Patent Publication Number: US-2012035567-A1

Title: Apparatus for manufacturing absorbent article, method of manufacturing absorbent article and absorbent article

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, a method of manufacturing an absorbent article and an absorbent article. The absorbent article includes extended portions which are provided further outside an absorber in a widthwise direction of the absorbent article, extending outward from the absorber in the widthwise direction and constituted by a plurality of sheets. 
     BACKGROUND ART  
     The conventional absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins and panty liners, have a longitudinally elongated shape extending from foreside to backside of a wearer. An absorbent article typically includes a liquid-permeable topsheet which comes in contact with wearer&#39;s skin, a liquid-impermeable backsheet provided further toward a side opposite to the wearer&#39;s side than the topsheet, and an absorber provided between the topsheet and the backsheet. 
     Such an absorbent article includes wing portions (extended portions) which are folded over a crotch portion of panties and are fixed to the panties. The wing portions are provided further outside the absorber in a widthwise direction of the absorbent article and extend outward from the absorber in the widthwise direction. 
     Each of the wing portions includes a front end inclined portion and a rear end inclined portion. The front end inclined portion inclines rearward as it approaches a widthwise direction outside the absorbent article. The rear end inclined portion is provided nearer the wearer&#39;s backside than the front end inclined portion and inclines rearward as it approaches a widthwise direction inside the absorbent article in a direction opposite to the front end inclined portion does (for example, see Patent Document 1). 
     The wing portions are formed by a plurality of extended sheets, i.e., normally a topsheet and a backsheet. Accordingly, embossing is made by a pair of press rollers in the front end inclined portions and the rear end inclined portions of the wing portions. The pair of press rollers presses particular portions of the plurality of sheets so that the sheets are joined together. 
     Either one of the pair of press rollers includes pressing protrusions which protrude outward in a radial direction of the pressing roller and presses outer edge areas which correspond to outer edges of the wing portions of a continuous body constituted by a plurality of continuous sheets (hereinafter, simply referred to as a continuous body). Specifically, the pressing protrusions include a front end protrusion and a rear end protrusion. The front end protrusion presses front end inclined areas which correspond to the front end inclined portions of the outer edge areas. The rear end protrusion presses rear end inclined areas which correspond to the rear end inclined portions of the outer edge areas. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT  
     Patent Document  
     [Patent Document 1] 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-129019 (pages 2 and 3 and FIG. 6) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     The related art absorbent articles described above have had the following problems. That is, the front end protrusion presses the front end inclined areas rearward as the front end inclined areas approach the widthwise direction outside the absorbent article while the rear end protrusion presses the rear end inclined areas rearward as the rear end inclined areas approach the widthwise direction inside the absorbent article. 
     It is therefore a problem that, since the rear end protrusion presses the rear end inclined areas toward the widthwise direction inside the absorbent article, the continuous body is gathered to a central portion and wrinkles are formed in the continuous body. This produces defective products. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, a method of manufacturing an absorbent article and an absorbent article capable of reducing defective products of the absorbent article due to wrinkles formed in a continuous body when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing outer edge areas of the continuous body which correspond to extended portions constituted by the plurality of sheets. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention has the following features. The first feature of the present invention is, in summary, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article (an apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article) which includes a liquid-permeable topsheet (a topsheet  10 ), a liquid-impermeable backsheet (a backsheet  20 ) and an absorber (an absorber  30 ) provided between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent article includes extended portions (extended portions  50 ) which are provided further outside the absorber in a widthwise direction of the absorbent article, extending outward from the absorber in the widthwise direction of the absorber and constituted by a plurality of sheets; the apparatus is provided with a roller (for example, a lower press roller  110 B) which presses outer edge areas (outer edge areas  81 ) which correspond to outer edges of the extended portions of a continuous body constituted by a plurality of sheets; the extended portions includes outside-to-inside inclined areas (rear end inclined areas  51 ) which include outside-to-inside inclined portions (rear end inclined portions  50 B) which incline, from the front to the rear of a rotational direction of the roller, inward from the widthwise direction outside the continuous body; the roller is provided with a plurality of outside-to-inside protrusions (for example, rear end protrusions  115 ) which protrude outward in a radial direction of the roller and press inclined areas (rear end inclined areas  81 S) which correspond to the outside-to-inside inclined areas of the outer edge areas; and extending direction of the outside-to-inside protrusions differ from an extending direction of an outside-to-inside outline (a rear end outline  87 ) extending along the shapes of the outside-to-inside inclined portions in the inclined areas. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, a method of manufacturing an absorbent article and an absorbent article capable of reducing defective products of the absorbent article due to wrinkles formed in a continuous body when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing outer edge areas of the continuous body which correspond to extended portions constituted by the plurality of sheets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an absorbent article I according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an apparatus  100  for manufacturing the absorbent article according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lower press roller  110 B according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a developed view of the lower press roller  110 B according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a continuous body  80  which has passed press rollers  110  according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6(   a ) is a perspective view of an upper cut roller  120 A according to the first embodiment and  FIG. 6(   b ) is a developed view of the upper cut roller  120 A according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a lower press roller  210  according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a developed view of the lower press roller  210  according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a continuous body  80  which has passed press rollers  200  according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the continuous body  80  which has passed cut rollers  120  according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 11(   a ) is a perspective view of an upper cut roller  310  according to a third embodiment, and  FIG. 11(   b ) is a developed view of the upper cut roller  310  according to the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a continuous body  80  which has passed a cut roller  300  according to the third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
     Hereinafter, an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, a method of manufacturing an absorbent article and an absorbent article according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Specifically, a first embodiment, a second embodiment, a third embodiment and other embodiments will be described. 
     In the description of the drawings below, the same or similar components are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings are schematic only and not to scale regarding, for example, dimensional ratios. 
     Accordingly, specific dimensions, for example, should be determined in consideration of the description below. It should also be noted that dimensional relationships and ratios may vary among different, drawings. 
     First, a configuration of an absorbent article  1  according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the absorbent article  1  according to the first embodiment. The absorbent article  1  according to the first embodiment herein is a sanitary napkin. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the absorbent article  1  has a longitudinally elongated shape extending from a foreside to a backside of a wearer. The absorbent article  1  includes a liquid-permeable topsheet  10 , a liquid-impermeable backsheet  20 , an absorber  30  and side sheets  40 . The topsheet  10  comes into contact with wearer&#39;s skin. The backsheet  20  is provided nearer non-wearer&#39;s side than the topsheet  10 . The absorber  30  is provided between the topsheet  10  and the backsheet  20 . The side sheets  40  are provided on both sides in a widthwise direction W at the side portions in the width direction W of the topsheet  10 , which is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article  1 . 
     The absorbent article  1  further includes extended portions  50  which are provided further outside the absorbent article  1  in the widthwise direction W than the absorber  30  and extend outward from the absorber  30  in the widthwise direction W. 
     The extended portions  50  are constituted by a plurality of sheets (for example, the backsheet  20  and the side sheets  40 ). The extended portions  50  are constituted by front wing portions  60 -and rear wing portions  70 . The front wing portions  60  are folded over a crotch portion (crotch portion) of panties and are fixed to the panties. The rear wing portions  70  are provided further rearward of the wearer than the front wing portions  60  and extend outward in the widthwise direction W of the absorbent article  1  along the shape of the panties. 
     The extended portions  50  (the front wing portions  60  and the rear wing portions  70 ) each include a front end inclined portion  50 A (an inside-to-outside inclined portion) and a rear end inclined portion  50 B (an outside-to-inside inclined portion). The front end inclined portion  50 A inclines rearward as it approaches the widthwise direction W outside the absorbent article  1 . The rear end inclined portion  50 B inclines toward a direction opposite to the front end inclined portion  50 A does so that the rear end inclined portion  50 B inclines rearward as it approaches the widthwise direction W inside the absorbent article  1 . 
     That is, the front end inclined portion  50 A inclines, from the front to the rear of a rotational direction RD of the press rollers  110 , which will be described later, outward from the inside in a widthwise direction CD of a continuous body constituted by a plurality of continuous sheets (hereinafter, simply referred to as a continuous body  80 ). Note that the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  is a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveyance direction MD of the continuous body (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The rear end inclined portion  50 B inclines, from the front to the rear of the rotational direction RD of the press rollers  110 , inward from the outside in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80 . The rear end inclined portion  50 B is provided is included in a rear end inclined area  51  (an outside-to-inside inclined area) which is at the same position as the rear end inclined portion  50 B in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  and is in the widthwise direction CD of the rear end inclined portion  50 B. 
     Here, the front wing portion  60  also includes a connecting portion  50 C in addition to the front end inclined portion  50 A and the rear end inclined portion  50 B. The connecting portion  50 C connects the widthwise direction W outside of the front end inclined portion  50 A and the widthwise direction W outside of the rear end inclined portion  50 B. 
     Next, a configuration of the apparatus  100  for manufacturing the absorbent article according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  100  for manufacturing the absorbent article is provided with a pair of press rollers  110  which presses the continuous body  80  and cut rollers  120  which cut the continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  110  into the shape of the absorbent article  1 . 
     The press rollers  110  includes an upper press roller  110 A disposed above the continuous body  80  and a lower press roller  110 B disposed below the continuous body  80 . The upper press roller  110 A and the lower press roller  110 B rotate about their axes (not illustrated) as the continuous body  80  is conveyed. 
     The lower press roller  110 B includes a plurality of pressing protrusions  111  which protrude outward in a radial direction of the lower press roller  110 B. Details of the lower press roller  110 B will be described later. 
     The cut rollers  120  include an upper cut roller  120 A disposed above the continuous body  80  and a lower cut roller  120 B disposed below the continuous body  80 . The upper cut roller  120 A and the lower cut roller  120 B rotate about their axes (not illustrated) as the continuous body  80  is conveyed. 
     The upper cut roller  120 A includes a cutting protrusion  121  which protrudes toward a radial direction outside the upper cut roller  120 A. Details of the upper cut roller  120 A will be described later. 
     Next, a configuration of the above-described lower press roller  110 B will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the lower press roller  110 B according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a developed view illustrating the lower press roller  110 B according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  110  according to the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the plurality of pressing protrusions  111  formed in the lower press roller  110 B press the continuous body  80  in the shape of the absorbent article  1  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , i.e., press at a product outline area  1 A which corresponds to an outline of the absorbent article  1 . That is, the pressing protrusions  111  press the product outline area IA of the continuous body  80  at outer edge areas  81  which correspond to outer edges of the extended portions  50  (the front wing portions  60  and the rear wing portions  70 ). 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the pressing protrusions  111  include a plurality of front end protrusions  113  (inside-to-outside protrusions), a plurality of rear end protrusions  115  (outside-to-inside protrusions) and a plurality of intermediate protrusions  117 . The front end protrusions  113  press front end inclined areas  81 A (inside-to-outside inclined areas) which correspond to the front end inclined portions  50 A of the outer edge areas  81 . The rear end protrusions  115  press rear end inclined areas  81 B (the outside-to-inside inclined areas) which correspond to the rear end inclined portions  50 B in the rear end inclined area  81 S (inclined areas) which correspond to the rear end inclined areas  51  of the outer edge areas  81 . The intermediate protrusions  117  press connecting areas  81 C which correspond to the connecting portions  50 C of the outer edge areas  81 . 
     The plurality of front end protrusions  113  have longitudinally elongated shapes. The plurality of front end protrusions  113  are arranged at predetermined intervals. 
     Extending directions LD 1  of the front end protrusions  113  correspond to extending directions of front end outlines  83  (inside-to-outside outlines) extending along the shapes of the front end inclined areas  81 A. The extending directions LD 1  of the front end protrusions  113  are directions which cross the centers of the front end protrusions  113  and lie along a longitudinal direction of the front end protrusions  113 . 
     The rear end protrusions  115  have longitudinally elongated shapes which are longer than those of the front end protrusions  113 . The rear end protrusions  115  am arranged at predetermined intervals. 
     The rear end protrusions  115  each include inner-product protrusions  115 A and outer-product protrusions  115 B. The inner-product protrusions  115 A press, after the continuous body  80  is cut by the cut rollers  120 , the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the inside of a product configuration of the absorbent article  1 . The outer-product protrusions  115 B press, after the continuous body  80  is cut by the cut rollers  120 , the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the outside of the product configuration of the absorbent article  1 . 
     The inner-product protrusions  115 A have longitudinally elongated shapes which are shorter than those of the outer-product protrusions  115 B. That is, the outer-product protrusions  115 B have longitudinally elongated shapes which are longer than those of the inner-product protrusions  115 A. 
     Extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  (the inner-product protrusions  115 A and the outer-product protrusions  115 B) differ from the extending directions of the rear end outlines  87  (outside-to-inside outlines) extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B. That is, imaginary lines which connect the centers of the plurality of rear end protrusions  115  and extend along the longitudinal directions of the rear end protrusions  115  (namely, the extending directions LD 2 ) differ from the extending directions of the rear end outlines  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B. 
     The extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  differ from the extending directions LD 1  of the above-described front end protrusions  113 . The extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are directions which cross the centers of the rear end protrusions  115  and extend along the longitudinal directions of the rear end protrusions  115 . 
     The extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are preferably in a range of −10 degrees and 60 degrees (angle θ) with respect to a widthwise direction center line CL of the continuous body  80 . It is especially preferred that the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are directed further outward in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  than the extending directions of the rear end outlines  87 . The extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are all the same. 
     The plurality of intermediate protrusions  117  have the same shape as those of the plurality of front end protrusions  113 . The plurality of intermediate protrusions  117  are arranged at predetermined intervals along a rotational direction RD of the lower press roller  110 B. 
     Here, a total length L 1  of the rear end protrusions  115  along a widthwise direction RW of the lower press roller  110 B which is perpendicular to the rotational direction RD of the lower press roller  110 B is preferably in a range of 30% to 300% with respect to a total length L 2  of the intermediate protrusions  117  along the widthwise direction RW of the lower press roller  110 B. For example, the total length L 1  of the rear end protrusions  115  is 9.0 mm and the total length L 2  of the intermediate protrusions  117  is 4.5 mm. 
     The total length L 1  of the rear end protrusions  115  is a value measured at the center of the rotational direction RD of the lower press roller  110 B at the rear end protrusions  115 . The total length L 2  of the intermediate protrusion  117  is a value measured at the center of the rotational direction RD of the lower press roller  110 B at the intermediate protrusions  117 . 
     Next, a configuration of the above-described upper cut roller  120 A will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 6(   a ) is a perspective view illustrating the upper cut roller  120 A according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 6(   b ) is a developed view illustrating the upper cut roller  120 A according to the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6(   a ) and  FIG. 6(   b ), the cutting protrusion  121  formed in the upper cut roller  120 A presses the continuous body  80  into the shape of the absorbent article  1 , i.e., the product outline area  1 A which corresponds to the outline of the absorbent article  1 , thereby cutting the product outline area  1 A. 
     Specifically, the cutting protrusion  121  has the same shape as that of the product outline area  1 A on a surface of the upper cut roller  120 A. Thus the cut rollers  120  produce the absorbent article  1  by cutting the continuous body  80  at the product outline area  1 A. 
     Next, an operation of a method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment will be described briefly with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the method of manufacturing an absorbent article includes: step A in which the continuous body  80  is conveyed between a pair of press rollers  110 ; step B in which the continuous body  80  is pressed by the pair of press rollers  110  at the outer edge areas  81 ; step C in which the continuous body  80  is conveyed to a pair of cut rollers  120 ; and step D in which the continuous body  80  is cut by the pair of cut rollers  120  at the outer edge areas  81 . 
     In step A, the continuous body  80  is conveyed between the pair of press rollers  110  by a conveyance mechanism (not illustrated), such as a conveyance roller and a belt conveyor. In the first embodiment, the continuous body  80  is conveyed between the pair of press rollers  110  in the order from the front end inclined areas  81 A which correspond to the front end inclined portions  50 A and then the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the rear end inclined portions  50 B. 
     In step B, the continuous body  80  is pressed by the pair of press rollers  110  at the outer edge areas  81 . The pressing protrusions  111  formed in the lower press roller  110 B press the continuous body  80  at the outer edge areas  81  to form embossed portions  90  in the outer edge areas  81  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the front end protrusions  113  among the pressing protrusions  111  press the front end inclined areas  81 A which correspond to the front end inclined portions  50 A of the outer edge areas  81  to form front side embossed portions  91  (first pressed portions) in the front end inclined areas  81 A. 
     The rear end protrusions  115  among the pressing protrusions  111  press the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the rear end inclined portions  50 B of the outer edge areas  81  to form rear side embossed portions  93  (second pressed portions) in the rear end inclined areas  81 B. 
     The intermediate protrusions  117  among the pressing protrusions  111  press the connecting areas  81 C which correspond to the connecting portions  50 C of the outer edge areas  81  to form connection embossed portions  95  in the connecting areas  81 C. 
     Here, since the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  differ from the extending directions LD 1  of the front end protrusions  113 , the extending directions of the rear side embossed portions  93  differ from the extending directions of the front side embossed portions  91 . 
     That is, the extending directions of the rear side embossed portions  93  (the first pressed portions) differ from the rear end outlines  87  (the outside-to-inside outlines) extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined portions  50 B (the outside-to-inside inclined portions). The extending directions of the front side embossed portions  91  (the second pressed portions) are the same as those of the front end outlines  83  (the inside-to-outside outlines) extending along the shapes of the front end inclined portions  50 A (the inside-to-outside inclined portions). 
     In step C, the continuous body  80  is conveyed between the pair of cut rollers  120  by a conveyance mechanism (not illustrated), such as a conveyance roller and a belt conveyor, as in step A. 
     In step D, the continuous body SO which has passed the press rollers  110  is cut by the pair of cut rollers  120  the outer edge areas  81 . That is, the cutting protrusion  121  formed in the upper cut roller  120 A presses the product outline area  1 A which corresponds to the outline of the absorbent article  1  to cut the continuous body  80  at the product outline area  1 A. In this manner, the absorbent article  1  is formed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cut absorbent article  1  is conveyed to the next process by a conveyance mechanism  130  (for example, a belt conveyor). The remaining portion of the continuous body  80  other than the absorbent article  1  is conveyed by, for example, a conveyance roller (not illustrated) and collected in a collection device (not illustrated). 
     In the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article and the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment described above, the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  differ from the extending directions of the rear end outlines  87  (the outside-to-inside outlines) extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B. With this, since gathering of the continuous body  80  to the central portion by the rear end protrusions  115  can be reduced, formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80  can be prevented as much as possible. It is therefore possible to reduce defective products of the absorbent article  1  due to wrinkles formed in the continuous body  80  when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing the outer edge areas  81  of the continuous body  80  which correspond to the extended portions  50  constituted by the plurality of sheets. 
     In the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article and the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment, the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  differ from the extending directions LD 1  of the front end protrusions  113 . With this, since gathering of the continuous body  80  to the central portion can be reduced to the further extent, formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80  can be prevented. 
     In the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article and the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment, the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are directed further outward in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  than the extending directions of the rear end outlines  87 . With this, since gathering of the continuous body  80  to the central portion can be reliably reduced, the continuous body  80  can be easily pulled toward the widthwise direction CD outside the continuous body  80  at the rear end protrusions  115  and thus formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80  can be reliably prevented. Especially, since all the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are the same, even if the continuous body  80  is about to be gathered to the central portion, the continuous body  80  can be easily pulled toward the widthwise direction CD outside the continuous body  80  at the rear end protrusions  115  which are directed in the same extending directions LD 2 . 
     In the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article and the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment, the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions are preferably in a range of −10 degrees and 60 degrees (angle θ) with respect to the widthwise direction center line CL of the continuous body  80 . If the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are smaller than −10 degrees with respect to the widthwise direction center line CL, the continuous body  80  is easily gathered to the central portion and thus it may be unable to prevent formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80 . If the extending directions LD 2  of the rear end protrusions  115  are larger than 60 degrees with respect to the widthwise direction center line CL, the continuous body  80  may be pulled toward the widthwise direction CD outside the continuous body  80  more than needed and thus the continuous body  80  may be stretched. 
     In the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article and the method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to the first embodiment, the total length L 1  of the rear end protrusions  115  is preferably in a range of 30% and 300% with respect to the total length L 2  of the intermediate protrusions  117 . If the total length L 1  is smaller than 30% with respect to the total length L 2 , since pressing force on the continuous body  80  becomes too large locally, the continuous body  80  is suddenly pulled toward the widthwise direction CD outside the continuous body  80  and thus wrinkles may be formed. If the total length L 1  is larger than 300% with respect to the total length L 2 , since pressing force on the continuous body  80  becomes too small, the continuous body  80  may be unable to be sufficiently pulled toward the widthwise direction CD outside the continuous body  80  and the continuous body  80  constituted by a plurality of sheets may be unable to be joined. 
     In the absorbent article  1  according to the first embodiment, the extending directions of the rear side embossed portions  93  differ from the rear end outlines  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined portions  50 B and the extending directions of the front side embossed portions  91  is the same as the front end outlines  83  extending along the shapes of the front end inclined portions  50 A. With this, since the rear side embossed portions  93  and the front side embossed portions  91  are different in design, the front side and the rear side of the absorbent article  1  can be recognized easily This is especially effective when no rear wing portions  70  are provided in the absorbent article  1  and the front wing portions  60  are provided at a central portion of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction L. 
     If the extending directions of the rear side embossed portions  93  correspond to the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article  1 , the front wing portions  60  are folded over the crotch portion (crotch portion) of panties at the rear side embossed portions  93 . With this, the absorbent article  1  can be easily handled. 
     Second Embodiment  
     Hereinafter, a configuration of a lower press roller  210  which constitutes press rollers  200  according to a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components that are the same as those of the press rollers  110  according to the first embodiment; described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be given mainly regarding differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the lower press roller  210  according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a developed view illustrating the lower press roller  210  according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  200  according to the second embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9 , a plurality of pressing protrusions  211  which protrude outward in a radial direction of the lower press roller  210  are formed in the lower press roller  210 . The pressing protrusions  211  press the continuous body  80  in the shape of an absorbent article  1 , i.e., press at a product outline area  1 A which corresponds to an outline of the absorbent article  1 . That is, the pressing protrusions  211  press the product outline area  1 A of the continuous body  80  at outer edge areas  81  which correspond to outer edges of the extended portions  50  (front wing portions  60  and rear wing portions  70 ). 
     Specifically, the pressing protrusions  211  include a plurality of front end protrusions  213 , a plurality of rear end protrusions  215  and a plurality of intermediate protrusions  217 . The front end protrusions  213  (inside-to-outside protrusions) press front end inclined areas  81 A (inside-to-outside inclined areas) which correspond to front end inclined portions  50 A of the outer edge areas  81 . The plurality of rear end protrusions  215  (outside-to-inside protrusions) press rear end inclined areas  81 B (outside-to-inside inclined areas) which correspond to rear end inclined portions  50 B of the outer edge areas  81 . The intermediate protrusions  217  press connecting areas  81 C which correspond to connecting portions  50 C of the outer edge areas  81 . Configurations of front end protrusions  213  and the intermediate protrusions  217  are the same as those of the front end protrusions  113  and the intermediate protrusion  117  described in the first embodiment. 
     The rear end protrusions  215  press rear end inclined area  81 S which are the same positions as those of is the same position as the rear end inclined portions  50 B (the rear end inclined areas  81 B) in a widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  and which correspond to rear end inclined areas  51  of the outer edge areas  81 . 
     Specifically, the rear end protrusions  215  include rear end outline protrusions  215 A and auxiliary protrusions  215 B. The rear end outline protrusions  215 A have similar configurations to those of the front end protrusions  213  and correspond to a rear end outline  87  which extends along the rear end inclined areas  81 B in the rear end inclined areas  81 S. The auxiliary protrusions  215 B have longitudinally elongated shapes which are longer than those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A. Configurations of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A are the same as those of the front end protrusions  213 . 
     The auxiliary protrusions  215 B press at least a part of the rear end inclined areas  81 S which correspond to the rear end inclined areas  51  of the outer edge areas  81 . The auxiliary protrusions  215 B are provided at the same positions as those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A in the widthwise direction of the continuous body  80  and further outside the rear end inclined areas  81 B in the widthwise direction of the continuous body  80 . The auxiliary protrusions  215 B are provided over the entire circumstance of the lower press roller  210 . 
     Note that it is not necessary to provide the auxiliary protrusions  215 B over the entire circumstance of the lower press roller  210 ; it is only needed that the auxiliary protrusions  215 B are provided at least at the same positions as those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A in the widthwise direction of the continuous body  80 . 
     It is not also necessary that the auxiliary protrusions  215 B have longitudinally elongated shapes which are longer than those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A; alternatively, the auxiliary protrusions  215 B may have shapes that are equivalent in length to those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A or shapes that are shorter than those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A. 
     Next, a configuration of the continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  200  is pressed at the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the rear end inclined portions  50 B of the outer edge areas  81  by the rear end outline protrusions  215 A of the pressing protrusions  111 . In this manner, rear side embossed portions  97  are formed in the continuous body  80 . 
     Since extending directions LD 3  of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A are the same as that of an extending direction of the rear end outline  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B, extending directions of the rear side embossed portions  97  are the same as that of an extending direction of the rear end outline  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B. 
     The continuous body  80  which has passed the press rollers  200  is pressed at least a part of the rear end inclined areas  81 S which correspond to the rear end inclined areas  51  of the outer edge areas  81  by the auxiliary protrusions  215 B of the pressing protrusions  111 . In this manner, auxiliary embossed portions  99  are formed in the continuous body  80 . 
     Since extending directions LD 4  of the auxiliary protrusions  215 B differ from the extending direction of the rear end outline  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B, the extending direction LD 4  of the auxiliary embossed portions  99  differ from the extending direction of the rear end outline  87  extending along the shapes of the rear end inclined areas  81 B. 
     Next, a configuration of the continuous body  80  which has passed the cut rollers  120  will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the continuous body  80  which has passed the cut rollers  120  according to the second embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the continuous body  80  which has passed the cut rollers  120  is cut at the outer edge areas  81  by a pair of cut rollers  120 . In this manner, the cut absorbent article  1  still has the rear side embossed portions  97  but no more has the auxiliary embossed portions  99 . 
     In the second embodiment described above, the auxiliary protrusions  21513  of the rear end protrusions  215  are provided at the same positions as those of the rear end outline protrusions  215 A in the widthwise direction of the continuous body  80  and further outside the rear end inclined areas  81 B in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80 . With this, as in the first embodiment, since gathering of the continuous body  80  to the central portion by the auxiliary protrusions  215 B can be reduced, formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80  can be prevented as much as possible. It is therefore possible to reduce defective products of the absorbent article  1  due to wrinkles formed in the continuous body  80  when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing the outer edge areas  81  of the continuous body  80  which correspond to the extended portions  50  constituted by the plurality of sheets. 
     Third Embodiment  
     Hereinafter, a configuration of an upper cut roller  310  which constitutes cut rollers  300  according to a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components that are the same as those of the cut rollers  120  according to the first embodiment described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be given mainly regarding differences between the first embodiment and the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 11(   a ) is a perspective view illustrating the upper cut roller  31 . 0  according to the third embodiment.  FIG. 11(   b ) is a developed view illustrating the upper cut roller  310  according to the third embodiment.  FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a continuous body  80  which has passed the cut rollers  300  according to the third embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the upper cut roller  310  includes cutting protrusions  311  and auxiliary cutting protrusions  312 . The cutting protrusions  311  protrude outward in a radial direction of the upper cut roller  310 . The auxiliary cutting protrusions  312  protrude outward in the radial direction of the upper cut roller  310  as the cutting protrusions  311  do. 
     The cutting protrusions  311  press the continuous body  80  in the shape of the absorbent article  1 , i.e., press at a product outline area IA which corresponds to an outline of the absorbent article  1  to cut the continuous body  80  at the product outline area  1 A. 
     The auxiliary cutting protrusions  312  are provided at the same positions as those of the cutting protrusions  311  in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80  and further outside the cutting protrusions  311  in the widthwise direction CD of the continuous body  80 . The auxiliary cutting protrusions  312  press at least a part of rear end inclined areas  81 S which correspond to rear end inclined areas  51  of outer edge areas  81 . 
     That is, the continuous body  80  which has passed the cut rollers  300  is pressed at least a part of in the rear end inclined areas  81 S by the auxiliary cutting protrusions  312 . With this, the continuous body  80  is cut into the product outline area  1 A, in which process auxiliary embossed portions  89  are formed in the continuous body  80 . 
     In the third embodiment described above, the upper cut roller  310  includes the cutting protrusions  311  and the auxiliary cutting protrusions  312 . With this, also in the process of cutting the continuous body  80 , since gathering of the continuous body  80  to the central portion by the auxiliary cutting protrusions  312  can be reduced, formation of wrinkles in the continuous body  80  can be prevented as much as possible. It is therefore possible to reliably reduce defective products of the absorbent article  1  due to wrinkles formed in the continuous body  80  when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing the outer edge areas  81  of the continuous body  80  which correspond to the extended portions  50  constituted by the plurality of sheets. 
     Other Embodiments  
     As described above, while details of the present invention have been disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the present invention, it should not be understood that the discussion and drawings which form a part of the disclosure are restrictive. Various alternatives, examples and operational techniques are obvious for those skilled in the art on the basis of the disclosure. 
     For example, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in the following manner. Specifically, the absorbent article  1  has been described as a sanitary napkin, but is not limited to the same; the absorbent article  1  may be any articles that have portions extending in the widthwise direction outward the absorber  30 . That is, the extended portions  50  have been described to be constituted by the front wing portions  60  and the rear wing portions  70 , but are not limited to the same; it is to be noted that the extended portions  50  may be other portions that extend in the widthwise direction outward the absorber  30 . 
     The pressing protrusions  111  have been described to be provided in the lower press roller  110 B in the embodiments, but are not limited to the same; the pressing protrusions  111  may alternatively be provided in the upper press roller  110 A. The cutting protrusion  121  has been described to be provided in the upper cut roller  120 A, but is not limited to the same; the cutting protrusion  121  may alternatively be provided in the lower cut roller  120 B. 
     The front end protrusions  113  have been described to have longitudinally elongated shapes in the embodiments, but are not limited to the same; the front end protrusions  113  may alternatively have round shapes, triangular shapes, quadrangular shapes or other shapes. 
     The outer-product protrusions  115 B have been described to have longitudinally elongated shapes which are longer than those of the inner-product protrusions  115 A in the embodiments, but are not limited to the same; the outer-product protrusions  115 B may have longitudinally elongated shapes that are equivalent in length to those of the inner-product protrusions  115 A or longitudinally elongated shapes that are shorter than those of the inner-product protrusions  115 A. 
     It is to be noted that the shape, the configurations, the arrangement and other features of each component which constitutes the apparatus  100  for manufacturing an absorbent article are not particularly limited, and may be selected in accordance with the intended use. 
     The continuous body  80  has been described to be conveyed between the pair of press rollers  110  in the order from the front end inclined areas  81 A which correspond to the front end inclined portions  50 A and then the rear end inclined areas  81 B which correspond to the rear end inclined portions  50 B in the embodiments, but is not limited to the same; the continuous body  80  may alternatively be conveyed between the pair of press rollers  110  in the order from the rear end inclined areas  81 B and then the front end inclined areas  81 A. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention encompasses various other embodiments that are not expressly stated herein. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention shall be solely determined by the matter to define the invention relevant to the appended claims that deem to be appropriate in conjunction with the above description. 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-014391 (filed Jan. 20, 2009) is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
     According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce defective products of the absorbent article due to wrinkles formed in the continuous body when a plurality of sheets are joined together by pressing the outer edge areas of the continuous body which correspond to the extended portions constituted by the plurality of sheets. Thus the present invention is useful in an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article constituted by a plurality of sheets, such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad and a panty liner.