Abstract: A drive mechanism for a magnetic tape recorder which uses a single reversible electric motor that drives the magnetic tape in the recorder in the forward direction through a pinch roller-capstan drive assembly, and which automatically disengages the pinch roller from the capstan so that the tape may be rewound at high speed when the motor is reversed.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine which includes a speakerphone feature to enable the user to converse directly with a calling party through the machine. A microphone and a speaker are included in the machine together with interconnecting circuitry which may be activated by the user upon the receipt of a telephone call to enable the user to communicate with the calling party through the machine instead of having the calling party record his message on the machine in response to a recorded announcement.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the magnetic tape units of a telephone answering machine of the type which utilizes a continuous loop cassette magnetic tape unit on which an announcement message is recorded for transmission to a calling party during an initial time interval (T.sub.1), and which also includes a C-60 type cassette magnetic tape unit in which the tape is drawn from a supply reel to a take-up reel in order to record the message from the calling party during a subsequent message recording interval (T.sub.2). In the mechanism of the invention, a single reversible electric motor and a centrifugal gear drive are used to drive the announcement tape unit when the motor turns in one direction and to drive the message tape unit when the motor turns in the opposite direction. A simple manual control allows the message tape unit to be driven at increased speed in the forward direction during a fastforward operation and at the increased speed in the reverse direction during a rewind operation.

Abstract: An adapter circuit and system for coupling a telephone answering machine to two telephone lines. The adapter may be set so that the telephone answering machine will answer one or the other of the telephone lines, as determined by setting a mode selector switch to an "automatic" position; so that the telephone answering machine will answer only one of the telephone lines as determined by setting the mode selector switch to a "Line #1" position, or so that the telephone answering machine will answer only the other of the telephone lines by setting the mode selector switch to the "Line #2" position.

Abstract: Recording apparatus which may be in the form of a telephone answering machine which responds to ring signals received over a telephone line to answer a call and proceed through its normal answer sequence. A modem is connected to the apparatus, and if at any time during the answer sequence a data signal carrier is detected by the modem indicating the presence of data signals, a control signal is introduced to the apparatus to disable the internal VOX circuitry which does not respond to data signals, so as to enable the apparatus to continue to record the data signals for so long as the data signal carrier is detected. When the data signal carrier is no longer detected, the apparatus switches back to its normal mode.