# US 8,581,018 B2 · Absorber comprising pulp, tea dregs and water absorbent resin; sanitary articles using the absorber and production method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,581,018 B2 - Document ID: US8581018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/529,028 - Filed: 2008-03-03 - Published: 2010-09-30 - Granted: 2013-11-12 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-01 - Assignees: Daiki Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hiroshi Ito; Kouichi Fukuda - Inventors: Hiroshi Ito; Kouichi Fukuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8581018B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/534: having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence) - A61F 13/15634: {Making fibrous pads between sheets or webs} - A61F 13/53: characterised by the absorbing medium (A61F13/20 takes precedence) - A61F 13/8405: {Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control} - A61F 2013/15016: {for breast; pads for bras} - A61F 2013/15048: {for protection against contamination, or protection in using body disinfecting wipes} - A61F 2013/15447: {Fibre dimension, e.g. denier or tex} - A61F 2013/530007: {being made from pulp} - A61F 2013/5315: {with a tissue-wrapped core} - A61F 2013/8408: {with odour control} - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - Y10T 428/249926: Including paper layer - 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 An absorber wherein crushed tea leaves having a particle size of 0.05 to 4.6 mm are dispersed and held within a pulp fiber material having a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, for water-absorbing, drying, and odor-eliminating with good visual quality, and maintaining sanitary conditions, and sanitary articles using the absorber. An upper water-absorbing paper layer portion forms an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion forms a lower surface, and a water-absorbing mixture layer portion is provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion. The layer portions are overlapped and integrated forming the absorber. The water-absorbing mixture layer portion is formed by including a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to have a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, and crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorber formed integrally by overlapping in layers with an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, and a water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity. ### Claim 2 An absorber formed integrally by overlapping in layers with an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprising an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, and a water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity. ### Claim 3 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 4 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 5 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to have a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 6 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm and crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 7 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are press-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 8 An absorber comprising an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion comprised of a lower surface, an intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, an upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, and a lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion provided between the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion and the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion; wherein the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion is comprised of a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, a crushed plastic-containing material in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material, and the particles of crushed tea dregs are distributed so that the content increases from upper to lower within the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, a water absorbing mixture layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion are pressed-shaped integrally by overlapping in layers, to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material; and the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the intermediate water-absorbing paper layer portion, the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion, the upper water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing mixture layer portion are overlapped in layers and formed integrally. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 1 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 10 A method of producing an absorber which comprises forming a water-absorbing mixture layer portion by disposing a mixture containing a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm in content percentage of not more than 5 weight % of fine particle with particle size of less than 0.1 mm, crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight, based on the crushed pulp fiber material as dry weight, and a water-absorbing resin in an amount less than the crushed pulp fiber material on a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion formed by at least one sheet of water-absorbing paper while aspirating from below the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion; mixing the particle of the crushed tea dregs with the crushed pulp fibber material and the water-absorbing resin, and moving the particles of the crushed tea dregs between the particles of the pulp fiber material downward and forming the water absorbing mixture layer portion in which the contents of the particles of tea dregs is distributed to increase from upper to lower, forming an upper water-absorbing paper layer portion by disposing at least one sheet of water-absorbing paper on the water-absorbing mixture layer portion; forming a stratified material by overlapping the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion, the water-absorbing mixture layer portion, and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion; and press-shaping integrally the stratified material to contain crushed tea dregs and to have large infiltration velocity and large drying velocity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method of producing a sanitary article which comprises forming a water-impermeable film portion in contact with the lower surface of the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber by disposing the absorber produced by the method for producing an absorber according to claim 10, on a plastic water-impermeable film member, and forming a water-permeable layer part in contact with the upper surface of the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber, by disposing a water-permeable porous member on the absorber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 2 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 3 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 4 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 5 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 6 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 7 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) A sanitary article comprising a water-permeable layer part comprised of an upper surface and a plastic water-impermeable film portion comprised of a lower surface, wherein the absorber according to claim 8 is disposed between the water-permeable layer part and the plastic water-impermeable film portion and the absorber is overlapped between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion and lower water-absorbing paper layer portion so that the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the lower surface of the water-permeable layer part and the lower water-absorbing paper layer portion of the absorber contacts with the upper surface of the water-impermeable film portion.