# US 2016/0250083 A1 · Absorbent body and device for producing same

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- Number: US 2016/0250083 A1
- Document ID: US20160250083A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/033,445
- Filed: 2014-10-30
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-14
- Assignees: Zuiko Corporation
- Applicants: Zuiko Corporation
- Inventors: Yoshio TSUJIMOTO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160250083A1

## CPC

- A61F 13/515: characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet
- A61F 13/15634: {Making fibrous pads between sheets or webs}
- A61F 13/15658: {Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof}
- A61F 13/15723: {Partitioning batts; Cutting}
- A61F 13/15739: {Sealing, e.g. involving cutting}
- A61F 13/5323: {having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets}
- B29C 65/086: {using a rotary anvil}
- B29C 65/7847: {using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined (vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005)}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/232: {said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines}
- B29C 66/234: {said joint lines being in the form of tessellations}
- B29C 66/433: {Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam (for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261)}
- B29C 66/7294: {Non woven mats, e.g. felt}
- B29C 66/7373: {Joining soiled or oxidised materials}
- B29C 66/81433: {being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins (comprising a single tooth B29C66/81429), or being patterned}
- B29C 66/83411: {Roller, cylinder or drum types (B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362)}
- B29C 66/83415: {the contact angle between said rollers, cylinders or drums and said parts to be joined being a non-zero angle (B29C66/83433 takes precedence)}
- B32B 38/06: Embossing
- A61F 2013/15869: {with ultrasonic energy}
- A61F 2013/15878: {by thermal bonding}
- A61F 2013/530562: {being arranged in discontinuous pattern}
- B29C 43/24: Calendering
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 66/436: {Joining sheets for making articles comprising cushioning or padding materials, the weld being performed through the cushioning material, e.g. car seats (joining through openings B29C66/304)}
- B29C 66/45: {Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles (methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00)}
- B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums}
- B29C 66/849: {Packaging machines}
- B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films}
- B29L 2007/00: Flat articles, e.g. films or sheets (B29L2024/00 takes precedence)
- B29L 2031/4878: {Diapers, napkins}
- B32B 37/0084: {Point bonding}
- B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins
- 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)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

An absorbent body forming satisfactory connections while webs are conveyed at a high speed includes at least two sheets of nonwoven fabric overlapping each other; connections at which the nonwoven fabric sheets are connected together; and an absorbent material disposed between the nonwoven fabric sheets at a small region encircled by the connections. When seen in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the nonwoven fabric sheets, a plurality of the connections is formed with spaces therebetween on each side of imaginary polygons compartmentalizing the nonwoven fabric sheets and neighboring each other, and the connection is formed at least on a middle part of the sides common to the imaginary polygons neighboring each other. The connections are formed sequentially, and simultaneously arranged in a row parallel to each other, and the minimum number of connections per row is at least 45% of the maximum number of connections per row.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An absorbent body comprising:
at least two sheets of nonwoven fabric overlaid with each other;
connections for connecting together the nonwoven fabric sheets; and
an absorbent material that is disposed in a small region encircled by the connections between the nonwoven fabric sheets, wherein
as for the connections,
when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the nonwoven fabric sheet, a plurality of the connections are formed with spaces therebetween on each of sides of imaginary polygons that compartmentalize the nonwoven fabric sheet and that arc adjacent to each other,
wherein the connections is arranged at least on a middle part of the side common to the imaginary polygons adjacent to each other, and wherein:
the connections are formed sequentially; the connections formed simultaneously are arranged in a row; a plurality of the rows of the connections formed at different times are parallel to each other; and a minimum number of the connections per one of the rows is equal to or greater than 45% of a maximum number of the connections per one of the rows.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein at least three connections are formed on each of the sides of the imaginary polygon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein all interior angles of the imaginary polygon are 90 degrees or larger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the nonwoven fabric sheet, the connection has an acute portion protruding parallel to or substantially parallel to a direction in which the side of the imaginary polygon extends.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein as for a pair of end regions, each of which contains the small regions encircled by the connections and which is adjacent to an outer periphery of the nonwoven fabric sheet on each of both sides in a direction at right angles to the rows of the connections, and a middle region which contains the small regions between the pair of end regions, the absorbent material is not disposed in the small region contained in the end region, or an amount of the absorbent material disposed in the small region contained in the end region is substantially smaller than an amount of the absorbent material disposed in the small region contained in the middle region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein:
a shape of the nonwoven fabric sheet is a rectangle having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides; and
the connections formed simultaneously are arranged in the row parallel to the pair of short sides.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The absorbent body according to claim 1, further comprising
plural rows of outer peripheral connections which, when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the nonwoven fabric sheet, are arranged with spaces therebetween in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the nonwoven fabric sheet along the outer periphery of the nonwoven fabric sheet and which are adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the outer periphery of the nonwoven fabric sheet,
wherein when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the outer periphery of the nonwoven fabric sheet and parallel to the main surface of the nonwoven fabric sheet, the outer peripheral connections in the plural rows overlap with each other.

### Claim 8

An absorbent body producing device comprising:
a rotating roll having an outer peripheral surface in which protrusions are formed; and
an opposing member arranged adjacent to the rotating roll and facing the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll so as to supply ultrasonic vibration or heat, in which
when a first and a second web being at least two sheets of nonwoven fabric pass through between the opposing member and the rotating roll in a state that the first and the second web are overlaid with each other and that an absorbent material is inserted between the first and the second web,
with the opposing member urging the webs toward the protrusions, the opposing member supplies the ultrasonic vibration or heat to the webs so that connections at which the webs are connected together are formed in correspondence to the protrusions,
wherein: as for the protrusions,
a plurality of the protrusions are formed with spaces therebetween on each of sides of imaginary polygons that compartmentalize the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll and that are adjacent to each other;
the protrusion is formed at least on a middle part of the side common to the imaginary polygons adjacent to each other; and
the protrusions are arranged in a plurality of rows parallel to a rotational center axis of the rotating roll, and a minimum number of the protrusions per one of the rows is equal to or greater than 45% of a maximum number of the protrusions per one of the rows.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, wherein at least three connections are formed on each of the sides of the imaginary polygon.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, wherein within the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll, in a mesh-like portion containing the side of the imaginary polygon and extending in a mesh-like shape along the side, the protrusions are formed that protrude from the mesh-like portion to an outer side in a radial direction of the rotating roll, and
wherein within the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll, in an inner portion surrounded by the mesh-like portion, a recess is formed that retreats to an inner side in the radial direction of the rotating roll relative to the mesh-like portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, wherein all interior angles of the imaginary polygon are 90 degrees or larger.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion has an acute portion protruding parallel to or substantially parallel to a direction in which the side of the imaginary polygon extends.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, further comprising
plural rows of outer peripheral protrusions that are formed on one side or both sides of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll in a direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the rotating roll relative to a region where the protrusions are formed, and that are arranged with spaces therebetween in a plurality of rows in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll so as to be adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the rotating roll,
wherein when viewed in the direction parallel to the rotational center axis, the rows of outer peripheral protrusions overlap with each other and are continuous to each other.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The absorbent body producing device according to claim 8, further comprising
an absorbent material supply unit arranged adjacent to the rotating roll and opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll,
wherein the absorbent material supply unit supplies the absorbent material
to at least one of the first and the second web that are arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll and move together with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating roll in association with rotation of the rotating roll,
in a manner that supply of the absorbent material is suspended with a fixed period for a portion facing at least three rows of the imaginary polygons arranged in the direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the rotating roll.