JPH0351146B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an answering machine that notifies the caller that the caller is away and simultaneously records an incoming message from the caller on a magnetic tape. In particular, when an incoming message recording section provided on the same recording track where a response message is recorded is filled with incoming message records, the device is automatically set as a response-only machine.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Conventionally, an answering machine that is connected to a telephone line operates in a so-called auto-answer mode, in which it sends a response message stating the requirements to the caller and automatically records the caller's requirements. Telephone equipment is used.

By the way, the conventional answering machine that operates in this auto-answer mode has two tape recorders, one for answering only and one for recording requirements, and the answering machine that operates in this auto-answer mode has two tape recorders, one for answering only and one for recording requirements. When a response message is received, the response-only tape recorder is set to playback mode, and a response message prerecorded on the magnetic tape to state the business is played back and sent to the caller, followed by the other party's requirement record. A dedicated tape recorder is configured to automatically record the caller's business.

As described above, the conventional auto-answer mode answering machine requires two tape recorders, one dedicated to answering and one dedicated to recording requirements, which not only increases the size of the device, but also makes it expensive. Also,
When the requirements for recording are satisfied on the magnetic tape of the tape cassette installed in the tape recorder dedicated for recording requirements, it is necessary to disable the reception of the line so that response playback will not be performed for future bell rings. The function as an answering machine will be lost. Therefore, if a user wants to remotely control this answering machine while away from home,
Even though the requirements records are met, this content cannot be known.

Additionally, answering machines that use only one tape recorder are used, but this type of device only sends a message to the caller notifying them that the caller is away. It functions only as a response-only machine that cannot record the requirements of other people.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the present invention uses only one tape recorder to send out a response message stating the requirements to the caller, and to operate in a so-called auto-answer mode in which the caller's requirements can be automatically recorded. None, and after the requirement recording section on the magnetic tape is filled with requirement records, it is configured so that it becomes a response-only machine that only informs the caller that the caller is away, thereby reducing the size of the device itself. At the same time, it is designed to achieve functional diversity.

Further, the present invention provides a first response message recording section in which a first response message notifying the requirement recordable state is recorded in advance, and a second response message recording section recording a second response message notifying only the absent state. By arranging the requirement recording section in which the incoming requirements are recorded on the same recording track formed along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, it is possible to In addition to making it possible to configure an answering machine, it also accepts calls as a response playback device even when the requirements recording section is full, making it possible to know the contents by remote control. It is something to do.

[Summary of the invention]

Therefore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a first response message recording section in which a first response message notifying the requirement recordable state is recorded in advance, and a second response message notifying only the absence state. A recorded second response message recording section and a requirement recording section in which incoming requirements are recorded are provided on the same recording track formed along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, and the requirement recording section has an area where requirements can be recorded. The magnetic tape is rewound to the starting end of the first recording section and stopped, and when it is detected that there is no longer a requirement recordable area in the requirement recording section, the magnetic tape is rewinded to the beginning of the first recording section and stopped. The tape is rewound and stopped at the beginning of the recording section.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic tape 1 used in the apparatus of the present invention has respective recording sections arranged in parallel in sequence on the same recording track formed along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 1. First, a no-signal recording section 3 is provided over a predetermined length section from a position where the magnetic tape 1 has traveled a predetermined distance from the starting end 2, and a cue recording section 3 is provided following the no-signal recording section 3.
A first response message is recorded via the cue signal recording unit 4 in which the cue signal is recorded, for example, a first response message informing that the requirements can be recorded, such as "I am currently out of the office, so please tell me your requirements." A recording section 5 is provided. Following this first response message recording section 5, a non-signal recording section 6 of a predetermined length is provided, as well as a queue signal recording section 7 in which a queue signal is recorded. ``I'm out of the office, so please call back in 3 hours.
A message recording section 8 is provided. Following this second message recording section 8, a requirement recording section 10 is provided on a magnetic tape in which requirements from a caller who receives a call to the telephone to which the device of the present invention is attached are recorded via a non-signal recording section 9 of a predetermined length. 1 in the longitudinal direction.
The requirement recording section 10 includes unit requirement recording sections 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ , . . . in which requirements are recorded over a predetermined unit time. These unit requirement recording parts 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ,
At each start end of ..., each unit requirement recording section 10 ₁ , 10
Queue signal recording sections 11 ₁ , _{11 2} , 11 _{3 .} . . recorded queue signals instructing _{2 ,} 10 ₃ , . . .
...There are non-signal recording sections 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ , 1 of a predetermined length in between.
2 ₃ ,... are provided.

[Reply message recording operation]

By the way, when the device of the present invention is connected to a predetermined telephone line and performs an answering function, the first and second magnetic tapes provided on the magnetic tape 1 are
The first and second response messages as described above are recorded in advance in the response message recording units 5 and 8, respectively, and the state in which these first and second response messages are recorded is shown in FIG. This will be explained with reference to the block circuit diagram of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

To record the first and second messages on the magnetic tape 1, a cassette tape is loaded into the tape loading section of the apparatus of the present invention, and the response recording switch 15 is turned on. When the response recording switch 15 is turned on, a response recording switch on signal is input to the system controller 16, and a rewind mode command output is output from the system controller 16.
The fast-forward and rewind operation modes are operated by operating the head board on which the recording and reproducing head 17 is attached to move it away from the running magnetic tape, and by holding the pinch roller apart from the capstan shaft to configure fast-forward and rewind operation modes. A drive output is input to a solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives a solenoid plunger 18 for rewinding, and a reel motor 20 that rotates the tape reel of the attached tape cassette is rotated in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape. A drive output is input to the reel motor drive circuit 21. Then, the solenoid plunger 18 for fast forwarding and rewinding is driven to put the device in the fast forwarding and rewinding mode of the magnetic tape, and the reel motor 20 is rotationally driven in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape to rewind the magnetic tape to its starting end. . When the start end of the magnetic tape is detected, the reel motor 20 is stopped, and the solenoid plunger 18 for fast forward and rewind modes that separates the head board etc. from the magnetic tape is deactivated, and the reel motor drive circuit 21 is turned off, the reel motor 20 is stopped, and the device is temporarily brought to a stopped state.

To detect the starting end of the magnetic tape, the reel motor 20 is driven to rotate in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, and a rotation detector 22 detects the number of rotations of the tape reel being rotated.
For example, when the counter display of the reel counter shows "0", it is set as the starting end of the magnetic tape, and when the counter display shows "0", the stopped state is established.

As described above, once the magnetic tape has been rewound to the beginning of the tape and brought to a halt, the system controller 16 outputs a fast-forward mode command output, and the solenoid drive circuit 19 drives the solenoid plunger 18 for fast-forward and rewind modes. The drive output is input to the reel motor drive circuit 25 which switches the switching circuit 24 and rotates the reel motor 20 in the fast forward direction of the magnetic tape, and the solenoid plunger 18 for fast forward and rewind modes is driven. Then, the apparatus is placed in a magnetic tape fast-forward and rewind operation mode, and the reel motor 20 is rotationally driven in the fast-forward direction of the magnetic tape, thereby performing a fast-forward operation on the magnetic tape. Then, the magnetic tape is fast-forwarded to the beginning of the response message recording section selected by the response message selection device 26. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 described above, data is recorded in order from the starting end 2 of the magnetic tape 1 to the first response message recording section 5 and the second response message recording section 8. Therefore, fast forwarding is performed until the tape reel is moved by the position corresponding to the starting end of the first response message recording section 5 to a point corresponding to the count number. The starting end position of the first response message recording section 5 is set by the count value of a tape counter set in advance, and the magnetic tape continues until the number of rotations of the tape reel detected by the rotation detector 22 matches the above-mentioned counter value. is fast-forwarded, the reel motor 20 is stopped here, and the operation of the fast-forwarding and rewinding solenoid plunger 18 is released.
The device is brought to a stopped state again.

Next, the response message selection device 26 selects either the first selection button 26a for selecting the first message recording section 5 or the second selection button 26b for selecting the second response message recording section 8. Depending on the situation, move on to the next step. Here, since the first select button 26a is selected in order to perform recording in the first response message recording section 5, the system controller 16 outputs the selection output of the first select button 26a. . When the selection output of the first select button 26a is output, the head board is largely pulled toward the running magnetic tape so that the recording/reproducing head 17 and erasing head 27 attached to this head board come into sliding contact with the magnetic tape. When the drive output is input to the solenoid drive circuit 29 which drives the forward plunger 28 which operates to press the pinch roller to the capstan shaft at the same time, the capstan drives the capstan motor 30 which rotationally drives the capstan. A drive output is input to the motor drive circuit 31, and a forward operation mode is entered in which the magnetic tape runs at a constant speed with the recording/reproducing head 17 and erasing head 27 in sliding contact with the magnetic tape. Furthermore, at the same time as the forward operation mode is entered, the switching circuit 33 for switching the bias oscillation circuit 32 is turned on, and the bias output is supplied to the erasing head 27 and the recording/playback head 17 to create a no-signal recording state, as shown in FIG. As shown, a predetermined section no-signal recording section 3 is formed on the starting end side of the magnetic tape 1. This no-signal recording section 3 is formed over a preset period, for example, until a predetermined number of tape reel count values detected by the rotation detection means 22 have elapsed. When the count value of the tape reel has passed a predetermined number, the no-signal recording ends, and at the same time, the cue signal generating circuit 34 is turned on and the recording is performed on the magnetic tape 1 via the recording and reproducing head 17 for 0.5 seconds, for example, as shown in FIG. The queue signal is recorded in the queue signal recording section 4 in the section corresponding to . After recording this cue signal, a recording pause command output is output from the system controller 16 and the solenoid plunger 18 for fast forwarding and rewinding is activated.
Turn on the solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives the
A recording pause state is established in which the head board is retreated from the magnetic tape and the pinch roller is separated from the capstan. In this recording pause state, the drive system for running the magnetic tape at a constant speed is separated from the magnetic tape, and the electric circuit system such as the bias oscillation circuit 32 is in the recording mode.

When the device of the present invention enters a recording pause state, a drive circuit 36 drives a display means 35 consisting of a light emitting element such as an LED that indicates that recording preparation is complete.
is turned on and the display means 35 lights up to notify the operator that recording preparation is complete. When the response recording switch 15 is turned on when the recording preparation complete state is displayed, a recording mode command output is output from the system control 16, the solenoid drive circuit 19 is turned off, and the fast forward and rewind solenoid plungers 18 are cut off. The pause state is released, the magnetic head board is pulled toward the magnetic tape, the recording/reproducing head 17 comes into sliding contact with the magnetic tape, and the pinch roller presses against the capstan to set the recording mode in which the magnetic tape runs at a constant speed. Subsequently, the drive circuit 36 is turned off and the display means 35, which indicates completion of recording preparation, is turned off. The bias oscillation circuit 32 remains on even after the recording preparation is completed until the response recording switch 15 is operated. Then, when the response recording switch 15 is turned on, the pause state is released, and the display means 35 indicating that recording preparation is completed goes out, power is supplied from the drive power supply 37 to the microphone 38 via the system controller 16. Messages can be recorded via . After the message can be recorded, the device is kept in a state where it does not receive any signals for, for example, two seconds, and after the two seconds have elapsed, the message is recorded. After this, microphone 38
When a response message such as "I'm currently out of town, please tell me your requirements" is injected to inform that the requirements corresponding to the first response message can be recorded, this first response message signal is transmitted to the microphone amplifier. 40 and a preamplifier 41, the signal is input to a recording/reproducing equalizer circuit 42 for frequency compensation, and is inputted via this recording/reproducing equalizer circuit 42 to a recording/reproducing head 17. recorded on magnetic tape. The first response message signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 at a position on the starting end side of the magnetic tape 1 as shown in FIG. 1, forming a first response message recording section 5. In addition,
During the recording of the first response message, the cue signal oscillation circuit 34 is in an on state, and the cue signal is also recorded.

After recording the first response message, when the response recording switch 15 is turned off, the cue signal transmission circuit 34 is also turned off, and the recording of the cue signal is completed, and then the recording of the first response message is finished. Become.

By the way, in consideration of sufficient time for transmitting information to the other party as an answering machine, even if the response recording switch 15 is not turned off, the cue signal transmission circuit 34 is turned off and the cue signal recording ends when 60 seconds have elapsed after the message was recorded. Then, the recording of the first response message is automatically completed.

Even during the recording of the first response message, the rotation speed of the tape reel is detected by the rotation detector 22, and the rotation speed of the tape reel is detected by the rotation detector 22, and the rotation speed of the tape reel is detected at the end position of the first response message recording section 5 at the end of the first response message. The reel count number is stored in the system controller 16.

In order to record the first response message that conveys that requirement recording is possible as described above, and then record the second response message that only conveys that you are away, the response message selection device 26 is used. , the second select button 26b corresponding to the second response message is selected. Here, when the response recording button 15 is turned on, the rewind mode command output is output from the system controller 16 and the head board to which the recording/playback head 17 is attached is activated, as in the case of recording the first response message described above. A solenoid drive for driving a fast-forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18 that operates to separate the pinch roller from the running magnetic tape and maintain the pinch roller apart from the capstan shaft to configure fast-forward and rewind operation modes. A drive output is input to the circuit 19, and is also input to a reel motor drive circuit 21 that rotates a reel motor 20, which rotates the tape reel of the attached tape cassette, in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape. Then, the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18 is driven to put the device in a magnetic tape fast-forward and rewind operation mode, and the reel motor 20 is rotationally driven in the magnetic tape rewind direction to rewind the magnetic tape to its starting end. return. When the start end of the magnetic tape is detected, the reel motor 20 is stopped, the fast forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18 for separating the head board etc. from the magnetic tape is released, and the motor drive circuit 21 is turned off. The reel motor 20 is then stopped, and the device is once brought to a stopped state.

To detect the start end of the magnetic tape, the reel motor 20 is driven to rotate in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, and a rotation detector 2 detects the number of rotations of the tape reel being rotated.
For example, when the counter display of the reel counter shows "0", it is set as the starting end of the magnetic tape, and when the counter display shows "0", the stopped state is established.

As described above, once the magnetic tape has been rewound to the beginning of the tape and once stopped, the system controller 16 outputs a fast forward command output, and the solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives the fast forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18 is driven. At the same time, the switching circuit 24 is switched to drive the reel motor drive circuit 25, operate the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18, put the device in fast-forward and rewind mode, and drive the reel motor 20 to rotate in the fast-forward direction of the magnetic tape. to fast forward the magnetic tape. Then, the rotation speed of the tape reel is detected by the rotation detector 22, and the device is fast-forwarded until it matches the count number corresponding to the starting end of the first response message recording section 5, and the device is brought to a stopped state again.

Next, the response message selection device 26 determines whether the first selection button 26a or the second selection button 26b is selected.
Here, since the second response message is recorded, the response message selection device 2
6, the second select button 26b is selected, the system controller 16 selects the second select button 26b.
The selection output of the select button 26b is output. When the selection output of the second select button 26b is output, the head board is largely pulled toward the running magnetic tape, so that the recording/reproducing head 19 comes into sliding contact with the magnetic tape, and the pinch roller is pressed against the capstan shaft. A capstan motor 30 rotates the capstan at the same time that a drive output is input to a solenoid drive circuit 29 that drives a forward plunger 28 that operates as shown in FIG.
A drive output is input to the capstan motor drive circuit 31 that drives the magnetic tape, and a playback mode is established in which the magnetic tape runs at a constant speed with the recording/playback head 17 in sliding contact with the magnetic tape. Then, the first response message recorded in the first response message recording section 5 is reproduced by the recording and reproduction head 17. The reproduction signal reproduced by the recording and reproduction head 17 is supplied to a reproduction output amplification circuit 43 via a recording and reproduction equalizer circuit 42, amplified by this amplifier circuit 43, and supplied to a speaker 44. Emitted as playback sound. Note that a volume adjustment volume 45 is provided between the recording/playback equalizer circuit 42 and the playback output amplification circuit 43 to adjust the playback volume.

When it is detected that the first response message recording section 5 has been reproduced to the end, the switching circuit 33 is turned on and the bias oscillation circuit 32 is turned on.
The bias output is then supplied to the erasing head 27 and the recording and reproducing head 17, resulting in a no-signal recording state. A non-signal recording section 6 is provided on the same track as the response message recording section 5.

By the way, in the first response message recording section 5, a cue signal is also recorded along with the first response message, and this cue signal is recorded over the entire section of the first response message recording section 5.
The first position is the position where this cue signal is no longer being played.
It is detected as the end of the response message recording unit 5.

The above-mentioned non-signal recording section 3 is also formed over a preset interval, for example, until the count value of the tape reel detected by the rotation detecting means 22 passes a predetermined number. When the no-signal recording ends when the count value of the tape reel has passed a predetermined number, the cue signal generating circuit 34 is turned on and the signal is transferred to the magnetic tape 1 via the recording and reproducing head 17 as shown in FIG. 1, for example.
A cue signal is recorded in the cue signal recording section 7 in an interval corresponding to 0.5 seconds. After recording this cue signal, the solenoid plunger 1 for fast forwarding and rewinding
The solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives the magnetic tape 8 is turned on, and the head board is moved back from the magnetic tape and the pinch roller is separated from the capstan, creating the same pause state as described above.

When the apparatus of the present invention enters the pause state, the display means 35 that indicates the completion of recording preparation lights up to notify the completion of recording preparation. When the response recording switch 15 is turned on when the recording preparation complete state is displayed, the pause state is canceled in the same way as described above, and the display means 35 that displays the recording preparation completion goes out, and the device of the present invention is able to record. mode, power is supplied from the drive power source 37 to the microphone 38, and the microphone 38 becomes ready to record a response message. After entering the state in which the response message can be recorded, it remains in a state in which it does not accept any signals for 2 seconds as described above, and after the 2 seconds have elapsed, the response message is recorded. Then, after 2 seconds have elapsed, if you speak into the microphone 38 a response message that only tells you that you are away, corresponding to the second response message, such as "I am currently out of the office, please call back in 3 hours." The second response message signal is input to the recording and reproduction head 17 via the microphone amplifier 40, preamplifier 41, and recording/reproduction equalizer circuit 42, as in the case of recording the first response message signal described above. recorded on magnetic tape via This second response message signal is on the same track as the first response message recording section 5, as shown in FIG.
are continuously recorded in the response message recording section 5 to form a second response message recording section 8. Even during the recording of this second response message, the cue signal oscillation circuit 34 remains on, and the cue signal is recorded together with the message.

When the response recording switch 15 is turned off after recording the second response message as described above, the cue signal oscillation circuit 34 is also turned off and the recording of the cue signal is completed, thereby ending the recording of the second message. Even when recording the second message, when 60 seconds have elapsed after the start of recording, the cue signal transmission circuit 34 is also turned off, automatically ending the recording of the second response message. become.

and a second response message recording the second response message.
The end position of the response message recording section 8 is also detected by counting the number of rotations of the tape reel detected by the rotation detector 22, as in the case of the first response message recording section 5 described above. The value is stored in the system controller 16 and the second
is stored as the end position of the message recording section 8. When the end position of the second response message recording section 8 is stored, the device is stopped,
Recording of the second response message ends.

[Vacation recording]

With the above-described operation, when the first response message informing the recordable state and the second response message informing only the absentee state are sequentially recorded on the same recording track of the magnetic tape, the predetermined telephone line is Connection to the device of the present invention to 50 or telephone 5
1, and by switching the disconnector 52 so that the device of the present invention is connected to the telephone line 50, the telephone 50 receives reception. When the above first or second
It is possible to convey the response message to the other party who is the caller, and to record the requirements from the caller.

The apparatus of the present invention is in a stopped state at the point where the first and second response messages have been recorded as described above.
In order to enter the absent recording state, the solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plungers 18 is turned on to operate the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plungers 18, thereby retracting the head board from the magnetic tape. At the same time, the pinch roller is moved away from the capstan to enter the fast forward and rewind operation mode, and the reel motor and motor drive circuit 21 are turned on to drive the reel motor 20 to rotate in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, and the magnetic tape is moved to its starting end. Rewind until

Then, when the starting edge of the magnetic tape is detected in the same manner as described above, the solenoid drive circuit 1
9 and the motor drive circuit 21 are turned off to bring the device into a stopped state. Once it is stopped,
A fast-forward mode command output is output from the system controller 16, and a drive output is input to the solenoid drive circuit 19 that drives the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18. At the same time, the switching circuit 24 is switched to move the reel motor 20 in the fast-forward direction of the magnetic tape. A drive output is input to the motor drive circuit 25 that rotates the magnetic tape, and the fast-forward and rewind solenoid plunger 18 is driven to put the device into a fast-forward and rewind operation mode and rotate the reel motor 20 in the fast-forward direction of the magnetic tape. drive to fast-forward the magnetic tape.

Then, the number of rotations of the tape reel is detected by the rotation detector 22 during the fast-forward operation of the magnetic tape, and when the tape reel has been rotated by an amount corresponding to the starting end of the first response message recording section 5, The solenoid drive circuit 19 and motor drive circuit 25 are turned off to stop the running of the magnetic tape and bring the device into a stopped state. When the starting end of the first response message recording section 5 is positioned in this way, the system controller 16 outputs a reproduction mode command output, and the device, which is in the stopped state, is placed in the reproduction mode. That is, the solenoid drive circuit 29 is turned on, the recording/reproducing plunger 28 is operated, the head board is largely drawn toward the magnetic tape, the recording/reproducing head 17 comes into sliding contact with the magnetic tape, and the pinch roller moves the capstan. After crimping, the capstan motor drive circuit 31 is turned on to set the reproduction mode in which the magnetic tape is run at a constant speed. Then, when the playback mode is entered, the first and second response messages recorded in the first and second response message recording sections 5 and 8 that have already been recorded are played back by the recording and playback head 17.
The sound is emitted as reproduced sound from the speaker 44 via the recording/reproduction equalizer circuit 42 and the reproduction output amplification circuit 42 . When it is detected that the second response message has been reproduced to the end of the second response message recording section 8 in which it is recorded, the capstan mode drive circuit 31 is turned off and the capstan mode 30 is stopped. Then, the running of the magnetic tape is stopped, the solenoid drive circuit 29 is turned off, the operation of the recording and reproducing plunger 28 is stopped, and the head board is pulled away from the magnetic tape, thereby bringing the device into a stopped state. .

By the way, the terminal end detection of the second response message recording section 8, which brings the device of the present invention into a stopped state, is performed by detecting the cue signal recorded together with the second response message, and is performed by detecting the cue signal recorded together with the second response message. This is done by detecting that the portion where only the cue signal is recorded is reproduced and the reproduction output level of the cue signal reaches its maximum value. Further, since the no-signal recording section 6 is provided in the section from the first response message recording section 5 to the second response message recording section 8, at least this no-signal recording section 6
The device is kept in the playback mode for a period of time sufficient to play back the queue signal, and the device stops only when the playback output of the queue signal is not detected within the above-mentioned interval. Therefore, after the second response message recording section 8 has been completely reproduced, it is stopped at the position where it enters the no-signal recording section for a predetermined period of time.

As described above, after the second response message recording section 8 is reproduced to the end and once stopped, the system controller 16 outputs a rewind mode command output, and the solenoid drive circuit 19 is turned on to operate the fast forward rewind solenoid. The plunger 18 is operated to retreat the head board from the magnetic tape and separate the pinch roller from the capstan to enter the fast forward and rewind operation modes, and further turns on the reel motor drive circuit 21 to move the reel motor 2
1 is rotated in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape is rewound to the starting position of the first response message recording section 5, and the device is brought to a halt. Then, the number of incoming calls counted by the incoming call counter 52 on the telephone line is detected to determine whether requirements can be recorded in the requirement recording section 10 of the magnetic tape 1 formed as shown in FIG. is performed by the system controller 16. In the device of the present invention, for example _, the unit requirement recording sections 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , . Once set, it is determined whether requirements can be recorded in the requirement recording section 10 depending on whether or not the incoming call counter 53 indicates 19 times. And the number of calls received is 19
If it is determined that the answer is not reached, it will function as an answering machine in auto-answer mode, sending a response message to the caller and making it possible to record requirements.

[Auto answer mode]

In the auto-answer mode, when a call is received on the telephone line 50 to which the device of the present invention is connected and a ringing is detected, the system controller 16 outputs a command to put the device of the present invention into a forward pause state. Enter forward pose state. In this forward pause state, only the solenoid drive circuit 29 is turned off, the recording/reproducing plunger 28 is operated, and the head board on which the recording/reproducing head 17 is attached is separated from the magnetic tape. 17 is separated from the magnetic tape and the pinch roller is separated from the capstan, the other drive systems are in the forward operation mode, the capstan mode drive circuit 31 is on, and the capstan motor 30
is in rotation. Note that the electrical system is placed in a regeneration mode in which the switching circuit 33 is turned off and the bias output from the bias oscillation circuit 32 is cut off. Subsequently, the relay 55 is closed and the connection switch 56 is turned on so that the playback output of the recording/playback head 17 is input to the telephone 51, and the capstan drive circuit 31 is turned on to enter the forward pause state. is released, the capstan motor 30 is driven to rotate, and the magnetic tape enters a reproduction mode in which it runs at a constant speed. Then, the first response message recording section 5, which has recorded the first response message informing that the required recording is possible on the magnetic tape 1, is reproduced by the recording/reproducing head 17, and the reproduced signal is transmitted to the preamplifier. 57, the signal is input to the telephone line 50 of the telephone 51 via the low frequency amplifier 58, high pass filter 59, and low frequency amplifier 60, and is sent to the sender. When it is detected that the first response message recording unit 5 has been reproduced to the end, a beep tone oscillation circuit 61 that oscillates a so-called beep tone, which is a message recording preparation sound, is turned on, and the oscillation circuit 61 outputs a beep tone. The beep tone signal is input to the preamplifier 41 on the microphone output line side, where it is amplified, and the playback output reproduced by the recording and playback head 17 is sent to the telephone 51.
The signal is input to the telephone set 51 and the telephone circuit 50 via a low frequency amplifier 60 provided in an input line input to the telephone 51 and transmitted to the caller.

Note that the first response message recording section 5 described above
The end of is determined when the number of revolutions of the tape reel detected by the reproducing line detector 22 matches the number of tape counters indicating the end position stored at the time of recording in the first response message recording section 5. even detected.

Next, the system controller 16 obtains the count output from the incoming call counter 53 and determines whether or not the incoming call that led to the reproduction of the first response message described above is the first incoming call. At this time, the forward mode setting solenoid drive circuit 29 and reel motor drive circuit 31, which were in operation, are turned off, the magnetic tape drive system is stopped, and the recording and playback head 17 starts electrical recording and playback. The system is brought to a stopped state when the device is in an OFF state. Next, the solenoid drive circuit 19 for forming a fast forward/rewind operation mode is turned on, the fast forward/rewind solenoid plunger 18 is operated, and the magnetic tape drive system is set to the fast forward/rewind operation mode, and the switching circuit 26 is switched. The reel motor drive circuit 26 is turned on and the reel motor 20 is rotated in the fast-forwarding direction of the magnetic tape to fast-forward the magnetic tape to the end of the second response message recording section 8. When the end of the second response message recording section 8 is detected, the device is stopped in the same manner as described above.

Note that, similarly to the detection of the end of the first response message recording section 5, the detection of the end of the second response message recording section 8 is based on the detected rotation speed of the tape reel by the rotation detector 22 and the recording of the second response message. The process is performed when the counted numbers of the tape reels stored at the time match.

Subsequently, the solenoid drive circuit 29 for forming the forward mode is turned on to operate the forward plunger 28 to put the magnetic tape drive system into the forward mode, and at the same time, the capstan motor drive circuit 31 is turned on to start the magnetic tape. pushtan motor 30
A muting circuit 62 and a switching circuit 6 for muting are provided in the input line from the telephone line 50 to the recording and reproducing head 17.
3 is turned on, the bias oscillation circuit 32 and the switching circuit 33 that operates this circuit 32 are turned on to create a no-signal recording state, and as shown in FIG. A non-signal recording section 12 ₁ having a predetermined length is formed between the recording sections 10 ₁ . When this no-signal recording is completed for a predetermined length, the muting circuit 62 and the sketching circuit 63 are turned off, and the no-signal recording ends.
The beep tone oscillation circuit 61 is also turned off and the beep tone oscillation stops, informing the sender that the preparation for recording the message is complete.

As described above, when muting in the recording mode is canceled, the mode enters the requirement recording mode, and the cue signal oscillation circuit 34 is turned on for a short time, for example, 0.5 seconds, and the next unit requirement is transmitted via the recording and playback head 17. A cue signal recording section 11 ₁ that records a cue signal indicating that there is recording to the recording section 10 ₁
will be established. Next, when the caller speaks the requirements to be conveyed to the receiver who is away from home through the caller's telephone, the requirement signal of the content of the requirements spoken by the caller is amplified by the preamplifier 41 provided on the microphone input side. The signal is inputted to a recording/reproducing equalizer circuit 42, and then inputted via this equalizer circuit 42 to a recording/reproducing head 17, where it is recorded onto a magnetic tape. The requirement recording time is set in advance, for example, 20 seconds, which is enough time for the caller to speak the requirements, and when 20 seconds have elapsed after requirement recording has started, the beep tone oscillation circuit 61 is turned on. A beep tone, for example, for 3 seconds, is sent to the caller through the telephone line 50 to inform the caller that the required recording time has expired, and then the relay 55 is opened and the connection switch 56 is turned off to disconnect the telephone line 50 and the connection state. Make it. Next, the system controller 16 stores the end position of the unit requirement recording section 10 ₁ in which the incoming requirement recording was recorded as the count number of the tape reel detected by the rotation detection means 22 .
Further, 1 is added to the number of incoming calls counted by the incoming call counter 53, and the device is brought to a halt state.

Next, the system controller 16 outputs a command to put the device of the present invention into the magnetic tape rewind mode, turns on the solenoid drive circuit 19, operates the plunger 18 for the fast forward/rewind mode, and puts the device into the fast forward/rewind mode. At the same time, the rewinding reel motor drive circuit 21 is turned on to rotate the reel motor 20 in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, thereby rewinding the magnetic tape 1 to the starting end of the first response message recording section 5. The device is brought to a halt state, and the number of incoming calls is detected from an incoming call counter 53, and if the number of incoming calls does not reach 19, the device is set as an answering machine in an auto-answer mode that enables recording of requirements as described above.

In this auto-answer mode, when a call is received on the telephone circuit 50 to which the device of the present invention is connected and a ringing is detected, the system controller 16 outputs a forward pause command output and the device operates as described above. It enters a forward pause state similar to that described above. Next, the relay 55 is closed and the connection switch 56 is turned on so that the playback output of the recording/playback head 17 is input to the telephone 51, and the solenoid drive circuit 29 is turned on.
is turned on, the recording and reproducing plunger 28 operates, the forward pause state is released, and the magnetic tape enters a reproducing mode in which the magnetic tape runs at a constant speed under the rotational driving force of the capstan motor 30. The first response message is then played back and sent to the sender.
When it is detected that the first response message has been reproduced to the end of the recorded first response message recording section 5, the beep tone oscillation circuit 61 is turned on and the beep tone is selected as the caller.

Next, the system controller 16 determines whether or not the incoming call that led to the reproduction of the first response message described above is the first time. The forward mode setting solenoid drive circuit 29 and reel motor drive circuit 31 are turned off, the magnetic tape drive system is stopped, and the electrical recording and playback system by the recording and playback head 17 is turned off. The device is brought to a stopped state. Next, the solenoid drive circuit 1 for forming the fast forward/rewind operation mode.
9 is turned on, the fast-forward/rewind solenoid plunger 18 is operated, and the magnetic tape drive system is set to the fast-forward/rewind operation mode, and the switching circuit 26 is switched to operate the reel motor drive circuit 2.
6 is turned on and the reel motor 20 is rotated in the fast-forwarding direction of the magnetic tape to fast-forward the magnetic tape to the end of the unit requirement recording section 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , etc. where requirement recording has already been made, and this end is detected. Then, the device is brought to a stopped state in the same manner as described above.

In addition, the unit requirement recording section 1 that has already recorded the requirements
0 ₁ , 10 ₂ , ... is detected by the rotation detector 22
This is done when the detected rotational speed of the tape reel matches the count number of the tape reel stored as the end of the previously recorded unit requirement recording section 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , . . . .

Next, the solenoid drive circuit 29 for forming the forward mode is turned on to operate the forward plunger 28 to put the magnetic tape drive system into the forward mode, and at the same time, the capstan motor drive circuit 31 is turned on to start the magnetic tape. pushtan motor 3
0 is rotated to feed the magnetic tape at a constant speed, the muting circuit 62 and the muting switching circuit 63 are turned on, and the bias oscillation circuit 32 and the switching circuit 33 that operates this circuit 32 are turned on to make a no-signal recording state. No signal recording sections 12 ₂ , 12 ₃ , . . . , 12 ₁₉ corresponding to a predetermined length, for example, one second are formed. After this no-signal recording is completed, the mutating circuit 62 and switching circuit 63 are turned off, and the beep tone generating circuit 61 is further turned off to notify the sender that the preparation for recording the message is complete.

This recording mode muting is canceled and
It enters the requirement recording mode, and the cue signal oscillation circuit 34
is turned on and the unit requirement recording section 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ,
..., 10 ₁₉ , the queue signal recording units 11 ₂ , 11 ₃ , which recorded the queue signal indicating that there is recording to 10 19 ,
..., 11 ₁₉ will be established. Next, the sender speaks the requirements to be conveyed to the recipient in the same manner as above, and the information is recorded on magnetic tape in the same manner as above. When the preset required recordable time has elapsed, the beep tone oscillation circuit 61 is turned on and a beep tone is sent to the caller through the telephone line 50 to inform the caller that the required recordable time has ended, and then the relay 55 is released. Then, the connection switch 56 is turned off to turn off the telephone line 50 and the connection state. Next, the system controller 16 stores the end position of the unit requirement recording section 10 ₁ in which the incoming requirement recording was recorded as the count number of the tape reel detected by the rotation detection means 22 . Furthermore, incoming call counter 53
1 is added to the number of incoming calls counted by , and the device is stopped.

Next, a rewind mode command output is output from the system controller 16, and the solenoid drive circuit 19 is turned on to move the fast forward rewind mode plunger 18.
The reel motor drive circuit 21 for rewinding is operated to put the device into fast forward rewinding mode.
is turned on, the reel motor 20 is driven to rotate in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape 1 is rewound to the starting end of the first response message recording section 5, the device of the present invention is stopped, and the number of incoming calls is recorded. If it is detected from the counter 53 that the number of incoming calls has not reached 19, the answering machine is set as an auto-answer mode answering machine capable of recording requirements as described above.

In the auto-answer mode as described above, the first response message informing that requirement recording is possible is sent and requirement recording is performed in the same manner as described above until there are 19 incoming calls, that is, the requirements recording section Repeat until it becomes impossible to record the requirements in 10.

[Response-only mode]

Then, in the incoming call determination, when it is detected that the incoming call has been received 19 times, that is, it is no longer possible to record the requirements, the device of the present invention starts to function as a response-only device. That is, when it is detected that 19 incoming calls have been received, the system controller 16 turns on the solenoid drive circuit 19 in response to this detection output, and operates the fast forward/rewind solenoid plunger 18 to retract the head board from the magnetic tape. At the same time, the pinch roller is separated from the capstan to enter the fast forward and rewind operation mode, and the reel motor drive circuit 21 is turned on to rotate the reel motor 21 in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape, causing the magnetic tape to move into the second response mode. Message recording section 8
The ring is rewound to the starting end position, and the position is stopped, and the next bell ring is on standby. Here, when an incoming call is received on the telephone circuit 50 to which the device of the present invention is connected and a ringing is detected, a command output is output from the system controller 16 to put the device of the present invention into a forward pause state. Nasu. As mentioned above, this forward pause state occurs when the magnetic tape drive system is in the forward operation mode and the capstan motor 3
0 is a stopped state. Note that the electrical system is placed in a reproduction mode in which the bias oscillation circuit 32 is turned off. Subsequently, the relay 55 is closed, the connection switch 56 is turned on, and the playback output of the recording/playback head 17 is inputted to the telephone 51, and the capstan drive circuit 31 is turned on to enter the forward pause state. is released, the capstan motor 30 is driven to rotate, and the magnetic tape enters a reproduction mode in which it runs at a constant speed. Then, the second response message recording section 8 in which a second response message notifying only the absence state of the magnetic tape 1 is recorded is reproduced by the recording/reproducing head 17.
The reproduced signal is transmitted to the preamplifier 57 and
Telephone line 5 of telephone 51 via low frequency amplifier 58, high pass filter 59, and low frequency amplifier 60
It is entered as 0 and sent to the sender.

When it is detected that the first response message recording section 5 has been reproduced to the end, the relay 55 is opened, the connection switch 56 is turned off, and the telephone 51 is disconnected. Note that the end of the second response message recording section 8 mentioned above is determined by the number of revolutions of the tape reel detected by the rotation detector 22 during reproduction and the end position stored at the time of recording in the second response message recording section 8. It is detected when the number matches the number of tape counters indicating the number of tapes.

Then, the relay 55 is opened and the connection switch 5
6 is turned off, the system controller 16 outputs a command to put the apparatus of the present invention into the magnetic tape rewind mode, and the solenoid drive circuit 19 is turned on to operate the plunger 18 for fast forward/rewind mode to perform fast forward/rewind. At the same time, the rewind reel motor drive circuit 21 is turned on and the reel motor 20 is rotated in the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape to rewind the magnetic tape 1 to the starting end of the second response message recording section 8. When the start end of the second response message recording section 8 is detected, a command is output from the system controller 16 to turn off the solenoid drive circuit 19 and the reel motor drive circuit 21, thereby bringing the apparatus of the present invention into a stopped state. In this stopped state, the starting end of the second response message recording section 8 is located at the beginning, and upon detection of the next bell ring, the second response message recording section 8 is immediately reproduced to send out the second response message. It is placed in a state where it functions as a response-only machine.

As mentioned above, after receiving 19 calls and it becomes impossible to record the requirements in the requirement recording section 10, only the second response message that only informs of the absence status is sent, and the response only message is sent. It will function as a machine.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The device of the present invention configured and operated as described above uses only one tape recorder to send out a response message stating the requirements to the caller and to automatically record the caller's requirements. At the same time as operating in auto-answer mode, once the requirement recording section on the magnetic tape is filled with requirement records, it will automatically function as a response-only machine that only informs the caller that you are away. Diversification of functions can be realized, and in particular, even when the number of incoming calls increases, it can function as an answering machine. And the above 2
Even if the tape recorder has two functions, only one tape recorder is required, so the device can be made more compact.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the first response message recording section, the second response message recording section, and the requirement recording section are provided on the same recording track formed along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. Since the magnetic head used in the tape recorder can be of a monaural type, the configuration of the tape recorder used can also be simple. Furthermore, if there is a bell ring after the requirements recording section is full, it will accept the line as a response playback device, and while playing the second response message that only informs you that you are away, you can use remote control from outside. becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a recording pattern of a magnetic tape used in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing the structure of the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the response message recording operation by the device of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the answering message setting operation in the answering recording mode, and FIG. 5 is the operation in the so-called auto answer mode. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operating state in a state in which it functions as a response-only machine. 1... Magnetic tape, 5... First response message recording section, 8... Second response message recording section,
10... Requirements recording section, 16... System controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first response message recording unit that has pre-recorded a first response message that informs that the requirements can be recorded, and a second response message recording unit that has recorded a second response message that only informs that you are not at home. A requirement recording section in which requirements are recorded is provided on the same recording track formed along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, and upon detecting the existence of a requirement recordable area in the requirement recording section, the magnetic tape is recorded on the first recording track. The magnetic tape is rewound to the beginning of the second recording section and stopped, and upon detecting that there is no longer a requirement recordable area in the requirement recording section, the magnetic tape is rewound to the beginning of the second recording section and stopped. Answering machine.