Abstract: A beverage dispenser transponder identification system includes a pourer spout for insertion into a bottle containing a beverage, the pourer spout having an electromagnetically actuated stopper valve for dispensing the beverage, the pourer spout having an rf receive/transmit antenna connected to an identification transponder circuit. An actuator is provided by an activator ring for insertion around the pourer spout and has a driver coil for actuating the stopper valve, an rf transmit antenna connected to an oscillator, and an rf receive antenna connected to a decoder. The rf transmit antenna broadcasts an rf signal to the rf receive/transmit antenna which is conducted to the identification transponder circuit which sends an identification signal to the rf receive/transmit antenna which is broadcast to the rf receive antenna and received by the decoder to identify the pourer spout.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable cycle moisturizing control circuit for a gas-liquid contact pad (8, 18) in humidifiers (1), precoolers (17) and the like, supplied with fluid from a solenoid valve (34). Temperature sensitive electric circuit means (FIG. 4) cyclically actuates the valve between ON and OFF states for intermittently moisturizing the pad with an intermittent flow of liquid, and includes means (26, 30) for variably changing the intermittent flow in response to temperature by changing the relative timing of the ON and OFF timed intervals such that the duration of one increases relative to the other. User accessible preadjustment means (38, 40) manually changes the length of one of the timing intervals, to preset the initial relative timing of the intervals according to pad size to afford a relatively longer ON time for larger pads, whereafter the other interval is automatically varied in response to increasing temperature.