# US 10,945,890 B2 · Manufacturing method for absorbing body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,890 B2 - Document ID: US10945890B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/751,776 - Filed: 2016-08-10 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-12 - Assignees: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroki Yabuguchi; Toru Kawahara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945890B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/15617: {Making absorbent pads from fibres or pulverulent material with or without treatment of the fibres} - A61F 13/15658: {Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof} - A61F 13/15: Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators - A61F 13/15707: {Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping} - A61F 13/15764: {Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives} - A61F 13/539: characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers - A61F 2013/530131: {being made in fibre but being not pulp} - A61F 2013/53445: {from several sheets} - A61F 2013/8488: {including testing apparatus} - Y10T 156/1057: Subsequent to assembly of laminae - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the present invention includes a first step of successively introducing an aggregate of absorbent fibers and a water-absorbent resin into a gap that is formed between a first surface and a second surface and is smaller than a thickness of the aggregate of the absorbent fibers, recesses and protrusions being formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface, a second step of applying a shearing force to the aggregate of the absorbent fibers by moving the first surface relative to and parallel to the second surface in order to mix the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin, and a third step of causing the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed to fall, and stacking the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin by suctioning the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin into a recessed portion having a predetermined shape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for manufacturing an absorbent body for testing, the method comprising the following steps in sequence: a first step of obtaining a material body comprising an aggregate of absorbent fibers and a water-absorbent resin, wherein the water-absorbent resin is dispersively disposed in contact with the aggregate of the absorbent fibers; a second step of introducing a material body comprising an aggregate of absorbent fibers and a water-absorbent resin into a gap in a mixing unit that is formed between a first surface and a second surface, wherein the gap is smaller than a thickness of the material body comprising the aggregate of the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin, recesses and protrusions being formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface; a third step of applying a shearing force in the mixing unit to the material body in the mixing unit by moving the first surface relative to and parallel to the second surface in the mixing unit in order to crush and rub the material body and mix the aggregate of the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin together; and a fourth step of causing the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed together while the material body was sheared and crushed to fall, and stacking the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin by suctioning the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin into a stationary recessed portion having a predetermined shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, the water-absorbent resin that is dispersively disposed in contact with the aggregate of the absorbent fibers is dispersively disposed on an upper surface of the absorbent fibers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein after the material body comprising the aggregate of the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin are moved along the gap by a predetermined distance in the third step, the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed are caused to fall in the fourth step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 3, wherein recesses and protrusions are formed on the first surface, and recesses and protrusions are formed on the second surface on a downstream side in a direction in which the material body comprising the aggregate of the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin move. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 3, wherein a through hole is formed in the second surface on a downstream side in a direction in which the material body comprising the aggregate of the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin move, and the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed are caused to fall from the through hole in the fourth step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is formed by an outer circumferential surface of a rotatable cylindrical body, and the second surface is disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 6, wherein the through hole is formed at a site on the second surface that is positioned below the cylindrical body, and the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed are caused to fall from the through hole in the fourth step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed are caused to fall into a closed space in the fourth step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 8, wherein a shape of the closed space increases in size toward its lower end, and the recessed portion is formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the lower end of the closed space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 8, wherein the absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin that were mixed in a closed space are caused to fall through a mesh member in the fourth step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a size of the absorbent body is 15 cm×10 cm to 80 cm×30 cm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, further comprising a step of pressing the material body comprising the aggregate of the absorbent fibers into a flat shape before the first step. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, recesses and protrusions are formed on the first surface and recesses and protrusions are formed on the second surface, and in the third step, the material body comprising the aggregate of absorbent fibers and the water-absorbent resin are crushed due to shearing between recesses and protrusions on the first surface and recesses and protrusions on the second surface.