Absorbent Product Containing Absorbent Articles Each Having Different Graphic

Abstract

In one aspect, an absorbent product includes a package and at least n absorbent articles contained in the package (n is greater than 10). Each of the absorbent articles has a body contacting surface and a garment contacting surface. Each of the absorbent articles includes a component material disposed between the body contacting surface and the garment contacting surface. The component material has a printed graphic which is seen through either the body contacting or garment contacting surfaces. The n graphics of the n absorbent articles are different from each other, and preferably have a predetermined association. In another aspect, a method is directed to printing a graphic on a sheet material which will become a component material for the absorbent articles. In another aspect, a method is directed to producing the absorbent product including the package and the n absorbent articles contained in the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of printing a graphic on a sheet material which will become a component material for absorbent articles, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing graphic data in a graphic memory for printing n graphics, n being greater than 2;   (b) selecting graphic data stored in the graphic memory;   (c) printing a graphic based on the selected graphic data by an ink jet on the sheet material; and   (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) so that the n graphics are printed on the sheet material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) includes a step of selecting graphic data stored in the graphic memory in accordance with a predetermined association. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) includes a step of randomly selecting graphic data stored in the graphic memory. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises a step of (e) repeating the steps of (b)-(d) so that the n graphics are periodically printed in each frame on the sheet material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the n graphics are different from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined order includes an order illustrating story, an order for daily activity, an order for educational training, a sequential indication means, an order of usage instruction, an order of how to take care of babies, and an order of sales promotion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is selected from the group consisting of a backsheet material, a topsheet material, an acquisition layer material, an absorbent core material, and a landing zone material for waist-fastening means. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing an absorbent product comprising a package and at least n absorbent articles contained in the package, wherein n is greater than 10, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) supplying a sheet material having a plurality of printing frames sequentially disposed along the machine direction, each printing frame including n graphics printed sequentially in the machine direction;   (b) incorporating other component materials with the sheet material to form n absorbent articles in the machine direction, each absorbent article having a corresponding graphic of the n graphics;   (c) detecting the printing frame in the sheet material;   (d) transporting the absorbent articles which are within the detected printing frame; and   (e) packing the transported absorbent articles into one package.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sheet material has a plurality of framing marks which define the printing frames, and the step (c) includes a step of detecting at least one of the framing marks. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sheet material is selected from the group consisting of a backsheet material, a topsheet material, an acquisition layer material, an absorbent core material, and a landing zone material for waist-fastening means.