JP2001269379A - Massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massaging machine comprising a massaging mechanism 2 provided with applicators 21 and installed on a chair main body 10 to apply massage to a human body by the applicators 21 by vertically moving the applicators 21 to reciprocate so that pain caused by physical difference is relieved. SOLUTION: This massaging machine is provided with an electromyogram sensor 5 installed on a backrest 13 of the chair main body 10 to detect a myogenic potential of a neck part of a user, an operation processing circuit to form index data representing size of pain applied to the human body by action of the applicators 21 based on change of the myogenic potential detected by the electromyogram sensor 5, and a control circuit to control movement of the massaging mechanism 2 to reduce pain based on size of the index data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a massage machine constructed by attaching a massage mechanism to a chair body,
In particular, the present invention relates to a massage machine that does not cause much pain to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 8, a massage machine that has been widely used in the past has legs (11), a seat (12), a backrest (13),
Chair body (10) consisting of a pair of left and right armrests (14) (14)
And a massage mechanism (2) with a plurality of treatment elements (21) (21)
It is configured by incorporating. The plurality of treatment elements (21) and (21) perform a kneading operation and a hitting operation while reciprocating up and down in a predetermined trajectory to massage the human body.

[0003]

In the conventional massage machine, the user can select the sequence of the kneading operation or the hitting operation of the treatment elements (21) (21) by operation, but once the sequence is performed, After the selection, the massage operation is performed according to the sequence. The trajectory of the reciprocating movement of the treatment elements (21) (21) at that time is determined for each sequence and is constant. However, since the physique of the user of the massage machine varies, for example, the positions of bones such as the scapula vary from person to person, and in the process where the treatment elements (21) and (21) move along a predetermined trajectory, depending on the person, Treatment child (2
1) (21) sometimes hit the bone and caused pain.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the pain caused by differences in physique in a massage machine that massages the human body with a treatment element.

[0005]

A massage machine according to the present invention comprises a chair (10) having a backrest (13) and a treatment element (21).
A massage mechanism (2) equipped with a massager (2) is attached to the massager (21) to reciprocate up and down, while the massager (21) massages the human body, the back of the chair body (10) ( (13) attached to the back of the human body (13) and contacted with the neck of the human body to detect the myoelectric potential of the neck, and myoelectric potential detection during the reciprocating movement of the treatment element (21) Based on changes in the myoelectric potential detected by the means
(21) a data creating means for creating index data as an index of the magnitude of the pain exerted on the human body; and a massage mechanism (2) for reducing pain based on the size of the created index data. Control means for changing the movement.

[0006] The massage machine of the present invention detects the occurrence of pain by utilizing the fact that a large amplitude is generated in the fluctuation of the myoelectric potential generated in the human body when the human body suffers, and the pain is generated. By changing the massage operation at the site, comfortable massage is realized.

In the massage machine, since it is easy to detect the myoelectric potential of the neck, the pillow (16) received directly on the backrest (13) of the chair body (10) or on the backrest (13) is used. A plurality of electrodes are provided on the surface of () to constitute a myoelectric potential detecting means. Therefore, when the user sits on the chair body (10) and leans on the backrest (13), the neck of the user comes into contact with a plurality of electrodes constituting the myoelectric potential detection means, and these electrodes cause the neck of the user to move. Myoelectric potential is detected.

[0008] In the process of the treatment element (21) reciprocating, the myoelectric potential obtained from the myoelectric potential detecting means fluctuates with a relatively small amplitude when the user does not feel pain. The amplitude will increase. Therefore, index data representing the degree of pain is created according to the magnitude of the amplitude of the myoelectric potential. When the index data exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that great pain has occurred, and the movement of the massage mechanism (2) at that position is changed.

The myoelectric potential is detected by the myoelectric potential detecting means by a search operation of moving the treatment element (21) in one direction along the human body before starting the massage operation by the treatment element (21). The massage can be performed in the course of the actual massage operation by the treatment element (21).

[0010] In a specific configuration, the data creation means includes:
The number of times that the myoelectric potential detection signal obtained from the myoelectric potential detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold value within a predetermined time is counted, and the count value is output as index data. In this case, when pain occurs and the amplitude of the myoelectric potential increases, the number of times that the myoelectric potential detection signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value within a certain period of time increases. When the value exceeds a predetermined value, it can be determined that the human body has suffered great pain.

In another specific configuration, the control means includes: a position measuring means for measuring a position of the treatment element when the index data exceeds a predetermined value; Means for changing the operation mode and / or operation speed of the treatment element (21) when passing through the position. According to the specific configuration, when the treatment element (21) passes through a hard part such as a bone, the operation mode at that time is changed to a less burdensome operation, or the operation speed of the treatment element (21) is reduced. Because it is set low, the treatment element (21) does not strongly hit the bones, etc.
This reduces pain.

In another specific configuration, the control means includes: a position measuring means for measuring a position of the treatment element when the index data exceeds a set value; Means for correcting the trajectory of the treatment element (21) so as to avoid the set position. According to the specific configuration, since the trajectory that avoids a hard part such as a bone is created, there is no possibility that the treatment element (21) may hit the bone or the like and cause pain.

[0013]

According to the massage machine of the present invention, it is possible to alleviate the pain caused by the difference in physique in the massage by the treatment child.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, the massage machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of chairs (10) each including a leg (11), a seat (12), a backrest (13), and a pair of left and right armrests (14) and (14). The massage mechanism (2) including the treatment elements (21) and (21) is incorporated.

A pillow (16) is provided on the back (13) of the chair body (10).
Is attached to the surface of the pillow (16), a pair of left and right detection electrodes (51) (52) and an earth electrode (53) located between them
An electromyogram sensor (5) comprising: Therefore, as shown in the figure, when the user is seated on the chair body (10) and leans on the backrest (13), the ground electrode (53) comes into contact with the central part of the neck, and the pair of detection electrodes (51) (52) ) Comes into contact with both sides of the neck, and the myoelectric potential is detected by the potential difference between the ground electrode (53) and each of the detection electrodes (51) and (52).

As shown in FIG. 3, the massage mechanism (2) includes a treatment element driving device (3) for vibrating the treatment element on the back of the backrest (13) of the chair body (10). The child drive unit (3) is supported so as to be able to move up and down along side frames (15) (15) attached to the back of the backrest (13). The chair body (10) is provided with a treatment element elevating motor (22), and the treatment element elevating motor (22) is connected to the screw shaft (23) via a belt-type power transmission mechanism (20). are doing. The screw shaft (23) is a bearing mounted on the treatment element driving device (3).
(24). Therefore, the treatment element elevating motor (22)
When the screw shaft (23) is driven to rotate, the treatment element driving device (3) moves up and down accordingly.

The treatment element driving device (3) includes a plurality of rollers (43) on both sides as shown in FIG.
3) and (43) are engaged with the side frames (15) and (15) to guide the treatment element drive device (3) up and down. Treatment device drive
(3) is provided with a kneading motor (31), and the kneading motor (31) is provided.
(31) is connected to a shaft (34) via a belt-type power transmission mechanism (32) and a speed change mechanism (33). The shaft (34)
A pair of left and right eccentric bearings (35) and (35) are attached to the, and a pair of left and right arms (42) and (42) are supported by these eccentric bearings (35) and (35). At the distal end of each arm (42), a substantially L-shaped connecting piece (36) is pivotally supported.
The treatment elements (21) and (21) are rotatably attached to both ends of 6). Therefore, the shaft (3) is
4), the arms (42) and (42) are swingably driven in the opening and closing directions, whereby the treatment elements (21) and (2) are rotated.
The kneading operation according to 1) is realized. By controlling the rotation of the kneading motor (31), the distance between the pair of left and right treatment elements (21) and (21) can be adjusted to change the trajectory of the treatment elements (21) and (21). It is.

The treatment element driving device (3) has a tapping motor.
(37) is provided, and the hitting motor (37) is connected to a shaft (39) via a belt-type power transmission mechanism (38). A pair of right and left eccentric bearings (40) and (40) are attached to the shaft (39), and a pair of right and left rods (41) and (41) are supported by these eccentric bearings (40) and (40). I have. The distal end of each rod (41) is connected to the proximal end of the arm (42). Therefore, when the shaft (39) is rotationally driven by the hitting motor (37), the rod (4
1) (41) is driven to swing back and forth, thereby
(21) The hitting operation according to (21) is realized.

FIG. 1 shows a control system of a massage machine according to the present invention. The electrodes (51), (52), and (53) constituting the electromyogram sensor (5) are connected to an electromyogram measurement circuit (6), and an electromyogram signal corresponding to a neck electromyogram is measured. You. The electromyogram signal is a signal that fluctuates around the reference level (zero) as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. When the user does not feel pain and is comfortable, the signal in FIG. The amplitude of the electromyogram signal is relatively small as described above, but when the user feels pain, the amplitude of the electromyogram signal increases as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electromyogram signal obtained from the electromyogram measurement circuit (6) is supplied to an arithmetic processing circuit (7), and index data representing the magnitude of pain is created. As the index data, the number of times that the electromyogram signal crosses the predetermined threshold value TH within a predetermined time in the fluctuation of the electromyogram signal shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B can be adopted. When the user does not feel pain as shown in FIG. 9A, the number of times the electromyogram signal crosses the threshold value TH within a certain time is small because the amplitude of the fluctuation of the electromyogram signal is small. When the user feels pain as shown in FIG. 4B, the amplitude of the fluctuation of the electromyogram signal increases, so that the number of times the electromyogram signal crosses the threshold value TH within a certain time increases.

The index data thus created is supplied to the control circuit (8) as shown in FIG. The control circuit (8)
Based on the index data, the size of the pain suffered by the human body is determined.
The operation table is changed according to the rules shown in FIG. Then, the control circuit (8) controls the operation of the massage mechanism (2) based on the changed operation table.

The detection of the electromyogram signal and the change of the operation table are performed by moving the treatment elements (21) and (21) in one direction before starting the actual massage operation by the treatment elements (21) and (21). It can be performed in the process of the search operation for moving to the next position, or can be performed in the process of the actual massage operation.

FIG. 5 shows a control procedure executed by the arithmetic processing circuit (7) and the control circuit (8) when the detection of the electromyogram signal and the change of the operation table are performed in the course of the actual massage operation. I have. First, in step S1, a massage operation is started with reference to an operation table preset as an initial value. Then, step S2
In, measurement of myoelectric potential is started, and in step S3,
It counts how many times the myoelectric potential (electromyogram signal) crosses the threshold value within a certain time, and determines whether or not the count value exceeds a predetermined value.

If the count value is less than the set value, the user determines that the user is in a comfortable state, returns to step S1, and repeats the massage operation based on the same operation table. On the other hand, if the count value is equal to or greater than the set value, the user determines that he / she is suffering, and proceeds to step S4.
The massage operation table for that position is changed according to the rules shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1, and performs a massage operation based on the changed operation table. In step S4, position information indicating the positions of the treatment elements (21) and (21) when the user feels pain and operation information indicating the type of massage operation (massaging operation, hitting operation, etc.) are acquired. The operation table is changed based on these pieces of information.

According to the massage machine described above, the treatment elements (21) (2)
When 1) hits the bones of the user and the user feels pain, the subsequent massage operation at that position
Since the operation is automatically changed to a less stimulating operation, the user can always receive a comfortable massage irrespective of his or her physique.

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the electromyogram sensor (5) is constituted by the earth electrode (53) and the pair of detection electrodes (51) and (52), but the electromyogram sensor is constituted by the earth electrode and three or more detection electrodes. It is also possible to configure a diagram sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of a massage machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the massage machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a configuration of a massage mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating a configuration of a treatment element driving device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the massage machine.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing fluctuation of an electromyographic signal.

FIG. 7 is a table showing rules for changing an operation table.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of a conventional massage machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (10) Chair body (13) Backrest (16) Pillow (2) Massage mechanism (21) Treatment element (3) Treatment element driving device (5) EMG sensor (6) EMG measurement circuit (7) Calculation processing Circuit (8) Control circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A chair body (10) having a backrest (13),
A massage mechanism (2) equipped with a treatment element (21) is attached, and the treatment element (21) is reciprocated up and down.
In the massage machine that massages the human body by (21), it is attached to the backrest (13) of the chair body (10) and the backrest
(13) Myoelectric potential detecting means for detecting the myoelectric potential of the neck by contacting the neck of the human body leaning, and myoelectric potential detected by the myoelectric potential detecting means during the reciprocating movement of the treatment element (21). Data creation means for creating index data as an index of the magnitude of the pain that the treatment element (21) exerts on the human body based on the change in the size of the patient, and reducing the pain based on the size of the created index data. And a control means for controlling the movement of the massage mechanism (2). 2. The data generating means counts the number of times a myoelectric potential detection signal obtained from the myoelectric potential detecting means exceeds a predetermined threshold value within a predetermined time, and outputs the count value as index data. 2. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein when the index data exceeds a predetermined value, the means determines that the human body has suffered great pain and changes the movement of the massage mechanism. 3. The control means includes: a position measuring means for measuring a position of the treatment element when the index data exceeds a predetermined value; and a control means for measuring a position of the treatment element when the treatment element passes through the measured position. To
The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for changing an operation mode and / or an operation speed of the treatment element (21). 4. The control means comprises: position measuring means for measuring the position of the treatment element when the index data exceeds a set value; and controlling the treatment element to avoid the measured position. Means for correcting the trajectory of the treatment element (21).
Or the massage machine according to claim 2.