A dispensing mechanism (202, 203, 204) for dispensing elongate items, the dispensing mechanism comprising: at least two helical augers (1201, 1202) having threads, wherein each of the items to be dispensed is received at least partially within the threads of two of the augers; at least two channels configured to hold the items to be dispensed with the longitudinal axes of the items to be dispensed being generally perpendicular to the rotational axes of the at least two helical augers, and a cassette including an opening, the at least two augers, the at least two channels, and an encoder configured to indicate a rotational position of a component of the drive mechanism, wherein the encoder comprises a spring loaded plunger, the spring loaded plunger comprising a reflective target and being configured to sequentially fall into and be driven out of pockets in a gear; and a drive mechanism engaged with the at least two augers and configured to rotate the at least two augers to transport the items to be dispensed, driven by the threads of the augers, to dispense the items from the dispensing mechanism; a dispenser including an actuator, a connector for receiving electrical power and control signals from a cabinet in which the dispensing mechanism is installed, an optical sensor aligned with the opening in the cassette and configured to detect the reflective target through the opening of the cassette whenever the plunger falls into one of the pockets, and an opening at the bottom of the dispenser through which the dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense the items; and wherein the dispenser and the cassette are mateable such that the actuator can drive the drive mechanism, and wherein the dispenser and cassette are separable. at least two helical augers (1201, 1202) having threads, wherein each of the items to be dispensed is received at least partially within the threads of two of the augers; at least two channels configured to hold the items to be dispensed with the longitudinal axes of the items to be dispensed being generally perpendicular to the rotational axes of the at least two helical augers, and a cassette including an opening, the at least two augers, the at least two channels, and an encoder configured to indicate a rotational position of a component of the drive mechanism, wherein the encoder comprises a spring loaded plunger, the spring loaded plunger comprising a reflective target and being configured to sequentially fall into and be driven out of pockets in a gear; and an opening, the at least two augers, the at least two channels, and an encoder configured to indicate a rotational position of a component of the drive mechanism, wherein the encoder comprises a spring loaded plunger, the spring loaded plunger comprising a reflective target and being configured to sequentially fall into and be driven out of pockets in a gear; and a drive mechanism engaged with the at least two augers and configured to rotate the at least two augers to transport the items to be dispensed, driven by the threads of the augers, to dispense the items from the dispensing mechanism; a dispenser including an actuator, a connector for receiving electrical power and control signals from a cabinet in which the dispensing mechanism is installed, an optical sensor aligned with the opening in the cassette and configured to detect the reflective target through the opening of the cassette whenever the plunger falls into one of the pockets, and an opening at the bottom of the dispenser through which the dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense the items; and an actuator, a connector for receiving electrical power and control signals from a cabinet in which the dispensing mechanism is installed, an optical sensor aligned with the opening in the cassette and configured to detect the reflective target through the opening of the cassette whenever the plunger falls into one of the pockets, and an opening at the bottom of the dispenser through which the dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense the items; and wherein the dispenser and the cassette are mateable such that the actuator can drive the drive mechanism, and wherein the dispenser and cassette are separable.