Abstract: There is provided a method of producing pet food including a base substance and a coating part that coats a part of the base substance, the method including: (a) a step of processing a coating part forming composition having a composition different from that of the base substance, at a first temperature (T1); (b) a step of processing the coating part forming composition at a second temperature (T2), after the step (a); (c) a step of processing the coating part forming composition at a third temperature (T3), after the step (b); (d) a step of coating a part of the base substance with the coating part forming composition obtained in the step (c); and (e) a step of solidifying the coating part forming composition with which the part of the base substance is coated, in which there is a relationship of the first temperature (T1)>the third temperature (T3)>the second temperature (T2).

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: It is an object of the invention to provide packaging means for an absorbent article that allows an absorbent article group comprising multiple absorbent articles arranged in a thickness direction to be easily and efficiently housed in a packaging container. Specifically, a forcing member that forces an absorbent article group mounted on a mount member into a container fitted on a container fitting member and houses it therein, is provided on a forward direction of the mount member, and is constructed so that when moving forward it contacts only with the absorbent article group mounted on the mount member, stopping movement of the absorbent article group on the mount member, thereby allowing the absorbent article group whose movement has been stopped to be inserted and forced into the container fitted on the container fitting member through an opening.

Abstract: A separating device that separates particulate superabsorbent polymers and liquid absorbent fibers included in a material of an absorbent article. The device includes: a belt member that moves along a predetermined moving direction while receiving the falling material on an upper surface; and an airflow supply mechanism that supplies an airflow in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt member, along the upper surface from a downstream side of the moving direction relative to a position where the material falls. In a case the superabsorbent polymers are sent to the downstream side of the moving direction by movement of the belt member, the airflow rolls the liquid absorbent fibers on the upper surface of the belt member and forms fiber balls while regulating movement of the liquid absorbent fibers to the downstream side of the moving direction, to separate the liquid absorbent fibers and the superabsorbent polymers.

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 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: A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member has a revolving axis with an axial direction along a predetermined direction from the insertion port to the discharge port, and a shaft member rotating around a rotating axis that has been set with an axial direction along the predetermined direction, while revolving around the revolving axis. The shaft member has protruding sections protruding outward and intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft member.

Abstract: A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member rotates around a center axis from the insertion port to the discharge port, and the rotation member has protruding sections protruding outward in a direction that intersects with the center axis in a plurality of positions in the axial direction. A regulating member is provided in a predetermined position between the insertion port and the discharge port in the case, and the regulating member regulates movement of the material from the insertion port to the discharge port.

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 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 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: It is an object of the invention to provide packaging means for an absorbent article that allows an absorbent article group comprising multiple absorbent articles arranged in a thickness direction to be easily and efficiently housed in a packaging container. Specifically, a forcing member that forces an absorbent article group mounted on a mount member into a container fitted on a container fitting member and houses it therein, is provided on a forward direction of the mount member, and is constructed so that when moving forward it contacts only with the absorbent article group mounted on the mount member, stopping movement of the absorbent article group on the mount member, thereby allowing the absorbent article group whose movement has been stopped to be inserted and forced into the container fitted on the container fitting member through an opening.

Abstract: A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member has a revolving axis with an axial direction along a predetermined direction from the insertion port to the discharge port, and a shaft member rotating around a rotating axis that has been set with an axial direction along the predetermined direction, while revolving around the revolving axis. The shaft member has protruding sections protruding outward and intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft member.

Abstract: A separating device that separates particulate superabsorbent polymers and liquid absorbent fibers included in a material of an absorbent article. The device includes: a belt member that moves along a predetermined moving direction while receiving the falling material on an upper surface; and an airflow supply mechanism that supplies an airflow in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt member, along the upper surface from a downstream side of the moving direction relative to a position where the material falls. In a case the superabsorbent polymers are sent to the downstream side of the moving direction by movement of the belt member, the airflow rolls the liquid absorbent fibers on the upper surface of the belt member and forms fiber balls while regulating movement of the liquid absorbent fibers to the downstream side of the moving direction, to separate the liquid absorbent fibers and the superabsorbent polymers.

Abstract: A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member rotates around a center axis from the insertion port to the discharge port, and the rotation member has protruding sections protruding outward in a direction that intersects with the center axis in a plurality of positions in the axial direction. A regulating member is provided in a predetermined position between the insertion port and the discharge port in the case, and the regulating member regulates movement of the material from the insertion port to the discharge port.

Abstract: A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; a partition member dividing a space in the case into a first space and a second space; an insertion port for inserting the material into the first space on an airflow; a rotation member in the first space for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the first space on an airflow. The partition member has through holes communicated with the first space and the second space. The second space includes a suction port that suctions air inside the second space, and the suction port sucks in the liquid absorbent fibers that are floating in the second space, the liquid absorbent fibers having passed through the through holes of the partition member.