End of rewind detection in a telephone answering device having remote playout

摘要

This telephone answering device has facilities for the remote controlled playout of previously recorded incoming messages. In response to receipt of a coded signal, a cam control mechanism positions the message tape drive motor first to rewind the incoming message tape, and then to drive the tape forward for remote playout of the messages. The control mechanism is configured to sense whether the tape drive motor is correctly positioned at the beginning of an answering cycle. If not, the cam control mechanism is actuated quickly to correctly position the tape drive motor. Thus the answering device will operate properly even in the event that the cam control mechanism was left in an improper position during the previous answering or remote playout cycle, for example, as a result of a power interrupt during that cycle.PP Additionally, circuitry is disclosed for detecting the end-of-rewind of the incoming message tape by monitoring either (a) the audio signal produced by the playback head as the message tape is rewound, or (b) the brush noise of the message tape drive motor. An end-of-rewind signal is produced when the audio signal output or the brush noise terminates upon completion of rewind.