JP2001204780A - Massage machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massage machine by which the promotion of a blood circulation is efficiently and surely performed by stimulation. SOLUTION: This machine is provided with a massage mechanism part 1 for massaging, a measuring means 11 for measuring the temperature of a body to be massaged by the part 1, an arithmetic means 12 for calculating a temperature change pattern based on the output of the means 11 and a strength control means 13 for controlling the strength of stimulation by the part 1 based on the output of the means 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a massage machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various massage machines have been provided for massaging parts such as feet, hands, waist, shoulders and the like. However, many of these devices adjust the stimulus intensity or the like by the user himself. For example, FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram illustrating a conventional massage machine, and FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an operation unit. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a massage mechanism for executing a massage operation, and a treatment element 17 for stimulating a body (treatment site) is provided. 18 is an operation unit, 19 is an operation unit 1
8 is a power switch provided for turning on / off the operation of the massage mechanism unit 16, for example. 20
Reference numeral denotes an operation panel, which is provided with a selection switch 21 for the user to select a desired stimulation intensity, and a display unit 22 for displaying the selected intensity with an LED, a liquid crystal, or the like.

[0003] The treatment site is placed on the treatment element 17, the power switch 19 is turned on, and the driving of the massage mechanism 16 is started. The user can select a desired strength by using the selection switch 21 and the display unit 22. Then, the massage drive unit 16 is driven based on the selection switch 21 by a control unit (not shown).

[0004] On the other hand, conventionally, there has been a device such as a chair-type massage machine in which adjustment of stimulation intensity and movement of a stimulation site are automatically performed. However, they operate according to the contents programmed in advance.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional massage machine, the intensity of a desired stimulus can be obtained by manually selecting the intensity from the user. However, in order to promote blood circulation, Furthermore, it is necessary to finely adjust the stimulus intensity according to the change pattern of the skin temperature. On the other hand, in a chair-type massage machine, the strength can be automatically controlled by a predetermined program, but it does not correspond to the change pattern of the skin temperature, and blood circulation is sufficiently promoted. It was not something.

[0006] In addition to the skin temperature, the biological indices that change with stimulation include heart rate, brain waves, respiratory rate, and the like. In the case of heart rate, if electrodes are directly connected to the limbs of the body and measured, the measurement can be performed with relatively high accuracy. However, in order to reduce the burden on the user, if electrodes are not attached to the body and heart rate is measured by analyzing vibrations from the buttocks, for example, it is susceptible to noise and becomes a complicated measurement means. , The cost is also high. The brain wave has a signal level of μV level, is easily affected by noise, the analysis means is complicated, and the cost increases. Further, the values of the heart rate, the brain wave, and the like change due to slight fluctuations in the load on the mental surface, so that it is difficult to detect an accurate value. On the other hand, in the case of skin temperature,
There is a merit that even if there is a change in load on the mental surface, the change is small and can be measured by simple means.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine capable of efficiently and reliably promoting blood circulation by stimulation.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a massage machine comprising: a massage mechanism for performing massage; measuring means for measuring a temperature of a body to be massaged by the massage mechanism; and an output of the measuring means. And a strength control means for controlling the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism based on the output of the calculation means.

Further, the intensity control means decreases the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus with respect to the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus by the output from the arithmetic means, and thereafter changes to a stable state or a rise in the low temperature range. Control to adjust the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism, and then detect that the measured temperature has risen and then stabilized in the high temperature range, and adjust the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism. Is what you do.

Further, the intensity control means decreases the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus with respect to the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus and thereafter stabilizes in the low temperature range, or turns to an increase, based on the output from the arithmetic means. Detecting that, adjust the stimulation of the massage mechanism weaker or stop driving the massage mechanism, then the measured temperature rises, and then when the massage mechanism becomes stable in a high temperature range, the massage mechanism Control is performed so as to return the stimulus or restart the driving of the massage mechanism.

When the intensity control means detects that the temperature of the body does not change even if the stimulation is started, or that the temperature rises, based on the output from the calculation means, the stimulation of the massage mechanism is increased. To control.

A massaging mechanism for massaging the body; measuring means for measuring the temperature of the body to be massaged by the massaging mechanism; calculating means for calculating a temperature change pattern based on an output of the measuring means; Position control means for moving the stimulation position of the massage mechanism based on the output of the arithmetic means is provided.

[0013] The position control means may include an output from the arithmetic means, wherein the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus is reduced with respect to the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus, and then stabilizes in a low temperature range or starts to increase. Is detected, and the stimulation site by the massage mechanism is moved.

A massaging mechanism for massaging the body; measuring means for measuring the temperature of the body to be massaged by the massaging mechanism; calculating means for calculating a temperature change pattern based on an output of the measuring means; Control means for moving the stimulus intensity and the stimulus position of the massage mechanism based on the output of the arithmetic means, wherein the control means moves the stimulus site after performing the stimulus intensity control a predetermined number of times. It is.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a massage machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a display panel, FIG. 3 is a control block diagram, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between skin temperature and use time. In the figure, 1 is a massage mechanism for executing a massage operation, 2 is a treatment section provided in the massage mechanism 1 for giving a stimulus to the body, 3 is an operation section, and a power switch 4
And display panel 5 for displaying skin temperature, irritation intensity, etc.
Is provided. The strength of the stimulus indicates, for example, the degree of the force of pressing the body, the degree of the speed at which the treatment section 2 is driven, and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the skin at or near the part to be massaged by the user. Reference numeral 7 denotes fixing means for bringing the treatment part into contact with the temperature sensor 6, which is urged toward the body by an elastic member such as a spring. Have been. Reference numeral 8 denotes a detection unit that detects a skin temperature measurement and a pattern of temperature change based on a value detected by the temperature sensor 6, and 9 controls the massage mechanism unit 1 according to a pattern detected based on the detection unit 8. It is a control unit. An example of the configuration of the display panel 5 is shown in FIG. 2, and a display unit 10 such as a liquid crystal or an LED is provided.
For example, the current skin temperature and the intensity of the stimulus can be recognized at the lighting position of the display unit 10.

The detecting section 8 includes a skin temperature measuring means 11 for measuring the skin temperature of the stimulation site via the temperature sensor 6, and a skin temperature change pattern for calculating a skin temperature change pattern based on the output from the skin temperature measuring means 11. Arithmetic means 12 is provided. The control unit 9 includes a skin temperature change calculating unit 1.
A stimulus intensity adjusting unit 13 (intensity control unit) that controls the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism unit 1 based on the output from the second unit 2 is provided.

The massage mechanism 1 includes, for example, a foot,
It massages hands, hips, shoulders, etc., and includes a treatment section 1 driven by a driving means such as a motor.
The shape of the treatment section 1, the shape of the treatment element, the driving method, the rotation direction, and the like are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately designed as needed.

Further, in the first embodiment, the purpose of the temperature sensor 6 is to measure the temperature of the stimulus (treatment) part of the body, and the temperature sensor 6 is provided with a thermocouple attached directly to the stimulus part and the skin in the vicinity thereof. Such a contact type or a non-contact type using infrared rays may be used.

First, the skin temperature change calculating means 12 stores the skin temperature immediately before starting the stimulation as an initial value t (10). Then, after the stimulation is started, the skin temperature t (1n) is input at predetermined time intervals through the skin temperature measuring means 11, and the initial value t (10)
Then, the change pattern of the temperature is calculated in comparison with. Generally, when stimulation is started at a predetermined intensity, the skin temperature t (1n) is
As shown in the figure, it descends. In the control unit 9, the temperature decreases after the stimulation is started, and then the skin temperature becomes constant or starts to increase in a low temperature range, and the skin temperature t (1
When it is detected that n) ≦ skin temperature t (1nn), the massage mechanism 1 is controlled. For example, stimulus intensity adjusting means 1
3, the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism 1 is adjusted to be weaker. Instead of weakening the stimulus, the stimulus may be temporarily stopped.

Thereafter, the stimulation is continued with the adjusted intensity,
(If the stimulation is temporarily stopped, the stopped state is continued.) When it is detected again that the skin temperature is constant and reaches the skin temperature t (20), the stimulation intensity adjusting means 13 causes the stimulation intensity to be adjusted. To its original strength. Then, the skin temperature t (20) is stored as a reference value, and the skin temperature t (2n) measured by the skin temperature measuring means 11 via the temperature sensor 6 at predetermined time intervals.
And the initial value t (20). Thereafter, the part where the skin temperature has become constant or the part that has started to rise, the skin temperature t (2n) ≦
When the skin temperature reaches t (21nn), the drive of the massage mechanism 1 (such as the intensity of stimulation) is adjusted. Hereinafter, this control is repeated.

On the other hand, if the skin temperature does not decrease even if the skin temperature immediately before the start of the stimulation and the initial value t (10) is continued or rises, Leave the strength as it is and wait for a while until it drops. At this time, the intensity of the stimulus is not constant, but may be adjusted to be stronger. Then, when the skin temperature decreases, the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism 1 is controlled by the control method described above.

Here, the timing for changing the intensity of the stimulus by the control unit 9 will be described. The timing of changing the intensity of the stimulus falls with respect to the skin temperature immediately before the start of the stimulus, and then, when it starts to stabilize at low temperatures,
It is when the temperature starts to rise. At this time, if the stimulus intensity is not changed and the stimulus is continued at the same intensity, the skin temperature does not readily rise, for example, as shown by the line A in FIG. On the other hand, when the intensity of the stimulus is controlled when the temperature starts to stabilize at a low temperature or when the temperature starts to rise, the rising gradient becomes large as shown by the line B in FIG.

This is due to the action of the vasomotor nerve of the living body based on physical stimulation. In other words, when a stimulus is applied, the blood vessel contracts, so that the blood flow in that part decreases, and as a result, the skin temperature decreases. However, this vasoconstriction does not last forever, but stops at a certain level, and then turns to dilation. If the stimulus is strong when turning to dilation, the rate of dilation will be slowed, and consequently, the rate of rise in skin temperature will also be low.

Therefore, the skin temperature can be efficiently increased by reducing the intensity of the stimulus. Then, when the intensity of the stimulus is restored again, the speed of the vasoconstriction again becomes equal to the initial state, and the skin temperature decreases. As described above, by adjusting the intensity of the stimulus, the rate of decrease and rise in skin temperature can be controlled, and as a result, blood circulation can be efficiently and reliably promoted.

As described above, the case where the skin temperature immediately before the start of the stimulus is lowered at first, and then the stimulus intensity is adjusted to be weaker at the time when the temperature starts to stabilize at a low temperature or at the time when the temperature starts to rise. However, it has been found that the same effect can be obtained by temporarily stopping the driving of the stimulus. Further, in order to increase the rate of decrease in the skin temperature immediately before the start of the stimulation, the intensity of the stimulation may be increased while observing the changing state of the skin temperature. If the strength of the physical stimulus is at a level at which the user does not feel uncomfortable, the control is based on the tendency that when the stimulus is weak, the degree of vasoconstriction is small, and conversely, when the stimulus is strong, the vasoconstriction increases.

According to the first embodiment, since the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism is controlled based on the change pattern of the skin temperature, the massage can be performed according to the condition of the living body. Therefore, blood circulation can be efficiently and reliably increased.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a massage machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a control block. In the figure, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the stimulation site is moved instead of changing the stimulation intensity. In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a moving mechanism for moving the massage mechanism 1 (including the treatment section 2), and 15 is provided in the controller 9, and controls driving of the moving mechanism 14 based on an output from the detector 8. It is a position control means. Further, the display panel 5 displays, for example, the skin temperature and the position of the treatment section 2 of the massage mechanism section 1.

The timing at which the position of the stimulus is changed by the control unit 9 having the position control means 15 will be described. The timing of changing the position of the stimulus is a point in time when the skin temperature drops / falls from the skin temperature immediately before the start of the stimulus and then starts to stabilize at a low temperature or a point in time when the temperature starts to rise. That is, once a blood vessel starts to contract due to stimulation, the contraction proceeds to a certain level. Thereafter, the blood vessels begin to expand due to the balance action of the living body, and the skin temperature rises. After the blood vessels are contracted to a certain level by the stimulation (skin temperature is stable at a low temperature), if the stimulation at that site is stopped and stimulation is started at a new site, blood circulation can be efficiently and widely promoted. Things.

According to the second embodiment, stimulation is started, and the part to be massaged is moved based on the change pattern of skin temperature, so that blood circulation can be efficiently promoted over a wide range.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 7 is a control block diagram showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiments, and the description will be omitted. In the first or second embodiment, one of the stimulus intensity and the stimulus site is changed in accordance with the change pattern of the skin temperature. In the third embodiment, the stimulus intensity is changed based on the change pattern of the skin temperature. It controls both the intensity of the stimulus and the stimulus site. In this case, the control timing of the stimulus intensity and the movement timing of the stimulus position are the same as those in the above-described embodiments, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The control section 9 controls the massage mechanism section 1 a predetermined number of times by the stimulus intensity adjusting means 13 based on the output from the detection section 8, moves the stimulus site, and stimulates the stimulus again at a new site. To control the massage mechanism unit 1 and the movement mechanism unit 14, respectively. The display panel displays information such as the skin temperature and the position of the stimulation site.

According to the third embodiment, the stimulation intensity of the massage mechanism and the site to be massaged are changed based on the skin temperature change pattern, so that blood circulation can be promoted throughout the stimulation site. . Therefore, blood circulation can be efficiently and reliably promoted over a wide range of sites.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism is controlled based on the change pattern of the skin temperature, the massage can be performed according to the condition of the living body. Blood circulation can be efficiently and reliably increased.

Further, since the part to be massaged is moved based on the change pattern of the skin temperature, the massage can be performed according to the condition of the living body, blood circulation can be efficiently and surely increased, and a wider area can be obtained. Blood circulation in the region can be promoted.

In addition, since the intensity of stimulation of the massage mechanism and the position of the site to be massaged are controlled based on the change pattern of the skin temperature, blood circulation can be efficiently performed over a wide area.
It can certainly be increased.

[0036]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a display panel shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the massage machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between skin temperature and massage machine use time.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a massage machine showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a massage machine showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional massage machine.

9 is a configuration diagram of an operation unit of the massage machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 massage mechanism section, 2 treatment section, 3 operation section, 4
Power switch, 5 display panel, 6 temperature sensor, 7
Fixing means, 8 detection unit, 9 control unit, 10 display unit, 1
1 skin temperature measuring means, 12 skin temperature change calculating means,
13 stimulus intensity adjusting means, 14 moving mechanism section, 15 position control means.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A massage mechanism for performing a massage,
Measuring means for measuring the temperature of the body massaged by the massage mechanism, calculating means for calculating a temperature change pattern based on the output of the measuring means, and the massage mechanism based on the output of the calculating means A massage machine comprising intensity control means for controlling the intensity of a stimulus. 2. The intensity control means decreases the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus with respect to the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus, and thereafter turns to stabilization or an increase in the low temperature range, based on the output from the arithmetic means. Control to adjust the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism, and then detect that the measured temperature has risen and then stabilized in the high temperature range, and adjust the intensity of the stimulus of the massage mechanism. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the massage is performed. 3. The intensity control means decreases the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus with respect to the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus, and thereafter changes to a stable state or a rise in the low temperature range, based on the output from the arithmetic means. Detecting that, adjust the stimulation of the massage mechanism weaker or stop driving the massage mechanism, then the measured temperature rises, and then when the massage mechanism becomes stable in a high temperature range, the massage mechanism The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the massage machine is controlled so as to return the stimulus or restart the driving of the massage mechanism. 4. The strength control means, based on an output from the calculation means, that the temperature of the body does not change even when stimulation is started;
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when a rise in temperature is detected, stimulation of the massage mechanism is controlled to be stronger.
The described massage machine. 5. A massage mechanism for performing a massage,
Measuring means for measuring the temperature of the body massaged by the massage mechanism; calculating means for calculating a temperature change pattern based on the output of the measuring means; and, based on the output of the calculating means, A massage machine comprising position control means for moving a stimulation position. 6. The position control means detects that the measured temperature after the start of the stimulus is lower than the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus, and that the measured temperature at the start of the stimulus is stable in a low temperature range or turned to an increase thereafter. 6. The massage machine according to claim 5, wherein a massage site is moved by detecting a massage. 7. A massage mechanism for performing a massage,
Measuring means for measuring the temperature of the body massaged by the massage mechanism; calculating means for calculating a temperature change pattern based on the output of the measuring means; and stimulation of the massage mechanism based on the output of the calculating means A massager, comprising: a control unit for moving a stimulus intensity and a stimulus position, wherein the control unit moves a stimulus site after performing a stimulus intensity control a predetermined number of times.