JP3846991B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an absorbent article, and relates to an absorbent article used for infants or incontinence, used for diapers, etc. The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a liquid-retaining absorbent that quickly absorbs the wearer's urine and loose stool by making the later structure suitable for urine or loose stool.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally used diapers include a liquid-permeable top layer and a liquid-impermeable back sheet, a liquid-permeable diffusion layer, cotton-like pulp, a superabsorbent polymer (hereinafter referred to as SAP), hydrophilic The urine is absorbed by the absorber through the absorber. At this time, the absorbent body must quickly absorb the wearer's excrement and hold the skin without rewetting. In particular, it is necessary to isolate, absorb, and hold stool and diarrheal stool, which is called soft stool, which has a relatively low viscosity in the above-mentioned baby food from neonatal period to infancy period, and is soft. In recent years, various absorbent articles, including disposable diapers, are satisfactory in that they do not leak urine outside the diaper, but the soft stool that is held inside the diaper comes into contact with the skin of the wearer. Often happens. Thus, the longer the time that the skin and excrement are in contact with each other, the excrement stimulates the skin and causes dermatitis such as diaper rash.
[0003]
In order to quickly absorb the wearer's urine, a method for changing the SAP distribution inside the absorber is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-167002, and a method for changing the pulp density is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-34203. Is disclosed. Although these methods are effective against urine, the effect on loose stool is not clear. Moreover, as a method for absorbing urine and loose stool, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-111361 has been disclosed as a method for changing the SAP distribution in the fluid storage lower layer on the back sheet side. However, the present condition is that soft stool having less water than urine and having a high viscosity is difficult to be absorbed.
[0004]
Moreover, although the method of isolating a stool by changing the structure of a diaper is disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 4-300543, this isolate | separates and hold | maintains a stool by providing the top sheet which has an opening. However, since the opening is crushed when the wearer is sitting, stool may not be retained, and the number of processes for processing the top sheet and the absorbent body increases, resulting in a reduction in production efficiency.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of conventional diapers, quickly absorbs the wearer's urine, soft stool and diarrheal stool with relatively low viscosity, and isolates and retains it. To provide diapers.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a liquid-permeable top sheet positioned on the side in contact with the wearer's skin, a back sheet positioned on the opposite side to the side in contact with the wearer's skin through the top sheet, and between the two sheets. An absorbent article having an absorbent body arranged, wherein the absorbent body has three regions of a ventral region, a dorsal region, and an intermediate region between the ventral region and the dorsal region, each having a different absorption capacity. And the absorbent capacity of the three regions is greater in the order of intermediate region> ventral region> back region.
[0007]
The ventral region of the absorbent body of the present invention is composed of a superabsorbent polymer substance and cotton-like pulp, the dorsal region is mainly made of cotton-like pulp, and the intermediate region is made of superabsorbent fibers. The present invention relates to an absorbent article that is mainly configured.
[0008]
Furthermore, the top sheet of the present invention relates to an absorbent article in which a partition for separating the ventral region and the dorsal region is formed.
[0009]
The backsheet of the present invention also relates to an absorbent article, wherein the ventral region is made of a liquid-impermeable material and the back region is made of a water-repellent material.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the absorbent article of the present invention, the absorbent body is composed of a ventral region, a dorsal region, and an intermediate region between the ventral region and the dorsal region, and the configuration thereof is suitable for each of urine or loose stool. The urine of the wearer and soft stool and diarrheal stool with relatively low viscosity can be quickly absorbed, isolated and retained, and the contact time between the skin and excrement causing dermatitis is shortened. Is something that can be done.
[0011]
In the ventral region, since it is necessary to absorb the wearer's urine, a layer (an anti-urine portion) made of SAP and cotton-like pulp is disposed. When the wearer urinates, it is first absorbed by the cotton-like pulp through the hydrophilic top sheet and then absorbed and held by the SAP.
[0012]
Moreover, since it is necessary to absorb a wearer's soft stool and diarrhea stool, the layer (conventional part) which has a cotton-like pulp as a main component is arrange | positioned in a back | dorsal area | region. When the wearer excretes, loose stool or the like containing a large amount of water is absorbed and retained in the gaps between the fibers of the cotton-like pulp layer. Since soft stool and diarrheal stool are higher in viscosity and less in water than urine, it is necessary to dispose a layer made of cotton-like pulp that can hold solids in the gaps between fibers as compared with SAP that absorbs water.
[0013]
Furthermore, the middle region corresponding to the urine / feces separation part between the ventral region which is the urinary part and the dorsal region which is the stool part is not absorbed by the urinary part on the ventral side but diffuses toward the central part. Since it is necessary to absorb and stop urine with certainty and to separate loose stool containing water excreted in the stool portion on the back side, higher absorption performance is required.
[0014]
Further, by forming a convex partition that separates the urine portion and the stool portion in the top sheet, urine on the surface of the top sheet is prevented from flowing into the stool portion or the stool is prevented from flowing into the urine portion.
[0015]
【Example】
The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state where a part of an absorbent article 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is cut open. The absorbent article 1 of FIG. 1 has a top sheet 2, an abdominal back sheet 3 and a back back sheet 4, and an absorbent body 5 and a partition 6 therebetween.
Absorber 5 is a ventral region A which is an urinary portion made of SAP and cotton pulp on the ventral side, an intermediate region C which is a urine / feces separation portion made of a material having a high absorbability at the center, and a cotton-like portion on the back side. It has a dorsal region B which is a toilet part mainly composed of pulp, and the partition 6 exists on the boundary between the ventral region A and the intermediate region C.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article of the present invention, and shows an XX ′ cutaway view of the absorbent article of FIG.
In FIG. 2, the absorbent body 5 sandwiched between the top sheet 2, the ventral backsheet 3 and the dorsal backsheet 4 is a ventral region A which is an anti-urine portion made of SAP and cotton pulp on the ventral side, and has a high absorption capacity in the center. An intermediate region C made of a material having a back side and a back side region B corresponding to a stool portion mainly composed of cotton-like pulp on the back side, and a partition 6 is a boundary between the ventral region A and the intermediate region C Be on the line.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows an example in which the absorbent article of the present invention is used as a diaper. A tape type in which elastic members 7 around the legs are disposed on the portion of the absorbent article 1 shown in FIG. 1 around the wearer's legs, and fastening tapes 8 are attached to both side edges near the waist opening in the back region. It is a perspective view of a diaper.
At the time of use, the front body and the back body are bonded and fixed and held by the wearer.
[0018]
FIG. 4 shows another example when the absorbent article of the present invention is used as a diaper. On the side edges of the absorbent article 1 of FIG. 1, side flaps extending outward are folded back on the top sheet 2, and elastic elastic members are disposed in a stretched state on both side edges in the longitudinal direction of the folded parts, and Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the folded portion are bonded and fixed to the top sheet 2 on the absorbent body, and this becomes the base end, and the free edge of the flap on which the elastic elastic member is arranged rises from the base end so that the three-dimensional gather 9 is a perspective view in which a bonding portion between a front body and a rear body of a pant-type diaper formed by arranging them in a central region along the longitudinal direction of the exterior sheet 10 is opened and developed.
[0019]
Here, the absorbent article 1 in which the three-dimensional gather 9 is disposed is disposed in a central region along the longitudinal direction of the exterior sheet 10 in which the leg elastic members 7 and the waist elastic members 11 are disposed, and the front body and the back body. Is closed in advance and held around the waist from the wearer's belly.
[0020]
The top sheet 2 used in the present invention uses a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic fibers.
Further, the ventral backsheet 3 is a liquid-impermeable polyethylene sheet, preferably a moisture-permeable liquid-impermeable sheet stretched by adding a filler to a thermoplastic resin when the absorbent article is used alone. Or, since the texture such as the touch is superior, at least one surface of the liquid-impermeable sheet was laminated or laminated with a non-woven fabric such as a card made of polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, or spunbond. It is appropriate to use a composite sheet.
[0021]
On the other hand, since the back side back sheet 4 is mainly used as the stool portion, the water content of the excrement is less than that of the urine portion, so that the liquid impermeability as much as the abdominal back sheet 3 is not required. Air permeability is also obtained by using a non-woven fabric made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic fiber having a water pressure resistance (water resistance test A method according to JIS L 1092) of 100 mmH ₂ O or more by applying water repellent treatment or the like. The possibility of causing skin disorders such as rashes due to stuffiness is also reduced.
[0022]
Further, when the absorbent article is held by the wearer with an exterior sheet that surrounds the waist from the wearer's belly, for example, when used as an internal pad of a diaper as shown in FIG. The backsheet 3 may also be a nonwoven fabric made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic fibers that has been subjected to water repellent finish.
[0023]
It is preferable that the absorber 5 has a structure in which the three regions to be formed are different from each other and further has a structure in which the whole is wrapped with tissue. In addition, a rectangular shape, an hourglass shape, a T-shape, or the like can be selected as the shape of the absorber, but an hourglass shape is preferable as a shape that fits the shape of the body.
The wearer's ventral region A in the present invention is a portion that mainly absorbs urine and is made of a material that exhibits high water absorption. Such a material is composed of cotton-like pulp, SAP, or the like, but is not particularly limited, and may be a water-absorbing sponge, an absorbent sheet, or the like.
[0024]
In addition, the dorsal region B needs to absorb the soft stool and diarrheal stool of the wearer, so that a layer mainly composed of cotton-like pulp is disposed, but in order to absorb and retain moisture contained in the stool It is preferable to mix a small amount of a water-absorbing material such as SAP.
[0025]
Here, as the cotton-like pulp, chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, or a chemical mechanical pulp sheet made into a cotton-like shape by a pulverizer is used. As the pulp raw material, wood pulp such as softwood and hardwood, and non-wood pulp such as hemp are also applied. The amount of the pulp used varies depending on whether it is used alone or in combination with a plurality of layers depending on the intended absorber, or in combination with paddy absorbents, but is generally 50 to 400 g / m ² . .
[0026]
Synthetic fibers, heat-attached components, adhesives, and the like may be used together with cotton-like pulp, and 3 to 60% by weight of these may be mixed and thermocompression bonded.
Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular as a hot-melt component, When considering mixing with cotton-like pulp, a fibrous thing is preferable. Examples of the hot-melt component include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyvinylidene, acrylic resin, and nylon resin. Or the composite fiber which consists of 2 or more components, such as polyester, a polypropylene, polyethylene, may be sufficient, and the composite fiber of polyester / polyester, polyester / polyethylene, polypropylene / polyethylene is especially preferable from the surface of intensity | strength. The fiber diameter is preferably about 1 to 5 denier, and the fiber length of 3 to 30 mm is suitable for mixing with cotton-like pulp, but is not particularly limited.
[0027]
Examples of SAP include starch, cellulose, and synthetic polymer. Namely, starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymer, saponified product of starch-ethyl acrylate graft copolymer, saponified product of starch-methyl methacrylate graft copolymer, saponified product of starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer Saponified starch-acrylamide graft copolymer, saponified starch-acrylonitrile-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid graft copolymer, acrylic acid (salt) polymer, polyethylene oxide crosslinked with acrylic acid Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, a crosslinked product of polyvinyl alcohol-maleic anhydride reaction product, and the like. Among these, those that absorb urine, body fluids and water more than 20 times their own weight, and sodium polyacrylate are most suitable in terms of absorption capacity. The distribution amount of SAP is 10 to 500%, preferably 15 to 300%, based on the dry weight of the cotton-like pulp, and such an amount of SAP is uniformly or non-uniformly distributed on the cotton-like pulp. May be. When SAP absorbs moisture and swells, its particles have minimal mutual interference, and are less likely to come into continuous contact to form a permeation barrier, and permeate and absorb urine and body fluids in a three-dimensional direction.
[0028]
Furthermore, the middle region C corresponding to the urine / feces separation part that divides the ventral region A that is the urinary part and the dorsal region B that is the stool part is not absorbed by the ventral region A and diffuses toward the central part. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the loose stool containing the water excreted in the dorsal region B, so that higher absorption performance is required. Therefore, it is possible to use super absorbent fibers made from acrylic acid fibers such as oasis (manufactured by Kanebo Co., Ltd.) and Lanseal (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.), which are known for their high absorption performance. .
[0029]
As an evaluation method of the absorption performance used in the present invention, the following method was used to evaluate the absorption capacity under pressure (g / g).
A container 15 having an outside air suction pipe 13 placed on a balance 12 as shown in FIG. 5 and containing 0.9% physiological saline 14 and a conduit 16 connected to a physiological saline containing portion of the container 15. A device comprising a reverse funnel 17 in communication with a glass filter 18 attached to the top of the reverse funnel 17, an absorber 19 is placed on the filter 18, and a weight 20 is placed thereon. The amount of absorption (g / g) of the absorber under a load of 30 g / cm ² after 30 seconds was measured. In addition, the to-be-measured absorber used what was previously cut out into a circle with a diameter of 5.5 cm.
[0030]
According to the measurement of the absorption capacity, the absorption amount under pressure in the three regions of the ventral region A, the intermediate region C, and the dorsal region B forming the absorbent body 5 is 8-30 g / g in the ventral region A, and the dorsal side. It is preferable that the area B is 4 to 6 g / g, the intermediate area C is 10 to 40 g / g, and the absorption capacity of the three areas is larger in the order of the intermediate area C> the ventral area A> the dorsal area B. This is because the intermediate region C requires a high absorption power in a short time to reliably separate the ventral region A and the dorsal region B, and the ventral region A absorbs and holds urine. High absorptive power is required, and the dorsal region B is required to isolate excrement from the skin in a short time in order to absorb the stool that has higher viscosity and less water than urine such as stool and diarrhea. This is because it is mainly composed of cotton-like pulp, and high absorption performance is not necessary. Absorbent fibers used in the intermediate region C are SAP alone or cotton-like pulp alone, and a ventral region A and a dorsal region B such as an absorbent layer obtained by mixing SAP and cotton-like pulp. It exhibits a higher absorption capacity than any of the configurations of the absorber used. When the ventral region A and the intermediate region C have a lower absorption capacity than the dorsal region B, the urine excreted in the ventral region A in the intermediate region C does not diffuse or absorb and flows into the dorsal region B Doing so could prevent it from happening, and the humidity of the buttocks could rise and cause rashes due to stuffiness.
[0031]
Furthermore, the ratio of the length in the longitudinal direction of the ventral region A, the intermediate region C, and the dorsal region B forming the absorbent body 5 is 50 to 65% / 5 to 10% / 25 to 45%. This is preferable because the ventral region A is 50% or less, or the dorsal region B is 45% or more, loose stool or the like flows into the ventral region and miscellaneous bacteria enter the genitals. This can easily cause skin damage. Furthermore, when the ventral region A is 65% or more or the dorsal region B is 25% or less, urine diffuses to the dorsal region and the humidity of the buttocks increases, so that it is easy to cause a rash caused by stuffiness. . If the dorsal region B is too wide, the intermediate region C does not need a large region because the intermediate region C aims to separate the ventral region A and the dorsal region B reliably.
[0032]
Further, the partition 6 that separates the ventral region and the dorsal region has at least 80% of the crotch width on the boundary between the ventral region A and the intermediate region C, a longitudinal length of 5-15 mm, and a height of 5-5. By arrange | positioning by 15 mm, a convex-shaped wall is formed on the top sheet 2, and the inflow of the urine and feces in a top sheet shape to each other can be prevented. Here, when the width | variety with respect to the crotch of the partition 6 is narrower than 80%, there exists a possibility that excrement may flow into the abdomen and the back | dorsal side. If the length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than 5 mm and the height is lower than 5 mm, the absorbent body will be swollen and water such as urine will be absorbed during wearing, and the part other than the partition 6 may be higher than the partition 6. There is a possibility that the role of the partition cannot be sufficiently fulfilled. Further, if the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than 15 mm, there is a possibility that the absorption of the absorbent body 5 formed in the lower portion may be hindered. If the height is higher than 15 mm, there are many parts that touch the wearer's body, Discomfort to the wearer may cause discomfort to the wearer and may cause frictional rashes. For this reason, the material for forming the partition is bulky but has little discomfort to the body and is preferably weakly water-repellent, and examples thereof include urethane foam.
[0033]
When the three-dimensional gather 9 is formed on the absorbent article 1 as shown in FIG. 4, the side flap is a liquid-impermeable polyethylene sheet, a polyethylene sheet provided with air permeability by providing micropores, or a thermoplastic resin. A sheet imparted with moisture permeability such as a liquid-impermeable liquid-permeable sheet that has been stretched by adding a filler to the sheet, and also has an excellent texture such as touch, so that at least one surface of the liquid-impermeable sheet has polypropylene. A composite sheet obtained by laminating or laminating a non-woven fabric such as a card or a spun bond made of polyester, polyethylene or the like can be used. In addition, when a nonwoven fabric made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic fibers subjected to water repellent finish is used, the texture such as touch is good and high air permeability can be obtained.
[0034]
The elastic elastic member disposed on the side flaps, the leg elastic elastic member 7 and the waist elastic member 11 constituting the diaper are ordinary absorbent articles such as urethane film, urethane yarn, urethane foam, and rubber thread. The elastic elastic members used in the above can be used as they are, and these elastic elastic members are bonded and fixed in a stretched state by a hot melt adhesive.
[0035]
Furthermore, as a bonding method for forming the base end portion, hot melt bonding, pressure welding, ultrasonic melting, or the like can be used alone or in combination.
In addition, when adhesively closing both front and back body parts of a pants-type diaper, the state where both side edges protrude outward, the state where both side edges protrude outward, or one side edge is outside, With the other side edge protruding inward, the hot melt adhesive, pressure welding, ultrasonic melting, or the like is joined alone or in combination along the outermost part of both side edges.
[0036]
At least the central region in the longitudinal direction of the exterior sheet 10 where the absorbent article 1 is disposed is a liquid-impermeable polyethylene sheet, preferably a liquid-impermeable sheet with moisture permeability that is stretched by adding a filler to a thermoplastic resin. It is preferable to use a sheet imparted with moisture permeability, and the portion other than the absorbent article 1 disposed is at least two layers in order to sandwich and arrange the elastic members 7 around the legs. In order to suppress humidity rise due to stagnation and excrement, and to prevent rashes that may occur due to stuffiness or stuffiness, a non-woven fabric made of thermoplastic fibers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, or a polyethylene sheet with micropores to provide breathability, and heat Use a moisture-permeable sheet that has been stretched by adding a filler to a plastic resin, and use non-woven fabric at least for the inner part that directly touches the wearer. Rukoto is preferable.
[0037]
Further, in order to further improve the fit to the wearer of the diaper, a plurality of elastic elastic members are provided in the width direction of at least a part of the outer sheet 10 corresponding to the waist of the front body and the back body of the wearer. Can also be arranged. More preferably, at least one surface of a moisture-permeable and stretchable polyurethane film having a thickness of 5 to 40 μm, a natural rubber sheet, and a foamed sheet is used as a sheet used in a portion other than at least where the absorbent article 1 is disposed. In addition, a single elastomer nonwoven web or at least one side of the elastomer nonwoven web is polyester fiber such as polyethylene terephthalate fiber, polyolefin fiber, polyamide fiber such as nylon fiber, cellulose fiber such as cotton fiber, pulp fiber, and mixtures thereof. A laminate obtained by laminating and laminating a fiber layer made of a material selected from a group including a hydroentangled or laminated web, or a thermoplastic resin having moisture permeability and stretchability such as polyurethane and polyolefin. If you use the one laminated to the fiber layer Stuffiness with the fit can be prevented.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, in FIG. 3, a tape-type use diaper that attaches and fixes the front and back of the diaper using a tape when the diaper is used, and in FIG. Although the diaper is shown, the diaper in FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional pants type in advance, and fastening means are provided on both sides in the width direction of the front body or the back body of the diaper in FIG. It is good also as a shape which adheres and fixes a front body and a back body.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the absorbent article according to the present invention, the absorbent body is in contact with the wearer's skin by adopting a configuration suitable for each of the three regions of the ventral region and the dorsal region, and further, the intermediate region separating them. Since the urine and feces of the top sheet can be quickly absorbed and isolated and retained, the skin does not cause skin damage such as rash due to skin irritation caused by excrement, and has an effect of maintaining a comfortable state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cut-out plan view of an absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX ′ of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape-type diaper in which the absorbent article of the present invention is provided with a leg-surrounding elastic member and front and rear body fastening means.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view in which a bonding portion between a front body and a back body of a pant-type diaper formed by arranging the absorbent article of the present invention in a central region along the longitudinal direction of an exterior sheet is unfolded.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for measuring absorption under pressure, which is used for measuring the absorption capacity of an absorber in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
A: Ventral region (for urine)
B: Dorsal region (for flight)
C: Middle region (urine / feces separation part)
1: Absorbent article 2: Top sheet 3: Abdominal back sheet 4: Back side back sheet 5: Absorber 6: Partition 7: Stretchable elastic member 8: Fastening tape 9: Solid gather 10: Exterior sheet 11: Waist Surrounding elastic member 12: Balance 13: Outside air suction pipe 14: 0.9% concentration physiological saline 15: Saline storage container 16: Conduit 17: Reverse funnel 18: Glass filter 19: Absorbent 20 to be measured: Weight

Claims (4)

A liquid-permeable top sheet positioned on the side in contact with the wearer's skin, a back sheet positioned on the side opposite to the side in contact with the wearer's skin via the top sheet, and disposed between the two sheets An absorbent article having an absorber,
The absorbent body is composed of three regions, a ventral region, a dorsal region, and an intermediate region between the ventral region and the dorsal region, each having different absorption capacity, and the absorption capability of the three regions is an intermediate region> rather than the size in the order of the ventral region> dorsal region,
The intermediate region absorbs and stops urine that could not be absorbed in the ventral region, and has a function of separating the water from feces by absorbing the water excreted in the dorsal region. Absorbent article.   The ventral region of the absorbent body is composed of a superabsorbent polymer material and cotton-like pulp, the dorsal region is mainly composed of cotton-like pulp, and the intermediate region is mainly composed of superabsorbent fibers. The absorptive article according to claim 1 characterized by things. The partition which prevents the inflow to the back side area | region of the urine in the surface of this top sheet and / or the inflow of the stool to the abdominal side area | region is formed in the said top sheet. Or the absorbent article of 2.   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the back sheet is made of a liquid-impermeable material in the ventral region and a water-repellent material in the back region.

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