermediate region, Since the amount of fibers that come together increases, it is easy to form holes firmly. Therefore, the visibility of the aperture is enhanced.

It is desirable that such a nonwoven fabric has an average basis weight of 10 g/m ² or more and 20 g/m ² or less.

According to such a nonwoven fabric, the above range of basis weight allows the nonwoven fabric to maintain appropriate strength and softness.

In such a nonwoven fabric, the average basis weight of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is preferably lower than the average basis weight of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the average basis weight of the second thermoplastic fiber layer.

According to such a nonwoven fabric, since the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer has a high density, it is easy to form clear pores. tend to be Softness can be maintained by reducing the average basis weight of such intermediate fibrous layers.

In such a nonwoven fabric, the average thickness of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is preferably thinner than the average thickness of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the average thickness of the second thermoplastic fiber layer.

According to such a nonwoven fabric, since the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer has a high density, it is easy to form clear pores. tend to be By reducing the average thickness of such an intermediate fiber layer, flexibility can be maintained while maintaining the shape of the pores.

A laminate having a nonwoven fabric and another sheet member having a plurality of apertures arranged so as to overlap the nonwoven fabric.

According to such a layered product, the layered product obtained by superimposing a nonwoven fabric having good visibility of pores and another sheet member having a plurality of pores has a large number of pores and thus has good air permeability. In addition, the softness of the nonwoven fabric allows the formation of a laminate that feels good on the skin.

In such a laminate, an aperture of said plurality of apertures of said nonwoven fabric overlaps and is adjacent to said one aperture of said plurality of apertures of said another sheet member. It is desirable that at least a portion of the edge portion adjacent to the opening and the edge portion adjacent to the one opening be joined to each other.

According to such a laminate, the air permeability is further improved by overlapping the openings. Since the outline of the opening becomes clear at the joined edge portion, the visibility of the opening is improved.

In such a laminate, it is desirable that at least a portion of the certain openings overlaps a non-perforation region of the other sheet member.

According to such a layered product, the shadows of the openings are emphasized where the openings are overlapped, thereby improving the visibility.

In such a laminate, it is desirable that the edge portion adjacent to the aperture and the non-aperture region have a non-bonded portion that is not bonded to each other.

According to such a layered product, since the edge portion, which tends to become stiff due to the fibers gathering together, is not joined to the non-porous region, the edge portion does not become hard and the flexibility of the layered product can be maintained.

In such a laminate, the hole diameter of the certain opening is larger than the hole diameter of one of the plurality of openings of the another sheet member, and in a plan view, the one opening has It is desirable to be positioned inside the certain aperture.

According to such a laminate, the pores of the nonwoven fabric and the pores of the support sheet are overlapped with each other, so that the air permeability is further improved. In addition, shadows are emphasized by overlapping apertures, thereby improving visibility.

A non-woven fabric having a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in an unfolded state, an absorbent body that absorbs liquid, and a liquid-impermeable liquid-impermeable body that covers the absorbent body from the non-skin side in the thickness direction and an absorbent body provided with a film sheet, wherein the nonwoven fabric is disposed on the non-skin side of the film sheet in the thickness direction, and the nonwoven fabric is disposed between the film sheet and the thickness. A perforated region having a plurality of perforations is provided in a portion overlapping the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction, and a non-perforated region having no perforations is provided in a portion not overlapping the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction. It is an absorbent article.

According to such an absorbent article, the portion where the film sheet exists can prevent leakage by the film sheet while exhibiting excellent breathability due to the opening. Leakage can be prevented by providing a non-perforated region in the portion where the film sheet does not exist.

In such an absorbent article, the ventral waistline portion located on one end side in the longitudinal direction, the back waistline portion located on the other end side in the longitudinal direction, the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion The nonwoven fabric has a crotch region located in the crotch region, and the crotch region has a leg gather portion having a plurality of elastic members that stretch in the longitudinal direction. and the leg gather portion preferably has the non-perforated region.

According to such an absorbent article, air permeability is maintained by arranging the non-woven fabric having openings in the crotch portion, and the leg gather portion where leakage is likely to occur is made into a non-opening region, so that it is difficult to leak. Let

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that at least a part of the nonwoven fabric be arranged on the most non-skin side of the absorbent article in the thickness direction.

According to such an absorbent article, by arranging it on the most non-skin side, it becomes easy to see each opening, and the visibility of the opening is improved.

This absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in the unfolded state, and has a laminate and an absorbent main body that absorbs liquid.

According to such an absorbent article, breathability can be more easily improved, and skin troubles such as rashes can be suppressed.

===Embodiment===
<Basic composition of nonwoven fabric>
First, the basic configuration of the nonwoven fabric 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a nonwoven fabric 1. FIG.

The nonwoven fabric 1 is a nonwoven fabric having thermoplastic fibers as constituent fibers, and in this embodiment, a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) nonwoven fabric is taken as an example. Examples of the thermoplastic fibers of the nonwoven fabric 1 include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the like. It is also possible to use not only single fibers such as polypropylene and polyethylene, but also composite fibers (Bico) having a core-sheath structure made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

The nonwoven fabric 1 is a sheet member having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. Moreover, let the direction which each cross|intersects the longitudinal direction and lateral direction of the nonwoven fabric 1 be a thickness direction. The nonwoven fabric 1 is provided with a plurality of openings 5 penetrating from the front and back at intervals. In addition, the nonwoven fabric 1 includes a first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, a second thermoplastic fiber layer 30, and between the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30, which are each made of thermoplastic fibers. It is a three-layer structure with an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 placed in the middle.

Regarding the average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting each of the fiber layers 10, 20, and 30, the average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 is preferably 20 μm, The average fiber diameter of the fibers forming the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is preferably 5 μm. That is, the average fiber diameter of the fibers forming the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is larger than the average fiber diameter of the fibers forming the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the fibers forming the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30. is preferably small.

The measurement of the fiber diameter for calculating the above average fiber diameter may be performed by a well-known method. For example, the sections and surfaces of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 are enlarged with an electron microscope. Then, the diameter of the fibers present in the enlarged image is measured. A plurality of (for example, 20) fiber diameters are measured, and the average value is taken as the average fiber diameter.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the nonwoven fabric 1, FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the formation process of the holes 5, and FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the formed holes 5. . The apertures 5 provided in the nonwoven fabric 1 can be formed using, for example, a heated pin member (a pin 40 to be described later) or the like. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the thickness direction, the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 of the nonwoven fabric 1 in which the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 are superimposed in this order. A hole 5 is formed by inserting a heated pin 40 from the side (FIG. 2B) and pulling it out after penetration. At that time, as described above, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 of the present embodiment has a smaller average fiber diameter than the first and second thermoplastic fiber layers 10 and 30, so it is the most soluble among the three layers. layer. Thus, for example, when forming the apertures with a heated pin 40, the edges 520 (FIG. 2C) of the apertures 5 in the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 tend to melt. The solidification of the melted fibers facilitates the formation of well-defined pores in the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 . Here, the “edge portion” in the present embodiment is defined as, for example, a portion having a width of 2 mm radially outward from the opening 5 .

In addition, even when the pin 40 or the like is inserted without heating to form an aperture, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 having a small average fiber diameter makes it easy for the fibers to come close to the edge 520 of the aperture 5, resulting in a clear shape. openings are easily formed. On the other hand, since the first and second thermoplastic fiber layers 10 and 30 have a large average fiber diameter, the edges 510 ( FIG. 2C ) of the openings 5 of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 It is difficult for the fibers to come close to the edges 530 (FIG. 2C) of the openings 5, respectively. As a result, the edges 510 and 530 are less likely to harden and can retain their softness. Therefore, the edges 510 and 530 of the first and second thermoplastic fiber layers 10, 30 are defined by providing the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 with well-defined apertures 5 to improve the visibility of the apertures 5. By not hardening, the nonwoven fabric 1 having a soft touch can be formed.

Further, the meltability of the fibers forming the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 can also be compared using MFR (melt flow rate), which is one of the scales indicating the fluidity of resin in a molten state. Regarding the MFR of the nonwoven fabric 1 in the present invention, the resin for measurement is adjusted from each of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 by the following method, and JIS Measurements are made in accordance with K-7210. However, here, the measurement is performed under the condition of heating to 230° C., which is the measurement condition of polypropylene.

[Method for adjusting resin for measurement]
About 0.15 to 0.20 g of each fiber layer to be measured is folded into a square of about 5 cm and pressed at about 24 kPa for 3 seconds with a press heated to 200° C. to form a nonwoven fabric into a film. The film-shaped nonwoven fabric is finely cut and adjusted as a resin for measurement.

The MFR measured in this way is preferably 30 to 80 g/10 min for the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30, and 800 to 1800 g/10 min for the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20. Preferably. That is, the MFR of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is higher than the MFR of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the MFR of the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 . For this reason, even at the same temperature, the fibers of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 are likely to melt, so that pores with clear contours are likely to be formed. On the other hand, since the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 melt at a slow speed, the fibers in the opening 5 do not melt when the pin 40 is inserted. It just goes to (510, 530). Thereby, the edges 510, 530 are not hardened and the layers themselves remain soft. In this way, the edges 520 of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, which is an intermediate layer, are melted, cooled, and solidified to form the openings 5, thereby ensuring the visibility of the openings 5, while the layers above and below You get softness.

3 is an enlarged view of the X region of FIG. 1. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, here, an intermediate region 5M is defined as a region between a certain aperture 5a among the plurality of apertures 5 and another aperture 5b adjacent to the certain aperture 5a. In the intermediate region 5M, the average fiber density of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is preferably higher than the average fiber density of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the average fiber density of the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30. The average density of each layer in the intermediate region 5M is compared with the edges 5ae of the openings 5 (that is, the edges 510, 520, 530). , and the intermediate region 5M are originally regions having a substantially uniform fiber density. Before the openings 5 were formed, the density of the intermediate region 5M was measured because the density of the intermediate region 5M should have been uniform.

Density measurement is performed as follows, for example. First, from the nonwoven fabric 1, a cross section in the thickness direction is taken along the length along the longitudinal direction including two adjacent holes 5 (the length indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 3). Then, the cross section of each fiber layer 10, 20, 30 is magnified and observed with an electron microscope or the like to compare the density. In this embodiment, since it is sufficient to confirm the magnitude relationship of the density of each fiber layer, it is not necessary to obtain a strict value, and even if there is some error in the measured value, it is allowed.

If the openings 5 are formed in the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 having a high average fiber density in the intermediate region 5M, the amount of fibers near the edge 520 of the openings increases, so the openings 5 are easily formed. Therefore, the visibility of the apertures 5 is improved.

In addition, in order to ensure the strength and softness of the nonwoven fabric 1, the nonwoven fabric 1 of the present invention, in which the three layers of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 are combined, The average basis weight of the sheet itself is preferably 10 g/m ² or more and 20 g/m ² or less. The grammage here is the weight per unit area of the area including the openings 5 . Originally, the fibers that were present in the opening 5 before the opening 5 was formed only moved to the edge 5ae of the opening 5, so in the present embodiment, the area including the opening 5 there is Then, the average value of the results of measuring the grammage at a plurality of locations (for example, 10 locations) of the nonwoven fabric 1 is taken as the average grammage. By having a basis weight within the range as described above, the nonwoven fabric 1 can maintain appropriate strength and flexibility.

Next, the basis weights of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 of the nonwoven fabric 1 are compared. The basis weight of each layer is compared by cutting a portion of the nonwoven fabric 1 where the openings 5 are not present and enlarging the cut surface with a microscope or the like, thereby determining the total area of the regions where fibers are recognized on the cut surface. This is done by visually comparing the sizes. In the present embodiment, since it is only necessary to confirm the size relationship between the basis weights of the fiber layers, it is not necessary to obtain strict values, and even if there are some errors in the measured values, they are allowed. By this method, the basis weight is compared at a plurality of locations (for example, 10 locations) in each fiber layer, and when a specific magnitude relationship is established at any location, the average basis weight of one layer is the same as that of the other layer. determined to be larger than the average basis weight of Here, the average basis weight of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is preferably lower than the average basis weight of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the average basis weight of the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 . Although the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is dense as described above, it is easy to form well-defined apertures, but the aperture edge 520 melts and cools and solidifies, or even if it does not melt, it is further densified. Therefore, the intermediate fiber layer 20 itself tends to be hard. By reducing the average basis weight of such an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, flexibility can be maintained.

Also, the average thickness of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 is preferably thinner than the average thickness of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10 and the average thickness of the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30 . Here, the "average thickness" refers to, for example, a plurality of locations (eg, 10 locations) in each of the first thermoplastic fiber layer 10, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer 30, It is the average value of the results measured using a thickness gauge (for example, Digital Microscope VHX-2000 manufactured by KEYENCE). Although the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 has a high density as described above, it is easy to form clear apertures, but the aperture edge 520 melts and cools and solidifies, or even if it does not melt, it is further densified. often Therefore, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20 itself may become hard. By reducing the average thickness of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer 20, flexibility can be maintained while maintaining the shape of the pores.

<Laminate 3 using nonwoven fabric 1>
Next, an example using the nonwoven fabric 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the laminate 3 is separated into the nonwoven fabric 1 and another sheet member 2. As shown in FIG. The laminate 3 using the nonwoven fabric 1 has another sheet member 2 in addition to the nonwoven fabric 1 . Another sheet member 2 is arranged so as to overlap the nonwoven fabric 1 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 6 formed in a state of being overlapped with the nonwoven fabric 1 . Examples of the sheet member 2 include nonwoven fabrics such as thermal bond nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, and spunlace nonwoven fabric, as well as resin films and the like, which can also be used as a support sheet for the nonwoven fabric 1 .

The laminate 3 has a plurality of openings 5 provided in the nonwoven fabric 1 of the present invention and a plurality of openings 6 provided in the nonwoven fabric 1 and another sheet member 2, so that the number of openings is increased and ventilation is performed. It becomes easier to ensure the reliability. In addition, the softness of the nonwoven fabric 1 can form a laminate that feels good on the skin.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the Y region in FIG. 4, showing a state in which the nonwoven fabric 1 and the sheet member 2 are overlapped. Looking at an opening 5a among the plurality of openings of the nonwoven fabric 1 as an example, the opening 5a overlaps with one opening 6a of the plurality of openings 6 provided on the other sheet member 2 side. may be Further, the edge 5ae adjacent to the certain opening 5a and the edge 6ae adjacent to one opening 6a have joint portions 5aeh and 6aeh at least partially joined to each other. The joint portions 5aeh and 6aeh are formed at least at portions where the edge portions 5ae of the openings 5 and the edge portions 6ae of the openings 6 overlap when the openings 6 are formed so as to penetrate the nonwoven fabric 1 and the sheet member 2. It may be formed by partially melting, cooling and solidifying. Further, even if the overlapping portion of the edge portion 5ae and the edge portion 6ae is not melted, if a hot-melt adhesive or the like is used to bond the nonwoven fabric 1 and the sheet member 2 together, such an adhesive can be used at the joining portion. 5aeh, 6aeh may be formed. Normally, the overlapping portions of the openings 5 and 6 form openings, so that the contours of the openings are not visible. , leaving the outline of each aperture in solid lines.

In the laminate 3, the air permeability is further improved by overlapping the openings 5 (5a) and the openings 6 (6a). In addition, in the joints 5aeh and 6aeh, since the outline of the opening 5 (6) becomes clearer due to the clustered fibers, the visibility is improved.

FIG. 6A is a schematic enlarged view for explaining an example of the openings 5 and 6 of the laminate 3. FIG. In FIG. 6A, one of the plurality of openings 5 of the nonwoven fabric 1 of the laminate 3 of the present invention is designated as an opening 5a, and one of the plurality of openings 6 provided on the sheet member 2 side is opened. A hole is designated as 6a. A non-perforated region 60 (portion indicated by diagonal lines sloping to the left) of another sheet member 2 is defined as a non-perforated region. As shown in FIG. 6A, at least a portion of a certain aperture 5a has a region 5a60 (portion shown in a grid pattern) that overlaps a non-perforated region 60 of another sheet member 2. As shown in FIG. As a result, the shadows of the openings are emphasized where the openings overlap each other, thereby improving the visibility.

Moreover, it is preferable that the edge portion 5ae adjacent to a certain aperture 5a and the non-aperture region 60 have a non-bonded portion 70 that is not bonded to each other. By not joining the edge portion 5ae, which tends to be hardened due to the presence of fibers, to the non-perforated region 60, which is a region of the sheet member 2 without pores, the edge portion 5ae is not hardened, and the laminate 3 is flexible. can retain their sexuality.

FIG. 6B is a schematic enlarged view for explaining an example of the openings 5 and 6 of the laminate 3, and shows an example of the relationship between the sizes of the openings 5 and 6. FIG. Assuming that the diameter of a certain opening 5a of the openings 5 is 5adi, and the diameter of one opening 6a of the plurality of openings 6 provided on the other sheet member 2 side is 6adi, the diameter 5adi is: It is preferably larger than the pore diameter 6adi. Regarding the size of the hole diameters 5adi and 6adi in this example, if the edge of the lower hole (the edge of the opening 6a in FIG. 6B) can be seen in plan view, the hole diameter of the upper hole (5a) is larger. , if not visible, the diameter of the upper hole (5a) is assumed to be smaller. Moreover, it is preferable that the opening 6a is positioned inside the opening 5a in plan view. As a result, the air permeability of the laminate 3 is further improved in the portions where the openings 5a of the nonwoven fabric 1 and the openings 6a of the other sheet member 2 overlap. In addition, the overlapping portions of the openings 5a and 6a are shaded in plan view, and the visibility of the openings is improved.

<Absorbent article 100 using nonwoven fabric 1>
As an example of a specific method of using the nonwoven fabric 1, a case of using it for an absorbent article will be described. Here, as the absorbent article 100, an underpants-type disposable diaper 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "diaper 100") is taken as an example. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 100. FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the skin side. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in the unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the non-skin side. It should be noted that FIG. 9 also includes parts that are seen through in order to explain the openings 5 . FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view along CC in FIG.

Here, the above-mentioned "unfolded state" refers to both ends of the abdominal waist portion (abdominal waist portion 130 described later) and the dorsal waist portion (the dorsal side described later) in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the diaper 100. A state in which the diaper 100 is unfolded on a plane by releasing the connection with both ends of the waist portion 140), separating the abdomen side waist portion and the back side waist portion, and opening the diaper 100 in its longitudinal direction. is. In addition, the "stretched state" of the diaper 100 means a state in which the entire diaper 100 (whole product) is stretched without wrinkles. 130, 140, etc.) are stretched until they match or are close to the dimensions of the member itself.

The diaper 100 has an up-down direction, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction that intersect each other in the underpants-type state shown in FIG. The diaper 100 includes an absorbent main body 110 that is applied to the wearer's crotch and absorbs liquid such as excreted fluid, an abdominal waist portion 130 that covers the wearer's abdomen, and a wearer's back. It is a so-called three-piece disposable diaper having a dorsal waist portion 140 to cover.

In the unfolded state of FIGS. 8 and 9, the diaper 100 has longitudinal and lateral directions that intersect each other. One longitudinal side in this unfolded state is also referred to as the "ventral side" or "front side", and the other longitudinal side is also referred to as the "dorsal side" or "rear side". The longitudinal direction in the unfolded state is the direction along the vertical direction of the pants-type state. 10, the thickness direction is the direction in which the materials forming the diaper 100 are laminated. The side in contact with the wearer in the thickness direction is the skin side, and the opposite side is the non-skin side.

In the unfolded state of FIG. 8, the absorbent main body 110 is fixed in a state of being stretched between the ventral waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140 which are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In addition, a plurality of elastic members 160 such as rubber threads are joined and fixed to the ventral waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140 along the same direction while being stretched in the left-right direction. , 140 are given a contractile force in the horizontal direction. When the diaper 100 is worn, the absorbent main body 110 is folded in half at its longitudinal central portion C, and the abdominal waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140 facing each other are brought into contact with each other at the lateral side edges 130e and 140e. By being joined, the diaper 100 in a wearing state having a waist opening HB and a pair of leg openings HL as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 10, the absorbent main body 110 includes an absorbent core 111 that absorbs liquid, a liquid-permeable top sheet 113 covering the absorbent core 111 from the skin side in the thickness direction, and an absorbent core 113 . and a liquid-impermeable film sheet 125 arranged to cover the elastic core 111 from the non-skin side in the thickness direction. The non-skin side of the absorbent main body 110 is provided with a nonwoven fabric 120 that forms the exterior of the diaper 100 . In this embodiment, the nonwoven fabric 1 of this embodiment is used as the nonwoven fabric 120 in order to improve the breathability of the diaper 100 .

The absorbent core 111 is a member formed by laminating liquid absorbent materials, and can absorb excrement such as urine. As the liquid absorbent material, for example, liquid absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers can be used. The absorbent core 111 may contain, for example, a superabsorbent polymer as the liquid absorbent granules, or may contain a liquid absorbent material other than the liquid absorbent fibers and the liquid absorbent granules. Also good. Moreover, the shape of the absorbent core 111 is not limited to the substantially rectangular shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 8, and may be, for example, a substantially hourglass shape in plan view. In the diaper 100, the absorbent core 111 has the liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 112, but may not have it.

The top sheet 113 is, for example, a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric having a planar size larger than that of the absorbent core 111 . Moreover, the film sheet 125 is a sheet-shaped member that covers the absorbent core 111 from the non-skin side, and is a sheet having a plane size larger than that of the absorbent core 111 . An example of the film sheet 125 is a liquid-impermeable leak-proof sheet such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

The nonwoven fabric 1 of the present embodiment as the nonwoven fabric 120 forming the outer layer is arranged on the non-skin side of the film sheet 125 in the thickness direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the lateral dimension of the nonwoven fabric 120(1) is sufficiently larger than that of the film sheet 125. It protrudes greatly outward in the left-right direction from both sides in the left-right direction. The nonwoven fabric 120(1) forms so-called three-dimensional gathers LSG and leg gathers LG.

The three-dimensional gathers LSG are leakage-preventing walls provided upright at the left and right ends of the top sheet 113 , while the leg gathers LG are formed in the leg openings LH, LH of the diaper 100 . It is the elastic part around the leg that is attached. The formation of the three-dimensional gathers LSG and the leg-surrounding gathers LG by the nonwoven fabric 120(1) will be described in detail. Let the part which exists be the protruding part 120bf. Then, the protruding portion 120bf is folded back toward the center in the left-right direction using the position where the end portion 110es of the absorbent main body 110 in the left-right direction is the folding position. A leg elastic member 117 such as a rubber thread is fixed in the vicinity of the folding position along the longitudinal direction while being stretched in the longitudinal direction, thereby forming the leg gathers LG.

The portion 120bg folded back toward the center in the left-right direction extends further toward the center in the left-right direction, and is joined to the ends of the top sheet 113 in the left-right direction at positions covering the same ends. A portion on the tip side in the left-right direction can stand up from the top sheet 113 as a free end portion LSGf from the portion joined to the end portion. In addition, an LSG elastic member 118 such as rubber thread is fixed along the longitudinal direction to the tip of the free end portion LSGf in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction. The free end portion LSGf contracts in the longitudinal direction due to the contractive force applied from the LSG elastic member 118 and stands up from the top sheet 113, thereby functioning as a three-dimensional gather LSG.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the nonwoven fabric 120(1) of the present embodiment has a perforated region 105 in which a plurality of perforations 5 are present in a portion overlapping the film sheet 125 in the thickness direction. A non-perforation region 106 having no perforations is provided in a portion that does not overlap the film sheet 125 when viewed in the thickness direction. By doing so, the portion where the film sheet 125 exists can exhibit excellent air permeability due to the openings 5, and the film sheet 125 can prevent leakage. Moreover, leakage can be prevented by providing a non-perforated region 106 in a portion where the film sheet 125 does not exist.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the diaper 100 has a crotch portion positioned between a ventral waist portion 130 positioned at one end in the longitudinal direction and a back waist portion 140 positioned at the other longitudinal end. 150. The nonwoven fabric 120(1) has a crotch region 120c located in the crotch region 150, and the crotch region 120c includes a leg gather portion LG1 (the portion indicated by diagonal lines sloping to the right) provided with a plurality of elastic members 117 that stretch in the longitudinal direction. ), and the leg gather portion LG1 has a non-perforated region 106 in which no perforations are present.

By arranging the open area 105 of the nonwoven fabric 120(1) in the crotch portion 150, breathability is improved. In addition, by making the leg gathers LG1 where leakage is likely to occur the non-perforation region 106, leakage is made difficult.

Further, it is possible to bond a printed sheet with design or a sheet member for reinforcement to the non-skin side of nonwoven fabric 120(1), but at least part of nonwoven fabric 120(1) is It is preferably arranged on the most non-skin side in the thickness direction of the absorbent article 100 . By arranging it on the most non-skin side, the openings 5 of the nonwoven fabric 120(1) can be easily seen, and the visibility of the openings is improved.

===Other Embodiments===
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit and interpret the present invention. Further, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

Although the nonwoven fabric 1 is used for the absorbent article 100 in the above embodiment, the laminate 3 may be used for the absorbent article 100 . FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the non-skin side in another embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 100 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the skin side in another embodiment. Here, as the sheets forming the ventral waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140, the laminate 3 and another nonwoven fabric 4 (FIG. 12) are used in a layered manner. Specifically, the nonwoven fabric 1 side of the laminate 3 is placed on the non-skin side, and the other nonwoven fabric 4 is placed on the skin side. In the ventral waist portion 130 and the dorsal waist portion 140, a plurality of elastic members 160 such as rubber threads arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction are stretched in the left-right direction and attached to each other by a hot-melt adhesive or the like. It is joined and fixed between the laminate 3 and another nonwoven fabric 4 . As a result, each waist portion 130, 140 is given a contractile force in the left-right direction. The laminate 3 and the nonwoven fabric 4 may also be joined by applying a hot melt adhesive or the like. By the way, examples of the application pattern used when applying the hot-melt adhesive to the laminate 3 and the nonwoven fabric 4 include an Ω pattern and a spiral pattern, but are not limited to these. That is, application patterns other than these may be used.

By arranging the laminate 3 on the ventral waist part 130 and the back waist part 140 where the wearer tends to sweat, breathability is improved by the plurality of openings 5 and 6, and skin troubles such as rashes are prevented. can be suppressed. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, by not providing the opening 6 at a position overlapping the absorbent main body 110 when viewed in the thickness direction, there is concern that the liquid absorbed by the absorbent main body 110 may leak. You can try not to feel it. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, since there are no openings on the side of the nonwoven fabric 4, the applied hot-melt adhesive does not give a feeling of uneasiness about being exposed, and the skin feels good.

In addition, when the laminate 3 is used for the ventral waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140 as described above, the nonwoven fabric 1 disposed on the non-skin side is breathable and soft, so that it does not spread outward. It can improve skin feel while facilitating evaporation of moisture.

In the above-described embodiment, the underpants-type disposable diaper 100 was illustrated as an example of the absorbent article, but the absorbent article is not limited to this. For example, a tape-type disposable diaper may be used. Also, as the pants-type disposable diaper 100, a so-called three-piece type diaper in which the absorbent main body 110 is stretched between the ventral waist portion 130 and the back waist portion 140 in the unfolded state is exemplified. A so-called two-piece type diaper may be used in which the absorbent body is placed on the skin side of an exterior sheet that is approximately hourglass shaped in the state.

1 nonwoven fabric, 2 another sheet member, 3 laminate, 4 nonwoven fabric,
5 opening, 5a opening, 5b opening, 5adi hole diameter, 5ae edge, 5aeh junction,
5a60 overlapping region, 5M middle region,
6 aperture, 6a aperture, 6adi pore diameter, 6aeh junction,
10 first thermoplastic fiber layer, 20 intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, 30 second thermoplastic fiber layer,
40 pins, 60 non-open areas, 70 non-joints,
100 absorbent article (diaper), 105 open area, 106 non-open area,
110 absorbent body, 110es edge, 111 absorbent core, 112 core wrap sheet,
113 topsheet, 120 nonwoven fabric,
117 leg elastic member, 118 LSG elastic member, 120 nonwoven fabric,
120bf protruding portion, 120bg folded portion, 120c crotch region,
125 film sheet, 130 ventral waist part, 130e side edge part,
140 dorsal waist part 140e side edge part 150 crotch part 160 elastic member 510 edge part 520 edge part 530 edge part
HB waist opening, HL leg opening,
LG leg gathers, LG1 leg gathers, LSG three-dimensional gathers

Claims (13)

having a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in the unfolded state;
non-woven fabric;
an absorbent main body comprising an absorbent body that absorbs liquid and a liquid-impermeable film sheet that covers the absorbent body from the non-skin side in the thickness direction;
An absorbent article having
The nonwoven fabric has a plurality of pores,
The nonwoven fabric is disposed at least between a first thermoplastic fiber layer, a second thermoplastic fiber layer, and between the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the second thermoplastic fiber layer, each comprising thermoplastic fibers. an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer;
The average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is smaller than the average fiber diameter of each of the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the fibers constituting the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The plurality of openings are openings formed to penetrate the first thermoplastic fiber layer, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The nonwoven fabric is arranged on the non-skin side of the film sheet in the thickness direction, and at least part of the nonwoven fabric is arranged on the most non-skin side of the absorbent article in the thickness direction ,
The nonwoven fabric has an open-hole region in which a plurality of openings are present in a portion overlapping with the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction, and has openings in a portion where the film sheet does not overlap with the film sheet when viewed in the thickness direction. An absorbent article characterized by having a non-perforated region in which no pores are present. having a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in the unfolded state;
non-woven fabric;
an absorbent body with an absorbent body that absorbs liquid;
An absorbent article having
The nonwoven fabric has a plurality of pores,
The nonwoven fabric is disposed at least between a first thermoplastic fiber layer, a second thermoplastic fiber layer, and between the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the second thermoplastic fiber layer, each comprising thermoplastic fibers. an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer;
The average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is smaller than the average fiber diameter of each of the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the fibers constituting the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The plurality of openings are openings formed to penetrate the first thermoplastic fiber layer, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The nonwoven fabric has an open area having a plurality of openings and a non-opening area having no openings, and at least a part of the nonwoven fabric is the largest in the thickness direction of the absorbent article. placed on the non-skin side ,
The absorbent article includes a ventral waistline portion located on one end side in the longitudinal direction, a back waistline portion located on the other end side in the longitudinal direction, and the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion. and a crotch portion located therebetween;
The nonwoven fabric has a crotch region located in the crotch,
The crotch region has a leg gather portion including a plurality of elastic members that stretch in the longitudinal direction,
The absorbent article, wherein the leg gather portion has the non-perforated region. The absorbent article according to claim 1,
a ventral waist portion located on one end side in the longitudinal direction, a back waist portion located on the other end side in the longitudinal direction, and a crotch portion located between the ventral waist portion and the back waist portion; and
The nonwoven fabric has a crotch region located in the crotch,
The crotch region has a leg gather portion including a plurality of elastic members that stretch in the longitudinal direction,
The absorbent article, wherein the leg gather portion has the non-perforated region. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The absorbent article, wherein the MFR (melt flow rate) of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is higher than the MFR of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the MFR of the second thermoplastic fiber layer. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The average fiber density of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer in an intermediate region between one of the plurality of apertures and another aperture adjacent to the certain aperture is the first An absorbent article, wherein the average fiber density of the thermoplastic fiber layer is higher than the average fiber density of the second thermoplastic fiber layer in the intermediate region. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The absorbent article, wherein the nonwoven fabric has an average basis weight of 10 g/m ² or more and 20 g/m ² or less . The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The absorbent article, wherein the average basis weight of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is lower than the average basis weight of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the average basis weight of the second thermoplastic fiber layer. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The absorbent article, wherein the average thickness of the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is thinner than the average thickness of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the average thickness of the second thermoplastic fiber layer. having a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other in the unfolded state;
An absorbent article having an absorbent body that absorbs liquid,
non-woven fabric;
and another sheet member arranged to overlap the nonwoven fabric and having a plurality of apertures,
The nonwoven fabric has a plurality of pores , and at least part of the nonwoven fabric is arranged on the most non-skin side of the absorbent article in the thickness direction ,
The nonwoven fabric is disposed at least between a first thermoplastic fiber layer, a second thermoplastic fiber layer, and between the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the second thermoplastic fiber layer, each comprising thermoplastic fibers. an intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer;
The average fiber diameter of the fibers constituting the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer is smaller than the average fiber diameter of each of the fibers constituting the first thermoplastic fiber layer and the fibers constituting the second thermoplastic fiber layer,
The plurality of openings provided in the nonwoven fabric are openings formed so as to penetrate the first thermoplastic fiber layer, the intermediate thermoplastic fiber layer, and the second thermoplastic fiber layer. An absorbent article characterized by: The absorbent article according to claim 9 ,
an aperture of the plurality of apertures of the nonwoven fabric overlaps with one aperture of the plurality of apertures of the another sheet member;
An absorbent article, wherein at least a part of the edge adjacent to the certain opening and the edge adjacent to the one opening are joined to each other. The absorbent article according to claim 10 ,
An absorbent article, wherein at least a portion of said certain aperture overlaps with a non-perforated region without apertures of said another sheet member. The absorbent article according to claim 11 ,
An absorbent article, wherein the edge adjacent to the certain aperture and the non-porous region have non-joined portions that are not joined to each other. The absorbent article according to claim 11 or 12 ,
The hole diameter of the certain opening is larger than the hole diameter of one of the plurality of openings of the another sheet member,
An absorbent article, wherein the one aperture is positioned inside the certain aperture when viewed from above.

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