Automatic telephone responding and recording system

Claim 1

An automatic telephone responding and recording system comprising a call receiving terminal for connection to the call signal channel of a telephone, a conversation terminal for connection to the conversation channel of said telephone, a call signal processing channel including an amplifier having an input and an output, connections between said input and said call receiving terminal, a first magnetic recording tape having a prerecorded outgoing message and at least one stop mark thereon, a second magnetic recording tape for recording incoming messages, a reproducing channel including a magnetic head for reproducing said pre-recorded message, a magnetic recording channel including a magnetic recording head cooperating with said second magnetic recording tape, relay means connected to the output of said call signal processing channel and operable in response to a call to switch said amplifier to connect the input thereof to said magnetic reproducing channel and the output to said conversation terminal and to the input of a second amplifier in said magnetic recording channel, magnetic tape driving means including a single capstan interconnected with said relay means and activated upon receipt of a call to drive both magnetic tapes, sensing means cooperating with said first magnetic tape and activated by said stop mark to stop said driving means and reset said relay, and housing means carrying said magnetic tapes for transport in substantially coplanar relationship.