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 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; 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.