Telephone answering apparatus

Abstract

Telephone answering apparatus is provided which is simple in its construction as compared with the usual prior art apparatus, but which is capable of performing all of the operations performed by the more complex prior art apparatus, and also of performing operations beyond the capabilities of the usual prior art apparatus. The apparatus of the invention utilizes a cassette-type tape unit on which announcement messages may be recorded, for transmission to a calling party during an initial time interval (T 1 ). The apparatus also includes a cassette-type tape unit to record the messages from the calling party during a subsequent message recording interval (T 2 ). In the apparatus, a single irreversible drive motor is used for both the announcement and message tape units, and a simple mechanical drive is provided for the message tape unit for driving the message tape unit in one direction during a fast forward operation, and for driving the message tape unit in the opposite direction during a rewind operation, without the need for reversing the direction of rotation of the drive motor.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A telephone answering apparatus including in combination: means mounted in said apparatus for receiving a removable magnetic announcement tape unit; first capstan drive means mounted in said apparatus on one side of the path of the tape in said removable tape unit for driving the tape; a first pinch roller assembly mounted in said apparatus on the opposite side of the path of said tape; first solenoid means mechanically coupled to said first pinch roller assembly for selectively causing the first pinch roller assembly to be drawn against the tape to move the tape into driving engagement with the first capstan drive means; means mounted in said apparatus for receiving a removable cassette-type magnetic message tape unit; a second capstan drive means mounted in said apparatus on one side of the path of the tape in the message tape unit for driving the message tape; a second pinch roller assembly mounted in said apparatus on the opposite side of the path of the tape in said message tape unit; second solenoid means mechanically coupled to said second pinch roller assembly for selectively moving said second pinch roller assembly toward the second capstan drive means to move the tape in said message tape unit into driving engagement with the capstan drive means; a drive motor mounted in the apparatus and mechanically coupled to the first and second capstan drive means; first and second spindle means mounted in the apparatus for receiving the casette-type message tape unit; mechanical coupling means for selectively coupling the drive motor to the first and second spindle means to drive the tape in the message tape unit selectively in a forward and in a rewind direction; and third solenoid means connected to said coupling means for changing the coupling of the drive motor from one of the spindle means to the other whenever the third solenoid means is energized..]. .[.2. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes a plate slidably mounted in said apparatus between a first position and a second position for supporting said second pinch roller assembly, and which includes electromagnetic transducer means mounted on said plate, said second solenoid means being mechanically coupled to said plate for selectively moving said plate from its first position to its second position to move said second pinch roller assembly and said electromagnetic transducer means into operating relationship with respect 
     
        to the tape in said message tape unit..]. 3. .[.The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 2, and which includes.]. .Iadd.A telephone answering apparatus including in combination: means mounted in said apparatus for receiving a removable magnetic announcement tape unit; first capstan drive means mounted in said apparatus on one side of the path of the tape in said removable tape unit for driving the tape; a first pinch roller assembly mounted in said apparatus on the opposite side of the path of said tape; first solenoid means mechanically coupled to said first pinch roller assembly for selectively causing the first pinch roller assembly to be drawn against the tape to move the tape into driving engagement with the first capstan drive means; means mounted in said apparatus for receiving a removable cassette-type magnetic message tape in the message tape unit; a second capstan drive means mounted in said apparatus on one side of the path of the tape in the message tape unit for driving the message tape; a second pinch roller assembly mounted in said apparatus on the opposite side of the path of the tape in said message tape unit; second solenoid means mechanicaly coupled to said second pinch roller assembly for selectively moving said second pinch roller assembly toward the second capstan drive means to move the tape in said message tape unit into driving engagement with the capstan drive means; a drive motor mounted in the apparatus and mechanically coupled to the first and second capstan drive means; first and second spindle means mounted in the apparatus for receiving the cassette-type message tape unit; mechanical coupling means for selectively coupling the drive motor to the first and second spindle means to drive the tape in the message tape unit selectively in a forward and in a rewind direction; and third solenoid means connected to said coupling means for changing the coupling of the drive motor from one of the spindle means to the other whenever the third solenoid means is energized, a plate slidably mounted in said apparatus between a first position and a second position for supporting said second pinch roller assembly, and which includes electromagnetic transducer means mounted on said plate, said second solenoid means being mechanically coupled to said plate for selectively moving said plate from its first position to its second position to move said second pinch roller assembly and said electromagnetic transducer means into operating relationship with respect to the tape in said message tape unit, .Iaddend.resilient means coupling said second solenoid means to said plate to permit said plate to be pulled back to its first position, and the pinch roller assembly and electromagnetic transducer means to be pulled back from the tape in said 
     
     
        message tape unit, while the second solenoid means is energized. 4. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 3, and which includes a second plate slidably mounted in the apparatus adjacent said message tape unit and movable between a first and a second position; magnetic erase means mounted on the second plate; resilient means for normally biasing the magnetic erase means to its first position away from the tape in said message tape unit; and lever means coupled to the second plate for manually moving the second plate from its first position to its second position against the force of the resilient means to bring the erase means into operating relationship with the tape in said message tape unit. .[.5. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 4, in which the erase means comprises a permanent magnet..]. .[.6. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 4, and which includes means mounted on at least one of the first and second plates for causing the first plate to hold the second plate in its second position upon prior movement of the second plate to its second position, and for causing the first plate to prevent movement of the second plate upon prior movement of the first plate to its second position..]. .[.7. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 1, in which said mechanical coupling means includes an arm pivotally mounted in said apparatus, first and second drive wheels rotatably mounted in said arm in driving engagement with one another; means coupling one of said drive wheels to said drive motor; and means connecting said third solenoid means to said arm to move the arm angularly in one direction and cause one of the drive wheels to engage sid first spindle means when said third solenoid means is de-energized, and to move the arm angularly in the other direction and cause the other of said drive wheels to engage the second spindle means when the third solenoid is energized..]. .[.8. In combination: apparatus for receiving a removable cassette-type magnetic tape unit including first and second spindle means for driving the magnetic tape in the unit from one reel to another; a drive motor; mechanical coupling means for selectively coupling the drive motor to the first and second spindle means to drive the tape in the unit selectively in a forward and in a rewind direction; and solenoid means connected to said coupling means for changing the coupling of the drive motor from one of the spindle means to the other whenever the third solenoid means is energized..]. .[.9. The combination defined in claim 8, in which said mechanical coupling means includes a pivotally mounted arm: first and second drive wheels rotatably mounted on said arm in driving engagement with one another; means coupling one of said drive wheels to said drive motor; and means connecting said solenoid means to said arm to move the arm angularly in one direction and cause one of the drive wheels to engage said first spindle means when said solenoid is de-energized, and to move the arm angularly in the other direction and cause the other of said drive wheels to engage the second spindle means when said solenoid means is energized..]. .Iadd. 10. A telephone answering apparatus including in combination: a housing; means mounted in said housing for receiving a removable magnetic announcement tape unit; first capstan drive means mounted in said housing on one side of the path of the tape in said removable tape unit for driving the tape; a first pinch roller assembly mounted in said housing on the opposite side of the path of said tape; first solenoid means mechanically coupled to said first pinch roller assembly for selectively causing the first pinch roller assembly to be drawn against the tape to move the tape into driving engagement with the first capstan drive means; means mounted in said housing for receiving a removable cassette-type magnetic message tape unit; a second capstan drive means mounted in said housing on one side of the path of the tape in the message tape unit for driving the message tape; a second pinch roller assembly mounted in said housing on the opposite side of the path of the tape in said message tape unit; second solenoid means mechanically coupled to said second pinch roller assembly for selectively moving said second pinch roller assembly toward the second capstan drive means to move the tape in said message tape unit into driving engagement with the capstan drive means; a drive motor mounted in the housing and mechanically coupled to the first and second capstan drive means; first and second spindle means mounted in the housing for receiving the cassette-type message tape unit; mechanical coupling means for selectively coupling the drive motor to the first and second spindle means to drive the tape in the message tape unit selectively in a forward and a rewind direction; third solenoid means connected to said coupling means for changing the coupling of the drive motor from one of the spindle means to the other whenever the third solenoid means is energized; a plate slidably mounted in said housing between a first position and a second position for supporting said second pinch roller assembly; electromagnetic transducer means mounted on said plate, said second solenoid means being mechanically coupled to said plate for selectively moving said plate from its first position to its second position to move said second pinch roller assembly and said electromagnetic transducer means into operating relationship with respect to the tape in said message tape unit; resilient means coupling said second solenoid means to said plate to permit said plate to be pulled back to its first position, and the pinch roller assembly and electromagnetic transducer means to be pulled back from the tape in said message tape unit, while the second solenoid means is energized; a second plate slidably mounted in the apparatus adjacent said message tape unit and movable between a first and a second position; magnetic erase means mounted on the second plate; resilient means for normally biasing the magnetic erase means to a first position away from the tape in said message tape unit; lever means coupled to the second plate for manually moving the second plate from its first position to its second position against the force of the resilient means to bring the erase means into operating relationship with the tape in said message tape unit; and means mounted on at least one of the first and second plates for causing the first plate to hold the second plate in its second position upon prior movement of the second plate to its second position, and for causing the first plate to prevent movement of the second plate upon prior movement of the first plate to its second position. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A telephone answering apparatus including in combination: a housing; means mounted in said housing for receiving a magnetic announcement tape; first capstan drive means mounted in said housing on one side of the tape in said tape unit for driving the tape; a first pinch roller assembly mounted in said housing on the opposite side of the path of said tape; first solenoid means mechanically coupled to said first pinch roller assembly for selectively causing the first pinch roller assembly to be drawn against the tape to move the tape into driving engagement with the first capstan drive means; means mounted in said housing for receiving a magnetic message tape unit, said means including a take-up spindle; drive means coupled to the take-up spindle for causing the message tape to move in a forward direction at a relatively high speed; a second capstan drive means mounted in said apparatus on one side of the path of the tape in the message tape unit for driving the message tape in the message tape unit in the forward direction at a relatively low speed; a second pinch roller assembly mounted in said apparatus on the opposite side of the path of the tape in said message tape unit; second solenoid means mechanically coupled to said second pinch roller assembly for selectively moving said second pinch roller assembly toward the second capstan drive means to move the tape in said message tape unit into driving engagement with the second capstan drive means; a spring-biased plate movably mounted in said apparatus between a first position and a second position for supporting said second pinch roller assembly; electromagnetic transducer means mounted on said plate; and resilient means coupling said second solenoid means to said plate for enabling said second solenoid means selectively to move said plate from its first position to its second position to move said second pinch roller assembly and said electromagnetic transducer means into operating relationship with respect to the tape in said message tape unit; lever means attached to said plate to permit said plate to be pulled back manually to its first position thereby moving the second pinch roller assembly and the electromagnetic transducer means back from the tape in said message tape unit while the second solenoid means is energized to release said pinch roller assembly and to cause the message tape to move in the forward direction at a relatively high speed. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 11, and which includes a second plate slidably mounted in the housing adjacent said message tape unit and movable between a first and a second position; magnetic erase means mounted on the second plate; resilient means for normally biasing the second plate to its first position in which the magnetic erase means is displaced away from the tape in the message tape unit; and lever means coupled to the second plate for permitting the second plate to be moved manually from its first position to its second position against the force of the resilient means to bring the erase means into operating relationship with the tape in said message tape unit. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The telephone answering apparatus defined in claim 12, and which includes means preventing movement of said second plate when said second solenoid means is energized. .Iaddend.