JPH0222586B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present application relates to an answering machine that can determine whether or not to automatically respond after determining the remaining amount of tape for reception.

When automatic answering recording is performed by alternately driving the answering tape (hereinafter referred to as T-1) and the receiving tape (hereinafter referred to as T-2) in a conventional answering machine, when the remaining capacity of T-2 is low. However, this device operates due to the incoming call, and even if T-2 turns after T-1, T-
2) A case may occur in which the desired message cannot be recorded. For this reason, some countries have established a rule that incoming calls will not be accepted if T-2 does not have 3 minutes remaining. However, this is too inconvenient, so when setting this device to the automatic position, we use the function in which T-1 always runs for one cycle, and move T-2 for a while while T-1 is running. There are some devices that allow the vehicle to run, detect the remaining amount of fuel, and issue an alarm if the remaining amount is low. However, in general commercially available answering machines, not all machines are designed to run a response tape and reproduce response terms when the operating switch is set to the automatic position. Rather, such devices are inconvenient because even if you set the machine to the ``away'' position in case of a sudden incoming call, you will not be able to answer the incoming call while the answering tape is spinning (that is, about 20 to 30 seconds). General commercially available machines are designed to automatically respond from the moment they are placed in the ``away'' position. In such a case, it is difficult to simultaneously turn T-2 while the response tape is running and detect the remaining amount during that time. Another problem is how far the receiving tape T-2 should be rotated to enable this detection.
The present application is an improvement on the conventional known examples as described above.

The first object of the present invention is to have a function of knowing the remaining amount of T-2 or issuing an alarm only when the answering machine is operated manually, and when the answering machine enters a so-called automatic standby state in which it can accept incoming calls. The object of the present invention is to provide a device that does not perform this function when the device is used.

A second object of the present invention is to save time for checking by performing the above detection while turning T-2 for only a few seconds. The structure of the present application and its operation will be explained in detail below.

In Figure 1, L1 and L2 are telephone lines, LT
1 is a line transformer, 1 is a so-called ringing amplifier that serves as a telephone incoming detection circuit that keeps the load relay Y-1 in operation when a ringing signal comes in when the E enable terminal is H and the R reset terminal is L. It is what you use. In addition, 2 is a relay Y when the ringing amplifier 1 detects a ringing signal.
This is a differential circuit that outputs one pulse when -1 is activated. Further, FF1 is a flip-flop circuit set by the output of the differentiating circuit 2. Further, TR-1 is a transistor that is turned on by the output of the above-mentioned FF1, and M1 is a motor that is energized when the above-mentioned TR-1 is turned on. Also, T-1 is the above M
CP-2 and CP-3 are contacts that are short-circuited by P-1. It's Paul. Also T-
A hole (not shown) is provided near the end of the electrode 1, and the spring-like electrode SP-1 and the contact pole CP-1 are short-circuited through the hole. Also, FF2 is the above SP-1 and CP-1
Flip-flop 3, which is set when FF2 is short-circuited, is a timer that operates when FF2 is set, and is used to set the recording time of a message from the caller to be recorded on receiving tape T-2, which will be described later. be. Also, RS-1 and RS-2 are rotary switches for switching the operation mode.
REC-1 is the recording position of the response term, CON is the confirmation position of the response term, AUTO is the automatic operation position,
PLAY is the playback position of the receiving tape, and STOP is the stop position when not in use. Also, TR-2 is above
A transistor that is turned on by the output of FF2 or the charge of capacitor C1, M2 is the above TR
This motor is energized when T-2 is turned on, and drives the receiving tape T-2. Further, 4 is a rotating magnet interlocked with the supply reel (not shown) of the above-mentioned T-2, and 5 is a reed switch or a semiconductor magnetic sensor that turns on and off according to the change in the polarity of the magnetic pole of the above-mentioned rotating magnet. When the contact changes from closed to open, one pulse is generated from capacitor C2. Also, IC-4 is terminal A
When a pulse is input to terminal B while C3 is low, C3
It is a re-trigger type mono multi that outputs a pulse according to the time constant of ×R6. Also, IC-5 is the above IC
This is a flip-flop that is set when the capacitor C4 is charged to a predetermined value by the output of -4. Further, 6 is a multivibrator that is driven when the IC-5 is set, and the LED is a light emitting diode that blinks by the output of 6. This device is constructed as described above and operates as described below.

First, to check the remaining amount of T-2, turn rotary switches RS-1 and RS-2 from the STOP position.
Suppose you switch to the AUTO position. At the STOP position, capacitor C1 is connected to the power supply + via RS-1.
Since the flip-flop IC-5 is charged to the potential of B and the flip-flop IC-5 is reset via RS-2, the multivibrator 6 is not driven, and therefore the light-emitting diode LED is turned off. but
When switched to AUTO, the reset of IC-5 is canceled, and the charge of the capacitor C1 turns on the transistor TR-2 via the inverter IC-2 and OR gate IC-3, and the motor M2 is turned on.
is driven for a check, for example, for 2 seconds until the charge on C1 is discharged. At the same time, this M
Since the receiving tape T-2 is driven at a steady speed in the direction of the arrow through the tape T-2, the rotating magnet rotates as the tape T-2 travels, and the reed switch 5 is repeatedly opened and closed. Generate the pulse shown in the figure,
This is terminal B of the retrigger type mono multi IC-4.
is input. When there is a large amount of tape remaining on T-2, the rotation of the supply reel (not shown) is slow, and the repetition interval of opening and closing of the reed switch 5 is large. As shown, the time interval between each pulse is large, and accordingly, the output of IC-4 becomes a pulse that repeats H and L as shown between t0 and t1 in the diagram. Therefore, while the output of IC-4 is H, the capacitor C4 is gradually charged through the resistor R7, but the charging voltage of C4 reaches a predetermined value (in Figure C).
Before reaching VL), the output of IC-4 becomes L and quickly discharges the charge of C4 through diode D2, making it impossible to set flip-flop IC-5. Therefore, the multivibrator 6 is not driven and the light emitting diode LED does not blink. However, when the remaining amount of T-2 is small, the above-mentioned supply reel (not shown) rotates faster, and the number of pulses in Figure A increases as shown between t1 and t2 in Figure 2. Then, as shown in the diagram below, the output of IC-4 is held at H level, so the charge of C4 reaches the predetermined value VL at point t2. At this time, flip-flop IC-5 is set, and its output is used to activate the multivibrator. 6 driving light emitting diode
By flashing the LED, a warning is displayed that the amount of tape remaining is small. Then, even if the user goes out, he finds that T-2 cannot accept the message. In this case, leave the rotary switches RS-1 and RS-2 in the AUTO position and use the operation switch (not shown) to turn the T-
All you have to do is turn 2 back. In addition, while checking the remaining amount of tape as described above, inverter IC-2
Since the output of the ringing amplifier 1 is L, the enable terminal E of the ringing amplifier 1 becomes L, so even if there is an incoming call during this period, it will not be accepted.

Next, when a call arrives after the above-mentioned tape remaining amount check is completed, the ringing signal is detected by ringing amplifier 1, keeps relay Y-1 in operation, and is sent via line transformer LT by contact y1-1. Since a loop is formed, the ringing signal stops ringing.
At the same time, the flip-flop FF is
1, and its output drives the response tape T-1 in the direction of the arrow via the motor M1.
At this point, the response words prerecorded in T-1 are reproduced and sent out, but the audio circuit is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. Now, T
-1 goes around once, and when the hole (not shown) provided near the end shorts the spring-like electrode SP-1 and contact pole CP-1, flip-flop FF2 is set, and the OR gate IC is connected from its output. Transistor TR through 2 and 3 of -3
-2 is turned on and the motor M2 is driven to drive the receiving tape T-2 at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow. At the same time, the timer 3 is driven via the Q output of the FF2.
This timer sets the running time of T-2 above. On the other hand, after T-2 started running, the above-mentioned T
When the conductor foil P-1 on T-1 shorts contact poles CP-2 and CP-3 about 1 second after the hole on T-1 passes through SP-1 and CP-1, the above-mentioned FF1
is reset and the running of the response tape T-1 is stopped. Next, when the timer 3 times off after 30 seconds, for example, the ringing amplifier 1 is reset via the reset terminal R, and the relay Y-1 is restored. At this time, the above-mentioned FF2 is also reset via the inverter IC-1, so the running of T-2 is stopped and the device is completely restored to the standby state. During the above operation, that is, when a call is received from a third party, the re-trigger type IC-4 is activated by the output of the inverter IC-2.
Since terminal A of is H, even if a pulse is input to terminal B as described above, IC-4 does not work.

As described above, the present application is applicable to a machine that drives a response tape each time the device is put into an automatic answering state, as in the conventional known example, and can also be used to immediately receive a call by operating a switch to the automatic answering position. Even if the machine is ready to answer calls, it will finish detecting the remaining part of T-2 and automatically answer, that is, accept incoming calls, approximately 2 to 3 seconds after the device is moved from the stop position to the automatic position. Since the time of about 3 seconds is the time it takes for the doorbell to ring once, it is of no practical use to turn on the power and be ready to answer an incoming call immediately after the doorbell rings. This eliminates the above-mentioned problem, and the amount of running of the receiving tape to check the remaining amount of the receiving tape is reduced, so that the receiving tape is not wasted. Additionally, an alarm circuit that detects the interval between pulses generated by the running of the receiving tape and issues an alarm when the interval exceeds a set value is activated only for a short period of time to detect the remaining amount of the receiving tape. Therefore, it can be said that the wear and tear of the electronic components of the alarm circuit is small, and its practical effects are great.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the circuit of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a diagram illustrating the waveform of the signal at the marked location in the figure.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An answering machine that automatically answers when an incoming call is detected by an incoming call detection circuit and records a message from a caller on a receiving tape, comprising: a supply reel of the receiving tape; A circuit that generates pulses according to the rotation, an alarm circuit that detects the interval between the above pulses and issues an alarm when the interval exceeds a set value, and an output that outputs a predetermined time when the operating switch of the answering machine is set to the automatic answering position. and a circuit that outputs an output for a predetermined period of time, drives the receiving tape while the circuit outputs the output for a predetermined period of time, activates the alarm circuit, and deactivates the incoming call detection circuit. An answering machine that automatically answers after determining the amount of tape remaining.