Abstract: A layered body containing continuous sheets is thermally fused when passing through a space between an anvil roll and an energy applying device to form a layered sheet. A nip stage for sandwiching the layered body is provided upstream of the space between the anvil roll and the energy applying device. The nip stage includes at least one displacement member which is displaced in accordance with the thickness of the layered body sandwiched by the nip stage. Whether the thickness of the layered body sandwiched by the nip stage has deviated from a reference range is detected on the basis of the displacement of the displacement member, and when it is detected that the thickness has deviated from the reference range, the energy applying device is caused to retreat in a direction going away from the anvil roll.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying a sheet-like material of the present invention includes: a rail portion arranged in a loop shape; a plurality of travelers; a linear motor for circulating the travelers along the rail portion; and a pad attached to each of the travelers, wherein the pad circulates in at least one horizontal plane while holding the sheet-like material on the pad, thereby conveying the sheet-like material.

Abstract: An elastic resin material having a thermoplastic elastic resin as a main component is heated and melted, and the elastic resin material is discharged in a film or a linear shape from a discharge mechanism to form a film-shape or a linear-shape intermediate product. At a temperature above the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, extending is performed until the thickness or width of the film-shape intermediate product or the thickness of the linear-shape intermediate product assumes a prescribed value; with a cooling roller, the intermediate product is cooled to the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, and the intermediate product is hardened, forming a film-shape or linear-shape elastic member. The elastic member is stretched with a stretch roller to a prescribed stretching ratio, and the stretched elastic member is laminated on and bonded to a first base material sheet.

Abstract: An elastic resin material having a thermoplastic elastic resin as a main component is heated and melted, and the elastic resin material is discharged in a film or a linear shape from a discharge mechanism to form a film-shape or a linear-shape intermediate product. At a temperature above the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, extending is performed until the thickness or width of the film-shape intermediate product or the thickness of the linear-shape intermediate product assumes a prescribed value; with a cooling roller, the intermediate product is cooled to the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, and the intermediate product is hardened, forming a film-shape or linear-shape elastic member. The elastic member is stretched with a stretch roller to a prescribed stretching ratio, and the stretched elastic member is laminated on and bonded to a first base material sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device for conveying, along a conveyance path, a sheet in which a given region from an obverse surface toward a reverse side thereof is composed of a non-woven fabric, and a powder supply device for supplying a powder to at least a partial zone of the sheet, are provided. Further, a fiber-raising device for raising fibers in at least part of the powder supply zone of the sheet is provided on the conveyance path at a position upstream of the powder supply device in a conveyance direction of the sheet.

Abstract: In a production method of an elastic composite sheet, the elastic member does not break when the elastic member, in a stretched state, is bonded to a base material sheet; an elastic composite sheet and a disposable wearable article use the elastic composite sheet. A strip-shaped or string-shaped elastic member composed mainly of a thermoplastic elastic resin is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member. The stretched elastic member is placed over a first base material sheet such that the main surface of the first base material sheet contacts the elastic member. In this state, the elastic member and the first base material sheet are bonded in a first position that overlaps the elastic member seen from a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the first base material sheet and that is away from the edges of the elastic member.

Abstract: The liquid permeability and liquid diffusion of absorbent body is enhanced. (i) A belt-like main sheet formed of a non-woven fabric sheet constituting at least part of a first main surface is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the main sheet; (ii) a slit is formed in the non-woven fabric sheet at a first position on a conveying path; (iii) at a second position, particulate matter absorbing and retaining liquid is dispersed into the first main surface, in such a way that the particulate matter is held in the non-woven fabric sheet; and (iv) at a third position, a covering sheet which prevents passage of the particulate matter is overlaid on the first main surface. At the second position, the non-woven fabric sheet includes a bulky structure which constitutes at least part of the first main surface and which has voids allowing the particulate matter to enter.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device for conveying, along a conveyance path, a sheet in which a given region from an obverse surface toward a reverse side thereof is composed of a non-woven fabric, and a powder supply device for supplying a powder to at least a partial zone of the sheet, are provided. Further, a fiber-raising device for raising fibers in at least part of the powder supply zone of the sheet is provided on the conveyance path at a position upstream of the powder supply device in a conveyance direction of the sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a granular powder-containing sheet containing a granular powder in separated container rooms between two sheet materials. After the container rooms are formed in a first sheet material, the first sheet material is transported on the circumferential surface of an anvil roller. In the process of transportation, the granular powder that is fed from a granular powder feeding hopper through a feeding passage is received in the container rooms. Thereafter, the container rooms are covered with a second sheet material, and the two sheet materials are joined to each other on the peripheries of the container rooms.

Abstract: The ultrasonic welding device includes a rotary support mechanical assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and operable to support a sheet over a circumference centered on the rotation axis, the sheet being continuously supplied; and a horn and an anvil operable to sandwich the sheet supported over the rotary support mechanical assembly to thereby weld the sheet. The rotary support mechanical assembly includes a rotary member rotatable about the rotation axis, a plurality of sheet support members each having a support surface for supporting the sheet, and a mounting section for allowing the plurality of sheet support members to be attached to the rotary member in a state that the sheet support members lie on the same circumference about the rotation axis, and allowing attaching positions of the sheet support members to the rotary member to be adjusted in radial directions centered on the rotation axis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welding device includes a rotary support mechanical assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and operable to support a sheet over a circumference centered on the rotation axis, the sheet being continuously supplied; a horn and an anvil attached to the rotary support mechanical assembly to thereby revolve about the rotation axis and sandwich the sheet supported over the rotary support mechanical assembly to weld the sheet; a cam drum and a cam follower for driving the anvil in such a manner that the anvil moves relative to the horn; a holding member body; and a power transmission mechanism for distributing a power generated by the cam and the cam follower in such a manner the power is transmitted to the anvil and holding member body in opposite directions.

Abstract: Provided is a method for feeding a granular powder from a granular powder feeding hopper onto an upper surface of a sheet material. A feeding passage is disposed so as to extend downward from an outlet of the granular powder feeding hopper so that the lower end of the feeding passage faces the upper surface of the sheet material moving beneath the feeding passage. The feeding passage is opened and closed by the open-close means so that the granular powder is intermittently fed from the granular powder feeding hopper onto the sheet material.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welding device includes a rotary support mechanical assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and operable to support a sheet over a circumference centered on the rotation axis, the sheet being continuously supplied; a horn and an anvil attached to the rotary support mechanical assembly to thereby revolve about the rotation axis and sandwich the sheet supported over the rotary support mechanical assembly to weld the sheet; a cam drum and a cam follower for driving the anvil in such a manner that the anvil moves relative to the horn; a holding member body; and a power transmission mechanism for distributing a power generated by the cam and the cam follower in such a manner the power is transmitted to the anvil and holding member body in opposite directions.

Abstract: The ultrasonic welding device includes a rotary support mechanical assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and operable to support a sheet over a circumference centered on the rotation axis, the sheet being continuously supplied; and a horn and an anvil operable to sandwich the sheet supported over the rotary support mechanical assembly to thereby weld the sheet. The rotary support mechanical assembly includes a rotary member rotatable about the rotation axis, a plurality of sheet support members each having a support surface for supporting the sheet, and a mounting section for allowing the plurality of sheet support members to be attached to the rotary member in a state that the sheet support members lie on the same circumference about the rotation axis, and allowing attaching positions of the sheet support members to the rotary member to be adjusted in radial directions centered on the rotation axis.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic horn, the output amplitude of which can be significantly increased. An ultrasonic horn includes an input-side end section that has an input surface that receives ultrasonic vibration, and an output-side end section having an output surface that outputs ultrasonic vibration to a sheet. The output-side end section has a dimension, in the length direction, over which a side edge portion of a front abdominal section and a side edge portion of a rear dorsal section can be welded in the longitudinal direction, and is branched in a width direction that is perpendicular to the length direction by a slit that extends in the length direction. A pair of surfaces of the output-side end section, positioned on both sides of the slit, functions as the output surface through which the ultrasonic vibration is output.

Abstract: The displacement mechanism includes: an urging mechanism that urges an anvil roller toward an ultrasonic horn in such a manner that output surfaces and a welding surface move closer in the normal direction thereof; and a pressed member that has guide surfaces against which the outer surface of the anvil roller, positioned within non-welding areas, are pressed by an urging force of the urging mechanism, the pressed member being fixed to a sheet holding roller in a state where a pressed surface is disposed within the width-direction range of a slit. In response to the movement of the anvil roller from a welding area to the non-welding areas, the guide surfaces of the pressed member guide the anvil roller in a direction in which the output surfaces and the welding surface move away from each other.

Abstract: Provided is a lightweight anvil roller and an ultrasonic welding device provided therewith. The anvil roller has: a supported section that is rotatably supported by a holding mechanism via a rotary shaft in such a manner that the anvil roller can come into rolling contact with a sheet; an outer peripheral section having a welding surface over which the sheet is welded between the outer peripheral section and an ultrasonic horn during rolling contact with the sheet; a thin section that is formed between the supported section and the outer peripheral section in such a manner that the thickness of the thin section is smaller than the thickness of the outer peripheral section in the axial direction of the rotary shaft; and a vibration proof member provided on the thin section.

Abstract: Provided is a lightweight anvil roller and an ultrasonic welding device provided therewith. The anvil roller has: a supported section that is rotatably supported by a holding mechanism via a rotary shaft in such a manner that the anvil roller can come into rolling contact with a sheet; an outer peripheral section having a welding surface over which the sheet is welded between the outer peripheral section and an ultrasonic horn during rolling contact with the sheet; a thin section that is formed between the supported section and the outer peripheral section in such a manner that the thickness of the thin section is smaller than the thickness of the outer peripheral section in the axial direction of the rotary shaft; and a vibrationproof member provided on the thin section.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic horn, the output amplitude of which can be significantly increased. An ultrasonic horn includes an input-side end section that has an input surface that receives ultrasonic vibration, and an output-side end section having an output surface that outputs ultrasonic vibration to a sheet. The output-side end section has a dimension, in the length direction, over which a side edge portion of a front abdominal section and a side edge portion of a rear dorsal section can be welded in the longitudinal direction, and is branched in a width direction that is perpendicular to the length direction by a slit that extends in the length direction. A pair of surfaces of the output-side end section, positioned on both sides of the slit, functions as the output surface through which the ultrasonic vibration is output.

Abstract: The displacement mechanism includes: an urging mechanism that urges an anvil roller toward an ultrasonic horn in such a manner that output surfaces and a welding surface move closer in the normal direction thereof; and a pressed member that has guide surfaces against which the outer surface of the anvil roller, positioned within non-welding areas, are pressed by an urging force of the urging mechanism, the pressed member being fixed to a sheet holding roller in a state where a pressed surface is disposed within the width-direction range of a slit. In response to the movement of the anvil roller from a welding area to the non-welding areas, the guide surfaces of the pressed member guide the anvil roller in a direction in which the output surfaces and the welding surface move away from each other.