Beverage dispensing apparatus and method

• US 3,920,149 A
• Filed: 11/23/1973
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Fortino, Robert B. Dodds
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Fortino, Robert B. Dodds
• Inventors: Fortino, Frank J., Dodds, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kocovsky, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US05/418,485
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 222/70,129.1,129.2,129.3,129.4,1
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00144 Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0006 responsive to coded information provided on the neck or spout of the storage container, e.g. bar-code, magnets or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0051 dispensing by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/346 by reading a code
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/006 measuring volume in function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

Apparatus and method for dispensing a beverage or liquid from a container, such as liquor from a bottle, wherein the container is provided with a normally closed valve removably mounted on the fluid outlet thereof. The apparatus and method is suitable for use with a liquor dispensing system utilizing a number of bottles of different types and grades of alcoholic beverages. In such a system, each valve has a valve member movable to an open position in response to a magnetic field to permit liquid to be dispensed from the corresponding bottle. A tubular valve actuator is provided to receive the valve and to generate a magnetic field to open the valve when the container is inverted. Circuitry coupled to the actuator assures that the valve will be open only for a predetermined period of time so that only a preselected volume of the liquor will be dispensed from the container. Each valve has coding means thereon to distinguish it from other valves and permit identification of the type and quality of liquor in the corresponding bottle and such coding means is sensed when the valve is received within or adjacent to the actuator. There is a plurality of codes each code defining a specific valve type. A number of bottles use the same valve type, thereby defining a separate quantity to be poured or the cost of the liquor contained therein. A coding pulse is generated in response to the sensing of the coding means and such pulse is used to drive a counter which indicates the number of times a valve type is used and thereby the volume and the cost of liquor dispensed from the bottles over a given time period. Each valve type can be actuated so that it dispenses a respective volume of liquid and is totally independent of other valve types.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing assembly for the outlet of a liquid container comprising:

a valve being a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for removably mounting the same on the container at said outlet thereof;

a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking said passage to a position clearing the same and return;

means on said valve for defining a code therefor to identify a characteristic of the container; and

a valve actuator having a first coil for generating a magnetic field and a second coil surrounded by the first coil for sensing said code-defining means when said valve is adjacent to said actuator, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator, said valve member being movable from said blocking position to said clearing position in response to the presence of said magnetic field.

2. A liquor dispensing system for a plurality of liquor-containing bottles comprising:

a tubular body for each bottle, respectively, each tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle to provide a pouring spout therefor, said body having a number of axially spaced code member-receiving positions along the same, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body at a respective code member-receiving position for providing a code therefor;

an actuator having a tubular core and a number of coils wound on said core at axially spaced locations thereon, the body of each bottle being receivable in said core and said code member-receiving positions on each body being aligned with respective coils when said body is in an operative position in said core, whereby each code member on the body will be inductIvely coupled with a respective coil;

circuit means coupled with said coils for generating a code signal for each coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body when the latter is in said core; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of the presence of each code member of a corresponding body.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein there is provided a code-defining member at a first of the code memberreceiving positions of each bottle, respectively, whereby the code signal generated by the presence of said member of a body in said core will provide an indication of the correctness of the position of the body with respect to said core and thereby the correctness of the code signals corresponding to the other code member-receiving position of the body.

4. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the circuit means includes a resonant circuit for each coil, respectively, each code member being in proximity to a respective coil when the corresponding body is in the core, the presence of each code member causing a change in the rate of decay of the oscillations of the magnetic field in the corresponding coil, there being means for applying a current pulse to each resonant circuit of each coil to create oscillations in the coil, means for detecting the amplitude of the oscillations during a predetermined time interval, and means for generating a code signal in response to a predetermined amplitude of oscillations detected during said time interval.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein is included a decoder responsive to the code signals of the coils, and a plurality of storage devices coupled to the output of the decoder, said storage devices defining said indication means.

6. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second circuit means includes means for verifying the presence and correct code sensing of each code member of a valve adjacent to said actuator.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said code verifying means includes means for generating the code signals corresponding to said coils a number of times, means for storing a first set of said code signals, and means for comparing the stored code signals with code signals generated subsequent thereto, whereby a correlation between the stored and subsequent code signals indicates the correctness of the code sensing and thereby the verification of the correct sensing of the valve coding.

8. A liquid dispensing assembly for a plurality of normally upright liquid containers which can be individually hand-held, inverted into liquid pouring positions while being individually hand-held and then returned to normally upright positions comprising:

a valve for each container, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on a container at said outlet thereof, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking said passage to a position clearing the same and return, and means on the valve for defining a code therefor to identify a characteristic of the corresponding container;

a valve actuator having a coil and means adapted for use in sensing the code-defining means of a valve when the latter is adjacent to the actuator, said actuator having a size sufficient to permit it to be hand-held and to be manually movable from a standby station to a pouring station and return, said actuator being provided with an opening thereinto into which a valve of a container can extend when the container is inverted and when the actuator has been moved to a pouring station, said valve member of each valve being movable from said blocking position to said clearing position in response to the presence of a magnetic field when said valve extends into said opening of said actuator;

first circuit means coupled with said coil for energizing the same to generate a magnetic field;

second circuit means coupled with said means on said actuator for generating a code signal corresponding to the code on a valve when the latter is adjacent to said actuator; and

means responsive to each code signal for providing an indication of the actuation of a corresponding valve.

9. A liquid dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 8, including means carried by and responsive to the orientation of said actuator relative to a predetermined reference for enabling the first circuit means and said second circuit means.

10. A liquid dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means on the actuator includes a number of axially aligned sensing coils.

11. A liquid dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said code defining means includes at least one electrically conductive member on the body of each valve, there being a number of member-sensing positions on each body, said positions being aligned with respective sensing coils when said valve is adjacent to said actuator.

12. A liquid dispensing assembly for the outlet of a liquid container comprising:

a valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for removably mounting the same on the container at said outlet thereof;

a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking said passage to a position clearing the same and return;

means including at least one electrically conductive member on said valve for defining a code therefor to identify a characteristic of the container; and

a valve actuator having a tubular core, a first coil on the core for generating a magnetic field, and a number of axially spaced second coils on the core for sensing said code-defining means when said valve is adjacent to said actuator, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator, said valve member being movable from said blocking position to said clearing position in response to the presence of said magnetic field, each second coil being disposed on said core to cause the magnetic field of the second coil to be concentrated in a region adjacent to the inner surface of the core, whereby the magnetic field of each second coil can be affected by the outer portion of a corresponding electrically conductive, code-defining member of said valve.

13. A liquid dispensing assembly for a plurality of liquid containers comprising:

a valve for each container, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on a container at said outlet thereof, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking said passage to a position clearing the same and return, and means on the valve for defining a code therefor to identify a characteristic of the corresponding container;

a valve actuator having a coil and means adapted for use in sensing the code-defining means of a valve when the latter is adjacent to the actuator, each valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator, said valve member of each valve being movable from said blocking position to said clearing position in response to the presence of a magnetic field when said valve is at said location;

first circuit means coupled with said coil for energizing the same to generate a magnetic field;

second circuit means coupled with said means on said actuator for generating a code signal corresponding to the code on a valve when the latter is adjacent to said actuator;

a mercury switch carried by the actuator and responsive to the orientation thereof relative to a predetermined reference for enabling at least one of said first circuit means and said second circuit means; and

means responsive to each code signal for providing an indication of the actuation of a corresponding valve.

14. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of normally upright liquid-containing bottles which can be individually hand-held, inverted into liquid pouring positions, and then rEturned to normally upright positions comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providng a code therefor;

a valve actuator having a first coil and a number of second coils wound on said core, said actuator having a size sufficient to permit it to be hand-held and to be manually movable from a standby station to a pouring station and return, said actuator being provided with an opening therethrough into which a valve of a container can extend when the container is inverted and when the actuator has been manually moved to a pouring station;

first circuit means coupled with said first coil for energizing the same to generate a first magnetic field having an intensity sufficient to cause said valve member to move from said blocking position to said clearing position when said valve extends into said opening of the actuator;

second circuit means coupled with said second coils for generating a code signal for each second coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body of a valve adjacent to the actuator; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein each valve has a number of code member-sensing positions on the outer surface of said body thereof, said positions being aligned with respective second coils when said valve extends into said opening.

16. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said second circuit means includes means for verifying the presence and correct code sensing of each code member of a valve adjacent to said actuator.

17. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said body of each valve has a number of code-sensing positions thereon at which respective code-defining members can be placed, there being a code-defining member at a first of the positions of each valve, respectively, whereby the code signal generated by the presence of said member of a valve adjacent to said actuator will provide an indication of the correctness of the position of the valve with respect to said actuator and thereby the correctness of the code signals corresponding to the other code-sensing positions of the valve.

18. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of liquid-containing bottles comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providing a code therefor;

a valve actuator adapted to be hand-held and having a tubular core, a first coil, and a number of second coils, the second coils being wound on said core and being axially spaced along the same, the first coil being wound on the second coils and having a relatively large number of turns, each second coil having a relatively few number of turns, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator;

first circuit means coupled with said first coil for energizing the same to generate a first magnetic field having an intensity sufficient to cause said valve member to move from said blocking position to said clearing position when said valve is at said location;

second circuit means coupled with said second coils for generating a code signal for each second coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body of a valve adjacent to the actuator; and

meanS responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

19. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of liquid-containing bottles comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providing a code therefor;

a valve actuator having a first coil and a number of second coils, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator;

an actuatable generator coupled with said first coil for generating a signal pulse sufficient to energize the same to produce a first magnetic field having an intensity sufficient to cause said valve member to move from said blocking position to said clearing position when said valve is at said location;

means coupled with said generator for actuating the same;

a timer means coupled with the generator and responsive to the presence of each code member on a valve for determining the pulse width of the signal pulse for energizing the first coil and thereby determining the quantity of liquid poured from a container;

second circuit means coupled with said second coils for generating a code signal for each second coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body of a valve adjacent to the actuator; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the code on each valve allows it to be of any one of a number of different valve types, said timer means including a timer circuit for each valve type, respectively, each timer circuit being adjustable independently of the other timing circuits for permitting a variation in the quantity of liquid poured from a corresponding container.

21. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of liquid-containing bottles comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providing a code therefor;

a valve actuator having a first coil and a number of second coils, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator;

a pair of generators coupled to said first coil for generating respective, coil-energizing signal pulses, the signal pulse of one of the generators having a magnitude sufficient to cause the first coil, when energized thereby, to generate a magnetic field of an intensity greater than that of the magnetic field generated by the first coil when energized by the signal pulse of the other generator, the magnetic field of greater intensity being operable to initially move the valve member to said clearing position and the magnetic field of lesser intensity being operable to maintain said valve member in said clearing position when said valve is at said location;

second circuit means coupled with said second coils for generating a code signal for each second coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body of a valve adjacent to the actuator; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

22. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of liquid-containing bottles comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providing a code therefor;

a valve actuator having a first coil and a number of second coils, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator;

first circuit means coupled with said first coil for energizing the same to generate a first magnetic field having an intensity sufficient to cause said valve member to move from said blocking position to said clearing position when said valve is at said location;

a resonant circuit for each second coil, respectively, each code member being in proximity to a respective second coil when the valve is adjacent to the actuator, the presence of each code member causing a change in the rate of decay of the oscillations of the magnetic field in the corresponding second coil, there being means for applying a current pulse to each resonant circuit of each second coil to create oscillations in the coil;

means for detecting the amplitude of the oscillations of each coil during a predetermined time interval;

means for generating a code signal in response to a predetermined amplitude of oscillations detected in each coil during said time interval; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein is included a decoder responsive to the code signals of the second coils, and a plurality of storage devices coupled to the output of the decoder, said storage devices defining said indication means.

24. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said applying means operates to successively apply the current pulses to respective resonant circuits.

25. A liquid dispensing system for a plurality of liquid-containing bottles comprising:

a valve for each bottle, respectively, each valve having a tubular body provided with a fluid passage therethrough and means thereon for mounting the same on the neck of the corresponding bottle, a magnetically permeable valve member disposed within said body and movable from a position blocking its passage to a position clearing the same and return, and at least one electrically conductive code member carried by said body for providing a code therefor;

a valve actuator having a first coil and a number of second coils, said valve being movable to a location adjacent to the actuator;

first circuit means coupled with said first coil for energizing the same to generate a first magnetic field having an intensity sufficient to cause said valve member to move from said blocking position to said clearing position when said valve is at said location;

means coupled with said second coils for generating a code signal a number of times for each second coil, respectively, when a corresponding code member is carried by said body of a valve adjacent to the actuator;

means coupled with generating means for storing a first set of the code signals of respective second coils;

means coupled with said storing means for comparing the stored code signals with code signals generated subsequent thereto, whereby a correlation between the stored and subsequent code signals will indicate the correctness of the code sensing and thereby the verification of the correct sensing of the valve coding; and

means responsive to said each code signal for providing an indication of each actuation of a corresponding valve.

26. The method of dispensing a liquid from a container having an outlet and code-defining indicia thereon comprising:

directing a first, relatively large electrical current over an electrical path adjacent to the container to provide a magnetic field;

opening the outlet of the container in response to the presence of said magnetic field so that a quantity of liquid from the container can be poured therefrom when the container is inverted;

reDucing the electrical current over said path after said outlet has opened;

sensing the indicia on the container; and

recording the sensed indicia each time the outlet is opened.

27. The method of dispensing a liquid from a container having an outlet and code-defining indicia thereon comprising:

providing a first magnetic field, opening the outlet of the container in response to the presence of said first magnetic field so that a quantity of liquid from the container can be poured therefrom when the container is inverted;

generating a second, oscillating magnetic field;

causing said second magnetic field to decay as a function of said indicia;

detecting the rate of decay of said second magnetic field;

providing a code signal in response to the detecting step; and

recording the code signal each time the outlet is opened.

28. The method of dispensing a liquid from a container having an outlet and code-defining indicia thereon comprising:

providing a magnetic field;

opening the outlet of the container in response to the presence of said magnetic field;

inverting the container to allow liquid to flow therefrom when the outlet is open;

keeping the outlet open for a predetermined period of time to allow a quantity of liquid to be poured from the container;

abruptly raising the container after the outlet has closed and as the container remains inverted;

repeating said providing step after said raising step;

sensing the indicia on the container; and

recording the sensed indicia each time the outlet is opened.

29. A method of dispensing liquids from a group of bottles comprising:

providing a normally closed outlet in the neck of each bottle, respectively, with each bottle having a particular coding indicia thereon;

selecting a bottle from said group;

moving the selected bottle into a liquid pouring position;

sensing the indicia on the selected bottle including generating an oscillating magnetic field;

generating a code signal as a function of the decay of the oscillating magnetic field and in the presence of the coding indicia on the selected bottle with the code signal being characteristic of the indicia of the selected bottle;

storing the code signal to indicate the dispensing of a unit quantity of liquid from the selected bottle; and

opening the outlet of the selected bottle for a predetermined period of time to allow said unit volume of liquid to be dispensed therefrom.

30. The method of dispensing a liquid from a normally upright container capable of being hand-held, inverted into a liquid pouring position, and returned to a normally upright position with the container having an outlet and code-defining indicia thereon comprising:

providing a magnetic field;

manually holding the container and then inverting it while it is hand-held;

opening the outlet of the container in response to the presence of said magnetic field and when the container is inverted so that a quantity of liquid from the container can be poured therefrom sensing the indicia on the container;

recording the sensed indica each time the outlet is opened; and

manually returning the container to its normal upright position after the sensing and recording steps.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said providing step is performed after the lapse of a predetermined time interval following said inverting step.

32. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said inverting step includes allowing a uniform volume rate of flow of liquid from the container regardless of the quantity of liquid therein.

33. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the indicia comprises at least one electrically conductive region, said sensing step including detecting the presence of the region.

34. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said indicia has an optical characteristic, said sensing step including optically detecting the presence of said characteristic.

35. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the shape of a portion of the container defines said indicia, said sensing step iNcluding detecting the presence of said shape.

36. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said outlet is closed after a predetermined time, thereby abruptly shutting off the liquid flow from said outlet.

37. A method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said indicia is disposed on the outer surface of the container.

38. A method of dispensing liquids from a group of normally upright bottles capable of being individually hand-held, inverted into liquid-pouring positions and returned to normally upright positions comprising:

providing a normally closed outlet in the neck of each bottle, respectively, with each bottle having a particular coding indicia thereon;

selecting and manually holding a bottle from said group;

inverting the selected bottle while the bottle is hand-held;

sensing the indicia on the bottle;

generating a code signal in response to the sensing of the indicia with the code signal being characteristic of the indicia of the selected bottle;

storing the code signal to indicate the dispensing of a unit quantity of liquid from the selected bottle; and

opening the outlet of the selected bottle for a predetermined period of time and when the bottle is inverted to allow said unit volume of liquid to be dispensed therefrom; and

returning the bottle to its normal upright position after the sensing, generating, storing and opening steps.

39. A method as set forth in claim 38, wherein the inverting step is performed at any one of a number of locations with a spherical region having a radius greater than 1.0 foot.

40. An actuator for a valve having a shiftable, magnetically permeable valve member and means thereon defining a code therefor comprising:

a body;

a coil wound on said body and adapted to provide a first magnetic field to shift said valve member when the valve is adjacent to the body; and

a second coil on the body and surrounded by the first coil, the second coil being responsive to the code-defining means of said valve for permitting a signal representing the presence of said code-defining means to be generated.

41. An actuator as set forth in claim 40, wherein is included a coiled, retractile electrical cable coupled to the coils for connecting the same to circuitry remote therefrom.

42. An actuator for a valve having a shiftable, magnetically permeable valve member and at least one electrically conductive member thereon defining a code therefor comprising:

a tubular core;

a first coil wound on said core and adapted to provide a first magnetic field to shift said valve member when the valve is adjacent to the core; and

a number of second coils axially spaced from each other and coupled to said core, each second coil being disposed on said core to cause the magnetic field of the second coil to be concentrated in a region adjacent to the inner surface of the core, whereby the magnetic field of each second coil can be affected by the outer portion of a corresponding electrically conductive, code-defining member of said valve to thereby permit a signal representing the presence of said code-defining member to be generated.

43. A coding system for a liquor-containing bottle adapted to be used in a computerized accounting system comprising:

a tubular body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be mounted on the neck of a bottle to permit liquor to be poured therefrom through said passage when the bottle is tilted into a pouring position, said body having a number of code memberreceiving positions along the same;

at least one electrically conductive code member mounted on the body at axially spaced locations thereon and in at least partially surrounding relationship to said passage;

a coil for each member-receiving position, respectively;

a tubular, open end core adapted to receive said body therewithin, the coils being wound on said core and disposed thereon to cause the magnetic field of the coil to be concentrated in a region adjacent to the inner surface of the core whereby the magnetic field of each coil is inductively coupled to the outer portion of a corresponding code member; and

means coupled with said coils for providing an indication of the presence of each code member.

44. A coding system for a liquor-containing bottle adapted to be used in a computerized accounting system comprising:

a tubular body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be mounted on the neck of a bottle to permit liquor to be poured therefrom through said passage when the bottle is tilted into a pouring position, said body having a number of code member-receiving positions along the same;

at least one electrically conductive code member mounted on the body at axially spaced locations thereon and in at least partially surrounding relationship to said passage;

a coil for each member-receiving position, respectively;

means coupled with the coils for supporting the same, the body and said supporting means being movable relative to each other and into proximity with each other to cause each coil to be inductively coupled with a corresponding member;

means for generating code signals corresponding to respective coils a number of times to indicate the presence of respective code members;

means for storing a first set of said code signals; and

means for comparing the stored code signals with code signals generated subsequent thereto, whereby a correlation between the stored and subsequent code signals indicates the correctness of the code snesing and thereby the verification of the correct sensing of the valve coding.

45. A coding system for a liquor-containing bottle adapted to be used in a computerized accounting system comprising:

a tubular body having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be mounted on the neck of a bottle to permit liquor to be poured therefrom through said passage when the bottle is tilted into a pouring position, said body having a number of code member-receiving positions along the same;

at least one electrically conductive code member mounted on the body at axially spaced locations thereon and in at least partially surrounding relationship to said passage;

a coil for each memberreceiving position, respectively;

means coupled with the coils for supporting the same, said body and said supporting means being movable relative to each other and into proximity to each other to cause each coil to be inductively coupled with a corresponding member;

a resonant circuit for each coil, respectively, each code member at a corresponding code member-receiving position being in proximity to a respective coil when the body is adjacent to the coil supporting means, the presence of each code member being operable to cause a change in the rate of decay of the oscillations of the magnetic field in the corresponding coil, there being means for applying a current pulse to each resonant circuit of each coil to create current oscillations therein;

means for detecting the amplitude of the oscillations during a predetermined time interval;

means for generating a code signal in response to a predetermined amplitude of oscillations detected during said time interval; and

means coupled with said sensing means for providing an indication of the presence of the code member.

46. A coding system as set forth in claim 45, wherein is included a decoder responsive to the code signals of the coils, and a plurality of storage devices coupled to the output of the decoder, said storage devices defining said indication providing means.

47. A coding system as set forth in claim 45, wherein said applying means operates to successively apply the current pulses to respective resonant circuits.