A tablet cassette includes a tablet container for containing tablets in a random manner and a rotor provided therein and having a plurality of tablet receiving portions, and allows tablets, which have fallen into the tablet receiving portions through axial rotation of the rotor, to successively fall down through a discharge port at the bottom portion of the tablet container. The rotor includes a circumferential expansion-contraction mechanism, a radial expansion-contraction mechanism, and a pressing member externally mounted on a rotary shaft that penetrates a bottom wall portion of the tablet container. The circumferential expansion-contraction mechanism allows the plurality of tablet receiving portions to be expanded and contracted in the circumferential direction in conjunction with each other. The radial expansion-contraction mechanism allows the tablet receiving portions to be individually expanded and contracted by individually moving a plurality of sliding members in the radial direction.

Embodiments herein call for an apparatus, method, and system for the sale and provision to users of mattresses, pillows, and other bedding and bedroom-related products. The system comprises two mechanisms for storage and delivery of these items to users. The first mechanism includes a separate storage compartment and delivery compartment with a unit transfer subsystem configured to remove a selected at least one unit from the storage compartment and transfer the selected at least one unit to the delivery compartment. The second mechanism includes one or more combined storage and delivery compartments. A user interface is configured to display the one or more products to a user, receive a user selection of one or more of the units, and authorizes either or both of the first and second mechanisms to allow the user to access the selected unit.

Consumer operated kiosks for recycling electronic devices are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosk includes a rotatable inspection plate configured to receive an electronic device when the inspection plate is in a first position. The kiosk can include a camera having a field of view including at least a portion of the inspection plate. The kiosk can include a wired and/or wireless connectivity device configured to connect to the electronic device and one or more processors configured to: receive characteristic information about the electronic device via the wired and/or wireless connectivity device; cause the inspection plate to rotate to a second position; receive one or more images of the electronic device via the camera when the inspection plate is in the second position; and facilitate determination of an offer price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the one or more images.

A medicine feeder configured to feed solid medicines with an elongated shape, the medicine feeder including: a medicine container having a medicine outlet; a medicine delivering part having a plurality of medicine receiving spaces that are arranged at intervals and contain the medicines one by one; and a medicine entry preventing part that is provided in the medicine container and is configured to prevent the medicines from entering one of the plurality of medicine receiving spaces that coincides with the medicine outlet by covering over the medicine receiving space. A bulkhead portion partitioning between each two of the medicine receiving spaces has a shape such that an upper surface of a portion close to a rear side in the rotational direction of the medicine delivering part rises toward a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the medicine delivering part.

A medicine feeder configured to feed solid medicines with an elongated shape, the medicine feeder including: a medicine container having a medicine outlet; a medicine delivering part having a plurality of medicine receiving spaces that are arranged at intervals and contain the medicines one by one; and a medicine entry preventing part that is provided in the medicine container and is configured to prevent the medicines from entering one of the plurality of medicine receiving spaces that coincides with the medicine outlet by covering over the medicine receiving space. A bulkhead portion partitioning between each two of the medicine receiving spaces has a shape such that an upper surface of a portion close to a rear side in the rotational direction of the medicine delivering part rises toward a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the medicine delivering part.

A dispensing mechanism includes at least two helical augers having threads, and at least two channels configured to hold the items to be dispensed. The items to be dispensed are received at least partially within the threads of the augers. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive mechanism engaged with the at least two augers and configured to rotate the at least two augers to transport the items to be dispensed, driven by the threads of the augers, to dispense the items from the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism may include a separable dispenser and cassette.

A medicine feeding apparatus includes a cylindrical body 8, a first rotating body 9, and a second rotating body 10. The first rotating body 9 is disposed on the inner side of the cylindrical body 8, and together with the cylindrical body 8, constitutes a medicine storage section 42 capable of storing medicine. The first rotating body 9 can reciprocate in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 8, and can rotate about a first rotary axis. The second rotating body 10 is disposed on the outer circumference of an opening of the cylindrical body 8, and can rotate about a second rotary axis. This configuration has a function of smoothly performing automatic dispensing depending on the remaining amount of stored medicine while storing a large amount of medicine.

A medicine feeding apparatus includes a cylindrical body 8, a first rotating body 9, and a second rotating body 10. The first rotating body 9 is disposed on the inner side of the cylindrical body 8, and together with the cylindrical body 8, constitutes a medicine storage section 42 capable of storing medicine. The first rotating body 9 can reciprocate in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 8, and can rotate about a first rotary axis. The second rotating body 10 is disposed on the outer circumference of an opening of the cylindrical body 8, and can rotate about a second rotary axis. This configuration has a function of smoothly performing automatic dispensing depending on the remaining amount of stored medicine while storing a large amount of medicine.

A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.

A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.