JP2001231829A - Massager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move an operation unit at proper speed depending upon the purpose of movement thereof. SOLUTION: This massager comprises a massaging operation unit 2 for applying massage to a user, a movement drive part 5 for driving or moving the operation unit inside a massager body, and a control part 18 for controlling the movement drive part 5 to change the moving speed of the operation unit 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a massage machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a chair-type massage machine,
In some cases, a massage operation unit is provided inside the backrest, and massage is applied to the user by the operation unit. In such a massage machine, the operating unit is moved in the vertical direction of the backrest portion by driving a motor, so that an arbitrary position on the back can be massaged.

[0003]

In the conventional massage machine, the movement of the operation unit is performed at a constant speed.
However, the movement of the operation unit is performed for various purposes, and it cannot sufficiently cope with various purposes at a constant speed. That is, the movement of the operation unit may be, for example, a case in which the massage operation unit moves while operating (massaging), or a case in which only the movement of the operation unit is performed without massage. The simple movement includes a movement for returning the operation unit to the movement origin (for example, the upper part of the backrest) when the power of the massage machine is turned on / off.

[0004] Also, when the massage operation unit is moved without being operated, it is not merely a purpose of movement,
In some cases, the movement is performed for the purpose of massaging such that the operating unit is moved up and down while the treatment element is kept on the back of the user and the back is pointed. Also, to measure the user's body type,
In some cases, the operating unit is moved up and down to detect the shoulder position based on the contact with the back of the treatment element. Because it was possible to move only at a constant speed for such various moving purposes, it may be too fast for one purpose or not fast enough for other purposes. there were.

[0005] In addition, in the case of a massage as described above, the moving speed of the operating unit may affect the massage feeling received by the user. However, in the conventional massage machine, the speed is constant. Also, it was not possible to adjust the massage feeling by changing the moving speed of the operation unit.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and employs the following technical means. That is, the present invention provides a massage operation unit for applying a massage to a user, a movement drive unit for moving and driving the operation unit in the massage machine main body, and controlling the movement drive unit to perform the operation. And a control unit for changing a moving speed of the unit. According to this configuration, since the moving speed of the massage operation unit is variable, the speed can be adjusted according to the purpose of moving the operation unit.

[0007] It is preferable that the control section is set so as to move at different speeds when the operation unit for massaging is moved and when the operation unit for non-massaging is moved. The movement for the purpose of massage includes a case where the massage operation unit moves while operating, a case where the movement of the operation unit itself is for the purpose of massage (in the case of a rubbing massage, etc.) even if the massage operation unit is not operating. Applicable. In addition, as for the movement of the operation unit not for the purpose of massage, movement for changing the treatment site (for example, movement from the shoulder to the waist), movement for detecting the shoulder position, and movement origin return. And the like.

[0008] In this case, it is preferable that the movement of the operating unit not for the purpose of massage is faster than the movement of the operating unit for the purpose of massage. Further, the massage operation unit includes a treatment element that is operated to perform a massage operation by the operation unit, and the treatment element is configured to be able to move toward and away from the user side by an evacuation operation mechanism, and to perform massage. When the operating unit is not moved, it is preferable that the treatment element is moved to the side opposite to the user side by the retracting operation mechanism.

[0009] In this case, at the time of movement not for the purpose of massaging, the treatment element is in a retracted state as viewed from the user, and it is possible to suppress unnecessary stimulation to the user. Further, it is preferable that the retracting operation mechanism moves the operation unit toward and away from the user, and in this case, the configuration is simplified. Further, the control unit includes:
It is preferable that the operation unit is moved to a target position and the operation unit is finely moved within a predetermined range from the target position. This is because, in order to massage a certain acupoint, there is a case where it is desired to move the operation unit with the acupoint position as a target position, and to finely move the operation unit (for example, in a range of about 3 to 4 cm) is to finely move a certain area. This is because even if the position of the acupoint is not accurately grasped by massaging the acupoint, the acupoint is surely massaged.

[0010] Preferably, the fine movement of the operation unit at this time is set to be performed at a lower speed than the movement to the target position. In this case, the movement of the target position, which has little relation to the massage, is performed quickly and quickly, while the fine movement can be slowly and slowly massaged. Further, it is preferable that the control unit is set so as to change a moving speed of the operating unit while the operating unit is moving. The adjustment of the moving speed may be an automatic adjustment based on a speed set in advance in the control unit (the storage unit) according to various purposes, but instead of or in addition to this, the movement of the operation unit may be adjusted. It is preferable to provide a speed operation unit for manually adjusting the speed.

In this case, when the user operates the speed operation unit, the moving speed of the operation unit can be adjusted to a desired speed. Here, if the moving speed at least when the movement of the operation unit is aimed at massaging can be manually adjusted, the feeling of massage due to the movement of the operation unit can be adjusted. Further, even when the movement is not intended for massage, the movement speed of the operation unit affects the feeling of use, so that the user can freely adjust the movement speed. Further, it is preferable that the control unit performs control such that when the operating unit is moved to the target position, the operation unit is decelerated before the target position. When moving to the target position without deceleration, the motion unit may not stop accurately at the target position due to the inertia due to the movement and may pass the target position. Can be stopped. Therefore, for example, when the target position is the acupoint position, it is possible to accurately massage the acupoint position.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a backrest (massaging machine main body) 1 of a massage machine configured as a chair. A massage operation unit 2 is provided in the backrest 1 so as to be movable in the vertical direction of the backrest 1 (in the height direction of the user). The operation unit 2 is configured such that a screw shaft 4 extending in a vertical direction is screwed into a nut portion 3 provided on a unit base 2a, and the backrest portion 1 extends along the screw shaft 4.
It can be moved up and down inside. As described above, in the present embodiment, the screw moving mechanism is adopted as the vertical moving mechanism of the unit 2, but the present invention is not limited to this mechanism.

Although not shown, rotatable rollers are attached to the left and right sides of the unit base 2a, and these rollers are vertically extended on the left and right sides of the unit 2 by guide rails (not shown). (Omitted) to guide the vertical movement of the unit. Also,
At the lower end of the screw shaft 4, the unit 2 is rotated by rotating the screw shaft 4.
A motor 5 is provided as a movement drive unit for vertically moving the motor. By switching the rotation direction of the motor 5 between forward and reverse, it is possible to switch the vertical movement of the unit.

The operating unit 2 is provided with treatment elements 7 for applying a massage to the back of the user. The treatment elements 7, 7 are formed in a roller shape,
Two pairs of upper and lower pairs are provided at both upper and lower ends of a boomerang-shaped support arm 8 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. In addition,
Here, although not shown, the treatment elements 7, 7 forming a pair up and down are provided on the left and right sides of the unit 2, respectively.
The unit 2 is provided with a total of four treatment elements. The support arm 8 of the treatment elements 7 and 7 is held so as to be able to swing around the horizontal axis with respect to the tip of the drive arm 9 near the bent portion halfway in the vertical direction. The drive arm 9 is driven by a fir shaft 10 and a flap shaft 11 provided in the unit 2 so that the treatment element 7 performs a fir operation.
Perform a flapping operation. That is, the left and right drive arms 9 are connected via bearings to the left and right ends of a fir shaft 10 whose rear ends rotate about a horizontal axis, respectively.
When the fir shaft 10 rotates, the treatment element 7 moves along an elliptical trajectory (fir operation) because the fir shaft 10 rotates. A rod 13 is connected to the rear end of the drive arm 9 via a ball bearing 12, and the rod 13 is connected to the undercut shaft 11 via a bearing. Since the beating shaft 11 is formed eccentrically, when the beating shaft 11 rotates, the rod 13 causes the driving arm 9 to move the fir shaft 1.
It operates to swing around zero. The swing of the drive arm 9 causes the treatment element 7 to move back and forth, so that a flapping motion is applied to the back of the user.

The rotation drive of the fir shaft 10 and the undercut shaft 11
This is performed by a massage driving motor 15 provided in the unit 2. The unit 2 includes a clutch mechanism that rotates the fir shaft 10 when the motor 15 rotates in one direction, and rotates the flap shaft 11 when the motor 15 rotates in the other direction. The massage drive motor 15 may be provided with a fir drive motor and a flap drive motor. Further, a vibration generating motor for generating vibration (micro vibration) in the treatment element 7 may be attached to the support arm 8 or the like.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the motor 5 and the massage drive motor 15 as the movement drive unit. Control unit 1 composed of microcomputer, etc.
A drive circuit 19 for the motor 5 is connected to 8, and the motor 5 is connected to the drive circuit 19. When the motor 5 is, for example, a DC motor, the drive circuit 19 includes an amplifier circuit for controlling electric power supplied to the DC motor in accordance with an operation signal from the control unit 18. If the motor 5 is a stepping motor, the drive circuit 19 includes a pulse circuit for controlling a pulse supplied to the stepping motor in response to an operation signal from the control unit 18. In either configuration, ON / OFF of the rotation of the motor 5 is performed based on the operation signal from the control unit 18.
And the rotation speed of the motor 5 can be controlled. The moving speed of the operation unit 2 can be changed by changing the rotation speed of the motor 5.

A driving circuit 20 for the massage driving motor 15 is also connected to the control unit 18.
0 is connected to the motor 15. The motor 15 also determines the rotation of the motor 15 based on the operation signal from the control unit 18.
N / OFF, forward / reverse rotation, and the rotation speed of the motor 15 can be controlled. FIG. 3 shows how the operation unit 2 moves up and down as the treatment element 7 moves. Here, the lower treatment element is omitted from the upper and lower pairs of treatment elements 7 and 7, and only the left and right pairs of the upper treatment element are shown.

FIG. 3A shows a movement in a state where the operation unit 2 is not operating, that is, a state where the treatment element is not performing a fir operation or a flap operation. Here, the treatment elements 7a, 7a at a certain position are moved to another position 7 at a predetermined speed.
move to b and 7b (movement A and B). This movement A, B
However, for example, in the case of a massage massage or a roller massage with the treatment elements 7, 7, the treatment elements 7, 7 may be moved at an appropriate speed. That is, if you want to massage slowly, you can move it at a low speed, and if you want a gentle massage, you can move it at a high speed. In addition, in the case of movement for detecting the shoulder position or movement for returning to the movement origin, the movement is performed at a higher speed than in the case of movement for massage so as to shorten the required time.

Normally, the treatment elements 7, 7 are moved from top to bottom (movement A) to determine the contact of the treatment elements 7, 7 with their backs, and the shoulder position is detected. Therefore, different speeds can be set for moving the treatment elements 7, 7 from bottom to top after detection (movement B) after moving from top to bottom (movement A). That is, different speeds can be set before and after the detection of the shoulder position. For example, when moving from the top to the bottom for detection (movement A), the speed is reduced to surely detect the shoulder position, and the bottom is moved up after the detection (movement unrelated to measurement, return movement: movement B). When the measurement is performed, the measurement time can be shortened by increasing the speed. The detection of the shoulder position can also be performed by moving the treatment element 7, 7 from bottom to top. In this case, the movement from top to bottom (movement A) is made faster, and from top to bottom. Movement (movement B) can be made slow.

FIG. 3B shows a movement in a state in which the operation unit 2 is operating, that is, a state in which the treatment element is performing a fir operation or a flap operation. Here, the treatment elements 7, 7 at a certain position are massaged (fir, tataki,
Movement C from a certain position to another position while vibrating. Compared to a massage operation in a state where the treatment element does not move up and down (a state in which the movement element stops moving), such a massage operation involving up and down movement of the treatment elements 7 and 7 has a vertical component due to the up and down movement in the massage operation trajectory. Therefore, the trajectory of the treatment element changes, and a massage feeling different from the massage operation in the vertical movement stopped state is obtained. Then, by changing the vertical movement speed, the manner in which the vertical component is added to the massage operation trajectory changes, so that the massage feeling also changes.

FIG. 3C shows the treatment element 7 at a certain position.
This shows a state in which c and 7c move to other positions (target positions) 7d and 7d without performing a massage operation. In this case,
For example, after massaging the neck positions 7c, 7c, the massage operation of the treatment element is stopped, and the position 7 slightly below the shoulder is set.
The treatment element is moved to d and 7d (movement D), and its position 7
The massage is performed on d and 7d, and then the massage operation of the treatment element is stopped, the treatment element is moved to the waist positions 7e and 7e (movement E), and the massage is performed on the positions 7e and 7e. Movement.

In the case of such a movement, when moving from a certain position to another position (movement D, E), a massage operation is not involved as shown in FIG. 3B, so that the movement shown in FIG. By increasing the speed, the traveling time can be reduced, and the waiting time of the user (time during which the massage is not performed) can be reduced. In this case, the movement of the treatment element is decelerated before the target position in order to accurately position the patient at the target position,
The target position is reached at a lower speed than during normal movement. Such a deceleration is particularly advantageous when the target position is not a vague body part such as a shoulder or a waist, but is a position of an acupoint which is effective for treatment. In addition, the position of the acupoint is recorded in the memory of the massage machine in advance.

FIG. 3 (d) is similar to FIG. 3 (c),
7f from a certain position, 7f to another position (target position) 7
g and 7g without performing the massage operation and performing the massage operation while moving (slightly moving) a predetermined range from the target position. This is, for example, the movement origin position 7f, 7
f, the treatment element is moved to the shoulder position 7g, 7g (movement F), and the massage operation is performed while moving the treatment element downward (movement G) within a predetermined range (about 3 to 4 cm) from that position. The treatment element is raised again within the predetermined range (movement H), and if necessary, the movements G and H are repeated several times to massage the entire range uniformly from the target position.

Thereafter, the massage operation of the treatment element is stopped again, and the massager is moved to the waist positions 7h, 7h (movement I). Then, the user moves J and K in a predetermined range from that position, and massages a certain range of the target position (waist position) evenly. At this time, the movements F and I, which are exclusively for movement, can be moved at high speed to reduce the time, and the movements G, H, J, K for massage can be moved at lower speed. FIG. 3E shows a certain position 7i,
A state in which the moving speed when moving (moving L) from 7i to another position 7j, 7j is changed (increased) during the moving is shown. As described in the description of FIG. 3B, a change in the moving speed of the treatment element in the vertical direction affects the feeling of massage. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Back positions 7i, 7i (for example,
The massage feeling can be made different between the shoulder) and other positions 7j, 7j (for example, the waist). Here, the speed change is shown as increasing the speed, but the speed may be decreased, or the speed may be increased and decreased many times.

The change in speed as described above is set in the storage unit of the control unit 18 together with the massage operation method. Further, the moving speed can be changed by a manual operation. When the speed operation unit 26 provided on the operation device (remote control device) 25 of the massage machine is operated, a signal is given to the control unit 18 and the moving speed of the operation unit 2 changes. As described above, the moving speed of the treatment element 7 affects the feeling of massage. Therefore, by changing the moving speed of the operation unit 2, a desired massage feeling of the user can be obtained. In addition, the movement time can be shortened even when the movement is not for the purpose of massage.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a massage machine 1 provided with a retracting operation mechanism 49 of the operation unit 2 as another embodiment. The retracting operation mechanism 49 includes the operation unit 2
And a drive unit 51 for moving the operation unit 2 back and forth. The operation unit 2 has a nut portion 3 screwed with a screw shaft 4 and is provided so as to be able to move back and forth with respect to a mobile machine frame 6 that moves up and down. In the present embodiment, a structure is employed in which the lower part of the operation unit 2 is swingably supported in the front-rear direction with respect to the mobile device frame 6 via the support shaft 50 in the left-right direction. It is configured to be able to move back and forth to the user side by swinging back and forth.

The retraction drive unit 51 has an air cell 53 interposed between a receiving member 52 attached to the rear part of the mobile unit frame 6 and the back surface of the operation unit 2. The outer peripheral surface is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a bellows shape made of a resin having excellent flexibility and elasticity such as vinyl acetate. The compressed air from the air compressor 45 is supplied to the air cell 53 via the electromagnetic valve 54, and the compressed air expands (expands) in the front-rear direction.

When the air cell 53 extends back and forth, the operating unit 2 swings forward around the support shaft 50 and advances to the user side, so that the amount of the treatment element 7 protruding from the user increases, and conversely, the air cell 53 When the air in 53 is exhausted, the operation unit 2 swings backward around the support shaft 50 and retreats from the user side, so that the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 7 with respect to the user decreases. Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 7 can be freely adjusted by supplying and exhausting air to and from the air cell 53.

The solenoid valve 52 is in a state in which the supply of compressed air from the air compressor 45 is permitted.
3 is a switching valve that can be switched between a state in which the air in and out of the air cell 53 is closed and a state in which the air in the air cell 53 is allowed to be discharged.
The supply and exhaust control of the air in the air cell 53 is performed by controlling the electromagnetic valve 52 by the control unit 18. When such a retracting operation mechanism 49 is used, movements D, E, and D shown in FIG.
The control unit 18 performs control such that the operation unit 2 (the treatment element 7) is retracted during the movement not intended for massage as in F and I, and the operation unit 2 is retracted during the massage operation. be able to. By retracting the treatment element 7 during the movement, the treatment element 7 can be prevented from contacting the user during the vertical movement.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the retracting operation mechanism 49. An up / down drive unit 51 of the up / down operation mechanism 49 includes a vertical screw shaft 56 rotatably provided on the mobile device frame 6.
And a pair of upper and lower female screw bodies 57 screwed to the screw shaft 56
And a pair of upper and lower links 59 connected to each female screw body 57 so as to be rotatable around a pivot 58 in the left-right direction.
The screw shaft 56 is connected to a driving body 60 such as an electric motor capable of rotating forward and backward, and has upper and lower screw portions 56A and 56B formed in opposite directions on the upper and lower sides thereof. , 56B with respect to each female screw body 57, 57
Are screwed together.

The distal ends of the upper and lower links 59, 59 are both rotatably connected to the back of the operation unit 2 via a connecting shaft 61. With the above configuration, when the electric motor 60 is rotated in the normal or reverse direction under the control of the control unit 18, the female screw bodies 57, 57 are moved in directions approaching and separating from each other by the upper and lower screw portions 56A, 56B which are oppositely screwed. As a result, the relative angle between the upper and lower links 59, 59 expands and contracts. The movement of the links 59, 59 causes the operating unit 2 to swing back and forth, so that the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 7 with respect to the user can be changed.

4 and 6 employs a structure in which the operating unit 2 is supported on the mobile machine frame 6 so as to be able to swing back and forth around a horizontal support shaft 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the moving unit 2 is supported so as to be able to move back and forth in the front-rear direction, in other words, substantially parallel to the direction facing the user (the direction substantially perpendicular to the height direction of the user). A structure can also be adopted. That is, FIG.
The support structure shown in FIG. 7A is provided with a pair of upper and lower rails 76 for guiding and supporting the operation unit 2 so as to be able to move back and forth with respect to the mobile machine frame 6, and the structure shown in FIG. A pantograph-type link mechanism 77 is provided for the machine frame.
0 is supported movably back and forth.

Then, by combining these support structures with the retracting drive unit 51 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6,
The operation unit 2 can be moved back and forth.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the operation unit 2 is not limited to the one provided on the back part of the chair type massage machine,
It may be built in a bed-type massage machine. In addition, although the moving direction of the massage operation unit is illustrated in the up-down direction of the backrest, the moving unit may move in the width direction.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the speed of the massage operation unit is variable, the massage operation unit can be moved at a speed according to the purpose of movement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal mechanism of a backrest of a massage machine.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the massage machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a moving state of a treatment element.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the retracting operation mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the retracting operation mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a modified example of the retracting operation mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the support structure of the operation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Backrest part 2 Massage operation unit 5 Motor 7 Treatment element 18 Control part 26 Speed operation device 49 Exit / retreat operation mechanism

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C100 AA10 AD17 AD23 AD25 BA05 BB04 BB05 BB06 CA06 DA04 DA05 DA06 EA12

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A massage operation unit (2) for giving a massage to a user; a movement drive unit (5) for moving and driving the operation unit in a massage machine main body; A control unit (18) for controlling 5) to change the moving speed of the operation unit (2). 2. The control unit (18) moves at a different speed when the operation unit (2) for massage is moved and when the operation unit (2) for non-massage is moved. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the massage machine is set to: 3. The movement according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the operation unit not for the purpose of massage is faster than the movement of the operation unit for the purpose of massage. Massage machine. 4. The massage operation unit (2),
A treatment element (7) that is operated to perform a massage operation by the operation unit (2); the treatment element (7) is capable of moving in and out of the user side by a moving-out operation mechanism (49); The treatment element (7) is moved to the side opposite to the user side by the movement mechanism (49) when the operation unit (2) for the purpose of massaging is not moved. 3. The massage machine according to 3. 5. The massage machine according to claim 4, wherein the moving mechanism (49) moves the operating unit (2) toward and away from the user. 6. The control unit (18) is configured to move the operation unit (2) to a target position, and to finely move the operation unit (2) within a predetermined range from the target position. The massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the fine movement of the operation unit (2) is set to be performed at a lower speed than the movement to the target position. 7. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the control section (18) is set so as to change the moving speed of the operating unit (2) while the operating unit (2) is moving. 8. The massage machine according to claim 1, further comprising a speed operation unit (26) for manually adjusting a moving speed of the operation unit (2). . 9. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (18) controls the deceleration before the target position when the operating unit is moved to the target position.