An absorbent member manufacturing method of the invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent member (100) for an absorbent article and including synthetic fibers (10b). The method involves: a cutting step of cutting a continuous synthetic fiber sheet (10bs) at predetermined lengths in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and forming sheet fragments (10bh) including the synthetic fibers (10b); a transporting step of transporting the formed sheet fragments (10bh) to an accumulating portion (41); and an accumulating step of accumulating, in the accumulating portion (41), the sheet fragments (10bh) transported in the transporting step, and obtaining an accumulation (100a) which is a constituent member of the absorbent member (100).

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent core includes: a dispenser for dispensing a fiber; a fiber-stacking drum for stacking the dispensed fiber on the outer circumferential surface while sucking the fiber toward an inside; and a fixed frame for rotatably supporting the fiber-stacking drum. The fiber-stacking drum includes: a rotation shaft; a wheel attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft; and a fiber-stacking ring provided on an outer circumference portion of the wheel for stacking the fiber A suction chamber is fixed to the fixed frame The suction chamber is arranged on an inner side of the fiber-stacking ring and produces a suction force toward an inner circumference of the fiber-stacking ring. The fiber-stacking drum is supported by the fixed frame so as to be slidable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft; and the wheel is removably attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft via a fastener.

A formed film that may be used in an absorbent article. The formed film includes a plurality of wavy ridges extending generally in a machine direction. The plurality of wavy ridges form a repeating pattern of peaks and valleys. A plurality of gathering pockets are in between adjacent wavy ridges and have an apertured bottom surface offset from top surfaces of the wavy ridges in a z-direction. Each of the gathering pockets has a length in the machine direction greater than a width in a cross direction, orthogonal to the machine direction.

Apparatus and method for producing absorbent structures with absorbent layers with channel(s) without absorbent material, using a first moving endless surface with specific raised strip(s) and a second moving endless surface with specific mating strip(s).

A method for forming an absorbent pad including a first layer, a second layer and an absorbent material interposed between the first and the second layer and arranged according to a spreading pattern M1 having at least one channel which is free of absorbent material, includes a step of feeding a first web, intended to form the first layer of the pad; a step of feeding a second web, intended to form the second layer of the pad; a step of spreading the absorbent material on the first web according to the spreading pattern M1; a step of spreading an adhesive on the first web according to a gluing pattern; a step of welding the first web and the second web according to a welding pattern M3 including at least one welding zone at the channel on the pad.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a composite structure, preferably for use in an absorbent structure used within the personal hygiene industry, such as for instance feminine hygiene garments, baby diapers and pants and adult incontinence garments. The present invention preferably provides a method and apparatus for depositing and positioning particulate materials in a desired pattern onto a moving carrier layer. The method allows accurate forming of a pattern of particulate material clusters at high production speed having improved attachment properties, with reduced raw material usage and relative low cost. The present invention foresees in the need for improved thin, flexible, lightweight absorbent structure having optimal absorption, distribution and retention.

A manufacturing device is provided, within a range in the rotation direction of the upper half of an anvil roll, in the order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the anvil roll, with a first sheet feeding unit, a recess forming unit, a particulate material feeding device, and a second sheet feeding unit and further a welding unit provided on the downstream side of the second sheet feeding unit in the rotation direction. The anvil roll has a large number of concaves, projections provided in a portion among the concaves, so as to surround each of the concaves, and a unit to suck air in the concaves. For each concave, the projections are minute dot-shaped projections arranged only in one row at intervals in the direction surrounding the concave.

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, said method comprising guiding a first sheet material along a rotating member, wherein a surface of said rotating member is provided with a pattern with at least one suction zone and at least one non-suction zone; applying an absorbent material on said first sheet material on the rotating member; locally removing the absorbent material applied on at least one attachment portion of the first sheet material located above the at least one non-suction zone, such that at least one remaining portion of the first sheet material located above the at least one suction zone is covered with absorbent material and substantially no absorbent material is present on the at least one attachment portion; applying a second sheet material on top of the absorbent material on the first sheet material.

An absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus has a particle collision surface (224) that extends downward from a cylinder outer surface (211) in between the lowermost part of a supply cylinder (21) and a second sheet conveying roller (41). Some of the particles emitted forward in the rotation direction of the supply cylinder (21) from recessed supply portions (212) that have passed a first cover part (221) collide with the particle collision surface (224), and the colliding particles are guided by the particle collision surface (224) onto a first sheet member (91). This suppresses direct collision of particles emitted from the supply cylinder (21) with a second sheet member (92) on the second sheet conveying roller (41). Scattering of particles that have collided with the second sheet member (92) around the first sheet member (91) and the second sheet member (92) is thus suppressed.

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent element for sanitary products and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The absorbent element is of the type incorporating plurality of sacs or pockets in which expandable super-absorbent material is placed.