Patent Publication Number: US-9833384-B2

Title: Medicine dispensing system and medicine dispensing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/364,210, filed Feb. 1, 2012, which is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/765,741, filed Apr. 22, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. §§120 and 365(c) of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2008/069208, filed Oct. 23, 2008, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein, which claims the benefit of the following applications, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein: 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-274931, filed Oct. 23, 2007, 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-274932, filed Oct. 23, 2007, 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-274933, filed Oct. 23, 2007, 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-274934, filed Oct. 23, 2007, 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-190195, filed Jul. 23, 2008, 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-240590, filed Sep. 19, 2008, and 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-264662, filed Oct. 10, 2008. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing system constructed by adding a sub unit to a main unit. Further, the present invention relates to a medicine dispensing device for such a sub unit. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 1. A prior art medicine dispensing device has a storage part for storing a plurality kinds of medicines. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is constructed to pack medicines removed from the storage part according to prescriptions and dispense the same. 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-276183 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a prior art medicine dispensing device, the storage part is configured to accommodate a plurality kinds of medicines. However, with an increase in the kinds of medicines to be dealt with, more kinds of medicines than those accommodated by the storage part must be dealt with. Installing a plurality of prior art medicine dispensing devices can address such a need. However, there is a problem with such solution in that each medicine dispensing device packs medicines in a different manner. Further, installing a plurality of medicine dispensing devices has another problem in that it needs a larger installation area resulting in higher maintenance costs. 
     In one embodiment, a medicine dispensing system is configured such that a medicine dispensing device includes a sub unit having a function of dispensing medicines that is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. The present invention also seeks to provide a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately employed to such a medicine dispensing system. 
     In another embodiment, a medicine dispensing system includes a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes: a main storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines; and a packing part configured to pack the medicine dispensed from the main storage part. The sub unit includes a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit. The packing part of the main unit packs and dispenses the medicine. 
     The medicine dispensing system of the present invention includes the main unit and the sub unit and can transfer the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part provided in the sub unit toward the main unit using the transfer device. Further, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the main unit has the packing part. The main unit can pack not only the medicine dispensed from the main storage part of the main unit, but also the medicine from the sub storage part of the sub unit at the pack part. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention can deal with many kinds of medicines and a large quantity of medicine through use of the sub unit when compared to utilizing the main unit alone. 
     Further, the packing part of the main unit is capable of packing the medicine dispensed in the sub unit. Thus, the medicines dispensed from both the main unit and the sub unit can be packed into equal medicine packs or containers. Further, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention does not need a packing part to be included in the sub unit. Thus, not providing a packing part to the sub unit allows the sub unit to be compact or to be configured to accommodate more kinds of medicines and a larger quantity of medicine. Moreover, this can minimally decrease the installation area of the medicine dispensing system as well as the maintenance task thereof 
     Further, the transfer device of the medicine dispensing system may have the pipe line connecting the main unit and the sub unit and the transfer means configured to suck or pressure-send the medicine staying in the pipe line from the sub unit toward the main unit. 
     According to such configuration, the medicines dispensed from the sub storage part in the sub unit may be easily transferred to the main unit. 
     The transfer device, which the medicine dispensing system of some embodiments includes, is configured to suck or pressure-send medicines existing in the pipe line by means of the medicine transfer means. Thus, according to the above-described transfer device, medicines can be rapidly transferred from the sub unit toward the main unit. Further, the above-described transfer device is capable of a transfer path of the medicines by appropriately adjusting the shape of the pipe line. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of in an embodiment has a higher degree of freedom in arrangement on the main unit and the sub unit. 
     Further, the transfer path of the transfer means can be set by appropriately adjusting the pipe line. Thus, it is possible to appropriately set the dispensing position of the medicine transferred by the transfer device in the main unit and the delivery position of delivering the medicine to be transferred to the transfer device. Accordingly, layout and configuration of members or components making up the main unit and the sub unit can be adjusted independently and respectively. Specifically, in the medicine dispensing system of one embodiment, the layout and configuration of the sub storage part of the sub unit can be adjusted to be adapted to the medicine storage or the medicine dispensing independently of the layout and configuration of the main storage part, a medicine awaiting part, the packing part, etc. Thus, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, it is possible to optimize the layout and configuration of the main unit and the sub unit. 
     Further, the transfer device may have a medicine delivering part configured to receive and dispense a medicine. The medicine delivering part may be configured to turn about a turning shaft and expand and contract in a direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. 
     The transfer device, in some embodiments, has the medicine delivering part configured to receive and dispense a medicine. The medicine delivering part is configured to turn about the turning shaft and expand and contract in the direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. Thus, the medicine dispensing system in some embodiments is capable of receiving the medicine dispensed in the sub unit and delivering the same to the main unit by appropriately turning the medicine delivering part or expanding and contracting the medicine delivering part according to the arrangement of the main unit and the sub unit. 
     The medicine dispensing system of the present invention can appropriately adjust the arrangement of the main unit and the sub unit within a range wherein the medicine can be delivered by the transfer means. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention has a higher degree of freedom in the arrangement of the main unit and the sub unit. Further, the medicine delivering part is capable of turning and expanding and contracting in the direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. Thus, the medicine delivering part can turn as contracted and therefore a space necessary for turning of the medicine delivering part can be minimized. Accordingly, the present invention can contribute saving space in the medicine dispensing system. 
     Further, the transfer device may include a medicine delivery container configured to receive and dispense a medicine; and a drive mechanism configured to move the medicine delivery container between the main unit and the sub unit. The drive mechanism may include a conveying part configured to reciprocate the medicine delivering part; a direction adjusting means configured to adjust a direction of the conveying means relative to the main unit and the sub unit by turning the conveying means. 
     The transfer device, which is employed in the present invention, is configured to reciprocate the medicine delivery container for receiving and dispensing a medicine in the conveying part and to adjust the direction thereof relative to the main unit and the sub unit by turning the conveying part. Thus, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the medicine dispensed in the sub unit can be received into the medicine delivering part by adjusting the inclined direction of the delivering part such that the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part of the sub unit is situated in a position where the medicine can be received. Further, the medicine dispensed in the sub unit can be delivered to the main unit by adjusting an inclination of a conveyance path such that the medicine delivery container reaches a position where the medicine is delivered in the main storage part after the medicine is received in the medicine delivering part, and then by moving the medicine delivering part to the main unit. 
     The medicine dispensing system in some embodiments can appropriately adjust the arrangement of the main unit and the sub unit within a range wherein the medicine can be delivered by the transfer means. Thus, the medicine dispensing system can appropriately adjust the arrangement of the main unit and the sub unit. 
     Further, the transfer device may include a forward pipe line connecting the main storage part and the sub storage part; an airflow producing means producing airflow from the sub unit toward the main unit within the forward pipe line; an exhaust pipe line connected to the main storage part; a suction and exhaust means sucking and exhausting through the exhaust pipe line from an inside portion of the main storage part to an outside portion thereof; and a shutter disposed between the forward pipe line and the exhaust pipe line and the main storage part. The transfer device may be configured to perform the following: a medicine transferring operation for moving a medicine to the main storage part by operating the airflow producing means in a closed state where the forward pipe line is closed by the shutter; and a medicine introducing operation for introducing a medicine from the forward pipe line to the main storage part by operating the airflow producing means in a communication state where the shutter is opened and the forward pipe line, the exhaust pipe line and the main storage part are in communication with one another. 
     The medicine dispensing system can transfer medicine from the sub storage part toward the main storage part through the medicine transferring operation and thereafter can introduce the medicine transferred in such a manner to the main storage part through the medicine introducing operation. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention can deliver the medicine from the sub storage part to the main storage part by repeating the above-described medicine transferring operation and medicine introducing operations. 
     Further, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, since the operation for transferring the medicine between the main unit and the sub unit and the operation for introducing the medicine in the main unit are separately performed, the velocity of the airflow flowing within the forward pipe line during transfer of the medicine may be not so fast. Thus, in the medicine dispensing system of on embodiment, the medicines transferred from the main unit to the sub unit can be prevented from severely colliding with each other, breaking or chipping during their transfer. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, the shutter may include a forward obstruction portion for obstructing a space between the forward pipe line and the main storage part; and a buffer means provided at the forward obstruction portion and configured to buffer an impact caused by a collision of the medicines proceeding within the forward pipe line. 
     With the above-described construction, the buffer means buffers the impact caused by a collision of the medicines with the shutter in the medicine transferring operation. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention can surely prevent the medicines from breaking or chipping due to collisions with the shutter in the medicine transferring operation. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system may include a partitioning means configured to partition an internal space of the main storage part. Further, the medicine dispensing system may be configured such that when the shutter becomes opened, both the exhaust pipe line and the forward pipe line become in communication with a space, which is formed according to a division caused by the partitioning means. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system can decrease the volume of the space, with which, when the shutter becomes opened, both the exhaust pipe line and the forward pipe line become in communication with each other, by partitioning the internal space of the main storage part through the partitioning means. Thus, the above-described medicine dispensing system does not need to excessively enlarge the exhaust capacity of the suction and exhaust means in order to introduce the medicine from the forward pipe line to the main storage part in the medicine introducing operation. Further, according to the above-described configuration, the exhaust capacity of the suction and exhaust means can be restricted. Thus, when the medicines are introduced to the main storage part, it is possible to prevent the medicines from colliding into one another and colliding with an inner peripheral surface of the main storage part or to buffer the impact resulting from such collision. Further, it is possible to more certainly prevent occurrence of the breakage or chipping of the medicines along with the medicine transfer. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, it is preferred that the velocity of airflow flowing to transfer the medicine toward the main unit in the medicine transferring operation is slower than that of the airflow flowing to introduce the medicine to the main unit in the medicine introducing operation. 
     According to such configuration, it is possible to certainly prevent the medicine transferred from the sub unit through the medicine transferring operation from colliding with the shutter to thereby break. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, the exhaust pipe line may connect the main storage part and the sub storage part. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system may include a filter provided at a halfway portion of a flow line wherein airflow is produced concomitantly with transferring the medicine between the sub storage part and the main storage part; an airflow amount detecting means configured to detect an airflow amount in the flow line concomitantly with transferring the medicine from the main storage part to the sub storage part; and a clogging judging means configured to judge a clogging of the filter based on the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means. 
     According to such configuration, the clogging of the filter can be easily and certainly detected and thus maintenance of the filter can be performed at an appropriate time. 
     In case of employing such configuration, when it is doubtful whether the filter is clogged due to a decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, the clogging judging means may judge the clogging of the filter and then the operation for transferring the medicine may be immediately stopped. If so, the medicine stops in the middle of the forward pipe line, thereby leading to troubles in the dispensing operation. Therefore, although the filter could be possibly clogged, it is preferred that the medicine dispensing system is configured to transfer the medicine to the main storage part. 
     Further, it is more preferable that the medicine dispensing system is configured to transfer the medicine to the main storage part by increasing the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means when there is a decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, and to judge the clogging of the filter by the clogging detecting means upon when there is an increase in the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means. 
     When the medicine dispensing system is configured as indicated above, it is possible in some embodiments to transfer the medicine to the main storage part prior to judging the clogging of the filter by increasing the output of the airflow producing means or the suction and exhaust means. Thus, according to such configuration, it is possible to prevent problems during the dispensing operation, which may occur because the medicines stop in the middle of the forward pipe line due to the clogging of the filter. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system may include a filter provided at a halfway portion of a flow line wherein airflow is produced concomitantly with transferring the medicine between the sub storage part and the main storage part; an airflow amount detecting means configured to detect an airflow amount in the flow line concomitantly with transferring the medicine from the main storage part to the sub storage part; and a notifying means. The medicine dispensing system may be configured to transfer the medicine to the main storage part by increasing the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means upon a condition of decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, and to notify the clogging of the filter by the notifying means. 
     Where the medicine dispensing system is configured as indicated above, when it is assumed that the filter is clogged due to a decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, the medicine under the transferring operation is transferred, in some embodiments, to the main storage part and at the same time, the clogging of the filter is immediately notified, thereby urging users to take suitable measures. 
     Further, according to the present invention, the transfer device may include a forward pipe line connecting the main storage part and the sub storage part; an airflow producing means configured to produce an air flow within the forward pipe line from the sub unit toward the main unit; and a delivery part connected to the forward pipe line and configured to receive and dispense the medicine transferred from the sub unit through the forward pipe line in the main unit. The delivery part may include a delivery container, to which the forward pipe line is connected, and a shutter. The delivery container may include an internal space, which is configured such that the medicine transferred through the forward pipe line freely falls therein, and a dispensing opening disposed at a bottom portion of the delivery container to dispense the medicine. The shutter may be configured to be changed between a dispensing-allowed state where the medicine is allowed to be dispensed from the dispensing opening, and a dispensing-unallowed state. 
     In the medicine dispensing system of another embodiment, the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part may be transferred to the main storage part and may be received in the delivering part in advance, by having the shutter being in the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed from the dispensing opening formed at the bottom of the delivering part and by operating the airflow producing means. Thereafter, the medicine received in the delivering part may be dispensed for a purpose of packing it by operating the shutter and converting it in the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is dispensed from the dispensing opening. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention may pack the medicine dispensed from the main storage part as well as the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part at the packing part provided in the main unit. 
     Meanwhile, in case the forward pipe line is connected to the delivering part as described above, since the medicine transferred from the sub unit is moved within the delivery container due to the airflow flowing from the forward pipe line into the delivery container, there could be a possibility that the medicine does not freely drop toward the bottom of the delivery container formed with the dispensing opening. 
     Accordingly, according to the present invention provided considering such knowledge, the delivery container may include an exhaust hole for exhausting an airflow flowing in through the forward pipe line and the exhaust hole may be positioned downwardly of a connection position between the delivery container and the forward pipe line. 
     In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, since the exhaust hole is positioned downwardly of the connection position between the delivery container and the forward pipe line, the airflow flowing into the delivery container through the forward pipe line is allowed to flow downwardly. Thus, the medicine introduced into the delivery container through the forward pipe line also drops smoothly along with the airflow flowing downwardly within the delivery container. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, the delivery container may include a side portion (A) connected to the forward pipe line; and a pair of opposed side portions (B, C) crossing to the side portions. The exhaust hole may be provided at each of the pair of the side portions (B, C). 
     Where the medicine dispensing system is configured as such, the airflow flowing into the delivery container through the forward pipe line is allowed to bifurcately flow to the exhaust holes provided at the side portions (B, C) and thus the medicine smoothly drops within the delivery container. 
     When the medicine is introduced into the delivering part along with the airflow flowing through the forward pipe line as described above, there could be a possibility that the medicine collides against an inner wall surface of the delivery container from the force of the airflow. Thus, the above-described medicine dispensing system is configured to minimize the impact on the medicine caused by its collision. 
     Accordingly, considering such knowledge, a buffer means configured to buffer an impact caused by collision of the medicine may be provided within the delivery container. The forward pipe line may be connected to a side portion of the delivery container, and the buffer means may be disposed opposite to the side portion to which the forward pipe line is connected. 
     In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the buffer means is disposed within the delivery container opposite to the side portion to which the forward pipe line is connected. Thus, when the medicine introduced into the delivery container from the forward pipe line flows on the force of the airflow and collides against the buffer means, the impact caused thereby is buffered and the possibility of breakage or chipping of the medicine is reduced. 
     Further, the shutter may be configured to change an inclination thereof in the delivery container. The shutter may go into the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed from the dispensing opening when the shutter is situated to obliquely traverse the internal space of the delivery container. And, the shutter may go into the dispensing-allowed state where the medicine is dispensed from the dispensing opening by changing the inclination of the shutter from the dispensing-unallowed state. 
     In the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed from the dispensing opening, the shutter is inclined within the delivery container. Thus, according to such configuration, a dropping distance of the medicine within the delivery container can be shortened and the medicine dropping down toward the shutter can be guided to the bottom side along the shutter, thereby minimizing the impact exerted on the medicine. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, the delivery container may be configured to be divided into two or more sub container bodies. 
     According to such configuration, since the delivery container is divided into each sub container body, cleaning the inside of the delivery container and the maintenance thereof can be easily performed. 
     If the airflow is produced to flow toward the delivering part to transfer the medicine from the sub unit to the main unit as described above, it is preferable to devise some means so that dust cannot blow in undesired locations due to the airflow exhausted from the delivering part. 
     Accordingly, the delivery part may further include an outer container, in which the delivery container may be disposed. The delivery container may include an exhaust part for exhausting an airflow exhausted from the delivery container into the outer container outwardly of the outer container. 
     In some embodiments, the delivery container is disposed in the outer container and the airflow exhausted from the delivery part can be exhausted through the exhausting part into an internal space of the outer container. Thus, it is possible to prevent the dusts from blowing under the influence caused by the exhausted airflow. 
     Further, in other embodiments, the exhausting part may include a primary filter; and a secondary filter disposed downstream of the primary filter in an exhaust flow direction, the secondary filter having meshes finer than the primary filter. 
     In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, since the primary filter and the secondary filter are provided at the exhausting part, when dusts is contained in the airflow exhausted from the delivering part to the outer container, such dust can be prevented from leaking outwardly of the outer container. Further, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the primary filter with sparse meshes is disposed upstream of the secondary filter having fine meshes in the exhaust flow direction, thereby enlarging a service life of the secondary filter with fine meshes. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing system, a piping constituting the forward pipe line may preferably comprise a hard material in order to prevent jamming caused by the medicine in the middle thereof. Meanwhile, when the forward pipe line comprising a piping of a hard material is directly connected to the delivering part, a joint portion between the forward pipe line and the delivering part can be broken due to some stress acting thereon. Thus, in the above-described medicine dispensing system, it is preferable to devise some means to cope with such a problem. 
     Accordingly, the delivery container and the forward pipe line may be connected to each other via a flexible joint pipe. 
     According to such configuration, when some stress acts on the forward pipe line, such stress is absorbed or mitigated through the joint pipe constituting the joint portion between the delivering part and the forward pipe line, thereby preventing the joint portion between the delivering part and the forward pipe line from being broken. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing, while a transfer operation of medicine from the sub unit to the main unit is completed and thereafter a next transfer operation is done, the shutter may go into the dispensing-allowed state and the airflow producing means may operate, thereby performing a sweeping operation for sweeping a medicine transfer passage formed in the transfer device. 
     According to such configuration, the medicine transfer passage formed in the transfer device can be maintained cleanly with ease. 
     According to another embodiment, a medicine dispensing device for a sub unit for constructing a medicine dispensing system includes a main unit and one or more sub units, the main unit and the sub unit being configured to dispense a predetermined medicine by a predetermined quantity; and a transfer device, wherein a medicine dispensed in the sub unit is transferred by the transfer device to the main unit and is dispensed in the main unit. The medicine dispensing device may include a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines; and a transfer device configured to transfer a medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit. 
     The medicine dispensing device includes the transfer device and is configured to dispense medicine from the sub storage part toward the main storage part by means of the transfer device. Thus, a medicine dispensing system may be constructed, wherein the medicine stored in the sub storage part can be dispensed in the main unit, by employing the medicine dispensing device of the present invention as the sub unit and combining such a sub unit with the main unit. 
     Further, in the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, the transfer device may have the pipe line connecting the main unit and the sub unit and the transfer means configured to suck or pressure-send the medicine staying in the pipe line from the sub unit toward the main unit. 
     The medicine dispensing device can be a part of a medicine dispensing system, wherein the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part is fed to the main unit and can be dispensed in the main unit, by connecting the pipe line to the main unit. 
     Further, since the above-described medicine dispensing device transfers the medicine by sucking or pressure-sending the medicine, a transfer path of the medicines can be appropriately set by appropriately arranging the pipe line. Thus, the medicine dispensing device may in some embodiments have a higher degree of freedom in arrangement on the main unit. 
     Further, the transfer device may have a medicine delivering part configured to receive and dispense a medicine dispensed from the sub storage part. The medicine delivering part may be configured to turn about a turning shaft and expand and contract in a direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. 
     The medicine dispensing device is configured such that the medicine delivering part turns about the turning shaft or expands and contracts in the direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. Thus, in case of combining the medicine dispensing device of the present invention with the main unit to construct a medicine dispensing system, the medicine delivering part can obtain its movable range and the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part to the medicine delivering part can be transferred to the main unit and be dispensed therefrom. 
     Further, the medicine delivering part is capable of expanding and contracting in the direction orthogonal to the turning shaft. Thus, the medicine dispensing device of the present invention can turn the medicine delivering part as contracted. Therefore a space necessary for turning of the medicine delivering part can be minimized. 
     Further, the transfer device may include a medicine delivery container configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the sub storage part and to dispense the medicine to a medicine preparing part for the medicine; and a drive mechanism configured to move the medicine delivery container between itself and the main unit. The drive mechanism may include a conveying part configured to reciprocate the medicine delivering part; a direction adjusting means configured to adjust a direction of the conveying means relative to the main unit by turning the conveying part. 
     The transfer device, which is employed in the medicine dispensing device, has the drive mechanism and is configured to reciprocate the medicine delivery container between the main unit and itself and to adjust the direction of the conveying part relative to the main unit. Thus, the medicine dispensing device appropriately operates the transfer device to place the medicine delivery container in a position suitable for receiving the medicine dispensed in the sub unit and in a position where the medicine must be dispensed in the main unit. 
     Further, the transfer device includes a forward pipe line in communication with the sub storage part and configured to be connected to the main storage part provided in the main unit; an airflow producing means producing airflow from the sub unit toward the main unit within the forward pipe line; an exhaust pipe line configured to be connected to the main storage part; a suction and exhaust means configured to suck and exhaust through the exhaust pipe line from inside the main storage part to an outside portion thereof; and a shutter configured to close at least one of the forward pipe line and the exhaust pipe line. The transfer device may be configured to perform the following: a medicine transferring operation for moving a medicine to the main storage part by operating the airflow producing means in a closed state where the forward pipe line is closed by the shutter; and a medicine introducing operation for introducing medicine from the forward pipe line to the main storage part by operating the suction and exhaust means in a communication state where the shutter is opened and the forward pipe line, the exhaust pipe line and the main storage part are in communication with one another. 
     The medicine dispensing device can transfer a medicine by means of airflow flowing from the sub storage part toward the main storage part through the medicine transferring operation and thereafter can introduce the medicine into the main storage part through the medicine introducing operation. Thus, the medicine dispensing system of the present invention can deliver the medicine from the sub storage part to the main storage part by repeating the medicine transferring operation and medicine introducing operation. 
     Further, in the medicine dispensing device, the medicine transferring operation for transferring the medicine by means of the airflow and the medicine introducing operation for introducing the medicine into the main storage part can be separately performed. Thus, in the medicine transferring operation, the airflow may flow within the forward pipe line at a velocity sufficient enough to transfer the medicine in the vicinity of the main storage part. The velocity of the airflow flowing within the forward pipe line in the medicine transferring operation does not need to become excessively fast. Thus, in the medicine dispensing system, the medicines transferred from the main unit to the sub unit can be prevented from severely colliding with each other, breaking or chipping during their transfer operation. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the shutter may include a forward obstruction portion for obstructing the forward pipe line; and a buffer means provided at the forward obstruction portion and configured to buffer an impact caused by collision of the medicines proceeding within the forward pipe line. 
     In case of providing the buffer means as described above, the impact caused by the collision between the shutter and the medicines transferred through the medicine transferring operation can be buffered. Thus, according to the above-described embodiment, the medicine dispensing device can surely prevent the medicines from breaking or chipping due to collision between the medicine and the shutter concomitantly with the medicine transferring operation. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device may include a partitioning means configured to partition an internal space of the main storage part. Further, the medicine dispensing device may be configured such that when the shutter becomes opened, both the exhaust pipe line and the forward pipe line become in communication with a space, which is formed according to a division caused by the partitioning means. 
     According to such configuration, by partitioning the internal space of the main storage part through the partitioning means, the volume of the space, with which, when the shutter becomes opened, both the exhaust pipe line and the forward pipe line become in communication, can be decreased. Thus, although the suction and exhaust means does not have an excessively high exhaust capacity, the above-described medicine dispensing device can introduce the medicine transferred through the forward pipe line into the main storage part in the medicine introducing operation. Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the exhaust capacity of the suction and exhaust means can be minimized. Thus, when the medicines are introduced into the main storage part, it is possible to prevent the medicines from colliding into one another and to prevent occurrence of the breakage or chipping of the medicines. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing system, a velocity of the airflow flowing within the forward pipe line by operation of the airflow producing means may be slower than that of the exhaust concomitantly with operation of the suction and exhaust means. 
     According to such configuration, it is possible to certainly prevent the medicine transferred from the sub unit through the medicine transferring operation from colliding with the shutter to thereby break. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the exhaust pipe line may be connected to the sub storage part. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device may include a filter provided at a halfway portion of a flow line wherein an airflow is produced concomitantly with transferring the medicine between the sub storage part and the main storage part; an airflow amount detecting means configured to detect an airflow amount in the flow line concomitantly with transferring the medicine from the main storage part to the sub storage part; and a clogging judging means configured to judge a clogging of the filter based on the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means. 
     According to such configuration, the clogging of the filter can be easily and certainly detected and thus maintenance of the filter can be performed at an appropriate timing. 
     Further, it is preferred that the above-described medicine dispensing device is configured to transfer the medicine to the main storage part by increasing the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means upon a condition of decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, and to judge the clogging of the filter by the clogging detecting means upon a condition of increase in the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means. 
     Where the medicine dispensing system is configured as such, it is possible to avoid that the medicine under transfer is transferred to the main storage part and stays in the medicine transfer path by increasing the output of the airflow producing means or the suction and exhaust means prior to judging the clogging of the filter. Thus, according to such configuration, it is possible to prevent the troubles in the dispensing operation, which may occur because the medicine is completely transferred to the main storage part in the clogging of the filter. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device may include a filter provided at a halfway portion of a flow line wherein an airflow is produced concomitantly with transferring the medicine between the sub storage part and the main storage part; an airflow amount detecting means configured to detect an airflow amount in the flow line concomitantly with transferring the medicine from the main storage part to the sub storage part; and a notifying means. The medicine dispensing device may be configured to transfer the medicine to the main storage part by increasing the output of the airflow producing means and/or the suction and exhaust means upon a condition of decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, and to notify the clogging of the filter by the notifying means. 
     According to such configuration, when it is assumed that the filter is clogged due to a decrease in the airflow amount detected by the airflow amount detecting means, the medicine under the transferring operation is certainly transferred to the main storage part and at the same time, the clogging of the filter is immediately notified, thereby urging users to take suitable measures. 
     Further, according to the medicine dispensing device one embodiment, the transfer device may include a forward pipe line in communication with the sub storage part and configured to be connected to the main storage part; an airflow producing means configured to produce an air flow within the forward pipe line from the sub unit toward the main unit; and a delivery part connected to the forward pipe line and configured to receive and dispense the medicine transferred from the sub unit through the forward pipe line at the main unit. The delivery part may include a delivery container, to which the forward pipe line is connected, and a shutter. The delivery container may include an internal space, which is configured such that the medicine transferred through the forward pipe line freely falls therein, and a dispensing opening disposed at a bottom thereof to dispense the medicine. The shutter may be configured to be changed between a dispensing-allowed state where the medicine is allowed to be dispensed from the dispensing opening, and a dispensing-unallowed state. 
     In the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part is transferred to the main storage part by having the shutter be in the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed and by operating the airflow producing means. Thereby, the medicine transferred to the main unit is first received in the delivering part, and thereafter the medicine can be dispensed from the delivering part by converting the shutter. Thus, a medicine dispensing system may be constructed, wherein the medicine stored in the sub storage part can be dispensed in the main unit, by employing the medicine dispensing device as the sub unit and combining such a sub unit with the main unit. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, it is preferred that the delivery container may include an exhaust hole for exhausting an airflow flowing in through the forward pipe line and the exhaust hole may be positioned downwardly of a connection position between the delivery container and the forward pipe line. 
     According to such configuration, the airflow flowing into the delivery container through the forward pipe line is allowed to flow downwardly. Also, the medicine introduced into the delivery container through the forward pipe line can drop smoothly along with the airflow. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the delivery container may include a side portion (A) connected to the forward pipe line; and a pair of opposed side portions (B, C) crossing to the side portions. The exhaust hole may be provided at each of the pair of the side portions (B, C). 
     Where the medicine dispensing device is configured as such, the airflow flowing into the delivery container through the forward pipe line is allowed to bifurcately flow to the exhaust holes provided at the side portions (B, C). Thus, the medicine can drop more smoothly within the delivery container. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, it is preferred that a buffer means configured to buffer an impact caused by the collision of the medicine may be provided within the delivery container. It is preferred that the forward pipe line may be connected to a side portion of the delivery container, and that the buffer means may be disposed opposite to the side portion to which the forward pipe line is connected. 
     Where the medicine dispensing device is configured as such, when the medicine is introduced into the delivery container from the forward pipe line to the extent that it collides against the buffer means, the impact exerted to the medicine due to collision can be decreased and the medicine can be prevented from breaking or chipping. 
     In the medicine dispensing device of some embodiments, the shutter may be configured to change an inclination thereof within an internal space of the delivery container. The shutter may become into the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed from the dispensing opening when the shutter is situated to obliquely traverse the internal space of the delivery container. And, the shutter may become into the dispensing-allowed state where the medicine is dispensed from the dispensing opening by changing the inclination of the shutter from the dispensing-unallowed state. 
     Where the medicine dispensing device is configured as such, since the shutter is inclined within the delivery container in the dispensing-unallowed state where the medicine is not dispensed from the dispensing opening, a dropping distance of the medicine within the delivery container can be shortened. Further, the medicine can be guided to the bottom side along the shutter. Thus, according to such configuration, the impact exerted on the medicine due to dropping of the medicine within the delivery container can be minimized. 
     The delivery container, which the medicine dispensing device of the present invention employs, may be configured to be divided into two or more sub container bodies. 
     Where the medicine dispensing device is configured as such, since the delivery container is divided into each sub container body, cleaning the inside of the delivery container and maintenance thereof can be easily performed. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the delivery part may further include an outer container, in which the delivery container may be disposed. The delivery container may include an exhausting part for exhausting an airflow exhausted from the delivery container into the outer container outwardly of the outer container. 
     According to such configuration, the airflow exhausted from the delivery part into the outer container can be exhausted through the exhausting part outwardly of the outer container. Thus, according to such configuration, the airflow produced concomitantly with transferring the medicine can be exhausted through the exhausting part. Also, it is possible to prevent dust from blowing under the influence caused by the exhausted airflow. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the exhausting part may preferably include a primary filter; and a secondary filter disposed downstream of the primary filter in an exhaust flow direction, the secondary filter having meshes finer than the primary filter. 
     According to such configuration, when the dust is contained in the airflow exhausted from the delivering part to the outer container, such dust can be prevented from leaking outwardly of the outer container. Further, as described above, the primary filter with sparse meshes is disposed upstream of the secondary filter with fine meshes in the exhaust flow direction, thereby enlarging a service life of the secondary filter with fine meshes. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, the delivery container and the forward pipe line may be connected to each other via a flexible joint pipe. 
     According to such configuration, when some stress acts on the forward pipe line, such stress is absorbed or mitigated through the joint pipe constituting a joint portion between the delivering part and the forward pipe line, thereby preventing the joint portion between the delivering part and the forward pipe line from being broken. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, it is preferred that the shutter may go into the dispensing-allowed state and the airflow producing means may be operated until a transfer operation of a medicine from the sub unit to the main unit is completed and a next transfer operation is done thereafter, thereby performing a sweeping operation for sweeping a medicine transfer passage formed in the transfer device. 
     According to such configuration, the medicine transfer passage formed in the transfer device can be maintained cleanly with ease. 
     Further, in an alternate embodiment a medicine dispensing device is provided, which is configured to rapidly and reliably detect abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer in a packing paper sheet conveying part, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. Further, a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system is provided, which are configured to obtain a packed medicine at a desired position in a packing part. 
     In one embodiment a medicine dispensing device includes a storage part configured to store and dispense a medicine; a packing part configured to pack the medicine dispensed from the storage part into a packing paper sheet; and a packing paper sheet conveying part configured to convey a packing paper sheet into which the medicine is packed by the packing part. The packing paper sheet conveying part includes a packing paper sheet conveying means configured to convey the packing paper sheet along a predetermined conveyance path through contact with the packing paper sheet; and a detecting means configured to contact the packing paper sheet passing through the transfer path and operate independently of the packing paper sheet conveying means. It is detected upon a condition of not operating of the detecting means during operation of the packing paper sheet conveying means whether abnormality in transferring a packing paper sheet occurs. 
     The medicine dispensing device of the second present invention includes, at the packing paper sheet conveying part, the detecting means contacting the packing paper sheet and operating independently of the packing paper sheet conveying means. The medicine dispensing device can detect whether or not the packing paper sheet transfer is normal by the detecting means. Further, the medicine dispensing device of the present invention can rapidly and precisely detect an abnormality in the packing paper sheet transfer. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can perform appropriate measures such as stopping the packing paper sheet transfer, or stopping to dispense medicines to the packing paper sheet. It is possible to minimize the amount of the packing paper sheet or the medicine, which become unnecessary when there is an abnormality in the packing paper sheet transfer. 
     Further, another embodiment is configured to rapidly and precisely perform an analysis to prevent the occurrence of wasted packing paper sheets, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. 
     Further the detecting means may include a roller independently rotatable of the packing paper sheet conveying means; and a rotation detecting means configured to detect a rotation of the roller. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device which can detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer based on whether the rotation of the roller is detected by the rotation detecting means. 
     Further, the packing paper sheet conveying part may be configured to bend the conveyance path of the packing paper sheet. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can remove the medicine packed in the packing part at a desired position by appropriately bending the conveyance path in the packing paper sheet conveying part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device according to the above-described embodiment, in order to rapidly detect the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected in a position as far upstream as possible in a conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet where the occurrence of the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be accurately detected. Specifically, the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected in a position as far upstream as possible in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet where a conveyance force acts on the packing paper sheet. 
     Thus, the detecting means may be situated upstream in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet in the packing paper sheet conveying means. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can rapidly and accurately grasp an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer when it occurs. 
     Further, the packing paper sheet conveying part may include a packing part for packing medicine. The packing paper sheet conveying means may be provided downstream in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet relative to the packing part. The packing paper sheet conveying means may include a receiving part receiving a packing paper sheet conveyed from the packing part; and a conveying part downstream of the conveying of the packing paper sheet received in the receiving part. The detecting means may be disposed near a boundary between the receiving part and the conveying part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the receiving part receiving the packing paper sheet is provided in the packing paper sheet conveying means. In the conveying part, a conveyance force acts on the packing paper sheet received in the receiving part to convey the packing paper sheet. Thus, where the detecting means is disposed near the boundary between the receiving part and the conveying part, similar to the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be rapidly and accurately detected. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system including a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit. The packing part of the main unit packs and dispenses the medicine. 
     The medicine dispensing system may include the main unit and the sub unit. It is configured such that the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part provided in the sub unit is transferred to the main unit through the transfer device and is packed and dispensed together with the medicine dispensed in the main unit. However, when the packing paper sheet conveying part provided in the main unit cannot rapidly and accurately detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer, the medicine dispensed in the main unit as well as the medicine dispensed in the sub unit are not allowed to be properly packed. As a result, when the medicines dispensed from both the main unit and the sub unit are allowed to be packed together as described in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, not detecting the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer rapidly and accurately raises problems in that the wasted amount of the packing paper sheet and the medicine becomes excessive. 
     Thus, a medicine dispensing device in some embodiments may be employed as the main unit. Thus, when an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer is detected in the main unit, such abnormality can be rapidly and accurately detected. Further, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected rapidly and accurately in some embodiments, the medicine dispensing device can perform appropriate measures such as stopping the packing paper sheet transfer, or stopping to dispense medicines to the packing paper sheet in case of the occurrence of an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer. Thus, the wasted amount of the packing paper sheet and the medicine can be minimized. 
     There can be provided in other embodiments, a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and reliably detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer in a packing paper sheet conveying part, and the medicine dispensing system including the same. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to remove a medicine packed in the packing part at a desired position. 
     Next, another embodiment will be explained hereinafter. There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 3. A prior art medicine dispensing device has a medicine dispensing means. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is configured to pack medicines dispensed from the medicine dispensing means according to prescriptions into a packing paper sheet at a packing means. Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, the prior art medicine dispensing device includes a printing means and is configured to print necessary information such as contents of the packed medicine on the packing paper sheet through the printing means. (see Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-130307). 
     In a packing work performed by the prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3, pharmacists monitor whether medicines to be fed to the packing part and to be packed therein are accurately packed. The prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3 is configured to assume that the medicines to be packed are fed to the packing part at a time when the medicines to be fed to the packing part and to be packed therein are ready and then to perform a printing operation to a packing paper sheet through the printing means. Thus, in the packing work performed by the prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3, it cannot be judged by looking over the information printed on the packing paper sheet whether the medicines to be packed are accurately packed. Thus, it has a problem in that the examination work becomes complicated. Further, it has another problem in that the packing paper sheet, to which the printing operation is performed after the medicines are already packed, appears to be under a normally packed state. Further, in the prior art medicine dispensing device, even if the medicines to be packed are not ready due to an abnormality in feeding medicines to the packing part, the printing operation is performed to a packing paper sheet, thereby wasting the packing paper sheet. 
     Thus, in one embodiment a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and precisely perform an examination work and to prevent the occurrence of wasted packing paper sheets, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. 
     In one embodiment a medicine dispensing device includes a medicine dispensing means configured to dispense medicine according to a prescription; a medicine preparing means configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means and to dispense the same at a predetermined time; a packing means configured to pack medicine dispensed from the medicine preparing means into a packing paper sheet; a packing paper sheet feeding means configured to feed a packing paper sheet to the packing means; and a printing means configured to print predetermined information on a packing paper sheet fed from the packing paper sheet feeding means to the packing means. The printing means is disposed upstream of the packing means in a flow direction of the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means. The length of the path, through which a packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means, is n times the length of a packing paper sheet necessary for packing medicine for a single pack. The medicine preparing means includes a plurality of sections configured to gather the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means for one pack respectively and is configured to dispense the medicines gathered in the plurality of sections in predetermined order. The printing means prints information corresponding to a section A of the plurality of sections on the packing paper sheet at a timing earlier, by a time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for a section n from the medicine preparing means, than a timing of dispensing a medicine gathered in the section A. 
     In another embodiment, the length of the path, through which the packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means, is set n times of the length of the packing paper sheet necessary for packing a medicine for one pack. Further, the medicine preparing means, which the medicine dispensing device of the present invention includes, includes a plurality of sections and is configured to dispense the medicine gathered in each of the sections in a predetermined order. Thus, in the medicine dispensing device of one embodiment, the medicine dispensed from the section A is packed into the packing paper sheet, which the printing means prints at a timing earlier, by a time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n (i.e., equal to n packs) from the medicine preparing means toward the packing means, than a timing of dispensing a medicine gathered in the section A. That is, in the medicine dispensing device of this embodiment, a medicine to be packed is supplied to the section A at a timing prior to performing the print operation corresponding to the section A to the packing paper sheet. Further, a timing when the medicine gathered in the section A is dispensed to the packing part and a timing when a section of a packing paper sheet with the information corresponding to the section A printed thereon reaches the packing part coincide. Thus, the medicine dispensing device in some embodiments performs printing to a packing paper sheet upon a condition that a medicine to be packed is supplied to the section A. Further, it can easily monitor whether or not a medicine to be packed is exactly supplied and resolve the problem of wasted packing paper sheets resulting from abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, a printing operation to the packing paper sheet may be performed by the printing means upon a condition that the medicine is fed into section A up to a time earlier by the time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n from the medicine preparing means than the time of dispensing a medicine gathered in the section A of the plurality of sections in the medicine preparing means. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, the medicine is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means to section A at a time earlier by a time period more than the time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n from the medicine preparing means than the time of dispensing a medicine gathered in section A in the medicine preparing means. Thus, the information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet after the medicine is fed into section A. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can easily monitor whether or not a medicine to be packed is accurately packed and resolve the waste of a packing paper sheet resulting from an abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further a medicine dispensing device includes a medicine dispensing means configured to dispense a medicine according to a prescription; a medicine preparing means configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means and to dispense the same at a predetermined time; a packing means configured to pack a medicine dispensed from the medicine preparing means into a packing paper sheet; a packing paper sheet feeding means configured to feed a packing paper sheet to the packing means; and a printing means configured to print predetermined information on a packing paper sheet fed from the packing paper sheet feeding means to the packing means. The printing means is disposed upstream of the packing means in a flow direction of the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means. The medicine preparing means includes a plurality of sections configured to gather the medicine for one pack dispensed from the medicine dispensing means respectively. The medicine preparing means is configured to dispense the medicines gathered in the plurality of sections in a predetermined order. A medicine is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means into one section A of the plurality of sections at a time earlier by a timing Z as early as a time period Y when the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means moves from a position corresponding to the printing means to the packing means, than a timing X when the medicine in the section A is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means toward the packing means. Information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet at the time Z by the printing means. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, medicine is fed into section A of the medicine preparing means at a time earlier than the time Z. Further, the information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet by the printing means at the time Z as early as the time period Y when the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means moves from the position corresponding to the printing means to the packing means, from the timing X when the medicine in section A is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means toward the packing means. That is, the information corresponding to section A is printed on a portion of the packing paper sheet, which is used for packing the medicine in section A, at the same time as, or later than a time for feeding the medicine into section A. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can perform the printing operation to the medicine dispensing device after ascertaining that the medicine to be packed is exactly fed into the section. Further, the medicine dispensing device can easily monitor whether or not the medicine to be packed is exactly fed and resolve the waste of a packing paper sheet resulting from an abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further, the printing operation to the packing paper sheet may be performed upon a condition that the medicine is fed into section A at a time earlier than the time Z. 
     With such configuration, if the printing operation to the packing paper sheet is not performed, it can be judged that the medicine is not fed exactly before the time Z. Thus, examining whether or not the medicine is exactly packed can become easy. Further, according to such configuration, if the medicine is not fed into the section A before the time Z, the printing operation to the packing paper sheet stops, thereby preventing the occurrence of the wasted packing paper sheet in advance. 
     Further, a print purporting that the medicine to be packed runs short may be made on the packing paper sheet by the printing means upon a condition that the medicine to be packed is not inputted to section A until the time earlier than the time Z. 
     According to such configuration, it is ascertained through only looking over the print made on the packing paper sheet that the medicine to be packed runs short. Thus, the examination work can be performed more easily and reliably. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, the medicine preparing means may include a section forming body having a plurality of sections arranged circumferentially; and a dispensing opening. The section forming body may be configured to move relative to the dispensing opening. When the section reaches a position corresponding to the dispensing opening, the medicine gathered in the section may be disposed through the dispensing opening. 
     Further, a medicine dispensing device comprises: a medicine dispensing means configured to dispense a medicine according to a prescription; a medicine preparing means configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means and to dispense the same at a predetermined time; a packing means configured to pack a medicine dispensed from the medicine preparing means into a packing paper sheet; a packing paper sheet feeding means configured to feed a packing paper sheet to the packing means; and a printing means configured to print a predetermined information on a packing paper sheet fed from the packing paper sheet feeding means to the packing means. The printing means is disposed upstream of the packing means in a flow direction of the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means. The medicine preparing means comprises: a rotatable section forming body; an opening for dispensing a medicine from the medicine preparing means; and a hole to which the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means is inputted. The section forming body includes a plurality of sections in a circumferential direction. The section is configured to gather a medicine for one pack. When the section forming body rotates and each of the sections reaches a position corresponding to the hole, the medicine is inputted to the section through the hole. When the section forming body rotates and each of the sections reaches a position corresponding to the opening, the medicine in the section is dispensed. The hole is formed in a position upstream of the opening in a rotating direction of the section forming body. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, a length of a path, through which a packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means, is n times of a length of a packing paper sheet necessary for packing a medicine for one pack. The hole is formed in a position upstream of the opening by more than n sections in the rotating direction of the section forming body. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing means capable of dispensing a medicine according to a prescription includes: a main storage part; a manual distributing unit; a collecting hopper for feeding a medicine dispensed from the main storage part; and a manual distributing hopper for feeding a medicine dispensed from the manual distributing unit. The hole to which the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means is inputted comprises: a hole for connection to the collecting hopper and a hole for connection to the manual distributing hopper. The hole for connection to the collecting hopper and the hole for connection to the manual distributing hopper are apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The hole for connection to the collecting hopper and the hole for connection to the manual distributing hopper are formed in a position upstream of the opening for dispensing a medicine from the medicine preparing means by more than n sections in the rotating direction of the section forming body. 
     Further, the medicine preparing means comprises: a shutter provided in each of the sections of the medicine preparing means; a dispensing opening for dispensing a medicine from the medicine dispensing means; and a contactor provided near the opening. When each of the sections reaches a position corresponding to the dispensing opening, the shutter provided in each of the sections is pressed by contact to the contactor and then opened, thereby dispensing the medicine in each of the sections. 
     Further, the above-described medicine dispensing device further comprises a medicine standby part provided between the medicine preparing means and the medicine dispensing means. The medicine standby part includes: a funnel-shaped standby hopper; a movable lid; and a lid moving mechanism. The movable lid moves upward and downward by an operation of the lid moving mechanism to open and close a discharging opening formed in the standby hopper. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system that includes a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit and feeds the medicine into the section provided in the medicine preparing means. The packing means of the main unit packs and dispenses the medicine. 
     The medicine dispensing system includes the main unit and the sub unit. It is configured such that the medicine dispensed in the sub unit is transferred to the medicine preparing means provided in the main unit and is packed and dispensed together with the medicine dispensed in the main unit by the packing means. However, in the medicine dispensing system, there is a possibility that an abnormality in dispensing medicine to the medicine preparing means occurs in the main unit. In addition, there is another possibility that an abnormality in dispensing medicine occurs in the sub unit, and that troubles take place during transferring a medicine to the medicine preparing means through the transfer device. As such, where the main unit is provided, the medicine dispensing system may have many factors associated with the abnormality in dispensing medicine to the medicine preparing means. Accordingly, similar to the above-described medicine dispensing device of the present invention, it is preferred that the above-described medicine dispensing system may have some means so that it can easily monitor whether a packing operation is accurately performed and prevent the packing paper sheet from wasting concomitantly with the abnormality in dispensing a medicine to the medicine preparing means. 
     Thus, the medicine dispensing system, which is provided based on such knowledge, employs the above-described medicine dispensing device as the main unit. Thus, the medicine dispensing system can prevent the packing paper sheet from being wasting in conjunction with an abnormality in dispensing a medicine to the medicine preparing means. 
     According to another embodiment, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to easily and accurately perform the examination work regarding whether or not packing medicine is accurately performed and to prevent the packing paper sheet from wasting even if the medicine to be dispensed becomes unready due to an abnormality in feeding a medicine to the packing part. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing system that includes such a medicine dispensing device. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing system, the medicine preparing means of the main unit includes: a rotatable section forming body; an opening for dispensing a medicine from the medicine preparing means; and a hole to which the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means is inputted. The section forming body includes a plurality of sections in a circumferential direction, the section being configured to gather a medicine for one pack. When the section forming body rotates and each of the sections reaches a position corresponding to the hole, the medicine is inputted to the section through the hole. When the section forming body rotates and each of the sections reaches a position corresponding to the opening, the medicine in the section is dispensed. The main unit has a main storage part and a manual distributing unit as the medicine dispensing means configured to dispense a medicine according to a prescription and the main unit comprises a collecting hopper for feeding a medicine dispensed from the main storage part and a sub collecting hopper for feeding a medicine dispensed from the sub storage part. The medicine preparing means comprises a hole for connection to the collecting hopper and a hole for connection to the sub collecting hopper at a position corresponding to each of the sections of the section forming body, the hole for connection to the collecting hopper and the hole for connection to the sub collecting hopper being apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The medicines fed by the collecting hopper and the sub collecting hopper are inputted to each of the sections through the holes. The hole for connection to the collecting hopper and the hole for connection to the sub collecting hopper are formed in a position upstream of the opening for dispensing a medicine from the medicine preparing means in the rotating direction of the section forming body. 
     Further, a length of a path, through which a packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means provided in the main unit, is n times of a length of a packing paper sheet necessary for packing a medicine for one pack. The hole is formed in a position upstream of the opening by more than n sections in the rotating direction of the section forming body. 
     Next, another embodiment will be explained hereinafter. There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 4. A prior art medicine dispensing device includes a plurality of medicine feeding containers configured to store medicine in a storage part and dispense the medicine. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is configured to dispense the medicine from each of the medicine feeding container by the amount corresponding to a prescription and pack the same. (see Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-276183). 
     The prior art medicine dispensing device is used in such a manner that each of the medicine feeding containers accommodates different kinds of medicines. However, the prior art medicine dispensing device is not configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container, such as a date and time when the medicine feeding container is filled with medicines, a user filling the medicine feeding container, data related to medicines accommodated in the medicine feeding container, etc. Further, as the number of the medicine feeding containers increases with an increase in the kinds of medicines to be dealt with, such a tendency becomes strong. Thus, the relevant art requires a medicine dispensing device configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. Similarly, a medicine dispensing system, which is constructed by combining a plurality of medicine dispensing devices, is required to be configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
     Thus, to satisfy the aforementioned demand, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
     In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a medicine dispensing device, which includes a medicine feeding container configured to store a medicine, the medicine feeding container including an information recordable medium; a container mounting part configured to mount the medicine feeding container; and a control means. The medicine is allowed to be dispensed by mounting the medicine feeding container to the container mounting part. The control means is configured to perform a data communication for a characteristic data of the medicine feeding container with the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container. 
     According to such configuration, there is provided the medicine dispensing device, which can perform the data communication for the characteristic data between the control means and the medicine feeding container having the information recordable medium and can simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data. 
     Further, a medicine dispensing device, which is provided based on the same knowledge, may include a storage means configured to store and dispense medicine; and a control means configured to data-communicate with an information recordable medium. The storage means may include a plurality of attachable/detachable medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense the medicine. The information recordable medium may be provided in some or all of the medicine feeding containers. A data communication for the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container may be performed between the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container and the control means. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device includes a storage means configured to store and dispense medicine; and a control means configured to data-communicate with the information recordable medium. Herein, the storage means includes a shelf or drum, in which a plurality of medicine feeding container are removably provided (for example, this may be referred to as a main storage part or a sub storage part in embodiments described below). Further, in the medicine dispensing device, a plurality of medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense a medicine are removably provided in the storage means, which includes a shelf or drum. Herein, the medicine feeding container corresponds to a feeder container in the below-described embodiments and a container capable of dispensing the medicine accommodated therein. The above-described storage means, which includes the medicine feeding container, can dispense the medicine dispensed from the medicine feeding container for the purpose of packing the same. 
     With the above-described constitution, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can data communicate with the control means with respect to the characteristic data of each of the medicine feeding containers with the information recordable medium and thus can simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data. 
     Further, the control means may be configured to data communicate with an operator information recordable medium recording an operator information specifying an operator. The operator information read from the operator information recordable medium through the data communication may be recorded into the information recordable medium. 
     According to such constitution, information on an operator, who performs tasks relevant to the medicine feeding container, such as filling the medicine feeding container with medicines, may be recorded into the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may be configured to operate in a plurality of operation modes. The operation mode may change in a predetermined operation mode selected from a plurality of operation modes upon a condition that the data communication is allowed between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container removed from a container mounting part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the operation mode changes upon a condition that the data communication is allowed between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container. That is, it can be used as a trigger for changing the operation modes that the information recordable medium provided in each of medicine feeding container is allowed to data communicate with the control means. Thus, efforts required to change the operation modes can be minimized and misoperation can be prevented. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may include a mark reading means for reading an identification mark assigned to each of the kinds of medicine. The kinds of medicine may be specified by the control means based on the identification mark read by the mark reading means. Information on the kinds of medicine may be recorded into the information recordable medium through data communication between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part. 
     According to such configuration, if the mark reading means reads the identification mark assigned to each of the kinds of medicine when filling the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part with a medicine, the information on the kind of such a medicine can be recorded into the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container through data communication. Thus, according to the medicine dispensing device of one embodiment, when the medicine feeding container is filled with a medicine, the information on the kinds of medicine can be easily and reliably recorded into the information recordable medium. 
     The medicine dispensing device according to this embodiment may further include a cassette placing part configured to place the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part; and an interface means wiredly or wirelessly connected to the control means. When the medicine feeding container is placed on the cassette placing part, the data communication between the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container and the control means may be allowed via the interface means. 
     According to such configuration, efforts required to enable the data communication between the information recordable medium and the control means after removing the medicine feeding container from the container mounting part can be minimally saved. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may further include an interface means wiredly or wirelessly connected to the control means. The interface means may be configured to read and record data as not in contact with the information recordable medium. 
     According to such configuration, efforts required to enable the data communication between the information recordable medium and the control means after removing the medicine feeding container from the container mounting part can be saved. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device can data-communicate with the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers with respect to the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can be configured to dispense medicines for purposes of packing the same even if the medicine feeding container accommodating a predetermined medicine is situated at any location in the storage means. However, some medicine of the plurality kinds of medicines is prone to bound, roll over, break or chip due to drop impact at a dispensing portion while dispensed from the medicine feeding container. In case of dealing with such a medicine, it must be dealt with in a different manner from those for other medicines (for example, adjustment in dispensing timing regarding bound or roll, means for mitigating drop impact, etc.) so as not to cause an abnormality in dispensing medicine. Accordingly, the medicine feeding container accommodating medicine having such a particular characteristics is attached to a location capable of resolving the foregoing matter. 
     Further, medicines may be sequentially dispensed based on prescription data inputted to the control means and a plurality of the container mounting parts configured to mount the medicine feeding container may be provided. The control means may include: a correspondence relationship storing part regulating and storing a correspondence relationship between the plurality of the container mounting parts and the medicine feeding container to be attached to the plurality of container mounting parts; and a judging part. The judging part may be configured to perform an error judgment operation for judging the following states, by comparing the correspondence relation storing part and the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container obtained from the data communication with the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container mounted on the container mounting part: a right mount state where the medicine feeding container is properly mounted on the container mount part coinciding with the correspondence relationship regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part; and a erroneous mount state where the medicine feeding container is erroneously mounted on the container mounting part against the correspondence relationship regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part. Dispensing the medicines may continue from other medicine feeding containers excluding an erroneously-mounted medicine feeding container upon a condition that it is judged by the error judgment operation that there is the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container, and that a medicine accommodated in the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container is not a medicine to be dispensed according to the prescription data. Dispensing the medicines may stop upon a condition that it is judged by the error judgment operation that there is the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container, and that a medicine accommodated in the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container is a medicine to be dispensed according to the prescription data. 
     In the medicine dispensing device configured as such, the judging part of the control means performs the error judgment operation. Based on the correspondence relationship between the container mounting part and the medicine feeding container, which is regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part, it can be judged whether the medicine feeding container is properly mounted or erroneously mounted on the container mounting part dedicated for said medicine feeding container. Further, in the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, where the medicine feeding container is erroneously mounted and such a medicine feeding container does not accommodate a medicine to be dispensed, even if dispensing a medicine does not stop in other medicine feeding containers, problems such as bound, roll, breakage, chipping, etc. of medicines do not occur. And, stopping to dispense a medicine leads to loss of work efficiency. Accordingly, in the medicine dispensing device of some embodiments, where the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container does not accommodate a medicine to be dispensed, dispensing a medicine continues and the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container can be dismounted without stopping to dispense a medicine. Accordingly, even if the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container exists, the loss of work efficiency resulting therefrom can be minimized. 
     By contrast, where the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container exists and such a medicine feeding container accommodates a medicine to be dispensed, continuing to dispense a medicine causes the aforementioned problems such as bound, roll, breakage, chipping, etc. of medicines. Accordingly, in such a case, the medicine dispensing device of in some embodiments is configured to stop to dispense a medicine. Thus, according to the medicine dispensing device in some embodiments, it is possible to prevent medicines from being dispensed from the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container. 
     Further, it is preferred that medicines prone to bound, roll over, break or chip due to drop impact at the dispensing portion are dispensed at a side as low as possible. 
     Thus, in the above-described medicine dispensing device provided based on such knowledge, the storage means may include a plurality of the container mounting parts configured to mount the medicine feeding container. The container mounting parts may be vertically arranged. It may be judged through the error judgment operation whether a medicine feeding container to be mounted on a container mounting part provided below a predetermined height is erroneously mounted on a container mounting part provided in a position above the predetermined height. 
     According to such configuration, it can be prevented that the medicine feeding container accommodating the medicine to be dispensed at a side as low as possible (i.e. the aforementioned medicine causing problems such as bound, roll, breakage or chipping concomitantly with drop) is erroneously mounted on the container mounting part situated in a position above the predetermined height. 
     Further, the above-described medicine dispensing device provided based on the same knowledge, the container mounting part configured to mount the medicine feeding container may be disposed in each of a plurality of container mounting regions defined along a height direction. The correspondence relationship storing part may regulate the correspondence relationship between the container mounting part and the medicine feeding container to be attached to the container mounting part as a relationship relative to the container mounting region located at a height corresponding to an upper attachment limit of a medicine feeding container that is determined according to a kind of medicine. The erroneous mount state may be judged through the error judgment operation when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region locating beyond a container mounting region located at a height corresponding to the upper attachment limit. The right mount state may be judged through the error judgment operation when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region located at a height below the upper attachment limit. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the correspondence relationship storing part can regulate the correspondence relationship between the container mounting regions and the height corresponding to the upper attachment limit of the medicine feeding container at a plurality of steps in view of that bound, roll, breakage or chipping occurs at what level concomitantly with drop. Further, the erroneous mount state can be judged through the error judgment operation based on such a regulation, when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region located upward beyond a container mounting region located at a height corresponding to the upper attachment limit. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of trouble such as an abnormality in dispensing a medicine resulting from the erroneous mount state. 
     Further, the control means may be configured to perform a search operation for searching and selecting a container mounting part, on which the medicine feeding container judged to be in the erroneous mount state through the error judgment operation must be mounted. 
     According to such configuration, it can be easily determined through the search operation on which container mounting part the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be mounted. 
     Further, a search condition may be determined based on the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container obtained by the data communication with the information recordable medium, which the medicine feeding container judged to be in the erroneous mount state through the error judgment operation includes. 
     According to such configuration, even if an operator does not separately input a search condition in the search operation, the container mounting part on which the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be mounted can be selected. Thus, convenience in the search operation can be enhanced. 
     In the above-described invention, the storage means may be configured to move each of the container mounting parts to an attachment/detachment work position where an attachment/detachment work of the medicine feeding container can be performed. The container mounting part selected through the search operation may be moved to the attachment/detachment work position. 
     In such a medicine dispensing device, a container mounting part located at a proper position, in which the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be properly attached, is moved to the attachment/detachment work position. Thus, convenience in attaching the medicine feeding container in the proper position can be enhanced. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system that includes a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage means configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The sub storage means includes a plurality of attachable/detachable medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense a medicine. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage means toward the main unit. The medicine is dispensed in the main unit. 
     Such a medicine dispensing system includes the main unit and the sub unit. A plurality of medicine feeding containers are removably attached to both the storage means of the main unit and the sub storage means of the sub unit. Accordingly, the medicine dispensing system has a large number of medicine feeding containers and thus needs to be configured to even more easily and reliably control the characteristic data of each of the medicine feeding containers. Thus, the medicine dispensing system, which is provided based on such knowledge, includes the above-described medicine dispensing device as the main unit. As a result, the medicine dispensing system can simply and accurately grasp and control the characteristic data through the data communication between the control means provided in the main unit and the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers provided in the main unit and the sub unit. 
     Thus, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
     According to another embodiment there can be provided a medicine dispensing system, which is configured such that a medicine dispensing device that includes a sub unit having a function of dispensing medicines is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately employed to such a medicine dispensing system. 
     Also, according to other embodiments, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and reliably detect abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer in a packing paper sheet conveying part, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to remove a packed medicine at a desired position in a packing part. 
     Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and precisely perform an examination work regarding whether or not packing a medicine is accurately performed and to prevent occurrence of a wasted packing paper sheet even if a medicine to be dispensed becomes unready due to abnormality in feeding a medicine to a packing part. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing system comprising such a medicine dispensing device. 
     Furthermore, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to simply and accurately grasp a characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a medicine dispensing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of the medicine dispensing system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a structure near a main storage part of a main unit. 
         FIG. 4A  is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a drum.  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view showing that a cassette is attached to the drum.  FIG. 4C  illustrates a positional relationship between a main storage part and an irregular set detecting means. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a cassette. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a feeder container. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a medicine awaiting mechanism part. 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  respectively are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism part. 
         FIGS. 9A-9E  are side views sequentially showing a vertical movement of a slide shaft. 
         FIG. 10A  is a sectional view showing that a discharging opening of the medicine awaiting mechanism part is closed.  FIG. 10B  is a sectional view showing that the discharging opening is open. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing a medicine preparing part. 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view showing the internal structure of the medicine preparing part. 
         FIGS. 13A-13F  are sectional views sequentially showing operating processes of a shutter provided in a section forming body. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing structure near a medicine preparing part and a medicine packing part of the main unit. 
         FIGS. 15A-15F  schematically illustrates that medicines are fed into the section forming body. 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view showing arrangement of a conveying means in the main unit. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the conveying means. 
         FIG. 18A  is a sectional view showing that an abnormality detecting mechanism is attached to a transfer means.  FIG. 18B  is a section view taken along the ling A-A in  FIG. 18A .  FIG. 18C  is a view viewed along an arrow B in  FIG. 18A . 
         FIG. 19A  is a rear view of the conveying means.  FIG. 19B  is a front view of the conveying means. 
         FIG. 20A  is a perspective view showing a work table.  FIG. 20B  is a block diagram showing the features of a data management system. 
         FIG. 21A  is a perspective view showing a transfer device viewed from a medicine dispensing part.  FIG. 21B  is a perspective view showing the transfer device viewed from a medicine receiving part. 
         FIG. 22A  is a front view showing an interface for calling a cassette.  FIG. 22B  is a front view showing an interface for calling a medicine name.  FIGS. 22C and 22D  are front views showing an interface for displaying a characteristic information of a container. 
         FIGS. 23A-23B  are sectional views showing the medicine dispensing part of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 21A-21B .  FIG. 23A  is a sectional view showing transferring a medicine.  FIG. 23B  is a sectional view showing dispensing a medicine. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing a counter device. 
         FIGS. 25A-25B  are perspective views showing a variation of the transfer device.  FIG. 25A  is a perspective view showing that a medicine delivering unit of a transfer device according to a variation is expanded.  FIG. 25B  is a perspective view showing that the medicine delivering unit is contracted. 
         FIG. 26  is an upper perspective view of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B . 
         FIG. 27  is a lower perspective view of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B . 
         FIG. 28  is a section view of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B . 
         FIG. 29A  is an upper perspective view of a sliding base of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B .  FIG. 29B  is a lower perspective view of the sliding base. 
         FIG. 30A  is an upper perspective view of a first sliding body of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B .  FIG. 30B  is a lower perspective view of the first sliding body. 
         FIG. 31A  is an upper perspective view of a second sliding body of the medicine delivering unit of the transfer device shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B .  FIG. 31B  is a lower perspective view of the second sliding body. 
         FIG. 32  is a front view showing a further variation of a transfer device. 
         FIG. 33  is a section view taken along the ling A-A in  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 34  is a front view showing one motion of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 35  is a front view showing the other motion of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 36  is a front view schematically showing major parts of the internal structure of a medicine dispensing system including a transfer device according to another variation. 
         FIGS. 37A-37B  are perspective views showing the features of a medicine dispensing part employed in the transfer device shown in  FIG. 36 .  FIG. 37A  illustrates that an area A of a shutter is located in the medicine dispensing part.  FIG. 37B  illustrates that an area B of the shutter is not located in the medicine dispensing part. 
         FIG. 38  is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in  FIG. 37A . 
         FIG. 39  is a perspective view showing the shutter provided in the medicine dispensing part shown in  FIGS. 37A-37B . 
         FIG. 40A  is a view taken along an arrow X in  FIG. 39 .  FIG. 40B  is a view taken along an arrow Y in  FIG. 39 . 
         FIG. 41  is a front view showing a variation of the medicine dispensing system shown in  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 42  is a perspective view showing yet another variation of a transfer device. 
         FIG. 43  schematically shows features of a transfer device shown in  FIG. 42 . 
         FIG. 44  is an enlarged perspective view of a medicine dispensing part of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 42  with a lid of an outer container removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 45  is a top plan view of the medicine dispensing part of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 42  with the lid of the outer container removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 46  is a sectional view showing the structure of the medicine dispensing part of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 42  with a side portion of a delivery container cut away. 
         FIG. 47  is a sectional view showing the structure of the medicine dispensing part of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 42  with a top portion of the delivery container cut away. 
         FIG. 48  is a sectional view showing a medicine receiving part of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 42 . 
         FIG. 49  is a perspective view showing the structure near a manual distributing unit in a main unit of a medicine dispensing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 50  is a side view showing the structure near the manual distributing unit in the main unit of the medicine dispensing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 51  is a perspective view schematically showing features of a main storage part and a sub storage part. 
         FIG. 52  is a block diagram showing a variation of a control means. 
         FIG. 53  is a flow chat showing an error judgment operation of a medicine dispensing system. 
         FIG. 54  is a flow chart showing operations of the medicine dispensing system. 
         FIG. 55  is a front view showing a display of a manipulating panel when a feeder container insertion error occurs. 
         FIG. 56  is a front view showing a display of the manipulating panel when a message for urging erroneous mount solution is emitted. 
         FIG. 57  is a front view showing a display of the manipulating panel when a feeder container mount error occurs. 
         FIG. 58  is a front view showing a display of a manipulating panel when a feeder container identification error occurs. 
         FIG. 59  is a front view showing a display of a manipulating panel when a search condition is set. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  . . . Medicine Dispensing System 
               2  . . . Main Unit (Medicine Dispensing Device) 
               3  . . . Sub Unit (Medicine Dispensing Device) 
               5  . . . Transfer Device 
               20  . . . Main Storage Part 
               120  . . . Sub Storage Part 
               140  . . . Pipe Line 
               141  . . . Suction means (Transfer Means) 
               210  . . . Transfer Device 
               231  . . . Medicine Delivering Unit (Medicine Delivering Part) 
               234  . . . Turning Shaft 
               300  . . . Transfer Device 
               312  . . . Drive Unit (Direction Adjusting Means) 
               330  . . . Turning Part (Conveying Part) 
               340  . . . Medicine Container (Medicine Delivery container) 
               400  . . . Transfer Device 
               401  . . . Medicine Receiving Part (Sub Storage Part) 
               402  . . . Medicine Dispensing Part (Main Storage Part) 
               403  . . . Forward Pipe Line 
               405  . . . Blower (Airflow Producing Means) 
               408  . . . Pump (Suction and exhaust means) 
               410  . . . Exhaust Pipe Line 
               420  . . . Shutter 
               423  . . . Inclined Surface (Partitioning means) 
               440  . . . Filter 
               441  . . . Buffer (Buffer Means) 
               442  . . . Forward Isolation Portion 
               500  . . . Transfer Device 
               502  . . . Forward Pipe Line 
               504  . . . Blower (Airflow Producing Means) 
               510  . . . Medicine Dispensing Part (Delivering Part) 
               512  . . . Delivery container 
               512   a  . . . Side Portion (Side Portion A) 
               512   b  . . . Side Portion (Side Portion B) 
               512   c  . . . Side Portion (Side Portion C) 
               514  . . . Shutter 
               516  . . . Internal Space 
               518  . . . Bottom Portion 
               520  . . . Dispensing Opening 
               522  . . . Buffer Means 
               524  . . . Upper Sub Container Body (Sub Container Body) 
               524   p  . . . Exhaust Hole 
               526  . . . Lower Sub Container Body (Sub Container Body) 
               526   p  . . . Exhaust Hole 
               530  . . . Outer Container 
               532  . . . Exhaust Part 
               534  . . . Primary Filter 
               536  . . . Secondary Filter 
               540  . . . Joint Pipe 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A medicine dispensing system  1 , a main unit (medicine dispensing device)  2  and a sub unit (medicine dispensing device)  3  according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the medicine dispensing system  1  has the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . The main unit  2  forms a basic section of the medicine dispensing system  1 . Further, the sub unit  3  may be used in combination with the main unit  2 . The medicine dispensing system  1  has a transfer device  5  operated between the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, the transfer device  5  is disposed in the sub unit  3 . The transfer device is configured to transfer the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  toward the main unit  2 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the main unit  2  includes a main storage part  20  and a medicine packing part  21 . A medicine path  22  connecting the main storage part and the medicine packing part is formed in the main unit. A medicine standby mechanism part  50  and a medicine preparing part  80 , which will be described in detail below, form a middle section of the medicine path  22 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the main unit  2  includes a manual distributing unit  23  independent from the main storage part  20 . Medicines to be prescribed can be also fed into the manual distributing unit  23 . That is, the main unit  2  includes the main storage part  20  and the manual distributing unit  23  as a medicine dispensing means capable of dispensing the medicines according to a prescription. 
     The main storage part  20  has a drum  31  having a plurality of vertically elongated plate members  30  that are circumferentially arranged as shown in  FIG. 4A . The main storage part is configured such that a plurality of cassettes  32  for accommodating tablets are attached to an outer peripheral surface of the drum  31  as shown in  FIG. 4B . In the plate members  30 , a plurality of cassette attaching holes  35 , for attaching the cassette  32 , and openings  36  communicating with a dispensing path  33  are formed along a length direction (upward and downward direction) to correspond to an attachment position of the cassettes  32 . In the main storage part  20  employed in the present embodiment, a plurality of the cassettes  32  are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction (upward and downward direction) of the plate member  30  as well as around the circumference of the drum  31 . 
     Each of the plate members  30  is attached through a hinge to a frame that makes up a framework of the drum  31  at its upper end portion. When performing maintenance on the main storage part  20 , each of the plate members is maintained in a raised state by lifting a lower end portion of each of the plate members  30  and the drum  31  can be opened. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , an inner side (an inner peripheral surface) of the drum  31  is provided with the dispensing path  33 . The dispensing path  33  serves as a path for feeding the medicines dispensed from the cassette  32  to a further downstream side. More specifically, to a rear side of the plate member  30 , that is, a surface facing the inside of the drum  31  is provided with a guide member  37 . The guide member  37  has an approximately U-shaped cross-section and is an elongated member similar to the plate member  30 . The guide member  37  is fixed to the rear side of the plate member  30  and an approximate center portion of the plate member  30  in a widthwise direction thereof (in a circumferential direction of the drum  31 ). Thus, the dispensing path  33 , which extends straight along a lengthwise direction of the plate member  30  (i.e., along an upward and downward direction), is formed between the guide member  37  and the rear surface of the plate member  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , a main portion of the cassette  32  includes a motor base (container mounting part)  40  and a feeder container (medicine feeding container)  41 . The motor base  40  includes a motor  43 . An output shaft  45  is attached to the motor to upwardly project from the motor base  40 . Also, the output shaft  45  is provided with a gear  46 . Further, the motor base  40  contains a reader-writer (an interface means)  44 . The reader-writer  44  corresponds to a communication mechanism referred to as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The reader-writer is configured to communicate with a tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41  (this will be described in detail below) to read and write a data necessary for the tag  49 . 
     The feeder container  41  is disposed above the motor base  40  and is configured to be detachable relative to the motor base  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the feeder container  41  is a hollow container formed by mounting an opening attachment  41   b  and a lid attachment  41   c  on a container body portion  41   a . The feeder container is configured to be capable of accommodating medicines therein. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the container body portion  41  has an opening attachment mounting portion  41   d  capable of mounting the opening attachment  41   b  at its back side (i.e., a side facing toward the drum  31  when the feeder container  41  is attached to the motor bases  40  mounted on the drum  31 ). 
     The opening attachment  41   b  is configured to be mounted to the opening attachment mounting portion  41   d  of the container body portion  41   a . The opening attachment  41   b  has an opening  47   a  for discharging the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  and a tag attaching portion  47   b . In the feeder container  41  employed in the present embodiment, various kinds of the opening attachments  41   b  with different sizes of openings  47   a  are prepared. Thus, according to a size of the medicine to be accommodated in the container body portion  41   a , a suitable opening attachment can be selected and mounted. The tag attaching portion  47   b  is formed at a lower side of the opening attachment  41   b  in a cantilever shape. When the opening attachment  41   b  is mounted to the opening attachment mounting portion  41   d , the tag attaching portion  47   b  becomes parallel to a bottom surface of the container body portion  41   a.    
     The lid attachment  41   c  is configured to close an open portion of an upper end side of the container body portion  41   a . The lid attachment  41   c  has a lid portion  41   f , a clip portion  41   g  and a hinge portion  41   h . The lid portion  41   f  and the clip portion  41   g  are bendably connected to each other through the hinge portion  41   h . The lid attachment  41   c  is mounted by fitting a lid attachment mounting portion  41   e  provided at an upper end of the container body portion  41   a  to the clip portion  41   g . The feeder container  41  can open the container body portion  41   a  by erecting the lid portion  41   f  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and can close the container body portion  41   a  by laying down the lid portion as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , a rotor  48  is disposed in the feeder container  41 . A plurality of grooves  48  extending in an upward and downward direction are circumferentially formed at an outer periphery of the rotor  48  at an approximately equal interval. The rotor  48  is configured to freely rotate in the feeder container  41 . As the rotor rotates, the grooves  48   a  reach a position of an opening  47   a  formed at a back side of the feeder container  41  one after another. In the present embodiment, various kinds of the rotors  48  with different widths of grooves  48   a  are prepared. Thus, according to the size of the medicine to be accommodated in the container body portion  41   a , a suitable rotor may be selected and mounted. That is, in the present embodiment, a width (a length in a circumferential direction of the rotor  48 ) and depth (a length along a diameter of the rotor  48 ) of the groove  48   a  is sized such that one of the medicines accommodated in the container body portion  41   a  can pass through the groove one by one. 
     The rotor  48  is connected to a gear  48   b  exposed on a bottom surface of the feeder container  41 . When the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40 , the gear  48   b  is allowed to mesh with a gear  46  of the motor base  40 . As a result, as the motor  43  provided in the motor base  40  operates, the rotor  48  rotates within the feeder container  41  as much as a rotation quantity of the output shaft  45 . Thus, the cassette  32  is configured to appropriately adjust a quantity of the medicines dispensed from the opening  47   a  of the feeder container  41  by adjusting the amount of rotation of the output shaft  45  of the motor  43 . 
     When the opening attachment  41   b  and the lid attachment  41   c  are attached as described above, the tag attaching portion  47   b  comes to a position which becomes a bottom surface of the feeder container  41 . The tag attaching portion  47   b  is provided with a tag (an information recordable medium)  49 . In the present embodiment, as the tag  49 , an RFID tag or an RFID chip is employed as the tag  49 . Various data including an identification data of the feeder container  41  and the kinds of medicines to be accommodated in the feeder container  41  can be transmitted to and received from the tag  49 . The data of the tag can be renewed or written. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4C , an abnormal set detecting means  38  is provided at an outer side of the drum  31 . The abnormal set detecting means  38  includes a contact plate  38   a  and a switch  38   b . The abnormal set detecting means  38  is configured to detect an abnormal attachment of the cassette  32  to the drum  31  based on whether or not the switch  38   b  is turned on. 
     Configuration of the abnormal set detecting means  38  will be described in detail as follows. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the contact plate  38   a  is an elongated plate body. The contact plate  38   a  is disposed along a height direction of the drum  31 . The contact plate  38   a  is shaft-supported on a housing of the main unit  2  through a hinge  38   c  in a cantilever shape. An end of the contact plate facing toward the drum  31  is a free end. That is, the contact plate  38   a  is supported by the hinge  38   c  so as to be capable of swinging relative to a tangential direction of the drum  31 . Further, the switch  38   b  is disposed in a position where the contact plate  38   a  contacts the switch as the contact plate  38   a  swings. If the contact plate  38   a  contacts the switch  38   b , then a contact of the switch is pressed down and thus the switch is turned on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4C , when assuming a trajectory J, which ends of the cassettes  32  form while passing along with a rotation of the drum  31  with the cassettes  32  attached thereto, the contact plate  38   a  is positioned slightly apart from the trajectory J in a direction of a diameter of the drum  31  in a position where the ends of the cassettes reach. Thus, when the cassette  32  is not securely mounted on the drum  31  and therefore projects outwardly in a direction of a diameter of the drum  31 , the cassette  32  is brought into contact with the contact plate  38   a  along with the rotation of the drum  31  and therefore the contact plate  38   a  swings about the hinge  38   c . As a result, the contact plate  38   a  bumps against the switch  38   b  and the switch is turned on. Thus, the abnormal attachment of the cassette  32  is detected. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the medicine standby mechanism part  50  is disposed below the above-described drum  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the medicine standby mechanism part  50  includes, as a main part thereof, a funnel-shaped standby hopper  51 , a movable lid  52  and a lid moving mechanism  53 . The standby hopper  51  is attached to a box body  54  of the medicine standby mechanism part  50 . The movable lid  52  is mounted on the lid moving mechanism  53  attached to the standby hopper  51 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the standby hopper  51  has a mechanism positioning part  55  for disposing the lid moving mechanism  53  in its center portion. A plurality of discharging openings  56  are formed in a position surrounding the mechanism positioning part  55 . Further, a flange  57  is formed along an outer edge portion of the standby hopper  51 . The standby hopper  51  is fixed to the box body  54  by screw-fixing the flange  57  to the box body. 
     The lid moving mechanism  53  is configured to move the movable lid  52  in an upward and downward direction relative to the standby hopper  51 . The lid moving mechanism  53  has a motor  58  as a power source, a mechanism part  60  operable by a power from the motor  58 , and a power transmitting shaft  61  for transmitting the power of the motor  58  to the mechanism part  60 . The motor  58  is positioned such that a rotating shaft  58   a  is approximately vertical to a side surface of the box body  54  and projects toward an inside portion of the box body  54 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8B , the mechanism part  60  includes a drive part  60   a  operable by the power of the motor  58  and a driven part  60   b  operable by the power from the drive part  60   a . The drive part  60   a  has a bevel gear  60   c  coupled to a leading end of the power transmitting shaft  61  and a bevel gear  60   d  disposed so as to mesh therewith. The bevel gear  60   d  is coupled to one end of a rotating shaft  60   e  uprightly erected vertically to the power transmitting shaft  61 . Further, a drive gear  60   f  is coupled to the other end of the rotating shaft  60   e  and configured to be integrally rotatable with the bevel gear  60   d . Thus, if a rotation power is transmitted from the motor  58  through the power transmitting shaft  61 , the drive gear  60   f  rotates about the rotating shaft  60   e.    
     Meanwhile, the driven part  60   b  has a rotating cylinder member  60   g , a driven gear  60   h , a cam  60   i  and a slide shaft  60   j . The rotating cylinder member  60   g  is a cylindrical member. The rotating cylinder member is positioned with its axial center at an approximate center of the mechanism positioning part  55  and is supported so as to rotate about the axial center. The drive gear  60   h  has a ring shape. The drive gear  60   h  is an outwardly-toothed gear with its outer diameter approximately equal to the rotating cylinder member  60   g . The drive gear  60   h  is fixed on an upper end of the rotating cylinder member  60   g . Further, the drive gear  60   h  is meshed with the drive gear  60   f  installed in the drive part  60   a . Thus, if the drive gear  60   f  rotates by the power of the motor  58 , the power is transmitted to the drive gear  60   f , thereby rotating the rotating cylinder member  60   g  about its axial center. 
     The cam  60   i  is a so-called end cam. An end face  60   k  of the cam has a shape which is formed by cutting a cylinder at a plane P intersecting its generator. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8B , when assuming the plane P passes the end face  60   k  and the cam  60   i  is disposed with the end face  60   k  facing upward, the end face  60   k  has an upper end  60   s  located at an uppermost side and a lower end  60   t  located at a lowermost side. The end face is shaped such that an intermediate portion  60   u  gently connects the upper end  60   s  and the lower end  60   t.    
     The cam  60   i  is disposed inside the rotating cylinder member  60   g  with the end face  60   k  facing upward. The cam  60   i  is integrated with the rotating cylinder member  60   g  to rotate along with the rotating cylinder member  60   g . The slide shaft  60   j  is a shaft body connected to the movable lid  52 . The slide shaft is divided into a smaller diameter portion  60   p  and a larger diameter portion  60   q  by a flange portion  60   m  provided at one end side in a lengthwise direction. The smaller diameter portion  60   p  is located more closely to the end side of the slide shaft  60   j  than the flange portion  60   m  and has a diameter smaller than other portions. 
     The larger diameter portion  60   q  forms a main portion of the slide shaft  60   j . The slide shaft  60   j  is configured to freely slide in an axial direction relative to the cam  60   i  (i.e., an upward and downward direction) by inserting the larger diameter portion  60   q  into the cam  60   i . A roller  60   r  is rotatably coupled to a peripheral surface of the larger diameter portion  60   q  and an intermediate portion in a lengthwise direction of the larger diameter portion  60   q . The roller  60   r  is in contact with the end face  60   k  of the cam  60   i  when the slide shaft  60   j  is inserted into the cam  60   i  with the larger diameter portion  60   q  facing downward. Thus, as the cam  60   i  rotates about its axial center, the roller  60   r  rolls on the end face  60   k  and the slide shaft  60   j  moves in an upward and downward direction to conform with an undulation of the end face  60   k.    
     The slide shaft  60   j  is integrated with the movable lid  52  by inserting the smaller diameter portion  60   p  into a recess  66  formed at an approximate center of the movable lid  52  and screw-fixing the flange portion  60   m  to the movable lid  52 . More specifically, the movable lid  52  is a disk-shaped member having an approximate circular lid top surface  52   a  and a lid peripheral surface  52   b  for surrounding an outer periphery of the lid top surface. The recess  66  is formed at an approximate center portion of the lid top surface  52   a  inside the movable lid  52 . The movable lid  52  is integrated with the slide shaft  60   j  by inserting the smaller diameter portion  60   p  of the slide shaft  60   j  into the recess  66  and screw-securing between the lid top surface  52   a  and the flange portion  60   m.    
     The movable lid  52  moves in an upward and downward direction by operation of the above-described lid moving mechanism  53  to thereby open and close each of the discharging openings  56  formed in the standby hopper  51 . More specifically, in the lid moving mechanism  53 , as the rotating cylinder member  60   g  rotates by operation of the motor, the cam  60   i  relatively rotates about the axial center relative to the slide shaft  60   j . As a result, the roller  60   r  coupled to the slide shaft  60   j  moves in an upward and downward direction to conform with the undulation of the end face  60   k  while rolling along the end face  60   k  of the cam  60   i . Accordingly, the slide shaft  60   j  and the movable lid  52  integrated thereto slide upward and downward relative to the cam  60   i.    
     Still more specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9A , when the roller  60   r  coupled to the larger diameter portion  60   q  of the slide shaft  60   j  is in contact with a position corresponding to the lower end  60   t  of the cam  60   i , the slide shaft  60   j  is in a lowermost position in the cam  60   i . In this case, as shown in  FIG. 10A , the movable lid  52  is in a state where a lid connecting cylinder  62  of the mechanism part  60  is lowered and a lower end of the lid peripheral surface  52   b  is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the standby hopper  51 . In such a state, since each of the discharging openings  56  formed in the standby hopper  51  is surrounded and blocked by the lid peripheral surface  52   b , the medicines inputted into the standby hopper  51  can be gathered. 
     Meanwhile, if the motor  58  provided in the lid moving mechanism  53  operates, the rotating cylinder member  60   g  and the cam  60   i  integrated thereto start to rotate as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 9A . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 9B , the intermediate portion  60   u  of the end face  60   k  comes to a position corresponding to the roller  60   r . In this case, as described above, the slide shaft  60   j  is configured to freely slide upwardly and downwardly relative to the cam  60   i . Thus, if the intermediate portion  60   u  comes to the position corresponding to the roller  60   r  by the rotation of the cam  60   i , the slide shaft  60   j  is pushed upwardly. As a result, the movable lid  52  integrated to the slide shaft  60   j  is gradually pushed upward, thereby forming a gap between the lower end of the lid peripheral surface  52   b  and the inner peripheral surface of the standby hopper  51  as shown in  FIG. 10B . 
     Thereafter, the cam  60   i  further rotates. As shown in  FIG. 9C  and  FIG. 9D , as the intermediate portion  60   u  comes to the position corresponding to the roller  60   r , a height in the end face  60   k  becomes gradually higher and thus the movable lid  52  is further pushed upwardly. As a result, the gap between the lower end of the movable lid  52  integrated to the slide shaft  60   j  and the inner peripheral surface of the standby hopper  51  becomes larger. Further, if the cam  60   i  rotates until the upper end  60   s  of the end face  60   k  comes to the position corresponding to the roller  60   r , then the gap between the lid peripheral surface  52   b  and the inner peripheral surface of the standby hopper  51  is allowed to maximally open, thereby providing a state where the medicines can sufficiently pass through, that is, a state where each of the discharging openings  56  is opened. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a collecting hopper  70  is provided below the medicine standby mechanism part  50 . The collecting hopper  70  is situated so as to connect the medicine standby mechanism part  50  and a medicine preparing part  80  (this will be described in detail below). 
     Further, as described above, the main unit  2  includes the manual distributing unit  23 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the manual distributing unit  23  has a plurality of measures  90  arranged in a matrix form therein. Each of the measures in some embodiments is capable of accommodating multiple medicines per pack. The medicine delivering unit is configured to be drawn out from the housing of the main unit  2 . An upper side of each of the measures  90  is opened. The medicine delivering unit  23  is configured to be appropriately drawn out from the housing of the main unit  2  so that the medicines for one pack can be fed into each of the measures  90 . When accommodated in the housing of the main unit  2 , the manual distributing unit  23  can dispense the medicines by opening a bottom side of each of the measures  90 . 
     In a state where the manual distributing unit  23  is accommodated in the housing of the main unit  2 , a manual distributing hopper  91  is disposed below the manual distributing unit  23 . The manual distributing hopper  91  is configured to feed the medicines dispensed from each of the measures  90  of the manual distributing unit  23  to the medicine preparing part  80 . 
     The medicine preparing part  80  is configured to gather and prepare the medicines for one pack fed from the above described standby hopper  51  and the manual distributing hopper  91  and to sequentially discharge the same to a further downstream side. The medicine preparing part  80  is disposed below the medicine gathering mechanism portion  50  and the manual distributing unit  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the medicine preparing part  80  has a disk-shaped section forming body  81 , a medicine preparing part body  82  and a lid  83 . The section forming body  81  has sections  81   a  for gathering the medicines. The section forming body  81  employed in the present embodiment has a plurality of the sections  81   a  (six sections in the present embodiment) in a circumferential direction. Each of the sections  81   a  is opened at a top surface of the section forming body  81 . Further, each of the sections  81   a  has a shutter  81   c , which can be opened and closed independently. The shutter  81   c  is blocked at normal times, but is opened if a lever  81   d  provided at a lateral side of each of the sections  81   a  is pressed. 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 12 , each of the sections  81   a  is surrounded by the following: a front wall portion  86   a  at one end side in a circumferential direction of the section forming body  81 ; a rear wall portion  86   b  at the other side in the circumferential direction and peripheral wall portions  86   c ,  86   d  at outer and inner sides in a diametrical direction of the section forming body  81 . The front wall portion  86   a  is inclined toward an inside of the section  81   a  from a top surface of the section forming body  81  toward a bottom surface thereof. Further, a stepped portion  86   e  is formed in a portion of the front wall portion  86   a  at a bottom surface of the section forming body  81 . The rear wall portion  86   b  approximately vertically extends from the top surface of the section forming body  81  toward its bottom surface up to a middle portion and then is inclined toward an outside of the section  81   a  from the middle portion to the bottom surface. 
     The shutter  81   c  has a plate shape. One end (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a proximal end) of the shutter  81   c  is swingably shaft-supported by a support shaft  86   f  in a position of the real wall portion  86   b  and the top surface of the section forming body  81 . The other end (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a leading end) of the shutter  81   c  faces toward the front wall portion  86   a  and the bottom surface of the section forming body  81 . That is, the shutter  81   c  is inclined in a downward direction in an inner space of the section  81   a  as going from the proximal end to the leading end. The shutter  81   c  is biased by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring coupled to the leading end pressed so that the leading end can face upwardly. Further, at normal times, the leading end of the shutter  81   a  is closed to the stepped portion  86   e  of the front wall portion  86   a . Thus, the section  81   a  is blocked at the bottom surface of the section forming body  81 . The lever  81   d  is integrated with the shutter  81   a  by the support shaft  86   f  The lever  81   d  is configured to be pivot about the support shaft  86   f  while maintaining at a constant angle relative to the shutter  81   c . A roller  86   g  is freely rotatably coupled to the lever  81   d.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a flange portion  81   b  projecting diametrically outwardly is provided at the bottom surface of the above-described section forming body  81 . The flange portion  81   b  has a plurality of gear teeth at its outer periphery and thus has an outwardly-toothed gear shape. A through hole  81   e  is formed in a center portion of the section forming body  81  so as to pass through in thickness of the section forming body  81 , that is, between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     The medicine preparing part body  82  has an accommodating part  82   a  capable of accommodating the section forming body  81 . A support shaft  82   b  projecting upwardly is disposed in an approximate center of the accommodating part  82   a . The above-described section forming body  81  is mounted in the accommodating part  82   a  in such a manner that the top surface faces upward and the support shaft  82  is inserted through the through hole  81   e . Thus, the section forming body  81  is accommodated within the accommodating part  82   a  while rotatable about the support shaft  82   b.    
     Further, a drive mechanism  84  is provided in the medicine preparing part body  82 . The drive mechanism  84  includes a motor  84   a  and a gear  84   b  rotatable by power from the motor  84   a . The gear  84   b  is meshed with the gear formed in the flange portion  81   b  of the section forming body  81  accommodated in the accommodating part  82   a . Thus, if the motor  84   a  operates, the power is transmitted through the gear  84   b  to the section forming body  81  and thus the section forming body  81  rotates about the support shaft  82   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , an opening  82   c  for dispensing the medicines is formed at a bottom surface of the medicine preparing part body  82 . The opening  82   c  is formed in a position where it can communicate with each of the sections  81   a  provided in the section forming body  81 . Further, a lever contactor  82   d  is provided in a position adjacent to the opening  82   c . More specifically, the lever contactor  82   d  has a block shape. The lever contactor  82   d  is, in some embodiments, made up of an ascending-inclined portion  82   e , a horizontal portion  82   f  and a descending-inclined portion  82   g  as shown by a tow-dot chain line in  FIGS. 13A-13F . An upper surface of the lever contactor  82   d  is inclined in the ascending-inclined portion  82   e  and the descending-inclined portion  82   g , while horizontal in the horizontal portion  82   f . The upper surface of the lever contactor  82   d  is upwardly inclined in the ascending-inclined portion  82   e  as going toward the horizontal portion  82   f . The upper surface of the lever contactor  82   d  is downwardly inclined in the descending-inclined portion  82   g  as being spaced apart from the horizontal portion  82   f . The lever contactor  82   d  is positioned such that the ascending-inclined portion  82   e  faces upstream in a rotation direction of the section forming body  81  and the descending-inclined portion  82   g  faces downstream in the rotation direction. 
     The lever contactor  82   d  is positioned in the medicine preparing part body  82  in a position where the lever contactor  82   d  contacts the lever  81   d  provided at a later side of each of the sections  81   a  when the section forming body  81  rotates. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 13A-13F , if the section forming body  81  rotates and thus each of the levers  81   d  contacts the lever contactor  82   d , then the shutter  81   c  connected to the lever  81   d  is opened. More specifically, when the lever  81   d  comes to a position where the lever contactor  82   d  is provided by the rotation of the section forming body  81 , the roller  86   g  coupled to the leading end of the lever  81   d  is allowed to ride on the ascending-inclined portion  82   e  as shown in  FIG. 13A . If the section forming body  81  further rotates from such a state, the roller  86   g  rolls on the ascending-inclined portion  82   e  and an inclination of the lever  81   d  becomes closer to an approximately horizontal state as shown in  FIG. 13B . 
     In this case, as described above, the lever  81   d  is configured to be rotatable about the support shaft  86   f  while maintaining at a constant angle relative to the shutter  81   c . Thus, if the inclination of the lever  81   d  changes as described above, the shutter  81   c  rotates about the support shaft  86   f  by such change and the leading end of the shutter  81   c  becomes gradually close to the rear wall portion  86   b . Thus, the bottom surface of section  81   a  gradually becomes open. 
     If the rotation of the section forming body  81  proceeds as described above, the opening extent of the shutter  81   c  becomes gradually large as shown in  FIG. 13C . Thereafter, if the section forming body  81  further rotates and the roller  86   g  coupled to the leading end of the lever  81   d  is positioned as shown in  FIG. 13D , the shutter  81   c  becomes in contact with the rear wall portion  86   b  of section  81   a  and thus the shutter  81   c  becomes fully open. 
     If the rotation of the section forming body  81  further proceeds from a full open state of the shutter  81   c  and the roller  86   g  reaches the descending-inclined portion  82   g  as shown in  FIG. 13E , the shutter  81   c  is biased and the leading end of the shutter  81   c  becomes gradually close to the front wall portion  86   a  of section  81   a . Thus, the bottom surface of section  81   a  gradually becomes closed by the shutter  81   c . And, if the roller  86   g  passes over a halfway point of the descending-inclined portion  82   g , the leading end of the shutter  81   a  contacts the stepped portion  86   e  formed in the front wall portion  86   a  and the bottom surface of section  81   a  becomes blocked by shutter  81   c  as shown in  FIG. 13F . 
     The section forming body  81  is accommodated in the medicine preparing part body  82  so as to operate as described above. Meanwhile, a packing hopper  85  is provided in a position corresponding to the opening  82   c  of the bottom surface of the medicine preparing part body  82 . The packing hopper  85  is provided so as to feed the medicines dispensed from the opening  82   c  toward the medicine packing part  21  (this will be described in detail below). Thus, if each of the sections  81   a  comes to a position corresponding to the opening  82   c  in the medicine preparing part body  82 , the lever  81   d  provided in section  81   a  is pressed and the shutter  81  is opened. As a result, the medicines gathered in section  81   a  are dispensed toward the medicine packing part  21 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , an approximately circular opening  82   i  is formed in a top plate  82   h  forming the top surface of the medicine preparing part body  82  so as to correspond to the section forming body  81 . Further, the lid  83  is provided so as to block the opening  82   i . The lid  83  has three holes  83   a  to  83   c . The holes  83   a  to  83   c  are configured to be connected to the collecting hopper  70 , the manual distributing hopper  91  and the sub collecting hopper  87  (this will be described in detail below). The holes  83   a  to  83   c  are formed in a position corresponding to each of the sections  81   a  of the section forming body  81  accommodated in the accommodating part  82   a . Thus, the medicine preparing part  80  is configured to be capable of inputting the medicines through the holes  83   a  to  83   c  into each of the sections  81   a  provided in the medicine preparing part body  82 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the collecting hopper  70  is connected to the hole  83   a  formed in the lid  83 . As shown in  FIGS. 15A-15F , when viewed from the top surface, the hole  83   a  is formed in a position deviated by one section  81   a , which makes up the section forming body  81 , in a counterclockwise direction (a left-hand direction) from a position of the opening  82   c  formed in the medicine preparing part body  82  for dispensing the medicines. That is, when assuming that one section  81   a  provided in the section forming body  81  coexists with the opening  82   c , the hole  83   a  is formed in a position where the medicines can be inputted into section  81   a  counterclockwise in a circumferential direction of the section forming body  81  from section  81   a  corresponding to the opening  82   c.    
     As will be described in detail below, the sub collecting hopper  87  for feeding the medicines, which are transferred from the sub unit  3  through the transfer device  5 , to the medicine preparing part  80  is connected to the hole  83   b . The hole  83   b  is formed in a position counterclockwise deviated from the opening  82   c  of the medicine preparing part body  82  by two sections  81   a  constituting the section forming body  81 . That is, when assuming that section  81   a  is positioned so as to correspond to the opening  82   c , the hole  83   b  is formed in a position where the medicines can be inputted into section  81   a  counterclockwise adjacent to the section  81   a . Further, the manual distributing hopper  91  is connected to the hole  83   c . The hole  83   c  is formed in a position clockwise (in a right-hand direction) from the opening  82   c  of the medicine preparing part body  82  by three sections  81   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the medicine packing part  21  is provided below the above-described medicine preparing part  80 . The medicine packing part  21  includes a packing means  21   a  and a conveying means  21   b . The packing means  21   a  includes a sheet transferring mechanism  95 , a pack forming mechanism  96  and a printing part  99 . The sheet transferring mechanism  95  is configured to unwind a packing paper sheet  98 , which includes a thermally fused elongated sheet and has a sheet form wound around a roll shaft  97 , and to transfer it to the pack forming mechanism  96 . The packing paper sheet  98  unwound by the sheet transferring mechanism  95  is sequentially transferred along a path extending through the pack forming mechanism  96  to the printing part  99  as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 14  and is then fed to the conveying means  21   b . The pack forming mechanism  96  has a sheet supporting part  99 , a guide member  100  and a partition forming device  101 . The pack forming mechanism  96  is configured to bend the packing paper sheet  98  transferred from the sheet transferring mechanism  95  into two portions at its approximate halfway portion in a shorter direction (width direction) and compresses the bent packing paper sheet  98  into a pouch shape. 
     The guide member  100  is provided upstream in a flowing direction of the packing paper sheet  98  from the packing hopper  85  provided in the bottom surface of the medicine preparing part body  82  halfway in the flowing direction of the packing paper sheet  98 . The guide member  100  has functions of not only serving as a guide of the packing paper sheet  98  but also bending the elongated packing paper sheet  98  into two portions at an approximate halfway portion in a width direction. The partition forming device  101  is disposed downstream in the flowing direction of the packing paper sheet  98  from the above-described packing hopper  85 . The partition forming device  101  can compress a portion of one end side (downstream side) in a lengthwise direction of the bifold packing paper sheet  98 , which is previously bent by the guide member  100 , into a semi-pouch shape or compress and close an opening portion of the semi-pouch shaped packing paper sheet  98  into a pouch shape. 
     The printing part  99  is configured to perform a print on the packing paper sheet  98  transferred by the sheet transferring mechanism  95 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the printing part  99  is positioned downstream in the flowing direction of the packing paper sheet  98  from the medicine packing part  21  and upstream in the flowing direction of the packing paper sheet  98  from the pack forming mechanism  96 . A length of the packing paper sheet  98  existing between the positions of the printing part  99  and the pack forming mechanism  96  is n times (three times in the present embodiment) greater than a length of a medicine pack formed by compressing the packing paper sheet  98 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the conveying means  21   b  is configured to convey the packing paper sheet  98  with the medicines packed therein in the packing means  21   a  toward dispensing openings  2   c ,  2   d  formed in a front panel  2   a  or a side panel  2   b  of the main unit  2 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , the conveying means  21   b  has a casing  105 . A conveying mechanism  106  is equipped in the casing  105 . The conveying means  21   b  includes a receiving portion  105   a , a straight portion  105   b  and a bent portion  105   c . As shown in  FIGS. 14, 17 and 19A-19B , the conveying means  21   b  is disposed in a manner that the receiving portion  105   a  is positioned at a bottom surface in the housing of the main unit  2  and a portion from the straight portion  105   b  to the bent portion  105   c  erects obliquely upwardly from the receiving opening  105 . 
     The conveying means  21   b  has a serial conveying path of the packing paper sheet  98  from the receiving portion  105   a  through the straight portion  105   b  to the bent portion  105   c . As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 19A-19B , drive rollers  110  are provided in several places along the conveying path formed in the conveying means  21   b . More specifically, the drive rollers  110  are freely rotatably provided in the following places: an entrance to the receiving portion  105   a ; the vicinity of a boundary between the receiving portion  105   a  and the straight portion  105   b ; and the vicinity of a boundary between the straight portion  105   b  and the bent portion  105   c ; and a leading end side of the bent portion  105   c . In the conveying means  21   b , belts  111  are wound between neighboring drive rollers  110  so as to transmit a power from a motor (not shown). In the present embodiment, four belts  111  are provided at a predetermined interval in a lengthwise direction of each drive roller  110 . 
     The receiving portion  105   a  is configured to receive the packing paper sheet  98  with the medicines packed by the packing means  21   a  and to change a transfer direction of the packing paper sheet  98 , which is transferred obliquely downward, into an obliquely upward direction. The receiving opening  105  has a receiving opening  107   a  for receiving the packing paper sheet  98  and a guide roller  107   b  provided therein. The receiving portion  105   a  is disposed in a position where the receiving opening  107   a  can receive the serial packing paper sheet  98  formed by packing the medicines in the packing means  21   a.    
     The casing  105  is configured to allow the packing paper sheet  98  to pass through between the guide roller  107   b  and the above-described drive roller  110  and the belt  111  suspended thereto at a portion corresponding to the receiving portion  105   a . Further, the receiving portion  105   a  is curved along the guide roller  107   b  and connected to the straight portion  105   b . Thus, if the packing paper sheet  98  is introduced through the receiving opening  107   a  into the receiving portion  105   a  in the conveying means  21   b , then the packing paper sheet  98  is guided by the guide roller  107   b  and is brought into contact with the drive roller  110  and the belt  111  and then the packing paper sheet  98  is transferred toward the straight portion  105   b.    
     A plurality of pressing rollers  112  are provided at a boundary between the receiving portion  105   a  and the straight portion  105   b , the straight portion  105   b  and the bent portion  105   c . The pressing rollers  112  are disposed at a predetermined interval with the neighboring one in a lengthwise direction of the straight portion  105   b . Further, when assuming a conveyance plane H of the packing paper sheet  98  formed by the drive roller  110  and the belt  111 , the pressing roller  112  presses the conveyance plane H with such a pressure force as the belt  11  slightly flexes. Further, the pressing roller  112  is biased toward the conveyance plane H. Thus, if the packing paper sheet  98  is introduced through the receiving portion  105   a , the packing paper sheet  98  is under pressure toward the conveyance plane H by the pressing roller  112  and the packing paper sheet  98  receives a power from the drive roller  110  and the belt  111  to be transferred downstream. 
     In this case, as described above, a plurality of the pressing rollers  112  are provided in the conveying means  21   a . Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 18B , a sub roller  115   a  is provided at a lateral side of the pressing roller  112  closer to the receiving portion  105   a  (hereinafter, where necessary, this may be referred to as the pressing roller  112   a ). The sub roller  115   a  constitutes a transfer abnormality detecting mechanism (detecting means)  115  for detecting a transfer abnormality of the packing paper sheet  98 . The sub roller is provided so as to be rotatable independently of the pressing roller  112   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 18A-18C , the abnormality detecting mechanism  115  has a pinch roller (detecting means)  115   b , a shaft  115   c  and a rotary encoder (rotary detecting means)  115   d  in addition to the above-described sub roller  115   a . The pinch roller  115   b  is disposed such that the above-described conveyance plane H is interposed between the pinch roller and the sub roller  115   a . The pinch roller  115   b  is coupled to one end of the shaft  115   c  and is rotatable integrally with the shaft  115   c . Thus, if the packing paper sheet  98  passes along the conveyance plane H, the pinch roller  115   b  and the shaft  115   c  integrally rotate since they are pushed by the packing paper sheet  98 . 
     In this case, as described above, the sub roller  115   a  is configured to be rotatable independently of the pressing roller  112   a . Thus, although the belt  11  operates and the pressing roller  112   a  rotates by the power from the belt  111 , the sub roller  115   a  does not rotate. Thus, the sub roller  115   a  and the pinch roller  115   b  do not rotate as far as the packing paper sheet  98  does not pass therebetween. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 18B AND 18C , the rotary encoder  115   d  has an encoder disc  115   e  with a plurality of slits  115   g  circumferentially formed and a photo interrupter  115   f  like a conventional one. Further, the encoder disc  115   e  is integrally coupled to the other end of the above-described shaft  115   c . Thus, the encoder disc  115   e  rotates along with the pinch roller  115   b . Accordingly, when the packing paper sheet  98  passes through a position where the pressing roller  112   a  is provided, a rotation is detected by the rotary encoder  115   d . On the contrary, when the pinch roller  115   b  does not rotate since the packing paper sheet  98  causes a transfer abnormality of the packing paper sheet such as a paper jam, a rotation is not detected in the rotary decoder  115   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the bent portion  105   c  is connected to the straight portion  105   b  through a support shaft  110   a  of the drive roller  110  provided at a distal end of the straight portion  105   b . The bent portion can bend about the support shaft  110   a  relative to the straight portion  105   b . As shown in  FIG. 16 , when the bent portion  105   c  extends straight out to follow the straight portion  105   b , its leading end faces toward the dispensing opening  2   d  formed in the side panel  2   b  of the main unit  2 . Meanwhile, when the bent portion  105   c  is bent toward the front panel  2   a  relative to the straight portion  105   b , its leading end faces toward the dispensing opening  2   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the main unit  2  has a worktable  117  at a later side of the above-described manual distributing unit  23 . Where necessary, the worktable  117  can be drawn out from a main body of the main unit  2  or pushed into the main body of the main unit to be accommodated therein. As shown in  FIGS. 20A-20B , the worktable  117  has a container placing portion  117   a  capable of placing the feeder container  41  which constitutes the above-described cassette  32 . The container placing portion  117   a  has a recess  117   b  which is concave to correspond to a shape of the bottom surface of the feeder container  41 . Further, when the bottom surface of the feeder container  41  is fitted into the recess  117   b , the reader-writer  117   c  is positioned in a position opposite tag  49  in the bottoms side of the feeder container  41 . The reader-writer  117   c  corresponds to a communication mechanism referred to as a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The reader-writer can read and write necessary data by communication with the tag  49 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an operation panel  118   a  for operating the medicine dispensing system  1 , a barcode reader  118   b  and a journal printer  118   c  are provided at a front side of the main unit  2 . The barcode reader  118   b  is capable of reading barcodes written on an original medicine box. Further, the journal printer  118   c  is provided in order to print prescription records of medicines done by the medicine dispensing system  1 . According to the medicine dispensing system  1 , the barcodes are read by the barcode reader  118   b  to thereby operate the drum  31  so that the cassette  32  provided in order to accommodate the medicines corresponding to the barcodes can come to the front side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment is configured to add the sub unit  3  to the main unit  2  configured as above. The sub unit  3  includes a sub storage part  120  capable of accommodating and appropriately dispensing medicines, which has the same configuration as the main storage part  20  of the above-described main unit  2 . That is, in the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, the sub storage part  120  constitutes the medicine dispensing means together with the main storage part  20  and the manual distributing unit  23  at the main unit  2 . Further, a sub medicine standby part  130 , which has the same configuration of the medicine standby mechanism part  50  provided in the main unit  2 , is provided below the sub storage part  120 . Also, a sub hopper  135  is disposed below the sub medicine standby part  130 . Thus, medicines dispensed from the sub medicine standby part  130  can be fed through the sub hopper  135  to the transfer device  5 , which will be described in detail below. 
     The sub unit  3  is configured to select the cassette  32  accommodating the medicines according to the prescription from a plurality of the cassettes  32  provided in the sub storage part  120 , to operate the cassette  32  and to dispense the medicines as much as a required quantity. Further, the sub unit  3  can gather the medicines dispensed from the sub storage part  120  one pack at a time in the sub main storage part  130  and dispense the same one after another through the sub hopper  135  to the transfer device  5 . 
     The transfer device  5  is configured to transfer the medicines from the sub unit  3  constituting the sub unit toward the main unit  2  constituting the main unit. As shown in  FIGS. 211-21B , the transfer device  5  has a pipe line  140  and a suction means (transfer means)  141 . Each component member based on the pipe line  140  are set on in a support  144 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transfer device  5  is positioned in a manner that the support  144  is inserted through a communication opening  4   b  formed in a wall surface  4   a  existing at a boundary between the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  to lie across the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . 
     Configuration of the transfer device  5  will be described in detail below. A medicine receiving part  142  is provided at one end of the pipe line  140 , while a medicine dispensing part  143  is provided at the other side. The suction means  141  is pipe-connected to a suction means connecting portion  148  provided at the other side of the pipe line  140 , i.e., in a position of the medicine dispensing part  143 . Further, the suction means connecting portion  148  serves as a joint for connecting the pipe line  140  and a pipe connected to the suction means  141 . Thus, the transfer device  5  is configured to suck the medicines existing in the medicine receiving part  142  in the pipe line  140  to the medicine dispensing part  143  when the suction means  141  operates. 
     The medicine receiving part  142  is provided with a measure  145  for receiving the medicines and an inlet shutter mechanism  146 . As shown in  FIGS. 21A-21B , the measure  145  has an opening at a top surface. The medicines transferred through the sub hopper  135  provided at the sub unit  3  can be inputted through the opening to an inside portion of the measure  145 . Meanwhile, the measure  145  has a medicine dispensing opening  145   a  at a side portion  145   b . Further, in a position opposite the opening  145   a , the one end of the pipe line  140  is disposed through a shutter plate  146   a  constituting the inlet shutter mechanism  146 . 
     In addition to the shutter plate  146   a , the inlet shutter mechanism  146  has a motor  146   b  for operating the shutter plate  146   a . A pinion (not shown) is coupled to an output shaft of the motor  146   b . Meanwhile, the shutter plate  146   a  has a rectangular opening  146   f  opened in a rectangular shape. One edge of the rectangular opening  146   f  is serrated, thereby forming a rack  146   c  extending in a lengthwise direction of the shutter plate  146   a . Further, the shutter plate  146   a  has an opening  146   e  in a position adjacent to the rectangular opening  146   f  in a lengthwise direction. The opening  146   e  has an approximately circular opening shape and is formed in an appropriate center portion of the shutter plate  146   a . An opening diameter of the opening  146   e  is approximately equal to an opening diameter of the pipe line  140 . 
     The shutter plate  146   a  is disposed to follow the side portion  145   b  of the measure  145 . The motor  146   b  is provided in a position adjacent to the shutter plate  146   a . The pinion coupled to the output shaft of the motor  146   b  is positioned within the rectangular opening  146   f  of the shutter plate  146   a  and is meshed with the rack  146   c . Meanwhile, braces  150   a  are provided in positions adjacent to both lateral sides of the pipe line  140 . Two rollers  150   b  are vertically and rotatably provided in the respective braces  150   a . The shutter plate  146   a  is supported as fitted between the rollers  150   b  vertically juxtaposed in each brace  150   a . Thus, if the pinion (not shown) rotates by an operation of the motor  146   b , the shutter plate  146   a  slides along the side portion  145   b  of the measure  145 . 
     If the shutter plate  146   a  slides by the operation of the motor  146   b  up to a position where the opening  145   a  of the measure  145  coexist with the opening  146   e  of the shutter plate  146   e , then the measure  145  is allowed to communicate with the pipe line  140 . On the contrary, as shown in  FIG. 21B , if the openings  145   a ,  146   e  are in a positions deviated from each other, that is, if a portion of the shutter plate  146   a  opposed to the rectangular opening  146   f  through the opening  146   e  comes to a position corresponding to the opening  145   a  of the measure  145 , then the opening  145   a  becomes blocked by the shutter plate  146   a.    
     The medicine dispensing part  143  is a part for dispensing the medicines conveyed from the medicine receiving part  142  through the pipe line  140 . The medicine dispensing part  14  has an outlet shutter mechanism  147 . As shown in  FIGS. 23A-23B , the end of the pipe line  140  is blocked at the medicine dispensing part  143 . A large number of fine openings  140   b  are formed in a periphery of the pipe line  140  at an upper side in an assemble state of the pipe line. Further, a dispensing opening  140   a  is formed in the periphery of the pipe line  140  at a side opposed to a portion where the fine opening  140   b  is formed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23A-23B , the outlet shutter mechanism  147  has a jacket  147   a , a shutter tube  147   b , a motor  147   c  and a gear  147   d . The jacket  147   a  has a tube-shaped jacket body  147   e  and a branch portion  147   f . One end of the jacket body  147   e  is blocked and is mounted on the end of the pipe line  140 . The jacket body  147   e  and the branch portion  147   f  communicate with each other. In the jacket body  147   e , the above-described fine openings  140   b  face toward the branch portion  147   f . The end of the pipe line  140  is inserted to the jacket body. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 21A-21B , the suction means connecting portion  148  is connected to the branch portion  147   f.    
     The shutter tube  147   b  has a tube portion  147   g  and a gear  147   h  provided in an outer periphery of the tube portion. The tube portion and the gear  147   h  are integrally formed. The tube portion  147   g  is positioned between the outer periphery of the pipe line  140  and an inner periphery of the jacket body  147   e  and rotatable therebetween in a circumferential direction of the pipe line  140 . Further, the tube portion  147   g  is provided with an opening  147   i  having the same size and shape as the dispensing opening  140   a  formed in the end of the pipe line  140 . The gear  147   h  is provided at one end of the tube portion  147   g  and exposed outwardly of the jacket body  147   e.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 23A-23B , the motor  147   c  is disposed along the pipe line  140 . A gear  147   d  provided in a leading end of a rotating shaft of the motor  147   c  is meshed with the gear  147   h  integrally provided in the shutter tube  147   b . Thus, if the motor  147   c  operates, the shutter tube  147   b  circumferentially rotates relative to the pipe line  140 . 
     If the shutter tube  147   b  rotates and the opening  147   i  formed in the shutter tube  147   b  comes to the fine opening  140   b  of the pipe line  140  as shown in  FIG. 23A , the dispensing opening  140   a  becomes blocked by the peripheral surface of the shutter tube  147   b . Thus, if the suction means  141  operates in such a state, then air in the pipe line  140  is sucked through the fine openings  140   b  and thus airflow flowing from the medicine receiving part  142  to the medicine dispensing part  143  is produced. Meanwhile, if the shutter tube  147   b  rotates and the opening  147   i  formed in the tube portion  147   g  approximately coincide with the dispensing opening  140   a  of the jacket body  147   e  to thereby communicate with each other as shown in  FIG. 23B . The medicines having come to the end of the pipe line  140  are allowed to be downwardly disposed. Further, the fine openings  140   b  become blocked. 
     Next, operations of the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. The medicine dispensing system  1  can pack the medicines according to the prescription into the packing paper sheet  98  one pack at a time and dispense the same by the cooperation of main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . More specifically, the medicine dispensing system  1  is in some embodiments configured to dispense the medicines in the main storage part  20  or the manual distributing unit  23  provided in the main unit  2  or the medicines in the sub storage part  120  provided in the sub unit  3  according to the prescription one pack at a time to the medicine preparing part  80  in the main unit  2  and then pack the medicines at the medicine packing part  21  and dispense the same. 
     Still more specifically, in case where medicines are prescribed by the medicine dispensing system  1 , when the medicines to be dispensed are in the main storage part  20  of the main unit  2 , the motor  43  of the cassette  32  accommodating such medicines operates. As a result, the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  are dispensed one pack at a time. The medicines dispensed from the feeder container  41  drop downward through the dispensing path  33  provided in the inside of the drum  31  and are gathered in the standby hopper  51  of the medicine standby mechanism part  50 . As such, when the medicines in the main unit  2  corresponding to a prescription for one pack are gathered in the standby hopper  51 , the lid moving mechanism  53  operates and the movable lid  52  is lifted upward. Thus, the lower end of the lid peripheral surface  52   b  of the movable lid  52  is spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the standby hopper  51  and thus the medicines blocked by the lid peripheral surface  52   b  fall down toward the discharging opening  56 . The medicines reaching the discharging opening  56  are dispensed through the collecting hopper  70  provided below the standby hopper  51  to the medicine preparing part  80 . 
     Meanwhile, when the medicines to be dispensed are in the manual distributing unit  23  of the main unit  2 , the medicines are dispensed one pack at a time from the manual distributing unit  23  as well. The medicines dispensed from the manual distributing unit  23  are fed through the manual distributing hopper  91  to the medicine preparing part  80 . 
     Further, when the medicines to be dispensed are in the sub storage part  120  of the sub unit  3 , the medicines are dispensed from the sub storage part  120  to the sub medicine standby part  130 , similar to a case where medicines are in the main storage part  20  of the main unit  2 . That is, when medicines in the cassette  32  provided in the sub storage part  120  are prescribed, the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  are dispensed one pack at a time as described above and then gathered in the standby hopper  51  of the sub medicine standby part (medicine standby mechanism part)  130 . When the medicines to be prescribed from each of the cassettes  32  provided in the sub storage part  120  are gathered in the medicine standby part  130 , the lid moving mechanism  53  of the sub medicine standby part  130  operates and thus the movable lid  52  is lifted upward. Thus, the medicines gathered in the sub medicine standby part  130  are dispensed through the discharging opening  56  and the sub hopper  135  to the measure  145  of the transfer device  5 . 
     When the medicines are dispensed to the measure  145 , the motor  146   b  of the inlet shutter mechanism  146  provided in the vicinity of the medicine receiving part  142  operates to slide the shutter plate  146   a  and the suction means  141  operates. Further, in the medicine dispensing part  143 , the dispensing opening  140   a  of the pipe line  140  is blocked by the peripheral surface of the shutter tube  147   b , while the opening  147   i  formed in the peripheral surface of the shutter tube  147   b  communicates with the fine openings  140   b  formed in the peripheral surface of the pipe line  140 . Then, if the opening  146   e  of the shutter plate  146   a  communicates with the openings  145   a  formed in the side portion  145   b  of the measure  145 , the medicines dispensed in the measure  145  are drawn into the pipe line  140 . Thereafter, the motor  146   b  operates in a reverse direction to the above-described embodiment and the opening  145   a  of the measure  145  is blocked by the shutter plate  146   a.    
     The medicines drawn into the pipe line  140  as described above further move toward the medicine dispensing part  143  in the pipe line  140 . If the medicines reach the medicine dispensing part  143 , the suction means  141  is stopped. Then, the outlet shutter mechanism  147  provided in the vicinity of the medicine dispensing part  143  operates to open the dispensing opening  140   a . That is, the motor  147   a  operates to rotate the shutter tube  147   b  in a circumferential direction and thus the opening  147   i  formed in the shutter tube  147   b  is allowed to communicate with the dispensing opening  140   a  of the pipe line  140 . Thus, the medicines conveyed from the sub unit  3  are dispensed through the dispensing opening  140   a  to the sub collecting hopper  87 . The medicines dispensed to the sub collecting hopper  87  are received in section  81   a  of the section forming body  81  provided in the medicine preparing part  80 . 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, the medicines for one pack are dispensed from the main storage part  20 , the manual distributing unit  23  and the sub storage part  120  are gathered in section  81   a  of the section forming body  81  provided in the medicine preparing part  80 . After gathered therein, the medicines are dispensed to the medicine packing part  21 . Further, as described above, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , the collecting hopper  70 , the manual distributing hopper  91  and the sub collecting hopper  87 , which are provided in order to feed the medicines from each of the parts to the medicine preparing part  80 , are provided in positions circumferentially deviated in the lid  83  of the medicine preparing part  80 . Thus, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , the timing for dispensing the medicines from the main storage part  20 , the manual distributing unit  23  and the sub storage part  23  toward the medicine preparing part  80  are different. 
     More specifically, as for six sections  81   a  provided in the section forming body  81 , when one section  81   a  corresponding to the hole  83   a  as indicated by “ 1 ” in  FIG. 15A  is set as a first section  81   a  (corresponding to section A), the other five sections  81   a  are arranged counterclockwise relative to the first section  81   a  as indicated by “ 2 ” to “ 6 ” in  FIG. 15A  when the section forming body  81  is viewed from the top down. When assuming that the sections  81   a  indicated by “ 2 ” to “ 6 ” in  FIG. 15A  are set as second to sixth sections  81   a , the medicines to be dispensed are fed through the collecting hopper  70  from the main storage part  20  in a state shown in  FIG. 15A  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a first rotation state). Thus, when the medicines are drawn into the first section  81   a , the drive mechanism  84  operates and the section forming body  81  rotates counterclockwise by 60 degrees. As a result, the first section  81   a  comes to a position corresponding to the hole  83   b  as shown in  FIG. 15B  and the sixth section  81   a  comes to a position corresponding to the hole  83   a  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a second rotation state). 
     In the second rotation state, in case there are medicines to be dispensed from the sub storage part  120  to the first section  81   a , the transfer device  5  operates to supply the medicines. Further, in the second rotation state, in case there are medicines to be dispensed from the main storage part  20  to the sixth section  81   a , such medicines are dispensed through the collecting hopper  70 . If the medicines are dispensed from the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  as described above then section forming body  81  sequentially rotates counterclockwise. The second rotation state changes into a state shown in  FIG. 15C  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a third rotation state). 
     In the third rotation state, the first section  81   a  comes to a position corresponding to the hole  83   c , to which the manual distributing hopper  91  is connected. In such a state, when there are medicines to be packed together with the medicines previously dispensed to the first section  81   a  in the manual distributing unit  23 , those medicines are dispensed from the manual distributing unit  23  through the manual distributing hopper  91  to the first section  81   a . Further, in the third rotation state, when there are medicines to be dispensed from the main storage part  20  to the fifth section  81   a  or medicines to be dispensed from the sub storage part  120  to the sixth section  81   a , those medicines are dispensed through the collecting hopper  70  or the manual distributing hopper  91 . 
     When dispensing the medicines to each of the sections  81   a  is completed in the third rotation state as described above, the third rotation state changes into a state shown in  FIG. 15D  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a fourth rotation state) and a state shown in  FIG. 15E  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a fifth rotation state). During such change, similar to the first to third states, the medicines dispensed from the main storage part  20 , the sub storage part  120  and the manual distributing unit  23  are inputted into each of the sections  81   a.    
     Then, when dispensing the medicines is completed in the fifth rotation state, the drive mechanism  84  operates to further rotate the section forming body  81  by 60 degrees in a clockwise direction. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 15F , the first section  81   a  comes to a position corresponding to the hole  82   c  formed in the bottom surface of the medicine preparing part body  82 . At this time, the lever  81   d  provided in a position corresponding to the first section  81   a  is brought into contact with the lever contactor  82   d  provided in a position adjacent to the opening  82   c , thereby opening the shutter  81   c . Thus, while the section forming body  81  moves in a counterclockwise direction, all the medicines gathered in the first section  81   a  direction are dispensed through the packing hopper  85  to the medicine packing part  21 . 
     The medicines dispensed from the medicine preparing part  80  to the medicine packing part  21  are accommodated in a medicine pack, which is previously formed into a semi-pouch shape by the packing paper sheet  98 . Then, the medicine pack is sealed by the pack forming mechanism  96  and the packing paper sheet  98  is transferred by the sheet transferring mechanism  95  toward a further downstream side (toward an obliquely downward side). 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, predetermined information on the medicine is printed by the printing part  99  at a time (time Z) before the medicines dispensed from the medicine preparing part  80  is packed in the medicine packing part  21 . More specifically, as described above, in the medicine packing part  21  employed in the present embodiment, a distance between the pack forming mechanism  96  and the printing part  99  is set as a length corresponding to three packs of a medicine pack. Thus, at a time (time Z) as early as a time period (time period Y) required to rotate the section forming body  81  as much as a quantity corresponding to three sections  81   a  from a time (time X) when the medicines are dispensed from the first section  81   a , that is, in the above-described third rotation state, the information on the medicines in the third rotation state is printed by the printing part  99 . In other words, at a time (time Z) as early as the time period required for dispensing the medicines from three sections  81   a  positioned upstream from the first section  81   a  in a rotation direction of the section forming body  81  from the timing when the medicines are dispensed from the first section  81   a , the information on the medicines accommodated in the first section  81   a  is printed by the printing part  99 . 
     While the section forming body  81  sequentially rotates as described above, the medicines accommodated in the first to sixth sections  81   a  are dispensed one after another to the medicine packing part  21  and then packed therein and the medicines are dispensed from the main storage part  20 , the manual distributing unit  23  and the sub storage part  120  to the first to sixth sections  81   a . The packing paper sheet  98 , which is formed by packing the medicines as described above, is serially transferred to the conveying means  21   b  existing in the obliquely downward side. The packing paper sheet  98  transferred to the conveying means  21   b  enters an inside portion of the casing  105  from the receiving opening  107   a  formed in the receiving part  105   a . Then, a proceeding direction of the packing paper sheet  98 , which proceeds obliquely downward in the housing of the main unit  2 , changes toward an oblique upward side due to a bend in a portion of the casing  105  corresponding to the receiving portion  105   a  or guide by the guide roller  107   b . That is, the proceeding direction of the packing paper sheet  98  changes in the receiving portion  105   a.    
     The packing paper sheet  98  entering the casing  105  is guided by the guide roller  107   b  and contacts the drive rollers  110  and the belts  111  wound thereto. Meanwhile, the drive rollers  110  and the belts  111  operate by the power from a motor (not shown) provided in the casing  105 . Further, a plurality of the pressing rollers  112  are provided in a position opposed to the drive roller  110  and the belt  111 . The pressing rollers  112  are biased toward the belt  111  and press the belt  111 . Thus, if the packing paper sheet  98  is transferred from the receiving portion  105   a  toward the straight portion  105   b  to thereby enter between the belt  111  and the pressing roller  112 , the packing paper sheet  98  becomes pressed toward the drive roller  110  and the belt  111  by the pressing roller  112 . Accordingly, if the power is transmitted from the belt  111  to the packing paper sheet  98 , the packing paper sheet  98  is conveyed along the straight portion  105  toward the bent portion  105   c  located obliquely upward. 
     The packing paper sheet  98 , which reaches the bent portion  105   c  as described above, is further conveyed along the bent portion  105   c . In this case, as described above, in the conveying means  21   b  employed in the present embodiment, the bent portion  105   c  may be continue in a straight direction toward the straight portion  105  with its leading end facing toward the side panel  2   b  or may be bent toward the front panel  2   a  of the main unit  2  relative to the straight portion  105   b . Thus, when the bent portion  105   c  is continues in a straight direction towards the straight portion  105   b , the packing paper sheet  98  conveyed along the straight portion  105   b  moves straight toward the side panel  2   b  and then is removed from the dispensing opening  2   d  to the outside of the main unit  2 . Meanwhile, when the bent portion  105   c  is bent toward the front panel  2   a , a conveying direction of the packing paper sheet  98  conveyed along the straight portion  105   b  is directed to the front panel  2   a  and therefore the packing paper sheet  98  is dispensed from the dispensing opening  2   c.    
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, abnormality in the medicine packing part  21  such as a paper jam of the packing paper sheet  98  can be detected by means of the abnormality detecting means  115 . More specifically, the packing paper sheet  98  is conveyed by the conveying means  21   b  in the medicine packing part  21 . However, if the abnormality in transferring the packing paper sheet occurs at the conveying means  21  or at the packing means  21   a  disposed more upstream than the conveying means  21   b , then the flow of the packing paper sheet  98  is delayed in the conveying means  21   b.    
     Meanwhile, in the conveying means  21   b , the sub roller  115   a  is disposed near the pressing roller  112   a , which is disposed upstream in the conveying direction of the packing paper sheet  98 , that is, disposed adjacent to the receiving portion  105   a , among the plurality of pressing rollers  112 . The sub roller  115   a  is rotatable independently of the pressing roller. Further, the pinch roller  115   a  is disposed in a position opposed to the sub roller  115   a . Thus, when the packing paper sheet  98  flows in the medicine packing part  21  without delays, the packing paper sheet  98  passes between the sub roller  115   a  and the pinch roller  115   a  and the pinch roller  115   b  is rotated by the packing paper sheet  98 . On the contrary, when the flow of the packing paper sheet  98  in the medicine packing part  21  is stopped by any chance, the packing paper sheet  98  does not pass between the sub roller  115   a  and the pinch roller  115   b  and thus the pinch roller  115  does not rotate. Thus, by detecting by means of the rotary encoder  115   d  connected to the pinch roller  115   b  by shaft  115   c  whether or not the pinch roller  115   b  normally rotates, the abnormality in transferring the packing paper sheet  98  can be detected. When the abnormality in transferring the packing paper sheet  98  such as a paper jam is detected by the abnormality detecting mechanism  115 , the medicine dispensing system  1  stops the above-described serial operations. 
     Further, the abnormal set detecting means  38  is provided in the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  employed in the present embodiment. The abnormal set detecting means is configured to detecting a case where the cassette  32  is not securely mounted on the drum  31 . More specifically, when the cassette  32  is pushed out from the trajectory J illustrated in  FIG. 4( c )  due to an abnormal mount, the cassette  32  bumps against the contact plate  38   a , which constitutes the abnormal set detecting means, along with the rotation of the drum  31  to thereby swing the contact plate  38   a  to turn on the switch  38   b . Thus, when the switch  38   b  is turned on, the medicine dispensing system  1  judges the abnormal mount of the cassette to thereby stop the above-described serial operations. 
     As described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  has the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  and is configured to transfer the medicines dispensed from the sub storage part  120  provided in the sub unit  3  to the main unit  2  through the transfer device  5 . Further, not only are the medicines dispensed in the main unit  2  but also the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be packed in the medicine packing part  21  provided in the main unit  2  together and then be dispensed. Thus various kinds of the medicines can be dealt with by providing the sub units  3 . 
     In this case, as described above, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , a large number of the cassettes  32  are provided installed not only in the main unit  2  but also in the sub unit  3 . Thus, in some embodiments, the medicine dispensing system  1  is configured to accurately manage characteristic information on the feeder container  41  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a characteristic container information), which constitutes each cassette  32 . More specifically, it is preferred that the medicine dispensing system  1  is configured to record the characteristic container information such as data on the kind or quantity of the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32 , data on a supplement history related to a person performing a medicine supplement in each feeder container  41  and date and time of the medicine supplement, data on a usage history of each cassette, and the like into the tag  49 . Further, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be configured to manage the medicines accommodated in each feeder container  41  or notify a user of a maintenance time of each cassette  32  based on the characteristic container information of each cassette recorded in the tag  49 . Thus, in order to meet such a demand, as shown in  FIGS. 20A-20B , there is provided a data management system  180  configured to transmit and receive the data including the characteristic container information to and from the tag  49 , to renew and write the data and to read the data from the tag  49 , by a control means  170  provided for controlling the operations of the medicine dispensing system  1  and either the reader-writer  49  contained in the motor base  40  which constitutes each cassette  32  or the reader-writer  117   c  provided in the worktable  117 . The data management system  180  manages the characteristic container information of each cassette  32 . Hereinafter, a data management method performed by means of the data management system  180  in the medicine dispensing system  1  and the operations of the medicine dispensing system  1  will be described in detail below according to an order of medicine filling. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1 , the medicine filling for the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120  is performed by removing the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  assigned to every medicine. In this case, when the cassette  32  accommodating medicines for medicine filling is in a place where a user can easily remove the feeder container  41 , the feeder container  41  can be removed as it is. However, it may be in a place where a user cannot easily remove it. In such a case, the operation panel  118   a  is manipulated and an interface for calling the cassette shown in  FIG. 22( a )  is displayed. A number individually assigned to each cassette  32  is inputted through the interface and thus the feeder container  41  of the desired cassette  32  can come to a place where a user can easily remove the feeder container  41 . Further, when the kind of medicines for medicine filling can be specified, the operation panel  118   a  is first manipulated and then an interface for calling a medicine name shown in  FIG. 22( b )  is displayed. In such a state, the medicine name can be inputted by manually inputting the kind of the medicines for medicine filling through the operation panel  118   a  or be inputted automatically by reading a particular barcode for each medicine assigned to the original medicine box by means of the barcode reader  118   b . By dosing so, it is possible to move the feeder container  41  of the cassette  32  accommodating the medicines for medicine filling to a place where the user can easily remove the feeder container  41 . 
     The feeder container  41  of the cassette  32  removed from the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  as described above is positioned so as to be fitted in the recess  117   b  formed in the worktable  117 . Then, the tag  49  provided at the bottom surface of the feeder container  41  comes to a position corresponding to the reader-writer  117   c  provided at the worktable  117 . Thus, data communication becomes possible through the reader-writer  117   c  between the tag  49  and the control means  170  of the medicine dispensing system  1 . Further, in such a stage, an interface for indicating the characteristic container information shown in  FIG. 22( c )  and  FIG. 22( d )  is displayed in the operation panel  118   a  provided at the front side of the main unit  2  and thus the characteristic container information is displayed. Thus, an operation mode of the medicine dispensing system  1  is changed from a general operation mode for packing and dispensing medicines according to a prescription to a medicine filling mode for filling the feeder container  41  with medicines. 
     If the operation mode of the medicine dispensing system  1  is changed into the medicine filling mode, the characteristic container information is read from the tag  49  of the feeder container  41  disposed on the worktable  117  through the reader-writer  117   c . More specifically, except when there is no data in the tag  49  such as right after starting to use the feeder container  41 , the characteristic container information such as data on the kind or quantity of the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32 , data on a supplement history related to a person carrying out a medicine supplement in each feeder container  41  and date and time of the medicine supplement, data on a usage history of each cassette, and the like is recorded in the tag  49 . Thus, when the feeder container  41  is fitted to the recess  117   b  of the worktable  117 , the characteristic container information including the above-described data is read from the tag  49  through the reader-writer  117   c  to the control means  170  of the medicine dispensing system  1 . The data read from the tag  49  as described above is recorded by the control means  170  into a record means  175  including a conventional memory or a hard disk. 
     When a screen display is made as shown in  FIG. 22( c )  and  FIG. 22( d ) , it is possible to input the information such as the kind or quantity of the medicines for medicine filling in the feeder container  41  and an operator&#39;s name carrying out the filling operation as the characteristic container information. Regarding inputting the kind of the medicines, the operator carrying out the filling operation can manually input information. Further, it is possible to specify the kind of the medicines in the control means  170  by reading the barcode, which is written on the original medicine box of the medicine for medicine filling, by means of the barcode reader (identification mark reading means)  118   b . Further, it is possible to input the kind of the medicine by means of such an operation. 
     Further, for the operator&#39;s name carrying out the filling operation of the medicines, the operator can manually input like kinds of medicines. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, information for specifying the operator (operator specifying information), which is recorded in an employee card, an ID card, a ring or a wrist band assigned to each operator, is read by the barcode reader  118   b  or the reader-writer  117   c . The operator&#39;s name may be automatically inputted to the control means  170  using this information. 
     Further, when the tag  49  provided in the bottom surface of the feeder container  41  is allowed to data-communicate with the control means  170  of the medicine dispensing system  1  through the reader-writer  117   c , the characteristic container information on the usage history such as a total rotation quantity and a total rotation time of the rotor  48  provided in the feeder container  41  is read in the control means  170  in addition to the data related to the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  such as the kind or quantity of the medicines or the data related to the supplement history of the medicines to the feeder container  41 . Based on the data related to the usage history of the cassette  32 , the control means  170  judges whether the cassette  32  reaches a durable term or a maintenance time. Further, if it is ascertained that the cassette  32  reaches the durable term or that it is time for maintenance to be performed, a warning to that effect is displayed in the operation panel  118   a.    
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the present embodiment, if the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  is filled with medicines as described above and is set in the motor base  40 , then the data-communication is performed between the tag  49  of the feeder container  41  and the control means  170  through the reader-writer  44  provided in the motor base  40 . Thus, a filling recording information that a feeder container  41  of which cassettes  32  among the cassettes  32  is filled with what medicines and how much the feeder container is filled is grasped by the control means  170  for each cassette  32 . Thereafter, a dispensing history of the medicine in each cassette is written into the tag  49  through the reader-writer  44  on occasions. Thus, the control means  170  can grasp a remaining quantity of the medicines in the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  based on the filling quantity in the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  with the medicines and the dispensing history of the medicines written in the tag  49 . Further, the medicine dispensing system  1  can grasp and manage statistical information such as when and how much any medicines are used based on the filling history or the dispensing history of the medicines grasped by the control means  170  as described above. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system  1  has a function of continuously packing many predetermined medicines through an operation mode referred to as a group packing mode (i.e., a preliminary prescribing function), in addition to the function of packing medicines through the general operation mode where the medicines are prescribed based on the prescription inputted by a doctor or pharmacist. Thus, for example, it is possible to preliminarily pack many general-purpose medicines such as refrigerant medicines, analgesic medicines and stomach medicines per dosage. When the medicine dispensing system  1  operates in the group packing mode, the control means  170  confirms whether there is any cassette  32  accommodating the medicines to be packed among a large number of the cassettes  32  provided in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 . In this case, when the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  is replaced before the medicine dispensing system operates in the group packing mode, the characteristic container information recorded in the tag  49  provided in such a feeder container  41  is read through the reader-writer  44  contained in the motor base  40 . Then, the control means  17  specifies the cassette  32  including the feeder container  41 , which accommodates the medicines to be packed through the group packing mode, and then the medicines are dispensed from the cassette  32  by a predetermined quantity. The medicines dispensed from the cassette  32  are packed in the medicine packing part  21 . 
     As described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  has a data management system  180  and is configured such that the tag  49  provided in every feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  and the control means  170  can data-communicate with each other through the reader-writer  118   c  and the characteristic container information characteristic in each feeder container  41  can be read from the tag  49  or written into the tag  49 . Thus, it is possible to simply and accurately manage, renew and grasp the characteristic container information for each feeder container  41 . 
     As described above, the reader-writer  44  is contained in the motor base  40  of each cassette and it is possible to data-communicate with the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41  through the reader-writer without contact with the tag. Thus, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , even if the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40 , the data such as the dispensing history of the medicines recorded in the tag  49  can be appropriately renewed. This can be effectively used for a stock management of medicines. Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the reader-writer  44  is provided in each cassette  32 . The present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The reader-writer  44  may be provided in some or all of the cassettes  32 . 
     In the above-described embodiment, the reader-writer  44 ,  117   c  is provided in the cassette  32  or the worktable  117 , which constitutes the medicine dispensing system  1 , and it is possible to access to the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41  and read and write the data from and into the tag through the reader-writer  44 ,  117   c . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. More specifically, the present invention may be configured such that a device provided separately from the medicine dispensing system  1  accesses the tag  49  and reads and writes the data from and into the tag, and the data written in the tag  49  is read through the reader-writer  44  and  117   c  to the control means  170  to assist in medicine management. 
     More specifically, by way of an example of the above-described device provided separately from the medicine dispensing system  1 , a counter device  195  shown in  FIG. 24  can be employed. The counter device  185  has a body portion  186  and a container attaching portion  187 . A control device (not shown) for controlling operations of the counter device  185  is provided in the body portion  186 . Further, a container placing portion and an operation panel  189  are provided at a top surface of the body portion  186 . The container placing portion is a portion for placing the container for accommodating medicines thereon. Further, the operation panel  189  is provided with buttons for inputting operation conditions or operation commands, such as a ten key  189   a  for inputting a quantity; a start button  189   b  for starting the operation; a temporary stop button  189   c  for temporarily stopping the operation; and a stop button  189   d  for stopping the operation. In addition to the above-described-mentioned buttons, the operation panel  189  is further provided with buttons such as a write button  189   e  and a maintenance button  189   f  and a display  189   g.    
     The container attaching portion  187  is provided with an equivalent of the above-described motor base  40  of the cassette  32  and a dispensing opening  196 . A feeder container  41 , which is removed from the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  of the medicine dispensing system  1 , or which is separately prepared, can be mounted on the motor base  40 . Medicines can be dispensed from the feeder container  41  by operating a motor  43  contained in the motor base  40 . Further, a medicine path (not shown), through which the medicines dispensed from the feeder container  41  attached to the motor base  40  pass, is provided in the container attaching portion  187 . Also, the medicine path communicates with the dispensing opening  196 . Thus, the medicines, which are dispensed from the feeder container  41  to thereby pass through the medicine path, are discharged through the dispensing opening  196  toward the container placing portion  188 . In the container attaching portion  187 , more specifically, in a suitable place such as the above-described medicine path or the motor base  49 , a counting means (not shown) configured to counting the number of the medicines dispensed from the feeder container  41  is provided. 
     The counter device  185  can be operated in a plurality of operation modes including a counting mode or a predetermined quantity dispensing mode. The counting mode is a mode for counting the number of the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  mounted on the motor base  40  by dispensing all the medicines  40  therein. The counter device  185  starts an operation according to the counting mode by pressing on the start button  189   b  when the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40 . Further, the number of medicines, which is counted by the counting means (not shown) provided in the container attaching portion  187 , is displayed in the display  189   g.    
     The predetermined quantity dispensing mode is an operation mode for dispensing the medicine from the feeder container  41  mounted on the motor base  40  by a quantity which a user inputs and sets through the ten key pad  189   a . The counter device  185  operates in the predetermined quantity dispensing mode when the quantity of the medicines to be dispensed from the feeder container  41  (set quantity Q) is inputted through the ten key pad  189   a  and then the start button  189   b  is pressed on. After the counter device  185  starts the operation according to the predetermined quantity dispensing mode, as the quantity of the dispensed medicines comes to the set quantity Q, the rotation of the motor  43  provided in the motor base  40  becomes slow to thereby reduce a dispensing speed of the medicines. In the counter device  185  according to the present embodiment, when the quantity of the dispensed medicines becomes Q- 2 , the dispensing speed of the medicines is reduced. Thus, excessively dispensing the medicines by an error is prevented. 
     After the counter device  185  operates in the above-described counting mode or the predetermined quantity dispensing mode, the operation information associated therewith can be written into the tag  49  provided in the bottom surface of the feeder container  41  through the reader-writer  44  provided in the motor base  40  by the counter device. More specifically, after the counter device  185  operates in the counting mode, if the write button  189   e  provided in the operation panel  189  is pressed on, then the counted number of the medicines is written into the tag  49 . Further, after the counter device  185  operates in the predetermined quantity dispensing mode, if the write button  189   e  is pressed on, then the counted number of the medicines is written into the tag  49 . Thus, in case the counter device  185  counts the quantity of the medicines in the feeder container  41  or counts and removes the medicines and the data associated therewith is written into the tag  49  and then the feeder container  41  is set in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  of the medicine dispensing system  1 , the data written into the tag  49  by the counter device  185  can be effectively used to control the medicine dispensing system  1  or medicine management. More specifically, after the data is written in the tag  49  by the counter device  185  as described above, if the feeder container  41  is set in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  or the feeder container  41  is fitted to the recess  117   b  of the container placing portion  117   a  provided in the worktable  117 , the data written into the tag  49  may be read through the reader-writer  44 ,  117   c  by the control means  170  or recorded on the record means  175 . According to such configuration, the data obtained by setting the feeder container  41  in the counter device  185  can be effectively used for the operation control of the medicine dispensing system  1  or the stock management of medicines. 
     The counter device  185  is an example of the above-described device provided separately from the medicine dispensing system  1 . Further, the counter device  185  itself serves as a medicine dispensing device for dispensing medicines. That is, the counter device (medicine dispensing device)  185  includes the feeder container  41  configured to store and dispense the medicines and a control means (not shown) configured to data-communicate with the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41 . The feeder container  41  is configured to be attachable and detachable. The counter device  185  can perform data-communication of the data characteristic for the feeder container  41  such as the quantity of the medicines in the feeder container  41  with the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41  and the above-described control means. Accordingly, the counter device  185  corresponds to a medicine dispensing device provided separately from the medicine dispensing system  1 . 
     Further, as described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  can read the information specifying the operator read from an employee card or an ID card, and easily and accurately record a person who performed the medicine supplement for the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  into the tag  49  using such a data. It is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the operator information is specified by items carried by the operator such as the employee card or the ID card or items assigned to each operator. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. For example, the operator information may be specified by a biometric certification such as a fingerprint. Further, the above-described embodiment employs a configuration wherein the operator information is read from any medium and the data for specifying the operator can be automatically inputted based on data associated therewith. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. 
     The operation mode of the medicine dispensing system  1  is changed into the medicine filling mode upon a condition that the feeder container  41  of the cassette  32  removed from the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  is fitted to the recess  117   b  of the worktable  117  and data communication becomes possible through the reader-writer  117   c  between the tag  48  and the control means  170 . That is, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , it serves as a trigger for changing the operation mode to fit the feeder container  41  to the recess  117   b  of the worktable  117  and to enable the data-communication. Thus, according to the medicine dispensing system  1 , when the operation mode is changed into the medicine filling mode, the operator does not need to perform complicated work. Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the operation mode is changed by fitting the feeder container  41  to the recess  117   b . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. 
     As described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  is capable of reading the identification mark, which is assigned to each kind of medicine, such as the barcode written on the original medicine box by means of a mark reading means configured to read identification marks such as the barcode reader  118   b . Further, the information on the kind of medicine specified as described above is recorded into the tag  49  by the data-communication between the control means  170  and the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41 . Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  does not need any effort such as an operator&#39;s manual input of the kind of medicines when the medicine dispensing system  1  operates in the medicine filling mode. Accordingly, the information on the kind of medicine can be more easily and accurately recorded into the tag  49 . Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the kind of the medicine is specified by reading the barcode assigned to each medicine by the barcode reader  118   b  and the data associated with such kind of medicine can be automatically inputted. However, the present invention should not be limited thereto. Further, the barcode reader  118   b  may read any barcodes including a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional barcode. Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the barcode reader  118   b  is capable of reading the barcode assigned to each kind of medicine. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The present invention may employ an appropriate reader capable of reading a mark made by a color combination or reading the information recorded in an RFID tag instead of the barcode reader  118   b.    
     As described above, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , only by positioning the feeder container  41  in the recess  117   b  of the worktable  117 , the data-communication becomes possible without any contact through the barcode reader  118   b  provided in a position corresponding to the recess  117   b . Thus, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , data-communication becomes possible between the tag  49  and the control means  170  without any effort, for example, such as connecting a wire to the feeder container  41 , and serial operations such as renewing, writing and managing the characteristic container information on each feeder container  41  can be smoothly performed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the RFID tag or the RFID reader-writer is employed as the tag  49  or the reader-writer  117   c  and thus reading the information recorded in the tag  49  and writing the information into the tag  49  can be performed without any contact. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. That is, the information may be read and written by using other kinds of information, recordable medium or reader-writer. Also, although the data-communication is possible without any contact, the data-communication may be performed through wire connection. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to read and write the data characteristic in each feeder container  41 , which is recorded in the tag  49  provided in each feeder container  41 . More specifically, the data such as the kind or quantity of the accommodated medicines and a name of an operator performing the medicine supplement. Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be configured such that when the feeder container  41  filled with medicines is attached to the motor base  40  appropriately selected from the plurality of motor bases  40  previously provided in the main storage part  20  of the main unit  2  and the sub storage part  120  of the sub unit  3 , the control means  170  specifies where the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines required for packing and thus the medicines can be dispensed according to the kind and quantity corresponding to a prescription. That is, according to such a configuration, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be a device of a so-called free address type wherein the feeder container  41  can be mounted in any position, not of a so-called fixed address type wherein the mount position of each feeder container  41  is fixed. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be a device of a semi-fixed type wherein the motor base  40  configured to attach only the feeder container  41  for accommodating medicines with a particular property thereon is specified. More specifically, the medicine dispensing system  1  may handle various kinds of the medicines. However, depending on the kind of medicines, there are medicines prone to bound, roll, break or chip due to a drop impact at a place where they are dispensed from the feeder container  41 . When dealing with the medicines with such properties (hereinafter, those medicines are referred to as specific medicines), a packing abnormality may occur unless a timing of packing the medicines is delayed until the medicines become stable without bounding or rolling or a means for buffering the drop impact is devised. 
     Preferably, the feeder container  41  for accommodating the medicines (specific medicines) prone to bound, roll, break or chip as described above is to be attached in a lower position of the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120  or in a position where the above-described concerns can be resolved. Accordingly, in case of the above-described concerns, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be a device in the above-described semi-fixed address type. More specifically, in case the motor bases  40  are upwardly and downwardly provided in six stages in the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120  as shown in  FIG. 51 , the medicine dispensing system  1  may regulate the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines with concerns of bounding or rolling (specific medicines) and may in some embodiments be attached to the motor base  40  in a region from a bottom portion up to two stages (hereinafter, this may be referred to as fixed address region Fi). 
     Further, the medicine dispensing system  1  may regulate the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines except that the specific medicines may be attached not only in the fixed address region Fi but also to the motor bases  40  in a region (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a free address region Fr) other than the region Fi. Also, as for the feeder container  41  which can be attached in the free address region Fr, its attachment arrangement may be regulated in a manner of subdividing into two or more groups. More specifically, as for the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines other than the specific medicines and inappropriate to drop from a higher place, it may be regulated that such a feeder container  41  is attached in a region lower than a free address region Fr 1  divided into two stages above the fixed address region Fi. And, as for the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines with no concerns caused by dropping, it may be regulated that such a feeder container  41  is attached to the motor base  40  in a free address region Fr 2  divided into two stages above the free address region Fr 1 . The above-described regulation for a correspondence relationship between the feeder container  41  and the motor base  40  in each region is built in a control means  190  in a manner of storing it in a memory means in the control means  190  as a container mounting database (correspondence relationship regulating part)  193  as shown in  FIG. 52 . 
     As described above, in case the regions of installing a large number of the motor bases  40  provided in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  are classified into a plurality of regions (container mounting region) such as the fixed address region Fi and the free address regions Fr (Fr 1 , Fr 2 ) according to a height of the regions, the correspondence relationship between the motor base  40  and the feeder container  41  may be regulated as a relationship with the container mounting region at a height which becomes an upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  determined depending on the kinds of the medicines accommodated in this feeder container  41 . More specifically, the correspondence relationship between the motor base  40  and each feeder container  41  may be determined considering some or all of the following: a bound factor counted for a correlation between a drop height of the medicines accommodated in each feeder container  41  and a bound thereof; a rolling factor counted for a correlation between the drop height and the rolling; and a value of factor counted for a drop height wherein the breakage or chipping becomes equal to or less than a certain probability. 
     In the present embodiment, a correspondence label is attached on the feeder container  41  and the motor base  40  such that an operator performing detachment of the feeder container  41  can easily distinguish the regulations stored in the above-described container mounting database  193 . More specifically, a specific label A colored in blue, for example, is attached on the motor base  40  in the fixed address region Fi and the feeder container  41  accommodating the specific medicines. Further, a specific label B colored in green, for example, is attached on the motor base  40  in the free address region Fr 1 . Also, the label B is attached on the feeder container  41  which may be attached in any of the free address region Fr 1  and the fixed address region Fi. Likewise, a specific label C colored in white, for example, is attached on the motor base  40  in the free address region Fr 1 . Also, the label C is attached on the feeder container  41  which may be attached in any of the free address regions Fr 1  and Fr 2  and the fixed address region Fi. Thus, the operator can be intuitively aware to attach the feeder container  41  in a region with the same label as the label of the feeder container  41  to be attached or in a region lower than said region. 
     As described above, when the medicine dispensing system  1  is the device of the above-described semi-fixed address type, for example, the control means  190  shown in  FIG. 52  may be employed instead of the above-described control means  170 . Hereinafter, the medicine dispensing system  1  provided with the control means  190  will be explained focused on configurations and operations of the control means  190 . Further, in the following description, in order to simplify the description, an example will be described wherein the region of the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  is classified into two regions of the fixed address region Fi and the free address region Fr according to the height of the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 . 
     In addition to the function of the above-described control means  170 , the control means  190  has a judging part  191  having a function of performing an error judgment operation for confirming whether the feeder container  41  to be set in the motor base  50  in the fixed address region Fi (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a specific feeder container  41   x ) is mounted on the wrong motor base  40 . That is, when the feeder container  41  is attached to the motor base  40 , the control means  190  allow the judging part  191  to perform the error judgment operation to thereby judge whether or not the attached feeder container  41  is the specific feeder container  41   x . Also, the control means allows the judging part to perform the error judgment operation for judging an erroneous mount by confirming whether the specific feeder container  41   x  is erroneously mounted on the motor base  40  in the region other than the fixed address region Fi (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a free address region Fr). More specifically, in the free address region Fr 1 , divided into two stages above the fixed address region Fi, or in the free address region Fr 2 , divided into two stages above the free address region Fr 1 . Hereinafter, the error judgment operation will be described in detail. 
     (Error Judgment Operation) 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  with the control means  190 , when the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40 , the error judgment operation is performed according to a control flow shown in  FIG. 53 . More specifically, if the erroneous mount judging operation begins, the judging part  191  confirms whether there is any feeder container  41  erroneously mounted against the regulation of the container mounting database  193  in Steps  1 - 1  to  1 - 3 , based on the following: the above-described container mounting database  193 ; the region in which the motor base  40  with the feeder container  41  mounted thereon exists; and the kind of the medicines read from the tag  49  of the feeder container  41 . 
     Even more specifically, first in Step  1 - 1 , data-communication is performed between the control means  190  and the tag  49  of the feeder container  41  mounted on the motor base  40  by the reader-writer  44  provided in each of the motor bases  40  in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 . Thus, the control means  190  specifies which region of the fixed address region Fi and the free address region Fr the motor base  40  with the feeder container  41  mounted thereon exists. Further, in addition to the above, the control means  190  confirms whether or not the feeder container  41  mounted on the motor base  40  is the specific feeder container  41   x . That is, whether or not the medicines in the feeder container  41  are the specific medicines with the concerns of breakage or chipping. Then, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 2 . 
     When the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 2 , the judging part  191  of the control means  190  confirms whether or not the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  confirmed in Step  1 - 1  are the specific medicines with the concerns of breakage or chipping. In this case, if the medicines are not the specific medicines, the feeder container  41  accommodating those medicines may be mounted on the motor base  40  in any of the fixed address region Fi and the free address region Fr. Thus, when it is checked in Step  1 - 2  that the kind of medicines is not the specific medicine, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 6  and it is judged that the feeder container  41  is mounted in a normal position (right mount state). Then, the control flow is ended. 
     Meanwhile, when it is checked in Step  1 - 2  that the medicines accommodated in the feeder container  41  provided in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  are the specific medicines, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 3 . It is checked in Step  1 - 3  whether the motor base  40  provided with the feeder container  41  is in the fixed address region Fi of the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 . In this case, when the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40  in the fixed address region Fi, it is assumed that when the medicines in the feeder container  41  (the specific medicines) are dispensed, no problems due to the bound or breakage occurs. Accordingly, in this case, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 6  and it is judged that the feeder container  41  is mounted on the normal position. Then, the control flow is ended. 
     Meanwhile, when it is checked in Step  1 - 3  that the motor base  40  provided with the feeder container  41  is not in the fixed address region Fi but in the free address region Fr, there are concerns about the problems due to the bound or breakage by dispensing the medicines (the specific medicines) from this feeder container  41 . Accordingly, in this case, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 4  and it is judged as the erroneous mount state that the feeder container  41  is not mounted in the normal position. Then, the control flow proceeds to Step  1 - 5  to perform a display for warning the erroneous mount state in the operating panel  118   a  provided in the front surface of the main body of the main unit  2  and the control flow is ended. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  provided with the control means  190 , a medicine packing operation under the general operation mode can be performed according to the control flow shown in  FIG. 54  using judgment results from the above-described error judgment operation. Hereinafter, the packing operation under the general operation mode, which is performed using the judgment results from the error judgment operation, will be described. 
     (Packing Operation Using the Judgment Results from the Error Judgment Operation) 
     According to the medicine dispensing system  1  provided with the control means  190 , if a prescription data for designating the kind, the quantity and the number of packs of the medicines to be packed is inputted to the control means  190 , an operation under the general operation mode is started. If the operation under the general operation mode is started, the mounting state of the feeder container  41  for the motor base  40  provided in the drums of the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120  is confirmed in Step  2 - 1 . Then, if the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 2 , it is checked whether the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines to be packed according to the previously-inputted prescription data (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a packing feeder container  41   y ) is mounted on the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 . In this case, when the packing feeder containers  41   y  is empty, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 7  and an information indicating an error (a feeder container insertion error) is displayed in the operating panel  118   a  as shown in  FIG. 55 . Further, in Step  2 - 7 , the packing operation is stopped. Then, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 6  which will be described below. 
     Meanwhile, when all the packing feeder containers  41   y  are mounted in Step  2 - 2 , the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 3 . It is checked in Step  2 - 3  according to the above-described control flow shown in  FIG. 53  whether not only the packing feeder container  41   y  but also all the feeder containers  41  mounted on the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120  are erroneously mounted. When the erroneous mounting is confirmed in Step  2 - 3 , that is, when it is confirmed in Step  2 - 3  that the feeder container  41  (the specific feeder container  41   x ) accommodating the specific medicines having problems such as bound or breakage, which should be originally mounted in the fixed address region Fi, is mounted in the free address region Fr in the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120 , the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 8 . 
     It is checked in Step  2 - 8  whether the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  is a feeder container accommodating the medicines to be packed (the packing feeder container  41   y ). In this case, when the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  corresponds to the packing feeder container  41   y , continuing to dispense the medicines as it is can cause the problems such as packing abnormality resulting from bound or rolling of the medicines in the place where the medicines are dispensed or breakage and chipping of the medicines. Accordingly, in this case, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 10  and information indicating an error (a feeder container erroneous mounting error) purporting that the feeder container  41  (the specific feeder container  41   x ) is erroneously mounted in the free address region Fr is displayed in the operating panel  118   a . Also, the packing operation is stopped until the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  is mounted in the fixed address region Fi. 
     Meanwhile, when it is judged in Step  2 - 8  that the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  does not correspond to the packing feeder container  41   y , the medicines are not allowed to be dispensed from the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  in the packing operation. Thus, although the packing operation continues as the feeder container  41  to be mounted in the fixed address region Fi is erroneously mounted, it is assumed that there is no problem due to the above-described bound, rolling, breakage and chipping of the medicines. Accordingly, in this case, a message for urging to resolve the erroneous mounting (an erroneous mounting resolving urging message) as shown in  FIG. 56  is displayed in Step  2 - 9 . Then, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 4  and the packing operation continues as the erroneous mounting resolving urging message is displayed in the operating panel  118   a  in Step  2 - 9 . 
     When it is judged in Step  2 - 3  that no feeder container  41  is erroneously mounted, or when it is judged in Step  2 - 8  that the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  does not correspond to the packing feeder container  41   y , the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 4 . It is checked in Step  2 - 4  whether the packing feeder container  41   y  accommodating the medicines to be packed is pulled out while the control flow proceeds from said Step  2 - 1 . In this case, when it is confirmed that the packing feed container  41   y  is pulled out, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 11  and an information indicating an error to this effect (a feeder container identification error) is displayed in the operating panel  118   a  as shown in  FIG. 58 . Also, the packing operation is stopped until the pulled-out packing feeder container  41   y  is mounted again. Meanwhile, when it is judged that the packing feeder container  41   y  is not pulled out, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 5  and the packing operation is performed. Then, the control flow proceeds to Step  2 - 6  and it is checked whether all the medicines to be packed according to the prescription data inputted at the time of starting the medicine packing operation under the general operation mode are packed. In this case, when packing the medicines to be packed according to the prescription data is not completed, the control flow returns to Step  2 - 2 . Meanwhile, when packing all the medicines is completed, the control flow is ended. 
     As described above, in case the medicine dispensing system  1  employs the control means  190 , the error judgment operation is performed according to the control flow shown in  FIG. 53  and therefore it can be judged whether the feeder container  41  is erroneously mounted in the container mounting part where the feeder container  41  should not be mounted originally. Further, as shown in the control flow of  FIG. 54 , in the medicine dispensing system  1 , when the feeder container  41  is erroneously mounted and such an erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  does not correspond to the feeder container accommodating the medicines to be packed (the packing feeder container  41   y ), dispensing the medicines continues due to no inconvenience in packing the medicines. Thus, the work efficiency in dispensing and packing the medicines is enhanced. Meanwhile, when the erroneously-mounted packing feeder container  41   y  accommodates the above-described medicines with the concerns of problems such as bound or breakage, dispensing and packing the medicine is stopped. Thus, where the medicine dispensing system  1  is configured as described above, although there is the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41 , the packing abnormality caused by the problems such as bound or breakage of the medicines can be prevented while minimizing a loss in work efficiency. 
     In an example illustrated in the above-described embodiment, the motor bases  40  capable of mounting the feeder container  41  thereon are provided as divided into multiple stages in an upward and downward direction. Further, the motor bases are regulated in a two-stage region (the container mounting region) of the fixed address region Fi and the free address region Fr according to the height. Further, the corresponding relationship between the motor base  40  and the feeder container  41  to be attached thereto is regulated in the container mounting database  193  as the relationship with the container mounting region being at the height which becomes the upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  determined according to the kinds of medicines. That is, a region which becomes the upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  accommodating the specific medicines causing the problems such as bound or breakage is regulated as the fixed address region Fi. Further, a region which becomes the upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  accommodating the medicines causing less problems such as bound or breakage is regulated as the free address region Fr. 
     However, the regulation (classification) for the relationship with the container mounting region being at the height which becomes the upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  regulated in the container mounting database  193  should not be limited to the above-described. The region divided into multiple stages in an upward and downward direction where the motor bases  40  are provided may be regulated to be divided into still more stages according to the height. More specifically, the regions may be classified into three stages by classifying the free address region Fr into two regions Fr 1 , Fr 2  as described above or may be classified into still more stages. In this case, the medicine dispensing system is configured such that the correspondence relationship between the motor base  40  and the feeder container  41  to be attached thereto is regulated in the container mounting database  193  as the relationship with the region (container mounting region) being at the height which becomes the upper attachment limit of a medicine feeding container determined according to the kinds of the medicines, and that it is judged as an erroneous mount state by the error judgment operation when the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40  in the container mounting region positioned above the container mounting region being at the height which becomes the upper attachment limit, and that it is judged as a right mount state by the error judgment operation when the feeder container  41  is mounted on the motor base  40  in the container mounting region being at the height equal to or less than said upper attachment limit. Accordingly, the attachment state of the feeder container  41  can be managed in more detail. 
     The height (the container mounting region) which becomes the upper attachment limit of the feeder container  41  may be previously determined based on the factors counted for the bound, rolling, breakage and chipping of the medicines due to drop of the medicines per each kind of the medicines or the classification of the medicines in each grade. The height (the container mounting region) which becomes the upper attachment limit may be determined by the control means  190  in an orderly manner according to the factor or grade. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system  1  may include a search part  192  having a searching function of searching and selecting the motor base  40  which must mount the feeder container  41  judged as the erroneous mount by the error judgment operation of the control means  190 , as shown by a two-dot chain line in  FIG. 52 . More specifically, a search condition may be determined by reading the information recorded in the tag  49  through the data-communication between the tag  49  provided in the feeder container  41  and the reader-writer  117   c  by removing the feeder container  41  judged as the erroneous mount by the error judgment operation and fitting the feeder container to the recess  117   b  provided in the worktable  117  of the main unit  2 . And, the motor base  40  suitable for mounting the feeder container  41  may be searched and selected by the search part  192 . Further, as for the search condition, it is preferred to appropriately display the search condition in the operating panel  118   a  as shown in  FIG. 59 . Meanwhile, instead of determining the searching condition by reading the information of the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  through the data-communication between the tag  49  and the reader-writer  117   c , an operator may manually input the search condition through the operating panel  118   a  and the search part  192  may search the motor base based on the manually inputted search condition. In this case, for example, the search condition can be appropriately inputted by displaying a search condition determining screen shown in  FIG. 59  in the operating panel  118   a.    
     Further, when the position of the motor base  40  suitable for mounting the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  is searched as described above, the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  may be operated such that the selected motor base  40  comes to a position where an operator can perform the attachment/detachment work of the feeder container  41  (an attachment/detachment work position). According to such a configuration, the attachment/detachment work for the erroneously-mounted feeder container  41  becomes still easier. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the medicine dispensing system  1  is constructed by combining the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  and a large number of the cassettes  32  are provided not only in the main storage part  20  but also in the sub storage part  120 . Thus, when constructing the medicine dispensing system  1 , it is preferred to read, write or manage the characteristic container information on the feeder container  41  of each of the cassettes  32  as described in the foregoing embodiment. Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the medicine dispensing system  1  is constructed by combining the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The characteristic container information can be accurately read, written or managed when only a part corresponding to the main unit  2  is utilized as the medicine dispensing system. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1 , the sub unit  3  does not need the medicine packing part  21 . Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  can reduce the device configuration and minimize an installation area, when compared to a case of providing a plurality of equivalents of the medicine packing part to the main unit  2 . Further, according to the configuration of the medicine dispensing system  1 , a part corresponding to the medicine packing part  21  can be omitted in the sub unit  3  and thus the sub unit  3  can be configured to accommodate various kinds of medicines in a large quantity. Further, since the sub unit  3  does not need the medicine packing part  21 , the medicine dispensing system  1  can simplify a device configuration or minimize efforts for maintenance. 
     Since the transfer device  5  employed in the medicine dispensing system  1  has the pipe line  140  for transferring the medicines and is configured to suck the medicines inputted therein, the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be smoothly conveyed toward the main unit  2 . Further, since the transfer device  5  is configured to suck and convey the medicines, the medicines can be conveyed along any conveying path by appropriately curving the pipe line  140 . Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  has a high degree of freedom in a device configuration and layout of the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . 
     Further, the above-described transfer device  5  is configured to suck and transfer the medicines inputted in the measures  145  of the medicine receiving part  142  connected to the pipe line  140  toward the medicine dispensing part  143 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The transfer device  5  may be configured to pressure-transfer the medicines from the medicine receiving part  142  toward the medicine dispensing part  143 . Further, the transfer device  5  includes the pipe line  140  of one channel. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The conveying path of many channels including many pipe lines  140  may be employed. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1  of the present embodiment, the tag  49  is provided in each of the cassettes  32  set in the main storage part  20  and the sub storage part  120 . Also, the data can be transmitted to and received from the tag  49  and the data can be renewed or written in the tag by the reader-writer  117   c  provided in the worktable  117 . Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  can record various data such as data on the kind or quantity of the medicines accommodated in each cassette  32 , data on a supplement history related to a person performing a medicine supplement in each cassette  41  and date and time of the medicine supplement, data on a usage history of each cassette, and the like into the tag  49 . Further, the medicines accommodated in each cassette  32  can be managed or the user can be notified of a maintenance time of each cassette  32  based on the data recorded in the tag  49 . 
     Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the tag  49  is provided in the feeder container  41  of each cassette  32  and the reader-writers  44 ,  117   c  are provided in all the motor bases  40  or the worktable  117 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. That is, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be configured such that all the cassettes  32  do not have the tag  49  and some or all of the motor bases  49  do not have the reader-writers  44 . Likewise, the medicine dispensing system  1  may not include the reader-writer  117   c . Further, the medicine dispensing system  1  may be configured such that only some cassettes  32 , for example, for managing the quantity of the medicines include the tag  49 . 
     As described above, the feeder container  41  of the cassette  32  can adjust the size of the opening  47  for dispensing the medicines according to the size of the medicines to be accommodated by appropriately replacing the opening attachment  41   b . Also, the rotor  48  of the feeder container  41  can be appropriately replaced with another one having a groove  48   a  sized to be suitable for the size of the medicines to be accommodated. Thus, the cassette  32  can deal with the medicines of various sizes by appropriately replacing the opening attachment  41   b  or the rotor  48 . 
     Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the opening attachment  41   b  or the rotor  48  can be appropriately replaced in the feeder container  41  according to the size of the medicines. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. More specifically, the opening  47   a  of a fixed size may be formed in the feeder container  41  or the rotor  48  may not be replaceable. 
     Also, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , considering that the packing paper sheet  98  with the length corresponding to n packs of the medicine pack (three packs in the present embodiment) exists between the pack forming mechanism  96  and the printing part  99 , the information on the medicines is printed by the printing part  99  at a time (time Z) as early as the time period (time period Y) required to rotate the section forming body  81  as much as a quantity corresponding to n sections  81   a  (three sections in the present embodiment) from the timing (timing X) when the medicines are dispensed through the opening  82   c  from the section  81   a  in the medicine preparing part  80 . Further, at a time before the timing Z of printing to the packing paper sheet  98 , the medicines dispensed from the main storage part  20  or the sub storage part  120  are inputted in the section  81   a . That is, printing to the packing paper sheet  98  is performed in the medicine dispensing system  1  upon a condition that the medicines are dispensed from the main storage part  20 , sub storage part  120  and the manual dispensing unit  23  to the medicine preparing part  80 . Thus, when a dispensing abnormality of the medicines to the medicine preparing part  80  occurs, printing to the packing paper sheet  98  is not performed. Thus, the medicine dispensing part  1  can easily and accurately monitor whether a dispensing abnormality of the medicines from the main storage part  20 , the sub storage part  120  and the manual dispensing unit  23  to the medicine preparing part  80 , only by checking whether or not printing to the packing paper sheet  98  is performed. Further, according to the above-described configuration, when the medicines to be packed into the packing paper sheet  98  lack or do not exist, unnecessary printing is not performed to the packing paper sheet  98  and a waste of the packing paper sheet  98  to that extent can be prevented. 
     In the above-described embodiment, at the timing before the timing Z, the medicines are dispensed from all of the main storage part  20 , the storage part  120  and the manual dispensing unit  23 , which constitute the medicine dispensing means, and inputted in each section  81   a . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. More specifically, the medicines dispensed from some of the main storage part  20 , the sub storage part  120  and the manual dispensing unit  23 , which constitute the medicine dispensing means, are dispensed into each section  81   a  at a time after the time Z. Even more specifically, for example, since the manual dispensing unit  23  is installed in order to pack the medicines inputted by the user&#39;s own hands, it is considered that abnormality in inputting the medicines from the manual dispensing unit  23  to each section  81   a  hardly occurs. Thus, in the aforementioned circumstance, the time of dispensing the medicines may be after the time Z with regard to some of parts constituting the medicine dispensing means. 
     The medicine dispensing system  1  according to the above-described embodiment includes the circular section forming body  81  with a plurality of the circumferentially-arranged sections  81   a  in the medicine preparing part  80  and is configured to dispense the medicines from each of the sections  81   a  by relatively rotating the section forming body  81  relative to the opening  82   c . Thus, according to the above-described configuration, a space required for operating the section forming body  81  becomes minimized and thus the device configuration can be reduced. Further, the medicine preparing part  80  should not be limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the medicine preparing part may be configured such that the section forming body  81  has a plurality of linearly-arranged sections  81   a  and the medicines are dispensed from each of the sections  81   a  one after another by linearly moving the section forming body  81  relative to the opening  82   c.    
     Further, as described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  has the set abnormality detecting means  38  at the main unit  2  or the sub unit  3 . The set abnormality detecting means  38  is not the same as the conventionally known optical sensor but employs a so-called mechanical configuration wherein the switch  38   b  is turned on when the cassette  32  bumps against the contact plate  38   a  along with the rotation of the drum  31  and the contact plate  38   a  swings thereby. Thus, according to the above-described set abnormality detecting means  38 , the attachment abnormality of the cassette  32  can be accurately detected without an effect from a dust, when compared to a case of employing the optical sensor. 
     Also, it is illustrated that the medicine dispensing system  1  includes the set abnormality detecting means  38  of a mechanical type at both the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The set abnormality detecting means  38  may be provided at one side or the set abnormality detecting means  38  and known detecting means such as an optical sensor may be used together. 
     In the medicine dispensing system  1 , the abnormality detecting mechanism  115  is provided in the conveying means  21   b  of the medicine packing part  21  and the transfer abnormality of the packing paper sheet such as a paper jam of the packing paper sheet  98  can be detected by the abnormality detecting mechanism  115 . That is, the abnormality detecting mechanism  115  illustrated in the above-described embodiment has a pinch roller  115   b  rotatable independently of the conveying means  21   b  and a paper transfer abnormality can be detected based on whether the rotation of this pinch roller  115   b  is detected by the rotary encoder  115   d  during operation of the conveying means  21   b . Thus, the medicine dispensing system  1  of the present invention can minimize the waste of the packing paper sheet  98  or the medicines due to the transfer abnormality of the packing paper sheet  98 . Further, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the abnormality detecting mechanism  115  is positioned in the straight portion  105   b  of the casing  105 , which constitutes the conveying means  21   b , and in a position upstream in the transfer direction of the packing paper sheet  98  in order to detect the transfer abnormality of the packing paper sheet in the medicine packing part  21  as fast as possible. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The abnormality detecting mechanism  115  may be positioned in a position further downstream than the aforementioned position. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the medicine packing part  21  can appropriately bend the bent portion  105   c  positioned at the distal end portion of the casing  105 , which constitutes the conveying means  21   b , relative to the straight portion  105   b . Thus, in the medicine dispensing system  1 , the packing paper sheet  98  with the packed medicines can be removed from a better one of the dispensing openings  2   c ,  2   d  of the main unit  2 . Further, the conveying means  21  is configured to appropriately bend the bent portion  105   c . However, the conveying means may not have a part corresponding to the bent portion  105   c . Also, it is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the medicine dispensing system  1  is constructed by combining the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The main unit  2  may be used alone. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system  1  may be configured such that the transfer device  5  is separately provided in addition to the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  and the transfer device lies across the main and sub units. However, the transfer device  5  may be previously assembled with the sub unit  3  and, when necessary, the same may be connected to the main unit  2  to provide extension of installation. That is, the sub unit  3  may or may not include the transfer device  5  as a part of its configuration. 
     The transfer device  5  of a type of sucking and transferring the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  is illustrated in the above-described embodiment. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. For example, a transfer device  210  shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B  may be employed. 
     More specifically, the transfer device  210  is mainly comprised of a support part  220  and a drive part  230 . As shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the support part  220  has a supporting shaft  221  and a base part  222 . A supporting shaft  221  has a flange  223  provided at one end and can be erected approximately upright by screw-fixing the flange  223 . The base part  222  serves as a turning means for turning the drive part  230  and is provided at the other end of the supporting shaft  221 . The base part  222  includes a turn drive motor  225 , a turn drive gear  226 , and a seat plate  227 . As shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the seat plate  227  is a plate body that is horizontal when the supporting shaft  221  is erected. Further, the turn drive motor  225  is positioned such that its rotating shaft approximately vertically passes through the seat plate  227  from a lower surface thereof. The turn drive gear  226  is connected to the rotating shaft of the turn drive motor  225  on an upper surface of the seat plate  227 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the drive part  230  includes two sets of medicine delivering units  231  (medicine delivering part) and a supporting plate  232  supporting them at their lower sides. Further, a turning shaft  234  is erected at an approximate center of the supporting plate  232 . The turning shaft  234  approximately vertically extends from the supporting plate  232  and is rotatably supported on the seat plate  227  of the base part  222  at its lower end. The turn driven gear  234   a  is integrally coupled to the lower end of the turning shaft  234 . The turn driven gear  234   a  is meshed with the turn drive gear  226  of the base part  222 . Thus, as the turn drive motor  225  provided in the base part  222  operates, the supporting plate  232  and the medicine delivering unit  231  provided thereon can turn integrally about the turning shaft  234 . 
     Both of the medicine delivering units  231 ,  231  have an elongated shape and are supported parallel to each other by supporting plates attached to bottom surfaces thereof. The medicine delivering unit  231  includes a slide base  235  and first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  (first and second sliding portions). The slide base  235  and the first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  are elongated bodies and have approximately equal lengths. The slide base  235  is fixed on the seat plate  227  of the base part  222 . In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the sliding bases  235 ,  235  of the two sets of the medicine delivering units  231 ,  231  are fixed on the seat plate  227  and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B, 26, 27, and 28 , the first sliding body  236  is mounted on and covers the slide base  235  and is slidable in a lengthwise direction of the slide base  235 . Further, the second sliding body  237  is mounted on and covers the first sliding body  236  and is slidable in a lengthwise direction of the first sliding body  236 . Thus, as the medicine delivering unit  231  is drawn out away from the sliding base  235  by sliding the first sliding body  236  and the second sliding body  237  from the slide base  235  one after the other in a lengthwise direction, the medicine delivering unit can be expanded up to its overall length as shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B, 26, AND 27 . Further, as each of the first and the second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  is slid toward the slide base  235  from the expanded state shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B, 26, and 27 , the medicine delivering unit decreases in its overall length and can be contracted to the extent of a length of the slide base  235 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 29A-29B , the slide base  235  has the following: a top portion  235   a ; side portions  235   b ,  235   b  provided at both sides of the top portion  235   a  in a widthwise direction thereof; and a bottom portion  235   c ,  235   c  continuing to the side portions  235   b ,  235   b  parallel to the top portion  235   a . The side portions  235   b ,  235   b  are inclined relative to the top portion  235   a  and the bottom portion  235   c , and are linearly beveled outwardly in a widthwise direction from the top portion  235   a  toward the bottom portion  235   c . Each of the side portions  235   b ,  235   b  is provided with a guide roller  235   d  rotatable about a shaft which is approximately vertically erected on the side portion  235   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 29B , the slide base  235  has a drive motor  235   e  at a back side of the top portion  235   a  (below the top portion). A pulley  235   f  is coupled to a rotating shaft of the drive motor  235   e . Further, a drive pulley  235   h  is coupled to one end of a shaft  235   g , which is approximately vertical to the top portion  235   a , at the back side of the top portion  235   a  and in a position corresponding to one end of the slide base  235  in its lengthwise direction (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a leading end, if necessary). The drive pulley  235   h  and the shaft  235   f  rotate integrally by power from the drive motor  235   e  transferred through a drive belt  253   i  wound between the drive pulley and the pulley  235   f . Further, the shaft  235   g  approximately vertically passes through the top portion  235   a  of the slide base  235 . As shown in  FIG. 29A , a drive gear  235   j  is coupled to the other end of the shaft  235   g  (i.e. a portion protruding on a top surface of the top portion  235   a ). Thus, as the drive motor  235   e  operates, the drive gear  235   j  rotates about the shaft  235   g  by the rotational power of the drive motor  235   e.    
     The slide base  235  has a belt fixing member positioned at the leading end of the top portion  235   a  and near one of the side portions  235   b . The belt fixing member  235   k  is erected on a surface of the top portion  235   a  (on the top portion) and is fixed to engage a timing belt  248  which is described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 30A-30B , the first sliding body  236  is configured such that a guide rail  238 , a driven rack gear  241 , pulleys  242 ,  243 , a slide member  244  and a guide roller  245  are assembled to a main body  239 . Specifically, the main body  239  has a top portion  236   a  and side portions  236   b ,  236   c . The top portion  236   a  has an elongated and flat plate shape and the side portions  236   b ,  236   c  are disposed at both sides of the top portion  236   a  in a widthwise direction thereof. The side portions  236   b ,  236   c  are provided throughout an entire length of the top portion  236   a  and are linearly beveled outwardly in the widthwise direction as being away from the top portion  235   a . That is, the side portions  236   b ,  236   c  are opposite each other and are disposed in an inverted V shape in the back side of the top portion  236   a . The top portion  236  is provided with an opening  236   d  extending in a lengthwise direction of the main body  239 . 
     Guide rails  238 ,  238  are provided in an inside of the side portions  236   b ,  236   c  throughout an entire length of the side portion  236   b ,  236   c . As shown in  FIG. 28 , guide rollers  235   d ,  235   d  provided in the side portions  235   b ,  235   b  of the slide base  235  are fitted to the guide rails  238 ,  238 . Thus, the guide rollers  235   d ,  235   d  are linearly moved as guided by the guide rails  238 ,  238 . Further, as shown in  FIGS. 28 and 30A-30B , a driven rack gear  241  is provided throughout an entire length of the side portion  236   b  in the inside of the side portion  236   b  above the guide rail  238  (near the top portion  236   a ). As shown in  FIGS. 26 and 28 , when the medic delivering unit  231  is assembled, the driven rack gear  241  is meshed with the drive gear  235   j  provided in the top portion  235   a  of the slide base  235 . 
     Meanwhile, in the first sliding body  236 , pulley brackets  246 ,  247  are provided in the inside of the side portion  236   c  above the guide rail  238  (near the top portion  236   a ). Pulleys  242 ,  243  are provided in the pulley brackets. The pulley bracket  246  is positioned near one end of the first sliding body  236  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a leading end, if necessary), while the pulley bracket  247  is positioned near the other end thereof (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a base end, if necessary). The pulleys  242 ,  243  are rotatably supported about shafts approximately vertically extending on the top portion  236   a  and fixed to the pulley brackets  246 ,  247 . Further, a timing belt  248  is wound between the pulleys  242 ,  243 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , the timing belt  248  is fitted and fixed to the belt fixing member  235   k  provided on the slide base  235 . 
     The slide member  244  has a belt fixing portion  244   a  and a sliding body fixing portion  244   b . The slide member  244  is fixed to the timing belt  248  by fitting the timing belt  248  to the belt fixing portion  244   a . Further, the sliding body fixing portion  244   b  is exposed on the opening  236   d  of the first sliding body  236  toward the top surface of the top portion  236   a  (upwardly) and is linearly slidable along the opening  236   d  in a lengthwise direction of the first sliding body  236 . The sliding body fixing portion  244   b  is fixed to a top portion  237   a  of the second sliding body  237 , which will be described in detail, by screws and the like in one embodiment although other ways of affixing are possible. 
     The second sliding body  237  is provided to deliver medicines. As shown  FIGS. 26 and 27 , the second sliding body is disposed on and covers the first sliding body  236 . The slide member  244  of the first sliding body  236  is fixed to one end of the second sliding body  237  in a lengthwise direction thereof (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a base end, if necessary) by screws and the like. Thus, the second sliding body  237  is connected to the first sliding body  236  via the slide member  244 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 28 and 31A-31B , the second sliding body  237  includes medicine receiving portion  237   d  in addition to the top portion  237   a  or side portions  237   b ,  237   c . The top portion  237   a  is a portion having an elongated flat plate shape and the side portions  237   b ,  237   c  are disposed at both sides of the top portion  237   a  in a widthwise direction. The side portions  237   b ,  237   c  are opposite each other. Portions of side portions  237   b ,  237   c  between the top portion  236   a  and middle portion of the side portions  237   b ,  237   c  are beveled outwardly in a widthwise direction as being away from the top portion  236   a . Guide rails  250 ,  251  are provided in said portions. The guide rails  250 ,  251  extend along a lengthwise direction of the second sliding body  237 . As shown in  FIG. 28 , the guide rollers  245 ,  245  provided in the side portions  236   b ,  236   c  of the first sliding body  236  are fitted to the guide rails  250 ,  251 . Thus, the second sliding body  237  can be relatively moved in the lengthwise direction of the first sliding body  236 . Further, as described above, the second sliding body  237  is connected to the first sliding body  236  via the slide member  244 . Thus, the second sliding body  237  is linearly moved relative to the first sliding body  236  along with sliding movement of the slide member  244 . 
     The medicine receiving portion  237   d  is provided in one end of the second sliding body  237  in a lengthwise direction thereof (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a leading end, if necessary). The medicine receiving portion  237   d  has a shape of a measure with its top opened at the top portion  237   a . A bottom surface of the medicine receiving portion  237   d  is blocked by a shutter  255 . The shutter  255  is provided so as to be slidable in a lengthwise direction of the second sliding body  237 . The medicines, which are received in the medicine receiving portion  237   d , can be dispensed downwardly by opening the shutter  255 . 
     Next, operations of the transfer device  210  will be described in detail. The transfer device  210  can turn each of the medicine delivering units  231  about the turning shaft  234  by operating the turn drive motor  225  provided on the support part  220 . Further, by operating the drive motor  235   e  provided in each of the medicine delivering units  231 , the transfer device  210  can linearly expand the slide base  235  and the first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  into a fully expanded state (hereinafter, this state is referred to as an expanded state) as shown in  FIG. 25A , or pull the first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  toward the slide base  235  into an entirely contracted state (hereinafter, this state is referred to as a contracted state) as shown in  FIG. 25B . 
     The operations of the medicine delivering unit  231  accompanied by the operation of the drive motor  235   e  are described in detail. As shown in  FIG. 25B , if the drive motor  235   e  operates in the contracted state, the power therefrom is transferred to the drive pulley  235   h  by the drive belt  235   i  provided in the back side of the top portion  235   a  in the slide base  235  and the drive pulley  235   h  rotates together with the shaft  235   g . Thus, the drive gear  235   j  provided on the surface of the top portion  235   a  is rotated. When the top portion  235   a  is viewed downwardly, if the drive gear  235   j  rotates counterclockwise, then the driven rack gear  241  of the first sliding body  236  meshed with the drive gear  235   j  is linearly transferred from the base end of the slide base  235  toward the leading end. Thus, the first sliding body  236  with the driven rack gear  241  slides from the base end of the slide base  235  toward the leading end. 
     In this case, as described above, the timing belt  248  wound between the pulleys  242 ,  243  in the first sliding body  236  is fixed to the belt fixing member  235   k  erected on the top portion  235   a  of the slide base  235 . Further, since the slide member  244  is fixed to the timing belt  248 , the slide member  244  and the timing belt  248  integrally operate. Further, when the transfer device  210  is in the contracted state, the slide member  244  is positioned near the base end of the first sliding body  236  (i.e. near the pulley  242 ). Meanwhile, the belt fixing member  235   k  is positioned near the leading end of the first sliding body  236  (i.e. near the pulley  234 ). That is, the belt fixing member  235   k  and the slide member  244  are obliquely (diagonally) opposed to each other with the timing belt.  248  therebetween. Thus, if the first sliding body  236  slides from the base end of the slide base  235  toward the leading end, then the pulley  242  approaches the belt fixing member  235   k . Meanwhile, the slide member  244  moves toward the pulley  243  (i.e. toward the leading end of the first sliding body  236 ) along the opening  236   d  provided in the top portion  236   a  of the first sliding body  236 , while opposed to the belt fixing member  235   k  with the timing belt  248  therebetween. 
     If the slide member  244  moves to the leading end of the first sliding body  236 , the second sliding body  237  integrally provided with the first sliding body via the slide member  244  also slides to the leading end of the first sliding body  236 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 26 , if the slide member  244  reaches the leading end (the pulley  243 ) of the first sliding body  236 , both the first and the second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  become in a state where the medicine delivering unit  231  is fully expanded in its lengthwise direction of (i.e. in the expanded state). 
     Meanwhile, when the first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  return to the slide base  235  from the expanded state shown in  FIG. 26  to contract the overall length of the medicine delivering unit  231  (i.e. the contracted state), the medicine delivering unit  231  operates in reverse to the above-described operations. That is, in order to achieve the contracted state, the drive motor  235   e  operates such that its rotating shaft rotates in an opposite direction to the expanded state. Therefore, the power of the drive motor  235   e  is transmitted to the drive gear  235   j  by the timing belt  248 , the drive pulley  235   h  and the shaft  235   g . The drive gear  235   j  rotates in an opposite direction to a rotating direction wherein the medicine delivering unit  231  becomes in the expanded state. That is, when the top portion  235   a  is viewed downwardly, the drive gear  235   j  rotates clockwise. Thus, the driven rack gear  241  meshed with the drive gear  235   j  is linearly moved toward the base end of the slide base  235  and the first sliding body  236  slides from the base end of the slide base  235  toward the leading end. 
     If the first sliding body  236  slides as described above, the pulley  243  positioned at the leading end of the first sliding body  236  approaches the belt fixing member  235   k . Also, the slide member  244 , which is obliquely opposed to the belt fixing member  235   k  with the timing belt  248  therebetween, moves toward the pulley  242  positioned at the base end of the first sliding body  236  along the opening  236   d  provided in the top portion  236   a  of the first sliding body  236 . Thus, the second sliding body  237  connected to the first sliding body  236  via the slide member  244  also slides toward the base end of the slide base  235  along with the first sliding body  236 . Then, when the slide member  244  reaches the base end (the pulley  242 ) of the first sliding body  236 , both the first and second sliding bodies  236 ,  237  become in the contracted state where the medicine delivering unit  231  is contracted in its lengthwise direction. 
     The transfer device  210  is disposed at the boundary between the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  like the transfer device  5  employed in the foregoing embodiment. More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the transfer device  210  is positioned on the bottom surface of the housing constituting the sub unit  3  by screw-fixing the flange  223  thereto and adjacent to the communicating opening  4   b  provided in the wall surface  4   a  forming a boundary between the sub unit  3  and the main unit  2 . Thus, in the transfer device  210 , if the medicine delivering unit  231  is expanded when the lengthwise direction of the medicine delivering unit  231  is orthogonal to the wall surface  4   a  as shown in  FIGS. 25A-25B , the second sliding body  237  in one of the medicine delivering units  231  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a delivering unit  231   a ) protrudes beyond the wall surface  4   a  toward the main unit  2 . Further, the second-sliding body  237  of the other of the medicine delivering units  231  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a delivering unit  231   b ) protrudes in the sub unit  3  in a direction opposite the above-described direction of the medicine delivering unit  231   a.    
     If the second sliding body  237  of the medicine delivering unit  231   a  protrudes toward the main unit  2 , the sub collecting hopper  87  connected to the medicine preparing part  80  of the main unit  2  is positioned under the medicine receiving portion  237   d  provided in the second sliding body  237 . Thus, if the shutter  255  of the medicine delivering unit  231  positioned in the main unit  2  is opened in the state shown in  FIG. 25A , the medicine received in the medicine receiving portion  237   d  can be dispensed to the medicine preparing part  80  of the main unit  2 . On the other hand, if the second sliding body  237  of the medicine delivering unit  231   b  protrudes in the sub unit  3 , the medicine receiving portion  237   d  is positioned just below the sub hopper  135  provided in the sub unit  3 . Thus, if the medicines are dispensed from the sub medicine standby part  130  in such a state, then the medicines are inputted to the medicine receiving portion  237   d.    
     Next, operations of a medicine dispensing system  1  employing the transfer device  210  will be described focusing on a medicine transferring sequence by the transfer device  210 . As described above in the foregoing embodiment, the medicine dispensing system  1  dispenses the medicines dispensed from the main storage part  20  or the manual distributing unit  23  according to the prescription to each of the sections  81   a  of the section forming body  81  provided in the medicine preparing part  80  one pack at a time. 
     When the medicines to be prescribed are in sub unit  3 , the medicines are dispensed from each of the cassettes  32  of the sub storage part  120  one pack at a time. The medicines dispensed from the sub storage part  120  are gathered in the sub medicine standby part  130 . Meanwhile, the medicine delivering units  231   a ,  231   b  of the transfer device  210  go into an expanded state. Thus, the medicine receiving portion  237   d  provided in the second sliding body  237  of one of the medicine delivering units  231   a ,  231   b  (the medicine delivering unit  231   b  in  FIG. 25A ) is positioned under the sub hopper  135 . In this state, if the medicines are dispensed from sub medicine standby part  130 , the medicines for one pack dispensed from the sub storage part  120  are received in the medicine receiving portion  237   d.    
     If the medicines are inputted into the medicine receiving portion  237   d , the medicine delivering unit  231   a ,  231   b  goes into a contracted state as shown in  FIG. 25B . Then, the turn drive gear  226  provided in the base part  222  of the transfer device  210  operates to turn the medicine delivering units  231   a ,  231   b  about the turning shaft  234  by 180 degrees. Then, the medicine delivering units  231   a ,  231   b  goes into the expanded state. Thus, the medicine delivering unit  231   b  receiving the medicines from the sub unit  3  protrudes into the main unit  2  and thus the medicine receiving portion  237   d  is positioned above the sub collecting hopper  87  of the main unit  2 . Further, the second sliding body  237  of the other medicine delivering unit  231   a  protrudes below the sub hopper  135  and is allowed to receive the next medicines for one pack. 
     If the medicine delivering units  231   b ,  231   a  are in an expanded state in the main unit and sub unit  3  respectively as described above, then the shutter  255  provided in the medicine receiving portion  237   d  of the medicine delivering unit  231   b  is opened and the medicines received from the sub unit  3  are dispensed to each of the sections  81   a  of the section forming body  81  provided in the medicine preparing part  80 . Meanwhile, medicines for one pack are inputted from the sub medicine standby part  130  to the medicine receiving portion  237   d  of the medicine delivering unit  231   a.    
     In case the medicine dispensing system  1  employs transfer device  210 , the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be transferred to the main unit  2  by repeatedly expanding the medicine delivering units  231   a ,  231   b  sequentially and turning them in the expanded state. Thus, when a transfer device  210  is employed, the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be transferred to the main unit  2  and can be packed at the medicine packing part  21  together with the medicines dispensed in the main unit  2 , similarly to the case of employing the transfer device  5 . 
     As described above, since the transfer device  210  can turn the medicine delivering unit  231  in the contracted state, a space necessary for turning the medicine delivering unit  231  can be minimized. Further, since the transfer device  210  can expand the medicine delivering unit  231  into the expanded state, the medicines can be received or dispensed at a position apart from the transfer device  210 . Thus, when the transfer device  210  is employed, the space inside the medicine dispensing system  1  can be effectively used and the medicine dispensing system  1  can be compactly configured. 
     The medicine dispensing system  1  may employ the above-described transfer device  5 ,  210 . Further, the medicine dispensing system may employ a transfer device  300  shown in  FIGS. 32 to 35 . The transfer device  300  will be now described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 33 , the transfer device  300  has a base part  310  and a turn part  330  (conveyance part). The base part  310  has a base plate  311  having a flat plate shape and a drive unit  312 . The drive unit  312  is provided at a back side of the base plate  311 . The drive unit  312  has a drive motor  313  and a gear box  315  and serves as a direction adjusting means configured to adjust the direction of the turn part  330 . 
     The gear box  315 , which is positioned at an approximate central portion of the base plate  311 , has a turn drive gear  316  and a turn driven gear  317  therein. The turn drive gear  316  of the gear box  315  is fixed to a rotating shaft of the drive motor  313 . Further, the turn driven gear  316  is meshed with the turn drive gear  316 . The turn driven gear  317  is fixed to a turning shaft  318  fixed to the turn part  330 . Further, the turning shaft  318  is erected on an approximately central portion of the base part  311  while being rotatably supported thereon. Thus, as the turn motor  313  operates to rotate, the turn drive gear  316 , the turn driven gear  317 , the turning shaft  318  and the turn part  330  rotate together. 
     The base plate  311  has a dispensing opening  320  at its approximate center portion in its widthwise direction and at its one end in its lengthwise direction. Further, a contact member  321  is provided on a surface of the base plate  311  in a position corresponding to the dispensing opening  320 . The contact member  321  has an opening  322  communicating with the dispensing opening  320 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 32 , a pair of guide rails  323 ,  323  are fixed on the surface of the base plate  311  with a predetermined gap therebetween. The guide rails  323 ,  323  are curved members having a circular arc shape with a predetermined curvature. Thus, a groove  325  is formed between the guide rails  323 ,  323 . The guide rails  323 ,  323  are disposed convexly toward one side in the widthwise direction of the base plate  311  (i.e. toward the left side in the example illustrated in  FIG. 32 ). 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 32 , the turn part  330  has a cover  331  which has a rectangular shape in a plan view. Further, as shown in  FIG. 33 , component members of the turn part  330  including medicine containers  340 ,  340  (medicine delivery container) are accommodated inside the cover  331 . More specifically, the cover  331  is opened at its bottom side and is disposed above the base part  310 . A receiving opening  331   d  is provided in a top surface  331   a  of the cover at one end of the cover in a lengthwise direction thereof. The cover  331  is disposed above the base plate  311  in such a manner that one end of the cover with the receiving opening  331   d  is opposite the dispensing opening  320  provided in the base plate  111  in the lengthwise direction of the top surface  331   a  and the top surface  331   a  is approximately parallel to the base plate  311 . 
     The turning shaft  318  is integrally provided in the cover  331  at the approximately central portion of the top surface  331   a . The turning shaft  318  is erected from the top surface  331   a  of the cover  331  and protrudes downward. The turning shaft  318  passes through an approximate center portion of the base plate  311  and extends into the gear box  315  provided in the back side of the base plate  311 . The turning shaft is rotatably supported relative to the base plate  311 . The turn driven gear  317  is coupled to the turning shaft  318  in the gear box  315 . Thus, as the drive motor  313  operates to rotate the turn drive gear  316 , the power therefrom rotates the turn driven gear  317  and the turning shaft  318  together and thus the turn part  330  including the cover  331  turns about the turning shaft  318 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 33 , guide rails  332 ,  332  are provided in a middle portion of the turning shaft  318 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 32 , the guide rails  332 ,  332  are provided to linearly extend in a lengthwise direction of the cover  331 . The turning shaft  318  is fitted between the guide rails  332 ,  332  and the guide rails  332 ,  332  are fixed as supported by fixed supporting member  334  fixed to the middle portion of the turning shaft  318 . Accordingly, the guide rails  332 ,  332  become integral with the turning shaft  318  and can rotate about the turning shaft  318 . 
     Further, guide rails  333 ,  333  are attached to an inside of the cover  331  to linearly extend at long sides  331   b ,  331   c  formed along a lengthwise direction of the cover  331 . The guide rails  333 ,  333  are opposite the guide rails  332 ,  332 . The guide rails  333 ,  333  are combined with the opposite guide rails  322 ,  322  respectively to serve as a guide member for guiding medicine containers  340 ,  340 , that will be described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 32 , timing pulleys  335 ,  336  are coupled to both ends of the cover  331  in a lengthwise direction thereof and at an approximate middle portion of the cover  331  in a widthwise direction thereof. The timing pulleys  335 ,  336  are provided adjacent to both ends of the guide rail  332  in the lengthwise direction thereof. Each of the timing pulleys  335 ,  336  can rotate freely about respective shafts, which are approximately vertical to the top surface  331   a . A timing belt  337  is wound between the timing pulleys  335 ,  336 . 
     The medicine container  340  is a box-shaped member with an opening at its top surface. As shown in  FIG. 33 , a shutter  342  is provided at a bottom surface of the medicine container  340 . The medicines accommodated in the medicine container  340  can be dispensed downward when the shutter  342  is opened. The shutter  342  can be opened when a contact portion  342   a  is pressed and slid in a lengthwise direction of the medicine container  340 . The shutter  342  is biased in a direction of closing the bottom of the medicine container  340  at normal times to thereby block the bottom of the medicine container. In the cover  331 , the medicine container  340  is positioned between a pair of the guide rails  332 ,  333 , which are provided at one side or the other side in a widthwise direction of the cover  331  relative to the turning shaft  318 . 
     More specifically, the transfer device  300  has two medicine containers  340 . One of the medicine containers  340  is provided at one side in a widthwise direction of the cover  331  relative to the turning shaft  318 , while the other medicine container is provided at the other side in a widthwise direction of the cover  331  relative to the turning shaft. Side surfaces  340   a ,  340   b  of the medicine container  340  are located opposite guide rails  332 ,  333  and disposed between the guide rails  332 ,  333 . Roller attaching members  343 ,  345  are attached to the side surfaces  340   a ,  340   b . The roller attaching member  343  has: a fixing portion  343   a  fixed to the side surface  340   a ; a vertical portion  343   b  opposite thereto; and a horizontal portion  343   c  disposed between the fixing portion  343   a  and the vertical portion  343   b  and approximately parallel to the base plate  311 . 
     A guide roller  346  is rotatably provided on the vertical portion  343   b . The guide roller  346  is fitted to the guide rail  332  arranged along the turning shaft  318 . Further, the sandwiching member  344  is mounted on the vertical portion  343   b  and the timing belt  337  is fitted between the sandwiching member  344  and the vertical portion  343   b . This allows the medicine container  340  to be connected to the timing belt  338 . 
     In this case, the transfer device  300  includes two medicine containers  340 ,  340  as described above. The medicine container  340  of said two medicine containers (a left medicine container  340  in an example illustrated in  FIGS. 32 and 33 ) (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a drive side medicine container  340 ) has a guide roller  347  on the horizontal part  343   c . The guide roller  347  is rotatably provided at a shaft approximately vertically fixed to the horizontal portion  343   c  and protruding downward therefrom. The guide roller  347  is fitted to the groove  325  formed between the guide rails  323 ,  323  provided on the surface of the base plate  311 . 
     Meanwhile, a roller attaching member  345  is attached to the side surface  340   b  of the medicine container  340 . The roller attaching member  345  has: a fixing portion  345   a  fixed to the side surface  340   b ; a vertical portion  345   b  opposed thereto; and a horizontal portion  345   c  connecting the fixing portion  345   a  and the vertical portion  345   b . The vertical portion  345   b  is also opposite the guide rail  333  attached to the long side  331   b ,  331   c  of the cover  331 . A guide roller  348  is rotatably attached to the vertical portion  345   b  and is fitted to the guide rail  333 . 
     The transfer device  300  is configured as described above and is positioned as inserted to the communication opening  4   b  of the wall surface  4   a  between the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3 . Specifically, the transfer device  300  is horizontally disposed with the base part  310  facing downward and the turn part  330  facing upward. Further, the transfer device  300  is disposed such that the receiving opening  331   d  provided in the cover  331  is located at the sub unit  3  and the dispensing opening  320  provided in the base plate  311  is located at the main unit  2 . 
     Next, operation of the transfer device  300  will be described. The transfer device  300  can turn the turn part  330  about the turning shaft  318  while moving two medicine containers  340  provided in the turn part  330  along the guide rails  332 ,  333  by the power produced from the drive motor  313  provided in the base part  310 . More specifically, if the drive motor  313  operates, the turn drive gear  316  coupled to the rotating shaft of the drive motor  313  and the turn driven gear  317  meshed with the turn drive gear  316  rotate. Thus, the turning shaft  318  with the turn driven gear  317  rotates and thus the entire turn part  330  rotate about the turning shaft  318 . 
     In this case, as described above, the guide roller  347 , which is rotatable about the shaft protruding downward, is provided in one of the two medicine containers  340 ,  340  (the drive side medicine container  340 ). The guide roller  347  is fitted to the groove  325  formed between the guide rails  323 ,  323  in the base part  310 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 32 , the groove  325  is curved convexly toward one side in the width direction like the guide rails  323 ,  323 . Thus, movements of the drive side medicine container  340  are restricted by the groove  325 . Further, other component members for constituting the turn part  330  are assembled to the cover  331  like the drive side medicine container  340  and those are integrally rotatble about the turning shaft  318 . Thus, when the turn part  330  rotates clockwise by the operation of the drive motor  313  in a state shown in  FIG. 32 , the entire turn part  330  is turned about the turning shaft  318  while guided by the groove  325  and the guide roller  347  and the drive side medicine container  340  advance toward the one end of the groove  325  (upward in  FIG. 32 ). Also, as shown in  FIG. 34 , when the turn part  330  is turned at a predetermined angle about the turning shaft  318 , the drive side medicine container  340  reach the vicinity of the timing pulley  336  disposed at the one end of the groove  325  (upper side in  FIG. 34 ). 
     Further, as described above, the drive side medicine container  340  and the other medicine container  340  without the guide roller  347  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a driven side medicine container  340 ) are fixed to the timing belt  337  respectively by the sandwiching member  344  attached to the vertical portion  343   b  of the roller attaching member  343 . Thus, when the drive side medicine container  340  advance toward one end of the groove  325  along with the turning of the turn part  330 , the driven side medicine container  340  advances toward the other end of the groove  325 , that is, toward the timing pulley  335 . 
     Then, when the driven side medicine container  340  reaches the dispensing opening  320  provided in the base plate  311  as shown in  FIG. 34 , the contact portion  342   a  of the shutter  342  disposed at the bottom surface of the driven side medicine container  340  is brought into contact with the contact member  321  attached to the surface of the base plate  311 . Thus, the shutter  342  is pushed and opened and thus the medicines therein are dispensed downward, that is, toward the sub collecting hopper  87  in the main unit  2 . Meanwhile, in the state shown in  FIG. 34 , the drive side medicine container  340  reaches a position corresponding to the receiving opening  331   d  provided in the top surface  331   a  of the cover  331 . Thus, in the state shown in  FIG. 34 , the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be inputted to the drive side medicine container through the sub hopper  135 . 
     Meanwhile, in the states shown in  FIGS. 32 and 34 , if the drive motor  313  provided in the base part  310  operates so as to rotate the rotating shaft in a direction opposite to the above, the turn part  330  rotates counterclockwise about the turning shaft  318  (when viewed downwardly). Accordingly, the drive side medicine container  340  and the guide roller  347  attached thereto advance toward the dispensing opening  320  (downward in the state shown in  FIGS. 32 and 34 ) while guided by the groove  325 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 35 , if the turn part  330  rotates counterclockwise about the turning shaft  318  at a predetermined angle, the drive side medicine container  340  reaches a position corresponding to the dispensing opening  320 . Thus, the shutter  342  disposed at an inside portion of the drive side medicine container  340  is opened and the medicines inputted thereto are dispensed to the sub collecting hopper  87  in the main unit  2  disposed below the shutter. Meanwhile, the driven side medicine container  340  reaches the position corresponding to the receiving opening  331   d  concomitantly with the operation of the drive side medicine container  340 . Thus, the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  can be inputted to the driven side medicine container  340 . 
     The above-described transfer device  300  is configured to transfer the medicines between the main unit  2  and the sub unit  3  by turning the entire turn part  330  about the turning shaft  318  and by reciprocating each of the medicine containers  340 ,  340  in a lengthwise direction of the turn part  330  by means of power produced by the turning movement. Thus, when employing the transfer device  300 , it is possible to provide a medicine dispensing system  1  that can transfer the medicines dispensed in the sub unit  3  to the main unit  3  to pack and dispense the same together with the medicines dispensed in the main unit  3 , similarly to the case of employing the transfer device  5 ,  10 . 
     The transfer device  300  obtains power for the turning movement of the turn part  330  and the reciprocating movement of the medicine containers  340  from the drive motor  313  provided in the base part  310 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such configuration. For example, a power source for turning the turn part  330  and a power source for reciprocating the medicine containers  340  may be separately provided. 
     More specifically, the transfer device  300  may be configured such that the guide roller  347  provided in the drive side medicine container  340  and the guide rail  323  attached to the base plate  311  are omitted and at least one of the timing pulleys  335 ,  336  is rotated by a power source different from that of the drive motor  313 . According to such configuration, the turn part  330  is turned by the drive motor  313 , and the timing belt  337  wound between the timing pulleys  335 ,  336  is operated by the separately-provided power source, thereby reciprocating the medicine containers  340  between the dispensing opening  320  and receiving opening  331   d.    
     The medicine dispensing system  1  is not limited to employing the above-described transfer device  5 ,  210 ,  300  and may employ, for example, a transfer device  400  shown in  FIG. 36 . The transfer device  400  is configured similar to the above-described transfer device  5  in that the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  are transferred to the main unit  2  by means of an airflow. However, a device configuration and medicine transferring processes of the transfer device  400  are different from those of the transfer device  5 . Specifically, the transfer device  400  has a medicine receiving part  401  for receiving the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3 , and a medicine dispensing part  402  for receiving and dispensing the medicines transferred from the sub unit  3 . The medicine receiving part  401  and the medicine dispensing part  402  are a hollow member having a shape of a measure capable of storing medicines. Further, the transfer device  400  has a forward pipe line  403  configured to connect the medicine receiving part  401  and the medicine dispensing part  402 . 
     The blower  405  is connected to the medicine receiving part  401  through a pipe  406 . Further, a blower shutter  407  is provided at a connection portion between the medicine receiving part  401  and the pipe  406 . Thus, when the blower  406  operates and the blower shutter  407  is opened, an airflow can be produced through the pipe  406  to the medicine receiving part  401 . 
     A pump  408  is connected to the medicine dispensing part  402  through an exhaust pipe line  410 . The transfer device  400  can introduce air into the medicine receiving part  401  through the pipe  406  and produce airflow flowing through the forward pipe line  403  from the medicine storing part  40  toward the medicine dispensing part  402  by operation of blower  405 . Further, the transfer device  400  can produce airflow flowing through the exhaust pipe line  410  from inside the medicine dispensing part  402  toward an outside portion thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 37A-37B , the medicine dispensing part  402  is configured to be surrounded by peripheral surfaces and to be closed at a top surface. The medicine dispensing part  402  has an introducing opening  412  and an exhaust opening  413  at one of the peripheral surfaces of the medicine dispensing part  402  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a peripheral surface  411 ) and a dispensing opening  415  at its bottom surface  414 . The introducing opening  412  and the exhausting opening  413  are vertically juxtaposed. The forward pipe line  403  is connected to the introducing opening  412 , while the exhaust pipe line  410  is connected to the exhaust opening  413 . As shown in  FIG. 38 , the forward pipe line  403  has a staying portion  416  at its end portion, to which the introducing opening  412  is connected. The staying portion  416  is formed such that a peripheral surface of the forward pipe line  403  becomes thinner in thickness toward a forward end. The forward pipe line  403  is inserted and connected to the introducing opening  412  with the staying portion  416  facing downward. Thus, the medicines transferred through the forward pipe line  403  can stay in the staying portion  416 . 
     Further, the forward pipe line  403  has air orifices  417  near the medicine dispensing part  402  and apart from an inserting portion to the introducing opening  412 . The air orifices  417  are orifices for exhausting the airflow flowing within the forward pipe line  403 . The air orifices  417  are much smaller than the medicines and are exposed outside the medicine dispensing part  402 . Thus, even if the end portion of the forward pipe line  403  with the staying portion  416  becomes closed, the airflow flowing from the medicine receiving part  401  toward the medicine dispensing part  402  in the forward pipe line  403  can be produced through the operation of the blower  405 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 37A-37B and 38 , the medicine dispensing part  402  is provided with a shutter  420 . As shown in  FIG. 39 , the shutter  420  includes a metallic plate having an L-shaped cross-section and an inclined plate integrally formed therewith. The shutter  420  is configured to open and close the introducing opening  412  and the exhaust opening  413  is provided in the peripheral surface  411  as well as the dispensing opening  415  formed on a bottom surface  414 . More specifically, the shutter  420  includes: a first shutter surface  421 ; a second shutter surface  422  perpendicular to the first shutter surface  421 ; and an inclined surface  423  (i.e., a partitioning means) inclined relative to the first and second shutter surfaces  421 ,  422 . Further, the second shutter surface  422  is provided with a protruding portion  425  which slightly protrudes beyond an intersection between the first shutter surface  421  and the second shutter surface  422 . 
     The shutter  420  is positioned in such a manner that an upper end of the first shutter surface  421  is fitted to a groove  426  formed on a top surface of the medicine dispensing part  402  and the protrusion  425 , and an edge portion  427  of the second shutter surface  422  are fitted to guide pulleys  432 ,  433  provided on the bottom surface  414  of the medicine dispensing part  402 . Further, the shutter  420  is inserted to slits  430 ,  431  that are obliquely formed in another peripheral surfaces  428 ,  429  approximately perpendicular to the peripheral surface  414  of the medicine dispensing part  402 . The shutter  420  is configured such that the first and second shutter surfaces  421 ,  422  can freely slide along the peripheral surface  411  and the bottom surface  414  of the medicine dispensing part  402  and the inclined surface  423  can freely slide as obliquely traversing an internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402  by a power from a power source (not shown). 
     In the shutter  420 , a length in the above-described slide direction (a length in a lengthwise direction) is set to be about twice the width of the medicine dispensing part  402  (a widthwise length of the peripheral surface  411 ). The first and second shutter surfaces  421 ,  422  and the inclined surface  423  are configured differently in one area (in this case, this may be referred to as an area A) and the other area (in this case, this may be referred to as an area B) relative to half a length in a lengthwise direction. Specifically, the area A of the first shutter surface  421  is provided with two openings  435 ,  436 , while the area B is not provided with any opening. The openings  435 ,  436  are vertically juxtaposed. The openings  435 ,  436  are positioned in a position where they can communicate with the introducing opening  412  and the exhaust opening  413  formed on the peripheral surface  411  of the medicine dispensing part  402  respectively. Further, an air-permeable filter  440  is provided in a position corresponding to the opening  436 . Meanwhile, the area B of the first shutter surface  421  (e.g., a forward isolation portion  442 ), which is a portion for blocking the forward pipe line  403 , is provided with a buffer material  441 . The butter material  441  buffers an impact exerted on the medicine due to a collision of the medicine flowing in through the forward pipe line  403  while the introducing opening  412  is blocked by the first shutter surface  421 . The buffer material  441  may include a rubber, a sponge, a foamed styrofoam, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 40B , the area B of the second shutter surface  422  is provided with an opening  437  which communicates with the dispensing opening  415  provided on the bottom surface  414  of the medicine dispensing part  402 , while the area A is not provided with any opening. As shown in  FIG. 40A , the area B of the inclined surface  423  is provided with an opening  438 , while the area A is not provided with any opening. 
     The shutter  420  is configured as described above. Thus, when the area A of the shutter  420  is positioned within the medicine dispensing part  402  and the area B is outwardly exposed as shown in  FIG. 37A , the internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402  is partitioned into two sections by the inclined surface  423  as shown in  FIG. 38 . Therefore, the forward pipe line  403  and the exhaust pipe line  410  communicate with each other through the introducing opening  412  and the exhaust opening  413  in the space above the inclined surface  423 . Further, the dispensing opening  415  is blocked by the second shutter surface  422 . Thus, the medicine transferred from the main unit  2  through the forward pipe line  403  is allowed to be received within the space above the inclined surface  423  in the medicine dispensing part  402 . 
     When the area B of the shutter  420  is positioned within the medicine dispensing part  402  as shown in  FIG. 37B , the introducing opening  412  and the exhaust opening  413  are blocked by the first shutter surface  421 . Meanwhile, the medicine stored within the medicine dispensing part  402  is capable of being dispensed from the dispensing opening  415  through the openings  437 ,  438  provided on the second shutter surface  422  and the inclined surface  423 . 
     Next, operation of the transfer device  400  will be described. The transfer device  400  can transfer the medicine from the sub unit  3  to the main unit  2  by sequentially repeating a medicine transferring operation for transferring the medicine dispensed to the medicine receiving part  401  in the sub unit  3  to the vicinity of the medicine dispensing part  402  and a medicine introducing operation for introducing the medicine transferred by the medicine transferring operation into the medicine dispensing part  402 . 
     When performing the medicine transferring operation, in the transfer device  400 , a position of the shutter  420  is adjusted such that the area B is positioned in the position of the medicine dispensing part  402  as shown in  FIG. 37B . Therefore, a distal end of the forward pipe line  403  is blocked by the first shutter surface  421  of the shutter  420 . When performing the medicine transferring operation, the blower  405  operates in such a state. Thus, an airflow flowing from the medicine receiving part  401  toward the medicine dispensing part  402  is produced within the forward pipe line  403 . In this case, the airflow flowing within the forward pipe line  403  is enough to transfer the medicine. A flow rate and a flow velocity of the airflow are not so great. If the airflow is produced within the forward pipe line  403  as described above, the medicine, which is dispensed to the medicine receiving part  401  of the sub unit  3 , flows to the main unit  2  to thereby be retained in the staying portion  416  provided in the vicinity of the introducing opening  412  of the medicine dispensing part  402 . Thus, the medicine transferring operation is completed. 
     If the medicine transferring operation is completed as described above, the transfer device  400  proceeds with the medicine introducing operation. When performing the medicine introducing operation, as shown in  FIG. 37A , the position of the shutter  420  is adjusted such that the area A of the shutter  420  reaches a position corresponding to the medicine dispensing part  402 . Thus, the introducing opening  412  and the exhausting opening  413  of the medicine dispensing part  402 , which has been blocked by the first shutter surface  421 , are opened, while the dispensing opening  415  is closed by the second shutter surface  422 . Further, the internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402  is partitioned by the inclined surface  423 . In this state, the pump  408  connected to the exhaust pipe line  410  operates and therefore the air within the medicine dispensing part  402  is sucked and exhausted. As a result, the medicine, which has been transferred to the staying portion  416  in the vicinity of the introducing opening  412  through the previously-performed medicine transferring operation, is introduced into the medicine dispensing part  402 . The medicine introduced into the medicine dispensing part  402  is inhibited from flowing into the exhaust pipe line  410  by the filter  440  provided on the first shutter surface  421  of the shutter  420  and therefore stays within the medicine dispensing part  402 . If the medicine transferred through the forward pipe line  403  is introduced into the medicine dispensing part  402  as described above, the medicine introducing operation is completed. 
     As described above, the transfer device  400  first transfers the medicine from the medicine dispensing part  402  to the medicine receiving part  401  through the medicine transferring operation and then can introduce the medicine transferred as such into the medicine receiving part  401  through the medicine introducing operation. Accordingly, in case of employing the transfer device  400 , it is possible to deliver the medicine from the medicine dispensing part  402  to medicine receiving part  401  by repeating the medicine transferring operation and the medicine introducing operation, similar to the case of employing said transfer device  5 ,  210 ,  300 . 
     Further, in the case of employing the transfer device  400 , the medicine transferring operation and the medicine introducing operation are performed independently. Accordingly, the flow velocity of the airflow, which flows within the forward pipe line  403  by the operation of the blower  405  during the medicine transferring operation, is sufficient to transfer the medicine. It does not need to increase excessively. More specifically, the flow velocity of the airflow, which flows within the forward pipe line  403  by operation of the blower  405  in the medicine transferring operation, is equal to or lower than the flow velocity of the airflow flowing by the operation of the pump  408  during the medicine introducing operation. Accordingly, in the case of employing the transfer device  400 , it is possible to prevent the medicine from breaking or chipping due to the collision between the medicines which are transferred from the main unit  2  to the sub unit  3  or between the medicines and the shutter  420 . 
     Further, in the above-described transfer device  400 , although the medicine transferred in the medicine transferring operation collides against the shutter  420 , an impact on the medicine is buffered by the buffer material  441  provided on the shutter  420 . Thus, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the medicine from breaking or chipping due to the collision against the shutter  420  in the medicine transferring operation. Further, it is illustrated in the present embodiment that the buffer material  441  prevents the medicine from breaking or chipping. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The buffer material  441  may not be employed. 
     As described above, the transfer device  400  has inclined surface  423  at the shutter  420  and can partition the internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402  by the inclined surface  423 . Further, the inclined surface  423  is integrally formed in the shutter  420  and partitions the internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402  along with the open state of the introducing opening  412  or the exhaust opening  413 . Therefore, a size of a space in which the exhaust pipe line  410  and the forward pipe line  403  communicates with each other (e.g., a space above the inclined surface  423 ) can be sufficiently smaller than a size of the internal space of the medicine dispensing part  402 . Accordingly, the transfer device  400  can introduce the medicine transferred through the forward pipe line  403  into the medicine dispensing part  402  without significantly increasing an output (an exhaust capacity) of the pump  408  during the medicine introducing operation. Further, since there is no need to significantly increase the output of the pump  408  during the medicine introducing operation, the medicine is not subjected to great impact when introduced into the medicine dispensing part  402 . As a result, it is possible to more surely prevent the medicine from breaking or chipping. 
     It is illustrated that the transfer device  400  has inclined surface  423  integrally mounted to the shutter  420 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The inclined surface  423  may be configured to operate independently of the shutter  420 . Further, the transfer device  400  has the inclined surface  423 . However, the transfer device may not include the inclined surface  423 . 
     As described above, the inclined surface  423  is disposed opposite the introducing opening  412  and the exhausting opening  413 . Further, in the medicine dispensing part  402 , a distance between the inclined surface  423  and the exhaust opening  413  positioned at downstream of the airflow flowing during transferring or introducing the medicine is narrower than a distance between the inclined surface  423  and the introducing opening  412  positioned upstream of the airflow. Thus, if the inclined surface  423  is disposed as described above, the air introduced from the introducing opening  413  into the medicine dispensing part  402  impinges against the inclined surface  423  and then changes its direction to flow smoothly toward the exhaust opening  413 . 
     Further, the above-described transfer device  400  is configured to head the air exhausted from the exhaust pipe line  410  outside. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 41 , the exhaust pipe line  410  may be connected to the medicine receiving part  401  and the medicine dispensing part  402  in the same manner as the forward pipe line  403 . According to such a configuration, a circulation system, which circulates the air between the medicine receiving part  401  and the medicine dispensing part  402 , is formed. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 41 , when the exhaust pipe line  410  is connected to the medicine receiving part  401  to form the circulation system, the air circulates within the closed space generating heat. Therefore, in case of dealing with medicines which can be denatured by heat and connecting the exhaust pipe line  410  to the medicine receiving part  401 , it is preferred that a cooling means for cooling the air may be disposed at a suitable place such as at a halfway point of the exhaust pipe line  410 , and that the circulation system may be configured to appropriately introduce external air with low temperature. 
     The above-described transfer device  400  has a flow path, which runs from the medicine receiving part  401  through the forward pipe line  403  and the medicine dispensing part  402  to the exhaust pipe line  410  and produces airflow within the flow path along with the transfer of the medicine between the medicine receiving part  401  and medicine dispensing part  402 . Further, similar to the case where the exhaust pipe line  410  is connected to the medicine receiving part  401  as shown in  FIG. 41 , the airflow is produced within the circulating flow path connecting the medicine receiving part  401  and medicine dispensing part  402  with the forward pipe line  403  and the exhaust pipe line  410 . Since the above-described transfer device  400  includes the filter  440  provided on the medicine dispensing part  402  constituting a part of the flow path, it is preferred that the transfer device is configured to exactly detect a block of the filter  440  and to perform maintenance therefor. Thus, the transfer device  400  may include a flow-amount detecting means for detecting the amount of air flowing within the flow path and a clogging judging means. When the flow-amount detected by the flow-amount detecting means is less than a predetermined amount, the clogging judging means may decide that the filter  440  is clogged. 
     Further, in case of providing the flow-amount detecting means to judge the clogging of the filter  440  as described above, the medicine under transfer to the medicine dispensing part  402  provided in the main unit  2  may be transferred by increasing the output of one or both of the blower  405  and the pump  408  when the clogging occurs and then to stop transferring the medicine or notify the clogging of the filter  440 . More specifically, the medicine under transfer may be completely transferred by increasing the output of one or both of the blower  405  and the pump  408  upon a condition that the flow-amount detected by the flow-amount detecting means decreases. Thereafter, based on the above-mentioned increases in the output of the blower  405  or the pump  408 , the clogging of the filter  440  may be decided by the clogging judging means or transferring the next medicine may not be performed. 
     It is illustrated in the above-described embodiment that the filter  440  is provided in the flow path along which the airflow flows during the transfer of the medicine. However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. A separate filter may be provided at any other place or the filter  440  may not be provided. 
     The medicine dispensing system  1  is not limited to employing the transfer device  5 ,  210 ,  300 ,  400  and may employ, for example a transfer device  500  shown in  FIG. 42 . The transfer device  500  includes: a forward pipe line  502 ; a blower  504  (an airflow producing means); a medicine dispensing part  510  (a delivering part); and a medicine receiving part  511 . The transfer device  500  is configured similarly to the above-described transfer device  400  in that medicines are transferred by the airflow produced within the forward pipe line  502  by an operation of the blower  504 . However, the transfer device  500  is configured differently from the above-described transfer device  400  in that it does not need the pump  408  or a pipe such as the exhaust pipe line  410  for exhausting the airflow introduced into the medicine dispensing part  510 . 
     More specifically, the forward pipe line  502  of the transfer device  500  includes a pipe which connects a main storage part  20  and a sub storage part  120 . The blower  504  is disposed so as to produce airflow from the sub unit  3  toward the main unit  2  within the forward pipe line  502 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 44 to 47 , the medicine dispensing part  510  is configured such that a delivery container  512  connected to the forward pipe line  502  is housed in a box-shaped outer container  530 . The delivery container  512  is a hollow box-shaped member that is surrounded by side surfaces  512   a  to  512   d . The delivery container includes a shutter  514  and a buffer means  522 . The delivery container  512  includes an upper container body  524  and a lower container body  526 , which are vertically combined. An inside portion of the delivery container  512  can be swept by removing the upper container body  524  of an upper side from the lower container body  526 , if necessary. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 46 and 47 , the upper container body  524  is a hollow member constituting an upper portion of the delivery container  512 . Further, the upper container body  524  is opened at a bottom portion coupled to the lower container body  526 . When the delivery container  512  is assembled, the forward pipe line  502  is connected to a surface constituting the side surface  512   a  of the upper container body  524  via a joint pipe  540 . The joint pipe  540  includes a pipe more flexible than the forward pipe line  502 , such as a rubber pipe. 
     Further, a buffer means  522  is provided at the upper container body  524 . The buffer means  522  includes a plate member, on which an elastic material such as rubber is provided or coated, or a rubber plate elastic in itself. The buffer means  522  is disposed opposite the surface  512   a  connected to the forward pipe line  502  within the upper container body  524 . Specifically, the buffer means  522  is obliquely downwardly disposed across the side surface  512   d  and the top surface  512   e.    
     In the upper container body  524 , a surface, which crosses the surface (the side surface  512   a ) connected to the forward pipe line  502  (in the present embodiment, approximately crossing at a right angle) and constitutes the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  when the delivery container  512  is assembled, is formed with a plurality of exhausting holes  524   p . In this case, the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  are surfaces laterally disposed relative to the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  through the forward pipe line  502 . Further, the exhausting holes  524   p  are disposed below a height of connection to the forward pipe line  502 . More specifically, the exhausting holes  524   p  are disposed below a central axis LU centrally extending through an opening area of the forward pipe line  502 . Thus, the airflow introduced through the forward pipe line  502  flows downward without being stagnant or forming a vortex within the upper section of the delivery container  512 . Also, the airflow is directed so as to flow in a direction crossing direction the airflow is introduced into the delivery container  512 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 46 and 47 , the lower container body  526  is a hollow member constituting a lower portion of the delivery container  512 . A bottom portion  518  of the lower container body  526  is formed with a dispensing opening  520  for dispensing the medicine toward the medicine preparing part  80 . Further, the lower container body  526  is open at a top portion coupled to the upper container body  524 . Accordingly, the lower container body  526  is integrally coupled to the upper container body  524  to thereby form a hollow internal space  516  within the upper and lower container bodies  524 ,  526 . 
     In the lower container body  526 , a surface, which constitutes the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  when the delivery container  512  is assembled, is formed with a plurality of exhausting holes  526   p . That is, the exhausting holes  526   p  are formed in surfaces (the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c ) laterally disposed relative to the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  through the forward pipe line  502 . Further, the exhausting holes  526   p  are positioned at a lower side of the lower container body  526 . More specifically, the exhausting holes  526   p  are positioned below a reference plane LD passing through a position where a supporting shaft  552  of the shutter  514  is provided. Thus, in the airflow introduced into the upper container body  524  through the forward pipe line  502 , the airflow, which flows downward to come to the lower container body  526 , flows further downward within the lower container body  526 . Also, the airflow is directed so as to flow in the direction crossing the introducing direction into the delivery container  512 . Accordingly, the medicine, which has dropped to the lower container body  526 , surely falls on the shutter  514 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 46 and 47 , the shutter  514  serves to open and close the dispensing opening  520  provided at the bottom portions  518  and is positioned in the lower container body  526  of the delivery container  512 . The shutter  514  includes a plate body having a cross section of a flat rhombus shape with pointed tips. A thickness of the plate body becomes gradually thinner as toward opposite ends of the plate body. 
     The shutter  514  is disposed rotatably about the supporting shaft  552  within the delivery container  512 . The supporting shaft  552  is approximately perpendicular to the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  constituting the delivery container  512 . The supporting shaft is connected to a drive device  550  provided outside of the outer container  530  of the medicine dispensing part  510 . The drive device  550  includes a motor  550   a  and a power transmission mechanism  550   b . A rotating power produced by the motor  550   a  is transmitted to the shutter  514  via the supporting shaft  552  to thereby change an orientation of the shutter  514 . 
     The shutter  514  can vertically partition the internal space  516  of the delivery container  512  by placing its tip edges into contact with the side surfaces  512   a ,  512   d  of the delivery container  512 . If the internal space  516  is vertically partitioned by the shutter  514 , then the delivery container  512  goes into a state where the medicine is not allowed to be dispensed from the dispensing opening  520  (hereinafter, this state may be referred to as a closed state). Further, the internal space  516  of the delivery container  512  can vertically communicate by rotating the shutter  514  about the supporting shaft  552 . If an inclination of the shutter becomes steeper than that in the closed state and the internal space  516  in which it vertically communicates, then the delivery container  512  goes into a state where the medicine is allowed to be dispensed from the dispensing opening  520  (hereinafter, this state may be referred to as an open state). Therefore, as the inclination of the shutter  514  is changed by the operation of the drive device  550 , the delivery container  512  can change between a closed state and the open state. 
     The delivery container  512  is housed in a space enclosed by the outer container  530 . The outer container  530  is a hollow box-shaped body surrounded by four peripheral surfaces  530   a  to  530   d . It is possible to sweep or maintain the delivery container  512  since a lid  530   f  provided on a top surface  530   e  of the outer container  530  is appropriately opened and closed. 
     The peripheral surface  530   a  constituting the outer container  530  is penetrated by the forward pipe line  502  connected to the delivery container  512  housed in the outer container  530 . Further, each of the peripheral surfaces  530   b ,  530   c  crosses the peripheral surface  530   a  (in the present embodiment, approximately crossing at a right angle), while the peripheral surface  530   d  is opposite the peripheral surface  530   a . As shown in  FIGS. 44, 45 and 47 , the above-described delivery container  512  is positioned near a corner formed by the peripheral surfaces  530   b ,  530   d  in the space of the outer container  530 . That is, the peripheral surfaces  530   a ,  530   d  are parallel to the side surfaces  512   a ,  512   d  of the delivery container  512 , respectively, while distances between the peripheral surfaces  530   a ,  530   d  and the side surfaces  512   a ,  512   d  are different from each other. Specifically, the distance between the peripheral surface  530   a  and the side surface  512   a  is much larger than the distance between the peripheral surface  530   d  and the side surface  512   d . Also, the peripheral surface  530   d  and the side surface  512   d  are positioned almost without a gap therebetween. Further, the distance between the peripheral surface  530   b  and the side surface  512   b  is smaller than the distance between the peripheral surface  530   c  and the side surface  512   c.    
     The outer container  530  has an exhausting part  532  for exhausting the air flowing out from the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  of the delivery container  512  at the peripheral surface  530   c . The exhausting part  532  is positioned near the peripheral surface  530   a  of the outer container  530 . The exhausting part  532  is provided with a primary filter  534  and a secondary filter  536  with meshes finer than those of the primary filter  534 . The primary filter  534  and the secondary filter  536  can be detached separately for purposes of cleaning or replacement. The primary filter  534  with sparse meshes is disposed upstream in a flow direction of the air exhausted from the exhausting part  532  relative to the secondary filter  536  with fine meshes. In the present embodiment, the primary filter  534  is disposed in the exhausting part  532  inward of the outer container  530 , while the secondary filter  536  is disposed outward of the outer container  530 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 42 , the medicine receiving part  511  provided in the sub unit  3  is comprised of a box-shaped body with an opened medicine input opening  560  at its top surface. The sub hopper  135  provided in the sub unit  3  is connected to the medicine input opening  560 . The medicine dispensed from the sub storage part  120  is inputted into the medicine receiving part  511  through the medicine input opening  560 . As shown in FIGS.  42  and  48 , both the one end of the forward pipe line  502  and a blower pipe  566  connected to the blower  504  are connected to the medicine receiving part  511  to communicate with each other. A medicine transfer passage  562  and a medicine input passage  564  extending from the medicine input opening  560  to the forward pipe line  502  are provided within the medicine receiving part  511 . 
     The forward pipe line  502  and the blower pipe  566  are connected to the medicine transfer passage  562 . As indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 48 , as the blower  504  operates, airflow is produced toward the forward pipe line  502 . The medicine transfer passage  562  joins the medicine input passage  564  at its halfway portion. The medicine transfer passage  562  has an enlarged diameter section  568 , at which a cross section of the flow passage is enlarged, downstream of a junction  566  with the medicine input passage  564  (i.e., at a portion connected to the forward pipe line  502 ). A diameter of the enlarged diameter section  568  is enlarged toward the medicine input passage  564  (i.e., toward an upper side) within the medicine receiving part  511 . In the present embodiment, the medicine transfer passage  562  is configured such that an inner diameter of the enlarged diameter section  568  is enlarged to be about 1.5 times larger than that of an upstream portion  567 . Meanwhile, the medicine transfer passage  562  is configured such that a portion upstream of the junction  566  (hereinafter, this may be referred to as the upstream portion  567 ″) and the enlarged diameter section  568  are flush with each other at a portion opposite the medicine input passage  564  (i.e., a bottom side of the medicine receiving part  511 ). Thus, the airflow flowing within the medicine transfer passage  564  smoothly flows toward the forward pipe line  502  without being stagnant or forming a vortex at the junction  566 . 
     Further, the medicine input passage  564  is gently inclined downward from the medicine input opening  560  and is joined to the medicine transfer passage  562 . Thus, if the airflow is produced by operation of the blower  504  within the medicine transfer passage  562 , then a suction force from the medicine input opening  560  toward the medicine transfer passage  562  is produced at the medicine input passage  564 . Accordingly, if the medicine is inputted into the medicine input opening  560 , as indicated by a two dot chain line in  FIG. 48 , the medicine is sucked and introduced into the medicine transfer passage  562  and then is introduced to the forward pipe line  502 . 
     Next, operation of the transfer device  500  will be described. The transfer device  500  starts transferring the medicine by dispensing the medicine from the sub storage part  120  of the sub unit  3 . If the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part  120  is introduced into the forward pipe line  502  through the medicine receiving part  511 , then the blower  504  operates to produce the airflow from the sub unit  3  toward the main unit  2  within the forward pipe line  502 . Thus, the medicine flows to the medicine dispensing part  510  provided in the main unit  2 . In this case, as shown in  FIG. 46 , the shutter  514  provided in the delivery container  512  in the medicine dispensing part  510  of the main unit  2  goes into the closed state. 
     When the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  reaches the medicine dispensing part  510 , it is introduced into the delivery container  512 . In this case, if the airflow is strong over the weight or quantity of the medicine, the medicine collides against the buffer means  522  and then drops downward in the internal space  516  of the delivery container  512 . However, if the airflow is not so strong, the medicine drops downward in the internal space  516  without collision against the buffer means  522 . Further, after the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  through the forward pipe line  502  flows downward in the internal space  516 , as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 47 , it is exhausted from the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  formed in the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c . Accordingly, the medicine transferred into the delivery container  512  drops smoothly. The medicine dropping within the delivery container  512  falls on the shutter  514  in the closed state. 
     If all the medicines transferred from the sub unit  3  falls on the shutter  514  as described above, the shutter  514  is changed into the open state. In such a case, the medicine falls along the surface of the shutter  514  which becomes gradually steeper and then is dispensed from the dispensing opening  520  provided on the bottom portion  518  of the delivery container  512 . The medicine dispensed from the dispensing opening  520  is inputted into the medicine preparing part  80  provided below the medicine dispensing part  510  for packing in the medicine packing part  21  provided in the main unit  2 . Thereafter, the medicines prepared in the medicine preparing part  80  are packed by the medicine packing part  21  one after another. 
     In case of employing the transfer device  500 , it is possible to transfer the medicine from the sub unit  3  to main unit  2  to pack the same as described above, but also to sweep the inside of the medicine transfer path of the transfer device  500  by means of airflow produced by the blower  504 . Specifically, when sweeping the inside of the medicine transfer path of the transfer device  500 , the blower  504  operates as the shutter  514  is closed. In this case, the output of the blower  504  is set to be larger than the transfer of the medicine. Thus, dusts remaining within the medicine transfer path of the transfer device  500  are swept off and then expelled from the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  of the delivery container  512 . The dusts expelled from the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  are captured by the primary filter  534  and the secondary filter  536  provided in the exhausting part  532  of the outer container  530 . 
     As described above, the medicine dispensing system  1  employing the transfer device  500  can transfer the medicine from the sub unit  3  to the medicine dispensing part  510  provided in the main unit  2  along with the airflow produced by the operation of the blower  504 . Further, after the medicine is transferred to the medicine dispensing part  510 , the medicine can be dispensed for packing by changing the shutter  514  to the open state. Accordingly, in case of employing the transfer device  500 , similarly to the case employing the above-described transfer device  5 ,  210 ,  300 ,  400 , it is possible to pack the medicine dispensed in the sub unit  3  at the medicine packing part  21  provided in the main unit  2 . 
     In the above-described transfer device  500 , the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  are formed below the connection position between the delivery container  512  and the forward pipe line  502 . Thus, the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  through the forward pipe line  502  flows downward. Further, in the above-described delivery container  512 , the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c , which are disposed laterally to the side surface  512   a  connected to the forward pipe line  502 , are provided approximately symmetrically. Thus, the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  flows downward as described above and then is smoothly exhausted as bifurcated. As such, in the transfer device  500 , the airflow introduced into the delivery container  512  smoothly flows downward and is exhausted without being stagnant at the upper side. Thus, the medicine introduced on the airflow drops smoothly without blowing within the delivery container  512  and is to be dispensed. 
     As described above, since the airflow smoothly flows and the medicine smoothly drops within the delivery container  512 , the transfer device  500  does not need the pump  408  or the exhaust pipe line  410  for exhaust purposes as described in the transfer device  400 . Accordingly, in case of employing the transfer device  500 , a device configuration can be simplified when compared to the case of employing the transfer device  400 . 
     It is illustrated in the present embodiment that the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  are formed in the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  of the delivery container  512 . However, an equivalent to the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  may be formed on the side surfaces  512   a ,  512   d . Further, an equivalent to the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  may be formed in the side surfaces  512   a ,  512   d  instead of forming the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  in the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c.    
     Further, it is illustrated in the present embodiment that the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  are formed in both the upper container body  524  and the lower container body  526 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. One of the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  may not be formed. Also, the number or the opening area of the openings  524   p ,  526   p  may be different. Further, in order to smoothly drop the medicine within the delivery container  512 , the airflow, in some embodiments, is exhausted not in a halfway position in a height direction of the delivery container  512 , but in a position as low as possible. Accordingly, in case of forming any one of the exhausting holes  524   p  and the exhausting holes  526   p , it is preferred to form only the exhausting holes  526   p . Further, in case of varying the number or the opening area of the exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p , the number or the opening area of the exhausting holes  524   p , in some embodiments, is smaller than those of the exhausting holes  526   p.    
     In the above-described transfer device  500 , the buffer means  522  is provided within the delivery container  512  and is disposed opposite the side surface  512   a  connected to the forward pipe line  502  or an open end of the forward pipe line  502 . Thus, although the medicine introduced from the forward pipe line  502  into delivery container  512  collide with the buffer means  522  from the force of the airflow, breakage or chipping of the medicine hardly occurs. 
     In the above-described transfer device  500 , the shutter  514  is in the closed state and is inclined as it awaits the transfer of the medicine. Thus, when the medicine is transferred into the delivery container  512  and then falls on the shutter  514 , a drop distance of the medicine is relatively short. Accordingly, an impact exerted to the medicine due to the drop within delivery container  512  is small. Further, once the medicine falls on the shutter  514 , the medicine slides along the surface of the shutter  514  to drop downward. Thus, after the medicine falls on the shutter  514 , no impact is exerted to the medicine until the medicine is dispensed. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to minimize the impact exerted on the medicine transferred from sub unit  3  to main unit  2 . 
     As described above, it is possible to easily sweep or maintain the internal space of the outer container  530  or the delivery container  512  by opening the lid  530   f  provided on the top surface  530   e  of the outer container  530 . Further, it is possible to divide the delivery container  512  by removing the upper container body  524  from the lower container body  526 . Accordingly, it is possible to easily sweep or maintain the inside of the delivery container  512 . 
     It is illustrated in the present embodiment that the openable and closable lid  530   f  is provided in the outer container  530  and the delivery container  512  is configured to be divided. However, the outer container and the delivery container are not necessarily configured as such. Further, the delivery container  512  is configured to be divide into two vertical members (the upper container body  524  and the lower container body  526 ). However, the delivery container may be divided into more members. Also, the delivery container may include an openable and closable lid in order to sweep the inside thereof, similar to the outer container  530 . 
     Since the plurality of exhausting holes  524   p ,  526   p  are formed in the side surfaces  512   b ,  512   c  of the delivery container  512  in the above-described transfer device  500 , the airflow is exhausted in different directions from the delivery container  512 . However, in the transfer device  500 , the delivery container  512  is disposed inside the outer container  530 . The airflow exhausted from the delivery container  512  accumulates in a space between the outer container  530  and the delivery container  512  and is then exhausted from the exhausting part  532  separately provided in the outer container  530  through the primary filter  534  and the secondary filter  536 . Thus, the transfer device  500  can prevent dusts from blowing within the main unit  2 . 
     It is illustrated in the present embodiment that the outer container  530  for housing the delivery container  512  or the exhausting part  532  is provided in order to prevent the airflow from being exhausted from the transfer device  500  in different directions. However, if dust is unlikely to blow along with the exhaust of the airflow, or if the airflow may be exhausted a little from the transfer device  500 , the outer container  530  may not be provided. 
     In the above-described outer container  530 , the primary filter  534  and the secondary filter  536  are provided in the exhausting part  532 . Thus, although the airflow exhausted into the outer container  530  contains dust, it is possible to prevent the dust from flowing out of the outer container  530 . Further, since the primary filter  534  with sparse meshes is disposed upstream of the secondary filter  536  with fine meshes in the airflow flowing through the exhausting part  532 , a service life of the secondary filter  536  can be extended. Furthermore, it is illustrated in the present embodiment that the primary filter  534  and the secondary filter  536  with different sized meshes are provided in the exhaust part  532 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such configuration. In some embodiments only one of the primary filter and the secondary filter may be provided. 
     As described above, in the medicine dispensing part  510 , the delivery container  512  and the forward pipe line  502  are connected to each other through the flexible joint pipe  540 . Thus, although a certain stress is applied to the forward pipe line  502 , such stress can be absorbed or relieved by the joint pipe  540 , thereby preventing a joint portion between the delivery container  512  and the forward pipe line  502  from damaging. Further, it is illustrated in the present embodiment that the delivery container  512  and the forward pipe line  502  are connected to each other through the joint pipe  540 . However, the present invention should not be limited to such a configuration. The joint pipe  540  and the delivery container  512  may be directly connected to each other. Further, in case a medicine transferring system is configured by connecting a pipe to another member in the same manner as the pipe line  540 , the forward pipe line  403  and the exhaust pipe line  410  of the above-described transfer device  5 ,  400 , a flexible member such as the joint pipe  540  may be interposed between a pipe and another member. Pipe line  140  or the forward pipe line  403 , through which the medicine passes, may include a hard pipe for preventing the medicine from jamming in a halfway portion. Since a joint portion between a pipe and another member is apt to break because of stress, a connecting pipe  540  that is more flexible than the pipe at the joint portion between the piping and said other member may be used. 
     As described above, in case of employing the transfer device  500 , in addition to the transfer of the medicine from the sub unit  3  to the main unit  2 , it is possible to sweep off the dust remaining within the serial medicine transfer path extending from the medicine dispensing part  510  to the medicine receiving part  511  by means of airflow produced by the operation of the blower  504 . Thus, in case of employing the transfer device  500 , the medicine transfer path can be easily kept clean without performing large-scale work such as removal of the forward pipe line  502 . Further, the timing of when to sweep the medicine transfer path by means of the airflow produced by the operation of the blower  504  may be appropriately set as, for example, a time after the predetermined quantity of medicine is packed, or a time when an operating means such as a separately-provided button is operated. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, when the medicine transfer path in the transfer device  500  is swept by the airflow produced by the operation of the blower  504 , the output of the blower  504  is set to be larger than the output during the transfer of the medicine. Thus, dust, which does not flow from the airflow produced during the transfer of the medicine, can be swept off by performing a sweeping operation. Further, the output of the blower  504  during sweeping the transfer device  500  may not necessarily be increased. The output of the blower  504  may be equal to the output during the transfer of the medicine. Furthermore, the output of the blower  504  may be appropriately changed during sweeping. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing system  1  is configured such that the medicine dispensed from the manual distributing unit  23  provided in the main unit  2  is inputted into the medicine preparing part  80  through the manual distributing hopper  91  provided below the manual distributing unit as shown in  FIGS. 49 and 50 . However, it is preferred that the medicine dispensing system is configured to detect whether the medicine is normally dispensed from the manual distributing unit  23 . Meanwhile, the manual distributing unit  23  has a plurality of measures  90  and is configured to sequentially dispense the medicine from each of the measures  90 . Thus, when a means for detecting a dispensing state of the medicine is provided in each of the measures  90 , the structure of the manual distributing unit  23  becomes complicated. Accordingly, based on such knowledge, it is preferred that the above-described medicine dispensing system  1  includes a sensor capable of detecting the medicine midway in a path, through which the medicine dispensed from the manual distributing unit  23  passes. Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 49 and 50 , it is preferred that a sensor  570  capable of detecting the medicine is provided in the manual distributing hopper  91  disposed between the manual distributing unit  23  and the medicine preparing part  80 . 
     Next, other inventions will be explained hereinafter. There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 2. A prior art medicine dispensing device has a storage part for storing a plurality kinds of medicines. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is constructed to pack medicines removed from the storage part according to prescriptions into a packing paper sheet at a packing part and dispense the same. (see Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-130307) 
     A prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 includes: a packing part for packing medicines; and a packing paper sheet conveying part including a conveying means such as a conveyor for conveying the packing paper sheet, in which the medicines are packed, toward a removal opening. However, when abnormality in conveying a packing paper sheet occurs due to jamming caused by the packing paper sheet in the conveying part, the prior art device does not have a technique for rapidly and reliably detecting such abnormality. Further, in the prior art medicine dispensing device, a position of a dispensing opening for dispensing the packed medicine is determined under configuration of the conveying means and the packing part. Thus, there is a problem with the prior art device in that the packed medicine can be removed at a desired position. 
     Thus, there is a need for a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and reliably detect abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer in a packing paper sheet conveying part, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. Further, there is a need to provide a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to remove medicine packed in a packing part at a desired position. 
     In one embodiment a medicine dispensing device includes a storage part configured to store and dispense medicine; a packing part configured to pack the medicine dispensed from the storage part into a packing paper sheet; and a packing paper sheet conveying part configured to convey a packing paper sheet into which the medicine is packed by the packing part. The packing paper sheet conveying part includes: a packing paper sheet conveying means configured to convey the packing paper sheet along a predetermined conveyance path through contact with the packing paper sheet; and a detecting means configured to contact the packing paper sheet passing through the conveyance path and operate independently of the packing paper sheet conveying means. It is detected upon a condition of not operating of the detecting means during operation of the packing paper sheet conveying means whether an abnormality in transferring a packing paper sheet occurs. 
     In another embodiment a medicine dispensing device includes, at the packing paper sheet conveying part, the detecting means contacting the packing paper sheet and operating independently of the packing paper sheet conveying means. The medicine dispensing device can detect whether or not the packing paper sheet transfer is normal through the detecting means. Further, the medicine dispensing device can rapidly and precisely detect an abnormality in the packing paper sheet transfer. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can perform appropriate measures such as stopping the packing paper sheet transfer, or stopping the dispensing of medicine to the packing paper sheet. Thus, it may be possible to minimize the amount of the packing paper sheet or the medicine wasted when an abnormality in the packing paper sheet transfer occurs. 
     Further the detecting means may include a roller independently rotatable of the packing paper sheet conveying means; and a rotation detecting means configured to detect a rotation of the roller. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device which can detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer based on whether the rotation of the roller is detected by the rotation detecting means. 
     Further, the packing paper sheet conveying part may be configured to bend the conveyance path of the packing paper sheet. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can remove the medicine packed in the packing part at a desired position by appropriately bending the conveyance path in the packing paper sheet conveying part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device according to the above-described embodiment, in order to rapidly detect the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected in a position as far upstream as possible in a conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet where the occurrence of the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be accurately detected. Specifically, the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected in a position as far upstream as possible in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet where a conveyance force acts on the packing paper sheet. 
     Thus, the detecting means may be situated upstream in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet in the packing paper sheet conveying means. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can rapidly and accurately grasp an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer when it occurs. 
     Further, the packing paper sheet conveying part may include a packing part for packing medicine. The packing paper sheet conveying means may be provided downstream in the conveyance direction of the packing paper sheet relative to the packing part. The packing paper sheet conveying means may include a receiving part receiving a packing paper sheet conveyed from the packing part; and a conveying part downstream of the conveying of the packing paper sheet received in the receiving part. The detecting means may be disposed near a boundary between the receiving part and the conveying part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the receiving part receiving the packing paper sheet is provided in the packing paper sheet conveying means. In the conveying part, a conveyance force acts on the packing paper sheet received in the receiving part to convey the packing paper sheet. Thus, where the detecting means is disposed near the boundary between the receiving part and the conveying part, similar to the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be rapidly and accurately detected. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system including a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit. The packing means of the main unit packs and dispenses the medicine. 
     The medicine dispensing system may include the main unit and the sub unit. It is configured such that the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part provided in the sub unit is transferred to the main unit through the transfer device and is packed and dispensed together with the medicine dispensed in the main unit. However, when the packing paper sheet conveying part provided in the main unit cannot rapidly and accurately detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer, the medicine dispensed in the main unit as well as the medicine dispensed in the sub unit are not allowed to be properly packed. As a result, when the medicines dispensed from both the main unit and the sub unit are allowed to be packed together as described in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, not detecting the abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer rapidly and accurately raises problems in that the wasted amount of the packing paper sheet and the medicine becomes excessive. 
     Thus, a medicine dispensing device in some embodiments may be employed as the main unit. Thus, when an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer is detected in the main unit, such abnormality can be rapidly and accurately detected. Further, an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer can be detected rapidly and accurately in some embodiments, the medicine dispensing device can perform appropriate measures such as stopping the packing paper sheet transfer, or stopping to dispense medicines to the packing paper sheet in case of the occurrence of an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer. Thus, the wasted amount of the packing paper sheet and the medicine can be minimized. 
     There can be provided in other embodiments, a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and reliably detect an abnormality in packing paper sheet transfer in a packing paper sheet conveying part, and the medicine dispensing system including the same. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to remove a medicine packed in the packing part at a desired position. 
     Next, another embodiment will be explained hereinafter. There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 3. A prior art medicine dispensing device has a medicine dispensing means. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is configured to pack medicines dispensed from the medicine dispensing means according to prescriptions into a packing paper sheet at a packing means. Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, the prior art medicine dispensing device includes a printing means and is configured to print necessary information such as contents of the packed medicine on the packing paper sheet through the printing means. (see Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-130307). 
     In a packing work performed by the prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3, pharmacists monitor whether medicines to be fed to the packing part and to be packed therein are accurately packed. The prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3 is configured to assume that the medicines to be packed are fed to the packing part at a time when the medicines to be fed to the packing part and to be packed therein are ready and then to perform a printing operation to a packing paper sheet through the printing means. Thus, in the packing work performed by the prior art medicine dispensing device disclosed in the Patent Document 3, it cannot be judged by looking over the information printed on the packing paper sheet whether the medicines to be packed are accurately packed. Thus, it has a problem in that the examination work becomes complicated. Further, it has another problem in that the packing paper sheet, to which the printing operation is performed after the medicines are already packed, appears to be under a normally packed state. Further, in the prior art medicine dispensing device, even if the medicines to be packed are not ready due to an abnormality in feeding medicines to the packing part, the printing operation is performed to a packing paper sheet, thereby wasting the packing paper sheet. 
     Thus, in one embodiment a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to rapidly and precisely perform an examination work and to prevent the occurrence of wasted packing paper sheets, and a medicine dispensing system including the same. 
     In one embodiment a medicine dispensing device, which includes a medicine dispensing means configured to dispense a medicine according to a prescription; a medicine preparing means configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means and to dispense the same at a predetermined time; a packing means configured to pack a medicine dispensed from the medicine preparing means into a packing paper sheet; a packing paper sheet feeding means configured to feed a packing paper sheet to the packing means; and a printing means configured to print predetermined information on a packing paper sheet fed from the packing paper sheet feeding means to the packing means. The printing means is disposed upstream of the packing means in a flow direction of the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means. A length of a path, through which a packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means, is n times the length of a packing paper sheet necessary for packing a medicine for one pack. The medicine preparing means includes a plurality of sections configured to gather the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means for one pack respectively and is configured to dispense the medicines gathered in the plurality of sections in a predetermined order. The printing means prints information corresponding to a section A of the plurality of sections on the packing paper sheet at a time earlier by a time period necessary for dispensing medicine for a section n from the medicine preparing means than a timing of dispensing a medicine gathered in section A. 
     In another embodiment, the length of the path, through which the packing paper sheet passes between the printing means and the packing means, is set to be n times the length of the packing paper sheet necessary for packing medicine for one pack. Further, the medicine preparing means includes a plurality of sections and is configured to dispense the medicine gathered in each of the sections in a predetermined order. Thus, the medicine dispensed from section A is packed into the packing paper sheet, which the printing means prints at a time earlier by a time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n (i.e., equal to n packs) from the medicine preparing means toward the packing means than a time for dispensing a medicine gathered in the section A. That is, a medicine to be packed is supplied to section A at a time prior to performing the print operation corresponding to section A to the packing paper sheet. Further, a timing when the medicine gathered in the section A is dispensed to the packing part and a timing when a section of a packing paper sheet with the information corresponding to section A printed thereon reaches the packing part are coincidental. Thus, the medicine dispensing device of the present invention performs printing to a packing paper sheet when medicine to be packed is supplied to section A. Further, it can easily monitor whether or not a medicine to be packed is exactly supplied and resolve the waste of a packing paper sheet resulting from an abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, a printing operation to the packing paper sheet may be performed by the printing means upon a condition that the medicine is fed into section A up to a time earlier by the time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n from the medicine preparing means than the time of dispensing a medicine gathered in the section A of the plurality of sections in the medicine preparing means. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, the medicine is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means to section A at a time earlier by a time period more than the time period necessary for dispensing a medicine for the section n from the medicine preparing means than the time of dispensing a medicine gathered in section A in the medicine preparing means. Thus, the information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet after the medicine is fed into section A. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can easily monitor whether or not a medicine to be packed is accurately packed and resolve the waste of a packing paper sheet resulting from an abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further a medicine dispensing device includes a medicine dispensing means configured to dispense a medicine according to a prescription; a medicine preparing means configured to receive a medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing means and to dispense the same at a predetermined time; a packing means configured to pack a medicine dispensed from the medicine preparing means into a packing paper sheet; a packing paper sheet feeding means configured to feed a packing paper sheet to the packing means; and a printing means configured to print predetermined information on a packing paper sheet fed from the packing paper sheet feeding means to the packing means. The printing means is disposed upstream of the packing means in a flow direction of the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means. The medicine preparing means includes a plurality of sections configured to gather the medicine for one pack dispensed from the medicine dispensing means respectively. The medicine preparing means is configured to dispense the medicines gathered in the plurality of sections in a predetermined order. A medicine is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means into one section A of the plurality of sections at a time earlier by a timing Z as early as a time period Y when the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means moves from a position corresponding to the printing means to the packing means, than a timing X when the medicine in the section A is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means toward the packing means. Information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet at the time Z by the printing means. 
     In the above-described medicine dispensing device, medicine is fed into section A of the medicine preparing means at a time earlier than the time Z. Further, the information corresponding to section A is printed on the packing paper sheet by the printing means at the time Z as early as the time period Y when the packing paper sheet fed by the packing paper sheet feeding means moves from the position corresponding to the printing means to the packing means, from the timing X when the medicine in section A is dispensed from the medicine dispensing means toward the packing means. That is, the information corresponding to section A is printed on a portion of the packing paper sheet, which is used for packing the medicine in section A, at the same time as, or later than a time for feeding the medicine into section A. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can perform the printing operation to the medicine dispensing device after ascertaining that the medicine to be packed is exactly fed into the section. Further, the medicine dispensing device can easily monitor whether or not the medicine to be packed is exactly fed and resolve the waste of a packing paper sheet resulting from an abnormality in feeding a medicine. 
     Further, the printing operation to the packing paper sheet may be performed upon a condition that the medicine is fed into section A at a time earlier than the time Z. 
     With such configuration, if the printing operation to the packing paper sheet is not performed, it can be judged that the medicine is not fed exactly before the time Z. Thus, examining whether or not the medicine is exactly packed can become easy. Further, according to such configuration, if the medicine is not fed into the section A before the time Z, the printing operation to the packing paper sheet stops, thereby preventing the occurrence of the wasted packing paper sheet in advance. 
     Further, a print purporting that the medicine to be packed runs short may be made on the packing paper sheet by the printing means upon a condition that the medicine to be packed is not inputted to section A until the time earlier than the time Z. 
     According to such configuration, it is ascertained through only looking over the print made on the packing paper sheet that the medicine to be packed runs short. Thus, the examination work can be performed more easily and reliably. 
     Further, in the above-described medicine dispensing device, the medicine preparing means may include a section forming body having a plurality of sections arranged circumferentially; and a dispensing opening. The section forming body may be configured to move relative to the dispensing opening. When the section reaches a position corresponding to the dispensing opening, the medicine gathered in the section may be disposed through the dispensing opening. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system that includes a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage part configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage part toward the main unit and feeds the medicine into the section provided in the medicine preparing means. The packing part of the main unit packs and dispenses the medicine. 
     The medicine dispensing system includes the main unit and the sub unit. It is configured such that the medicine dispensed in the sub unit is transferred to the medicine preparing means provided in the main unit and is packed and dispensed together with the medicine dispensed in the main unit by the packing means. However, in the medicine dispensing system, there is a possibility that an abnormality in dispensing medicine to the medicine preparing means occurs in the main unit. In addition, there is another possibility that an abnormality in dispensing medicine occurs in the sub unit, and that troubles take place during transferring a medicine to the medicine preparing means through the transfer device. As such, where the main unit is provided, the medicine dispensing system may have many factors associated with the abnormality in dispensing medicine to the medicine preparing means. Accordingly, similar to the above-described medicine dispensing device of the present invention, it is preferred that the above-described medicine dispensing system may have some means so that it can easily monitor whether a packing operation is accurately performed and prevent the packing paper sheet from wasting concomitantly with the abnormality in dispensing a medicine to the medicine preparing means. 
     Thus, the medicine dispensing system, which is provided based on such knowledge, employs the above-described medicine dispensing device as the main unit. Thus, the medicine dispensing system can prevent the packing paper sheet from being wasting in conjunction with an abnormality in dispensing a medicine to the medicine preparing means. 
     According to another embodiment, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which is configured to easily and accurately perform the examination work regarding whether or not packing medicine is accurately performed and to prevent the packing paper sheet from wasting even if the medicine to be dispensed becomes unready due to an abnormality in feeding a medicine to the packing part. Further, there can be provided a medicine dispensing system that includes such a medicine dispensing device. 
     Next, another embodiment will be explained hereinafter. There exists in the art a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in the below-mentioned reference Patent Document 4. A prior art medicine dispensing device includes a plurality of medicine feeding containers configured to store medicine in a storage part and dispense the medicine. Such a prior art medicine dispensing device is configured to dispense the medicine from each of the medicine feeding container by the amount corresponding to a prescription and pack the same. (see Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-276183). 
     The prior art medicine dispensing device is used in such a manner that each of the medicine feeding containers accommodates different kinds of medicines. However, the prior art medicine dispensing device is not configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container, such as a date and time when the medicine feeding container is filled with medicines, a user filling the medicine feeding container, data related to medicines accommodated in the medicine feeding container, etc. Further, as the number of the medicine feeding containers increases with an increase in the kinds of medicines to be dealt with, such a tendency becomes strong. Thus, the relevant art requires a medicine dispensing device configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. Similarly, a medicine dispensing system, which is constructed by combining a plurality of medicine dispensing devices, is required to be configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
     Thus, to satisfy the aforementioned demand, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to simply and accurately grasp characteristic data of each medicine feeding container. 
     In on embodiment a medicine dispensing device, which includes a medicine feeding container configured to store a medicine, the medicine feeding container including an information recordable medium; a container mounting part configured to mount the medicine feeding container; and a control means. The medicine is allowed to be dispensed by mounting the medicine feeding container to the container mounting part. The control means is configured to perform data communication for a characteristic data of the medicine feeding container with the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container. 
     According to such configuration, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can perform the data communication for the characteristic data between the control means and the medicine feeding container having the information recordable medium and can simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data. 
     Further, a medicine dispensing device, which is provided based on the same knowledge, may include a storage means configured to store and dispense medicine; and a control means configured to data-communicate with an information recordable medium. The storage means may include a plurality of attachable/detachable medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense the medicine. The information recordable medium may be provided in some or all of the medicine feeding containers. A data communication for the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container may be performed between the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container and the control means. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device includes a storage means configured to store and dispense medicine; and a control means configured to data-communicate with the information recordable medium. Herein, the storage means includes a shelf or drum, in which a plurality of medicine feeding container are removably provided (for example, this may be referred to as a main storage part or a sub storage part in embodiments described below). Further, in the medicine dispensing device, a plurality of medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense a medicine are removably provided in the storage means, which includes a shelf or drum. Herein, the medicine feeding container corresponds to a feeder container in the below-described embodiments and a container capable of dispensing the medicine accommodated therein. The above-described storage means, which includes the medicine feeding container, can dispense the medicine dispensed from the medicine feeding container for the purpose of packing the same. 
     With the above-described constitution, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device, which can data communicate with the control means with respect to the characteristic data of each of the medicine feeding containers with the information recordable medium and thus can simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data. 
     Further, the control means may be configured to data communicate with an operator information recordable medium recording an operator information specifying an operator. The operator information read from the operator information recordable medium through the data communication may be recorded into the information recordable medium. 
     According to such constitution, information on an operator, who performs tasks relevant to the medicine feeding container, such as filling the medicine feeding container with medicines, may be recorded into the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may be configured to operate in a plurality of operation modes. The operation mode may change in a predetermined operation mode selected from a plurality of operation modes upon a condition that the data communication is allowed between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container removed from a container mounting part. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the operation mode changes upon a condition that the data communication is allowed between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container. That is, it can be used as a trigger for changing the operation modes that the information recordable medium provided in each of medicine feeding container is allowed to data communicate with the control means. Thus, efforts required to change the operation modes can be minimized and misoperation can be prevented. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may include a mark reading means for reading an identification mark assigned to each of the kinds of medicine. The kinds of medicine may be specified by the control means based on the identification mark read by the mark reading means. Information on the kinds of medicine may be recorded into the information recordable medium through data communication between the control means and the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part. 
     According to such configuration, if the mark reading means reads the identification mark assigned to each of the kinds of medicine when filling the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part with a medicine, the information on the kind of such a medicine can be recorded into the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container through data communication. Thus, according to the medicine dispensing device of one embodiment, when the medicine feeding container is filled with a medicine, the information on the kinds of medicine can be easily and reliably recorded into the information recordable medium. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device according to the above-described invention may further include a cassette placing part configured to place the medicine feeding container removed from the container mounting part; and an interface means wiredly or wirelessly connected to the control means. When the medicine feeding container is placed on the cassette placing part, the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container may be allowed to data communicate with the control means via the interface means. 
     According to such configuration, efforts required to enable the data communication between the information recordable medium and the control means after removing the medicine feeding container from the container mounting part can be minimally saved. 
     Further, the medicine dispensing device may further include an interface means wiredly or wirelessly connected to the control means. The interface means may be configured to read and record data as not in contact with the information recordable medium. 
     According to such configuration, efforts required to enable the data communication between the information recordable medium and the control means after removing the medicine feeding container from the container mounting part can be saved. 
     The above-described medicine dispensing device can data-communicate with the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers with respect to the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container. Thus, the medicine dispensing device can be configured to dispense medicines for purposes of packing the same even if the medicine feeding container accommodating a predetermined medicine is situated at any location in the storage means. However, some medicine of the plurality kinds of medicines is prone to bound, roll over, break or chip due to drop impact at a dispensing portion while dispensed from the medicine feeding container. In case of dealing with such a medicine, it must be dealt with in a different manner from those for other medicines (for example, adjustment in dispensing timing regarding bound or roll, means for mitigating drop impact, etc.) so as not to cause an abnormality in dispensing medicine. Accordingly, the medicine feeding container accommodating medicine having such a particular characteristics is attached to a location capable of resolving the foregoing matter. 
     Thus, based on such knowledge, medicines may be sequentially dispensed based on prescription data inputted to the control means. A plurality of the container mounting parts configured to mount the medicine feeding container may be provided. The control means may include a correspondence relationship storing part defining and storing a correspondence relationship between the plurality of container mounting parts and the medicine feeding container to be attached to the plurality of the container mounting parts; and a judging part. The judging part may be configured to perform an error judgment operation for judging the following states, by comparing the correspondence relation storing part and the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container obtained from the data communication with the information recordable medium of the medicine feeding container mounted on the container mounting part: a right mount state where the medicine feeding container is properly mounted on the container mount part coinciding with the correspondence relationship regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part; and an erroneous mount state where the medicine feeding container is erroneously mounted on the container mounting part against the correspondence relationship regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part. Dispensing the medicines may continue from other medicine feeding containers excluding a erroneously mounted medicine feeding container upon a condition that it is judged by the error judgment operation that there is an erroneously mounted medicine feeding container, and that a medicine accommodated in the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container is not medicine to be dispensed according to the prescription data. Dispensing the medicines may stop upon a condition that it is judged by the error judgment operation that there is the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container, and that a medicine accommodated in the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container is a medicine to be dispensed according to the prescription data. 
     In the medicine dispensing device of one embodiment, the judging part of the control means performs an error judgment operation. Based on the correspondence relationship between the container mounting part and the medicine feeding container, which is regulated in the correspondence relationship storing part, it can be judged whether the medicine feeding container is properly mounted or erroneously mounted on the container mounting part dedicated for said medicine feeding container. Further, in the medicine dispensing device, where the medicine feeding container is erroneously mounted and such a medicine feeding container does not accommodate a medicine to be dispensed, even if dispensing a medicine does not intentionally stop in other medicine feeding containers, problems such as bound, roll, breakage, chipping, etc. of medicines do not occur. And, stopping to dispense a medicine leads to loss of work efficiency. Accordingly, in the medicine dispensing device, where the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container does not accommodate a medicine to be dispensed, dispensing a medicine continues and the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container can be dismounted without stopping to dispense medicine. Accordingly, in the medicine dispensing device, even if the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container exists, the loss of work efficiency resulting therefrom can be minimized. 
     By contrast, where the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container exists and such a medicine feeding container accommodates a medicine to be dispensed, continuing to dispense a medicine causes the aforementioned problems such as bound, roll, breakage, chipping, etc. of medicines. Accordingly, in such a case, the medicine dispensing device of in some embodiments is configured to stop to dispense a medicine. Thus, according to the medicine dispensing device in some embodiments, it is possible to prevent medicines from being dispensed from the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container. 
     Further, it is preferred that medicines prone to bound, roll over, break or chip due to drop impact at the dispensing portion are dispensed at a side as low as possible. 
     Thus, in the above-described medicine dispensing device provided based on such knowledge, the storage means may include a plurality of the container mounting parts configured to mount the medicine feeding container. The container mounting parts may be vertically arranged. It may be judged through the error judgment operation whether a medicine feeding container to be mounted on a container mounting part provided below a predetermined height is erroneously mounted on a container mounting part provided in a position above the predetermined height. 
     According to such configuration, it can be prevented that the medicine feeding container accommodating the medicine to be dispensed at a side as low as possible (i.e. the aforementioned medicine causing problems such as bound, roll, breakage or chipping concomitantly with drop) is erroneously mounted on the container mounting part situated in a position above the predetermined height. 
     Further, the above-described medicine dispensing device provided based on the same knowledge, the container mounting part configured to mount the medicine feeding container may be disposed in each of a plurality of container mounting regions defined along a height direction. The correspondence relationship storing part may regulate the correspondence relationship between the container mounting part and the medicine feeding container to be attached to the container mounting part as a relationship relative to the container mounting region located at a height corresponding to an upper attachment limit of a medicine feeding container that is determined according to a kind of medicine. The erroneous mount state may be judged through the error judgment operation when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region locating beyond a container mounting region located at a height corresponding to the upper attachment limit. The right mount state may be judged through the error judgment operation when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region located at a height below the upper attachment limit. 
     In the medicine dispensing device, the correspondence relationship storing part can regulate the correspondence relationship between the container mounting regions and the height corresponding to the upper attachment limit of the medicine feeding container at a plurality of steps in view of that bound, roll, breakage or chipping occurs at what level concomitantly with drop. Further, the erroneous mount state can be judged through the error judgment operation based on such a regulation, when a medicine feeding container is mounted on a container mounting part of a container mounting region located upward beyond a container mounting region located at a height corresponding to the upper attachment limit. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of trouble such as an abnormality in dispensing a medicine resulting from the erroneous mount state. 
     Further, the control means may be configured to perform a search operation for searching and selecting a container mounting part, on which the medicine feeding container judged to be in the erroneous mount state through the error judgment operation must be mounted. 
     According to such configuration, it can be easily determined through the search operation on which container mounting part the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be mounted. 
     Further, a search condition may be determined based on the characteristic data of the medicine feeding container obtained by the data communication with the information recordable medium, which the medicine feeding container judged to be in the erroneous mount state through the error judgment operation includes. 
     According to such configuration, even if an operator does not separately input a search condition in the search operation, the container mounting part on which the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be mounted can be selected. Thus, convenience in the search operation can be enhanced. 
     In the above-described invention, the storage means may be configured to move each of the container mounting parts to an attachment/detachment work position where an attachment/detachment work of the medicine feeding container can be performed. The container mounting part selected through the search operation may be moved to the attachment/detachment work position. 
     In such a medicine dispensing device, a container mounting part located at a proper position, in which the erroneously mounted medicine feeding container must be properly attached, is moved to the attachment/detachment work position. Thus, convenience in attaching the medicine feeding container in the proper position can be enhanced. 
     Further, there is provided a medicine dispensing system that includes a main unit; one or more sub units; and a transfer device configured to connect the main unit and the sub units. The main unit includes the above-described medicine dispensing device. The sub unit includes a sub storage means configured to store and dispense a plurality kinds of medicines. The sub storage means includes a plurality of attachable/detachable medicine feeding containers configured to store and dispense a medicine. The transfer device transfers the medicine dispensed from the sub storage means toward the main unit. The medicine is dispensed in the main unit. 
     Such a medicine dispensing system includes the main unit and the sub unit. A plurality of medicine feeding containers are removably attached to both the storage means of the main unit and the sub storage means of the sub unit. Accordingly, the medicine dispensing system has a large number of medicine feeding containers and thus needs to be configured to even more easily and reliably control the characteristic data of each of the medicine feeding containers. Thus, the medicine dispensing system, which is provided based on such knowledge, includes the above-described medicine dispensing device as the main unit. As a result, the medicine dispensing system can simply and accurately grasp and control the characteristic data through the data communication between the control means provided in the main unit and the information recordable medium of each of the medicine feeding containers provided in the main unit and the sub unit. 
     Thus, there can be provided a medicine dispensing device and a medicine dispensing system, which are configured to simply and accurately grasp the characteristic data of each medicine feeding container.