JP2000262574A - Air massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air massage device capable of massaging like rubbing a body. SOLUTION: A massage device in which a plurality of air bags A1 to B6 which are arranged on a supporting face 10a of a mat part (massage device body) provided with a massage face 10a for supporting a body and which are expanded/shrunk by air supplying/exhausting, and air is supplied/exhausted to/from the air bags A1 to B6 by an air supplying/exhausting device 20 to expand the air bags A1 to B6. In this massage device, by starting to supply air to an adjacent air bag in the expanding sequential direction before starting exhausting of an expanded bag, rubbing stimuli are give by moving an expansion points of the air bags.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air massager for performing massage by expanding and contracting an air bag by air supply and exhaust.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a mat type air massage machine in which an air bag is arranged in a mat portion, or a chair type air massage machine in which an air bag is arranged in a back portion of a chair or the like has been widely used.

[0003] This kind of air massage machine is
Air is supplied and exhausted by an air supply and exhaust device composed of an air generation means composed of a pump and a distributor composed of a rotary valve to inflate and contract the air bag to perform massage.

[0004] The conventional air massage machine is configured to supply and exhaust air to and from a plurality of air bags sequentially by one air generating means and one distributor connected to the air generating means. I have.

[0005] For this reason, each air bag is configured to supply and exhaust air one by one in order.
When one airbag is inflated, the other airbag is in a contracted state. Therefore, any airbag that is inflated and the airbag adjacent to this airbag (adjacent to the downstream side in the direction of sequential inflation) at the same time, or the arbitrary, that is, the upstream airbag is contracted from inflated or exhausted. Before the transition to, the air bag adjacent to the downstream side cannot be inflated, that is, inflated and contracted when air supply is started.

For this reason, a plurality of airbags are simultaneously inflated and inflated, and for example, airbags which are located at every other one of the plurality are alternately inflated and contracted. Alternatively, it is not possible to perform the time-difference inflation from a plurality of airbags from the upstream side to the downstream side to massage while giving a so-called wave-like feeling to the body.

Further, for example, when a plurality of solenoid valves are used to inflate and inflate the air bag at the same time, since only one air generating means is used, the amount of supplied air is reduced, so that the massage effect is reduced. Will decrease.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional air massage machine, one air generating means and one distributor connected to the air generating means sequentially supply air to a plurality of air bags. Since it is designed to supply and exhaust air, it is possible to inflate and inflate a plurality of air bags at the same time, to inflate and inflate the air bags constituting these groups alternately as a plurality of air bags, or a plurality of air bags. The air bag cannot be operated in a wave-like manner by causing the time difference inflation from the upstream side to the downstream side, so that the body to be treated cannot be massaged in various modes, and a good massage effect can be obtained. Is not always satisfactory from the viewpoint of obtaining

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an invention according to claim 1 is provided with a massage machine main body having a support surface for supporting a body, and a massage machine body provided on the support surface. A plurality of air bags which expand and contract by air supply and exhaust, an air supply and exhaust device having an air generating means and a distributor for supplying and exhausting air to and from the air bag, and control means for controlling the air supply and exhaust device; In the air massager, which sequentially inflates the air bag by supplying and exhausting air from the air supply and exhaust device, before the evacuation of the inflating air bag is started, the next adjacent air bag to be inflated is expanded. This is an air massage machine that starts supplying air to the air massager.

As described above, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a massage machine main body having a support surface for supporting a body, a plurality of airbags provided on the support surface and expanded and contracted by air supply and exhaust, and an air generator. An air supply and exhaust device having means and a distributor for supplying and exhausting air to and from the air bag,
A control means for controlling the air supply / exhaust device, wherein in the air massage machine which sequentially inflates the air bag by air supply / exhaust from the air supply / exhaust device, before the evacuation of the inflated air bag is started In addition, since the supply of air to the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated is started, the inflation of the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated before the contraction of the inflated airbag starts is started. Since this operation shifts in the forward direction in which the plurality of airbags are inflated, the inflation and contraction of the airbags is not an intermittent pressing operation, but a smooth wave-like pressing operation. A so-called rubbing stimulus can be given to the treatment section, so that comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing / relaxation, thereby improving the massage effect. Those having an effect of being able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a massage machine main body having a support surface for supporting a body, a plurality of airbags provided on the support surface and inflated by air supply and exhaust of air, and an air generating means. And an air supply / exhaust device having a distributor for supplying / exhausting air to / from the airbag, and control means for controlling the air supply / exhaust device, wherein the airbag is supplied / exhausted with air from the air supply / exhaust device. In the air massage machine for inflating, the distributor, the first distributor to which a plurality of airbags of the plurality of airbags are connected, and the remaining plurality of airbags of the plurality of airbags And a second distributor connected to the first distributor, the air bag connected to the first distributor and the air bag connected to the second distributor alternately. It is obtained by the location the air massager.

[0012] Thus, the invention according to claim 2 comprises a massage machine main body having a support surface for supporting the body, a plurality of airbags provided on the support surface and inflated by air supply and exhaust, and an air generator. An air supply and exhaust device having means and a distributor for supplying and exhausting air to and from the air bag,
Control means for controlling this air supply and exhaust device, and an air massage machine that inflates the air bag by air supply and exhaust from the air supply and exhaust device,
The distributor includes a first distributor to which a plurality of airbags among the plurality of airbags are connected, and a second distributor to which a plurality of remaining airbags among the plurality of airbags are connected. And the air bag connected to the first distributor is arranged alternately with the air bag connected to the second distributor, so that the air bag connected to the first distributor By simultaneously controlling the first distributor and the second distributor to inflate and deflate the air bags connected to the second distributor and the second distributor, all the air bags can be simultaneously inflated and deflated. It is also possible to alternately inflate and inflate the air bag connected to the first distributor and the air bag connected to the second distributor, and to deflate the first distributor and the second distributor. By controlling, adjacent That the air bag from being able to expand and contract alternately, it is possible to massage the treatment site by the pressing-relaxation variegated and has an effect that it is possible to improve the massage effect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the first distributor and the second distributor are air massagers each having a rotary valve.

As described above, in the invention according to claim 3, since the first distributor and the second distributor are each constituted by a rotary valve in the invention according to claim 2, the invention according to claim 2 is realized. In addition to the operation, by controlling both rotary valves to simultaneously supply and exhaust air to and from the adjacent air bag, the two adjacent air bags perform inflating and contracting operations in pairs, and this inflating and contracting operation is performed in the forward direction of inflation. As a result, a large wave-like pressing operation is performed, and a so-called rubbing stimulus can be given to the treatment target of the body. Therefore, comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing / relaxation, thereby improving the massage effect. By controlling so as to alternately supply and exhaust air to and from adjacent air bags, adjacent air bags alternately expand and contract. Is moved in the forward direction to expand, resulting in a small wave-like pressing action, which can similarly stimulate the body to be treated by rubbing, thereby providing comfort in addition to pressing / relaxation It has the action of:

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag is sequentially inflated, and the airbag is inflated before the inflated airbag starts being evacuated. This is an air massage machine that starts supplying air to the air bag.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag is sequentially inflated, and the adjacent airbag is inflated before the inflated airbag starts being evacuated. Since the supply of air to the airbag is started, in addition to the function of the invention according to claim 2, the forward adjacent air to be inflated before the inflating airbag starts to contract. The inflation of the bag is started, and a smooth wave-like pressing operation is performed by the adjacent airbag, so that the so-called rubbing stimulus can be given to the treatment portion of the body, and therefore, in addition to the pressing / relaxation, comfort can be provided. It has the effect that the massage effect can be improved because it can provide the massage.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air massage machine according to the second to fourth aspects, wherein separate air generating means are connected to the respective distributors.

As described above, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second to fourth aspects of the present invention, separate air generators are respectively connected to the respective distributors. In addition to the effect of the invention described above, the present invention has an effect that the supply amount of air to be supplied to the air bag can be secured and the massage effect can be improved.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mat type air massage machine will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a mat type air massage machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a massage machine) 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the massage machine 1 has a mat section 10 as a massage machine body and an air supply. And an exhaust device 20.

The mat portion 10 is composed of a mat core material (hereinafter simply referred to as a core material) 11 and a cover 12 which covers the core material 11.
“a” is a support surface that is supported by the body. As shown in the figure, a pair of connecting members 13 and 14 are spaced apart from each other at one end in the longitudinal direction of the mat portion 10, that is, at the end on the side where the user positions his / her feet when lying on the mat portion. Is provided.

On the upper surface of the core material 11 of the mat portion 10, six airbags A1 to A6,
The airbags B1 to B6 are arranged alternately. One ends of hoses 13a to 13f are connected to the air bags A1 to A6, respectively, and the other ends of the hoses 13a to 13f are connected to the connector 13. Similarly, one ends of hoses 14a to 14f are connected to the air bags B1 to B6.
To 14f are connected to the connector 14.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the air supply / exhaust device 20 has a housing 21 and a housing 2 provided in the housing 21.
One air generating means, that is, first air generating means 22
a, second air generating means 22b (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 2) and both air generating means 22a, 22b
Are connected to the first distributor 23a, the second distributor 23b, and the control means 24.

The first air generating means 22
a, the second air generating means 22b is constituted by a pump in which the diaphragm is amplitude-controlled by a vibrator vibrating by a known electromagnetic means. A first distributor 23a and a second distributor 2 for sequentially supplying the air generated from the air generating means 22a and 22b to the air bags A1 to A6 and B1 to B6.
3b is composed of the rotary valve 30 having the same configuration.

The configuration of the rotary valve 30 is, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, a fixed body 32 having a circular outer peripheral surface attached to the main body case 31, a distributing body 33 spaced apart from the fixed body 32 and similarly attached to the main body case 31, and the fixed body 32 and the distributing body 33. And a rotating body 34 that rotates around the outer periphery of the fixed body 32, a stepping motor 35 that rotates the rotating body 34, and a detecting unit 36 that detects the rotational position of the rotating body 34. Things.

A gear 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body 34.
c is integrally formed, and the rotating shaft 35a of the stepping motor 35 has teeth 3 meshed with the gear 34c.
A gear 45b having 5c is attached, and the rotating body 34 is rotated via these gears 35b and 34c.

The detecting means 36 comprises four light emitting elements 36a and light receiving elements 36b facing each other,
A different combination of through-holes is formed between the two elements 36a and 36b and transmits the light from the light emitting element 36a, and the rotating plate 36c rotates together with the rotating body 34 attached to the rotating body 34. It is composed of The position of the rotating body 34 is detected by the light receiving of the light receiving element 36b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed body 32 has an air supply hole 32a penetrating the center thereof, and the distributor 33 has an exhaust hole 33a formed at the center. Further, a plurality of (six in the figure) supply ports 33b to 33g are provided on the same circumference around the exhaust hole 33a as shown in FIG.

Further, in the rotating body 34, the lower end opening in the drawing is made to coincide with the axis of the air supply hole 32a of the fixed body 32, and the supply of the distributor 33 in the process of rotating the other end opening. A communication path 34a communicating with any one of the ports 33b to 33g is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, an arc-shaped upper surface of the rotating body 34 communicates with other supply ports except for a supply port opposed to an upper end opening of the communication passage 34a and communicates with the exhaust hole 33a. And an exhaust passage 34b formed of a linear groove, and the air in the airbag communicating with the supply opening is supplied from the supply opening facing the exhaust passage 34b among the supply openings 33b to 33g. The air is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust hole 33a and contracts.

A supply port facing the communication passage 34a (in FIG. 3, the supply port 33b is opposed to the air supply port 33b.
3b is a hose 16a connected to the air bag A1.
Is connected to the air bag), air is supplied to the air bag communicating with the supply port to inflate the air bag.

That is, when the rotating body 34 is rotated by the stepping motor 35, air is supplied from the supply port facing the communication path 34a to the air bag communicating with the supply port, The air in the airbag, which is gradually expanded and the other supply ports are expanded through the exhaust path 34b, is exhausted through the exhaust holes 33a and gradually contracts as the air is exhausted.

One end of a hose 15a is connected to an air supply hole 32a of the fixed body 32 of the rotary valve 30 as the first distributor 23a, and the other end of the hose 15a is connected to the first end as shown in FIG. It is connected to the discharge port of one air generating means 22a. Further, one ends of hoses 16a to 16f are connected to the supply ports 33b to 33g of the distributor 33, respectively, and the other ends of the hoses 16a to 16f are connected to the connector 16 (indicated by a two-dot chain line) as shown in FIG. (Shown). The hose 1
6a to 16f are hose covers 16 as shown in FIG.
g.

Further, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) is connected to the exhaust hole 33a, and the electromagnetic valve is controlled and operated by a control means, for example, when executing an alternate mode described later.

Similarly, a hose 1 is provided in an air supply hole 32a of the fixed body 32 of the rotary valve 30 as the second distributor 23b.
One end of the hose 5b (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is connected, and the other end of the hose 15b is connected to a discharge port of the second air generating means 22b as shown in FIG.

Further, the supply port 33b of the distributor 33
To 33g have hoses 17a to 17f respectively
The other ends of the hoses 17a to 17f are connected to a connector 17 (shown by a two-dot chain line) as shown in FIG. The hoses 17a to 17f are collectively housed in a hose cover 17g as shown in FIG.

Similarly, the exhaust hole 33a is connected to a solenoid valve operated by control means when executing the alternate mode.

An operation panel 25 is provided on the front surface of the housing 21. The operation panel 25 is a mode for setting various operation modes for inflating or expanding or operating the airbags A1 to B6. A control switch 26 such as a setting switch, an operation start switch, and an operation stop switch is provided.

A connection port 27 is provided on a side surface of the housing 21. The connection port 27 is connected to the hoses 16a to 16a.
connecting device 1 connecting the end portions of f and 17a to 17f
8 are detachably connected. A power cord 28 is drawn out from the side of the housing 21.

Next, the control structure of the massage machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, the first air generator 22a is connected to the first distributor 23a via the hose 15a, and the distributor 23a is connected to the hose 16a. 16f, and the connector 16 connected to the end of each of the hoses 16a to 16f is a connector 13 to which the hoses 13a to 13f to which the air bags A1 to A6 are connected are connected.
It is connected to the.

Similarly, the second distributor 23b is connected to the second air generator 22b via the hose 15b.
Are connected to the distributor 23b, and the hoses 17a to 17f are connected to the distributor 23b.
The connectors 17 connected to the ends of a to 17f are:
The hoses 14a to 14f to which the airbags B1 to B6 are connected are connected to the connecting device 14 to which the hoses 14a to 14f are connected.

Further, the first air generating means 22a,
The second air generating means 22b, the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b, that is, the stepping motor 35 of the rotary valve 30 is controlled by the control means 24 including a microcomputer or the like.

The control means 24 includes the operation panel 25
Operation modes, start signals, stop signals, the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b, that is, the rotating body 3 of the rotary valve 30,
A detection signal of a detecting means 36 (not shown in FIG. 2) for detecting the position of No. 4 is input, and when the operation mode is set, the control means 24 operates according to the set operation mode. The first air generating means 22a and the second air generating means 22 are configured to inflate and contract the air bags A1 to B6 in a predetermined order.
b, for controlling the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b.

The operation mode is a sequential mode,
The sequential mode is a direction in which the airbag is sequentially inflated and contracted, that is, a direction in which the airbag is moved from the airbag A1 to the airbag B6 in the drawing (hereinafter referred to as an inflation direction or an inflation forward direction). ), Air is supplied to an airbag (for example, an airbag A1) located on the upstream side in the forward direction of inflation so that the airbag is inflated to a maximum (this is not necessarily the maximum inflation), and the airbag A1 is Before starting the evacuation, the airbag located downstream of the airbag A1 in the forward direction of inflation (in this case, the airbag B)
The air supply of 1) is started and the air is gradually expanded.

After a predetermined time (this time is arbitrarily set) has elapsed after the supply of air to the air bag B1 is started, the air in the air bag A1 is started to be evacuated and contracted. Then, the airbag B1 is inflated to the maximum extent, and before the airbag B1 is evacuated, the airbag located adjacent to the airbag B1 and located downstream in the forward direction of inflation (in this case, the airbag A2). The air supply of the air bag B1 is started to gradually inflate, and after a predetermined time elapses after the start of the air supply to the air bag A2, the air exhaust of the air bag B1 is started to contract.

Similarly, when the airbag B6 at the most downstream side in the forward direction of inflation is inflated to the maximum, the air supply to the airbag A1 is started before the evacuation of the airbag B6 is started, and this operation is repeated. Mode.

The direction of inflation may be reversed from the airbag B6 to the airbag A1.
Alternatively, the direction from the airbag A1 to the airbag B6 may be the inflation forward direction, and when the airbag A6 reaches the airbag B6, the reverse direction may be the inflation forward direction.

In the alternate mode, the air bags A1 to A6 are grouped into one group (hereinafter referred to as group A), and the air bags B1 to B6 are grouped as one group (hereinafter referred to as group B). This is an operation mode in which the expansion and contraction and the expansion and contraction of the group B are performed alternately, that is, when the group A is expanded, the group B is contracted, and when the group A is contracted, the group B is expanded.

In this alternate operation mode, as described above, the airbag A1 on the upstream side in the inflation forward direction in the pair of adjacent airbags (for example, the airbag A1 and the airbag B1) of the group A and the group B is further provided. In the state in which the airbag A1 was inflated to the maximum, the airbag B1 was started to supply air before the airbag A1 was evacuated, and after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start, the airbag A1 was evacuated and the airbag A1 was inflated to the maximum. A first alternate mode in which air supply to the airbag A1 is started before the airbag B1 in the state is started to be exhausted, and exhaustion of the airbag B1 is started after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start; After contracting to the minimum, start supplying air to the airbags of group A,
There is a second alternating mode in which the supply of air to the air bag of the group B is started after the air bag of the group A is contracted to the minimum.

In the simultaneous mode, the inflation and deflation of all the air bags in the group A, that is, the air bags A1 to A6, and all the air bags in the group B, that is, the air bags B1 to B6 are synchronized. Operation mode.

Next, the case where the massage is performed by setting the sequential mode of the massage machine will be described.

When the sequential mode is set by the user from the panel device 25, the control means 24 executes the first air generating device 22a, the second generating device 22b, and the first mode so as to execute the sequential mode. Of the distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b.

That is, the control means 24 controls the first distributor 2
The communication path 34a of the rotating body 34 communicates with the air bag A1 based on a detection signal indicating which supply port of the distributor 33 faces the communication path 34a of the rotating body 34 detected by the detecting means 36 of 3a. The distributor 33 is rotated so as to face the supply port 33b of the distributor 33.

This operation is performed between t1 and t2 in FIG. 5. When the communication path 34a and the supply port 33b face each other, the control means 24 maintains this state until time t5.

When the communication passage 34a of the rotating body 34 faces the supply port 33b of the distributor 33 at the time point t2, the control means 24 operates the first air generating means 22a to operate t
When the time reaches 5, the operation is stopped. Then, when the first air generating means 22a operates from t2 to t5,
During this time, the air from the first air generating means 22a is supplied to the air supply hole 32a of the fixed body 32 and the communication passage 34 of the rotating body 34.
a, the air bag A1 is supplied to the air bag A1 via the supply port 33b of the distributor 33, the hose 16a, and the hose 13a. The air bag A1 is an inflation curve X1 in FIG. 5 (in this case, a substantially linear curve). Gradually expands as shown by
At time point 5, the maximum amount of expansion is reached.

As the air is inflated by the start of air supply, the pressing force of the body part corresponding to the air bag A1 gradually increases, and massage is performed by the pressing force.

Further, the control means 24 determines t3 in FIG.
At the time point (the time point is approximately halfway between t2 and t5).
When this time can also be set arbitrarily), the communication path 34a of the rotating body 34 similarly detected by the detecting means 36 of the second distributor 23b faces any supply port of the distributor 33. The distributor 3 that communicates the communication path 34a of the rotating body 34 with the airbag B1 based on the detection signal of whether
3 so as to face the supply port 33b. This operation is performed during the period from t3 to t4 in FIG. 5, and when opposed, the control means 24 keeps this state until the time t7.

At the time t4, the communication path 34 of the rotating body 34
When a faces the supply port 33b of the distributor 33, the control means 24 operates the second air generation means 22b and stops the operation when the time reaches t7. When the second air generating means 22b operates from t4 to t7, air from the second air generating means 22b is supplied to the air supply hole 32a of the fixed body 32, the communication passage 34a of the rotating body 34, the distributor 33 Supply port 33b, hose 17a, hose 14a
The airbag B1 is gradually inflated as shown by an inflation curve X2 in FIG. 5 (similarly a linear curve) and reaches a maximum inflation amount at time t7. Reach

By the inflation, a part of the body corresponding to the airbag B1 (this part is located on the downstream side in the forward inflation direction with respect to the part of the body in the airbag A1) is similarly pressed and massaged. .

At time t5, the control means 24 rotates the rotating body 34 of the first distributor 23a so that the communication path 34a faces the supply port 33c of the distributor 33. This operation is performed between t5 and t6.

At time t6 (set at a substantially intermediate point between t4 and t7), the communication passage 34a and the supply port 33c
At this time, the supply port 33b is
, The air in the air bag A1 flows through the hose 13a, the hose 16a, the supply port 33b, the exhaust path 34b, the exhaust port 33a, and the electromagnetic valve (not shown) which is opened. And is evacuated to the outside and evacuated and contracted according to an evacuation curve Y1 (substantially linear).

The amount of exhaust can be changed by changing the flow path cross-sectional area of the exhaust path 34b formed in the rotating body 34 and the exhaust port 33a formed in the distributor 33, or by changing the opening area of the solenoid valve (not shown). The slope of the exhaust curve can be arbitrarily set by this adjustment.

The control means 24 operates the first air supply / exhaust air 23a when the time reaches t6. As a result, the supply of air to the airbag A2 is started, and the airbag A2 gradually expands as shown by an expansion curve X3 in FIG. 5, and a body part corresponding to the airbag A2 (this part is the airbag B1). (Which is located on the downstream side in the forward direction of expansion) from the part where the body is to be compressed.

At time t7, the control means 24 rotates the rotating body 34 of the second distributor 23b so that the communication path 34a thereof faces the supply port 33c of the distributor 33. This operation is performed between t7 and t8.

When the communication path 34a of the second distributor 23b and the supply port 33c correspond at time t8 (set at a substantially intermediate point between t6 and t9), the supply port 33b rotates at this time. The air in the air bag B1 is opposed to the exhaust passage 34b of the body 24.
a, the hose 16a, the supply port 33b, the exhaust path 34b, the exhaust port 33a, and exhaust through the solenoid valve (not shown) to the outside, and exhaust and contract as shown in an exhaust curve Y2.

Further, the control means 24 operates the second air supply / exhaust air 23a when the time reaches t8. As a result, the supply of air to the airbag B2 is started, and the airbag B2 gradually expands as shown by an expansion curve X4 in FIG. 5, and a body part corresponding to the airbag B2 (this part is the airbag A2). Is located on the downstream side in the forward direction of inflation of the body), and is pressed and massaged.

As is clear from FIG. 5, during the supply of air to the air bag A1, that is, before the exhaust of the air bag A1 is started, the air bag B1 is supplied to the air bag B1 adjacent to the downstream side in the inflating forward direction. Since the supply of air is started, as shown by the expansion curves X1 and X2, the air bag B1 is in the process of being inflated.
Begins to inflate, the maximum inflation point P of the airbag A1
Before reaching 1, the inflation of the airbag B1 proceeds, and when it reaches the maximum inflation point P1 of the airbag A1, the airbag B1 then reaches the maximum inflation point P2.

Similarly, during the supply of air to the air bag B1, that is, before the exhaust of the air bag B1 is started, the air bag A2 adjacent to the air bag A
Since the supply of air to the air is started, the expansion curve X
2. As indicated by X3, the airbag A2 starts to inflate during the inflation of the airbag B1.
Before reaching the maximum inflation point P2 of the airbag B1, the inflation of the airbag A2 proceeds. When the airbag B1 reaches the maximum inflation point P2, the airbag A2 then reaches the maximum inflation point P3.

Similarly, before the airbag A2 reaches the maximum inflation point P2, the inflation of the airbag B2 proceeds. When the airbag A2 reaches the maximum inflation point P3, the airbag B2 then reaches the maximum inflation point P3. Will be.

This operation proceeds in the order of the airbags A3 and B3 in the order of inflation, and when the airbag B8 is reached, the operation returns to A1 again. This operation is repeated, and massage is performed.

The air bags A1 to B6
Since the air supply of the air bag adjacent to the downstream side in the inflation direction is started before the exhaust of the air bag in the upstream side in the inflation direction is started, as shown in FIG. The maximum inflation point of A1 or the airbag B6 shifts as indicated by P1, P2, and P3. At this time, since the maximum inflation points are temporally close to each other, the maximum inflation point is substantially continuously downstream of the inflation forward direction. The user is subjected to a so-called rubbing stimulus because of the transition, i.e. the continuous, wave-like pressing force applied to the user. That is, a rubbing effect can be obtained.

In the above case, the first distributor 23a,
When switching the communication path 34a of the second distributor 23b, the first air generation unit 22a and the second air generation unit 22
Although b is stopped, it may be operated continuously when the switching time is short.

Next, a case will be described in which the operation of the massage machine is set in the alternate mode and massage is performed.

When the first alternate mode is set by the user from the panel device 25, the control means 24 executes the first alternate mode by executing the first air generator 22a and the second alternate mode. Generator 22b, first distributor 23
a and the second distributor 23b.

That is, when the first alternate mode is set, the control means 24 sets the first air distributor 23a
The electromagnetic valve (not shown) connected to the exhaust hole 33a is closed, and then the first air generating means 22a is operated and the first distributor 23a is operated, that is, the rotating body 34 is operated.
Is rotated continuously. That is, by continuously rotating the rotating body 34, the first distributor 23
Air is supplied to the air bags A1 to A6 connected to a, that is, the air bags of the group A, and the air bags A1 to A6 start inflating almost simultaneously.

Further, the control means 24 connects to the exhaust hole 33a of the second distributor 23b before the air is supplied to the airbags of the group A, that is, before the maximum inflation is reached and the exhaust is started. The electromagnetic valve (not shown) is closed, and then the second air generating means 22b is operated, and the second distributor 23b is operated, that is, the rotating body 34 is operated.
Is rotated continuously.

That is, the rotating body 34 of the second distributor 23b
Are continuously rotated, so that the air bags B1 to B6 connected to the second distributor 23b are rotated.
That is, air is supplied to the airbags of the group B, and the airbags of the group B start to inflate almost simultaneously.

Further, the control means 24 opens the electromagnetic valve connected to the exhaust hole 33a of the first distributor 23a before the airbag of the group B reaches the maximum inflation, and continuously connects the rotating body 34. The air in the airbag of the group A is exhausted and contracted by rotating the airbag.

Next, the control means 24 controls the first distributor 23a before the air is supplied to the airbags of the group B, that is, before the maximum inflation is reached and the evacuation is started.
The electromagnetic valve (not shown) connected to the exhaust hole 33a is closed, and then the first air generating means 22a is operated and the first distributor 23a is operated, that is, the rotating body 34 is operated.
Is rotated continuously.

Then, by continuously rotating the rotating body 34 of the first distributor 23a, air is supplied to the air bags of the air bag group A connected to the first distributor 23a. Then, the airbags of the airbag group A start inflating almost simultaneously.

The control means 24 opens the solenoid valve connected to the exhaust hole 33b of the second distributor 23b before the airbag of the group A reaches the maximum inflation,
The rotator 34 is continuously rotated to exhaust and contract the air in the airbags of the group B. Then, this operation is repeated.

Thus, during the supply of air to the airbags of the airbag group A, that is, before starting the exhaust, the supply of air to the airbags of the group B is started.
Since the airbags of the group A started to be evacuated and contracted before the airbags of the group were inflated to the maximum, the maximum inflation points of the airbags on the upstream side and the airbag on the downstream side in the adjacent inflation forward direction were increased. Since they are close in time, the maximum expansion point shifts substantially continuously to the downstream side in the forward direction of expansion, so that this user can be given a stimulus of so-called rubbing.

When the second alternate mode is set by the user, the control means 24 is connected to the exhaust hole 32a of the first distributor 23a to close the solenoid valve (not shown),
The first air generating means 22a is operated, and the first distributor 23a is operated. As a result, the air is supplied to the airbags of the group A substantially at the same time and starts to inflate at the same time.

When the airbags in the group A are inflated to the maximum, the control means 24 sets the first air generation means 22a.
Is stopped, and the solenoid valve connected to the exhaust hole 32a is opened. As a result, the air in each airbag of the group A is exhausted.

When the air bags in the group A are evacuated, the control means 24 is connected to the exhaust holes 32a of the second distributor 23a, closes the electromagnetic valve (not shown), and generates the second air. The second distributor 23a is operated while the means 22b is operated. As a result, the air is supplied to the airbags of the group B substantially at the same time, and starts to expand at the same time.

When each of the air bags in the group B is inflated to the maximum, the control means 24 controls the second air generation means 22.
While stopping the operation of b, the solenoid valve connected to the exhaust hole 32a of the second distributor 23b is opened. As a result, the air in each airbag of the group A is exhausted.

That is, in the second alternate mode, the airbags of the group B are kept in a contracted state, and in this state, the airbags of the group A are inflated. The inflating / contracting operation of inflating the airbags of the group is repeated.
By alternately inflating and inflating the airbags of the group, that is, alternately as a group, it is possible to press each part of the body, so that the user is given a different stimulus compared to the case where each airbag is sequentially inflated and inflated individually It can improve the massage effect.

Next, a case in which the massage machine is set to the simultaneous mode to perform a massage will be described.

When the simultaneous mode is set by the user from the panel device 25, the control means 24 executes the first air generating device 22a, the second generating device 22b, and the first distribution device so as to execute the simultaneous mode. Controls the distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b.

That is, when this alternate mode is set,
The control means 24 closes the electromagnetic valves (not shown) connected to the respective exhaust holes 33a of the first air distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b, and then closes the first air generator 22a and the second air generator 22a. And the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b are operated, that is, the respective rotating bodies 34 are continuously rotated.

The rotating bodies 34 are continuously rotated to rotate the airbags of the group A connected to the first distributor 23a and the airbags B connected to the second distributor 23b.
Air is supplied to the air bags of the group, and the air bags of the group A and the group B start inflating almost simultaneously.

When the airbags of the group A and the group B reach the maximum inflation, the control means 24 connects to the respective exhaust holes 33a of the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b. The opened solenoid valve (not shown) is opened, and in this state, the rotating bodies 34 of the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b are continuously rotated, and the groups A and B
The air in the group of airbags is evacuated and these airbags are simultaneously contracted. Then, this operation is repeated.

As described above, in the simultaneous mode, the airbags of the groups A and B are repeatedly inflated and contracted in synchronism, and this inflation causes massage of each part of the body corresponding to each of the airbags. What is done. Also in this case, the user can improve the massage effect because the entire body is pressed and relaxed at the same time, so that the user receives a stimulus different from the stimulus caused by the inflation of each airbag alone.

In the above embodiment, the two distributors, ie, the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b
And a configuration in which the first air generation means 22a and the second air generation means 22b are connected to the two distributors 23a and 23b, that is, two air generation means are provided. To supply the air to the two air distributors 23a and 23b.

In the case of such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, one end of a hose 123 is connected to the discharge port of the air generating means 122, and the other end of the hose 123 is branched. One solenoid valve 124a and second solenoid valve 124
b, and the first solenoid valve 124a and the first distributor 23a are connected by a hose 125a,
Further, the second solenoid valve 124b and the second distributor 23b
May be connected by a hose 125b.

When the above-described sequential mode and alternate mode are executed, the air generating means 122 is operated by the control device 24, and when the air is supplied to the air bags A1 to A6, the second electromagnetic valve 124 is used.
b, the first solenoid valve 124a is opened, the first distributor 23a is operated to supply air, and when supplying air to the air bags B1 to B6, the first solenoid valve 124a is used. Is closed, the second solenoid valve 124b is opened, and the second distributor 23b is operated to supply air.

When executing the simultaneous mode, the first solenoid valve 124a and the second solenoid valve 124b are simultaneously opened, and in this state, the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b are operated. It's all you have to do.

The first electromagnetic valve 124a and the second electromagnetic valve 124b are controlled to supply air from the air generating means 122 to the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b. Except for the above, the control in each of the above modes is the same, and therefore the description is omitted.

As described above, the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b are provided by one air generating means 122.
If it is configured to supply air to the two distributors,
Although two solenoid valves are required, the solenoid valves are smaller than the air generating means and are inexpensive, so that there is an advantage that the air generator 20 can be made smaller and less expensive. However, in the case where the two air generating means 22a and 22b are provided as in the above-described embodiment, when the air controlling means having the same capacity as the case of using one air generating means is used, each air Bag A1 or B
Since the supply amount of air per unit time to the air bag 6 can be increased, that is, it is possible to obtain a sufficient pressing force without lengthening the cycle of inflating and contracting the air bag.

In the above-described embodiment, the sequential mode is configured such that the airbags are inflated and contracted in the order of A1, B2, A2, and B2 in the order of inflation.
This means that the two airbags A1 and B1 are simultaneously supplied with air, and the airbags A1 and B1 are inflated.
2, air supply may be started at the same time. In such a case, the massage is performed by a large wave-like pressing force as compared with a case where the operation is performed one by one in the expansion forward direction, and a large rubbing stimulus is obtained.

When air is supplied to and exhausted from the two air bags at the same time, the rotating member 34 of the rotary valve 30 is used.
In this case, the communication path 34a may be formed in an oval shape along the circumferential direction so as to always correspond to two of the supply ports formed in the distributor 33. In this case, the group A If the two airbags are alternately arranged in pairs and in group B, the two airbags can be operated in the inflating forward direction as described above, and the massage can be performed by a large wave-like pressing force. Is what you can do.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the distributor is constituted by a rotary valve has been described. However, although the structure is slightly complicated, the electromagnetic valve or the like connected to each of the air bags A1 to B6 is used. And the valve means may be controlled by the control means.

Since the massager 1 starts supplying air to the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated before the inflation of the inflated airbag is started, the massaging of the inflated airbag is started. The inflation of the airbag adjacent in the forward direction to be inflated before the inflation of the airbag starts is started, and this operation shifts in the forward direction in which the plurality of airbags are inflated. It is not a pressing operation but a smooth waving pressing operation, and the treated part of the body can give a so-called rubbing stimulus. Therefore, in addition to pressing and relaxing, it is possible to impart comfort and improve the massage effect. Is what you can do.

The air bags A1 to A6 connected to the first distributor 23a and the air bags B1 to B6 connected to the second distributor 23b are simultaneously inflated.
By controlling the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b so as to deflate, all the airbags can be inflated and deflated at the same time.
a of the first distributor 2 so as to alternately inflate and deflate the airbags A1 to A6 connected to the airbag A and the airbags B1 to B6 connected to the second distributor 23b.
By controlling the 3a and the second distributor 23b, it is possible to alternately inflate and contract the adjacent airbags, so that the treatment target can be massaged by a variety of pressing / relaxation, thereby improving the massage effect. Is what you can do.

Further, since the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b are each constituted by a rotary valve 30, by controlling both the rotary valves 30 to simultaneously supply and exhaust air to adjacent air bags, The two adjacent airbags A1 and B1 and A2 and B2 are paired and expanded and contracted, and the expanding and contracting operation shifts in the forward direction of inflation, resulting in a large wave-like pressing operation, thereby treating the body. The part can give a so-called rubbing stimulus.

Therefore, comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing / relaxation, so that the massage effect can be improved. In addition, by controlling the rotary valve 30 to alternately supply and exhaust air to and from the adjacent air bag, The adjacent airbags are alternately inflated and contracted, and this operation can be shifted in the forward direction of inflation, resulting in a small wave-like pressing operation, and similarly, the treated part of the body is given a so-called rubbing stimulus. Therefore, comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing and relaxing.

Further, separate air generating means 22a and second air generating means 22b are connected to the first distributor 23a and the second distributor 23b, respectively.
The massage effect that can secure the supply amount of the air supplied to the air bag can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a mat type air massage machine has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other types such as a chair type air massage machine.

[0109]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention provides a massage machine body having a support surface for supporting a body, and a plurality of air bags provided on the support surface and inflated by air supply and exhaust of air. An air supply / exhaust device having an air generation unit and a distributor for supplying / exhausting air to / from the air bag; and a control unit for controlling the air supply / exhaust device. In the air massage machine for sequentially inflating the air bag, before the evacuation of the inflating air bag is started, since the supply of air to the next air bag in the forward direction to be inflated is started, Before the deflation of the inflating airbag is started, the inflation of the airbag adjacent in the forward direction is started, and this operation is performed by a plurality of airbags. Since the air bag moves in the forward direction, the inflation of the airbag is not an intermittent pressing operation, but a smooth wavy pressing operation, which can give a stimulus of rubbing the body to be treated. Can,
Therefore, since comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing and relaxing, the massage effect can be improved.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides a massage machine main body having a support surface for supporting the body, a plurality of airbags provided on the support surface and expanded and contracted by air supply and exhaust, and an air generating means. And an air supply / exhaust device having a distributor for supplying / exhausting air to / from the airbag, and control means for controlling the air supply / exhaust device, wherein the airbag is supplied / exhausted with air from the air supply / exhaust device. In the air massage machine for inflating, the distributor, the first distributor to which a plurality of airbags of the plurality of airbags are connected, and the remaining plurality of airbags of the plurality of airbags And a second distributor connected to the first distributor, the air bag connected to the first distributor and the air bag connected to the second distributor alternately. From the placement, the first distributor and the second distributor are simultaneously inflated and deflated the airbag connected to the first distributor and the airbag connected to the second distributor. By controlling, all the air bags can be inflated and deflated simultaneously, and the air bags connected to the first distributor and the air bags connected to the second distributor are alternately inflated and deflated. By controlling the first distributor and the second distributor so as to cause the adjacent airbags to be alternately inflated and contracted, the treatment target can be massaged by a variety of pressure and relaxation. Therefore, it has the effect that the massage effect can be improved.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the first distributor and the second distributor are each constituted by a rotary valve in the invention according to claim 2, so that the effect of the invention according to claim 3 is achieved. In addition, by controlling the two rotary valves to simultaneously supply and exhaust air to and from the adjacent air bags, the two adjacent air bags perform inflating and contracting operations in pairs, and the inflating and contracting operations move in the forward direction of inflation. It is possible to give a so-called rubbing stimulus to the treated part of the body because it becomes a large wave-like pressing action from
Therefore, comfort can be imparted in addition to pressing / relaxation, so that the massage effect can be improved. In addition, by controlling the air supply and exhaust to the adjacent air bags alternately, the adjacent air bags are inflated alternately. It contracts, and this movement moves in the forward direction to expand, resulting in a small wave-like pressing operation, which can similarly give a stimulus of rubbing the treated part of the body, and therefore, in addition to pressing and relaxing, This has the effect of providing comfort.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag is sequentially inflated, and the airbag in the forward direction is inflated before the inflated airbag is started to be evacuated. Since the supply of air to the airbag is started, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 2, the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated before the contraction of the inflated airbag is started. Inflation is started, and a smooth wave-like pressing operation is performed by the adjacent airbag, so that a stimulus of so-called rubbing can be given to the treatment portion of the body, and therefore, in addition to pressing / relaxation, comfort can be provided. Therefore, it has an effect that the massage effect can be improved.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claims 2 to 4, separate air generators are connected to the respective distributors. In addition to the effects of the invention described above, there is an effect that the supply amount of air supplied to the air bag can be secured and the massage effect can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a mat type air massage machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control configuration of the mat type air massage machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a rotary valve as a distributor of the mat type air massage machine.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotary valve of the rotary valve as viewed from a distributor side.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an operation sequence of an air bag and the like of the mat type air massage machine.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another control configuration of the mat type air massage machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air massage machine 10 Mat part (massage machine main body) 10a Mat surface (body supporting surface) A1-B6 Air bags 22a, 22b Air generation means (part of air supply / exhaust device) 24 Control means 23a, 23b Distributor ( Part of the air supply / exhaust device)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B096 AB03 AC12 AC15 AD03 4C100 AD02 AF02 BB05 BC12 BC14 CA13 CA15 DA04 DA05 DA06 DA10 EA20

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A massaging machine body having a support surface for supporting a body, a plurality of airbags provided on the support surface and expanded and contracted by supply and exhaust of air, an air generating means, and a distributor. An air massager that includes an air supply / exhaust device for supplying / exhausting air to / from the bag and control means for controlling the air supply / exhaust device, and sequentially inflates the airbag by supplying / exhausting air from the air supply / exhaust device. An air massage machine characterized in that the air supply to the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated is started before the inflation of the inflated airbag is started. 2. A massaging machine having a support surface for supporting a body, a plurality of airbags disposed on the support surface and expanded and contracted by supply and exhaust of air, an air generating means, and a distributor. An air massager that includes an air supply / exhaust device for supplying / exhausting air to / from the bag and control means for controlling the air supply / exhaust device, and inflates the air bag by supplying / exhausting air from the air supply / exhaust device, The distributor includes a first distributor to which a plurality of airbags among the plurality of airbags are connected, and a second distributor to which a plurality of remaining airbags among the plurality of airbags are connected. And an air bag connected to the first distributor and an air bag connected to the second distributor are alternately arranged. -Massage machine. 3. The air massage machine according to claim 2, wherein the first distributor and the second distributor are constituted by rotary valves. 4. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the airbag is sequentially inflated, and the supply of air to the next airbag in the forward direction to be inflated before the evacuation of the inflated airbag is started. Air massage machine characterized by doing. 5. The air massage machine according to claim 2, wherein separate air generators are connected to the respective distributors.