Abstract: A telephone answering machine utilizing a single magnetic tape to record both outgoing announcements and incoming messages. Stop tones are recorded as audio frequency signals at fixed intervals on the tape to define successive announcement/message segments, each segment containing a desired announcement followed by an interval for recording an incoming message. The stop tones also control tape movement and cause the machine to stop at the end of each tape section.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine utilizing either a single magnetic tape containing alternating announcement and message sections, or separate announcement and message tapes. The tape or tapes have permanently affixed magnetic foil sections which are set to provide control signals for the various timing functions performed within the machine. The foil sections on the tape(s) switch the machine between record and playback functions, control the tape transport(s), and control the commencement and duration of the "beep" tone which follows the outgoing announcement.

Abstract: In a tape drive having a supply reel and a take-up reel, a drive mechanism for advancing and rewinding the tape includes a platform generally disposed between the reels. The platform is pivotally mounted for free pivotal movement in a plane between first and second positions. The rim of the take-up reel is spaced above the rim of the supply reel. A drive disc, rotatably mounted on the platform, is frictionally engaged with a shaft of a reversible motor. The drive disc includes concentric smaller and larger diameter discs spaced from each other along their axes and fixed to one another for simultaneous rotation. The larger diameter disc is disposed at the level of and is engageable only with the rim of the supply reel and the smaller diameter disc is disposed at the level of and is engageable only with the rim of the take-up reel. The position of the drive disc is determined by the direction of rotation of the motor shaft.

Abstract: A telephone answering apparatus has a forward drive time delay relay which causes a tape bearing a series of messages to advance for approximately 30 seconds subsequent to the reproduction of the last message in the series. The forward drive time delay relay cooperates with a recording amplifier so as to prevent recording of information on the advanced portion of the tape. The relay also cooperates with an erase circuit to cause recorded information on the advanced portion of tape to be erased to thereby create a no-signal or silent portions of tape. The advanced portions of the tape are detectable by a no-signal detector during rewind of the tape which automatically stops rewind when a no-signal portion is detected. A method is disclosed for generating silent portions on a tape and for automatically stopping rewind in a telephone answering apparatus at points, prior to complete rewind, where the no-signal portions are detected.