Patent GB-1250882-A (GB)
IPC: H04M1/65
Filed: 1967-11-02
Abstract: 1,250,882. Substation apparatus. LEARNING APPLIANCES Ltd. 30 Oct., 1968 [2 Nov., 1967], No. 49803/67. Heading H4K. [Also in Division G5] A telephone answering machine includes a rotary element 7 surfaced with magnetic material 9 on to which an answering announcement can be recorded on a plurality of separate tracks each co-operating with one of a plurality of recording/playback heads R 1 , R 2  which in operation are sequentially coupled to the telephone line to replay the whole answering announcement. The machine also includes a ringing detector circuit and an amplifier and may include a further recorder for recording a caller's message. The rotary element is conveniently a cylindrical drum and has magnetic tape secured on a resilient backing to its cylindrical surface. Motor 3 is connected to flywheel capstan 29, 31 through belt 25 and drives element 7 through contact with base rim 13. Element 7 is also connected through worm 41 and wormwheel 39 to shaft 37 to which are secured switch operating cams 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, head control cam 53 and gear 55 which drives an indicator mechanism. The incoming messages are recorded on a separate tape 5 which is held on spools 1, 3 driven bv motors M 2 , M 1 . Three manually operated switches A, B, C are used to set, recording or playback from the element, recording or playback from the record tape and rewind or forward for the motors M 1 , M 2 , respectively. Setting up.-Switch A is set to record and an announcement is recorded on magnetic material 9 by head R 1  which is connected to microphone MIC through amplifying arrangement AMP. After one revolution of element 7, cam 53 changes the amplifier output from head R 1  to head R 2  so that the rest of the announcement can be recorded. The recording can be checked by operating switch A so that it is replayed through speaker SPK. The switch A is then put into its third position and the device is ready to answer calls. Operation.-When ringing current occurs on lines L 1 , L 2  relay RLY 1  operates intermittently and motor M 3  steps round until switch P is operated by cam 43 and motor M 3  runs continuously. If a pay tone is detected by circuit PT, the supply to motor M3 is cut off by transistor TR 3  being made non-conducting. When switch Q operates a 12 second delay occurs before motor M 3  starts driving element 7 again to transmit the recorded announcement to the caller through coupling transformer TX 1  and lines L 1 , L 2 . After the announcement is completed, motor M 1  is energized and the incoming signal transferred to head R 3  to record the caller's message. The shaft 37 stops after completing one revolution when the system is ready to receive another call. Recorded messages may be played back by operating switches B and C. Modifications.-The machine can operate with a completely separate tape recorder or alternatively in the present construction a standard cassette may be used. The tape drive may use motors M 1 , M 2  pivotally mounted so as to be able to engage and drive the respective spool when required, Fig. 4 (not shown). Alternatively motor M 3  may be used alone and the drive to the tape made from a lay shaft which engages the rim 13 of element 7, Fig. 5 (not shown), or in another case Fig. 7 (not shown) the tape itself may be pinched between an idler roll and a capstan.