Particle supplying apparatus and sheet article manufacturing apparatus

An absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus has a cylinder part having a plurality of concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction, a particle filling part which is located above the cylinder part and which stores particles of high-absorbent resin, to sequentially fill the plurality of concave portions with particles by a particle filling opening in its lower end, and a communication part which is located adjacent to the particle filling opening. A concave portion facing a posterior edge of the particle filling opening is brought into communication with external space through the communication part. Therefore, when particles are filled into the concave portion from the particle filling part, air in the concave portion is forced out by particles entering the concave portion and is easily discharged to the external space through the communication part. As a result, it is possible to increase a density of particles filled in the concave portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a particle supplying apparatus for supplying particles of absorbent material or deodorant material onto a sheet member, and a sheet article manufacturing apparatus comprising the particle supplying apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent article.

BACKGROUND ART

In an absorbent article such as an absorbent pad for light incontinence which is used by being attached on the inside of a disposable diaper, an absorbent sheet is conventionally utilized which is obtained by sandwiching particles of high-absorbent resin between two sheet members formed of nonwoven fabric or the like to fix the particles therebetween.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-59579 (Document 1) is related to a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet-like absorbent body used for a disposable absorbent article. The apparatus is provided with a temporary receiving roller having an outer side surface on which a plurality of concave grooves intermittently arranged in a circumferential direction are formed, a transfer roller for holding a base sheet under the temporary receiving roller to convey the base sheet, a box located above the temporary receiving roller for supplying high-absorbent resin particles into the above plurality of concave grooves, and an arcuate guide member facing the outer side surface of the temporary receiving roller in a region from the box to the transfer roller to hold the high-absorbent resin particles supplied in the plurality of concave grooves. The high-absorbent resin particles held in the plurality of concave grooves in the temporary receiving roller are moved to a lower position by rotation of the temporary receiving roller, to be supplied onto the base sheet on which hot melt adhesive is applied. Then, by bonding a cover sheet on the base sheet with high-absorbent resin particles placed therebetween, the sheet-like absorbent body is formed.

Incidentally, in the apparatus of Document 1, when high-absorbent resin particles are supplied into the plurality of concave grooves from the box, it isn't easy to increase a fill density of particles in each concave groove due to air existing in the concave groove. Especially, in the case where the temporary receiving roller having the plurality of concave grooves is rotated at a high speed, the time for filling particles into each concave groove becomes short and as a result, it is more difficult to increase the fill density of particles in the concave groove.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is intended for a particle supplying apparatus for supplying particles of absorbent material or deodorant material onto a sheet member. It is an object of the present invention to increase a density of particles filled in each concave portion.

The particle supplying apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a cylinder part which has an generally cylindrical shape rotated around a rotation axis along a horizontal direction, the cylinder part having a plurality of concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction on an outer side surface thereof; a particle filling part which is located above the cylinder part and which stores particles of absorbent material or deodorant material, to sequentially fill the plurality of concave portions with particles by a particle filling opening which faces the outer side surface of the cylinder part; a first cover part which spreads from the particle filling opening along a rotation direction of the cylinder part to cover a portion of the outer side surface of the cylinder part; a second cover part which spreads from the particle filling opening along an opposite direction of the rotation direction to cover another portion of the outer side surface of the cylinder part; a communication part which is located adjacent and posterior to the particle filling opening in the rotation direction, a concave portion out of the plurality of concave portions being in communication with external space through the communication part, the concave portion facing a posterior edge of the particle filling opening; and a sheet conveying part for conveying a sheet member in a direction under an anterior edge of the first cover part in the rotation direction, the direction being same as a moving direction of the outer side surface of the cylinder part.

In the present invention, it is possible to increase a density of particles filled in each concave portion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the particle filling opening faces a portion including an uppermost portion of the cylinder part. Therefore, filling of particles into the concave portion due to gravity is promoted and the density of particles filled in the concave portion can be further increased.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, one end portion of the communication part which faces the cylinder part is positioned below the other end portion of the communication part. This can reduce escape of particles from the concave portion to the external space through the communication part.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the particle supplying apparatus further comprises a suction part for suctioning gas in the communication part. As a result, the density of particles filled in each concave portion can be increased further.

The present invention is also intended for a sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent article. The sheet article manufacturing apparatus comprises the above particle supplying apparatus; another sheet conveying part for conveying another sheet member; and a sheet bonding part for placing the another sheet member on the sheet member which has been supplied with particles by the particle supplying apparatus, to bond the another sheet member on the sheet member.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a view showing an absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1is one sheet article manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a sheet article for an absorbent article and manufactures absorbent sheets by sandwiching particles of high-absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) between sheet members formed of nonwoven fabric or the like. The absorbent sheet is a sheet article used for an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or absorbent pad for light incontinence.

The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1has a cylinder part21which is a generally cylindrical member around (with its center lying on) a rotation axis R1along (toward) a horizontal direction, a first sheet conveying roller31having a generally columnar shape around a first central axis J1parallel to a direction along the rotation axis R1(hereinafter, the direction is referred to as an “axial direction”), a second sheet conveying roller41having a generally columnar shape around a second central axis J2parallel to the axial direction, and a bonding roller51having a generally columnar shape around a third central axis J3parallel to the axial direction. The first central axis J1is positioned right below the rotation axis R1in the vertical direction. The absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1also has a plurality of auxiliary rollers32,42each having a generally columnar shape around a central axis parallel to the axial direction, and a first applying part61and second applying part62each for applying adhesive (in the present embodiment, hot melt adhesive).

The cylinder part21, the second sheet conveying roller41, the bonding roller51and the auxiliary rollers42are rotated in a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 1, and the first sheet conveying roller31and the auxiliary rollers32are rotated in a clockwise direction inFIG. 1. The first sheet conveying roller31is a sheet conveying part for conveying a first sheet member91, which is continuous sheet formed of nonwoven fabric or the like, to a vicinity of a lowermost portion of the cylinder part21. The first applying part61is located above the plurality of auxiliary rollers32, and applies adhesive onto the first sheet member91.

The second sheet conveying roller41is a sheet conveying part for conveying a second sheet member92, which is continuous sheet formed of nonwoven fabric or the like, to the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21. The second applying part62is located above the plurality of auxiliary rollers42, and applies adhesive onto the second sheet member92. The cylinder part21supplies particles of high-absorbent resin (hereinafter, simply referred to as “particles”) onto the first sheet member91in the vicinity of the lowermost portion. The bonding roller51is provided beside the first sheet conveying roller31. The bonding roller51is a sheet bonding part for bonding the first sheet member91and the second sheet member92with each other by overlapping the first sheet member91and the second sheet member92with each other and sandwiching them between the first sheet conveying roller31and the bonding roller51.

A particle filling part23is provided above the cylinder part21. The particle filling part23has a particle tank231which is located above the cylinder part21and which stores the particles of high-absorbent resin, and a level sensor233provided to the particle tank231. When the level sensor233detects that the amount of particles stored in the particle tank231becomes equal to or less than a certain level, particles are replenished into the particle tank231. The particle tank231extends almost in parallel with the vertical direction (i.e., direction of gravitational force), and a particle filling opening232facing the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21is provided to a lower end of the particle tank231. The particle filling opening232faces a portion including the uppermost portion of the cylinder part21.

A first cover part221which covers a portion of the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21and a second cover part222which covers another portion of the outer side surface211are provided around the cylinder part21. The first cover part221spreads from the particle filling opening232to the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21along the rotation direction of the cylinder part21(i.e., in the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 1), to cover the outer side surface211in the left side of the cylinder part21. The second cover part222spreads from the particle filling opening232to a vicinity of a right end portion of the cylinder part21along an opposite direction of the rotation direction of the cylinder part21(i.e., toward the posterior side in the rotation direction (that is, in the clockwise direction in FIG.1)), to cover the outer side surface211in the right side of the cylinder part21.

In the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21, a region between the lower end of the first cover part221and the lower end of the second cover part222, that is a region which is not covered with the first cover part221and the second cover part222in the lower side of the cylinder part21, is an after-mentioned particle supply region210. The first cover part221spreads from the particle supply region210in the clockwise direction, and the second cover part222spreads from the particle supply region210in the counterclockwise direction.

FIG. 2is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the cylinder part21, and shows a cross section which is orthogonal to the rotation axis R1.FIG. 3is a view showing the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21, and inFIG. 3, an appearance of the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21which is observed along a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1is shown. InFIG. 2, regions of the particles are densely hatched. InFIG. 3, the first cover part221and the second cover part222are omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, with respect to each of a plurality of positions in the axial direction, a plurality of concave portions212are arranged densely (closely with each other) on (in) the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis R1. When the plurality of concave portions212which are arranged in the circumferential direction at the same position in the axial direction are referred to as a concave portion row213, three concave portion rows213are provided in the cylinder part21as shown inFIG. 3. In the present embodiment, the shape of each concave portion212observed along a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis R1is generally rectangular. In a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis R1, the shape of a bottom surface of each concave portion212is generally arc-like as shown inFIG. 2. The concave portions212may have a various shape, for example, the shape of each concave portion212in the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis R1may be generally rectangular. On the cylinder outer side surface211, one, two, four or more supply concave portion rows213may be provided.

The outer side surface211of the cylinder part21is very close to an inner side surface of the first cover part221and an inner side surface of the second cover part222in regions where the concave portions212don't exist, and the outer side surface211is substantively in contact with these inner side surfaces.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1, the cylinder part21is rotated around the rotation axis R1at a high speed, and particles are sequentially filled from the particle tank231of the particle filling part23into the plurality of concave portions212passing the particle filling opening232due to gravity. A communication part26located adjacent to the particle filling opening232is provided to the right of the particle filling opening232inFIG. 2(i.e., posterior to the particle filling opening232in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21). A concave portion212aout of the plurality of concave portions212(the concave portion is denoted by a reference sign212ain order to be distinguished from the other concave portions212), which faces a posterior edge of the particle filling opening232(i.e., a posterior end in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21) in the cylinder part21, is brought into communication with external space by the communication part26. InFIG. 2, the cross section of the communication part26at the position II-II in after-mentionedFIG. 4is drawn in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing.

FIG. 4is a view showing a plate-like communication part-forming member269which forms the communication part26, and shows an appearance of the communication part-forming member269which is observed from the right side of the particle tank231inFIG. 2. InFIG. 4, the upper portion of the cylinder part21is also drawn together with the communication part-forming member269. A plurality of grooves are formed on both main surface of the communication part-forming member269. As shown inFIG. 2, the communication part-forming member269is fixed on a right inner side surface of the particle tank231, and the left main surface of the communication part-forming member269is covered with a plate member. Therefore, the above grooves become a communication path260of the communication part26.

In the communication part26, a first end portion261is one end portion which faces the cylinder part21, and the first end portion261is positioned below a second end portion262which is the other end portion of the communication part26located on the external space side of the communication part26. In the present embodiment, the first end portion261is almost right below the second end portion262in the vertical direction. A suction part264for suctioning gas in the communication part26is connected to the second end portion262through a pipe263. The suction part264has a regulator for adjusting a suction pressure and performs suction weakly.

As shown inFIG. 4, the first end portion261of the communication part26is provided with four communication openings266. The plurality of communication openings266are arranged across almost the entire extent where the three concave portion rows213are arranged in the axial direction (i.e., the left-right direction inFIG. 4) of the cylinder part21.

The communication path260in the communication part26has four first flow paths260aextending upwardly from the communication openings266respectively, two second flow paths260beach extending in the axial direction to connect upper end portions of two first flow paths260ato each other, two third flow paths260cextending upwardly from middle portions of the two second flow paths260brespectively, one fourth flow path260dconnecting upper end portions of the two third flow paths260cto each other, and one fifth flow path260econnecting a middle portion of the fourth flow path260dto the external space. The first flow paths260aand the fourth flow path260dare formed on one main surface (a front main surface inFIG. 4) of the communication part-forming member269, and the second flow paths260band the third flow paths260care formed on the other main surface (i.e., behind the first flow paths260aand the fourth flow path260dinFIG. 4) of the communication part-forming member269. A path width of each first flow path260ain a direction parallel with the axial direction gradually decreases with distance upward from the communication opening266.

The communication path260extends upward from each communication opening266, and bends at the upper end portion of the first flow path260ato extend backward inFIG. 4(i.e., in a thickness direction of the communication part-forming member269). And, the communication path260bends to extend in parallel with the axial direction, and bends at the middle portion of the second flow path260bto extend upward. Furthermore, the communication path260bends at the upper end portion of the third flow path260cto extend frontward inFIG. 4, and further bends to extend in parallel with the axial direction. Then, the communication path260bends at the middle portion of the fourth flow path260dto extend frontward inFIG. 4(i.e., becomes the fifth flow path260e), and therefore communicates with the external space. As above, the communication path260has many bending portions (bends at many points).

In the communication part-forming member269, as shown inFIG. 5, only one communication opening266and one first flow path260amay be provided at a position corresponding to the four communication openings266and the four first flow paths260ainFIG. 4. In this case, the two second flow paths260bare connected to an upper end portion of the first flow path260a.

As shown inFIG. 2, in the first end portion261, an end portion-side surface265facing the communication path260is an inclined surface extending toward the lower left inFIG. 2. In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1, when the rotation of the cylinder part21is stopped or the like, a small amount of particles sometimes enters the communication path260. In this case, when the rotation of the cylinder part21is started again, the first end portion261of the communication part26is pressed by the particles. In the communication part26, as mentioned previously, the end portion-side surface265is the inclined surface where a portion closer to the cylinder part21is positioned anterior in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21. Therefore, when the rotation of the cylinder part21is started again, particles in the communication path260easily move downward along the end portion-side surface265and fall out from the communication path260. As a result, the end portion-side surface265is prevented from being compressed hard by the particles in the communication path260.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1, until each concave portion212filled with particles reaches the particle supply region210provided in the lower portion of the cylinder part21, the outer end of the concave portion212is closed (blocked) with the first cover part221(that is, the concave portion212is covered on the outer side surface211). When each concave portion212pass the particle supply region210beyond an edge of the first cover part221in the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21, that is, beyond an anterior edge of the first cover part221in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21, particles filled in the concave portion212are ejected out of the cylinder part21.

Specifically, ejection of particles is started at the moment (an anterior portion of) the concave portion212has passed over the above edge of the first cover part221. In the following description, a position of the above edge is referred to as an “ejection start position A1”. The ejection start position A1lies posterior to (upstream of) the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21and is positioned in the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21. As mentioned previously, the cylinder part21is rotated at a high speed, and particles are sequentially ejected from the plurality of concave portions212almost along a tangent line of the outer side surface211at the ejection start position A1. Each concave portion212which has ejected particles passes through the particle supply region210, and is moved to the upper portion of the cylinder part21with its outer end closed by the second cover part222, to go to the particle filling opening232of the particle filling part23.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view of the first sheet conveying roller31and shows a cross section of the first sheet conveying roller31taken along a plane including the rotation axis R1of the cylinder part21inFIG. 1and the first central axis J1of the first sheet conveying roller31. The first sheet conveying roller31has an outer side surface311which is a generally cylindrical surface around the first central axis J1, and an annular groove312along a circumferential direction around the first central axis J1is formed on the outer side surface311with respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction. The annular grooves312are located at the same positions in the axial direction as the positions of the concave portion rows213(seeFIG. 3) in the cylinder part21.

The first sheet member91is led to the first sheet conveying roller31through the plurality of auxiliary rollers32(seeFIG. 1). At this time, adhesive is applied by the first applying part61onto only a plurality of strip-like regions (or linear regions) on the first sheet member91which are overlapped with the plurality of annular grooves312, respectively. Positions of the plurality of strip-like regions (hereinafter referred to as “adhesive-applied regions”) are identical to the positions of the plurality of concave portion rows213in the cylinder part21and the positions of the plurality of annular grooves312with respect to the axial direction. The first sheet member91under the ejection start position A1(seeFIG. 2) of the particle supply region210is conveyed by the first sheet conveying roller31in the same direction as a moving direction of the outer side surface211of the cylinder part21(i.e., rightward inFIG. 1). From the cylinder part21, particles are ejected toward the plurality of adhesive-applied regions on the first sheet member91to be held on the first sheet member91.

In the first sheet conveying roller31, a diameter of the outer side surface311is comparatively-large, and also the first sheet member91is stretched along the outer side surface311at a certain tension. Therefore, a portion911of the first sheet member91corresponding to each annular groove312becomes a shape depressed toward the bottom of the annular groove312. In other words, groove portions911corresponding to the annular grooves312are formed on the first sheet member91. As mentioned previously, the positions of the annular grooves312in the first sheet conveying roller31are same as the positions of the concave portion rows213with respect to the axial direction. Thus, most particles ejected from each concave portion212go toward the groove portion911to be collected in the groove portion911. At this time, even if particles bounce from the first sheet member91in the groove portions911, scattering of particles to the outside of the groove portions911is suppressed (reduced) by side walls of the groove portions911. In addition, since the above adhesive-applied regions on the first sheet member91are positioned at the groove portions911, particles are easily caught in the groove portions911.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view of the second sheet conveying roller41and shows a cross section of the second sheet conveying roller41taken along a plane including the second central axis J2of the second sheet conveying roller41inFIG. 1. The second sheet conveying roller41has an outer side surface411which is a generally cylindrical surface around the second central axis J2, and an annular groove412along a circumferential direction around the second central axis J2is formed on the outer side surface411with respect to each of the plurality of positions in the axial direction. The plurality of annular grooves412are located at the same positions in the axial direction as the positions of the plurality of concave portion rows213in the cylinder part21and the positions of the plurality of annular grooves312in the first sheet conveying roller31.

The second sheet member92is led to the second sheet conveying roller41through the plurality of auxiliary rollers42(seeFIG. 1). At this time, adhesive is applied by the second applying part62onto only a plurality of strip-like (or linear) adhesive-applied regions on the second sheet member92which are overlapped with the plurality of annular grooves412. Positions of the plurality of adhesive-applied regions are identical to the positions of the plurality of concave portion rows213in the cylinder part21and the positions of the plurality of annular grooves312in the first sheet conveying roller31with respect to the axial direction. Some of particles ejected from each concave portion212of the cylinder part21bounce from the first sheet member91in the groove portion911(seeFIG. 6) to go toward the second sheet conveying roller41, and others go from the concave portion212of the cylinder part21to the second sheet conveying roller41directly.

As mentioned previously, the positions of the annular grooves412in the second sheet conveying roller41are same as the positions of the concave portion rows213and the positions of the annular grooves312with respect to the axial direction, and the particles heading to the second sheet conveying roller41collide with portions of the second sheet member92lying right above the annular grooves412(i.e., portions at which the back surface is not in contact with any substance). As a result, the impact is absorbed and the particles are collected in the groove portions911of the first sheet member91. As shown inFIG. 8, the second sheet member92is conveyed along the outer side surface411of the second sheet conveying roller41, and (a portion of) the second sheet member92is placed (stacked) on (a portion of) the first sheet member91which has passed under the lowermost portion of the cylinder part21.

FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view of the bonding roller51and shows a cross section of the bonding roller51taken along a plane including the third central axis J3of the bonding roller51inFIG. 1. The bonding roller51has an outer side surface511which is a cylindrical surface around the third central axis J3, and the outer side surface511is a smooth surface. As shown inFIG. 8, the first sheet member91supplied with particles and the second sheet member92overlaid on the first sheet member91are placed (sandwiched) between the outer side surface311of the first sheet conveying roller31and the outer side surface511of the bonding roller51. The both (or one) of the first sheet conveying roller31and the bonding roller51are provided with heaters, and regions of the first sheet member91and the second sheet member92which come into contact with convex portions lying at both sides of each annular groove312(seeFIG. 6) on the outer side surface311of the first sheet conveying roller31are heat-sealed, so that the first sheet member91and the second sheet member92are bonded with each other.

Therefore, as shown inFIG. 10, an absorbent sheet95where a plurality of particle existence regions951and a plurality of particle non-existence regions952are alternately arranged in the width direction is formed. The plurality of particle existence regions951are strip-like (or linear) regions on each of which particles of high-absorbent resin are applied, and the plurality of particle non-existence regions952are strip-like (or linear) regions where particles don't exist essentially and the first sheet member91and the second sheet member92are bonded with each other. In other words, the plurality of particle existence regions951are provided in a stripe pattern in the absorbent sheet95. InFIG. 10, hatching lines are drawn in the particle existence regions951.

As described above, in the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1, the communication part26is located adjacent and posterior to the particle filling opening232in the rotation direction, and the concave portion212aout of the plurality of concave portions212which faces the posterior edge of the particle filling opening232(i.e., faces the particle filling opening232at the posterior edge thereof) is in communication with the external space through the communication part26. Therefore, when particles are filled into the concave portion212afrom the particle filling part23, air in the concave portion212ais forced out by particles entering the concave portion212aand is easily discharged to the external space through the communication part26. As a result, it is possible to increase a density of particles filled in the concave portion212a. In addition, by the suction part264suctioning gas in the communication part26, air in the concave portion212ais discharged more efficiently and therefore, the density of particles filled in the concave portion212acan be increased further.

In the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus1, the particle filling opening232of the particle filling part23faces a portion including the uppermost portion of the cylinder part21, and an aperture of the concave portion212becomes almost orthogonal to the vertical direction (i.e., gravity direction) in the vicinity of the uppermost portion of the cylinder part21. Therefore, filling of particles into the concave portion212due to gravity is promoted and the density of particles filled in each concave portion212can be further increased. Since the particle tank231extends in almost parallel with the vertical direction, the self-weight of particles in the particle tank231exerting influence on particles in the concave portion212is almost constant from the posterior edge of the particle filling opening232to the anterior edge (i.e., across the entire length in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis R1). As a result, filling of particles into the concave portion212can be performed stably.

As discussed previously, in the communication part26, the first end portion261facing the cylinder part21is positioned below the second end portion262facing the external space. This can reduce escape of particles from the concave portion212ato the external space through the communication part26. In addition, since the first end portion261is positioned almost right below the second end portion262in the vertical direction, escape of particles to the external space through the communication part26is further reduced. Furthermore, since the communication path260in the communication part26has many bending portions, escape of particles to the external space through the communication part26can be further reduced. The communication path260may bend at various positions toward various directions. From the viewpoint of reduction of escape of particles to the external space, it is preferable that the communication path260has at least two bending portions (i.e., the communication path260bends at least two points).

Though the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been discussed above, the present invention is not limited to the above-discussed preferred embodiments, but allows various variations.

For example, in the above preferred embodiment, the communication part26is provided across almost the entire extent where the three concave portion rows213are arranged in the axial direction of the cylinder part21, however, three communication parts26corresponding to the three concave portion rows213may be provided independently of each other. In this case, there may be the case where the three communication parts26are connected to the suction part264individually, or second end portions262of the three communication parts26are connected to a common pipe and suction by the suction part264is performed through the common pipe. If particles are filled in the concave portion212at a sufficiently high density, suction by the suction part264may be omitted.

The first end portion261of the communication part26is not necessarily positioned right below the second end portion262in the vertical direction. If escape of particles to the external space through the communication part26is prevented or sufficiently reduced, for example, the second end portion262may be positioned on the same level as the first end portion261or below the first end portion261.

If particles are filled in the concave portion212at a sufficiently high density, the particle filling opening232doesn't necessarily face a portion including the uppermost portion of the cylinder part21and may be located so as to face a portion anterior or posterior to the uppermost portion in the rotation direction of the cylinder part21.

In the above preferred embodiment, discussion has been made on the manufacture (production) of the absorbent sheets95where the striped particle existence regions951are set, however, absorbent sheets having point-like (dotted) particle existence regions may be formed by decreasing the rotation speed of the cylinder part21or increasing spaces between adjacent concave portions212in the circumferential direction in the cylinder part21.

The above cylinder part21, first sheet conveying roller31, first cover part221, second cover part222, particle filling part23and communication part26which function as a particle supplying apparatus for supplying particles of high-absorbent resin onto a sheet member may be utilized (combined) in various apparatuses other than the absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus. For example, there may be a case where a sheet member whose upper surface is supplied with pulp fibers or the like is conveyed by the first sheet conveying roller31and particles of high-absorbent resin are supplied onto the pulp fibers by the cylinder part21. In this case, particles filled in each concave portion212at a high density can be mixed with the pulp fibers.

In the above particle supplying apparatus, particles of absorbent material are supplied such as crosslinked partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, hydrolyzed starch-acrylic acid graft polymer, saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile copolymer, crosslinked acrylonitrile copolymer, hydrolyzed acrylamide copolymer, crosslinked acrylamide copolymer, crosslinked cationic monomers, or crosslinked polyamino acid. The particle supplying apparatus may be utilized as an apparatus for supplying particles of deodorant material such as activated carbon, silica, alumina, zeolite, ion-exchange resin, or molecular sieve onto a sheet member. In this case, a sheet article manufacturing apparatus having the above particle supplying apparatus manufactures a deodorant sheet which is a sheet article for an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or absorbent pad for light incontinence.

The constituent elements of above-discussed preferred embodiments and modified examples may be appropriately combined with one another, as long as they are not mutually exclusive.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST