MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR ANNULAR WAIST BAND AND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus capable of easily manufacturing an annular waist band which is excellent in flexibility and a texture and has practically sufficient fusion strength in a joining part.SOLUTION: A sheet laminate 123 configured by superposing a pair of belt-like sheet members 22 in a longitudinal direction is held at a prescribed position in a longitudinal direction between a pressing member and a supporting member 151 having a light transmission part 156 in a width direction to make the sheet laminate in a state where a pressure is applied. Laser beams L are emitted to the sheet laminate 123 to which the pressure is applied from a side of the supporting member 151 through the light transmission part 156. As a result, the sheet laminate 123 is segmented in the width direction, and simultaneously a joining part 121 is formed by fusing segmented edge parts in the superposed state. 【課題】接合部の柔軟性、肌触りに優れ、かつ実用上十分な融着強度を有する環状ウエストバンドを容易に製造できる方法及び装置を提供すること。【解決手段】一対の帯状シート部材２２を長手方向に向けて重ね合わせてなるシート積層体１２３を、長手方向の所定位置において、かつ幅方向に沿って、押さえ部材と光通過部１５６を有する支持部材１５１との間に保持して加圧状態とする。加圧状態となったシート積層体１２３に対して、支持部材１５１側から光通過部１５６を介してレーザー光Ｌを照射する。これにより、シート積層体１２３を幅方向に沿って分断するのと同時に、この分断の縁部を重なった状態で融着させて、接合部１２１を形成する。【選択図】図４