Patent Description:
<CIT> being published after the priority date of the present invention discloses a stretchable sheet including: a plurality of attached portions spaced apart from each other in the direction of stretch, wherein the first surfaces of a pair of sheets are attached to each other by being welded without using an adhesive, at the attached portions, the attached portions hold elastic members, and the attached portions extend in a direction crossing the direction of stretch of the elastic members; and a plurality of folds that appear between the attached portions while the elastic members are shrunk, wherein the attached portions include: a plurality of strongly-attached portions arranged on opposite sides of each elastic member in the crossing direction; and a plurality of weakly-attached portions arranged between adjacent elastic members and between adjacent strongly-attached portions. <CIT> discloses two sheets which are opposed to each other, and a plurality of elastic elements each disposed between the sheets to extend along a stretchable direction of a composite stretchable member in such a manner as to be stretchable in the stretchable direction, wherein: the sheets are bonded together in a plurality of bonding sections, wherein each of the bonding sections is configured to continuously extend along a line intersecting the stretchable direction and to intersect the plurality of elastic elements; and each of the elastic elements is bonded to the sheets at intersection points with the bonding sections. <CIT> discloses sheets between which elastic members are sandwiched and which are ultrasonically welded while pressure is being applied thereto with the use of: a conveyance roller which has an outer peripheral surface for conveying the sheets between which the elastic members are sandwiched, in the longitudinal direction of the sheets, and which has convexities formed on the outer peripheral surface; and a nipping device. The convexities are shaped so as to extend along a line intersecting the direction of conveyance by the conveyance roller. In each convexity, portions that are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction thereof have provided thereto a plurality of grooves which extend in the direction of conveyance by the conveyance roller and into which portions of the sheets where the elastic members are arranged are respectively inserted.

In the following prior art, the stretchable laminate is formed by disposing a plurality of elastic members between two sheets and jointing the two sheets to each other intermittently in both directions of the stretching direction of the elastic members and the direction crossing the stretching direction.

Both sheets are jointed by passing between an anvil roll having projections and a sonic horn or the like (heating/pressurizing means) facing the anvil roll. To reduce a pressure at the time of jointing, the elastic members are housed in carrying grooves provided on the projections.

The above-described projection for jointing is formed to have a height of <NUM> or larger, for example, so as to house the stretched elastic member in the carrying groove.

However, the sheets wound on the anvil roll tend to shrink in the radial direction of the anvil roll due to carrying tension, and may unexpectedly displace in the axial direction of the anvil roll. If the displacement of the sheets causes displacement of the elastic member as well, the elastic member may be removed from the carrying groove and ruptured by pressing force at the time of jointing.

The present invention aims at providing a method and device for producing a stretchable laminate for a wearable article while suppressing removal of the elastic member from the carrying groove and rupture of the elastic member, when the both sheets are jointed to each other on the anvil roll with projections provided intermittently in the axis direction.

The present invention includes an anvil roll <NUM> that carries a pair of first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and elastic members F so that the elastic members F are sandwiched between the pair of first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM>, and.

In a method for producing a stretchable laminate according to the present invention, the stretchable laminate <NUM> including the elastic members F spaced from each other and sandwiched by the pair of first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM>, the pair of first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> being jointed to each other at each of the first joint portions <NUM>, the first joint portions arranged in columns in a stretching direction Df of the elastic members F and arranged in rows in a direction Dp crossing the stretching direction Df,
the method includes the following steps. That is, the present method inludes:.

In the present invention, the carrying groove G included in the first projection <NUM> is provided so that at least one carrying groove G for one first projection <NUM> divides a projection surface of the one first projection <NUM> in the width direction S. That is, each of the carrying grooves G is a V-shaped or U-shaped notch, for example, and is defined by a surface of the notch formed in the first projection <NUM> in the center in the width direction S of the first projection <NUM>.

The depth of the carrying groove G may be a depth with which the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and the elastic member F therebetween are fused mutually or a depth with which they are not fused mutually. In the case where the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and the elastic member F are fused mutually in the carrying groove G, a bottom surface of the carrying groove G is defined by the first projection <NUM>. That is, in such a case, the carrying groove G is surrounded by the first projections <NUM> on both sides in the width direction S and the lower side.

Note that a plurality of carrying grooves G may be provided for one first projection <NUM>.

In the present invention, a pair of sheets are jointed to each other by a fusing structure at least at a pair of joint portions on both sides in the width direction (the crossing direction) of each of the elastic members. That is, the pair of sheets are jointed to each other by the fusing structure at least at a pair of first projections <NUM> on both sides of each carrying groove G, so as to generate a stretchable laminate in which the elastic member F is sandwiched between the pair of sheets.

On the anvil roll, the sheet is received by the receiving part between the projections for jointing. As such, this suppresses displacement of the sheets and the elastic members F in the axis direction (width direction) of the anvil roll. As a result, this is expected to suppress the removal of the elastic members from the carrying grooves and the rupture of the elastic members at the time of jointing.

In the preferred device, the receiving part comprises at least two receiving parts <NUM> provided between the one first projection <NUM> and the another first projection <NUM>, and
a second projection <NUM> for producing a second joint portion <NUM> where the pair of first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> is jointed to each other is provided between the at least two receiving parts <NUM>.

The height of the receiving part <NUM> is preferably smaller by <NUM> to <NUM> than the height of the first projection <NUM>.

If the height of the receiving part <NUM> is excessively smaller than that of the first projection <NUM>, the first sheet tends to shrink in the radial direction of the anvil roll <NUM> together with the elastic member F before the first sheet is received by the receiving part <NUM>, thus causing the elastic member F to easily displace in the axis direction of the anvil roll <NUM>.

On the other hand, if the height of the receiving part <NUM> is close to the same degree of the first projection <NUM>, the pair of sheets easily fuse mutually to be disadvantageously jointed to each other at the receiving part <NUM>, depending on the thickness and the kind of the sheets.

From such a viewpoint, the height of the receiving part <NUM> is preferably smaller by <NUM> to <NUM> than that of the first projection <NUM>, more preferably smaller by <NUM> to <NUM>, still more preferably smaller by <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably smaller by <NUM> to <NUM>.

However, depending on the kind and thickness of the sheets, a difference of the height may be around <NUM> to <NUM>.

Any feature illustrated and/or depicted in conjunction with one of the aforementioned aspects or the following embodiments may be used in the same or similar form in one or more of the other aspects or other embodiments, and/or may be used in combination with, or in place of, any feature of the other aspects or embodiments.

The present invention will be understood more clearly from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note however that the embodiments and the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be taken to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be defined only by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals denote like components throughout the plurality of figures.

Prior to the description of an example of the stretchable laminate, there is described an example of a structure of a disposable wearable article in which the stretchable laminate is used.

In <FIG> illustrating an expanded wearable article, a wearable article <NUM> includes an absorbent body <NUM>, and a pair of front and rear around-torso members <NUM>, <NUM>. The absorbent body <NUM> is extended between the pair of around-torso members <NUM>, <NUM> to form a crotch part 92a.

The wearable article <NUM> is worn in the state where the crotch part 92a is folded in half along a virtual line parallel to the around-torso direction X. In this manner, ends in the around-torso direction X of the around-torso members <NUM>, <NUM> overlap each other.

Each of the front and rear around-torso members <NUM> includes the stretchable laminate <NUM> illustrated clearly in <FIG>. The stretchable laminate <NUM> is a sheet-form member in which the elastic member F, and the first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are laminated on one another.

The first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM> are formed of a breathable nonwoven fabric. The elastic member F is sandwiched between the first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM>, and is stretchable in the around-torso direction X.

The stretchable laminate <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM> (<FIG>) includes a skin surface <NUM> (<FIG>) to be in contact with the skin of a wearer and a non-skin surface <NUM> on the opposite side.

The following will describe an example of the stretchable laminate <NUM>.

First, the elastic member F in the stretched state will be described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM>, first surfaces 1f, 2f face each other or are in contact with each other. The plurality of elastic members F are disposed between the first surfaces 1f, 2f of the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM>, and spaced away from each other, as illustrated by broken lines in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are jointed to each other at a plurality of joint portions <NUM> by fusion bonding without an adhesive. In the case of the present example, the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are fused to the elastic members F at fixing parts 3f (fusing structure), whereby each of the elastic members F are fixed to the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> at the fixing parts 3f.

Each of the joint portions <NUM> is formed by the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> fused mutually on the first surfaces 1f, 2f of the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>. The joint portions <NUM> extend in a direction Dp crossing (e.g., orthogonal to) the stretching direction Df of the elastic member F in <FIG>, and are spaced from each other in the stretching direction Df.

In <FIG>, each of the joint portions <NUM> includes a plurality of pairs of first joint portions <NUM>, second joint portions <NUM>, and fixing parts 3f. Between the first joint portion <NUM> and the second joint portion <NUM>, there is provided a non-joint portion <NUM> in which the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are not jointed to each other.

The elastic member F may be linear or of rope form. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic member F may be a multi-strand in which a plurality of rubber threads (fibrous elastic body) F1 are gathered in a bundle. The material of the rubber threads F1 may be polyurethane, for example.

In the state where the elastic members F are shrunk, the stretchable laminate <NUM> forms a number of pleats P by a shrinkage force of the elastic members F, as illustrated in <FIG>. The following will describe the stretchable laminate <NUM> in the state where the elastic members F are shrunk.

The sheets <NUM>, <NUM> may be thermoplastic nonwoven fabrics in which a number of thermoplastic fibers are laminated. The pleats P of <FIG> are formed by the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> projecting in the direction Dp as in <FIG> in the state where the elastic members F of <FIG> are shrunk.

<FIG> illustrates the first and second joint portions <NUM>, <NUM> with diagonal lines. The pair of first joint portions <NUM> are disposed on both sides in the crossing direction Dp of each of the elastic members F.

The second joint portion <NUM> is disposed between adjacent elastic members F of the elastic members F and between a pair of first joint portions <NUM> and another pair of first joint portions <NUM> adjacent to the pair in the crossing direction Dp. In the present example, one second joint portion <NUM> is provided between a pair of joint portions <NUM> and another pair of first joint portions <NUM>.

The jointing force of the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> at the second joint portion <NUM> may be smaller or larger than the jointing force of the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> at the first joint portion <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the fixing part 3f illustrated by a blank between the pair of first joint portions <NUM> may have a smaller or larger jointing force than the first joint portion <NUM>. Moreover, the fixing part 3f may have a smaller or larger jointing force than the second joint portion <NUM>. This is because it is sufficient if the elastic member F is fixed to the sheets <NUM>, <NUM>.

At the fixing parts 3f of <FIG>, each of the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> may be fused to the elastic members F, or a part or all of fibers of the nonwoven fabric may be entangled with the elastic members F and fixed thereto.

In the case where the elastic members F are fixed between the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> at both ends of the around-torso members <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> or at the vicinity of the both ends, the fixing parts 3f of <FIG> are not necessary.

In <FIG>, the joint portions <NUM>, <NUM> are provided intermittently in the crossing direction Dp. Therefore, between the joint portions <NUM>, <NUM> adjacent to each other, there are provided intermittently the non-joint portions <NUM> where the first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are not jointed to each other.

The following will describe an example of the production device of the stretchable laminate <NUM>.

The production device of <FIG> includes the anvil roll <NUM>, an introducing device <NUM>, a fusion device <NUM>, and the like.

The introducing device <NUM> guides and introduces the elastic member F to the anvil roll <NUM>. Moreover, the first sheet <NUM> is introduced to the anvil roll <NUM> at a point further upstream than the elastic member F, and the second sheet <NUM> is introduced to the anvil roll <NUM> at a point further downstream than the elastic member F. The anvil roll <NUM> carries the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and the elastic member F so that the elastic member F is disposed between the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM>.

In cooperation with the anvil roll <NUM>, the fusion device <NUM> fuses the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> mutually and fuses the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> to the elastic member F so that the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> hold the elastic member F. In the case of the present example, the fusion device <NUM> is an ultrasonic fusion device performing the fusion bonding by ultrasonic energy.

The fusion device <NUM> provides vibrational energy at a plurality of joint portions <NUM> (<FIG>) of the two nonwoven fabric sheets <NUM>, <NUM> in the stretchable laminate <NUM> of <FIG>, so as to fuse the two nonwoven fabric sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and the elastic member F.

To be more specific, the anvil roll <NUM> of <FIG> has a number of ridges (projection strips) <NUM> on an outer peripheral surface <NUM>. The ridge <NUM> extends in the width direction S of the anvil roll <NUM>. That is, the ridge <NUM> extends along a generatrix parallel to the axis direction of the anvil roll <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the plurality of ridges <NUM> are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction R of the anvil roll <NUM>, and ridges <NUM> adjacent to each other among the plurality of ridges <NUM> define a recessed groove <NUM> extending in the width direction S. Each of the ridges <NUM> has the plurality of first projections <NUM> provided intermittently in the width direction S, with each first projection <NUM> including the carrying groove G.

In this manner, with the ridges <NUM> and the recessed grooves <NUM>, the first projections <NUM> are provided in a matrix form in the circumferential direction R and the width direction S of the roll <NUM>, and the carrying grooves G are provided in a matrix form in the circumferential direction R and the width direction S of the roll <NUM>.

The fusion device <NUM> of <FIG> includes a horn <NUM>. The horn <NUM> is provided with ultrasonic energy, and faces the ridge <NUM> of <FIG> through the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> and the elastic member F.

In <FIG>, a width W1 of the horn <NUM> along the flow direction of the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> may be larger than a width W2 of the ridge <NUM>. Moreover, it is also possible to make settings such that a plurality of ridges <NUM> temporarily or continuously face the horn <NUM> at the same time.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the anvil roll <NUM> has a plurality of carrying grooves G. Each of the carrying grooves G is formed by a V-shaped or U-shaped notch formed on each of the plurality of ridges <NUM>, extends in the circumferential direction R of the anvil roll <NUM> to cross each of the ridges <NUM>, and carries the elastic member F in the state where the elastic member F has entered in. The carrying groove G is recessed toward the center in the radial direction of the anvil roll <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the size of the carrying groove G may be set so that a part of the elastic member F is housed in the groove and the remaining part is protruded from the groove. The section area of the carrying groove G may be smaller than the section area of the elastic member F of a natural length.

Note that although <FIG> do not illustrate the sheets <NUM>, <NUM>, the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed to sandwich the elastic member F, as illustrated schematically in <FIG>.

The introducing device <NUM> of <FIG> includes a first roll (regulation roll) <NUM> and a second roll (guide roll) <NUM>. Each of the first and second rolls <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> may have a plurality of first and second guide grooves G1, G2. Each of the elastic members F is wound on each of the first guide grooves G1 to guide each of the elastic members F. Each of the elastic members F delivered from each of the first guide grooves G1 of the first roll <NUM> is wound on each of the second guide grooves G2 of <FIG> to guide each of the elastic members F to each of the carrying grooves G of the anvil roll <NUM>.

The first and second rolls <NUM>, <NUM> may be free rollers, and may be driven to rotate in synchronization with the anvil roll <NUM>. Moreover, the first and second rolls may not be provided.

As illustrated clearly in <FIG>, each of the ridges <NUM> has the plurality of carrying grooves G, receiving parts <NUM> and projections <NUM>, <NUM>. That is, each of the ridges <NUM> includes a plurality of first projections <NUM> for generating the first joint portions <NUM>, a plurality of second projections <NUM> for generating the second joint portions <NUM>, and receiving parts <NUM> for forming the non-joint portions <NUM>. Note that to allow easy understanding of the structure, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate the heights of the projections <NUM>, <NUM> and the depth of the carrying groove G in an exaggerated manner.

In <FIG>, the first and second projections <NUM>, <NUM>, and the receiving parts <NUM> are provided intermittently along the width direction S of the anvil roll <NUM>, that is, while being spaced in the width direction S.

The height H1 of the receiving part <NUM> of <FIG> (height from the surface of the recessed groove <NUM>) is smaller than the largest height H2 of the first and second projections <NUM>, <NUM>. The height H1 of the receiving part <NUM> is smaller by <NUM> to <NUM>, for example, than the height H2 of the projection <NUM> (height from the surface of the recessed groove <NUM>).

In <FIG>, the carrying groove G is defined by the notch formed in the first projection <NUM>. The lowest surface of the notch of the first projection <NUM> is set to a height projecting in the radial direction of the roll <NUM> relative to the bottom surface of the recessed groove <NUM> illustrated by a broken line. The surface of the receiving part <NUM> is set to a height projecting in the radial direction relative to the lowest surface of the notch, the height retreating (lowering) in the radial direction relative to the top projection surface of the first projection <NUM>.

The carrying groove G is defined by (a pair of) regions on both sides in the width direction S of the first projection <NUM> and the region of the first projection <NUM> on the lower side of the carrying groove G. That is, the regions on the both sides of the first projection <NUM> and the region on the lower side of the same first projection <NUM> define the bottom surface of the carrying groove G. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, a part of the first projection <NUM> is shaved in a V-shape form, and the carrying groove G is formed to be surrounded by the first projection <NUM> on the lower side and the both sides in the width direction S.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of pairs of first projections <NUM> are disposed in each of the width direction S and the circumferential direction R of the anvil roll <NUM>. Between the pair of first projections <NUM> and another pair of first projections <NUM> that are adjacent to each other in the width direction S, there is disposed the above-described at least one receiving part <NUM> to receive the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the case of this example, two receiving parts <NUM> are provided between the pair of first projections <NUM> and the another pair of first projections <NUM>. Between the two receiving parts <NUM>, there is provided the second projection <NUM> for generating the second joint portion <NUM> (<FIG>) jointing the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> to each other.

The following will describe an example of the method for producing the stretchable laminate <NUM> using the production device.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first sheet <NUM> is introduced to the upstream part of the anvil roll <NUM>. A plurality of elastic members F are introduced from the introducing device <NUM> onto the first sheet <NUM> introduced to the anvil roll <NUM>. Each of the elastic members F is introduced, in the state of having entered in the carrying groove G of <FIG>, together with the first sheet (<FIG>).

To suppress shrinkage of the first sheet <NUM> in the radial direction of the anvil roll <NUM>, the first sheet <NUM> and the elastic member F are carried while the first sheet <NUM> is received at the receiving parts <NUM> between a pair of first projections <NUM> and another pair of first projections <NUM> as illustrated by two-dot chain lines in <FIG>, and each pair of first projections produces (generates) the pair of first joint portions <NUM>, <NUM> later.

Meanwhile, the second sheet <NUM> of <FIG> is introduced to the region of the anvil roll <NUM> facing the horn <NUM> of <FIG>. That is, on the anvil roll <NUM>, the second sheet <NUM> is introduced onto the first sheet <NUM> so as to sandwich the elastic members F between the first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM>.

When the first sheet <NUM>, the elastic members F, and the second sheet <NUM> pass between the horn <NUM> and the ridges <NUM>, the horn <NUM> is ultrasonically vibrated in the direction toward the anvil roll <NUM>. In this manner, the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are fused mutually at the first joint portions <NUM> and the second joint portions <NUM> of <FIG>, and the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are fused to the elastic members F at the fixing parts 3f. Thus, the stretchable laminate <NUM> is generated.

Here, the first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM> are not fused at the receiving parts <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>, and the first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM> are fused on each of the projections <NUM>, <NUM> of the anvil roll <NUM>, thus forming the joint portions <NUM>.

As enlarged and illustrated in <FIG>, the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> pass between the first projection <NUM> or the second projection <NUM> of the ridge <NUM> and the horn <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to a paper surface of the figure.

At each of the projections <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>, the horn <NUM> is in contact with the second sheet <NUM> with large pressure. Therefore, each of the projections <NUM>, <NUM> intermittently generates the first and second joint portions <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> in the stretching direction Df of the elastic member F, and the pair of sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are ultrasonically fused securely there.

Meanwhile, in <FIG>, at the receiving part <NUM>, contact pressure hardly occurs between the horn <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM>. Thus, ultrasonic fusion bonding is not performed at the receiving part <NUM>.

Moreover, as exemplified by two-dot chain lines of <FIG>, when the first and second sheets <NUM>, <NUM> start shrinking in the radial direction of the anvil roll <NUM> at the receiving part <NUM>, the first sheet <NUM> is received by the surface of the receiving part <NUM>. Thus, it is difficult for the sheets <NUM>, <NUM> to displace in the width direction S. As a result, it is possible to fuse the sheets together without protrusion of the elastic member F from the carrying groove G (without moved to an area between the projection surface of the first projection <NUM> and the horn <NUM>, on which large pressure is applied), and thus without rupture of the elastic member F.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the shape of the receiving part <NUM> may be circular or the like, other than rectangular. Moreover, the receiving part <NUM> may project further in the circumferential direction than each of the first projections <NUM> or may be shorter in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the receiving part <NUM> may be continuous to the first projection <NUM> or may be formed intermittently.

As in the examples of <FIG>, the surface 52f of the ridge <NUM> between the first projection <NUM> and the receiving part <NUM> and the first projection <NUM> may meander (be continuous in a zigzag form) relative to the elastic member F of the stretchable laminate <NUM>. In such a case, the width of the receiving part <NUM> may not be constant. In such a case, the carrying grooves G are provided intermittently in the first projections <NUM> in the extending direction of the elastic member F. That is, only at the regions where the first projection <NUM> crosses the elastic member F, the carrying grooves G are provided along the extending direction of the elastic member F. Note that <FIG> illustrates the elastic members F by two-dot chain lines.

Incidentally, the receiving part <NUM> may have the same height as the outer peripheral surface of the anvil roll <NUM>. Moreover, although the effect of preventing displacement of the elastic member is not expected in such a case, the receiving parts <NUM> may be formed at intermittent portions in the circumferential direction of the projections for jointing.

As described above, the preferred examples have been described with reference to the drawings. Upon reading the present specification, a person skilled in the art will readily arrive at various changes and modifications within an obvious range.

For example, the roll for introduction is not necessarily provided. Moreover, the fusion bonding may not be ultrasonic but of heat sealing.

Therefore, such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A device for producing a stretchable laminate for a wearable article, comprising:
an anvil roll (<NUM>) that carries a pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) and elastic members (F) so that the elastic members (F) are sandwiched between the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
a fusion device (<NUM>) that, in cooperation with the anvil roll (<NUM>), fuses the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) mutually and makes the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) hold the elastic members (F), wherein
an outer peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the anvil roll (<NUM>) includes a plurality of first projections (<NUM>) for producing first joint portions (<NUM>) with the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) jointed to each other, the first projections being provided along a width direction S of the anvil roll (<NUM>) and spaced from each other in the width direction S,
each of the first projections (<NUM>) defines and includes a carrying groove (G) extending in a circumferential direction R of the anvil roll (<NUM>) and carrying each of the elastic members (F) while each of the elastic members (F) has entered in the groove (G), and
at least one receiving part (<NUM>) for receiving the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) is arranged between one first projection (<NUM>) and another first projection (<NUM>) adjacent to each other in the width direction S, among the plurality of first projections (<NUM>) each including the carrying groove (G);
wherein
the at least one receiving part comprises at least two receiving parts (<NUM>) provided between the one first projection (<NUM>) and the another first projection (<NUM>), and
a second projection (<NUM>) for producing a second joint portion (<NUM>) with the pair of first and second sheets (<NUM>, <NUM>) jointed to each other is provided between the at least two receiving parts (<NUM>).