The invention provides a method for thinning a water-absorbing material aggregate. The method for thinning the water-absorbing material aggregate 160 comprising hydrophilic fibers 21 and highly water-absorbing polymer particles 22 and having a thickness direction includes compressing the aggregate 160 in the thickness direction and simultaneously spraying the aggregate 160 with steam heated at a higher temperature than the boiling point of water.為了提供一種將吸水性材料的集合體予以薄型化的方法。吸水性材料的集合體(160)包含親水性纖維(21)和高吸水性聚合物粒子(22),且具有厚度方向。一邊將該集合體(160)在厚度方向施以壓縮,一邊將水沸點以上的溫度之水蒸氣朝集合體(160)噴射。13...芯材20...壓縮集合體21...親水性纖維21a...粉碎紙漿22...高吸水性聚合物粒子101...第1步驟102...第2步驟103...第3步驟104...第4步驟105...第5步驟151...吸引鼓筒151a...周面152...具有罩蓋的吸水性材料供應部153...凹部156...吸引力157...粉碎紙漿供應部158...高吸水性聚合物粒子供應部160...集合體161...第1複合帶體162...第2複合帶體171...第1網眼輸送帶172...第2網眼輸送帶173...蒸氣噴射部174...蒸氣吸引部175...平行行走部176...上游側上輥177...上游側下輥178...下游側上輥179...下游側下輥180...蒸氣鍋爐181...壓力控制閥182...配管185...刀具200...搬運輥223...第1薄片帶體224...第2薄片帶體MD...機械方向TD...上下方向(厚度方向)d...間隙
