Automatic answering telephone set

Claim 2

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising, in combination: an endlEss answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; switch means for controlling the amount of recording tape available for recording a caller''s message; cam means for actuating said switch means; normally disengaged clutch means for engaging said cam means with said screw means when said clutch means is engaged; and means for engaging said clutch means when said set is in a receiving mode for receiving a message from a caller.

Claim 3

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; waveform shaping means for converting a call signal transmitted to said telephone set into a rectangular pulse signal; charging and discharging circuit means charged with said rectangular pulse signal and discharged when the charge potential reaches a predetermined potential level; and a Schmitt circuit triggered by an output signal of said charging and discharge circuit means, wherein the answering operation of said telephone set is started by an output signal from said Schmitt circuit.

Claim 4

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; waveform shaping means for converting a call signal transmitted to said telephone set into a rectangular pulse signal; charging and discharging circuit means charged with said rectangular pulse signal and discharged when the charge potential reaches a predetermined potential level; and a Schmitt circuit triggered by an output signal of said charging and discharge circuit means, wherein the answering operation of said telephone set is started by an output signal from said Schmitt circuit.

Claim 5

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising, in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; a bistable multivibrator including two transistors; first and second transistors connected with the output terminals of said two transistors, respectively, an output terminal of said first transistor being connected in series with an input terminal of said second transistor; said driving source being connected acrosS the output terminals of said two transistors comprising said bistable multivibrator, the direction of rotation of said driving source being controlled by said first transistor.

Claim 6

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising, in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; a bistable multivibrator including two transistors; first and second transistors connected with the output terminals of said two transistors, respectively, an output terminal of said first transistor being connected in series with an input terminal of said second transistor; said driving source being connected acrosS the output terminals of said two transistors comprising said bistable multivibrator, the direction of rotation of said driving source being controlled by said first transistor.

Claim 7

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; detecting means for detecting the movement of said magnetic head means into an end position adjacent one end portion of said recording tape; and cut-off means engaging said detecting means for cutting off power to said driving source means in response to the detection of said end position by said detecting means.

Claim 8

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means; detecting means for detecting the movement of said magnetic head means into an end position adjacent one end portion of said recording tape; and cut-off means engaging said detecting means for cutting off power to said driving source means in response to the detection of said end position by said detecting means.

Claim 9

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 4, wherein: said detecting means includes a member integrally fixed on said magnetic head means; and said cut-off means includes switch means actuated by said member when said magnetic head means is in said end position.

Claim 10

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising, in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively, said capstans having different diameters; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; and magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means.

Claim 11

An automatic answering telephone set, comprising, in combination: an endless answering tape recorded with an answering message for transmission to a caller upon detection by said telephone set of a call signal; an endless recording tape having a plurality of tracks across the width thereof for recording a caller''s message; a driving roller and at least one guide roller, said recording tape being supported on and tensioned by said driving and guide rollers; two coaxial capstans for driving said answering and recording tapes, respectively, said capstans having different diameters; driving source means for driving said capstans; selecting means for selectively moving said capstans into driving engagement with one of said answering and recording tapes; screw means engaging said driving roller; and magnetic head means engaging said screw means and movable transversely across the width of said recording tape according to the rotation of said screw means.

Claim 12

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising a sliding shaft in parallel to said screw means, a supporting member being slidably mounted on said sliding shaft, and a pawl that is rotatably supported on said supporting member and is normally engaged with a grooved provided on said screw means by a spring force, wherein said magnetic head means becomes free to be moved transversely across the width of said recording tape when said pawl is disengaged with said groove by turning of the same against said spring force.

Claim 13

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising a main body, a common base plate which is removably fitted to said main body, a head arm to mount said magnetic head means so as to be contacted with said recording magnetic tape by a spring force, and said head arm and said capstans being mounted on said main body, said driving roller and guide roller for supporting said recording tape being mounted on said common base.

Claim 14

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising a conversation recording circuit which is connected with an office line and arranged for its operation by means of holding up of a receiver and a key operation, a conversation reproducing circuit which is arranged for its operation by means of a key operation, an answering message recording circuit which is arranged for its operation by means of a key operation and a connection between a microphone plug and a microphone jack, and an answering message reproducing circuit which is arranged for its operation by means of a key operation and a disconnection between said microphone plug and said microphone jack.

Claim 15

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising a protecting means for preventing said set from taking a step of responding to said call signal and recording a caller''s message when the remaining capacity of said recording tape is less than the capacity for recording one caller''s message.

Claim 16

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 10, comprising a first switch having an actuator, and a cal detecting circuit for detecting said call signal transmitted through an office line, said call detecting circuit being isolated from said automatic answering operation by means of said actuator pressed by a pushing member integrally mounted on said magnetic head means which is faced to the remaining portion of said recording tape.

Claim 17

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising an opening provided on said answering tape, a guide pin which is provided with a first groove having almost the same width as the width of said answering tape, and with a second groove having a width narrower than the width of said answering tape at the center portion of said first groove, a lever which is engaged with said second groove when said answering tape is moved to a position where said opening is opposite to said second groove and a switch which is controlled by the operation of said lever, said switch being arranged so as to detect that said answering tape is moved by a predetermined rotation and to stop the driving of said answering tape.

Claim 18

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 12, wherein said answering tape is contained in a cartridge having a pinch roller and an opening for receiving said lever and said magnetic head means when said cartridge is removably fitted into said telephone set.

Claim 19

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising three recording tracks provided on said answering tape which are recorded with respective different answering messages, a member supporting said magnetic head means and being movable in an axial direction, and a cam having a plurality of cam faces which have the respective face levels different from each other, the end of said supporting member being urged to be abutted to one of said cam faces by a spring, said magnetic head means being moved transversely across the driving direction of said answering tape thereby to be opposite to one of said tracks which is determined according to said cam face to be engaged with said end of said supporting member.

Claim 20

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 14, in which at least one of said tracks is recorded with a message for informing the caller of no caller''s message recording and switch for preventing said set from recording of the caller''s message is interlocked with the rotation of said cam when said magnetic head means is opposite to said one track.

Claim 21

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, in which a member commonly supporting said two capstans is fixed to a capstan arm which is turnable in both directions and forced in one direction by a spring force, a plunger of an electromagnet being connected with said capstan arm, and said capstan for the recording tape contacts to the end portion of said driving roller in accordance with the turning of said capstan arm by said spring force when said electromagnet is de-energized, and said capstan for the answering tape contacts a pinch roller against said spring force by means of said plunger when said electromagnet is energized.

Claim 22

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 16, Wherein said set includes a rocking lever and at least three keys for the automatic answering, the caller''s message reproducing and the conversation recording respectively, said rocking lever being moved downwards so that the turning of said capstan arm is not restricted by said rocking lever when anyone of said keys is pushed, said rocking lever being moved upwards so that the turning of said capstan arm by a spring force is restricted thereby to prevent said capstan for the wide tape from contacting with said driving roller when none of said keys is pushed.

Claim 23

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, comprising a means to stop the driving of said answering tape after one rotation thereof and a means to lock a lock release lever so that the automatic answering operation is not changed to other operation during said operation.

Claim 24

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 18, comprising an electromagnet for moving a capstan, a slide lever provided with a notch to be normally engaged with a projection of said lock release lever, said slide lever being moved by an actuation of said electromagnet, and said slide lever being moved to a position where said projection cannot be engaged with said notch when said capstan contacts with a pinch roller.

Claim 25

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 6, further comprising a rotor engagable with said driving roller, wherein said screw means engage said driving roller through said rotor.

Claim 26

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 20, comprising a first detecting means that produces a detecting signal each one rotation of said recording tape, a second detecting means that produces a control signal when said rotor is turned by a predetermined rotation which rotates said screw means through one revolution and a means by which said driving roller and said rotor are engaged according to said detecting signal and disengaged according to said control signal.

Claim 27

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 21, in which said recording tape is provided with an opening and said first detecting means includes a first switch having an operating lever, said switch being normally opened, and said detecting signal being produced according to the closing of said switch when said operating lever is inserted into said opening.

Claim 28

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 21, in which said rotor is mounted on a rocking arm which is normally forced by a spring force so as to make said rotor engaged with said driving roller, but is moved against said spring force by energizing of an electromagnet and the engagement between said rotor and said driving roller is controlled by said electromagnet which is energized according to said detecting signal and de-energized according to said control signal.

Claim 29

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 21, in which said screw means in provided with a fan-shaped cam at one end portion thereof and said second detecting means comprises a second switch, said control signal being produced when aid second switch is actuated by means of said fan-shaped cam.

Claim 30

An automatic answering telephone set according to claim 24, wherein said telephone set includes a clutch mechanism comprising a transmitting member and a receiving member, a projection which is provided on one of said members, a concave portion engaged with said projection is provided on the other of said members, projection being engaged with said portion for actuating said clutch mechanism when said second switch is actuated by said fan-shaped cam which is moved by the rotation of said screw, the telephone set being arranged to operate the automatic answering operation after said clutch mechanism is actuated.