Patent Publication Number: US-10329040-B2

Title: Medicine dispensing cassette

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/060994, filed on Apr. 4, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-081308, filed on Apr. 11, 2015, which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing cassette for dispensing medicines contained therein. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A medicine dispensing apparatus for automatically dispensing prescribed medicines by a prescribed number based on a prescription is well known in the art. For example, the applicant of the present application developed a medicine dispensing apparatus as described in patent document 1: WO 2010/110360. This medicine dispensing apparatus gets a good reputation and receives a high evaluation from prescription professionals that the medicine dispensing apparatus makes a prescription work more efficient. 
     In this medicine dispensing apparatus, various kinds of medicines to be dispensed are stored in a plurality of cassettes. When the medicines are dispensed and any one of the cassettes becomes empty, a prescription professional needs to take the cassette from the apparatus to restock the medicines into the cassette with his/her own hands. At this time, a mistake that the prescription professional restocks improper medicines into the cassette may occur. 
     Further, among various kinds of medicines, there is a kind of medicine whose powder peels off and falls from its surface. In a case that such a kind of medicine is contained in the cassette and the cassette in which the medicine is contained is used for a long term, the powder is deposited in the cassette and a part of the deposited powder gets into narrow spaces. Thus, there is a request from some users of improving the cassette so that the cassette can be disassembled and washed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of objects of the present invention is to prevent improper medicines from being restocked into a medicine dispensing cassette. Another object of the present invention is to allow the medicine dispensing cassette to be easily disassembled. 
     a medicine dispensing cassette according to a first aspect has a main member, a first sub-member, a second sub-member, a third sub-member, a first rotating body, a second rotating body and a cylindrical member. Further, the main member includes an engagement release member. When this engagement release member is moved to a first position, an engagement between the main member and the first sub-member is released, and thereby the first sub-member becomes possible to be separated from the main member. In addition, when the first sub-member is separated from the main member, the first rotating body becomes possible to be separated from the main member. Next, when the engagement release member is moved to a second position, an engagement between the main member and the second sub-member is released, and thereby the second sub-member becomes possible to be separated from the main member. In addition, when the second sub-member is separated from the main member, the cylindrical member becomes possible to be separated from the main member. Further, the third sub-member can be removed from the main member independently from an operation of the engagement release member. The second rotating body is attached to the third sub-member. When the third sub-member is removed from the main member, the second rotating body becomes possible to be removed from the third sub-member. 
     An engagement release member according to a first aspect has an engagement release member first engaging portion and an engagement release member second engaging portion. Further, the first sub-member has a first sub-member first engaging portion and a first sub-member second engaging portion. When the first sub-member is engaged with the main member, the engagement release member first engaging portion is engaged with the first sub-member first engaging portion. When the engagement release member is moved to the first position, an engagement between the engagement release member first engaging portion and the first sub-member first engaging portion is released during the movement of the engagement release member. In addition, the engagement release member second engaging portion makes contact with the first sub-member second engaging portion and the engagement release member second engaging portion pushes the first sub-member second engaging portion toward the upper direction. After that, when the engagement release member reaches to the first position, the pushing-up to the first sub-member second engaging portion due to the engagement release member second engaging portion is released and the first sub-member second engaging portion is moved toward the lower direction. As a result, the engagement release member second engaging portion is engaged with the first sub-member second engaging portion. In this state, the first sub-member can be separated from the main member. 
     An engagement release member according to the second aspect has a lateral engaging portion provided so as to protrude from an engagement release member main body toward the lateral direction. Further, the second sub-member has a second sub-member first engaging portion and a second sub-member second engaging portion. When the second sub-member is engaged with the main member, a bottom portion of the lateral engaging portion is engaged with the second sub-member first engaging portion. When the engagement release member is moved to the second position, an engagement between the lateral engaging portion and the second sub-member first engaging portion is released during the movement of the engagement release portion. Further, an upper portion of the lateral engaging portion makes contact with the second sub-member second engaging portion and the lateral engaging portion pushes the second sub-member second engaging portion toward the upper direction. After that, when the engagement release member reaches to the second position, the second sub-member second engaging portion is engaged with an opening portion provided in the upper portion of the lateral engaging portion. With this configuration, the pushing-up to the second sub-member second engaging portion due to the lateral engaging portion is released and the second sub-member second engaging portion is moved toward the lower direction. In this state, the second sub-member second engaging portion is moved toward the lower side. In this state, the second sub-member can be separated from the main member. 
     A medicine dispensing cassette according to a second aspect has a main body, a cover and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism has an operating lever, an actuating force transmission lever, a shaft, an engaging portion and a biasing member. The operating lever can be operated through a hole formed in a bottom portion of the main body. When the operating lever is pivotally moved, the operating lever presses the actuating force transmission lever. With this operation, the actuating force transmission lever is pivotally moved. As a result, the shaft and the engaging portion are pivotally moved. Further, an engagement between the engaging portion and the cover is released by this pivotal movement. As a result, the lock of the cover is released. When the operation to the operating lever is released, the engaging portion is pivotally moved in a reverse direction by the biasing member and the cover is again engaged with the engaging portion in a case that the cover is closed. As a result, the cover is locked. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent improper medicines from being restocked into a medicine dispensing cassette. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily disassemble and wash the medicine dispensing cassette. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a medicine dispensing apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a medicine dispensing cassette included in the medicine dispensing apparatus. In this regard, this figure is a view of the medicine dispensing cassette seen from a front and right side. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the medicine dispensing cassette. In this regard, this figure is a view of the medicine dispensing cassette seen from a rear and right side. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a cover included in the medicine dispensing cassette. In this regard, this figure is a view of the cover seen from a lower and rear side.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional rear view of the cover. In this regard, this figure is a view of the cover seen from a rear side toward a front side. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a member constituting a main body of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lock mechanism included in the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional rear view in the vicinity of the lock mechanism in the medicine dispensing cassette. In this regard, this figure is a view of the lock mechanism seen from a rear side toward a front side of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view for explaining a mechanism for allowing the lock mechanism to lock/unlock the cover. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 11  is a planar view of each member of the medicine dispensing cassette which is in a disassembled state. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a state before a first sub-member is removed from the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a state after the first sub-member is removed from the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a state before a second sub-member is removed from the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a state that the second sub-member is removed from the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a state that a third sub-member is removed from the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a first engagement release member.  FIG. 17B  is a planar view of the first engagement release member. 
         FIG. 18A  is a left-side view of the first engagement release member.  FIG. 18B  is a right-side view of the first engagement release member. 
         FIG. 19A  is a perspective view of a second engagement release member.  FIG. 19B  is a planar view of the second engagement release member. 
         FIG. 20A  is a right-side view of the second engagement release member.  FIG. 20B  is a left-side view of the second engagement release member. 
         FIG. 21  is a simplified cross-sectional side view in the vicinity of the first engagement release member in the medicine dispensing cassette. In this regard, this figure is a view of the first engagement release member seen from a center side toward a right side of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
         FIGS. 22A through 22C  are schematic view for explaining a mechanism allowing the first engagement release member to release an engagement between a main member and the first sub-member. 
         FIG. 23  is a view showing  FIG. 22A  in more detail. 
         FIG. 24  is a view showing  FIG. 22B  in more detail. 
         FIG. 25  is a view showing  FIG. 22C  in more detail. 
         FIGS. 26A through 26C  are schematic view for explaining a mechanism allowing the first engaging member to release an engagement between the main body and the second sub-member. 
     
    
    
     In the appended figures,  FIGS. 4 to 9  are mainly used for explaining a lock mechanism included in the medicine dispensing cassette. 
     On the other hand,  FIGS. 10 to 16  are mainly used for explaining a disassembling operation of the medicine dispensing cassette. 
     Similarly in the appended figures,  FIGS. 17 to 21  are mainly used for explaining a structure of an engagement release member included in the medicine dispensing cassette. 
       FIGS. 22 to 26  are used for explaining an operating principle of the engagement release member. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     § 1 Outline of a Medicine Dispensing Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a medicine dispensing apparatus. A medicine dispensing apparatus  100  shown in this figure can dispense prescribed medicines into a vial bottle by a prescribed number based on inputted prescription information. This medicine dispensing apparatus  100  has a vial bottle supplying device  110 , a labeling device  120 , a vial bottle carrying device  130  and discharge ports  140 . Further, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  has cassette placing portions  150  on lateral surfaces thereof. In addition, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  has a touch panel display  160 , an optical scanner  170  and a medicine restocking portion  180  at a front surface thereof. Further, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  has a control device  190  therein. 
     Details of this medicine dispensing apparatus  100  are disclosed in WO 2010/110360. In addition, details of a mechanism for allowing cassettes attached to the cassette placing portions  150  to dispense the medicines are disclosed in WO 2013/035692. Thus, an outline of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  will be only briefly explained in the following description. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vial bottle supplying device  110  is provided in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  on the lower and rear side of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 . This vial bottle supplying apparatus  110  additionally has a function of storing a plurality of vial bottles. The labeling device  120  is provided in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  on the lower and front side of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 . The cassette placing portions  150  are respectively provided on the both lateral surfaces of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  on the upper side of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 . A plurality of medicine dispensing cassettes (also referred to as “container”)  200  are arranged in a matrix in these cassette placing portions  150 . The medicines dispensed by the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  are stored in these medicine dispensing cassettes  200 . The vial bottle carrying device  130  is provided between the cassette plating portion  150  and the cassette placing portion  150 , that is provided in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  on the upper side of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 . Further, the plurality of discharging ports  140  (in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the number of the discharging ports  140  is three) are provided on the front surface of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 . 
     The touch panel display  160  has both functions as a display device and an input device. The optical scanner  170  can read an optical scanner readable symbol such as a barcode and a two-dimensional code. The control device  190  controls operations of various devices included in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  based on input information received from the touch panel display  160 , the optical scanner  170  or the like. 
     When the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  dispenses the medicines, the optical scanner  170  first scans a symbol attached to a prescription to obtain prescription information for the prescription. When the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  receives the prescription information and receives an input for dispensing the medicines from a prescription professional, the vial bottle supplying device  110  first supplies a vial bottle to the labeling device  120 . Next, the labeling device  120  prints out a label based on the inputted prescription information and attaches this label to the vial bottle. After that, the vial bottle carrying device  130  carries the vial bottle to which the label has been attached in the vicinity of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  in which the prescribed medicines are contained. Then, the medicine dispensing cassette  200  dispenses the prescribed medicines into the vial bottle by a prescribed number. When the prescribed medicines are restocked in the vial bottle, the vial bottle carrying device  130  carries the vial bottle to the discharging port  140 . Then, the vial bottle discharged from the discharging port  140  is taken by the prescription professional such as a pharmacist and a technician. 
     While the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is dispensing the medicines, one of the medicine dispensing cassettes  200  becomes empty in the course of time. In this case, the prescription professional needs to restock new medicines into this medicine dispensing cassette  200 . However, in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , a cover  310  of the cassette is locked and the cover  310  cannot be opened in normal times. Thus, at the time of restocking the medicines, the prescription professional needs to perform a predefined operation for releasing the lock of the cover  310 . Regarding this operation, details of this operation are described in JP 2014-222313. Thus, the operation is only briefly explained in the following description. 
     First, the prescription professional places the medicine dispensing cassette  200  desired to be restocked onto the medicine restocking portion  180 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , an RF tag  211  is provided on a main body  210  of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  as an identification indicator used for identifying the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  includes an RF tag reading device  181  at the medicine supplying portion  180 . Thus, when the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is placed onto the medicine restocking portion  180 , the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  can identify the medicine dispensing cassette  200  placed on the medicine restocking portion  180  through the RF tag reading device  181 . Further, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  internally stores information on the medicines contained in each medicine dispensing cassette  200 . Thus, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  can identify the medicines to be restocked into the medicine dispensing cassette  200  placed on the medicine restocking portion  180  based on this information. 
     The prescription professional fetches a bottle in which the medicines desired to be restocked from a medicine storage or the like at the time of restocking the medicines. Normally, an optical scanner readable symbol such as a barcode is attached to a label of the bottle. The prescription professional uses the optical scanner  170  to read this symbol. With this operation, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  can identify the medicines contained in this bottle. The medicine dispensing apparatus  100  has a lock release device  182  for releasing the lock of the cover  310  of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  at the medicine supplying portion  180 . Only in a case that the medicines contained in the bottle whose symbol is scanned is proper as the medicines to be restocked into the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  drives the lock release device  182  to release the lock of the cover  310  of the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . With this operation, the prescription professional can open the cover  310  to restock the new medicines into the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . The medicine dispensing cassette  200  of this embodiment has one of characteristics in a lock mechanism for locking the cover  310 . Hereinafter, the medicine dispensing cassette  200  will be described in detail as well as this lock mechanism. 
     § 2 Outline 1 of the Medicine Dispensing Cassette  200   
     Each of  FIGS. 2 and 3  is a perspective view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . In this regard,  FIG. 2  is a view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  seen from the front and right side and  FIG. 3  is a view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  seen from rear and right side. When the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is set in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 , a surface directed toward an outside of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is referred to as “front surface” and a surface directed toward an inside of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is referred to as “rear surface” in this specification for the purpose of illustration. Further, a portion positioned on the right side when the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is seen from the front side is referred to as “right side” and a portion positioned on the left side when the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is seen from the front side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the cover  310  is attached to an upper surface of the main body  210 . The cover  310  is hinged to the main body  210  at a left end of the cover  310  with a hinge  311 . Thus, when the lock of the cover  310  is released, the cover  310  can be pivotally moved around the hinge  311  and opened. In other words, when the lock of the cover  310  is released, the cover  310  can be opened so that a right end of the cover  310  is moved toward the upper side. 
     The medicine dispensing cassette  200  internally has a lock mechanism  800  for locking the cover  310 .  FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . Namely,  FIG. 4  is a view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  seen from the lower side toward the upper side. As shown in this figure, a hole  212  is formed in a bottom surface of the main body  210 . More specifically, the hole  212  is formed on the right side on the bottom surface of the main body  210  and in the vicinity of the rear surface of the main body  210  and opened toward the vertical direction. The lock release device  182  of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a rod (not shown in the drawings) and this rod is configured so that the rod can be inserted into the hole  212 . Further, the lock release device  182  operates the rock mechanism  800  with using this rod to release the lock of the cover  310 . By forming the hole  212  in the bottom surface of the main body  210  as shown in this embodiment, it becomes easier to construct the lock release device  182 . In addition, a user cannot easily release the lock of the lock mechanism  800 . 
     § 2.1 Structure of the Cover  310   
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the cover  310  seen from the lower side and  FIG. 5B  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cover  310 . In this regard, it should be noted that  FIG. 5B  is a view of the cover  310  seen from the rear side toward the front side. As shown in these figures, a first engaging portion  320  and a second engaging portion  330  are provided in the vicinity of the right-side end portion of the cover  310 , that is in the vicinity of the end portion opposite to the hinge  311 . The first engaging portion  320  and the second engaging portion  330  are engaged with the lock mechanism  800 . The first engaging portion  320  is constituted of a first protruding portion  321  protruding from a bottom surface of the cover  310  toward the lower direction and a first slit  322  formed in the first protruding portion  321 . In the same manner, the second engaging portion  330  is also constituted of a second protruding portion  331  protruding from the bottom surface of the cover  310  toward the lower direction and a second slit  332  formed in the second protruding portion  331 . The first slit  322  and the second slit  332  extend in a front-rear direction and their opening portions are opened toward the left-right direction. 
     § 2.2 Structure of the Lock Mechanism  800   
       FIG. 6  is a view of an inside of the main body  210  seen from the lower side toward the upper side. In a strict sense, as described later, the main body  210  is constituted of a main member  500 , a first sub-member  300  and a third sub-member  600  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 6  is a view of the first sub-member  300  seen from the lower side toward the upper side in a state that a bottom portion cover of the first sub-member  300  is removed. As shown in this figure, the lock mechanism  800  is provided in the main body  210 . More specifically, the lock mechanism  800  is provided on an upper portion of the main body  210  and in the vicinity of a right-side lateral surface of the main body  210 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the lock mechanism  800 . As shown in this figure, the lock mechanism  800  has an operating lever  810 , an actuating force transmission lever  820 , a shaft  830 , a biasing member  840 , a first engaging member  850  and a second engaging member  860 . The second engaging member  860  is attached in the vicinity of a front-side end portion of the shaft  830 . The actuating force transmission lever  820 , the first engaging member  850  and the biasing member  840  are integrally formed from one material (such as a resin). With this configuration, it becomes easier to produce the lock mechanism  800  and assemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . The integrated body constituted of the actuating force transmission lever  820 , the first engaging member  850  and the biasing member  840  is attached in the vicinity of a rear-side end portion of the shaft  830 . More specifically, the first engaging member  850  is integrated with a front-side end surface of the actuating force transmission lever  820 . Further, the biasing member  840  is integrated with a lower portion of the first engaging member  850 . The operating lever  810  is provided so as to make contact with the actuating force transmission lever  820 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the shaft  830  is horizontally arranged in the vicinity of a right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210  so as to be directed toward the front-rear direction, that is so as to be in parallel with the cover  310 . Thus, the shaft  830  is directed toward a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the hole  212  (see  FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860  are arranged so as to be directed toward the upper direction in an initial state (a state that the operating lever  810  is not operated). A first click  851  is formed on a tip end portion of the first engaging member  850  so as to be directed toward the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210 . In the same manner, a second click  861  is formed on a tip end portion of the second engaging member  860  so as to be directed toward the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210 . The actuating force transmission lever  820  is formed so as to protrude toward a direction opposite to the first engaging member  850 . Thus, the actuating force transmission lever  820  is directed toward the lower direction in the initial state. Further, the biasing member  840  is formed so as to protrude from the lower portion of the first engaging member  850  toward the lower direction. This biasing member  840  biases the first engaging member  850  in a direction in which the first engaging member  850  which is in a laid state stands up. In other words, the biasing member  840  biases the first engaging member  850  to rotate the first engaging member  850  in a direction for allowing the first member  850  to be engaged with the cover  310 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the biasing member  840  is constituted of a plate-like material having a substantially V or U shape, that is a leaf spring. Thus, the biasing member  840  has a base end portion  841 , a bent portion  842  and a tip end portion  843 . The base end portion  841  straight extends from a lower end portion of the first engaging member  850  toward the lower direction. Further, the biasing member  840  is sharply bent at the bent portion  842 . Thus, the tip end portion  843  straight extends toward a diagonal upper direction. Further, a tip end of the tip end portion  843  makes contact with the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the operating lever  810  is attached to the main body  210  so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the actuating force transmission lever  820 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a structure of the operating lever  810  is similar to a structure in which a bar protrudes from an eccentric cam. The operating lever  810  has a fulcrum point portion  811 , a force point portion  812  and a working point portion  813 . The fulcrum point portion  811  constitutes a pivotal center of the operating lever  810  and its rotating axis is in parallel with the shaft  830  and directed toward a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the hole  212 . The force point portion  812  is constituted of a protruding bar portion and positioned on the vertical upper side of the hole  212  as shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , this force point portion  812  is directed toward the horizontal direction in the initial state, that is a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the hole  212  in the initial state. The forcing point portion  812  protrudes in a separating direction from the actuating force transmission lever  820 . The working point portion  813  is constituted of an eccentric cam. An end surface in parallel with a rotating center of the working point portion  813  makes contact with the actuating force transmission lever  820 . More particularly, the end surface of the working point portion  813  makes contact with an end surface in parallel with a rotating center of the actuating force transmission lever  820 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view for explaining a mechanism for allowing the lock mechanism  800  to lock/unlock the cover  310 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , in the initial state, the first engaging member  850  is in a stood-up state and directed toward the upper direction due to biasing force of the biasing member  840 . Thus, the first click  851  is directed toward the horizontal direction. Further, the first click  851  is fitted in the first slit  322  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed in the cover  310  in this state. In this regard, although this matter is not shown in  FIG. 9 , the same can be applied to the second engaging member  860 . Namely, the second click  861  is also fitted in the second slit  332  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed in the cover  310 . Thus, the cover  310  is locked and the user cannot open the cover  310 . 
     As described above, the lock release device  182  of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  can push the force point portion  812  of the operating lever  810  toward the upper side through the hole  212  (see  FIG. 4 ). As a result, the operating lever  810  can pivotally move around the fulcrum point portion  811  against the biasing force of the biasing member  840  as shown in  FIG. 9B . With this operation, the working point portion  813  is moved in the direction toward the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210  and thus the end surface of the working point portion  813  presses the end surface of the actuating force transmission lever  820 . As a result, the actuating force transmission lever  820  is moved in the direction toward the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210 . Namely, the actuating force transmission lever  820  is pivotally moved in a direction allowing the actuating force transmission lever  820  to be directed toward the lateral side. With this pivotal movement, the shaft  830 , the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860  are also pivotally moved integrally with each other. Specifically, the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860  are pivotally moved in a direction for allowing the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860  to be laid. As a result, the first click  851  is separated from the first slit  322  as shown in  FIG. 9B . In the same manner, although this matter is not shown in the drawings, the second click  861  is also separated from the second slit  332 . With this configuration, the engagements among the first click  851 , the second click  861 , the first slit  322  and the second slit  332  are released. As a result, the lock of the cover  310  is released and the user becomes possible to open the cover  310 . 
     As described above, the first engaging member  850  is biased by the biasing member  840  in the direction for allowing the first engaging member  850  to stand up. More specifically, a bend angle of the bent portion  842  becomes small in a state that the first engaging member  850  is inclined with respect to the right-side inner wall  213 . Elastic force for making the bend angle larger occurs in the bent portion  842  in this state. Thus, when the lock release device  182  releases the pushing-up to the force point portion  812 , the lock mechanism  800  returns to the state as shown in  FIG. 9A . Specifically, when the lock release device  182  releases the pushing-up to the force point portion  812 , the first engaging member  850  stands up due to the biasing force of the biasing member  840 . More particularly, when the pushing-up to the force point portion  812  is released, a space between the base end portion  841  and the tip end portion  843  is enlarged and thus the biasing member  840  pivotally moves the first engaging member  850  in the direction toward the right-side inner wall  213  of the main body  210 . Further, the shaft  830 , the second engaging member  860  and the actuating force transmission lever  820  are also pivotally moved along with this pivotal movement of the first engaging member  850 . As a result, the second engaging member  860  also stands up as is the case with the first engaging member  850 . Further, the actuating force transmission lever  820  is directed toward the lower direction. Furthermore, the actuating force transmission lever  820  presses the working point portion  813  of the operating lever  810 . As a result, the operating lever  810  is also pivotally moved and the operating lever  810  is directed toward the horizontal direction. As shown in  FIG. 9A , when the cover  310  is closed, the first click  851  and the second click  861  are respectively fitted into the first slit  322  and the second slit  332  due to the standing-up of the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860 . As a result, the cover  310  is locked and the user cannot open the cover  310 . Further, when the cover  310  is closed in a state that the first engaging member  850  and the second engaging member  860  stand up, the first protruding portion  321  and the second protruding portion  331  press inclined planes respectively formed on upper surfaces of the first click  851  and the second click  861 . As a result, the first click  851  and the second click  861  are pivotally moved slightly in a direction for allowing the first click  851  and the second click  861  to be laid. After that, when heights of the first slit  322  and the second slit  332  coincide with heights of the first click  851  and the second click  561 , the first click  851  and the second click  861  are pivotally moved slightly by the biasing force of the biasing member  840  in the direction for allowing the first click  851  and the second click  861  to stand up. As a result, the first click  851  and the second click  861  are respectively fitted into the first slit  322  and the second slit  332 . 
     § 2.3 Advantage 1 of the Medicine Dispensing Cassette  200   
     The above-described medicine dispensing cassette  200  is configured so that the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  can release the lock of the cover  310  and the user cannot easily release the lock. Thus, when the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is used in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100 , it is possible to prevent improper medicines from being restocked into the empty medicine dispensing cassette  200  at the time of restocking the medicines into the empty medicine dispensing cassette  200 . This is caused by the configuration that the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  scans the barcode attached to the label of the bottle in which the medicines to be restocked are contained and releases the lock of the cover  310  only in the case that the medicines contained in the bottle are proper as the medicines to be stocked. With this configuration, specifications of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  of the above-described embodiment can be closed-loop specifications in the United States. In the closed-loop specifications, the prescription professional can omit a visual inspection with respect to the medicines dispensed by the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  based on the prescription information. In addition, in the case of the closed-loop, it is accepted that the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  dispenses the vial bottle in a state that an aperture of the vial bottle is sealed. In this case, it is possible to promptly confirm that the seal is opened once unlike a normal cap. Thus, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the vial bottle in which the medicines dispensed by the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  are contained is opened by a third party. 
     § 3 Outline 2 of the Medicine Dispensing Cassette  200   
     Another big one of the characteristics of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  of this embodiment is that the user can easily disassemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200  into a plurality of members. Further, it goes without saying that the assembling of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  after disassembling the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is also easy. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the medicine dispensing cassette  200  has a pair of a first engagement release member  700  and a second engagement release member  700 ′ in the vicinity of an inner lateral surface. More specifically, the first engagement release member  700  is provided in the vicinity of the right-side lateral surface of the main body  210  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ is provided in the vicinity of a left-side lateral surface of the main body  210 . The first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ respectively have operating portions  710  and  710 ′. These operating portion  710  and  710 ′ are exposed on the outside of the main body  210 . The user can operate these operating portion  710  and  710 ′ to disassemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the main body  210  is constituted of three members, that is a main member  500 , a first sub-member  300  and a third sub-member  600 . The third sub-member  600  is engaged with a bottom portion of the main member  500 . Thus, the third sub-member  600  can be also referred to as a lower level member  600 . The first sub-member  300  is engaged with an upper portion of the main member  500 . Thus, the first sub-member  300  can be also referred to as an upper level member  600 . The first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ are provided in the main member  500 . Further, the cover  310  is attached to an upper portion of the first sub-member  300 . 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . Further,  FIG. 11  is a planar view of each disassembled member. As is clear from these figures, the medicine dispensing cassette  200  internally has a first rotating body  220 , a second sub-member  400 , a cylindrical member  230  and a second rotating body  610  in addition to the main member  500 , the first sub-member  300  and the third sub-member  600 . Thus, the user can disassemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200  into the first sub-member  300 , the first rotating body  220 , the second sub-member  400 , the cylindrical member  230 , the main member  500 , the second rotating body  610  and the third sub-member  600 . 
     The second sub-member  400  partitions between the main member  500  and the first sub-member  300 . Thus, the second sub-member  400  can be also referred to as a partition member  400 . The first rotating body  200  is a member for aligning the medicines in line. In the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the first rotating body  220  and the second rotating body  610  are rotated at the time of dispensing the medicines and the medicines are first supplied to the first rotating body  220  from the second rotating body  610 . At this time, movement of the medicines is restricted by the cylindrical member  230  so as to prevent the medicines from being carried to a place other than the first rotating body  220 . At the time when the medicines are supplied to the first rotating body  220 , the medicines are overlapped with each other in the vertical direction and/or arranged in the horizontal direction. The first rotating body  220  cooperates with the other members with being rotating to dissolve this overlapping and arrangement. After that, the medicines are discharged outside the medicine dispensing cassette  200  one by one by the rotation of the first rotating body  220 . At this time, the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  counts the number of the dispensed medicines. In this regard, details of this mechanism are disclosed in WO 2012/099189. 
     § 3.1 Disassembling Procedure for the Medicine Dispensing Cassette  200   
     Hereinafter, a procedure for disassembling the medicine dispensing cassette  200  will be described based on  FIGS. 12 to 16 . First, the user pulls the operating portions  710  and  710 ′ toward the front side as shown in  FIG. 12  to move the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ to a first position F. Then, the engagement between the main member  500  and the first sub-member  300  is released. As a result, the first sub-member  300  is removed from the main member  500  only by pulling out the first sub-member  300  toward the upper direction as shown in  FIG. 13 . In this case, the first rotating body  220  is exposed on the outside.  FIG. 13  shows a state after the first sub-member  300  is removed from the main member  500 . As is clear from this figure, the first rotating body  220  is merely placed on the main member  500 . More particularly, the first sub-member  300  merely restricts the position of the first rotating body  200  so that the first rotating body  220  cannot be removed. Thus, it is possible to easily remove the first rotating body  220  from the main member  500  by only gripping and pulling up the first rotating body  200  after the first sub-member  300  has been removed. 
       FIG. 14  shows a state after the first rotating body  220  is removed from the main member  500 . As shown in this figure, when the first rotating body  220  is removed from the main member  500 , the second sub-member  400  is exposed toward the upper direction. In this state, the user pushes the operating portions  710  and  710 ′ toward the rear side to move the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ to a second position S. Then, the engagement between the main member  500  and the second sub-member  400  is released. As a result, the second sub-member  400  is removed from the main member  500  as shown in  FIG. 15  by only pulling out the second sub-member  400  toward the upper direction. Then, the cylindrical member  230  is exposed toward the upper direction. The cylindrical member  230  is merely placed in the main member  500  so as to surround the second rotating body  610 . Specifically, the second sub-member  400  merely holds down an upper portion of the cylindrical member  230  so that the cylindrical member  230  cannot be removed. Thus, the user can easily remove the cylindrical member  230  from the main member  500  by only gripping and pulling up the cylindrical member  230  after the second sub-member  400  is removed. 
     After that, the third sub-member  600  is removed from the main member  500  as shown in  FIG. 16 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , a U-shaped protruding portion  620  is formed on an upper portion of a left-side surface of the third sub-member  600 . A hole  621  is formed in this protruding portion  620 . Further, a click  511  is formed on a lower portion of a left-side surface of the main member  500 . In a state that the third sub-member  600  is engaged with the main member  500 , the hole  621  is engaged with the click  511 . When the third sub-member  600  is removed from the main member  500 , the user moves a left-side portion of the third sub-member  600  toward the lower direction with pushing the protruding portion  620  toward the inside of the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . Since an engagement between the hole  621  and the click  511  is released when the protruding portion  620  is pushed, the user can easily separate the left-side portion of the third sub-member  600  from the main member  500 . Although this matter is not shown in the drawings, a right-side portion of the third sub-member  600  is engaged with a right-side portion of the main member  500  through a rod and a slit. Thus, when the left-side portion of the third sub-member  600  is separated from the main member  500 , the right-side portion of the third sub-member  600  is pivotally moved around this rod as a pivotal center. Then, when an engagement between the left-side portion of the third sub-member  600  and the left-side portion of the main member  500  is released, the user becomes possible to easily release an engagement due to the rod and the slit. As a result, the engagement between the right-side portion of the third sub-member  600  and the right-side portion of the main member  500  is also released. 
     As shown in a right-lower portion of  FIG. 11 , the second rotating body  610  is merely engaged with an upper surface of the third sub-member  600 . Thus, the user can easily remove the second rotating body  610  from the third sub-member  600  by only pulling up the second rotating body  610  toward the upper direction. 
     At the time of assembling the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the second rotating body  610  is first fitted into the third sub-member  600 . Next, the third sub-member  600  is attached to the main member  500 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the cylindrical member  230  is placed in the main member  500  so as to surround the second rotating body  610 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the second sub-member  400  is attached to the main member  500 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the first rotating body  220  is provided on the second sub-member  400 . Finally, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the first sub-member  300  is attached to the main member  500 . 
     § 3.2 Advantage 2 of the Medicine Dispensing Cassette  200   
     As described above, the user can easily disassemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200  by only operating the operating portions  710  and  710 ′ without using a tool such as a driver and a wrench. Thus, the user can easily disassemble and wash the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . With this configuration, it becomes possible to easily clear powder getting into narrow spaces in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . 
     Further, the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is configured so that the first sub-member  300  and the first rotating body  220  are removed when the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ are moved to the first position F. Furthermore, the second sub-member  400  and the cylindrical member  230  are removed when the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ are moved to the second position S. Since such a configuration can allow the user to associate a sequence of procedures for removing the members with the moving directions of the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′, the user can easily keep the sequence of the procedures for removing the members in mind. As a result, the user can easily understand what sequence should be used for attaching the members at the time of assembling the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . 
     § 3.3 the First Engagement Release Member  700   
     As shown in a middle-right portion of  FIG. 11 , the first engagement release member  700  is provided in the vicinity of a right-side lateral surface of the main member  500 . Each of  FIGS. 17 and 18  is a view showing a structure of the first engagement release member  700 . Specifically,  FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of the first engagement member  700 ,  FIG. 17B  is a planar view of the first engagement member  700 ,  FIG. 18A  is a left-side view of the first engagement member  700  and  FIG. 18D  is a right-side view of the first engagement member  700 . As shown in these figures, the first engagement release member  700  has a configuration in which the operating portion  710 , a first engaging portion  720 , a second engaging portion  730 , a third engaging portion  740 , a fourth engaging portion  750 , a first biasing portion  760 , a second biasing portion  770 , a first lateral engaging portion  780  and a second lateral engaging portion  790  are formed on a bar-shaped main body  701 . 
     The first engaging portion  720 , the second engaging portion  730 , the third engaging portion  740  and the fourth engaging portion  750  are provided on an upper surface of the main body  701 . More particularly, the first engaging portion  720  is provided on the front side of the main body  701 , that is in the vicinity of an end portion of the main body  701  on the side of the first position F. The second engaging portion  730  is provided in the vicinity of the first engaging portion  720  and on the side of the second position S so as to be apart from the first engaging portion  720  by a predetermined distance. The fourth engaging portion  750  is provided on the rear side of the main body  701 , that is in the vicinity of an end portion of the main body  701  on the side of the second position S. The third engaging portion  740  is provided in the vicinity of the fourth engaging portion  750  and on the side of the first position F so as to be apart from the fourth engaging portion  750  by a predetermined distance. The first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  are provided on a bottom surface of the main body  701 . More particularly, the first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  are respectively provided at locations being apart from a central portion of the main body  701  by a predetermined distance. The operating portion  710  is provided on a lateral surface on the side facing toward the outside of the medicine dispensing cassette  200  when the first engagement release member  700  is provided in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . The first lateral engaging portion  780  and the second lateral engaging portion  790  are provided on a lateral surface opposite to the operating portion  710 . More particularly, the first lateral engaging portion  780  is provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the main body  701  on the side of the first position F so as to protrude toward the lateral side. Further, the second lateral engaging portion  790  is provided at a location being apart from the end portion of the main body  701  on the side of the second position S by a predetermined distance so as to protrude toward the lateral side. The main body  701 , the operating portion  710 , the first engaging portion  720 , the second engaging portion  730 , the third engaging portion  740 , the fourth engaging portion  750 , the first biasing portion  760 , the second biasing portion  770 , the first lateral engaging portion  780  and the second lateral engaging portion  790  are integrally formed from one material. With this configuration, it becomes easier to produce the first engagement release member  700  and assemble the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . 
       FIG. 21  shows a state that the first engagement release member  700  is provided in the main member  500 . In this regard, this figure is a view of the first engagement release member  700  seen from the inner-side toward the right-side of the main member  500 . As shown in this figure, each of the first biasing member  760  and the second biasing member  770  is constituted of a plate-like material having a substantially V or U-shape, that is a leaf spring. Thus, the first biasing portion  760  has a base end portion  761 , a bent portion  762  and a tip end portion  763 . In the same manner, the second biasing member  770  has a base end portion  771 , a bent portion  772  and a tip end portion  773 . The base end portions  761  and  771  straight extend from the bottom surface of the main body  701  toward the lower direction. Further, the first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  are sharply bent at the bent portions  762  and  772 . Thus, the tip end portions  763  and  773  straight extend toward the diagonal upper direction. Further, a tip end of the tip end portion  763  makes contact with a front-side inner wall  520  of the main member  500  and presses the front-side inner wall  520 . In the same manner, a tip end of the tip end portion  773  makes contact with a rear-side inner wall  530  of the main member  500  and presses the rear-side inner wall  530 . The first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  have elastic force, which is caused by the bent portions  762  and  772 , for enlarging a space between the base end portion  761  and the tip end portion  763  and a space between the base end portion  771  and the tip end portion  773 , that is elastic force for enlarging angles formed by the both portions. Thus, the first biasing member  760  biases the first engagement release member  700  in a direction for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to be moved toward the second position S. Further, the second biasing portion  770  biases the first engagement release member  700  in a direction for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to be moved toward the first position F. Thus, even if the user moves the first engagement release member  700  in the direction toward the first position F or in the direction toward the second position S, the first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  bias the first engagement member  700  so that the first engagement member  700  returns to a position in the middle of the first position F and the second position S. 
     § 3.4 the Second Engagement Release Member  700 ′ 
     As shown in a middle-right portion of  FIG. 11 , the second engagement release member  700 ′ is provided in the vicinity of a left-side lateral surface of the main member  500 . A big difference between the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ is a length thereof. By making the lengths of the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ different from each other as shown in this embodiment, it is possible to locate engaging portions of the first engagement release member  700  and the second engagement release member  700 ′ with respect to the other members in the vicinity of the mechanically important members in the main member  500 . As a result, protection for the important inner members by the first sub-member  300  and the second sub-member  400  can be improved. Further, in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , a distance D from a front-side lateral surface of the main member  500  to the operating portion  710  of the first engagement release member  700  is substantially equal to a distance D′ from the front-side lateral surface of the main member  500  to the operating portion  710 ′ of the second engagement release member  700 ′. With this configuration, when the user simultaneously operates both of the operating portions  710  and  710 ′ by using his/her right-hand and left-hand, the user can easily simultaneously move the operating portions  710  and  710 ′ in the same direction. 
     Each of  FIGS. 19 and 20  is a view showing a structure of the second engagement member  700 ′. Specifically,  FIG. 19A  is a perspective view of the second engagement release member  700 ′,  FIG. 19B  is a planar view of the second engagement release member  700 ′,  FIG. 20A  is a left-side view of the second engagement release member  700 ′ and  FIG. 20B  is a right-side view of the second engagement release member  700 ′. As shown in these figures, the second engagement release member  700 ′ also has a configuration in which the operating portion  710 ′, a first engaging portion  720 , a second engaging portion  730 , a third engaging portion  740 , a fourth engaging portion  750 , a first biasing portion  760 , a second biasing portion  770 , a first lateral engaging portion  780  and a second lateral engaging portion  790  are formed on a bar-shaped main body  701  as is the case with the first engagement member  700 . Configurations and functions of these portions are basically same as those of the first engagement release member  700  and thus description for these portions is omitted. Further, although a mechanism for the engagement/engagement release of the first engagement release member  700  and the first sub-member  300  and a mechanism for the engagement/engagement release of the first engagement release member  700  and the second sub-member  400  will be explained in the following description, it is noted that these mechanisms for the engagement/engagement release are same as the mechanisms for the engagement/engagement release of the second engagement release member  700 ′ and the first sub-member  300  and the engagement/engagement release of the second engagement release member  700 ′ and the second sub-member  400 . 
     § 3.5 the Engagement/Engagement Release of the First Engagement Release Member  700  and the First Sub-Member  300   
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the first engaging portion  340  and the second engaging portion  350  are formed on a front-side bottom portion of the first sub-member  300 . Further, the third engagement portion  360  and the fourth engaging portion  370  are formed on a rear-side bottom portion of the first sub-member  300 . When the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 , the first engaging portion  340  of the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the first engaging portion  720  of the first engagement release member  700  and the third engaging portion  360  of the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the third engaging portion  740  of the first engagement release member  700 . 
     Each of  FIGS. 22 to 25  is a schematic view for explaining a mechanism for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to engage the first sub-member  300  or release the engagement of the first sub-member  300 . More particularly,  FIGS. 22A through 22C  are schematic view for explaining an outline of the mechanism for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to engage the first sub-member  300  or release the engagement of the first sub-member  300 .  FIG. 23  is a view for explaining  FIG. 22A  in more detail.  FIG. 24  is a view for explaining  FIG. 22B  in more detail.  FIG. 25  is a view for explaining  FIG. 22C  in more detail. 
       FIG. 22A  shows a state that the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 . Focusing on a right-side of the  FIG. 22A , the first engaging portion  340  is engaged with the first engaging portion  720  in this state. As shown in  FIG. 23 , the first engaging portion  720  includes a first vertically protruding portion  721  and a horizontally protruding portion  722 . The first vertically protruding portion  721  protrudes from the main body  701  toward the upper direction. The horizontally protruding portion  722  protrudes from the first vertically protruding portion  721  in a direction toward the second position S. The first engaging portion  340  includes a first protruding portion  341 . This first protruding portion  341  protrudes in a direction toward the first position F. Thus, a tip end portion of the first protruding portion  341  is directed toward a lateral surface of the first vertically protruding portion  721  on the side of the second position S. Further, an upper surface  343  of the first protruding portion  341  faces a bottom surface  723  of the horizontally protruding portion  722 . In other words, the upper surface  342  of the first protruding portion  341  is engaged with the bottom surface  723  of the horizontally protruding portion  722 . Thus, even if the user tries to pull up the first sub-member  300  toward the upper direction in this state, the bottom surface  723  of the horizontally protruding portion  722  blocks the movement of the first protruding portion  341  toward the upper direction. As a result, the first sub-member  300  cannot be removed from the main member  500 . 
       FIG. 22B  shows a state that the first engagement release member  700  is slightly moved in the direction toward the first position F. In this state, the first engaging portion  340  and the first engaging portion  720  are being separated from each other. Namely, the engagement between the first engaging portion  340  and the first engaging portion  720  is being released. Alternatively, the second engaging portion  350  and the second engaging portion  730  make contact with each other. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the second engaging portion  730  includes a second vertically protruding portion  731  protruding from the main body  701  toward the upper direction. The second engaging portion  350  includes a second protruding portion  351  protruding toward the lower direction. The second vertically protruding portion  731  has an inclined surface  732  and a lateral surface  733 . The inclined surface  732  faces a direction between the direction toward the first position F and the upper direction. The lateral surface  733  faces the direction toward the second position S. Further, the second vertically protruding portion  351  has an inclined surface  352  and a lateral surface  353 . The inclined surface  352  faces a direction between the direction toward the second position S and the lower direction. The lateral surface  353  faces the direction toward the first position F. 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , when the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the first position F against the biasing force of the first biasing portion  760 , the second vertically protruding portion  731  abuts against the second vertically protruding portion  351  to push the second vertically protruding portion  351  toward the upper direction. More particularly, due to the movement of the second vertically protruding portion  731 , the inclined surface  352  of the second vertically protruding portion  351  slides on the inclined surface  732  of the second vertically protruding portion  731  toward the upper direction. As a result, the first sub-member  300  is moved toward the upper direction along with the movement of the first engagement release member  700 . In this regard, in a case that the use takes his/her hand off the operating portion  710  in the state shown in  FIG. 24 , the first engagement release member  700  is returned to the position shown in  FIG. 23  by the biasing force of the first biasing member  760 . 
     When the first engagement release member  700  is moved to the first position F, the relationship between the first engagement release member  700  and the first sub-member  300  takes a state as shown in  FIG. 22C . In this state, the second engaging portion  350  is engaged with the second engaging portion  730 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , when the second vertically protruding portion  731  is moved to an end of the second vertically protruding portion  351 , that is the first position F, the first sub-member  300  falls down due to the gravity. As a result, the second engaging portion  350  is engaged with the second engaging portion  730 . More particularly, the lateral surface  353  of the second vertically protruding portion  351  is engaged with the lateral surface  733  of the second vertically protruding portion  731 . In this state, the movement of the first engagement release member  700  in the direction toward the second position S is blocked by the second vertically protruding portion  351 . Thus, even if the use takes his/her hand off the operating portion  710 , the state that the second vertically protruding portion  351  is engaged with the second vertically protruding portion  731  is kept. In this state, the first engaging portion  720  is separated from the first engaging portion  340 . Namely, the horizontally protruding portion  722  does not block the movement of the first protruding portion  341  toward the upper direction. Thus, when the user pulls the first sub-member  300  toward the upper direction in the state shown in  FIG. 22C , the first sub-member  300  is removed from the main member  500 . 
     As described above, in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , when the first engagement release member  700  is moved to the first position F, the first sub-member  300  is moved toward the lower direction after the first sub-member  300  is once moved toward the upper direction. During the disassembling operation for the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the user can check this movement with his/her own eyes. Thus, the user can easily know that the first sub-member  300  becomes in a removable state during the operation for the operating portion  710 . 
     According to the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , it is easy to attach the removed first sub-member  300  to the main member  500 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , an inclined surface  724  facing a direction between the direction toward the first position S and the upper direction is formed on the horizontally protruding portion  722 . Further, an inclined surface  343  facing a direction between the direction toward the first position F and the lower direction is formed on the first protruding portion  341 . As described above, the first engagement release member  700  is positioned at the location in the substantially middle of the first position F and the second position S due to the biasing force of the first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  in the state that the operating portion  710  is not operated. When the user moves the first sub-member  300  from the substantially vertical upper direction toward the substantially vertical lower direction of the main member  500  in this state, the inclined surface  343  of the first protruding portion  341  abuts against the inclined surface  724  of the horizontally protruding portion  722 . As a result, the inclined surface  343  pushes the inclined surface  724  in the direction toward the first position F and the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the first position F. Then, when the first protruding portion  341  reaches under the horizontally protruding portion  722 , the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the second position S by the biasing force of the first biasing portion  760 . As a result, the bottom surface  723  of the horizontally protruding portion  722  is engaged with the upper surface  342  of the first protruding portion  341  and thus the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 . 
     The operations described above also occur in the left-side of  FIGS. 22A through 22C . Namely, a mechanism for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to engage the first sub-member  300  or release the engagement of the first sub-member  300  on the left-side of  FIGS. 22A through 22C  is the same as the described one. Specifically, in the first engagement release member  700 , the third engaging portion  740  provides the same function as the first engaging portion  720  and the fourth engaging portion  750  provides the same function as the second engaging portion  730 . Further, in the first sub-member  300 , the third engaging portion  360  provides the same function as the first engaging portion  340  and the fourth engaging portion  370  provides the same function as the second engaging portion  350 . 
     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the third engaging portion  740  has the same shape as the first engaging portion  720  and the third engaging portion  740  has a third vertically protruding portion  741  and a horizontally protruding portion  742  as is the case with the first engaging portion  720 . Further, the horizontally protruding portion  742  included in the third engaging portion  740  is directed to the same direction as the horizontally protruding portion  722  included in the first engaging portion  720 . More specifically, the horizontally protruding portion  742  has an inclined surface  744  similar to the inclined surface  724  included in the horizontally protruding portion  722 . This inclined surface faces the same directions as the inclined surface  724 . 
     Further, the fourth engaging portion  750  has the same shape as the second engaging portion  730  and has a fourth vertically protruding portion  751  similar to the second vertically protruding portion  731 . Further, the fourth vertically protruding portion  751  is directed toward the same direction as the second vertically protruding portion  731 . More specifically, the fourth vertically protruding portion  751  has an inclined surface  752  similar to the inclined surface  732  included in the second vertically protruding portion  731 . This inclined surface  752  faces the same direction as the inclined surface  732 . 
     Further, the third engaging portion  360  has the same shape as the first engaging portion  340  and has a third protruding portion  361  similar to the first protruding portion  341 . Furthermore, the third protruding portion  361  is directed toward the same direction as the first protruding portion  341 . More specifically, the third protruding portion  361  has an inclined surface  360  similar to the inclined surface  343  of the first protruding portion  341 . This inclined portion  363  faces the same direction as the inclined surface  343 . 
     In the same manner, the fourth engaging portion  370  has the same shape as the second engaging portion  350  and has a fourth protruding portion  371  similar to the second protruding portion  351 . Further, the fourth protruding portion  371  is directed toward the same direction as the second protruding portion  351 . More specifically, the fourth protruding portion  371  has an inclined surface  372  similar to the inclined surface  352  included in the second protruding portion  351 . This inclined surface  373  faces the same direction as the inclined surface  352 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , in a state that the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the first engagement release member  700 , the upper surface  362  of the third protruding portion  361  is engaged with a bottom surface  743  of the horizontally protruding portion  742 . Thus, even if the user tries to pull up the first sub-member  300  in this state, the first sub-member  300  is not removed from the main member  500 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , when the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the first position F, the fourth vertically protruding portion  751  abuts against the fourth vertically protruding portion  371  to push the fourth vertically protruding portion  371  toward the upper direction. As a result, the first sub-member  300  is moved toward the upper direction along with the movement of the first engagement release member  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 25 , when the first engagement release member  700  is further moved to the first position F, the first sub-member  300  falls down due to the gravity. As a result, the fourth engaging portion  370  is engaged with the fourth engaging portion  750 . When the user pulls up the first sub-member  300  in this state, the first sub-member  300  is removed from the main member  500 . 
     § 3.6 the Engagement/the Release of the Engagement Between the First Engagement Release Member  700  and the Second Sub-Member  700   
       FIGS. 26A through 26C  are schematic view explaining a mechanism for allowing the first engagement release member  700  to engage the second sub-member  400  or release the engagement of the second sub-member  400 . As shown in this figure, the first engaging portion  410  and the second engagement portion  420  are formed on a front-side end portion of the second sub-member  400 .  FIG. 26A  shows a state that the second sub-member  400  is engaged with the main member  500 . In this state, the first engaging portion  410  of the second sub-member  400  is engaged with the first lateral engaging portion  780 . 
     The first lateral engaging portion  780  includes a bottom surface  781 . The first engaging portion  410  includes a vertically protruding portion  411  and a horizontally protruding portion  412 . The first vertically protruding portion  411  protrudes from the second sub-member  400  toward the lower direction. Further, the first vertically protruding portion  411  is positioned on the lateral side of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Thus, assuming that the first lateral engaging portion  780  is positioned on the plane of paper of  FIGS. 26A through 26C , the first vertically protruding portion  411  is positioned on the upper side of the plane of paper. In other words, the first vertically protruding portion  411  is not positioned on a moving path of the first lateral engaging portion  780  and the first vertically protruding portion  411  is positioned so as to be adjacent to a lateral portion of the moving path of the first lateral engagement portion  780 . The horizontally protruding portion  412  protrudes from a tip end portion of the first vertically protruding portion  411  toward the horizontal direction. More particularly, the horizontally protruding portion  412  horizontally protrudes from a lower end portion of the first vertically protruding portion  411  toward the lower side of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Thus, assuming that the first vertically protruding portion  411  is positioned on the upper side of the plane of paper of  FIGS. 26A through 26C , the horizontally protruding portion  412  protrudes toward the plane of paper. In other words, the horizontally protruding portion  412  is positioned so as to be adjacent to a lower portion of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Thus, an upper surface  413  of the horizontally protruding portion  412  faces the bottom surface  781  of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . In other word, the upper surface  413  of the horizontally protruding portion  412  is engaged with the bottom surface  781  of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Thus, even if the user tries to pull up the second sub-member  400  in this state, the bottom surface  781  of the first lateral engaging portion  780  blocks the movement of the horizontally protruding portion  412  toward the upper direction. As a result, the second sub-member  400  is not removed from the main member  500 . 
       FIG. 26B  shows a state that the first engagement release member  700  is slightly moved in the direction toward the second position S. As shown in this figure, the first lateral engaging portion  780  includes an inclined surface  782  and an opening portion  783 . The inclined surface  782  faces a direction between the direction toward the second position S and the upper direction. The opening portion  783  is opened toward the upper direction and internally has an inner surface  784  facing the direction toward the first position F. The second engaging portion  420  includes a second vertically protruding portion  421  protruding from the second sub-member  400  toward the lower direction. The second vertically protruding portion  421  has an inclined surface  422  and a lateral surface  423 . The inclined surface  422  faces a direction between the direction toward the first position F and the lower direction. The lateral surface  423  faces the direction toward the second position S. 
     As shown in  FIG. 26B , when the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the second position S against the biasing force of the second biasing member  770  (not shown in the drawings), the first lateral engaging portion  780  abuts against the second vertically protruding portion  421  to push the second vertically protruding portion  421  toward the upper direction. More particularly, due to the movement of the first lateral protruding portion  780 , the inclined surface  422  of the second vertically engaging portion  421  slides on the inclined surface  782  of the first lateral engaging portion  780  toward the upper direction. As a result, the second sub-member  400  is moved toward the upper direction along with the movement of the first engagement release member  700 . In this regard, in a case that the user takes his/her hand off the operating portion  710 , the first engagement release member  700  is returned to the position shown in  FIG. 26A  by the biasing force of the second biasing portion  770 . 
     When the first engagement release portion  700  is further moved to the second position S, the relationship between the first engagement portion  700  and the second sub-member  700  takes a state as shown in  FIG. 26C . As shown in this figure, when the opening portion  783  is moved to just below the second vertically protruding portion  421 , that is the second position S, the second sub-member  400  falls down due to the gravity. As a result, the second engaging portion  420  is engaged with the first lateral engaging portion  780 . More particularly, the lateral surface  423  of the second vertically protruding portion  421  is engaged with the inner surface  784  of the opening portion  783 . In this state, the movement of the first engagement release member  700  in the direction toward the first position F is blocked by the second vertically protruding portion  421 . Thus, even if the user takes his/her hand off the operating portion  710 , the state that the second vertically protruding portion  421  is engaged with the opening portion  783  is kept. In this state, the first lateral engaging portion  780  is separated from the first engaging portion  410 . Namely, the bottom surface  781  of the first lateral engaging portion  780  does not block the movement of the horizontally protruding portion  412  toward the upper direction. Thus, when the user pulls up the second sub-member  400  in the state shown in  FIG. 26C , the second sub-member  400  is removed from the main member  500 . 
     As described above, in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , when the first engagement release member  700  is moved to the second position S, the second sub-member  400  is moved toward the lower direction after the second sub-member  400  is once moved toward the upper direction. During the disassembling operation for the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the user can check this movement with his/her own eyes. Thus, the user can easily know that the second sub-member  400  becomes in the removable state during the operation of the operating portion  710 . In addition, the movement of the second sub-member  400  in the vertical direction during the disassembling operation for the second sub-member  400  is the same as the movement of the first sub-member  300  in the vertical direction during the disassembling operation for the first sub-member  300 . Thus, the user can rapidly understand the timing of being able to remove the members after what movement is performed during the disassembling operation for the medicine dispensing cassette  200 . 
     In this regard, in the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , the second sub-member  400  cannot be removed in a state that the first sub-member  300  is not removed. As shown in  FIGS. 21 and 23 , the first protruding portion  341  blocks the movement of the first vertically protruding portion  721  toward the second position S in the state that the first engaging portion  340  is engaged with the first engaging portion  720 . In addition, the first sub-member  300  blocks the movement of the second sub-member  400  toward the upper direction in the state that the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 . Thus, the first engagement release member  700  cannot also push up the second sub-member  400 . As a result, the first engagement release member  700  cannot move to the second position S in the state that the first engagement release member  700  is engaged with the first sub-member  300 . Namely, the engagement between the main member  500  and the second sub-member  400  cannot be released in the state that the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 . With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the position of the second sub-member  400  in the medicine dispensing cassette  200  from being carelessly shifted and prevent the engagement from being released and thus the second sub-member  400  from being in an unstable state. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the second sub-member  400  cannot be seen from the outside normally in the state that the medicine dispensing cassette  200  has been assembled. Thus, if the user can mistakenly move the first engagement release member  700  to the second position S in the state that the first sub-member  300  is attached to the main member  500 , the user cannot find out an event that the second sub-member  400  is removed from the main member  500 . Of course, it is undesired that the medicine dispensing cassette  200  is set in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  in the state that the second sub-member  400  is removed from the main member  500 . By configuring the medicine dispensing cassette  200  so that the engagement between the second sub-member  400  and the main member  500  cannot be released in the state that the first sub-member  300  is engaged with the main member  500 , it is possible to prevent such an undesired situation. 
     In the medicine dispensing cassette  200 , it is also easy to attach the removed second sub-member  400  to the main member  500 . As shown in  FIG. 26A , an inclined surface  785  facing a direction between the direction toward the first position S and the upper direction is formed on the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Further, an inclined surface  414  facing a direction between the direction toward the second position S and the lower direction is formed on the horizontally protruding portion  412 . As described above, the first engagement release member  700  is positioned at the substantially middle of the first position F and the second position S in the state that the operating portion  710  is not operated due to the biasing force of the first biasing portion  760  and the second biasing portion  770  (see  FIG. 21 ). When the user moves the second sub-member  400  from the substantially vertical upper direction toward the substantially vertical lower direction of the main member  500  in this state, the inclined surface  414  of the horizontally protruding portion  412  abuts against the inclined surface  785  of the first lateral engaging portion  780 . As a result, the inclined surface  414  pushes the inclined surface  785  in the direction toward the second position S and thus the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the second position S. Then, when the horizontally protruding portion  412  reaches under the bottom surface  781 , the first engagement release member  700  is moved in the direction toward the first position F by the biasing force of the second biasing portion  770 . As a result, the bottom surface  781  is engaged with the upper surface  413  and the second sub-member  400  is engaged with the main member  500 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the lateral engaging portion  790  has the same shape as the first lateral engaging portion  780 . Thus, the second lateral engaging portion  790  also uses the same mechanism as that of the first lateral engaging portion  780  to engage the second sub-member  400  and release the engagement of the second sub-member. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               100  . . . Medicine dispensing apparatus 
               110  . . . Vial bottle supplying device 
               120  . . . Labeling device 
               130  . . . Vial bottle carrying device 
               140  . . . Discharging port 
               150  . . . Cassette placing portion 
               160  . . . Touch panel display 
               170  . . . Optical scanner 
               180  . . . Medicine supplying portion 
               181  . . . RF tag reading device 
               182  . . . Lock release device 
               190  . . . Control device 
               200  . . . Medicine dispensing cassette  200   
               210  . . . Main body 
               211  . . . RF tag 
               212  . . . Hole 
               213  . . . Right-side inner wall 
               220  . . . First rotating body 
               230  . . . Cylindrical member 
               300  . . . First sub-member 
               310  . . . Cover 
               311  . . . Hinge 
               320  . . . First engaging portion 
               321  . . . First protruding portion 
               322  . . . First slit 
               330  . . . Second engaging portion 
               331  . . . Second protruding portion 
               332  . . . Second slit 
               340  . . . First engaging portion 
               341  . . . First protruding portion 
               342  . . . Upper surface 
               343  . . . Inclined surface 
               350  . . . Second engaging portion 
               351  . . . Second protruding portion 
               352  . . . Inclined surface 
               353  . . . Lateral surface 
               360  . . . Third engaging portion 
               361  . . . Third protruding portion 
               362  . . . Upper surface 
               363  . . . Lateral surface 
               370  . . . Fourth engaging portion 
               371  . . . Fourth protruding portion 
               372  . . . Inclined surface 
               400  . . . Second sub-member 
               410  . . . First engaging portion 
               411  . . . First vertically protruding portion 
               412  . . . Horizontally protruding portion 
               413  . . . Upper surface 
               414  . . . Inclined surface 
               420  . . . Second engaging portion 
               421  . . . Second vertically protruding portion 
               422  . . . Inclined surface 
               423  . . . Lateral surface 
               500  . . . Main member 
               511  . . . Click 
               520  . . . Front-side inner wall 
               530  . . . Rear-side inner wall 
               600  . . . Third sub-member 
               610  . . . Second rotating body 
               620  . . . Protruding portion 
               621  . . . Hole 
               700  . . . First engagement release member 
               700 ′ Second engagement release member 
               701  . . . Main body 
               710  . . . Operating portion 
               710 ′ Operating portion 
               720  . . . First engaging portion 
               721  . . . First vertically protruding portion 
               722  . . . Horizontally protruding portion 
               723  . . . Bottom surface 
               724  . . . Inclined surface 
               730  . . . Second engaging portion 
               731  . . . Second vertically protruding portion 
               732  . . . Inclined surface 
               733  . . . Lateral surface 
               740  . . . Third engaging portion 
               741  . . . First vertically protruding portion 
               742  . . . Horizontally protruding portion 
               743  . . . Bottom surface 
               744  . . . Inclined surface 
               750  . . . Fourth engaging portion 
               751  . . . Fourth vertically protruding portion 
               752  . . . Inclined surface 
               760  . . . First biasing portion 
               761  . . . Base end portion 
               762  . . . Bent portion 
               763  . . . Tip end portion 
               770  . . . Second biasing portion 
               771  . . . Base end portion 
               772  . . . Bent portion 
               773  . . . Tip end portion 
               780  . . . First lateral engaging portion 
               781  . . . Bottom surface 
               782  . . . Inclined surface 
               783  . . . Opening portion 
               784  . . . Inner surface 
               785  . . . Inclined surface 
               790  . . . Second lateral engaging portion 
               800  . . . Lock mechanism 
               810  . . . Operating lever 
               811  . . . Fulcrum point portion 
               812  . . . Force point portion 
               813  . . . Working point portion 
               820  . . . Actuating force transmission lever 
               830  . . . Shaft 
               840  . . . Biasing member 
               841  . . . Base end portion 
               842  . . . Bent portion 
               843  . . . Tip end portion 
               850  . . . First engaging member 
               810  . . . First click 
               860  . . . Second engaging member 
               861  . . . Second click