JP2000175980A - Air massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain various massaged feeling by adjusting the flow rate of air to be supplied for an air cell so as to adjust a pressurizing speed. SOLUTION: An air massaging machine provided with the air cell 2 executing massaging operation to a body by expansion and contraction with the supply and exhaust of air and an air supply and exhaust circuit supplying and exhausting air to the cell 2 is provided with a flow rate adjusting means 7 adjusting the flow rate of air supplied and exhausted to the cell 2 and a control part 5 for operating this means 7. The means 7 is constituted flow rate adjusting valve 4 capable of freely adjusting the flow rate of air and a valve driving part 6 driving the valve 4 and the part 5 operates the part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pneumatic massage machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, air supply and exhaust are alternately repeated with respect to an air cell, thereby inflating and expanding the air cell.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an air-type massage machine that causes contraction, thereby causing a body to directly or indirectly perform a massage operation such as fir or tataki (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-89).
No. 540).

[0003]

The inflation speed of the air cell is the speed of pressing (including acupressure and hitting) on the body, and the difference in the pressing speed has a subtle effect on the feeling of treatment.

However, in the conventional pneumatic massage machine, the flow rate of air supplied to the air cell is constant, so that the expansion rate of the air cell is constant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an air type massage machine capable of adjusting a pressing speed by adjusting a flow rate of air supplied to an air cell and obtaining various massage feelings. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the following technical measures have been taken in order to achieve the above object.

That is, the air-type massage machine according to the present invention includes an air cell for performing a massage operation on the body by expansion and contraction accompanying the supply and discharge of air, and an air supply and exhaust circuit for supplying and discharging air to and from the air cell. The air type massage machine further includes a flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of air supplied to and discharged from the air cell, and a control unit for operating the flow rate adjusting means.

With this configuration, the flow rate of the air sent to the air cell can be adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means. Also, since this adjustment can be performed by the control unit, various operations can be realized.

The flow rate adjusting means may be constituted by a flow rate control valve capable of adjusting the flow rate of air, and a valve drive unit for driving the flow rate control valve. In this case, the control unit operates the valve drive unit.

According to this configuration, the flow rate of the air is adjusted by the flow control valve.

Here, the valve drive section may be configured so that the flow rate adjustment by the flow rate control valve can be switched in a stepwise manner, or may be a steplessly switchable one.

Further, the flow rate adjusting means includes a plurality of fixed throttle valves and a switching valve for switching an air flow to each fixed throttle valve, and the control section operates the switching valve. Can be.

According to this configuration, the flow rate of the air flowing through the air cell can be adjusted by the plurality of fixed throttle valves by switching by the switching valve.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an air-type massage machine 1 according to the present invention.

The massage machine 1 has an air cell 2 that expands and contracts with the supply and discharge of air, and an air supply and discharge circuit 3 that supplies and discharges air to and from the air cell 2. A flow control valve (variable throttle valve) 4 is provided at an appropriate position in the air supply / discharge circuit 3, and the flow control valve 4 can be operated by a valve drive unit 6 that can be remotely operated by a control unit 5. Thus, a flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting unit) 7 is constituted.

The air cell 2 is a hollow body such as a cylinder having a bellows 2a provided on an outer peripheral portion, and is formed of a resin material having a certain degree of flexibility. Therefore, when the air is supplied, the bellows 2a is expanded in the axial direction by extending the bellows 2a, and when the air is exhausted, the bellows 2a is folded and contracted to return to the original state.

[0018] By repeating such an inflating operation and a contracting operation, a massage operation such as fir, tataki, and acupressure is directly or indirectly performed on a predetermined part of the body.

When the air is exhausted from the air cell 2, it is preferable to perform forced suction in order to quickly and surely perform the contraction operation, and to maintain the contracted state in the normal state by using the air cell. It is preferable to provide a return spring (not shown) inside or outside the second member 2.

The air supply / discharge circuit 3 has a switching valve 10 connected to an air supply source comprising a pump 8 and an accumulator 9.
The flow control valve 4 is connected to the switching valve 10 via a pipe 29, and the air cell 2 is connected to the flow control valve 4 via a pipe 30.
Is connected.

When a plurality of air cells 2 are provided, a manifold 11 branched into a plurality of distribution paths 26, 26a, 26b, 26c is provided between the accumulator 9 and the switching valve 10, and the manifold 11 is provided. The switching valves 10 and the flow control valves 4 are connected by the number of air cells 2 that need to be switched.

Each switching valve 10 is a remotely controllable valve such as a solenoid valve or a motor-operated valve.
7a, 27b and 27c are electrically connected to the control unit 5 for switching the operation of the air cell 2 respectively. It is preferable that each of the switching valves 10 is set to a state of air supply to the air cell 2 by excitation, and is set to an exhaust state of the air cell 2 by demagnetization.

The flow control valve 4 has a plunger 17 movably housed in a cylinder 16 having a valve hole 15 on one end side. The plunger 17 has a tapered shaft-like shape which can be inserted into the valve hole 15. The needle end 18 is provided.

That is, the flow control valve 4 constitutes a needle valve, and as the plunger 17 moves, the opening area between the circumference of the valve hole 15 and the needle valve 18 changes.
The flow rate can be adjusted. Eventually, if the flow rate changes, the expansion speed and the contraction speed in the air cell 2 will increase or decrease.

A spring 20 for generating a resilient force between the plunger 17 and the bottom of the cylinder 16 is inserted around the needle end 18 so that the needle end 18 is always inserted through the valve hole 15. An urging force in the pushing direction acts.

The valve drive section 6 enables the plunger 17 of the flow control valve 4 to be pressed and driven by a linear drive tool 21 such as a fluid pressure cylinder or a solenoid via a connecting shaft 22 while opposing a spring 20. is there.

As the linear driving tool 21, for example, a connecting shaft 22
If the valve which can be stopped alternately between the extended position and the retracted position is used, the flow control valve 4 performs two-stage switching between the multi-flow position and the small flow position, and also has a linear drive. By using a tool that can be stopped at three or more positions, the flow control valve 4 can also increase the number of switching stages accordingly.

The control unit 5 includes control signal lines 28, 28a, 2
The valve drive unit 6 is caused to perform the above-described stepwise stop operation via the valve drive circuit 12 connected by 8b and 28c. I have it. It is assumed that the hand operation unit 24 is provided with a plurality of switches 25 for selecting the stop positions set in the linear driving tool 21 of the valve driving unit 6 according to the number of stop positions.

It is preferable that the control unit 5 is configured to operate the valve driving unit 6 in conjunction with the operation of each switching valve 10.

That is, for example, when the operation of the air cell 2 is switched to the expansion and contraction when the air cell 2 contracts, or when the operation of the air cell 2 is switched to the contraction, the valve driving unit 6 is operated. The valve driving unit 6 is operated in accordance with the timing of changing the supply / discharge amount of air to / from the air cell 2, in the course of inflating the air cell 2, in the course of contracting the air cell 2, and the like. Or the amount of air supply / discharge to the air conditioner can be changed.

For this reason, it is possible to easily adjust the strength and speed of the expansion / contraction of the air cell 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of the arrangement of the air cells 2 and an example of a built-in structure when the massage machine 1 is applied to a chair type.

In this chair type massage machine 1,
It has a backrest portion 30, a seat surface portion 31, and a footrest 32, and the backrest portion 30 and the footrest 32 are reclined with respect to the seat surface portion 31 so as to be interlocked with each other by electric or fluid pressure driving or manually or individually. It is swingably connected.

The air cell 2 is arranged for each of the backrest portion 30, the seat surface portion 31, and the footrest 32, so that a massage operation suitable for each part is performed on a plurality of parts of the body. In addition, the air supply / discharge circuit 3 and the control unit 5 are housed and installed in a space below the seat surface 31 or the like.

Inside the backrest 30, an upper movable table 35 which can be moved up and down by a vertical screw feed mechanism 34,
A lower fixed base 36 fixed below is provided.

Of these, the upper movable table 35 has
Two air cells 2A and two air cells 2B below are provided. This upper air cell 2A is
8, the neck can be massaged, and the lower air cell 2B can massage the back via the operation element 39.

The lower fixed base 36 has two air cells 2
C are provided, and these can massage the waist through the operation element 20.

The air cell 2A for massaging the neck will be described as an example, and the specific built-in structure will be further described. A pair of hinge portions 42 are symmetrically arranged on the upper movable base 35 at the left and right central positions. And these hinge portions 42
Accordingly, a left-right symmetric bracket member 43 bent in an L-shape is provided so as to be swingable right and left.

The front protruding portion 43a of the bracket member 43 has a mounting shaft 44 whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction.
A rotatable operator 38 in the form of a roller made of an elastic material is rotatably provided through the connector.

Further, between the back side of each bracket member 43 and the upper movable platform 35, the inclined platform 4 which becomes thicker toward the left and right outwards.
5, an air cell 2A is attached. In addition,
A return spring 46 for urging the air cell 2A to contract is attached to the hinge portion 42.

From the above, the left and right air cells 2A
Are simultaneously inflated and contracted, the left and right bracket members 43 swing about the hinge portion 42, and the two operators 38 move closer to and away from each other while moving back and forth. Thereby, a fir operation is obtained.

Air cell 2B for back and waist massage
2C is also incorporated in substantially the same manner, except that the shapes of the bracket member 43 and the operating element 38 are different.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the seat surface portion 31 has two air cells 2D on the rear side and two air cells 2 on the front side.
E is provided. The rear air cell 2D can massage the buttocks, and the front air cell 2E
Can massage the back of the thigh.

The footrest 32 is provided with groove-shaped footrests 48 on which the left and right feet can be placed separately. Two air cells 2F are provided on the bottom surface of the footrests 48 near the seating surface 31. A total of four air cells 2G, 2H are provided between each two opposing surfaces on the front side.

The air cell 2F near the seat 31 can massage the back of the calf via the operating element 49, and the air cells 2G and 2H near the front can massage the ankle in a pinched manner.

Next, based on the situation where the pneumatic massage machine 1 having the above configuration is specifically operated by the control unit 5,
The control method according to the present invention will be described.

First, it is assumed that an operation for weakening a stimulus is performed on the hand operation unit 24.

In response to this, the control unit 5 makes the valve driving unit 6
An operation of pressing the plunger 17 of the flow control valve 4 is performed to reduce an opening area formed between the circumference of the valve hole 15 and the needle end 18. Therefore, the supply and discharge amount of the air flowing through the valve hole 15 is reduced, and the air cell 2 has a reduced inflation speed and a reduced contraction speed.

By the way, at this time, when the operation of the air cell 2 is switched from contraction to expansion, and the time frame of the expansion process is fixed to a predetermined range, the air cell 2 has an insufficient degree of expansion. As it is (i.e., before it is completely inflated), it will move on to the next contraction, resulting in a soft stimulating massage action.

When the air cell 2 switches its operation from inflation to deflation and the time frame of the deflation process is fixed to a predetermined range, the air cell 2 remains in an insufficient degree of contraction ( That is, before the air is completely removed, the next inflation is performed, and as a result, a massage operation of a soft stimulus in a form that leaves a rugged feeling is obtained.

However, unlike the above, if the time frame in the inflation / deflation process of the air cell 2 is not fixed (that is, the operation is switched when the inflation or deflation is completed), as a result, the inflation / deflation cycle This is the same as setting a longer time, and a spacious massage operation can be obtained as a whole.

On the other hand, assuming that the operations of the control unit 5, the valve driving unit 6, and the flow control valve 4 are performed during the expansion of the air cell 2, the air cell 2 operates quickly at the rising stage of the expansion. However, the operation becomes a shifting operation such that the operation is switched to a slow operation at a predetermined point in time near the completion of the expansion. Therefore, a tasteful and individual massage operation can be obtained.

If the operations of the control unit 5, the valve driving unit 6, and the flow control valve 4 are performed during the contraction of the air cell 2, the air cell 2 is a quick operation at the stage of starting the contraction. However, the operation becomes a shifting operation such that the operation is switched to a slow operation at a predetermined time when the contraction is completed. Therefore, also in this case, a tasteful and individual massage operation can be obtained.

When an operation for increasing the stimulus is performed by the above-mentioned hand operation unit 24, the control unit 5, the valve driving unit 6, and the flow control valve 4 operate in the opposite manner to the above, so that the inflation speed of the air cell 2 is increased. And the contraction speed becomes faster.

Therefore, common to all the above cases,
The cycle time of expansion and contraction of the air cell 2 is shortened, and a powerful stimulating massage operation is obtained.

From the above, it is possible to adjust the intensity of the stimulus and adjust the speed of the stimulus according to the user's preference. Moreover,
As the massage operation, a taste having irregularity can be selected, and it is possible to prevent the user from getting used to and getting tired by feeling similar to a manual massage.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the pneumatic massage machine 1 according to the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the first
The difference from the embodiment (FIG. 1) is that the valve drive unit 6 is provided with a rotary driving tool 52 such as a motor, and this rotary driving tool 52 is connected to the flow control valve 4 via a screw connection shaft 53. Of the plunger 17 can be driven to be pressed. This screw connection shaft 53 is
It is screwed into the end 54 opposite to the valve hole 15.

The operation unit 24 of the control unit 5 is provided with a dial 55 and the like that enable the operation amount of the rotary driving tool 52 to be set in a stepless manner.

That is, the dial 55 of the hand operation unit 24
Is operated, the rotation driving tool 52 of the valve drive unit 6 rotates the screw connection shaft 53, and the plunger 17 of the flow rate control valve 4 moves forward and backward by the forward and backward movement of the screw connection shaft 53 according to the amount of rotation. Thus, the opening area between the circumference of the valve hole 15 and the needle end 18 changes.

As described above, the stop position of the plunger 17 in the flow control valve 4 is determined by the dial 55 of the hand operation unit 24.
Can be selected steplessly according to the operated amount, so that the opening area between the circumference of the valve hole 15 and the needle end 18, that is, the flow rate can be adjusted steplessly.

It should be noted that also in the second embodiment, the first
As in the embodiment, a hand operation unit 24 including a plurality of switches 25 can be provided to enable stepwise selection.

FIG. 5 shows a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the flow rate adjusting means 7 is configured by interposing three (plural) fixed throttle valves 33, 33a, 33b connected in parallel between the air cell 2 and the switching valve 10. I have.

Of the respective throttle valves, the first throttle valve 33 is directly connected to the switching valve 10, while the other second throttle valve 33a
And the third throttle valve 33b are connected to the switching valve 10 via two-position two-port solenoid valves 32a and 32b, respectively.

Each of the solenoid valves 32a and 32b is used to turn on and off the flow of air from the switching valve 10.
When 2a is turned on, air flows through the second throttle valve 33a, and when it is turned off, air does not flow through the second throttle valve 33a. Similarly, by turning on and off the solenoid valve 32b,
The third throttle valve 33b can control the flow of air.

The second throttle valve 33a and the third throttle valve 33
The throttle amount is different from b.
The amount of air flowing through a and 33b is different.

The solenoid valves 32a and 33b are connected to the valve drive circuit 12
, And the ON / OFF of each of the solenoid valves 32a and 32b is controlled by a signal from the control unit 5.

Here, if both the solenoid valves 32a and 32b are turned off as shown in FIG. 5, only the passage (air passage) from the switching valve 10 to the air cell 2 passes through the first throttle valve 33. (First state). When only the solenoid valve 32a is in the ON state, the air passage passes through both the first throttle valve 33 and the second throttle valve 33a (second state).
Further, when only the solenoid valve 32b is turned on, the air passage passes through both the first throttle valve 33 and the third throttle valve 33b (third state). The solenoid valve 32a and the solenoid valve 3
When both 2b are in the ON state, the air passage passes through all the throttle valves 33, 33a, 33b (fourth state).

The air flow rate is minimum in the first state, maximum in the fourth state, and intermediate between the second state and the third state. As described above, by switching each solenoid valve 32, the flow rate of air can be adjusted stepwise.

The structure of which the description is omitted is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the flow rate adjusting means 7 has a first fixed throttle valve 33 and a second throttle valve 33a connected in parallel, and a check valve 34a is provided between the second throttle valve 33a and the switching valve 10. Are connected.

FIG. 6 (A) shows the check valve 34a so that the throttle resistance decreases and the flow increases in the air supply state, and the throttle resistance increases and the flow decreases in the exhaust state. FIG. 6B shows a check valve in which the throttle resistance increases and the flow decreases in the air supply state, and the throttle resistance decreases and the flow increases in the exhaust state. 34a is connected in reverse.

FIG. 6C shows the state of the change in the throttle resistance. The throttle resistance increases and decreases when the air supply and exhaust are switched. In the present embodiment, the aperture resistance is adjusted in two stages.

The circuits shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B can employ necessary circuits depending on whether the throttle resistance increases or decreases during air supply.

According to the present embodiment, a simple configuration can be achieved without the need for a solenoid valve or other control means for adjusting the flow rate.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, the massage machine 1 is not limited to be implemented as a chair type, but may be a bed (mat) type or the like, and may have a shoulder, back, waist, calf,
It is also possible to carry out the present invention as a small-sized hand-held type or flat-type type which is partially used for feet or the like.

Each of the air cells 2 may be formed in a square cylindrical shape (having an outer peripheral portion having a bellows 2a) or may be formed in another appropriate hollow body (a balloon type having no bellows structure). .

As the linear driving tool 21 used in the valve driving section 6 of the first embodiment, a pinion gear is rotated by a motor, and a rack is meshed with the pinion gear, so that the linear movement of the rack is controlled by the connection shaft 22 or the flow rate adjustment. The structure which transmits directly to the plunger 17 of the valve 4 may be sufficient.

The flow control valve 4 is not limited to the needle valve type as described above, but may be any other type as long as the flow rate can be adjusted. Accordingly, with the structure of the flow control valve 4, the structure of the valve drive unit 6 can be further variously changed.

The control unit 5 may operate the valve drive unit 6 in a single operation each time the operation is switched by the user, or may perform a single menu selection operation by the user during the automatic operation mode. A program that appropriately incorporates various operations of the valve drive unit 6 may be executed.

The control section 5 may be provided with a rhythm generating device (not shown) for music or the like, and the valve driving section 6 may perform various operations in accordance with the rhythm.

In addition, the detailed structure of each part can be appropriately changed.

[0084]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the pneumatic massage machine of the present invention, a flow control valve is provided in the air supply / discharge circuit, and the air flow is controlled by operating the flow control valve. Since the air supply and discharge amount is variable, the degree of stimulation can be adjusted according to the place desired by the user, and it is possible to select a taste with irregularity as a massage operation Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from getting used to and getting tired of feeling similar to a manual massage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a first embodiment of an air massager according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific example in which the pneumatic massage machine according to the present invention is applied to a chair type.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an air cell incorporating structure corresponding to the position of line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view conceptually showing a second embodiment of the pneumatic massage machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a main part of a third embodiment of the pneumatic massage machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 (A) shows a main part of a fourth embodiment of the pneumatic massage machine according to the present invention, (B) is a modification of (A), and (C) is It is a figure showing diaphragm resistance in (A) and (B).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-type massage machine 2 Air cell 3 Air supply / discharge circuit 4 Flow control valve 5 Control part 6 Valve drive part 7 Flow control means 8 Pump 32a Switching valve 32b Switching valve 33 Fixed throttle valve 33a Fixed throttle valve 33b Fixed throttle valve

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An air massaging system comprising: an air cell (2) for performing a massage operation on a body by expansion and contraction accompanying air supply and discharge; and an air supply and exhaust circuit for supplying and discharging air to and from the air cell (2). A pneumatic massage machine, comprising: a flow rate adjusting means (7) for adjusting a flow rate of air supplied to and discharged from the air cell (2). 2. An air massaging system comprising: an air cell (2) for performing a massage operation on a body by expansion and contraction accompanying air supply and discharge; and an air supply and exhaust circuit for supplying and discharging air to and from the air cell (2). The machine comprises: a flow rate adjusting means (7) for adjusting a flow rate of air supplied to and discharged from the air cell (2); and a control unit (5) for operating the flow rate adjusting means (7). An air massage machine characterized by the following. 3. The flow control means (7) comprises a flow control valve (4) capable of controlling the flow rate of air, and the flow control valve (4).
The pneumatic massage machine according to claim 2, further comprising a valve drive section (6) for driving the valve drive section, wherein the control section operates the valve drive section (6). 4. The pneumatic massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the valve driving section (6) is capable of switching a flow rate control by a flow rate control valve (4) in a stepwise manner. 5. The pneumatic massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the valve drive section (6) is capable of steplessly switching the flow rate adjustment by a flow rate adjustment valve (4). 6. The flow control means (7) includes a plurality of fixed throttle valves (33, 33a, 33b) and the fixed throttle valve (3).
A switching valve (32a, 32b) for switching the flow of air to the control valve (32a, 32b).
The pneumatic massage machine according to claim 2, wherein the air massage machine is operated.