An arm member (220) has a tip section (222) which is the pay-out position from which a string-like elastic member (6a’) is paid out, and the arm member (220) guides the elastic member (6a’). The tip section (222) is alternately moved in a first direction (Da) which is the direction leading from the center of a web which comprises a series of parts each constituting a portion of an absorptive article (1) and is being conveyed in a predetermined direction, to a first end section (7a) in the intersecting direction (CD) intersecting the conveying direction (MD), and a second direction (Db) which is the direction leading toward a second end section (7b) which is the end section on the side opposite the first end section (7a). This causes the elastic member (6a’) to be in contact with the web to lay the elastic member (6a’) thereon in a gathered corrugated pattern. In this process, in a plan view of the composite web (7), when the nip point goes beyond the position at which the angle formed by the conveying direction (MD) and a line tangent to the gathered corrugated pattern, the distance between the tip section (222) and the nip point is set to be maximum.