US3833186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone answering device
Assignee: Data Time Inc
•
Filing: 1972-11-24
•
Granted: 1974-09-03
•
Expires: 1992-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A direct coupled telephone answering device having an announcement deck for recording and reproducing an announcement in response to an incoming call and a message deck for recording and reproducing incoming messages. Forward and reverse tape motion for both decks is provided by a single flywheel and a simple system of drive belts. All rotating reels are mounted for free rotation on fixed spindles. Hubs in these wheels, which preferably are formed of plastic, comprise bearings which ride on such spindles, promoting uniform bearing wear even with substantial side-loading on the wheels. A single syllabic detector coupled to an announcement time-out circuit and a message time-out circuit provides control signals for various switching functions at predetermined time periods after termination of the announcement and message, thus affording a broad variable timing cycle for both the announcement deck and the message deck. Circuitry is provided for individually varying the durations of the time periods.
Inventors
- 👤 K Catto
- 👤 H Burt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/6515
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
In a tape reproducing apparatus having a tape supply reel and a tape take-up reel, a power driven means for driving said supply and take-up reels in the forward and reverse tape directions, said last-named means comprising a flywheel, means including a first drive belt reeved about a first portion of said flywheel for rotating said flywheel in a single direction, a yieldable forward coupling means including a rotatable cylindrical member and a friction clutch for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said take-up reel to rotate said take-up reel in said forward tape direction, a second drive belt reeved about a second portion of said flywheel and a portion of said forward coupling means, a normally engaged take-up reel braking means for applyinG a braking force to said take-up reel, means for disengaging said braking means, a normally disengaged reverse coupling means for rotating said supply reel in said reverse tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said yieldable forward coupling means, means for engaging said reverse coupling means with said first drive belt, a fast forward assembly comprising a rotatable pressure roller engageable with a portion of the surface of both said cylindrical member and said take-up reel, and actuating means for engaging said pressure roller with said surface portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a tape reproducing apparatus having a tape supply reel and a tape take-up reel, a power driven means for driving said supply and take-up reels in the forward and reverse tape directions, said last-named means comprising a flywheel, means including a first drive belt reeved about a first portion of said flywheel for rotating said flywheel in a single direction, a yieldable forward coupling means including a rotatable cylindrical member and a friction clutch for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said take-up reel to rotate said take-up reel in said forward tape direction, a second drive belt reeved about a second portion of said flywheel and a portion of said forward coupling means, a normally engaged take-up reel braking means for applyinG a braking force to said take-up reel, means for disengaging said braking means, a normally disengaged reverse coupling means for rotating said supply reel in said reverse tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said yieldable forward coupling means, means for engaging said reverse coupling means with said first drive belt, a fast forward assembly comprising a rotatable pressure roller engageable with a portion of the surface of both said cylindrical member and said take-up reel, and actuating means for engaging said pressure roller with said surface portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
293 words
In a tape reproducing apparatus having first and second tape decks, each set of tape decks including a supply reel and a take-up reel, a power driven means for individually driving each of said supply and take-up reels of said decks in both the forward and reverse tape directions, said power driving means comprising a flywheel, means including a first drive belt reeved about a first portion of said flywheel for rotating said flywheel in a single direction, a first yieldable coupling means for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said first take-up reel to rotate said first take-up reel in said forward tape direction, a second drive belt reeved about a second portion of said flywheel and a portion of said first yieldable coupling means, a normally engaged braking means for applying a braking force to said first take-up reel, means for disengaging said braking means, a normally disengaged reverse tape coupling means for rotating said first supply reel in said reverse tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said first yieldable coupling means, means for engaging said reverse coupling means with said first drive belt, a second yieldable coupling means for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said second supply reel for rotating said second reel in said reverse tape direction, a third drive belt reeved about a third portion of said flywheel and a portion of said second yieldable coupling means, a normally disengaged forward coupling means for rotating said second take-up reel in said forward tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said second yieldable coupling means, and means for engaging said forward coupling means with said flywheel, said second yieldable coupling means providing bias tension for said tape when said forward coupling means is engaged with said flywheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
293 words
In a tape reproducing apparatus having first and second tape decks, each set of tape decks including a supply reel and a take-up reel, a power driven means for individually driving each of said supply and take-up reels of said decks in both the forward and reverse tape directions, said power driving means comprising a flywheel, means including a first drive belt reeved about a first portion of said flywheel for rotating said flywheel in a single direction, a first yieldable coupling means for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said first take-up reel to rotate said first take-up reel in said forward tape direction, a second drive belt reeved about a second portion of said flywheel and a portion of said first yieldable coupling means, a normally engaged braking means for applying a braking force to said first take-up reel, means for disengaging said braking means, a normally disengaged reverse tape coupling means for rotating said first supply reel in said reverse tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said first yieldable coupling means, means for engaging said reverse coupling means with said first drive belt, a second yieldable coupling means for rotatively coupling said flywheel to said second supply reel for rotating said second reel in said reverse tape direction, a third drive belt reeved about a third portion of said flywheel and a portion of said second yieldable coupling means, a normally disengaged forward coupling means for rotating said second take-up reel in said forward tape direction with a force sufficient to overcome said second yieldable coupling means, and means for engaging said forward coupling means with said flywheel, said second yieldable coupling means providing bias tension for said tape when said forward coupling means is engaged with said flywheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said portion of said first and second yieldable coupling means each comprises a rotatable cylindrical member, and said first and second yieldable coupling means each includes a friction clutch for coupling motion of said cylindrical member to the reel associated thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical member of each of said first and second yieldable coupling means and the reel associated thereto, said first supply reel, and said second take-up reel are each rotatably disposed on a separate fixed spindle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3133711A
Cited
US3288386A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |