Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. The used absorbent article is treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to 80° C. with an organic acid aqueous solution having a pH no greater than 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated. Preferably, the pulp fibers and the deactivated superabsorbent polymer are separated from the used absorbent article after treatment with the organic acid aqueous solution, and further, a mixture including the separated pulp fibers and deactivated superabsorbent polymer is treated with an oxidizing agent, the deactivated superabsorbent polymer is decomposed, reduced in molecular weight and solubilized.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently recovering pulp fibers with a high degree of safety and without detriment to the performance of the pulp fibers, from used absorbent articles such as disposable diapers containing pulp fibers and a super absorbent polymer. This method comprises: a step for extracting a mixture of pulp fibers, super absorbent polymer and water from used absorbent articles; a step of using a pair of electrodes to apply a voltage to the mixture of pulp fibers, super absorbent polymer and water to deactivate the super absorbent polymer; and a step for separating pulp fibers from the mixture of pulp fibers, deactivated super polymer and water.

Abstract: Pulp fiber containing little ash is effectively recovered from a used sanitary product containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method according to the present invention comprises: a step for treating the used sanitary product with an ozone-containing gas and thus decomposing and removing at least a portion of the polymer absorbent in the used sanitary product; and a step for stirring the used sanitary product, that has been treated with the ozone-containing gas, in water or an aqueous solution containing an antiseptic and thus decomposing the used sanitary product into constituents. If required, the method may further comprise a step for separating the pulp fiber from the decomposition product obtained by the decomposition step.

Abstract: An evaluation method of a wearing state of a disposable diaper including an elastic region in a waist portion or leg-surrounding portions, the evaluation method including: an evaluation image acquiring process in which a terminal including a photographing function acquires an image including at least a part of the elastic region as an evaluation image in the wearing state of the disposable diaper; and an evaluation process of evaluating the wearing state of the disposable diaper based on a degree of deformation of the evaluation image.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently recovering pulp fiber from used hygiene products that include pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. This method is characterized by including a step for introducing the used hygiene product into a treatment tank in which an aqueous solution with ozone dissolved therein has been introduced, and a step for treating the used hygiene product while infusing water into the treatment tank at a first flow rate, extracting the aqueous solution from the treatment tank at a second flow rate and introducing a gas containing ozone into the aqueous solution in the treatment tank, thereby decomposing the polymer absorbent, lowering the molecular weight thereof, and making the same dissolvable.

Abstract: Pulp fiber containing little ash is effectively recovered from a used sanitary product containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method according to the present invention comprises: a step for treating the used sanitary product with an ozone-containing gas and thus decomposing and removing at least a portion of the polymer absorbent in the used sanitary product; and a step for stirring the used sanitary product, that has been treated with the ozone-containing gas, in water or an aqueous solution containing an antiseptic and thus decomposing the used sanitary product into constituents. If required, the method may further comprise a step for separating the pulp fiber from the decomposition product obtained by the decomposition step.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a nonwoven fabric that can effectively allow the passage of high-viscosity waste. The nonwoven fabric (1) is formed from a substrate (10), which extends in an approximately planar shape and has a first surface (FF) and a second surface (FS) positioned at the reverse side from the first surface, and a plurality of protrusions (12), which protrude from the substrate to the first surface side. The fiber density of the first surface side is greater than the fiber density of the second surface side at the apices of the protrusions.

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 manufacturing apparatus for a composite sheet associated with an absorbent article including: a conveying mechanism that conveys continuously the continuous body of the sheet; and a guiding member that transports the continuous body of the elastic member, and that bonds the continuous body of the elastic member with the continuous body of the sheet, wherein the guiding member includes a drive roller that, while being contact with the continuous body of the elastic member, is driven and rotated along a transporting direction of the continuous body of the elastic member, and by changing a rotation speed of the drive roller, a stretching ratio of the continuous body of the elastic member is adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article that has flexible cushioning properties, favorable rebound when compressed, superior collection of waste, and superior liquid migration properties from a surface sheet to an absorbent element. The absorbent article has: a surface sheet, which has a textured structure used at the skin surface side of the absorbent article, and has first protrusions protruding to the skin surface side and second protrusions protruding to the clothing side at the reverse of the skin surface side; and an absorbent element disposed at a position overlapping the surface sheet in a plan view. The surface sheet and the absorbent element are joined in a planar manner at a join section at the apices of the second protrusions.

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 manufacturing apparatus for a composite sheet associated with an absorbent article including: a conveying mechanism that conveys continuously the continuous body of the sheet; and a guiding member that transports the continuous body of the elastic member, and that bonds the continuous body of the elastic member with the continuous body of the sheet, wherein the guiding member includes a drive roller that, while being contact with the continuous body of the elastic member, is driven and rotated along a transporting direction of the continuous body of the elastic member, and by changing a rotation speed of the drive roller, a stretching ratio of the continuous body of the elastic member is adjusted.

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.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent article with excellent absorption performance. The absorbent article 1 of the invention comprises two or more absorbers 4, 5 that absorb body fluids of a user and are stacked in the thickness direction, a liquid-permeable sheet 2 covering one side of the two or more absorbers, through which body fluid of a user permeates, and a liquid-impermeable sheet 3 covering the other side of the two or more absorbers, through which body fluid of the user does not permeate, wherein the absorber 5 on the liquid-impermeable sheet 3 side of the two or more absorbers 4, 5 contains non-wood pulp and SAP, and the settling velocity of the non-wood pulp in water is between 2 seconds and 5 seconds.

Abstract: An absorber containing non-wood pulp with the settling velocity in water between 2 and 5 seconds, the mean fiber size of 8 to 25 ?m, the apparent bulk density of 0.04 to 0.07 g/cm3, and the absorption for 0.9% physiological saline of at least 20-fold with respect to the pulp mass. The absorber has a thickness change of at least 600%, as the thickness after having absorbed 0.9% physiological saline with respect to the thickness before absorbing 0.9% physiological saline. When addition of 80 mL of 0.9% physiological saline to the absorbent article over a period of 10 seconds is performed three times every 10 minutes and the absorption rate of the absorbent article for each of the three times is evaluated as the time from addition of the 0.9% physiological saline until complete absorption, the absorption rate for each of the three times is not greater than 20 seconds.

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.

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: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an absorbent article in which a reduction in liquid absorbency caused by the hydrophobicity of thermoplastic resin fiber is prevented through the use of thermoplastic resin fiber that includes unsaturated carboxylic acid, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride, or a mixture of these as a monomer component. The present invention solves this problem by providing a sanitary napkin provided with a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent body has an absorbent material layer that contains a cellulose-based hydrophilic fiber and a thermoplastic resin fiber that includes unsaturated carboxylic acid, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride, or a mixture of these as a monomer component in a mass ratio of 90:10 to 50:50. The top sheet has an integrated section that is heat-treated together with the absorbent material layer so as to be integrated with the absorbent material layer.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a composite sheet associated with an absorbent article including: a conveying mechanism that conveys continuously the continuous body of the sheet; and a guiding member that transports the continuous body of the elastic member, and that bonds the continuous body of the elastic member with the continuous body of the sheet, wherein the guiding member includes a drive roller that, while being contact with the continuous body of the elastic member, is driven and rotated along a transporting direction of the continuous body of the elastic member, and by changing a rotation speed of the drive roller, a stretching ratio of the continuous body of the elastic member is adjusted.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a nonwoven fabric that can produce a nonwoven fabric having high strength, high bulk and softness. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to the invention comprises a step of supplying a water-containing paper-making material onto a support to form a paper layer 21 on the support, a step of injecting a high-pressure water jet stream onto the paper layer 21 from a high-pressure water jet stream nozzle 12 provided above the support, a step of injecting high-pressure steam onto the paper layer 21 on which the high-pressure water jet stream has been injected, from a steam nozzle 14 provided above the support, and a step of drying the paper layer on which the high-pressure steam has been injected.