Abstract:
This method for producing wet wipes includes the following steps: a step for vertically folding non-woven cloth sheets; a step for impregnating the sheets with a chemical; a step for stacking the sheets; a step for cutting the sheets at predetermined lengths; a step for pulling the cut sheets away from a transporting conveyer provided with a suction mechanism by means of a pusher, and stacking the cut sheets; a step for pressing a bundle comprising the sheets; and a step for packaging the bundle. The pusher is disposed between the transporting conveyers. The blades of the pusher have a plurality of tooth sections. The pusher drops the sheets suctioned to the transporting conveyer downwards by means of moving vertically downwards.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a National Phase of International Application Number PCT/JP2011/071224, filed Sep. 16, 2011, and claims priority from Japanese Application Number 2010-222553, filed Sep. 30, 2010. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing wet wipes. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As a method for manufacturing wet wipes formed of a laminated body of sheets impregnated with a predetermined chemical, there are known methods disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2. 
     A method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has: a step of impregnating an original fabric with part of a predetermined chemical during conveyance of the original fabric before lamination; a step of squeezing out an excess of the predetermined chemical impregnated in the original fabric during conveyance of the original fabric; a step of laminating a plurality of original fabrics during conveyance of the original fabrics; and a step of impregnating the original fabrics with the rest of the predetermined chemical during conveyance of the original fabrics after lamination. 
     Furthermore, a method disclosed in Patent Literature 2 has: a step of impregnating an original fabric with a predetermined chemical during conveyance of the original fabric before lamination; a step of laminating the original fabric while folding it back during conveyance of the original fabric; a step of conveying the original fabric after lamination while compressing it in a thickness direction and thereafter cutting the original fabric; and the like. 
     The wet wipes manufactured by the methods disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 have a configuration of a so-called pop-up type that when one sheet is taken out of a container, the next one is also pulled out together and protruded from an outlet of the container. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. H7-204118 
     PTL 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-144053 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     However, the method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a problem that the impregnation step of a predetermined chemical requires two stages to be taken before and after lamination of the original fabric, thereby increasing the size of apparatus, and since the original fabric after lamination is impregnated with the predetermined chemical, the impregnation amount of the predetermined chemical has variability between the surface part and the center part of the laminated body of sheets. 
     Furthermore, the method disclosed in Patent Literature 2 has a problem that a predetermined chemical is squeezed out of the original fabric because the original fabric is folded back and compressed after impregnation with the predetermined chemical, thereby leading to a possibility that a product containing a desired amount of the predetermined chemical cannot be manufactured. 
     Furthermore, the wet wipes of the pop-up type described above have a problem that, if an impregnation rate of a predetermined chemical to the original fabrics is increased, the original fabrics are interconnected by means of a water screen of the predetermined chemical, which makes it difficult to take sheets out of the container one by one. 
     Thus, the present invention has been achieved in view of the aforementioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing wet wipes, by which wet wipes which can be easily taken out one by one can be manufactured by increasing an impregnation rate of a predetermined chemical and eliminating variability in an impregnation amount of the predetermined chemical. 
     A first feature of the present invention is summarized as a method for manufacturing wet wipes formed of a laminated body of sheets impregnated with a predetermined chemical, the method comprising: a step of conveying, by means of a conveyance device, an original fabric of a plurality of sheets in a state of laminated while being impregnated with the predetermined chemical and folded back; a step of making the laminated body of the sheets by cutting the original fabric of the sheets during conveyance, at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction on a surface of the sheets; a step of conveying, by means of the conveyance device, the laminated body of the sheets; and a step of detaching the laminated body of the sheets from the conveyance device, by means of a pusher which is provided with a projection protruded toward the surface of the sheets, reciprocates in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction and the surface of the sheets. 
     Moreover, the feature of the present invention is summarized as a manufacturing device that manufactures wet wipes formed of a laminated body of sheets impregnated with a predetermined chemical, the manufacturing device comprising: a conveyance device; a cutting unit that makes the laminated body of the sheets by cutting an original fabric of a plurality of sheets at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction on a surface of the sheets, the plurality of sheets being conveyed by the conveyance device in a state of laminated while being impregnated with the predetermined chemical and folded back; and a dropping mechanism that reciprocates in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction and the surface of the sheets, so as to detach the laminated body of the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device from the conveyance device, wherein the dropping mechanism is provided with a projection protruded toward the surface of the sheets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package body of wet wipes manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view for showing a state in which the wet wipes manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention are contained inside the package body. 
         FIG. 3  is a view for showing a state in which the wet wipes manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention are contained inside the package body. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a view for illustrating devices used in a laminating step and a pressing step of the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view for illustrating a configuration of a pusher in the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a view for illustrating a configuration of a blade of the pusher in the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is view for illustrating a modification of the blade of the pusher in the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a view for illustrating a configuration of a modification of the pusher in the manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment of Present Invention 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , wet wipes manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention are explained. Such wet wipes are formed of a laminated body of sheets  710 ,  720  impregnated with a predetermined chemical. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a package body  100  of the wet wipes has: a package main body  20  having an opening portion  21 ; a label member  22  attached to the exterior face of the package main body  20  to cover the opening portion  21 ; and a laminated body of the sheets  710 ,  720  contained inside the package main body  20 . 
     Each of the sheets  710 ,  720  is contained inside the package main body  20  in a state where these sheets are folded back as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sheet  720  has regions  31 A,  32 A,  33 A,  34 A,  35 A, whereas the sheet  710  has regions  31 B,  32 B,  33 B,  34 B,  35 B. 
     Herein, in the sheet  720 , the regions  31 A,  32 A are folded back along a folding line  1 A; the regions  32 A,  33 A are folded back along a folding line  2 A; the regions  33 A,  34 A are folded back along a folding line  3 A; and the regions  34 A,  35 A are folded back along a folding line  4 A. 
     Similarly, in the sheet  710 , the regions  31 B,  32 B are folded back along a folding line  1 B; the regions  32 B,  33 B are folded back along a folding line  2 B; the regions  33 B,  34 B are folded back along a folding line  3 B; and the regions  34 B,  35 B are folded back along a folding line  4 B. 
     Note that in the sheet  720 , the folding lines  1 A,  2 A are provided between the folding lines  3 A,  4 A in a widthwise direction W, whereas in the sheet  710 , the folding lines  1 B,  2 B are provided between the folding lines  3 B,  4 B in the widthwise direction W. 
     That is, in the sheet  720 , a region between the folding lines  1 A,  2 A in the widthwise direction W has a four-layered structure formed by folding back the regions  31 A,  32 A,  33 A,  34 A, whereas the other region has a two-layered structure formed by folding back the regions  33 A,  34 A. 
     Therefore, the regions  31 A,  32 A rise in a lamination direction S of the laminated body while extending in one direction L of the laminated body. 
     That is, the regions  31 A,  32 A are folded back along the folding lines  1 A,  2 A to thereby configure a rising region PA which is formed in the laminated body so as to rise in the lamination direction S while extending in the one direction L. 
     Similarly, in the sheet  710 , a region between the folding lines  1 B,  2 B in the widthwise direction W has a four-layered structure formed by folding back the regions  31 B,  32 B,  33 B,  34 B, whereas the other region has a two-layered structure formed by folding back the regions  33 B,  34 B. 
     Therefore, the regions  31 B,  32 B rise in a lamination direction S of the laminated body while extending in the one direction L of the laminated body. 
     That is, the regions  31 B,  32 B are folded back along the folding lines  1 B,  2 B to thereby configure a rising region PB which is formed in the laminated body so as to rise in the lamination direction S while extending in the longitudinal direction L. 
     Furthermore, one region (that is, the rising region PA) between the folding lines  1 A,  2 A in the widthwise direction W is arranged so as not to be overlapped with the other region (that is, the rising region PB) between the folding lines  1 B,  2 B in the direction W. 
     Furthermore, in the rising regions PA, PB, the sheets  710 ,  720  adjacent to each other in the lamination direction S are laminated in close contact with each other with a predetermined chemical intervened therebetween. 
     Herein, in regions RA, RB, RC adjacent to the rising regions PA, PB, since a gap is formed between the sheets  710 ,  720  adjacent to each other in the lamination direction S, these sheets are not laminated in close contact with each other and not with the predetermined chemical intervened therebetween. 
     Note that the wet wipes manufactured with the manufacturing apparatus  10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention are not configured as the aforementioned pop-up type. Therefore, even in a case where the sheet  720  is taken out through the opening portion  21  of the package main body  20 , the sheet  710  is not pulled up together to be protruded from the opening portion  21 . 
     That is, after taking out the sheet  720  through the opening portion  21  of the package main body  20  by grabbing and pulling up the regions  31 A,  32 A (that is, the rising region PA of the sheet  720 ), a user can take out the sheet  710  by grabbing and pulling up the regions  31 B,  32 B (that is, the rising region PB of the sheet  710 ). 
     Hereinafter, with reference to  FIG. 4 , a method for manufacturing wet wipes according to the present embodiment is briefly explained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in step S 101 , the folding unit  5  folds respective sheets  71 ,  72  having been sent out from a wound state in a roller shape, into a predetermined shape (specifically, a shape shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) on a side not in contact with a conveyance device. 
     For example, the sheets  71 ,  72  have a basis weight of 25 g/m 2  to 100 g/m 2 , and are made of; fibers made of a hydrophilic fiber such as rayon, cotton, or pulp, and a simple substance such as PET, PP, PE, or acrylic; or hydrophobic composite fibers having a sheath-core structure or a side-by-side structure. 
     Furthermore, the sheets  71 ,  72  are a nonwoven fabric shaped in a sheet-like form by a spun lace method, an air-laid method, a direct spinning method, or the like, and these sheets are required to include a hydrophilic fiber in terms of permeability of the predetermined chemical at the time of impregnation of the predetermined chemical. 
     In step S 102 , an impregnating unit  1  impregnates each of the folded sheets  71 ,  72  with a predetermined amount of predetermined chemical from a side in contact with the conveyance device (a side of a conveyance roller  2 ). 
     In step S 103 , each of the sheets  71 ,  72  impregnated with the predetermined chemical is conveyed in contact with the surface of the conveyance roller  2 . 
     In step S 104 , a conveyer  3  laminates each of the sheets  71 ,  72  impregnated with the predetermined chemical. 
     Specifically, with the conveyer  3 , the sheet  72  with its surface impregnated with the predetermined chemical being faced to the side in contact with the conveyance device is laminated from the side not in contact with the conveyance device, on the sheet  71  with its surface impregnated with the predetermined chemical being faced to the side in contact with the conveyance device. 
     In step S 105 , a cutting unit  4  cuts the sheets  71 ,  72  conveyed by the conveyer  3 , into the sheets  710 ,  720  with a predetermined size. 
     In step S 106 , by means of a pusher  13  provided with projections protruded toward the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720 , the laminated body formed of the cut-out sheets  710 ,  720  is crossed in the conveyance direction while being shifted in a direction intersecting with the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720  (in a vertically downward direction from the conveyance surface in this embodiment), thereby being dropped from the conveyance device, resulting in a sheet bundle  800  formed by laminating a predetermined number of laminated bodies made of the sheets  710 ,  720 . Thereafter, in pressing step S 107 , the sheet bundle  800  made of the cut-out sheets  710 ,  720  is conveyed while being pressed. In packaging step S 108 , the sheet bundle  800  is packaged in the package main body  20 . 
     Hereinafter, with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , each function of the manufacturing apparatus  10  according to the present embodiment is explained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the manufacturing apparatus  10  has: the folding unit  5 ; the impregnating unit  1 ; the conveyance roller  2 ; conveyors  3 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12 ; the cutting unit  4 ; the pusher  13 ; and a pressing device  15 . Herein, in the manufacturing apparatus  10 , the conveyance roller  2  and the conveyors  3 ,  9  make up a conveyance device configured to continuously convey the plurality of sheets  71 ,  72 . Furthermore, the conveyers  11 ,  12 ,  14  make up a conveyance device configured to continuously convey the sheet bundles  800 . 
     The folding unit  5  is configured to fold back each of the sheets  71 ,  72  on a side not in contact with the conveyance device. Specifically, the folding unit  5  is configured to fold back each of the sheets  71 ,  72  so that the sheets  71 ,  72  are formed in a shape shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Specifically, the folding unit  5  is configured so that: the regions  31 A,  32 A,  33 A (or  31 B,  32 B,  33 B) including one side edge of the sheet  72  (or  71 ) are folded back on a side not in contact with the conveyance device, along the folding line  3 A (or  3 B) in the conveyance direction MD; thereafter the regions  31 A,  32 A (or  31 B,  32 B) including one side edge of the sheet  72  (or  71 ) are folded back on the side not in contact with the conveyance device, along the folding line  2 A (or  2 B) in the conveyance direction MD; and thereafter, the region  31 A (or  31 B) including one side edge of the sheet  72  (or  71 ) is folded back on the side not in contact with the conveyance device, along the folding line  1 A (or  1 B) in the conveyance direction MD. 
     Furthermore, the folding unit  5  is configured so that the region  35 A (or  35 B) including the other side edge of the sheet  72  (or  71 ) is folded back on a side in contact with the conveyance device, along the folding line  4 A (or  4 B) in the conveyance direction MD. 
     The impregnating unit  1  is configured to impregnate each of the folded sheets  71 ,  72  with the predetermined chemical, from the side in contact with the conveyance device. 
     For example, the impregnating unit  1  may be configured to push out the predetermined chemical by a predetermined amount from a chemical tank by using a proportioning pump. As a result, the predetermined amount of predetermined chemical is discharged from a pore provided in the impregnating unit  1  and comes in contact with the sheets  71 ,  72 , so that each of the sheets  71 ,  72  is impregnated with the predetermined amount of predetermined chemical. 
     Furthermore, the impregnating unit  1  may be configured to impregnate the sheets  71 ,  72  with the predetermined chemical having weight of 3.5 (between 3 and 4) times heavier than the sheets  71 ,  72 , for example. 
     Note that a weight rate (that is, an impregnation rate) of the predetermined chemical to be impregnated, with respect to the sheets  71 ,  72  is appropriately adjustable by the impregnating unit  1 . 
     Herein, an impregnation rate required for the sheets  71 ,  72  to adhere to the surface of the conveyance roller  2  and for the sheet  72  to adhere to the top of the sheet  71  is 1.5 times or more in a case of using as the sheets  71 ,  72 , a spun lace nonwoven fabric of 38 g/m 2  having a rayon fiber as a main constituent, for example. 
     Furthermore, as a method for applying a predetermined chemical, the impregnating unit  1  may adopt a method for attaching a predetermined chemical in a droplet form or in a mist form to the sheets  71 ,  72 . However, the above-described method is preferable in consideration of impregnation efficiency and process pollution of chemical at the time when surfaces of the sheets  71 ,  72 , which are impregnated with the predetermined chemical, are brought in contact with the surface of the conveyance roller  2 . 
     The conveyance roller  2  is connected to a driving source and is a driving roller with a smooth surface, configured to rotate by itself. 
     The conveyor  3  is configured to convey each of the sheets  71 ,  72  at an approximately equal conveyance speed to the conveyance roller  2 . 
     The cutting unit  4  is configured to cut the laminated body formed by laminating the plurality of sheets  71 ,  72  in a state where the sheets  71 ,  72  impregnated with the predetermined chemical are folded back. For example, the cutting unit  4  is configured so that a cutter roller having a cutting blade on its surface and an anvil roller having a smooth surface cut the plurality of continuously-conveyed sheets at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. 
     Furthermore, like the conveyor  3 , the conveyor  9  may be provided at both the upside and downside. In such a case, the laminated body of the sheets  710 ,  720  is conveyed while being sandwiched between an upper conveyer arranged at the upside and a lower conveyer arranged at the downside. This upper conveyor may be provided with a concave portion and a convex portion. 
     As a result, the laminated body of the sheets  710 ,  720  after being cut by the cutting unit  4  is improved in its transfer ability and conveyance stability with respect to the conveyer  9 . 
     Herein, a conveyance speed of the conveyor  9  is 3% higher than the conveyor  3  and the cutting unit  4 . 
     The conveyer  11  has conveyers  11   a ,  11   b  arranged at a predetermined interval in a cross direction CD intersecting with the conveyance direction MD. The conveyers  11   a ,  11   b  are provided with a suction mechanism (not shown) to enable the cut-out sheets  710 ,  720  conveyed by the conveyer  9  to be conveyed with their outer ends in the widthwise direction being adsorbed to the conveyance surface. The pusher  13  is arranged between the conveyers  11   a ,  11   b.    
     The pusher  13  is configured to intersect with the conveyance direction MD and reciprocate in the direction intersecting with the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720  (a vertically downward direction from the conveyance surface in this embodiment) so as to detach the sheets  710 ,  720  conveyed by the conveyer  11  from the conveyance surface of the conveyers  11   a ,  11   b  and drop down the sheets  710 ,  720  from the conveyers  11   a ,  11   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , the pusher  13  has projections protruded toward the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720 . Specifically, the pusher  13  has blades  131  to  134 , connecting portions  135 ,  136 ,  137  for connecting the blades, and a supporting portion  138  for supporting the blades  131  to  134 . 
     The blades  131  to  134  have a plurality of tooth portions  141 . One tooth portion  141  is configured so that inclination angle θ 1  at an inlet side of the sheet in the conveyance direction MD (a rear side (upper-stream side) R in the conveyance direction MD) is greater than inclination angle θ 2  at an outlet side of the sheet (a front side (down-stream side) F in the conveyance direction MD). As one example, a height h from troughs to tops of the tooth portions  141  is 10 mm and an interval (pitch) p between the tops of the tooth portions  141  is 15 mm. In the pusher  13  according to the embodiment, expressions of θ 1 =90° and θ 2 =60° hold. 
     The number of blades making up the pusher  13  is not limited to four as shown in  FIG. 6 . For example, the pusher  13  may be formed of six blades. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a modification of projections formed in the pusher  13 . The blades  131  to  134  are not limited to the shape shown in  FIG. 7 . That is, the expression of θ 1 =90° is not necessarily always satisfied.  FIG. 8  shows a modification of the blade. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the blade  151  has a plurality of tooth portions  161 . Inclination angle θ 1  on a rear side R in the conveyance direction MD of the tooth portions  161  is greater than angle θ 2  on a front side F, and expressions of θ 1 ≠90° and θ 1 &lt;90° hold. Furthermore, in the thickness direction of the blade  151 , the blade  151  tapers toward the front tips of the tooth portions  161 . In the embodiment, the blade  151  is configured to satisfy expression of θ 3 =θ 4 =20°. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a pusher  130  shown as a modification is provided with projections  181  in a base  170 . Like the tooth portions  141 , the projections  181  are configured so that angle θ 1  at an inlet side of the sheet in the conveyance direction MD (a rear side R in the conveyance direction MD) is greater than angle θ 2  at an outlet side of the sheet (a front side F in the conveyance direction MD). 
     By means of the pusher  13 , the sheet bundle  800  is formed by laminating the predetermined number of laminated bodies of the sheets  710 ,  720  detached from the conveyers  11   a ,  11   b . Thereafter, a stopper S is released and the sheet bundle  800  is conveyed by the conveyer  12  toward the pressing device  15 . 
     The pressing device  15  is configured so that the sheet bundle  800  is conveyed while both end portions of the sheet bundle  800  formed by laminating the cut-out sheets  710 ,  720  are pressed by the pressing portion from the side not in contact with the conveyer  14 . 
     With the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus  10  according to the present embodiment, the sheets  71 ,  72  are conveyed while maintaining a state of being impregnated with the predetermined chemical, without requiring steps at a stage prior to making the sheet bundle  800 , such as a step of impregnating the sheets  710 ,  720  with part of chemical while the sheets are being conveyed, a step of squeezing out an excess of the predetermined chemical impregnated in the sheets  710 ,  720  while the sheets are being conveyed, and a step of impregnating the sheet bundle  800  after lamination, with the rest of predetermined chemical. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture wet wipes by which the rate of impregnation of the sheets  710 ,  720  with the predetermined chemical is increased and variability in the impregnation amount of the predetermined chemical is eliminated. 
     However, with the wet wipes other than a so-called pop-up type, like the present embodiment, in which the sheets are not interconnected, the sheets detached from the conveyance surface flow by inertia in the conveyance direction in a step of making the laminated body of cut-out sheets, which possibly leads to a problem that the edges of the laminated body become uneven. Furthermore, this unevenness in the laminated body may make the sheets unable to be taken one by one. That is, there is concern about reduction in the easiness of taking sheets out. 
     On the other hand, by the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, the pusher  13  provided with the projections is used in the lamination step S 106  in which the sheets  710 ,  720  are shifted vertically downward from the conveyance surface and dropped down from the conveyer  11 . When the pusher  13  is pressed down, the projections are caught in the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720  thereby preventing the sheets  710 ,  720  from flowing in the conveyance direction MD. 
     Accordingly, the edges of the sheet bundle  800  formed by laminating the sheets  710 ,  720  can be evened up. 
     It is desirable that a configuration be made so that angle θ 1  at an outlet side of the sheet in the conveyance direction MD (a rear side R in the conveyance direction MD) is greater than angle θ 2  at an outlet side of the sheet (a front side F in the conveyance direction MD). With a configuration which satisfies the expression of θ 1 &gt;θ 2 , the tooth portions  141  of the blades  131  to  134  are hardly slid across the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720 , so that the sheets  710 ,  720  can be reliably prevented from flowing by inertia in the conveyance direction. 
     The edges of the sheet bundle  800  can be evened up, so that reduction in the easiness of taking sheets out, which is caused by the fact that a plurality of sheets is taken out all stuck together, can be prevented. 
     In the present embodiment, as long as at least the expressions of θ 1 &gt;60° and 10°&lt;θ 3 &lt;45° hold, the tooth portions  141  (or the tooth portions  161 ) of the blades  131  to  134  are not slid across the surface of the sheets  710 ,  720  even in a case where θ 1  is less than or equal to 90°, so that the sheets  710 ,  720  can be sufficiently prevented from shifting. 
     Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using the above-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for persons skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implemented as corrected and modified modes without departing from the gist and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for explaining the example only and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention. 
     In addition, the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-222553 (filed on Sep. 30, 2010) is incorporated in the present specification by reference. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Thus, the present invention has been achieved in view of the aforementioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing wet wipes, by which wet wipes which can be easily taken out one by one can be manufactured by increasing an impregnation rate of a predetermined chemical and eliminating variability in an impregnation amount of the predetermined chemical.