Abstract: An elastic sheet for an absorbent article includes a first fibrous layer disposed on a first surface of the elastic sheet, a second fibrous layer disposed on a second surface of the elastic sheet opposite to the first surface, and contractible elastic members secured between the first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer. The first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer each include continuous fibers of thermoplastic and gathers formed between adjacent ones of the elastic members. The gathers are disposed in an intersecting direction intersecting with a direction in which the elastic members extend. An average flexural rigidity value of the first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer in accordance with a KES method is 0.0035×10?4 to 0.022×10?4 (N·m2/m). A thickness under a compression load to the gathers in accordance with the KES method is 0.22 to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: An elastic sheet for an absorbent article includes a first fibrous layer disposed on a first surface of the elastic sheet, a second fibrous layer disposed on a second surface of the elastic sheet opposite to the first surface, and contractible elastic members secured between the first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer. The first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer each include continuous fibers of thermoplastic and gathers formed between adjacent ones of the elastic members. The gathers are disposed in an intersecting direction intersecting with a direction in which the elastic members extend. An average flexural rigidity value of the first fibrous layer and the second fibrous layer in accordance with a KES method is 0.0035×10?4 to 0.022×10?4 (N·m2/m). A thickness under a compression load to the gathers in accordance with the KES method is 0.22 to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus includes: a first conveying route that is arranged in a straight line along a first direction in plan view; a plurality of processing devices that process an intermediate product of an absorbent article that is conveyed along the first conveying route; and a heating unit that restores bulk of a non-woven fabric through heating the non-woven fabric by blowing hot air onto the non-woven fabric while conveying the non-woven fabric along a direction in which the non-woven fabric is continuous, the non-woven fabric being a strip shape and serving as a part of the absorbent article. In a case where a direction that intersects the first direction in plan view is set as a second direction, the heating unit is arranged in one of a position that is directly above the first conveying route and a position that is displaced from the first conveying route to the second direction.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus is provided to manufacture a sheet-like member by joining a non-woven fabric to another member of an absorbent article. This apparatus includes a bulk restoring device that restores bulk of the non-woven fabric through heating the non-woven fabric by blowing hot wind onto the non-woven fabric while conveying the non-woven fabric along a conveying direction, the non-woven fabric being continuous in the conveying direction, and a joining device that joins the non-woven fabric whose bulk has been restored with the hot wind to the other member using an adhesive, the non-woven fabric being at a higher temperature than a temperature before being heated with the hot wind.

Abstract: A composite sheet having an elastic layer and an inelastic layer and high breathability and a method for manufacturing such improved composite sheet. The composite sheet includes an elastic layer and an inelastic layer joined and laminated through a plurality of joints. The elastic layer is formed with first depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a transverse direction and first protrusions. Interior space if the first protrusions is filled with constituent fibers of the elastic layer. The inelastic layer is formed with second depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a longitudinal direction and second protrusions. Along the second depressions, the elastic layer and the inelastic layer come in contact with each other at the joints and, along the second protrusions, the inelastic layer is spaced from the elastic layer to define clearance gaps in these layers.

Abstract: A bulkiness recovery apparatus for nonwoven fabric, the apparatus being for recovering bulkiness of the nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air to heat the nonwoven fabric, the apparatus including: a heating mechanism including case units, jet inlets and an evacuation opening, the case unit having a conveyor space in which the nonwoven fabric is conveyed, the jet inlet blasting hot air into the conveyor space from a one side toward another side of the conveyor space in a conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric, the evacuation opening evacuating hot air from the conveyor space, the hot air flowing along the conveying direction while being in contact with either one of two surfaces of the nonwoven fabric; and deformation mechanisms that deform the nonwoven fabric discharged from the case unit so that the one surface of the nonwoven fabric is convex.

Abstract: A composite sheet having an elastic layer and an inelastic layer and high breathability and a method for manufacturing such improved composite sheet. The composite sheet includes an elastic layer and an inelastic layer joined and laminated through a plurality of joints. The elastic layer is formed with first depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a transverse direction and first protrusions. Interior space if the first protrusions is filled with constituent fibers of the elastic layer. The inelastic layer is formed with second depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a longitudinal direction and second protrusions. Along the second depressions, the elastic layer and the inelastic layer come in contact with each other at the joints and, along the second protrusions, the inelastic layer is spaced from the elastic layer to define clearance gaps in these layers.

Abstract: A composite sheet having an elastic layer and an inelastic layer and high breathability and a method for manufacturing such improved composite sheet. The composite sheet includes an elastic layer and an inelastic layer joined and laminated through a plurality of joints. The elastic layer is formed with first depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a transverse direction and first protrusions. Interior space if the first protrusions is filled with constituent fibers of the elastic layer. The inelastic layer is formed with second depressions overlapping the joints and extending in a longitudinal direction and second protrusions. Along the second depressions, the elastic layer and the inelastic layer come in contact with each other at the joints and, along the second protrusions, the inelastic layer is spaced from the elastic layer to define clearance gaps in these layers.

Abstract: There is provided a bulkiness recovery apparatus for nonwoven fabric, the apparatus being for recovering bulkiness of the nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air to heat the nonwoven fabric. The apparatus includes: a conveying section that conveys the nonwoven fabric along a conveying direction, the nonwoven fabric being continuous in the conveying direction; a heating section that heats the nonwoven fabric by blowing the hot air to the nonwoven fabric being conveyed; a width sensor that measures a widthwise dimension of the nonwoven fabric at a position downstream from the heating section in the conveying direction, and that outputs information concerning the widthwise dimension; and a controller that controls at least either one of the heating section and the conveying section based on the information that has been output from the width sensor.

Abstract: An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus includes: a first conveying route that is arranged in a straight line along a first direction in plan view; a plurality of processing devices that process an intermediate product of an absorbent article that is conveyed along the first conveying route; a heating unit that restores bulk of a non-woven fabric through heating the non-woven fabric by blowing hot air onto the non-woven fabric while conveying the non-woven fabric along a direction in which the non-woven fabric is continuous, the non-woven fabric being a strip shape and serving as a part of the absorbent article; and a second conveying route that conveys the non-woven fabric in a second direction that intersects the first direction in plan view, the non-woven fabric having been restored of the bulk through heating with the heating unit the non-woven fabric being input to the first conveying route via the second conveying route.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering bulkiness of a nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air and heating the nonwoven fabric transferred in a transfer direction, includes a case member that has both end portions in the transfer direction opened; an entrance and an exit provided to openings on opposite end sides, in the transfer direction, of the case member to transfer the nonwoven fabric; a wall surface along the transfer direction and located between the entrance and the exit; a blast opening in the wall surface for blasting hot air inside the case member in a blasting direction being the transfer direction or opposite to the transfer direction; and a discharge opening provided to the case member and downstream in the blasting direction. Hot air flows from the blast opening toward the discharge opening while coming into contact with one of two faces of the nonwoven fabric inside the case member.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering bulkiness of a nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air and heating the nonwoven fabric transferred in a transfer direction, includes a case member that has both end portions in the transfer direction opened; an entrance and an exit provided to openings on opposite end sides, in the transfer direction, of the case member to transfer the nonwoven fabric; and a blast opening provided on the entrance side of the case member for blasting hot air inside the case member toward the exit. Inside the case member, a sectional area at a first position downstream of the blast opening is wider than at a second position located between the blast opening and the first position. Hot air blasted from the blast opening flows downstream through the first and second positions while coming into contact with one of two faces of the nonwoven fabric inside the case member.

Abstract: A bulkiness recovery apparatus for nonwoven fabric includes a hot-air source; and a case unit including a base member, and first and second members. The first and second members face opposite first and second surfaces of the base member and partition first and second conveyor spaces. The base member has first and second hot-air chambers. The first and second surfaces have first and second jet inlets. The first and second hot-air chambers at least partly overlap in a direction normal to the first surface. First and second conveying directions of the nonwoven fabric in the first and second conveyor spaces are different. Hot air flows along the first conveying direction and is blasted from the first jet inlet into the first conveyor space. Hot air flows along the second conveying direction and is blasted from the second jet inlet into the second conveyor space.

Abstract: In this disposable diaper, a compound stretchable member is provided to a waist portion, and the compound stretchable member is provided with a plurality of elastic members extending in a waist direction, and an inside nonwoven fabric sheet portion and an outside nonwoven fabric sheet portion superposed so as to be joined to each other via the elastic members. The waist portion includes a first region and a second region provided continuously with or separately from the first region in a direction orthogonal to and the waist direction, and protruding parts and recessed parts of an unevenness region are provided at a first unevenness pitch in the compound stretchable member disposed in the first region along the waist direction, and are provided at a second unevenness pitch different from the first unevenness pitch in the compound stretchable member disposed in the second region.

Abstract: The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric having excellent stretchability. This production process has the following configuration. The process for producing stretch nonwoven fabric comprises: a step in which nonwoven fabric to be treated which comprises stretchable fibers and extensible fibers is unevenly stretched, while being conveyed, so that nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is formed; and a step in which the nonwoven fabric having both higher stretched regions and lower stretched regions is heated for 0.1-10 seconds at a temperature which is 40° C. or higher but is lower than the melting point of the stretchable fibers.

Abstract: A device and method for excellent recovery of bulk in nonwoven fabric. While nonwoven fabric is transported so as to enter a heating chamber via an entry opening and, after progressing within the heating chamber, exit the heating chamber via an exit opening, heated air is supplied at a speed higher than the transport speed for the unwoven fabric so as to enter the heating chamber via the entry opening and after progressing within the heating chamber while contacting the nonwoven fabric, exit the heating chamber via the exit opening.

Abstract: A composite stretch material which is composed of a first nonwoven fabric sheet part and a second nonwoven fabric sheet part and elastic members disposed therebetween. In each nonwoven fabric sheet part, concave parts and convex parts are formed in the thickness direction. The concave and convex parts formed alternately repeatedly in a first direction define convex-concave rows. The convex-concave rows are separated from each other by non-shaped regions which contain neither concave parts nor convex parts and which extend along the first direction. The non-shaped regions are joined to each other with the elastic member therebetween. The convex parts of the first nonwoven fabric sheet part enter respectively into the concave parts of the second nonwoven fabric sheet part, while the convex parts of the second nonwoven fabric sheet enter respectively into the concave parts of the first nonwoven fabric sheet part.

Abstract: A layered nonwoven fabric with excellent feel on the skin and liquid permeability, and a method for producing the layered nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric includes an upper layer consisting of a first nonwoven fabric and a lower layer consisting of a second nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric has a first surface on the first nonwoven fabric side with a plurality of protrusions and recesses and a second surface on the second nonwoven fabric side. The protrusions on the first surface have a higher basis weight than the recesses on the first surface, and the protrusions on the first surface have a lower fiber density than the recesses on the first surface.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric comprising extendable fiber and elastic fiber, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a first side having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses and a second side on the side opposite the first side, the proportion of extendable fiber in the protrusions on the first side is higher than the proportion of extendable fiber in the recesses on the first side, and the nonwoven fabric is coated with a hydrophilic agent, or the extendable fiber and elastic fiber comprise a hydrophilic agent, the nonwoven fabric has a water absorbing property represented by a water absorption height of at least 10 mm in a water absorption test, and a quick-drying property represented by a transpiration rate of at least 20 mass % in a transpiration test.

Abstract: Provided is a composite stretchable member with a smaller thickness and more uniform pleats. The composite stretchable member is stretchable in a first direction and is provided with a first nonwoven fabric sheet part and a second nonwoven fabric sheet part which are superposed on each other, and a plurality of elastic members which are arranged between the first nonwoven fabric sheet part and the second nonwoven fabric sheet part. The elastic members extend in the first direction while being separated from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the first nonwoven fabric sheet part and the second nonwoven fabric sheet part are joined with each other by an adhesive which is applied to the elastic members.