Lanier Business Products, Inc.

Lanier Electronic Laboratories, Inc.

Lanier Electronic Laboratory, Inc.

Fred C Bolick, Jr

Theodore Titus, Iv

Said Mohammadioun

Julius B Bagley

Luther C Plunkett, Jr

Theodore Titus Iv

Ronald F Fleming

A dictating and transcribing system includes a cartridge carrying a plurality of individual recording media, such as tape cassettes, and a means for selectively positioning the cartridge with respect to a record/listen transducer to place any one of the recording media in a recording position. Automatic access and re-access to any of the recording media may be obtained during dictation or transcription without manual handling of individual recording media. The cartridge is preferably rotatably driven about its center and slidably receives the recording media in locations radially disposed about the center of the cartridge.

Dictation recording and transcribing system utilizing a multiple media

Apparatus for interfacing a plurality of telephone trunks with a record playback apparatus carrying a plurality of recording media which may be selectively engaged with a transport. The particular recording medium engaged with the transport is determined by the particular one of the plurality of trunks upon which an incoming call is received. One embodiment provides to the calling party a particular recording medium for the remote recording of dictation. A second embodiment provides a particular prerecorded message in response to the particular trunk upon which the incoming call is received and records incoming messages on a common recording medium.

Telephone answering machine with apparatus for selecting particular

A cassette, apparatus, and method for obtaining selected segments of magnetic tape for storage or other purposes from a length of magnetic tape upon which information is recorded by a conventional cassette recorder. The cassette has means for removing a take-up reel and a selected segment of the magnetic tape attached to the take-up reel from the cassette while at the same time retaining the supply reel in operational position within the cassette. The apparatus includes means for positioning a second take-up reel relative to the cassette; tape positioning means for positioning a selected segment of the tape in a clamping position between the second take-up reel and a finger extending from the take-up reel, and means for clamping the segment of tape to the second take-up reel. The method comprises steps of removing a take-up reel and an attached selected segment of magnetic tape from a cassette with a leader segment between the selected segment of the magnetic tape and a remaining segment of the magnetic tape attached to the supply reel, securing a new take-up reel to the leader segment of the magnetic tape, severing the selected segment of tape, and placing the new take-up reel and leader segment in operative position within the cassette.

Tape cassette with housing providing selective removal of only one tape

A system for recording or transcribing dictation including means for selectively placing any one of a plurality of recording media, such as tape cassettes, in a position for recording or transcribing dictation on the media, a means for displaying parameters of the dictation recorded on the particular medium in the recording or transcribing position, a means for storing the parameters of dictation on said medium when it is removed from the recording or transcribing position, and a means for again displaying the stored parameters when said medium is returned to the recording or transcribing position. Disclosed embodiments of the storage and display means include a mechanical means, an electrical means utilizing a separate memory for each recording medium, and an electrical means utilizing an addressable memory having particular memory locations for each recording medium.

Dictation recording and transcribing method and apparatus including

A cassette, apparatus, and method for obtaining selected segments of magnetic tape for storage or other purposes from a length of magnetic tape upon which information is recorded by a conventional cassette recorder. The cassette has means for removing a take-up reel and a selected segment of the magnetic tape attached to the take-up reel from the casette while at the same time retaining the supply reel in operational position within the cassette. The apparatus includes means for positioning a second take-up reel relative to the cassette; tape positioning means for positioning a selected segment of the tape in a clamping position between the second take-up reel and a finger extending from the take-up reel, and means for clamping the segment of tape to the second take-up reel. The method comprises steps of removing a take-up reel and an attached selected segment of magnetic tape from a cassette with a leader segment between the selected segment of the magnetic tape and a remaining segment of the magnetic tape attached to the supply reel, securing a new take-up reel to the leader segment of the magnetic tape, severing the selected segment of tape, and placing the new take-up reel and leader segment in operative position within the cassette.

Cassette apparatus and method for retaining selected segments of tape

A cassette substitution apparatus for use with a cassette central dictation recording system. Messages are recorded on interchangeable record members such as conventional tape cassettes. Apparatus is provided for detecting a condition of only a predetermined amount of recording time remaining on a cassette. Substitution of a second cassette for the first cassette then takes place a predetermined amount of time after detection of this condition independently of whether the dictator attempts to operate the recorder subsequent to detection of the predetermined amount of remaining tape.

Cassette substitution apparatus

A central dictation system for recording dictation or other messages. The messages are recorded on interchangeable record members such as conventional recording tape cassettes, and the present system is operable to substitute a new cassette for a cassette containing one or more recorded messages, either upon receipt of a signal indicating termination of message recording or upon the occurrence of certain other events. A signal is provided when only a predetermined amount of recording time remains on a cassette, notifying the user that substitution of a new cassette will occur after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Another signal is provided during the cassette substitution cycle to prevent message dictation until the new cassette is positioned to receive dictation. The cassette central dictation system of the present invention is usable in combination with one or more dictate stations and in conjunction with a system including another central message recording apparatus, and circuitry is provided to enable priority selection of the cassette central dictation system.

Cassette central dictation system

Dictation system including a dictation recording and transcribing unit which utilizes two discrete recording media for recording a first dictated message on one recording medium at the same time that a previously recorded second message can be transcribed from the other recording medium. Each of the two recording media, which are tape cassettes in the disclosed embodiment, is manipulated by separate and independent medium-handling devices within the dictation unit. The dictation unit, which is intended to be located at a transcribing location and interconnected with one or more remotely-located dictate stations, includes the audio and control functions necessary for recording dictation and for transcribing previously-recorded dictation, and these audio and control functions can be interchanged between either of the two recording media. Transfer of the dictating and transcribing functions between the two recording media is accomplished by a single control, and safeguards are provided to prevent transcriber interference with the audio or control functions of the selected recording medium on which dictation is being currently recorded. The system allows the dictator to record selected information signals along with the audio messages being recorded on a selected recording medium, and playback of previously-recorded information signals provides operational control determined by the recording or transcribing function which is selected for the particular recording medium.

Dictation recording and transcribing system utilizing selectable dual

Cassette changer or the like

A dictation-transcription method and system in which dictated material and indexing signals are simultaneously or alternately recorded on the same recording medium and in which the indexing signals are subsequently used for providing indexing information for use in the transcribing of the dictated material. The system includes a dictate control by which dictated material and indexing signals are simultaneously or alternately recorded on the same recording medium during the dictating of the dictated material, a recording medium having recorded thereon both dictated material and indexing signals, and a transcribe control which provides an indexing mode of operation of the system during which the indexing signals are used to provide indexing information in visible, audible or some other form and a transcribing mode of operation of the system during which the dictated material is transcribed utilizing the indexing information. The method includes the steps of simultaneously or alternately recording dictated material and indexing signals on the same recording medium, subsequently providing indexing information in response to the indexing signals recorded on the recording medium, and transcribing the dictated material using the indexing information. Both the method and the system also provide for the use of indexing signals in controlling functions such as forward reset during dictating and scanning for instructions prior to or during transcribing.

Dictation-transcription method and system

Dictate station apparatus for use with a multiple number of remotely situated dictation recording machines. The dictate station apparatus is selectively manually switchable for connection with any of the recording machines, so that a dictated message can be transmitted to a selected recording machine from the dictate station. When a control member at the dictate station is operated by termination of desired message dictation, the previously actuated recorder switch is automatically released so that a manual selection of a recording machine must again be made before a subsequent dictation operation can be initiated. Release of a previously actuated recorder selection switch may be accomplished in response to hang-up of a hook switch associated with the dictate station.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Fred C Bolick, Jr