CN112672722B

CN112672722B - Massaging machine

Info

Publication number: CN112672722B
Application number: CN201980059139.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安部田章; 桑畑广幸
Original assignee: Fuji Medical Instruments Mfg Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Medical Instruments Mfg Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-13
Filing date: 2019-07-08
Publication date: 2023-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-08
Also published as: CN112672722A; WO2020013136A1

Abstract

The invention provides a massage machine, which can instruct a user to change the posture of the user, so that the user can perform different massage from the massage performed before the posture change without a mechanism for enabling the user to perform physical activities. An instruction unit (45) for giving first instruction information including instruction content for changing the posture of a user to be massaged is provided, and when the user changes the posture based on the first instruction information, if massage is performed on a massage target portion including a predetermined body portion or the vicinity of the predetermined body portion in a state different from the previous posture, the influence of the massage on the predetermined body portion is changed from the influence of the massage in a state in which the posture is not changed, so that the user can give a stimulus as a new massage different from the conventional massage, and can efficiently perform the massage, and further, the alleviation of muscle stiffness and the like by the massage can be promoted.

Description

Massaging machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a massage machine for massaging a user by operating a massage mechanism such as a kneading ball while supporting the body of the user.

Background

A massage machine that performs massage while supporting the body of a user generally has the following configuration: for a user supported by the massage machine in a predetermined normal posture for receiving the massage of the massage mechanism such as the kneading ball and the air bag, the massage mechanism is operated to perform the massage on the massage target portion of the user.

In such a massage machine, the following techniques have been proposed: when a massage mechanism such as a kneading ball is pressed against a massage target portion or the like to perform a massage, or immediately before such a massage is performed, a body position is changed by pressing a body of a user with a pressing mechanism that is not involved in the massage in a standby state or is completely different from the massage mechanism other than the massage mechanism that actually performs the massage, and the massage is performed by the kneading ball or the like in a state in which the body position is changed, thereby performing a massage that is substantially different from a state in which the body position is not changed.

As an example of such a conventional massage machine, there is a massage machine disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open publication No. 2016-120350.

In addition, the following proposals have been made in the massage machine: when a massage mechanism such as a kneading ball is pressed against a massage target portion or the like to perform massage, a user is instructed by sound or the like to guide the breathing action of the user, and as a result of the guidance, the breathing performed at a predetermined cycle is associated with the massage.

As an example of such a conventional other massage machine, there is a massage machine disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open publication 2016-73613.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication 2016-120350

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication 2016-73613

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The conventional massage machine has a structure as described in patent document 1, and the size of the mechanism for pressing the body of the user to move is limited by the size of the mechanism accommodated in the backrest, so that the range of movement by the pressing is small. Accordingly, the following problems exist: the body supported by the massage machine cannot be moved greatly by such a mechanism, and a large body position change corresponding to a change in the massage effect applied to the body cannot be generated.

In addition, when a mechanism part dedicated to the body pressing for changing the body position of the user is used instead of another massage mechanism which is not related to the massage to be performed, there is a problem that the cost of the massage machine increases due to the increase of the mechanism related to the massage.

On the other hand, in the conventional other massage machine shown in patent document 2, the respiratory guidance is performed by the respiratory guidance unit, and the person to be treated breathes in accordance with the respiratory guidance by outputting sounds of exhalation and inhalation in synchronization with the reference breath, so that the actual breath of the person to be treated coincides with the cycle of the reference breath, and on the other hand, a relatively large load is applied to the person to be treated by the treatment unit at the time of exhalation of the reference breath, and a relatively small load is applied to the person to be treated at the time of inhalation, so that effective treatment can be performed in relation to the breath.

However, the following problems exist, because whether the user actually performs breathing according to the instruction is not particularly checked, or the like: if the user does not breathe at the instructed timing, the intended effect cannot be obtained even if the massage is performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine that, when performing a massage, gives an instruction to a user to cause physical activity such as a posture change using an instruction unit, and the user itself causes physical activity such as a posture change, thereby enabling a massage different from a massage performed by a user supported by the massage machine in a normal posture to be performed accurately and safely without requiring a complicated and large-scale mechanism for causing physical activity of the user.

Means for solving the problems

The massage machine according to the present invention includes one or a plurality of massage mechanisms that move by a predetermined drive source, and performs massage on a user by the massage mechanisms while supporting the body of the user, wherein the massage machine includes: a control unit for controlling an operation state of the massage mechanism; and an instruction unit that gives first instruction information to a user who receives the massage of the massage mechanism at a predetermined timing, the first instruction information including content for instructing to move at least a part of the body of the user to change the posture.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the instruction unit is provided for giving the first instruction information including the instruction content for changing the posture of the user to be massaged, and when the user changes the posture based on the first instruction information, if the massage is performed on the massage target portion including the predetermined body portion or the vicinity of the predetermined body portion in a state different from the previous posture, the influence of the massage on the predetermined body portion is changed compared with the influence of the massage on the same massage target portion in the case where the body is assumed to be in the state in which the posture is not changed, whereby the stimulation is given to the predetermined body portion or the vicinity thereof as a new massage different from the conventional massage performed in the state in which the posture of the user is not changed, and the massage can be efficiently performed, and further, the muscle stiffness, the alleviation of pain, the fatigue recovery, and the like by the massage can be further promoted. Further, the user itself can perform the physical activity in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information to the user, and the necessary and sufficient posture change can be realized, so that it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for performing the physical activity of the user in the massage machine in order to obtain such a posture change of the user, and the cost associated with the realization of the posture change of the user in the massage machine can be suppressed.

Further, according to the massage machine of the present invention, when the instruction unit issues the first instruction information, the control unit controls the massage mechanism to perform a predetermined massage on the assumption that the user changes the posture in accordance with the instruction included in the first instruction information, and the predetermined massage corresponds to a specific posture after the posture of the user is predicted to be changed in accordance with the instruction.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, when the instruction unit issues the first instruction information, the massage mechanism is caused to perform the massage corresponding to the predicted specific posture under the control of the control unit, and when the user takes the specific posture in accordance with the instruction, the massage is performed on the body of the user differently from the massage performed in the state where the posture is not changed, whereby the massage in which the path, speed, strength, and the like of the massage are appropriately adjusted in accordance with the specific posture after the posture change is performed on the predetermined part of the body of the user, whereby it is possible to impart a specific massage effect which is not obtained at all in the state where the posture is not changed, and further it is possible to greatly improve the effect given to the body of the massage to thereby improve the satisfaction of the user, and to make the execution of the massage on the body more efficient, and also to shorten the entire massage time as the case where the process is performed.

Further, according to the massage machine of the present invention, the instruction unit may issue first instruction information to a user who receives the massage by the massage mechanism, the first instruction information including information to instruct the user to change the posture of the user to move at least a part of the body or to continue moving at least a part of the body, the massage machine may include a confirmation unit which can determine whether the user has changed the posture in response to the instruction from the instruction unit and has assumed a specific posture after the posture is changed or whether the user is performing a specific operation to continue moving at least a part of the body in response to the instruction from the instruction unit, and the control unit may control the massage mechanism to perform the massage when the confirmation unit has grasped that the user has assumed the specific posture or performed the specific operation after the instruction unit issues the first instruction information.

In this way, according to the present disclosure, an instruction unit is provided for giving first instruction information including instruction contents for changing the posture of the user or for continuing the body to move to the user to be massaged, and a confirmation unit is provided for distinguishing whether or not the user has taken a state of a specific posture in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit or a state of a specific motion for continuing at least a part of the body to move in accordance with an instruction, the first instruction information is given from the instruction unit to the user, and the confirmation unit is provided for grasping that the user has taken a state of a specific posture or a state of a specific motion in accordance with an instruction from the instruction information, whereby, when massage is performed on a massage target part including a predetermined part of the body of the user having a state of a posture different from the previous posture or a vicinity of the predetermined part of the body, the massage has an influence on the predetermined part of the body that is changed compared with the influence of massage at the same target part of the same massage assuming that the body has not changed posture or not continued to move, the massage can be further reduced in response to the state of a user's body, and the massage can be further reduced in the state of a user's pain or the like. Further, by performing the massage when the confirmation unit has grasped that the user has moved his or her body accurately as indicated by the indication information, the massage can be performed accurately at the desired position of the body, and the massage effect can be reliably obtained, and adverse effects on the body due to the massage can be prevented when the user has not moved his or her body as indicated.

Further, according to the massage machine of the present invention, the control unit controls the confirmation unit to perform a predetermined massage corresponding to the specific posture or the specific action of the user by the massage mechanism, as needed, for a predetermined part of the body or the vicinity of the part that changes with the posture change of the user to the specific posture or the execution of the specific action of the user from the time when the confirmation unit recognizes the state in which the specific posture is taken or the state in which the specific action is performed by the user or from a predetermined time after the recognition.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, when the confirmation unit grasps the state in which the user takes the specific posture or the state in which the specific action is performed, the control unit causes the massage mechanism to perform the massage corresponding to the specific posture or the specific action of the user, and performs the massage on the body of the user different from the massage performed in the state in which the specific posture is not taken or the state in which the specific action is not performed, thereby performing the massage on the predetermined portion of the body of the user or the vicinity thereof, and appropriately adjusting the route, the speed, the intensity, and the like of the massage corresponding to the specific posture or the specific action, thereby enabling to impart a specific massage effect which is not obtained at all in the state in which the specific posture is not taken or the state in which the specific action is not performed, and further enabling to greatly enhance the effect on the body of the massage to enhance the user satisfaction, and enabling to perform the massage on the body more efficiently, and enabling to shorten the entire massage time in the case in which the massage is performed as a process.

Further, according to the massage machine of the present invention, the instruction unit issues second instruction information including contents for instructing to cancel the specific posture after the posture change of the user, as necessary.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the second instruction information including the content for instructing to cancel the specific posture of the user is transmitted from the instruction unit, and the user returns to the original posture from the state in which the posture is changed, whereby the user can be accurately notified of the end of the massage performed in the state in which the posture is changed by using the second instruction information, and can be restored to the posture before the specific posture at an appropriate timing, and a series of massages including the case of receiving the massage in the original posture can be accurately performed on the body of the user, and the massage effect can be reasonably and reliably given.

In the massage machine according to the present invention, the instruction unit may issue third instruction information including a content instructing a user to answer an evaluation of the effect of the massage performed by the user after the first instruction information is issued, if necessary, and the control unit may acquire information related to an answer by the user in response to the instruction of the third instruction information.

In this way, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the third instruction information is issued from the instruction unit to instruct the user to answer the user's evaluation of the effect of the massage received by the user after the first instruction information is issued from the instruction unit, and on the other hand, in the control unit, the information issued by the user according to the third instruction information can be acquired, and the control unit can grasp how the effect of the massage performed by the user is evaluated, whereby in the case where the massage is actually performed on the premise that the user performs the posture change according to the instruction of the first instruction information, the control unit can grasp whether the effect of the massage performed corresponds to the user's desire based on the information issued by the user, and can make a judgment such as setting, combination change, etc. of the entire massage in consideration of the evaluation of the user itself, for example, whether the massage performed with the posture change of the user can be performed after the judgment, and further the massage according to the user can be set and performed.

In the massage machine according to the present invention, the instruction unit may issue information related to the content of the predetermined massage to the user, which is executed based on the control of the control unit from the time of issuing the first instruction information, before issuing the first instruction information to the user, if necessary.

In this way, according to the disclosure of the present invention, before the first instruction information for changing the posture of the user is sent from the instruction unit, the content of the predetermined massage to be performed with respect to the body of the user after the posture change in the case where the posture of the user is changed in accordance with the instruction information is sent from the instruction unit, so that the user knows in advance the content of the massage to be performed thereafter, and in this state, the instruction information corresponding to the massage can be received, whereby the user understands the content of the massage and recognizes that it is necessary to recognize the posture change based on the instruction information, and the user can be prompted to make the user produce the actual action of actively changing the posture from the normal posture, and further, the posture change of the user can be reasonably and reliably made to impart the massage effect appropriately.

Further, according to the massage machine of the present invention, if the first instruction information is given to the user by the instruction unit, the position of one or more predetermined parts of the massage machine that support the body of the user is adjusted so as to promote the physical activity related to the posture change of the user according to the instruction of the first instruction information.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, when the first instruction information is transmitted from the instruction unit, the position of the predetermined portion of the massage machine that supports the body of the user is adjusted so as to correspond in advance to the posture change performed by the user based on the first instruction information, and when the user changes the posture according to the instruction of the first instruction information, each portion after the position adjustment does not obstruct the physical activity of the user, and guides the user to smoothly perform the physical activity, thereby being capable of appropriately assisting the activity related to the posture change performed by the user based on the instruction information, and being capable of smoothly moving the user from the normal posture to the posture after the posture change, and being capable of reducing the burden on the user, and ensuring the relaxation effect that does not impair the massage.

The massage machine according to the present invention includes an auxiliary support portion, as necessary, which is disposed at a predetermined position of the massage machine and which is brought into contact with a part of the body after the exercise to assist in maintaining the posture in a state where the posture of the user is changed in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the auxiliary instruction unit provided in the massage machine plays a role of supporting a part of a body that moves during posture change of a user when the user changes the posture in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information, and thus, when the user maintains the posture after the posture change, the burden on the user can be greatly reduced, the user can easily maintain the posture after the posture change, and the user can reliably perform the pre-planned massage on the body after the posture change, thereby enabling the desired massage effect to be appropriately generated.

In the massage machine according to the present invention, the instruction unit outputs the instruction information as information that can be directly received by the sense organ of the user as a stimulus, if necessary.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the instruction unit that gives instruction information to the user outputs the instruction information as a sound, a video display, or the like that can be received directly by the sense organ of the user as a stimulus, and the user directly receives the instruction included in the instruction information and directly understands the instruction content, and performs an action according to the instruction, whereby the user does not need to prepare for acquiring information, and can simply acquire information, and by directly transmitting the instruction to the user itself, without omission of transmission of the instruction, the user can be prompted to reliably exercise the user as instructed, for example, in the case of outputting the first instruction information, the instruction is explicitly transmitted to the user, and the user is moved to a posture suitable for massage, and can perform a pre-planned massage on the body after the posture change, and thus can appropriately impart a massage effect.

The massage machine according to the present invention outputs the instruction information as information receivable by a communication terminal having a transmission means capable of transmitting information to a user, and carried by the user or worn on the body of the user, if necessary.

In this way, according to the disclosure of the present invention, the instruction unit for transmitting the instruction information to the user outputs the instruction information received as the communication data by the communication terminal carried by the user or worn by the user's body, and the transmission means of the communication terminal transmits the instruction included in the instruction information to the user in the form of sound, video display, or the like, so that the user can understand the instruction content and perform the action according to the instruction, whereby the user can take the communication terminal owned in advance for transmitting the instruction information, and the information output means in the form that can be directly received by the user is not required to be provided on the massage machine side, and the structure of the massage machine can be simplified. Further, by transmitting the instruction included in the instruction information only to the user via the communication terminal, the user can be ensured to reasonably receive the instruction, and the sound, light, or the like is not accidentally diffused around the massage machine, so that it is possible to prevent discomfort from being given to people other than the user around the massage machine.

The disclosed massage machine of the present invention is provided with one or a plurality of massage mechanisms that move by a predetermined drive source, and performs massage on a user by the massage mechanisms while supporting the body of the user, and comprises: a control unit for controlling an operation state of the massage mechanism; and an instruction unit configured to issue first instruction information to a user who receives a massage by the massage mechanism, the first instruction information including information instructing to change a posture of the user from a normal posture or to continue the movement of the user to the at least one part of the body, wherein the control unit is configured to control the massage mechanism to perform the massage when a state in which the user is supposed to take a specific posture after the posture is changed according to the instruction from the instruction unit or a state in which the user is instructed to perform a specific movement of the user to continue the movement of the at least one part of the body is acquired from outside after the instruction unit issues the first instruction information to the user.

In this way, according to the present disclosure, the instruction unit is provided for giving the first instruction information including the instruction content for changing the posture of the user or for continuing the movement of the body to the user to be massaged, the first instruction information is given from the instruction unit to the user, and the external confirmation unit recognizes and recognizes the state in which the user has made the specific posture in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit or the state in which the user has made the specific movement for continuing the movement of at least a part of the body in accordance with the instruction, and the control unit acquires the information of the content recognized as the state from the external confirmation unit, and if the massage is performed on the massage target portion including the predetermined portion of the body of the user or the vicinity of the predetermined portion of the body, which is made different from the previous posture by the user, the influence of the massage on the predetermined portion of the body is changed as compared with the influence of the massage at the same massage target portion in the case where the body is assumed to be in the state in which the posture is not changed or the movement is not continued, whereby the massage can be further reduced by further giving the massage with the soft feeling and the soft feeling, and the soft feeling of the user can be further massaged. Further, by performing the massage when the control unit acquires information indicating that the user has accurately moved the body as indicated by the indication information, the predetermined massage can be accurately performed at the desired position of the body, and the massage effect can be reliably obtained, and adverse effects on the body due to the massage can be prevented when the user has not moved the body as indicated.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front side of the mechanical unit in the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the back side of the mechanical unit in the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of a state in which the protruding amount of the kneading balls of the mechanical unit is small in the massage machine of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of a state in which the protruding amount of the kneading balls of the mechanical unit is large in the massage machine of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of a state in which first instruction information is output from the instruction unit in the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the backrest and the leg support for causing the posture of the user to change in the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory view of a posture changing process of a user on the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view of a state in which a user on the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention moves to a specific posture.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view of the contact state of the backrest portions in the normal posture and the specific posture of the user in the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory view of a state in which massage is performed in the massage machine of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a block diagram of a massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of a state in which first instruction information is output from the instruction unit in the massage machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the backrest and the leg support for causing the posture of the user to change in the massage machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory view of a posture changing process of a user in the massage machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory view of a state in which a user on the massage machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention moves to a specific posture.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory view of a state in which massage is performed on a user who takes a specific posture in the massage machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is an explanatory view of a state in which specific massage is performed based on a change in posture of a user in the first specific example of the massage machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is an explanatory view of a state in which specific massage is performed based on a change in posture of a user in the second specific example of the massage machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is an explanatory view of a state in which the arm airbag massage is performed in a normal posture and a specific posture of the user in the third specific example of the massage machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 is an explanatory view of a state in which first instruction information is output from the instruction unit and information is transmitted from the communication terminal to the user in the massage machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is an explanatory view of a state in which a user on the massage machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention moves to a specific posture.

Fig. 25 is an explanatory view of a state in which a user using another communication terminal moves to a specific posture in the massage machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 26 is an explanatory view of a state in which first instruction information is output from the instruction unit in the massage machine according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 27 is an explanatory view of a state in which massage is performed on a user who performs a specific operation in the massage machine according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment of the invention)

A massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 12. In this embodiment, an example of a massage machine called a massage chair (chair-like) that massages a seated user while supporting the same will be described.

In each of the above figures, the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment is configured to include: a base portion 11 that is placed on the ground and stably supports the entire chair; a seat 12 that supports the buttocks of the user above the base 11; a backrest 13 for supporting the back of the user on the rear side of the seat 12; a armrest 14 for supporting the elbow and forearm of the user on both sides of the seat 12; a leg support 15 for supporting the user's leg on the front side of the seat 12; an operation unit 30 that receives various operation inputs from a user related to massage; a control unit 40 for controlling the operation states of the plurality of mounted massage mechanisms; and an instruction unit 45 that audibly emits predetermined instruction information including content to be instructed to the user.

In the massage machine of the present embodiment, the user mainly receives massage in a normal posture in which the user sits with his buttocks supported on the seat 12, his back supported on the backrest 13, his elbow and forearm supported on the armrest 14, and his legs and feet supported on the leg support 15. However, the user can also receive a specific massage in a state (specific posture) in which a part of the body is moved to change the posture from the normal posture. In this case, the instruction unit 45 is configured to issue instruction information indicating that the posture is changed from the normal posture to the user before the massage.

The base portion 11 integrally includes and supports the seat portion 12, the backrest portion 13, the armrest portion 14, and the leg support portion 15, which constitute each portion of the chair. The seat 12 is attached to the base 11 so as to be able to adjust the inclination angle of the seat surface, and performs massage by a built-in massage mechanism while supporting the buttocks and thigh of the user with the seat surface. The massage mechanism for the seat 12 is configured to include a hip air bag 71 and a thigh air bag 72 that operate by air supply and exhaust. An air pump 70 for operating the air bag by supplying and discharging air is disposed in a space below the seat 12.

The backrest 13 is configured to have a surface shape conforming to the shape of the back of a person, and is disposed so as to be capable of adjusting an inclination angle with respect to the base 11 and the seat 12, and includes a massaging mechanism for performing massaging inside thereof.

The backrest 13 is configured such that: a mechanical unit 50 integrally formed with a pair of left and right kneading balls 51 and a driving portion 60 for operating the kneading balls; a frame-shaped back frame 13a that supports the mechanical unit 50 so as to be movable in the up-down direction of the back 13 and supports each part of the back from the inside; and a back air bag 73 and a waist air bag 74, which are operated by the supply and discharge of air by the air pump 70. The mechanical unit 50, the back air bag 73, and the waist air bag 74 constitute massage mechanisms for performing massage, respectively.

Further, a pair of side wall portions are provided to protrude from both left and right side portions of the backrest portion 13, and massage means such as an air bag is provided on the inner surface side of the pair of side wall portions facing the user, so that the upper arm portion and the like of the user can be massaged from the side.

The backrest frame 13a has a substantially ladder-shaped frame structure in which a plurality of transverse frames are integrally connected in a transverse direction between a pair of right and left guide frames 13b that support the machine unit 50 so that the machine unit 50 can move in the up-down direction of the backrest 13 and restrict movement in other directions.

The mechanical unit 50 includes: a pair of left and right kneading balls 51 for giving a user a stimulus such as kneading and knocking; a pair of left and right kneading ball support arms 52 for supporting the kneading balls 51 in a protruding state; a driving unit 60 for moving the kneading ball 51 via the kneading ball support arm 52 in response to a massage operation such as kneading or knocking; and a base portion 54 that supports the driving portion 60 so as to be tiltable about an axis line in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction of the backrest portion.

The driving unit 60 includes: a kneading motor 63 for generating a driving force for kneading the kneading balls 51 based on the control of the control unit 40; a striking motor 64 for generating a driving force for striking the kneading balls 51 based on the control of the control unit 40; and a kneading mechanism and a knocking mechanism (not shown) that convert the rotational motion outputted from the motors into a motion corresponding to kneading and knocking, respectively, and transmit such motion to the kneading ball 51 via the kneading ball support arm 52, and the driving unit 60 is the same mechanism as that used in a known massage machine, and therefore a detailed description thereof is omitted.

Further, the kneading mechanism causes the kneading ball support arm 52 to continuously swing by the rotation of the kneading motor 63 generated based on the control of the control section 40. The kneading ball 51 mounted on one end portion of the kneading ball support arm 52 swings up and down, left and right, and back and forth while drawing a continuous track along with the movement of the kneading ball support arm 52, thereby enabling the kneading massage.

The striking mechanism swings the kneading ball support arm 52 about a predetermined position by rotation of the striking motor 64, and the kneading ball 51 at one end of the arm swings back and forth (reciprocates) due to the swing of the kneading ball support arm 52, thereby realizing striking massage.

The base portion 54 supports the driving portion 60 so as to be tiltable, and is configured to include: a lifting motor 57 that generates a driving force for lifting the mechanical unit based on the control of the control unit 40; and a forward and backward movement motor 58 that generates a driving force for tilting the driving unit 60 based on the control of the control unit 40.

The machine unit 50 is configured such that the side end portions of the base portion 54 are supported by the pair of guide frames 13b so as to be movable up and down, respectively, to be placed in a state of being sandwiched by the guide frames 13b, whereby the machine unit 50 as a whole can be moved along the guide frames 13 b. Then, under the control of the control unit 40, the lifting motor 57 is operated to move the base portion 54 on the guide frame 13b, so that the entire machine unit 50 including the base portion 54 moves in the up-down direction of the backrest portion 13 along the guide frame 13b, and the position of the kneading balls 51 (the massage target portion by which the kneading balls are kneaded) in the backrest portion 13 can be changed up and down.

The mechanical unit 50 is moved in the up-down direction of the backrest 13 as described above by the control of the control unit 40 according to the set massage content, and adjusts the up-down position of the kneading ball 51, and adjusts the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 toward the user by tilting of the kneading ball 51 and the driving unit 60 caused by the operation of the advance/retreat motor 58.

When performing the kneading and knocking massage, after the movement and position adjustment of the kneading ball 51 to the target portion to be massaged, or in parallel with the movement of the kneading ball 51, the control unit 40 operates the motor for kneading and knocking of the driving unit 60 in the mechanical unit 50 according to the kind of massage, and causes the kneading ball 51 to perform a movement corresponding to the set massage such as kneading and knocking.

The armrest 14 is disposed on both sides of the seat 12, and moves forward and backward in response to tilting of the backrest 13 relative to the base 11 and the seat 12, so that the user's forearm can be stably supported. An arm air bag 75 that operates by supplying and discharging air by the air pump 70 is disposed in the armrest 14, and can massage the hand and forearm of the user.

When the arm bladder 75 is used for massaging the armrest 14, the user's forearm and hand are placed on the armrest 14 in a state where the thumb side of the forearm and the thumb side of the hand face up and the palm (palm) faces left and right, and this is a normal posture of the forearm and the hand.

The leg support 15 is disposed on the front side of the seat 12 so as to be tiltable around the vicinity of the front end of the seat 12, and the inclination angle thereof is adjusted by an actuator (not shown) on the lower side of the seat. The leg support 15 incorporates a leg air bag 76 as a massaging mechanism for the lower knee portion of the leg and a foot side air bag 77 as a massaging mechanism for the foot, wherein the leg air bag 76 is operated by the supply and discharge of air by the air pump 70. In addition, a massage member such as a roller that presses the legs while moving up and down may be provided in the leg support portion 15.

The operation unit 30 includes a plurality of switches and a display unit for receiving various operation inputs to the massage machine, and is detachably provided on the bracket 31 on the side of the massage machine 1 and transmits the operation inputs related to the massage to the control unit 40. In addition, in order to make the position of the switch and the display portion of the operation portion 30 optimal for the user, the position of the bracket 31 is adjustable. The operation unit 30 is integrally provided with an instruction unit 45 for outputting sound.

The control unit 40 adjusts the massage mechanism and other movable parts of the massage machine to a state corresponding to the user based on detection results obtained by detecting the positions of the body parts of the user in advance, and controls the massage mechanism and other movable parts to perform appropriate massage based on the operation of the operation unit 30, the preset massage contents, and the information of the detection results.

The control unit 40 is a computer having a CPU, a memory, an input/output interface, and the like as its hardware configuration, and is configured to operate the computer as the control unit 40 by a program stored in the memory or the like. The computer constituting the control unit 40 may be a microcomputer in which a CPU, a memory, a ROM, and the like are integrally formed.

The computer unit constituting the control unit 40 is disposed in a predetermined space inside the massage machine 1, such as directly below the seat 12, and is in a state capable of communicating with the operation unit 30, and is electrically connected to various motors of the mechanical unit 50, the actuators for tilting the seat 12, the backrest 13, and the leg support 15, and the air pump 70, respectively, and when detecting the position of each part of the body of the user, the operation of the driving mechanism is controlled by a control signal output formed based on a predetermined position detection program, and when performing massage, the operation of the driving mechanism is controlled by a control signal output formed based on data of the set massage.

In addition, the control unit 40 is electrically connected to signal output means such as encoders for outputting displacement amounts of the mechanical unit 50 and the actuators, and performs operation control of driving means such as motors and actuators while grasping the state of the mechanical unit 50, the state of inclination of the seat 12, the backrest 13, and the leg support 15, and the like.

The control unit 40 gathers a set of massage processes so that the basic function and the plurality of massage functions of the massage selected by the user in the operation unit 30 can be automatically executed in a predetermined order, reads data of the function and the massage process selected by the user from the storage unit of the control unit 40 based on the instruction data from the operation unit 30, and outputs a control signal based on the data to operate each massage mechanism, specifically, the mechanism unit 50 and/or the air pump 70, so that the massage of the massage process selected by the user can be executed for the user by the mechanical massage and/or the air bag massage performed by the kneading ball 51 of the mechanism unit 50.

In addition, as in the case of the conventional massage machine, the control unit 40 controls the mechanical unit 50 so that the mechanical unit 50 moves along the guide frame 13b from the initial position at the backrest 13, and changes in pressure of the kneading ball 51 against the backrest 13, changes in inclination of the kneading ball 51, and the like are sequentially acquired from the user side against the backrest 13 during the movement of the kneading ball 51 along the user, and based on this information, the shoulder position, the spine line, and the waist position of the user can be detected.

Further, the control unit 40 controls the instruction unit 45 to output the sound of the instruction information and controls each part of the massage machine corresponding to the instruction content of the instruction information, and for example, when the instruction unit 45 issues the first instruction information, the user predicts a specific posture after the posture change on the assumption that the posture is changed in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information, and controls the operation of each massage mechanism so as to perform the specific massage with respect to the body taking the specific posture.

The control unit 40 controls each massage mechanism to perform a predetermined massage on a massage target portion including a predetermined body portion or a vicinity of the portion, which is expected to change from the state of the previous posture in response to the posture change when the posture of the user is changed in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit 45.

Specifically, for example, when the specific posture after the posture change is a posture in which both hands are lifted upward, the control unit 40 performs control so as to perform an "extension" massage of the massage target portion of the back in the upper and lower predetermined range from the waist to the shoulder, including the muscle portion of the back to the shoulder in a state where the shoulder to the back becomes elongated in the upper and lower directions of the body as the state of the predetermined portion of the body that changes with the change of the posture, on the massage target portion of the back in the upper and lower predetermined range from the waist to the shoulder, and applies a rolling motion in which the protruding rubbing ball 51 moves together with the mechanical unit 50 in a state where the protruding rubbing ball 51 is brought into contact with the body in the upward direction, and then pushes up the massage target portion of the back with the rubbing ball 51 to stretch the massage target portion of the back.

In this case, the control unit 40 can also control the respective massage mechanisms to perform a different massage on the massage target portion of the body of the user from the massage performed on the user in the normal posture and corresponding to the specific posture after the posture of the user is changed.

For example, when the specific posture is a posture in which both hands are lifted upward, the control unit 40 performs control so as to perform a specific "stretching" massage in which the upward pushing strength of the kneading ball 51 (the protrusion amount of the kneading ball toward the body) or the movement speed of the kneading ball 51 upward of the backrest is changed depending on the position of the backrest, in a state different from the normal posture, specifically, in a state in which the relative positional relationship with the backrest 13 is slightly changed, in which the specific "stretching" massage is different from the "stretching" massage in the normal posture.

In addition, when the instruction unit 45 gives the first instruction information to the user, the control unit 40 performs control for adjusting the positions of the backrest 13, the leg support 15, and the like, which support the body of the user, in the massage machine so as to promote the physical activity related to the posture change of the user in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information.

The instruction unit 45 outputs information including instruction information indicating the content of the user as sound information at an appropriate timing before and during the massage execution, based on the control of the control unit 40, and transmits the information to the user, thereby enabling the user to receive the information.

The instruction unit 45 issues first instruction information to the user at a timing immediately before a specific massage on the premise of a specific posture of the user, which is included in the massage process or is directly instructed to be performed by an operation of the user, is scheduled to be performed.

The first indication information includes content indicating that a gesture is to be changed for a user to activate at least a portion of the body. When the user moves his body in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information, the user moves to a specific posture, and the specific massage on the premise of the specific posture can be accepted without any problem, that is, the massage-accepted target portion includes a predetermined body portion or the vicinity thereof which changes from the state of the normal posture in accordance with the posture change of the user to the specific posture.

Specifically, for example, when the above-described massage of "stretching" is performed by the kneading ball 51 in a posture in which both hands are lifted upward, sound information of the content "please lift both hands" is output from the instruction section 45 to the user as instruction information. The user is required to lift the hands according to the instruction and appropriately receive the above-described "stretching" massage.

When the specific massage is performed by each massage mechanism and the specific massage is finished, the instruction unit 45 newly transmits second instruction information to the user.

The second instruction information includes content for releasing the specific posture, that is, instructing the user to restore at least a part of the body of the user, with respect to the at least a part of the body of which the user is expected to move when the posture is changed, under the assumption that the user takes the specific posture by changing the posture according to the instruction of the instruction information. When the user moves the body in accordance with the instruction of the second instruction information, the user returns to the posture before the user enters the specific posture, and the user receives normal massage corresponding to the posture as in the conventional art.

Specifically, for example, when the above-described "stretching" massage by the kneading ball 51 is performed and ended with the posture in which the user's hands are lifted upward, the sound information of the content "please put down the hands" is outputted as the second instruction information from the instruction unit 45 to the user. The user is required to put down both hands in accordance with the instruction and return the forearm portion and the hands to the original normal posture of being placed on the armrest portion 14.

In addition, the instruction unit 45 may be configured to issue information on the content of a predetermined massage (specific massage) to be performed on the body of the user after the posture of the user is changed in accordance with the first instruction information, before the first instruction information is issued to the user.

The instruction unit 45 is configured to output instruction information as sound that can be received directly by the user's ear, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to output information that can be received directly by the user's sense organ as a stimulus, and for example, the instruction unit may be configured to send out information in other forms, that is, the instruction unit may be configured to be a display unit of the operation unit 30, a display device such as a separate display, the instruction unit may output instruction information as image information that can be seen by the user's eye, or the instruction unit may transmit a tactile stimulus such as vibration having characteristics corresponding to the information content to the surface (skin) of the user's body, or the like. The instruction information may be simplified or symbolized information such as a short electronic sound, vibration, or blinking of light for color distinction, as long as the instruction information is associated with the posture change in advance, so that the user who receives the information can understand how to change the posture.

Next, a state of executing massage by the massage machine of the present embodiment will be described. On the premise that the main power supply of the massage machine 1 is turned on in a normal posture in which the user sits on the massage machine 1 and supports the back against the backrest 13, the massage machine 1 is started, the preparatory operation before the start of the massage such as the body shape of the user, the adjustment of the inclination angle of the backrest 13, and the like are detected, and an operation state instruction such as a massage process is input by the user, and then the control unit 40 performs the massage to the user by the massage mechanism such as a kneading ball.

Then, in a massage process of performing "stretching" in combination with a massage process to be performed, assuming that the user changes his posture to a posture of lifting up both hands, the pair of kneading balls 51 are pushed up by the pair of kneading balls 51 while moving the kneading balls 51 upward from the lower side of the backrest 13 together with the mechanical unit 50 for a predetermined range from the waist to the shoulder of the back as a massage target portion including a muscle portion from the shoulder to the back in a state of being elongated in the up-down direction of the body from the state of the normal posture due to the posture change.

When the massage reaches the stage immediately before the massage of the "extension" which is the specific massage on the premise of changing the posture of the user during the massage, the control unit 40 first outputs information concerning the content of the next massage as sound information from the instruction unit 45.

In detail, "thereafter," stretching of the back is performed by the rubbing ball "is outputted from the instruction unit 45. "such sound information.

In this way, the instruction unit 45 predicts the content of the specific massage to be performed to the user before the first instruction information including the instruction of the posture change is issued to the user, thereby causing the user to generate an incentive to move the body for the posture change and promoting the action of actually changing the posture.

Next, based on the control of the control unit 40, the instruction unit 45 instructs the user to move a part of the body to change the posture, specifically, "please lift the hands to stretch the back" will be included. The first instruction information including the content of "is transmitted to the user as audio information (see fig. 7).

The user takes a posture of stretching the back by positioning both hands above the head and raising the arms above the shoulders in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information (see fig. 10). The posture (specific posture) is a posture for receiving the above-described "stretching" massage.

With a change in the posture of the user in a specific posture of lifting both hands, the muscle parts from the shoulders to the back change from the normal posture state to the state of extending in the up-down direction of the body. The muscle parts in the extended state are directly or indirectly stimulated, which cannot be achieved in the normal posture in which both hands are lowered, so that the above-described "extended" massage at the massage target parts including such muscle parts or the vicinity thereof can impart a different massage effect from the massage at the same massage target parts performed in the normal posture.

In response to the first instruction information being sent from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 moves the backrest 13 and the leg support 15 so as to prompt the user to lift the hands in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information. Specifically, the backrest 13 is tilted in the tilting direction, and the leg support 15 is tilted in the lifting direction, so that the user is in a posture of lying on the back as a whole (see fig. 8, 9, and 10).

Then, the control unit 40 assumes that the user changes the posture in accordance with the instruction, and as a preparation for the "stretching" massage at the massage target portion in the predicted specific posture, the mechanical unit 50 is moved downward with respect to the guide frame 13b by the operation of the lifting motor 57, and the position of the kneading ball 51 is lowered to be positioned at the lower portion of the backrest portion 13 which is the initial position of the "stretching". In addition, the control unit 40 operates the advance and retreat motor 58 to tilt the driving unit 60 together with the kneading balls 51, and adjusts the amount of protrusion of the kneading balls 51 toward the user, so that the kneading balls 51 can be pushed up against the back of the body of the user in the backrest 13.

The control unit 40 also causes the leg air bags 76 of the leg support unit 15 to operate to restrain the legs, so that the body of the user does not deviate in the up-down direction of the backrest portion when the "stretching" massage is performed.

After the first instruction information is issued, the control section 40 performs the massage of "stretching" at a predetermined timing at which the user is expected to change the posture in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information. Specifically, for example, after 3 seconds from the restraint of the leg by the leg support 15, the mechanical unit 50 is operated so that the kneading balls 51 start to travel upward of the backrest.

The "stretching" by the kneading balls 51 is the following massage: while pressing a part of the back on the front side of the backrest with the protruding kneading ball 51, the kneading ball 51 is moved upward together with the mechanical unit 50, and the kneading ball 51 moves upward along the back while maintaining contact with the back, so that a stimulus of pushing up from below is continuously applied to a predetermined range from the waist to the shoulder of the back, thereby stretching the back (see fig. 12).

In the posture in which the user lifts both hands, the back is also affected, and the lumbar region of the back in the massage target portion is relatively moved in the direction of floating from the back and the lumbar region of the back is relatively moved in the direction of being pressed against the back, as compared with the normal posture in which the user does not lift both hands (see fig. 11). In order to appropriately perform the "stretching" massage in response to this, the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is adjusted in the back-to-waist portion in comparison with the case of the same massage in the normal posture, that is, the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is increased in the back-to-shoulder portion so that the intensity of the stimulus is ensured and the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is reduced so that the stimulus is not excessively large (see fig. 12). In this way, the massage of "stretching" in the posture in which the hands are lifted upward causes a change in quality of the massage itself, and the massage is performed as the same massage as in the case of the normal posture, and particularly, the massage corresponding to the change in posture of the user, so that a special massage effect which is not obtained at all in the case of the normal posture can be given, and the user's satisfaction can be improved.

After the predetermined time elapses and the "stretching" massage by the kneading ball 51 is completed in the specific posture in which the user lifts his or her hands upward, the instruction unit 45 transmits second instruction information including a content instructing the user to release the specific posture as sound information to the user.

Specifically, the output from the instruction section 45 includes an instruction of "please put down both hands. Sound information including the content of "is used as the second instruction information.

The user puts down both hands according to the instruction of the second instruction information, and takes the original normal posture of placing the forearm portion and the hands on the armrest portion 14.

In response to the second instruction information sent from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 causes the backrest 13 to rise and causes the leg support 15 to fall and causes the user to assume an initial sitting state by tilting the backrest 13 in a direction in which the legs are raised and tilting the leg support 15 in a direction in which the legs are lowered, in addition to the next massage without changing the states of the backrest 13 and the leg support 15, by operating the leg air bags 76 of the leg support 15 to release the restraint of the legs.

Since the user returns to the normal posture before the user takes the specific posture, the user receives the subsequent massage as the normal massage. By returning to a natural and comfortable posture, the degree of relaxation of the massage can be improved.

After a predetermined time has elapsed from the emission of the second instruction information by the instruction unit 45, in which the user is expected to release the specific posture in accordance with the instruction, the control unit 40 moves to the next massage in the massage course, or ends the massage course to stop the operation of each part, thereby ending the processing related to executing a series of massages.

As described above, the massage machine according to the present embodiment is provided with the instruction unit 45 for giving the first instruction information including the instruction content for changing the posture of the user to be massaged, and when the user changes the posture based on the first instruction information, if the massage is performed on the massage target portion including the predetermined portion of the body or the vicinity of the portion where the muscle is elongated or the like in a state different from the previous posture, the influence of the massage on the predetermined portion of the body is changed as compared with the massage on the same massage target portion in the case where the body is assumed to be in a state where the posture is not changed, and thus, the stimulation to be given to the predetermined portion of the body or the vicinity thereof as a new massage different from the conventional massage performed in the state where the posture is not changed can be realized, and the massage can be efficiently performed, and further, the muscle stiffness, the alleviation of the pain, the fatigue recovery, and the like by the massage can be further promoted. Further, the user itself can perform the physical activity in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information to the user, and the necessary and sufficient posture change can be realized, so that it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for performing the physical activity of the user in the massage machine in order to obtain such a posture change of the user, and the cost associated with the realization of the posture change of the user in the massage machine can be suppressed.

The massage machine of the above embodiment is configured to include the sound output unit constituting the instruction unit 45, but may be configured to include an input unit such as a user's sound, and use information from the user for control by the control unit 40. For example, when the user does not want to activate the body in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information or when the posture is temporarily changed but the posture after the change cannot be maintained, the control unit 40 may control the first instruction information sent from the instruction unit 45 so as not to perform the massage corresponding to the first instruction information or to stop the execution of the massage based on the information received from the input unit if an answer indicating negative content is issued.

In the massage machine of the above embodiment, the first instruction information and the second instruction information are respectively sent from the instruction unit 45 to the user, but in addition to this, the instruction unit 45 may be configured to newly send third instruction information to the user at a predetermined timing when each massage mechanism executes and ends the specific massage or the like, the third instruction information including a content instructing the user to answer the user's evaluation of the effect of the massage executed after the first instruction information is sent, and the control unit 40 may acquire information related to the answer by the user in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information and use the information for control.

Specifically, for example, the instruction unit 45 outputs second instruction information, the user moves the body in accordance with the instruction of the second instruction information, and the instruction unit 45 transmits third instruction information including content instructing the user to answer the evaluation of the effect of the massage of "stretching" performed from the transmission of the first instruction information to the user as sound information at a predetermined timing when the release of the specific posture is expected.

Specifically, the output from the instruction unit 45 includes "how to massage". Sound information including such content is used as third instruction information.

The user outputs information of the answer for evaluating the effect of the massage as a sound in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information and inputs the information to the input unit for sound, or inputs the information through the input means of the operation unit 30, and at this time, the control unit 40 acquires the information for judging whether or not the information can be used in the massage process after the massage in the control unit 40, and the like.

Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the instruction unit 45 to issue the third instruction information in anticipation of completion of acquisition of the information of the answer from the user, the control unit 40 moves to the next massage in the massage process or ends the massage process to stop the operation of each part, as in the above embodiment.

The massage effect is not limited to the acquisition of information for confirming the answer of the user based on the third instruction information, and the confirmation may be performed by detecting a change in contact between the kneading ball 51 (treatment implement) and the user's body, and if it is detected that the contact becomes softer than before the massage due to relaxation of stiffness after the massage, a certain massage effect can be more objectively confirmed.

(second embodiment of the invention)

A massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 13 to 18. In this embodiment, an example of a massage machine called a massage chair (chair-like) in which a seated user performs massage while supporting the massage machine will be described.

In the drawings, the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment includes the base portion 11, the seat portion 12, the backrest portion 13, the armrest portion 14, the leg support portion 15, the operation portion 30, the control portion 40, and the instruction portion 45, as in the first embodiment, but is configured to include a confirmation portion 90 as a difference, the confirmation portion 90 being provided in the operation portion 30, and the state in which the posture of the user is changed being recognized based on the instruction from the instruction portion 45.

In the massage machine 1, the configuration other than the configuration of the confirmation unit 90, the discrimination of the user state of the confirmation unit 90, and the control unit 40 performing the control related to the specific massage on the user based on the result thereof are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the massage machine of the present embodiment, the user mainly receives the massage in the normal posture, as in the first embodiment. However, the user may be able to receive a specific massage in a state (specific posture) in which the posture is changed from the normal posture by moving a part of the body. In this case, before the massage is performed, instruction information indicating that the posture is changed from the normal posture is issued to the user by the instruction unit 45, and the confirmation unit 90 confirms that the user takes the above-described specific posture in accordance with the instruction.

The control unit 40 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and controls each massage mechanism and each other movable part of the massage machine to perform massage.

The control unit 40 controls the instruction unit 45 to output the instruction information in a voice, and the confirmation unit 90 acquires the result of the user state discrimination and controls the respective parts of the massage machine corresponding to the instruction content of the instruction information. For example, when the instruction unit 45 issues the first instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the predetermined state of the user, the operation control of each massage mechanism is performed so as to perform the specific massage with respect to the body of the user in the state of taking the specific posture or performing the specific action in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information.

When the confirmation unit 90 has grasped that the user has performed a posture change in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 controls the massage mechanisms to perform a predetermined massage on the massage target portion including a predetermined body portion or the vicinity of the portion for which a state change from the previous posture is expected in response to the posture change.

In this case, the control unit 40 can also control the respective massage mechanisms to perform a different massage on the massage target portion of the user's body from the massage performed by the user in the normal posture and to perform a massage corresponding to a specific posture after the user changes the posture from the normal posture.

As in the first embodiment, the instruction unit 45 outputs information including instruction information indicating the content of the user as sound information at an appropriate timing before and during the massage execution, based on the control of the control unit 40, and transmits the information to the user, thereby enabling the user to receive the information.

The instruction unit 45 issues first instruction information to the user at a timing immediately before a specific massage on the premise of a specific posture of the user, which is included in the massage process or is instructed to be performed directly by an operation of the user, is scheduled to be performed.

The instruction unit 45 newly transmits second instruction information to the user when the specific massage is performed by each massage mechanism and the specific massage is completed with respect to the body of the user taking the specific posture.

The second instruction information includes content for canceling the specific posture, that is, instructs the user to activate and restore at least a part of the body in which the user is expected to activate when the posture is changed, when the confirmation unit 90 recognizes that the user has assumed the specific posture. When the user moves the body in accordance with the instruction of the second instruction information, the user returns to the posture before the user enters the specific posture, and the user receives normal massage corresponding to the posture as in the conventional art.

Specifically, for example, when the above-described massage of "stretching" by the kneading ball 51 in a posture in which both hands are lifted upward is performed and ended, the sound information of the content "please put down both hands" is outputted as the second instruction information from the instruction unit 45 to the user. The user is required to put down both hands in accordance with the instruction and return the forearm portion and the hands to the original normal posture of being placed on the armrest portion 14.

The instruction unit 45 may issue the third instruction information to the user at a predetermined timing such as when each massage mechanism performs and ends the specific massage on the body of the user.

The third instruction information includes content instructing the user to answer the user's evaluation of the effect of the massage performed from the state where the user has grasped by the confirmation section 90 to take the specific posture. The user outputs information related to the answer in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information as a sound and receives the sound by the confirmation section 90, or inputs the sound through the input means of the operation section 30, and at this time, the control section 40 acquires the information.

In addition, the instruction unit 45 may be configured to issue information on the content of a predetermined massage (specific massage) to be performed after the confirmation unit 90 has grasped the state in which the user has assumed the specific posture based on the first instruction information, before the first instruction information is issued to the user.

The confirmation unit 90 determines whether the user has changed his posture in response to the instruction from the instruction unit 45 and has assumed a specific posture after the posture has changed, or whether the user has performed a specific action to continue the activity of at least a part of his body in response to the instruction, and if it is determined that the user has assumed a specific posture or performed a specific action, it transmits the information of the content to the control unit 40.

Specifically, before the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the user takes the specific posture or the state in which the user takes the specific action, the first instruction information is issued from the instruction unit 45 as the sound output unit to the user, and at the same time or at a later time, information is output to the user asking whether or not the user takes the specific posture or the state in which the user takes the specific action.

The confirmation unit 90 is configured to receive information about a user's response to a query made as a sound to the user, and to analyze the information to identify and confirm a state in which the user takes a specific posture or a state in which a specific action is performed.

Specifically, for example, when the specific posture is a posture in which both hands are lifted upward, the instruction unit 45 outputs "please lift both hands" simultaneously with the first instruction information. Please submit a reply after lifting. "or information asking whether the content of" both hands are lifted "is output later from the issuance of the first instruction information. When the user replies "yes" to such inquiry, the confirmation unit 90 that receives the sound information recognizes that the user is in a state of taking a specific posture of lifting both hands. Then, based on the identification information of the confirmation unit 90, the control unit 40 controls each massage mechanism to perform a specific massage with respect to the body of the user who takes a specific posture.

On the other hand, when the user answers no or does not answer for a predetermined time with respect to the inquiry to the user output from the instruction unit 45, the confirmation unit 90 does not recognize that the user is in a state of taking a specific posture, and accordingly, the control unit 40 does not perform control to cause each massage mechanism to perform specific massage.

In addition, the confirmation unit 90 may also serve as an input unit for the sound generated by the user, and may use information generated by the user for control by the control unit 40. For example, when the user outputs the information of the answer for evaluating the effect of the massage as a sound in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information, the sound information is input to the confirmation unit 90 as the input unit, and the control unit 40 acquires the information.

Next, a state of executing massage by the massage machine of the present embodiment will be described. On the premise that the main power supply of the massage machine 1 is turned on in a state where the user sits on the massage machine 1 and leans the back against the backrest 13, the massage machine 1 is started, the preparation operation before the start of the massage such as the body shape of the user, the inclination angle adjustment of the backrest 13, and the like are detected, and the user inputs an operation state instruction such as the massage process, and then the control unit 40 performs the massage on the user by the massage mechanism such as the kneading ball.

When the massage reaches a stage immediately before the massage of the "extension" which is a specific massage accompanying the change of the posture of the user is performed during the massage, the control unit 40 first outputs information concerning the content of the next massage as sound information from the instruction unit 45.

In this way, the instruction unit 45 predicts the content of the specific massage to be performed to the user before the first instruction information including the instruction of the posture change is issued to the user, thereby causing the user to generate an incentive to physically move for the posture change and causing the user to actually change the posture.

Then, based on the control of the control unit 40, the instruction unit 45 instructs the user to move a part of the body to change the posture from the normal posture, specifically, includes an instruction of "please lift the hands to stretch the back". The first instruction information including the content of "is transmitted to the user as audio information (see fig. 15).

The user takes a posture (specific posture) corresponding to the above-described "stretching" massage by stretching the back by positioning both hands above the head and raising the arms above the shoulders in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information (see fig. 18).

In response to the first instruction information being sent from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 moves the backrest portion 13 and the leg support portion 15 so as to prompt the user to perform the operation of lifting the hands in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information. Specifically, the backrest 13 is tilted in the tilting direction, and the leg support 15 is tilted in the lifting direction, so that the user is in a posture of lying on the back as a whole (see fig. 16, 17, and 18).

In preparation for the "extended" massage, the control unit 40 moves the mechanical unit 50 downward with respect to the guide frame 13b by the operation of the lifting motor 57, and lowers the position of the kneading ball 51 so as to be located below the backrest 13 at the initial "extended" position. The control unit 40 also operates the advance and retreat motor 58 to tilt the driving unit 60 together with the kneading balls 51, and adjusts the amount of protrusion of the kneading balls 51 toward the user, so that the kneading balls 51 can be pushed up against the back of the body of the user resting on the backrest 13.

After the first instruction information is issued, the control unit 40 outputs information asking the content of "whether or not both hands are lifted" from the instruction unit 45 at a timing when the user is expected to change the posture in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information.

On the other hand, when the user returns no, the confirmation unit 90 receives the audio information related to the return, and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes and recognizes that the user is not in a specific posture of lifting both hands from the information content. When the user does not return, the confirmation unit 90 does not recognize that the user is in a specific posture of lifting both hands. In this way, the confirmation unit 90 does not recognize that the user is in a state of taking a specific posture of lifting both hands, and thus the control unit 40 does not perform control to cause each massage mechanism to perform "stretching" massage with respect to the body of the user taking a specific posture of lifting both hands, and can prevent erroneous execution of "stretching" massage with respect to the body of the user in a state of not taking a specific posture.

On the other hand, when the user returns yes with respect to the inquiry to the user output from the instruction unit 45, the confirmation unit 90 receives the sound information related to the answer, and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes and recognizes that the user has assumed a specific posture of lifting both hands from the information content. The control unit 40 is caused to perform the "stretching" massage by transmitting the information of the confirmation unit 90 to the control unit 40. Specifically, the mechanical unit 50 is operated so that the kneading balls 51 start to travel upward of the backrest.

In the posture in which the user lifts both hands, the back is also affected, and the lumbar region of the back in the massage target portion is relatively moved in the direction of floating from the back and the lumbar region of the back is relatively moved in the direction of being pressed against the back, as compared with the normal posture in which the user does not lift both hands (see fig. 11). In order to appropriately perform the "stretching" massage in response to this, the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is adjusted in the back-to-waist portion in comparison with the case of the same massage in the normal posture, that is, the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is increased in the back-to-shoulder portion so that the intensity of the stimulus is ensured and the amount of protrusion of the kneading ball 51 is reduced so that the stimulus is not excessively large (see fig. 12). In this way, the massage by "stretching" in the posture in which the hands are lifted up causes a change in quality of the massage itself, and the massage is performed as a massage which is different from the case of the normal posture and which corresponds particularly to the specific posture after the posture change of the user, and it is possible to give a special massage effect which is not obtained at all in the case of the normal posture, and it is possible to improve the user's satisfaction.

Then, the instruction unit 45 transmits third instruction information including a content instructing the user to answer the evaluation of the effect of the massage of the user on the "extension" performed to the user as sound information.

The user outputs the information of the answer for evaluating the effect of the massage as a sound and receives the information from the confirmation unit 90 in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information, or the user inputs the information of the answer through the input means of the operation unit 30, and the control unit 40 acquires the information at this time, for judging whether or not the information can be used in the massage process after the massage in the control unit 40, and the like.

The massage effect is not limited to the acquisition of information for confirming the answer of the user based on the third instruction information, and the confirmation may be performed by detecting a change in contact between the kneading ball 51 (treatment implement) and the body of the user, and if it is detected that the contact becomes softer than before the massage due to relaxation of stiffness after the massage, the certain effect of the massage can be more objectively confirmed.

After the instruction unit 45 issues the third instruction information, if the acquisition of the information of the answer from the user is completed or a predetermined time set in advance for the answer has elapsed, the control unit 40 moves to the next massage in the massage process or ends the massage process to stop the operation of each part, and ends the processing related to executing a series of massages.

As described above, the massage machine of the present embodiment is provided with the instruction unit 45 for giving the first instruction information including the instruction content for changing the posture of the user to be massaged, and the confirmation unit 90 for distinguishing whether or not the user is in a state of a specific posture by the instruction from the instruction unit 45, and if the first instruction information is given from the instruction unit 45 to the user and the confirmation unit 90 grasps that the user is in a state of a specific posture by the instruction of the instruction information, the massage is performed on the massage target portion including the predetermined portion of the body or the vicinity of the predetermined portion of the body of the user in a state different from the previous posture by the body movement, and the influence of the massage on the predetermined portion of the body is changed as compared with the influence of the massage on the same massage target portion in the case where the body is in a state of no posture change or no continuous movement is assumed, whereby, it is possible to achieve further effective acceleration of relaxing and further muscle fatigue and the like by giving a new stimulus as a massage different from the conventional massage performed in a state of no posture change of the user and the continuous body movement to the predetermined portion of the body. Further, by performing the massage when the confirmation unit 90 has grasped that the user has moved his or her body correctly as indicated by the indication information, the predetermined massage can be performed correctly at the desired position of the body, and the massage effect can be reliably obtained, and adverse effects on the body due to the massage can be prevented when the user has not moved his or her body as indicated.

In the massage machine of the above embodiment, the confirmation unit 90 is configured to receive the voice information, which is the reply about the posture change of the user, with respect to the information of the content of the inquiry posture change from the instruction unit 45, and to determine whether the user is in the state of taking the specific posture based on the reply content, but the present invention is not limited to this, and another confirmation unit capable of objectively performing the state discrimination based on the physical activity of the user may be used.

For example, the confirmation unit may be configured to recognize a state in which whether the user has taken a specific posture or performed a specific action according to an instruction, based on an image of the user captured by a camera (capturing unit). The confirmation unit may be configured to acquire a change in pressure detected by a pressure sensor provided in a portion facing the body of the user, such as the backrest portion, the seat portion, the armrest portion, or the leg support portion, and to recognize whether or not the user is in a state of taking a specific posture or performing a specific operation in accordance with an instruction based on a characteristic of the change in pressure.

The confirmation unit may be configured to continuously detect the internal pressure of the air bags after the air bags are inflated with respect to the body of the user, and to recognize whether the user takes a specific posture or performs a specific operation based on a change in the internal pressure. The confirmation unit may be configured to include a switch or a sensor for detecting contact, and the switch or the sensor may be disposed at a predetermined position of the massage machine that can be brought into contact with a predetermined portion of the body after the user moves in a state in which the user is instructed to take a specific posture or to perform a specific operation.

In addition, the confirmation unit may detect the physical activity of the user by a vibration sensor provided in the massage machine or a noncontact doppler sensor using radio waves, and may determine whether or not the user is in a state of taking a specific posture or a state of performing a specific action in accordance with the instruction based on the detection result.

In the massage machine of the above embodiment, the information indicating the content of the change in posture is output from the instruction unit 45, and when the user returns to the state of not confirming the change in posture or does not return, the confirmation unit 90 considers that the user is not in the state of taking the specific posture, but in addition to this, the control unit 40 may be configured so that even when the specific massage is performed, for example, when the user temporarily changes posture but cannot maintain the posture after the change, the control unit 40 controls so as to stop the execution of the specific massage based on the information indicating the return received by the confirmation unit 90 as the sound input unit if the user returns to the state indicating the negative content.

(third embodiment of the invention)

In the massage machine according to the first embodiment, the two arms that rise above the shoulders are supported by the user in a state in which the user has a posture in which both hands are lifted, but the massage machine is not particularly provided with a member for maintaining the posture of the user after the change, but the massage machine is not limited to this, and in the third embodiment, an auxiliary support portion that is brought into contact with a part of the body of the user after the movement accompanying the posture change to assist in maintaining the posture may be provided in the massage machine.

As a specific example, as shown in fig. 19, a handle portion 13d protruding from the end portion in the up-down direction can be provided in the backrest portion 13.

The user who has taken a posture in which both hands are lifted up above the head and the arms are lifted up above the shoulders according to the instruction grips the grip portion 13d as the auxiliary support portion with his hands and does not loosen it, so that a part of the weight of the arms is supported by the grip portion 13d, the positions of both hands are fixed, both arms are stable, and a state in which the user easily maintains the posture after the posture change can be obtained. The positional relationship between the handle portion 13d and the backrest portion 13 can be adjusted according to the physical constitution of the user.

After the user lifts the hands to change the posture in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information, the user can maintain the changed posture with less burden by the assistance of the handle portion 13d, and thus the user can properly maintain the posture after the posture change without impairing the relaxing effect by the massage, and can reliably perform the pre-planned massage on the predetermined part of the body, thereby appropriately producing the desired massage effect.

Immediately before or simultaneously with the user lifting up both hands and grasping the handle portion 13d with the hands in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information, the user can easily move to a posture in which both hands are lifted up by tilting the backrest portion 13 in the direction in which the backrest portion 13 is tilted down, as in the above-described embodiment, and increasing the angle of the backrest portion 13 with respect to the seat portion 12.

In addition, a sensor for detecting a state of grasping the handle portion 13d by hand and a switch for switching on and off when the user grasps the handle portion 13d by hand may be provided at a predetermined position of the handle portion 13d as the auxiliary support portion, and it is possible to detect that the user has a posture of lifting both hands, that is, such a sensor, switch, or the like is used as a confirmation portion for discriminating whether the user takes a specific posture of lifting both hands in accordance with an instruction from the instruction portion 45.

As in the second embodiment, such a confirmation unit can be used to confirm that the user has taken a specific posture of lifting both hands and to transmit information of the content to the control unit 40, and can start the specific massage performed by the control unit 40 on the premise of changing the posture of the user at an appropriate timing, and can grasp the state in which the user has not performed the posture change, and can avoid performing the specific massage in this state.

(fourth embodiment of the invention)

In the massage machine according to the above embodiments, the instruction included in the first instruction information provided by the instruction unit 45 is to change the posture of the user, the posture of the user for lifting the hands is set, and the control unit 40 controls the massage target portion including the muscle portion from the shoulder to the back to perform the "stretching" massage, wherein the massage target portion is a portion in which the user is expected to change to an extended state different from the previous posture in accordance with the posture change performed by the instruction, but the massage target portion is not limited to this, and may be configured such that the posture of the user is changed by moving the hands in the direction other than the upward direction or by moving a part of the body other than the hands as the instruction content in the first instruction information, and the control unit 40 controls the massage target portion to perform the predetermined massage on a predetermined position of the body other than the upper and lower predetermined range from the back to the shoulder, wherein the massage target portion includes a predetermined position of the body expected to change to a state different from the previous posture in accordance with the posture change performed by such an instruction.

As a first specific example, the instruction unit 45 gives the user a sound message of "please touch the tip of the armrest" as the first instruction information. Then, when the user changes the posture so that the hands are extended forward and brought into contact with the distal ends of the armrest portions 14 in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information (see fig. 20), the control unit 40 controls the kneading ball 51 to perform kneading and knocking massage on the massage target portion, specifically the neck portion, including the muscle portion from the shoulder portion to the neck portion in a state where the posture is expected to change from the previous posture to the extended state.

Further, the control unit may be configured to grasp a state in which the posture of the user is changed with respect to a change in the posture of the user, and then perform control to perform massage on the massage target portion. For example, when the user changes the posture according to the instruction of the instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the user has changed the posture, the control unit 40 controls the kneading ball 51 to perform kneading and knocking massage on the massage target portion which is expected to be changed from the previous posture state to the extended state in association with the posture change.

With a posture change of a specific posture of stretching hands of a user, a state in which muscle parts from shoulders to necks are stretched in an outward direction of the body is changed from a state before the posture change. Since the muscle parts in the extended state cannot be stimulated in a state where the hands are close to the body before the posture change, the kneading and knocking massage performed on the neck part as the massage target part including such muscle parts by the kneading balls 51 can give a massage effect different from the massage performed on the same massage target part in the same state where the posture of the user is not changed.

In this case, a sensor for detecting a state in which the tip end portion is touched by a hand, a switch for switching on and off when the tip end portion is touched by a user's hand, and the like may be provided at the tip end portion of the armrest portion 14, and such a sensor, switch, or the like may be used as a confirmation portion for discriminating whether or not the user takes a specific posture in which both hands are projected forward to the tip end of the armrest portion 14, based on an instruction from the instruction portion 45.

As a second specific example, the instruction unit 45 gives the user the sound information of the content "please raise the foot" as the first instruction information. Then, when the user changes the posture so as to move the portion below the knee of the leg forward and raise the foot in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information (see fig. 21), the control unit 40 controls the massage target portion including the thigh and the hip muscle which is expected to change from the state of the normal posture before the change of the posture to the extended or contracted state so as to perform the massage by the expansion and contraction of the hip airbag 71 and the thigh airbag 72. In this example, the control unit may control the massage target portion to perform massage when the confirmation unit recognizes that the posture of the user is changed with respect to the posture change of the user. For example, when the user changes the posture so as to raise the foot in response to the instruction of the instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the user has changed the posture, the control unit 40 controls the massage target portion to perform massage in which the user is expected to change from the normal posture state to the extended or contracted state.

With a posture change of a specific posture of lifting the feet of the user, the muscles of the thighs and buttocks change from a state before the posture change to an extended or contracted state. Since the muscles in the above state cannot be stimulated in the state before the posture of the foot drop is changed, the thigh to hip massage, which is a massage target portion including such muscles, can be given a massage effect different from the massage effect of the same massage target portion in the state in which the posture of the user is not changed by the hip air bag 71 and the thigh air bag 72.

As a third specific example, the instruction unit 45 gives the user sound information of the content "please twist the arm to make the palm face up (down)" as the first instruction information. Then, when the user changes the posture by twisting the arm portions on the armrest 14 to turn the palms of the hands upward (downward) in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information (see fig. 22), the control unit 40 controls the side portion of the new portion to be massaged, which is the front arm portion and the massage portion of the hand, which changes the direction of the armrest 14 relative to the arm airbag 75 from the state of the normal posture before, to the side portion facing the arm airbag 75 by the expansion and contraction of the arm airbag 75. In this example, the control unit may control the massage target portion to perform massage when the confirmation unit recognizes that the posture of the user is changed with respect to the posture change of the user. For example, when the user changes the posture so as to make the palm face up (down) in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the posture of the user has been changed, the control unit 40 controls the massage target portion to perform massage in which the direction has been changed from the state of the previous normal posture in accordance with the posture change.

With a posture change in a specific posture of the user with the palm facing up (down), the portions of the forearm and the hand facing the arm airbag 75 deviate from the state before the posture change, and the side portions thereof face the airbag. In a state before the posture of the forearm portion and the thumb portion of the hand are changed, the stimulus cannot be applied to each side portion of the forearm portion and the hand, and the massage performed on each side portion of the forearm portion and the hand by the arm airbag 75 can give a massage effect different from the massage performed without changing the posture of the user. Further, the massage of the front arm portion and the side portions of the hand is performed by reducing the interval between the front arm portion and the hand and the arm air bag 75, and a stronger stimulus can be applied from the air bag, so that a specific massage corresponding to a specific posture can be performed.

In addition, before the massage is performed on the portion inside the scapula or the portion around the scapula using the kneading ball 51, which is included in the massage or is instructed by the user's operation, the instruction unit 45 may issue, as the first instruction information, sound information of the content "please move the body so that the position of the kneading ball becomes the inner side of the scapula" to the user in response to the fact that the position of the kneading ball is not matched with the correct position near the scapula in the normal posture of the user due to the relationship with the body shape of the user, which is usually adjusted to the massage start position near the scapula by the automatic position adjustment function of the massager.

When the user moves his/her body in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information to change the posture so that the kneading ball 51 is positioned inside the user's scapula, the control unit 40 controls the kneading ball 51 to perform a massage such as kneading on the inside of the user's scapula and the surrounding area of the scapula, which are the massage target areas, from the previous normal posture state, so that the relative position to the kneading ball is changed to the vicinity of the kneading ball in response to the change in posture. In this example, the control unit may control the massage target portion to perform massage when the confirmation unit recognizes that the posture of the user is changed with respect to the posture change of the user. For example, when the user changes the posture by physically moving the user in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the posture of the user has changed, the control unit 40 controls the massage to be performed on the massage target portion that reaches the vicinity of the kneading ball from the state of the normal posture in association with the change of the posture.

In the above-described case, in a state before the posture of the kneading ball in the vicinity of the user's scapula is changed, the kneading ball 51 cannot be used to apply a stimulus to the portion of the kneading ball in the vicinity of the user's scapula, on the inner side of the user's scapula, or to the portion around the scapula, so that the massage of the body after the posture change corresponding to the instruction of the instruction information by the kneading ball 51 can be given an appropriate massage effect different from the massage performed without changing the posture of the user.

In addition, before the massage is performed on the waist using the kneading ball 51 included in the massage process, the position of the body of the user is deviated by the influence of the tilting of the backrest 13 and the leg support 15 at the time of the other massage performed in advance in the same massage process, so that the kneading ball 51 which is positioned in the vicinity of the waist and is positioned at the massage start position of the backrest bottom can also be used as the first instruction information by the instruction unit 45 in accordance with the sound information of the content "please sit again in the deep part of the seat" to the user in the normal posture in which the user's massage machine is supported and maintained in the state of following the movement of the massage machine as it is.

When the user sits back again by moving his/her body in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information and changes his/her posture so that the kneading ball 51 located at the lower part of the backrest comes into contact with the vicinity of the user's waist, the control unit 40 controls the kneading ball 51 to perform a massage such as kneading on the waist of the user as a massage target portion that reaches the vicinity of the kneading ball by changing the relative position to the kneading ball 51 from the state of the normal posture before the posture change. In this example, the control unit may control the massage target portion to perform massage when the confirmation unit recognizes that the posture of the user is changed with respect to the posture change of the user. For example, when the user changes the posture by physically moving the user in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information and the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state of the user changing the posture, the control unit 40 controls the massage to be performed on the massage target portion in the vicinity of the kneading ball in anticipation of the arrival of the posture change from the state of the normal posture before.

In the above-described case, in a state before the posture of the kneading ball 51 is not correctly positioned in the vicinity of the waist of the user is changed, the waist of the user positioned in the vicinity of the kneading ball along with the posture change of the user cannot be stimulated by the kneading ball 51, and the massage of the body after the posture change corresponding to the instruction of the instruction information by the kneading ball 51 can be given an appropriate massage effect different from the massage performed without changing the posture of the user.

(fifth embodiment of the invention)

In the massage machine according to the above embodiments, the instruction unit 45 is configured to output each instruction information as information that can be directly received by the sense organ of the user as a stimulus, for example, sound information that can be heard by the ear, but not limited to this, and as a fifth embodiment, the instruction unit 48 may be configured to output each instruction information as information that can be received by the communication terminal 80 that is carried by the user or worn by the body of the user, as shown in fig. 23, wherein the communication terminal 80 has a transmission means that can transmit information to the user.

Specifically, the instruction unit 48 outputs instruction information as communication data that can be received by a communication terminal 80 such as a smart phone carried by a user or a wearable device worn by the body of the user, and transmits the instruction information to the communication terminal by wired communication based on direct connection via a cable or wireless communication based on a change in radio wave, light, sound wave, magnetic field, or the like.

The communication terminal 80 such as a smart phone and a wearable device can transmit the instruction information received from the instruction unit 48 to the user through a sound output from a sound generating unit such as a speaker and a headphone as a transmission means, or through a display output from a display unit such as a smart phone and a display unit such as an image display area of a pair of smart glasses (wearable display).

In this way, the instruction unit 48 is configured to output instruction information as communication data received by the communication terminal 80 carried by the user or worn by the user, and the instruction included in the instruction information is transmitted to the user in the form of sound, video display, or the like using the transmission means of the communication terminal 80, so that the user can take the communication terminal 80 owned in advance by the user for transmitting the instruction information in accordance with the action of the instruction, and it is not necessary to provide an information output means in a form that can be directly received by the user on the massage machine side, and the structure of the massage machine can be simplified. Further, the instructions included in the instruction information are transmitted only to the user via the communication terminal 80, whereby the user can be ensured to reasonably receive the instructions, and the sound, light, and the like can be prevented from being accidentally diffused around the massage machine, thereby preventing discomfort to people other than the user around the massage machine.

In the case where the instruction is transmitted from the communication terminal 80 to the user as described above, after the first instruction information is output, the communication terminal 80 is configured to be able to use the communication terminal 80 as a confirmation unit, by acquiring the information of the user by the function mounted on the communication terminal 80 and by causing the communication terminal 80 to perform a process of discriminating whether the user is in a state of a specific posture or a state of performing a specific operation based on the information.

Specifically, as a first specific example, after the transmission of the first instruction information, information is outputted from the instruction unit 48 to inquire of the user whether the posture is actually changed or whether at least a part of the body is continuously moving according to the instruction of the instruction information, and when the information is transmitted from the communication terminal 80 to the user, the communication terminal 80 receives sound information (see fig. 24) related to the user's reply to the question asking the user through the microphone unit mounted, or the user inputs the reply content by himself/herself using the input means (touch panel or the like) of the communication terminal 80, thereby obtaining the reply information. Then, the communication terminal 80 performs a process of analyzing the returned information, and recognizes and identifies whether the user is in a state of taking a specific posture or in a state of performing a specific action, and transmits the information of the identified content to the control unit 40 of the massage machine.

As a second specific example, after the transmission of the first instruction information, the communication terminal 80 may acquire image information by capturing a physical activity of the user with a camera mounted on the communication terminal 80, analyze the image information, determine whether the user is in a specific posture or in a specific motion, and send the determined information to the control unit 40 of the massage machine.

In addition, as a third specific example, after the transmission of the first instruction information, the communication terminal 81 may perform detection of the physical activity of the user by using an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor mounted on the communication terminal 81, perform processing of analyzing the detection information, determine whether the user is in a state of a specific posture or a state of performing a specific operation, and transmit the information of the determined content to the control unit 40 of the massage machine (see fig. 25).

As in the second embodiment, the communication terminal 80 serving as the confirmation unit can recognize whether the user is in a specific posture or in a specific motion, and can transmit information of the content to the control unit 40, and can start executing specific massage at an appropriate timing by the control unit 40, and can grasp that the user is not in a specific posture or in a specific motion, and can avoid executing specific massage in this state.

Further, as a configuration for transmitting the information of the result recognized by the communication terminal 80 to the control unit 40 of the massage machine, the instruction unit 48 serving as the transmission means of the information in the massage machine may also be made to double as the reception means for receiving the information from the communication terminal 80.

(sixth embodiment of the invention)

A massage machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 26 and 27. In this embodiment, an example of a massage machine of a massage chair type (chair-like) will be described.

In the above-described figures, the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment includes the base portion 11, the seat portion 12, the backrest portion 13, the armrest portion 14, the leg support portion 15, the operation portion 30, the control portion 40, the instruction portion 45, and the confirmation portion 95, as in the second embodiment, but the confirmation portion 95 has a configuration that discriminates whether or not a user performs a specific operation to continue moving a part of the body based on an instruction from the instruction portion 45, as a different point.

In the massage machine 1, the details of the instruction content included in the instruction information from the instruction unit 45, the state of the user who is the object of recognition and confirmation by the confirmation unit 95, and the control related to the operations of the instruction unit 45 and the confirmation unit 95 and the control related to the execution of specific massage on the user are the same as those in the case of the second embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment, the user mainly receives the massage in the normal posture, as in the first embodiment described above. However, the user can also receive a specific massage in a state (specific action) in which the user continues to move a part of the body. In this case, before the massage is performed, the instruction unit 45 gives instruction information indicating that the body part is to be moved continuously from the normal posture state to the user, and the confirmation unit 95 confirms whether or not the user is in the state of performing the specific operation according to the instruction.

On the other hand, when the confirmation unit 90 has grasped that the user continues a specific operation for physical activity in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 controls the massage mechanisms to perform a predetermined massage on the massage target portion including the predetermined portion of the body or the vicinity of the portion in which a change in the state of the posture associated with the operation has been expected.

Specifically, for example, when the user continues the work (specific operation) of moving at least a part of his or her body with a predetermined period, the control unit 40 controls the massage unit to perform the massage of the "finger pressure" pushed up by the kneading ball 51 over the upper and lower predetermined ranges of the back of the massage target portion including the muscle portion on the back side of the chest which is the predetermined part of the body whose state changes with the change to the operation state and which is the state of periodically repeating tension and relaxation.

In this case, the control unit 40 can also control the respective massage mechanisms to perform a massage on the massage target portion of the user's body that is different from the massage performed on the user in the normal posture and that corresponds to a specific action of the user to activate the body from the normal posture.

For example, when the specific motion is the respiratory motion, the control unit 40 performs control so as to perform a specific "acupressure" massage, which is pushed up by the kneading ball 51, for a predetermined upper and lower range of the back that is in a strained state during the period in which the user inhales, different from the massage of "acupressure" performed on the back in the normal posture.

As in the second embodiment, the instruction unit 45 outputs information including instruction information indicating the content of the user as sound information at an appropriate timing before and during the massage execution, and transmits the information to the user, based on the control of the control unit 40, so that the user can receive the information.

The instruction section 45 issues first instruction information to the user at a timing immediately before a specific massage on the premise that the specific action of the user is scheduled to be performed, wherein the specific massage is included in the massage process or the execution of the massage is instructed directly by the user's operation.

The first indication information includes content indicating that at least a portion of the body is to be continuously active for the user. When the user continues to operate the body in accordance with the instruction of the first instruction information, the user shifts to a specific operation state, and the specific massage on the premise of the specific operation can be accepted without any problem, that is, the massage target portion including the body predetermined portion or the vicinity thereof which changes from the state of the posture until the user performs the specific operation.

Specifically, for example, when the user performs the massage of "finger pressure" with the kneading ball 51 while performing the breathing operation at a predetermined cycle, the instruction unit 45 repeatedly outputs the sound information of the "request for air" content as instruction information to the user at the predetermined cycle. The user is required to perform regular breathing in the cycle accompanying inhalation according to the instruction, and the "acupressure" massage is properly received.

When the specific massage is performed by each massage mechanism and the specific massage is finished for the body of the user performing the specific action, the instruction unit 45 newly sends out the second instruction information to the user.

The second instruction information includes a content that instructs to stop the specific operation, that is, an operation that stops the user from moving at least a part of the body that is recognized as the user continuing to move as the specific operation when the confirmation unit 90 recognizes the state in which the user performs the specific operation. When the user stops moving the body continuously in accordance with the instruction of the second instruction information, the user returns to the state of the posture before the specific action is performed, and receives the normal massage corresponding to the posture as in the prior art.

Specifically, for example, when the user performs and ends the massage by the "finger pressure" of the kneading ball 51 while the user is breathing at a predetermined cycle, the instruction unit 45 outputs the sound information of the "please recover the contents of the breath" as the second instruction information. The user is required to stop the breathing operation performed in the above cycle, and breathe in a normal state as in the past.

The instruction unit 45 is not limited to the configuration for outputting the instruction information as sound as in the first embodiment, and may be configured to send out information in another form that can be directly received by the sense organ of the user as a stimulus. The instruction information may be simplified or symbolized information such as a short or short electronic sound, as long as the instruction information is associated with a specific action in advance, and the user who has received the instruction information can understand the information to continue the physical activity.

The confirmation unit 95 determines whether or not the user is performing a specific operation to continue the activity of at least a part of the body in response to the instruction from the instruction unit 45, and if the user is determined to be in a state of performing the specific operation, transmits information of the content to the control unit 40.

Specifically, the confirmation unit 95 includes a known doppler sensor using radio waves (millimeter waves, microwaves), and is provided in the operation unit 30 to detect minute movements of the user's body in a noncontact manner, and to analyze the minute movements to determine whether or not the user is performing a specific operation.

Specifically, for example, when the specific operation is to breathe in a predetermined cycle, the confirmation unit 95 irradiates the user's body, particularly the chest, with radio waves, captures the reflected radio waves, and detects the activity related to breathing based on the frequency change thereof, and if the activity related to breathing is the same cycle as the activity given by the first instruction information, the confirmation unit 95 recognizes that the user is breathing in the cycle, that is, in a state where the specific operation is performed. Then, based on the information of the confirmation by the confirmation unit 95, the control unit 40 controls the respective massage mechanisms to perform the specific massage with respect to the body of the user who performs the specific operation.

On the other hand, in the case where the activity related to the respiration of the user detected by the confirmation unit 95 is not an activity of the same cycle as the activity given by the first instruction information, the confirmation unit 95 does not recognize that the user is in a state of performing a specific operation, and accordingly, the control unit 40 does not perform control to cause each massage mechanism to perform a specific massage.

Next, a state of executing massage by the massage machine of the present embodiment will be described. As in the first embodiment, if the main power supply of the massage machine 1 is turned on with the user sitting on the massage machine 1 and the back resting on the backrest 13, the massage machine 1 is started, the preparatory operations such as detecting the body shape of the user and the like before the start of the massage, the inclination angle adjustment of the backrest 13 and the like are completed, and the user inputs an operation state instruction such as a massage process, and then the control unit 40 performs the massage on the user by the massage mechanism such as a kneading ball.

Then, a process of massaging the back of the massage target portion, which includes a muscle portion on the back side of the chest that is periodically repeatedly strained and relaxed from the normal posture state by the operation, is combined with a process of massaging the back of the massage target portion, which is a predetermined range of up and down, by the pair of kneading balls 51, in which the massage target portion is combined with a massage process of performing a "finger pressure" pushed up by the pair of kneading balls 51, assuming that the user performs a respiratory operation at a predetermined period.

When the massage reaches the stage immediately before the massage of the "finger pressure" described above, which is the specific massage performed along with the continued movement of the user's body, during the massage, the control unit 40 first outputs information about the content of the next massage as sound information from the instruction unit 45.

Specifically, "thereafter," finger pressure "of the back is performed by the rubbing ball" is outputted from the instruction unit 45. "such sound information.

In this way, the instruction unit 45 gives the user a notice of the content of the specific massage to be performed before the first instruction information including the instruction of the action is given to the user, thereby giving the user an incentive to continue the physical activity for receiving the massage and promoting the action of actually causing the physical activity by the user.

Then, based on the control of the control unit 40, the instruction unit 45 transmits first instruction information to the user as sound information, the first instruction information including content instructing the user to continue to activate a part of the body, specifically including instruction "please inhale" at a predetermined cycle set in advance. "content (see fig. 26).

The user inhales at regular timings based on the first instruction information in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information, and then exhales, thereby performing a respiratory action (specific action) corresponding to the massage of the "acupressure".

With the transition of the user to a specific motion, the muscle portion on the back side of the chest changes from a normal posture state to a periodically repeated tension and relaxation state. In a state where a normal posture in which breathing is periodically performed is not particularly determined, stimulation cannot be applied to a muscle portion in the periodically repeated tension and relaxation state, and thus the above-described "finger pressure" massage performed on the massage target portion including such a muscle portion or the vicinity thereof can be given a massage effect different from that of the massage target portion in the same manner performed in the normal posture.

In response to the first instruction information from the instruction unit 45, the control unit 40 moves the mechanical unit 50 relative to the guide frame 13b by the operation of the lifting motor 57, and moves the position of the kneading ball 51 to a predetermined position of the backrest 13 which is the initial position of "finger pressure", as preparation for the massage of "finger pressure". In addition, the control unit 40 operates the advance and retreat motor 58 to tilt the driving unit 60 together with the kneading balls 51, and adjusts the amount of protrusion of the kneading balls 51 toward the user, so that the kneading balls 51 can be pushed up to the back portion of the body of the user of the backrest 13.

After the first instruction information is sent, based on the control of the control unit 40, the confirmation unit 95 detects the activity related to respiration in the body of the user, and determines whether or not the activity related to respiration is the activity of the cycle given by the first instruction information.

In the case where the user does not breathe in the cycle without being instructed by the instruction information with respect to the first instruction information, the activity related to the breathing detected by the confirmation unit 95 does not become the activity of the cycle, and the confirmation unit 95 recognizes that the user does not perform the specific operation.

In this way, the confirmation unit 95 does not recognize that the user is in a state of performing a specific operation, and thus the control unit 40 does not perform control of "finger pressure" massage for the body of the user who is performing a specific operation by causing each massage mechanism to perform, and can prevent erroneous execution of "finger pressure" massage for the body of the user who is not performing a specific operation.

On the other hand, when the user breathes in the above-described period in accordance with the instruction, the confirmation unit 95 recognizes that the user is in a state of performing a specific operation by performing the activity in the same period as the period given by the first instruction information in the event that the user is breathing in the above-described period. The control unit 40 is caused to perform the "finger pressure" massage by transmitting the information of the confirmation unit 95 to the control unit 40. Specifically, the mechanical unit 50 is operated so that the kneading balls 51 start pushing up the back.

The "acupressure" by the kneading balls 51 applies a push-up stimulus to a predetermined position of the back by the protrusion of the kneading balls 51, and thereby the back can be massaged by acupressure (see fig. 27).

In a state in which the user breathes at a predetermined cycle, a state in which muscle parts on the back side of the chest of the user are periodically repeatedly strained and relaxed is obtained, unlike a state in which the user does not breathe at a predetermined cycle in a normal posture. In response to this, during the execution of the massage of "finger pressure", the timing of pushing up the predetermined position of the back by increasing the protruding amount of the kneading ball 51 corresponds to the period of inhalation during the user's breath, and the timing of releasing the predetermined position of the back by decreasing the protruding amount of the kneading ball 51 from the pushed-up state corresponds to the period of exhalation during the user's breath (see fig. 27).

In this way, the user can push up the tensed muscle during inhalation to strongly apply the pressing stimulus, and release the tensed muscle from the pushed-up state during exhalation of the user, and the transition of the muscle to the relaxed state due to the release is synchronized with the relaxation of the muscle due to exhalation, so that the transition of the muscle to the relaxed state due to the release is further promoted, the stimulus application to the muscle can be enhanced, and the massage effect such as the relaxation stiffness can be greatly improved.

In this way, the massage of the "finger pressure" in the state of breathing in the above-described cycle causes a change in the quality of the massage itself, and the massage is performed as the same massage different from the case of the normal posture and particularly corresponding to the specific action of the user, so that a special massage effect which cannot be obtained at all in the case of the normal posture can be given, and the user satisfaction can be improved.

When the predetermined time elapses and the user finishes the massage of "finger pressure" by the kneading ball 51 in a specific operation state in which the user breathes in the above-described cycle is instructed, the instruction unit 45 transmits second instruction information including a content instructing the user to stop the specific operation as sound information to the user.

Specifically, "please resume breathing" is output from the instruction unit 45. Sound information of the content of "as second instruction information.

The user stops breathing in the above cycle according to the instruction of the second instruction information, and returns to normal breathing performed in the original normal posture.

Since the user stops the specific operation and returns to the normal posture before the specific operation, the user receives the subsequent massage as the normal massage. By returning to a natural state in which the instruction is not recognized without physical activity, the degree of relaxation of the massage can be improved.

Then, the instruction unit 45 transmits third instruction information including a content instructing the user to answer the evaluation of the effect of the massage of "finger pressure" performed by the user to the user as sound information.

If the user outputs the information of the answer for evaluating the effect of the massage as a sound in accordance with the instruction of the third instruction information and receives the information of the answer by the confirmation unit 95, or if the user inputs the information of the answer through the input means of the operation unit 30, the control unit 40 acquires the information for judging whether or not the information can be used in the massage process after the massage by the control unit 40, and the like.

As described above, the massage machine of the present embodiment is provided with the instruction unit 45 for giving the first instruction information including the instruction content for causing the body of the user to continue to move to the user to be massaged, and the confirmation unit 95 for distinguishing the state in which the user is able to perform the specific operation for causing at least a part of the body to continue to move in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit 45 is provided, and if the first instruction information is given from the instruction unit 45 to the user and the confirmation unit 95 grasps the state in which the user is performing the specific operation in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information, the massage is performed to the massage target portion including the predetermined portion of the body of the user or the vicinity of the predetermined portion of the body of the user in which the body is caused to move to a state different from the previous posture, and the influence of the massage to the predetermined portion of the body is changed from the influence of the massage at the same massage target portion in the case where the body is not caused to continue to move, whereby the predetermined portion of the body or the vicinity thereof is stimulated, and the massage can be given as a new massage different from the conventional massage performed in the state in which the body is not caused to continue to move to the user, and the user can be massaged, and the user can be further relaxed, and the pain can be relieved and the user can be efficiently can be performed more efficiently. Further, by performing the massage when the confirmation unit 95 has grasped that the user has moved his or her body accurately as indicated by the indication information, the massage can be performed accurately at the desired position of the body, and the massage effect can be reliably obtained, and adverse effects on the body due to the massage can be prevented when the user has not moved his or her body as indicated.

(seventh embodiment of the invention)

In the massage machine according to the sixth embodiment, the control unit 40 sets the user to perform the breathing action at a predetermined cycle as the instruction content of the specific action, which is included in the first instruction information transmitted from the instruction unit 45 and is used to cause a part of the body to continue to move, and controls the massage target portion including the muscle portion on the back side of the chest portion, which is expected to change from the state of the posture up to the point in accordance with the instructed action of the user, so that the massage target portion including the body predetermined portion or the vicinity of the body predetermined portion, which is expected to change from the state of the posture up to the point in accordance with the instructed action, is performed, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the control unit 40 may control the execution of the predetermined massage at the body predetermined position, which is the back of the massage target portion, other than the upper and lower predetermined ranges, as the instruction content of the first instruction information.

Specifically, the instruction unit 45 sends the user a sound message indicating "please grasp the distal end of the armrest with the hand and apply the force" as the first instruction message. When the user performs the operation of holding the distal end of the armrest 14 with both hands and continuing the force by the hand in accordance with the instruction of the instruction information, and the confirmation unit 90 grasps the state in which the user performs the operation, the control unit 40 controls the arm airbag 75 to expand and contract to perform the massage on the massage target portion, specifically, the hand and the forearm portion, wherein the massage target portion includes the muscle portion of the hand and the arm portion in which the state of the posture is expected to be changed from the previous state to the state of tension in accordance with the execution of the operation.

With the continuous force application of the hand of the user, the muscle region from the hand to the forearm portion changes from the state before the operation to the tension state. The muscle parts in the tension state cannot be stimulated in the state before the above-described operation in which the hand is not forced, and the massage effect of the arm airbag 75 on the hand and forearm, which are the massage target parts including such muscle parts, can be imparted to the massage effect different from the massage effect of the same massage target parts in the state in which the hand of the user is not forced continuously.

In this case, a sensor capable of detecting the force of the hand in a state where the hand is gripped by the hand may be provided at the distal end portion of the armrest portion 14, and the sensor may be used as a confirmation portion for discriminating whether or not the user is in a state of performing a specific operation of gripping the distal end of the armrest portion 14 with both hands and continuing the force of the hand based on the instruction from the instruction portion 45.

In addition, the instruction unit 45 may be configured to issue sound information of the content "please relax the body" to the user as the first instruction information before the back is massaged using the kneading ball 51 included in the massage process or instructed to be performed by the user's operation, and to distinguish whether or not the user is supposed to move to a state where the user relaxed the body according to the instruction of the instruction information, for example, based on the heart rate and the breathing frequency of the user detected by the non-contact doppler sensor provided to the massage machine, and at this time, the control unit 40 may control the back of the user to perform massage such as kneading by the kneading ball 51.

In this case, since the user is in a relaxed state, even in a state before the user is transferred to the state in which the user's body is not sufficiently relaxed, the user cannot apply a stimulus to the back in which the user is relaxed by the kneading ball 51, and the user can apply an appropriate massage effect to the body after the user is transferred to the state corresponding to the instruction of the instruction information by the kneading ball 51, which is different from the massage to the same massage target portion in the same manner as in the non-relaxed state of the user.

In addition, the massage machine according to each of the above embodiments is configured as a chair-shaped massage machine in which the mechanical unit 50 for moving the kneading balls 51 in accordance with a massage operation such as kneading or knocking is mounted on the backrest 13, and performs a massage while supporting a seated user, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be any other massage machine as long as the massage machine is provided with a massage mechanism that operates by a motor, and may be a cushion or a bed (bed) that performs a massage while supporting a user in a supine or prone position, for example. The massage mechanism is not limited to the mechanism for moving the kneading ball and the air bag, and other stimulus applying members such as rollers and protrusions may be moved according to a suitable stimulus applying manner.

Description of symbols

1-massage machine, 11-base part, 12-seat, 13-backrest, 13 a-backrest frame, 13 b-guide frame, 13 d-auxiliary support part, 14-armrest part, 15-leg support part, 30-operation part, 31-bracket, 40-control part, 45, 48-indication part, 50-mechanical unit, 51-kneading ball, 52-kneading ball support arm, 54-base part, 57-lifting motor, 58-advance and retreat motor, 60-driving part, 63-kneading motor, 64-knocking motor, 70-air pump, 71-hip air bag, 72-thigh air bag, 73-back air bag, 74-waist air bag, 75-arm air bag, 76-leg air bag, 77-foot side air bag, 80, 81-communication terminal, 90, 95-confirmation part.

Claims

1. A massage machine having one or more massage mechanisms that move by a predetermined drive source, the massage mechanism performing massage on a user while supporting the user's body, the massage machine comprising:

a control unit for controlling an operation state of the massage mechanism; and

an instruction unit that gives first instruction information to a user who receives the massage by the massage mechanism at a predetermined timing, the first instruction information including a content that instructs to change the posture by extending or contracting a muscle portion of the user,

When the indication part sends out the first indication information to the user, the control part performs the control of adjusting the position of one or more preset parts of the massage machine for supporting the body of the user so as to promote the body movement related to the posture change of the user according to the indication of the first indication information,

when performing an extended massage on a muscle portion extending from a shoulder portion to a back portion of a user, the control unit moves a back portion supporting the back portion of the user in a reclined direction and moves leg support portions supporting legs of the user in a raised direction.

2. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein,

when the indication part sends out the first indication information,

the control unit controls the massage mechanism to perform a predetermined massage, which is a massage that is supposed to correspond to a specific posture after the posture of the user is predicted to be changed based on the instruction included in the first instruction information by changing the posture of the user according to the instruction included in the first instruction information.

3. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the indication part sends first indication information to a user receiving massage of the massage mechanism, the first indication information comprises content for indicating to enable at least one part of the body of the user to move so as to enable the posture to change or enable at least one part of the body to continue to move,

The massage machine includes a confirmation unit for distinguishing whether or not a user has changed his posture in response to an instruction from the instruction unit, has taken a specific posture after the posture has changed, or whether or not the user is performing a specific action to continue moving at least a part of his body in response to an instruction,

after the instruction unit sends the first instruction information to the user, if the confirmation unit grasps the state in which the user takes the specific posture or the state in which the specific action is performed, the control unit controls the massage mechanism to perform the massage.

4. A massage machine according to claim 3, wherein,

the control unit controls the massage mechanism to perform a predetermined massage corresponding to the specific posture or the specific action of the user on a predetermined part of the body or the vicinity of the part, which is changed with the posture change of the user to the specific posture or the execution of the specific action of the user, from the time when the state of the specific posture or the state of the specific action of the user is grasped by the confirmation unit or from the time when the state of the specific action is grasped.

5. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

The instruction unit issues second instruction information including content that instructs to cancel the specific posture after the posture change of the user.

6. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the instruction unit sends out third instruction information including content for instructing a user to answer the evaluation of the effect of the massage performed by the user after sending out the first instruction information,

the control unit may acquire information related to an answer issued by the user in response to the instruction of the third instruction information.

7. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

before the first instruction information is sent to the user, the instruction unit sends information related to the content of the predetermined massage executed based on the control of the control unit from the first instruction information to the user.

8. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the massage device is provided with an auxiliary support part which is arranged at a preset position of the massage machine and is contacted with a part of the body after the movement to assist in maintaining the posture when the posture of the user is changed according to the instruction of the first instruction information.

9. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the instruction unit outputs the instruction information as information that can be directly received by the sense organ of the user as a stimulus.

10. The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the instruction unit outputs the instruction information as information receivable by a communication terminal having a transmission means capable of transmitting information to a user and carried by the user or worn on the body of the user.

11. A massage machine having one or more massage mechanisms that move by a predetermined drive source, the massage mechanism performing massage on a user while supporting the user's body, the massage machine comprising:

a control unit for controlling an operation state of the massage mechanism; and

an instruction unit that gives a first instruction message to a user who receives the massage by the massage unit, the first instruction message including a content instructing the user to move at least a part of the body to extend or contract a muscle portion from a normal posture to change the posture or to move at least a part of the body continuously,

when performing an extended massage on a muscle portion extending from a shoulder portion to a back portion of a user, the control unit moves a back portion supporting the back portion of the user in a reclined direction and moves leg support portions supporting legs of the user in a raised direction,

after the instruction unit issues the first instruction information to the user, the control unit controls the massage mechanism to perform the massage when information is acquired from the outside, the information being recognized as a state in which the user has changed posture in response to an instruction from the instruction unit and has assumed a specific posture after the posture has changed, or a state in which the user has instructed to perform a specific action for continuing to move at least a part of the body.