In the field of sanitary products it is known that the application of dry, absorbent sanitary product external surfaces, for example catamenial tampon external surfaces, to or into moist body tissue, often causes discomfort. This is largely because the often filamentous external surfaces of the sanitary product absorb moisture and adhere to and irritate the tissue.

Known means towards solving this problem are generally means for lubricating the product's external surfaces, such means include the provision of fluid surface lubricants. However, problems associated with such lubricants include the fact that over time the sanitary or medical article may gradually absorb the surface lubricant which may, inter alia, lead to a loss in absorbency in the article.

We have developed a novel form of packaging, disclosed in an unpublished co- pending International patent application No. PCT/GBOl/05622, which overcomes or mitigates some of the disadvantages of prior art devices.

In our, as yet unpublished, copending application a novel sanitary or medical article packaging device has been disclosed which comprises a first chamber for housing the sanitary or medical article and a second chamber adapted to act as a substrate reservoir, the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible membrane.

Sanitary products include feminine hygiene products, for example sanitary tampons.

Medical products include any dressings, including tampons, where it is desirable to, for example, lubricate or medicate the wound contact surface, cavity wound dressings.

A technical problem inherent to the design of this novel packaging device is that, inter alia, the tampons need to be packaged in the correct and precise orientation. They need to be positioned substantially centrally within the first chamber of the packaging system described and also orientated so that the dome-end of the tampon is adjacent to

the frangible membrane of the packaging system. Whilst the tampons could be packaged by hand, this would be a time-consuming process and may also result in breaches in hygiene. Thus, the requirement for an automated process is obvious to one skilled in the art, but the use of conventional hoppers would result in the random orientation of the tampons. We have overcome this problem by developing a novel container and a container which can be positioned into a support framework that feeds a the hopper of a packaging machine.

Thus according to the first aspect of the invention we provide a container for housing a plurality of absorbent products comprising an absorbent product reservoir said reservoir comprising a back wall, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls, characterised in that at least one end wall is openable and each of the side walls are provided with means for engaging with a member adapted to support said container.

A variety of sanitary articles may be packaged using the container of the invention.

Examples of such sanitary articles any conventionally known absorbent articles, e. g. cotton buds, sanitary articles or medical articles, reference herein to sanitary articles should be construed as including medical articles and/or cotton buds. Sanitary products include feminine hygiene products, for example sanitary tampons. Medical products include any dressings, including tampons, where it is desirable to, for example, lubricate or medicate a wound contact surface, cavity wound dressings.

Preferably the sanitary article is a tampon, of conventional design, with or without an applicator. In a particularly preferred embodiment the tampon is a digital tampon.

The shape of the container can vary, but generally it is rectangular, although alternatively it may have a U-shaped form. The width of the container is defined by the two opposing side walls, the height of the container is defined by the openable opposing end walls, whilst the depth is defined by the distance between the back wall and a front cover.

Preferably the side walls are integral with the back wall.

More preferably still each of the side walls are integral to the back wall and are substantially perpendicular to it.

Even more preferably, there is provided a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the side walls and which overlies the outside of these walls, with this surface being further provided with a return edge which is itself parallel to the side walls.

This return edge may vary in depth but does not exceed the total depth of the container. It is the depth of this return edge that defines how far back the container can be pushed into a support or racking system.

Preferably the return edge has a depth of from 10-20mm.

The depth of the container may be sufficient to allow one tampon to be housed between the back wall and the front cover whilst also ensuring that the tampons are orientated in a manner such that the cord end is adjacent to the back wall of the container whilst the dome end is at the front of the container. This orientation is crucial because when the tampon is transferred from the cassette to the packaging device it needs to be in the correct position, in order that the dome-end is lying substantially perpendicular to the frangible membrane and is the part of the tampon which initially comes into contact with the lubricant. Specifically the dimensions of the container are such that from 25-35 tampons can be arranged across the width of the container, with there being from 25-35 vertical rows of tampons. The actual number of tampons housed within the reservoir is dependent on the width of the tampon, which can vary dependent on the level of absorbency provided. On average the container houses approximately 500-1000 tampons.

More specifically the container has a width of from 200-400mm, preferably being 300mm, a height of from 250-450mm, preferably being 350mm, and a depth of from 40-lOOmm, preferably being 55mm, slightly longer than the length of the sanitary products, specifically sanitary tampons, being packed.

The end walls or as they can also be referred to, end plates, of which at least one is at least fully or partially openable, are positioned at opposing ends of the container.

The end walls are generally rectangular. More specifically, the end walls have a width of from 300-500mm, preferably being 325mm and a depth of from 40-lOOmm, preferably being 55mm. They are formed such that there is a'U'channel on three sides, the two sides and one of the long sides, the depth of the'U'being sufficient to allow the end plate to slide onto lugs positioned at the end of the container. A lug can be defined as a projecting part, especially one by which something can be moved, rotated or suspended. This'U'shape also provides stiffness to the end wall. The end walls may be either free floating or retained by spring loaded clips of Veloro hook and eye system or similar mechanism.

Prior to filling the reservoir of the container with, e. g. tampons, the two opposing end walls are positioned substantially perpendicular to the back wall. The tampons are positioned either by hand or using automation, into rows in the correct orientation and then a lid or cover may be secured to the front, open-end of the container.

This cover is generally of substantially the same size as the container and thus correct orientation of the cover is unnecessary. The cover may, optionally, be secured to the container using a variety of conventionally known securing means.

The container may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials, either metallic (ferrous or non-ferrous) or non-metallic. The back wall of the reservoir, the cover, the side walls and the end walls may comprise the same or different materials.

Preferentially the materials used are non-resilient.

Preferably the end walls are made from a substantially metallic material, e. g. a ferrous metal, such as stainless steel, Alternatively the end. walls is made from a plastics material or other such robust material. Preferably, both end walls comprise the same material. The thickness of the end walls may vary, but preferably still the walls may have a thickness of from 1 to 3 mm, preferably a thickness of 1. 5mm.

Preferably the side walls are integral to the side walls and are made from the same material, for example, a substantially metallic material, e. g. a ferrous metal, such as stainless steel. Alternatively the side walls is made from a plastics material or other such robust material. The thickness of the side walls and/or the back wall may vary, but preferably still the walls may have a thickness of from 1 to 3 mm, preferably a thickness of 1. 5mm.

The cover is preferably manufactured from makrolon polycarbonate material or similar, either clear, translucent or coloured. Alternatively the cover may be manufactured from a metallic material, preferably stainless steel, and is either solid i. e. continuous or non continuous, e. g. perforated.

Preferably there is provided, on a surface which is substantially perpendicular to each the side walls of the container and which overlies said side walls, at least one aperture.

Preferably this aperture is provided with a screw thread.

Alternatively the securing means may be selected from a number of mechanical fasteners, such as the M5 self-clinching floating fastener PEM, or similar device. The size of the lid is such that the end plates at either end may be removed when desired without first removing the lid, but also not allowing tampons to fall out when it is in its working position.

Alternatively still, the side walls may be provided with a groove into which the lid can slide.

Attached to each of the opposing side walls of the container, either as a separate item secured by various means, known per se, or as an integral part of the container, are further lugs. The lugs may be so positioned that the container can be mounted onto a member adapted to support said container, and when in use, either of the openable end walls can be positioned at the top or bottom respectively.

Preferably there are at least one pair of lugs on each exterior surface of the side walls.

More preferably still there are at least two pairs of lugs on each exterior surface of the side walls.

Even more preferably still each of the lugs of the pair are positioned at equal distance along the side wall.

Alternatively each of the lugs of the pair can be positioned at unequal distances along the side wall as long as when the container is supported it is suspended in a level position.

In order to feed the hopper (s) of the sachet making machine, containers are loaded into a framework of various aluminium sections. The framework may be mounted either totally or partially from the floor or sachet making machine. The design of the framework is such that the containers are mounted directly above the feed hoppers, the lugs on the side of the container locating on stub arms mounted on the framework.

In use, once the container is in position within or on the support framework, the end walls are removed, thus enabling the absorbent articles to be dispensed. The absorbent articles can be dispensed using conventional methods known in the art, such as the use of an urging means, but preferably the absorbent articles are dispensed under gravity.

According to a further aspect of the invention we provide a method of delivery of a plurality of absorbent products into a packaging device as hereinbefore described which comprises, inserting said plurality of absorbent products into an absorbent products reservoir engaging said container with a support member, thereby enabling the transfer of said plurality of absorbent products to the packaging device via at least one opened end wall.

Thus, we especially provide a method of delivery of a plurality of sanitary products into a packaging device as hereinbefore described wherein the packaging device is adapted to manufacture a packaging system which comprises a first chamber adapted to house a catamenial tampon and a second chamber adapted to house a second material, the first and second chambers being separated by a frangible member.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective photograph of the container; Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the container according to our invention; Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the cover according to our invention; Figure 4 represents a plan view of the container; Figure 5 represents a side elevation of the container; Figure 6 represents a plan view of the end walls; Figure 7 shows a schematic of the framework that supports the container according to our invention; and Figure 8 shows a photograph of a perspective view of the framework supporting the container and feeding absorbent articles into a packaging device.

Referring to FIG. 1 a perspective photograph of the container illustrates the orientation of the container in use.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container (100) for housing absorbent sanitary products is formed by a rectangular back wall (1) and two integral, opposing side walls (2 and 2a), said side walls being substantially perpendicular to the back wall (1). The side walls (2 and 2a) are positioned such that when the container (100) is in use the height of the back wall (1) is substantially greater than its width and the side walls (2 and 2a) are orientated vertically. A cover fixing surface (3) is provided that is substantially perpendicular to and overlies the side walls (2 and 2a). Cover fixing apertures (4) are suitably positioned in the cover fixing surface in order that when the cover (5) is positioned next to this surface a screw (not shown) can be used to secure the cover (5) and the side walls (2 and 2a) together. The back wall (1), side walls (2 and 2a) and cover fixing surface (4) are manufactured from 1. 5mm stainless steel.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cover (5) is rectangular and when in use it is orientated so that the two vertical edges are longer than the two horizontal edges. The cover (5) is manufactured from 4mm smoke-coloured Makrolon. Cover apertures (6) are suitably

positioned through the cover (5) in order that when it is placed against the cover fixing surface (3) the cover apertures (6) overlie corresponding apertures (4a) in the container and the cover can thus be secured, preferably the securing means is a screw.

Referring to FIG. 4, the container (100) is illustrated with the end walls (10) removed.

The back wall (1) is shown with the two opposing side walls (2 and 2a). The cover fixing surface (3) is shown to be substantially perpendicular to the side walls (2 and 2a) and a return edge (7) is further provided which is substantially perpendicular to the cover fixing surface (3). The depth of the side walls (2 and 2a) is less than one half the width of the back wall. Preferably the depth of the side walls is less than one quarter the width of the back wall. The depth of the return edge is such that it is less than half the depth of the side wall. Lugs (8) are positioned on the external surface of the side walls (2 and 2a) either as a separate item secured by various means, such as a screw, or as an integral part of the side walls (2 and 2a). Preferably the lugs (8) are rectangular in form. Preferably there are two pairs of symmetrical lugs (8 and 8a) attached to each of the external surfaces of the side walls (2 and 2a). The lugs (8 and 8a) do not protrude further than the return edge (7).

Referring to FIG. 5, the return edge (7) is parallel with the side wall (2) and extends to less than half the depth of the side wall (2). Two rectangular lugs (8 and 8a) that do not protrude further than the return edge (7) are provided in a symmetrical position on the side wall (2) and are secured to the side wall (2) via a lug fixing plates (9). When the container (100) is in use, the shorter sides of the lugs (8 and 8a) lie on the horizontal plane. The lug fixing plates (9) are provided on the shorter sides of the lug and are integral to it, but are less than a quarter of the depth of the central portion of the lug (8).

Referring to FIG. 6, the end wall (15) is manufactured from a single rectangular sheet of 1. 5mm stainless steel, with the sheet being folded in half through the opposing shorter sides in order to form an end wall that is rectangular in shape with a bevelled edge (10) present on the two opposing short sides and one of the long sides. This bevelled edge (10) prevents the two symmetrical rectangular surfaces from contacting each other, provides sufficient depth to enable the end wall to slide onto integral lugs at the end edge of the side walls and also provides an element of stiffness to the wall.

Referring to FIG 7, the framework has a base (11), a plurality of uprights (12) that are substantially perpendicular to the base and which extend to and meet a horizontal top (13). Substantially perpendicular and integral to the uprights are pairs stub arms (14), that support the containers. The cassettes are mounted directly above the feed hoppers, with the lugs (8) of the containers locating on and being suspended by the stub arms.

Referring to FIG 8 a perspective photograph illustrates the framework in use, supporting the container and feeding absorbent articles into a packaging device.