A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back.

A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: one article discharging apparatus; and another article discharging apparatus, the one article discharging apparatus and the other article discharging apparatus being capable of being combined in a back-to-back manner. The one article discharging apparatus includes: a driving source; an output gear configured to rotate by a driving force from the driving source when a discharging instruction has been given to the one article discharging apparatus; link levers where each link lever is provided rotatably about an axis of the link lever; and a controller configured to, when the output gear is rotated from the standby position by the discharging instruction, prohibit stopping of drive of the driving source to allow the rotation of the output gear until a preset prohibited time elapses from starting of the rotation of the output gear even when supply of electric power to the driving source is interrupted.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: one article discharging apparatus; and another article discharging apparatus, the one article discharging apparatus and the other article discharging apparatus being capable of being combined in a back-to-back manner. The one article discharging apparatus includes: a driving source; an output gear configured to rotate by a driving force from the driving source when a discharging instruction has been given to the one article discharging apparatus; link levers where each link lever is provided rotatably about an axis of the link lever; and a controller configured to, when the output gear is rotated from the standby position by the discharging instruction, prohibit stopping of drive of the driving source to allow the rotation of the output gear until a preset prohibited time elapses from starting of the rotation of the output gear even when supply of electric power to the driving source is interrupted.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: one article discharging apparatus; and another article discharging apparatus, the one article discharging apparatus and the other article discharging apparatus being capable of being combined in a back-to-back manner. The one article discharging apparatus includes: a driving source; an output gear configured to rotate by a driving force from the driving source when a discharging instruction has been given to the one article discharging apparatus; link levers where each link lever is provided rotatably about an axis of the link lever; and a controller configured to perform return processing including rotating the output gear in another direction or one direction to return the output gear to a standby position when the output gear that has been rotated in the one direction or the other direction from the standby position by the discharge instruction does not return to the standby position within a preset time.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: one article discharging apparatus; and another article discharging apparatus, the one article discharging apparatus and the other article discharging apparatus being capable of being combined in a back-to-back manner. The one article discharging apparatus includes: a driving source; an output gear configured to rotate by a driving force from the driving source when a discharging instruction has been given to the one article discharging apparatus; link levers where each link lever is provided rotatably about an axis of the link lever; and a controller configured to perform return processing including rotating the output gear in another direction or one direction to return the output gear to a standby position when the output gear that has been rotated in the one direction or the other direction from the standby position by the discharge instruction does not return to the standby position within a preset time.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: an article discharging apparatus including a lower pedal and an upper pedal; an out-of-stock detection switch configured to: be turned to a first state when the lower pedal is turned to a second standby attitude; and be turned to a second state when the lower pedal is turned to any attitude other than the second standby attitude; and a controller configured to determine that an article has been dispensed from an article storage passage by the fact that the out-of-stock detection switch is turned to the first state when the article discharging apparatus is driven.

An article dispensing apparatus includes: an article discharging apparatus including a lower pedal and an upper pedal; an out-of-stock detection switch configured to: be turned to a first state when the lower pedal is turned to a second standby attitude; and be turned to a second state when the lower pedal is turned to any attitude other than the second standby attitude; and a controller configured to determine that an article has been dispensed from an article storage passage by the fact that the out-of-stock detection switch is turned to the first state when the article discharging apparatus is driven.

In an embodiment, a medication dispensing assembly includes a housing containing a plurality of electronically activated guidance devices which are configured to guide medications from at least one medication dispenser into a plurality of containers. The housing includes a panel which closes off at least a portion of one side of the housing. The panel has a plurality of wire openings that are spaced apart from one another. A plurality of wires extend through a portion of an interior of the housing and extend through the wire openings of the panel from the interior of the housing to outside of the housing. The wires are electronically connected with electronically activated guidance devices. At least one of the wire openings includes a slot which extends to an edge of the panel.

Disclosed are a vending machine and an item dispensing method of storage column thereof. In the item dispensing method of the storage column of the vending machine, controlling the first motor to start rotating for the first time to convey the target item to the inlet of the bucket; when detecting that the target item reaches the inlet of the bucket, controlling the first motor to stop rotating for the first time to make the target item enter the inside of the bucket under the driving of the second motor.