JP2002248146A - Massager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for adjusting a range of a therapeutic unit to be protruded for a user, without complicating the unit drive structure that performs massage. SOLUTION: This massager is equipped with a therapeutic unit 26 that physically massages a user, a drive unit 20 that allows the therapeutic unit 26 to perform massage and a mechanical system 49 that makes it possible for the drive unit 20 to move forward and backward with the aid of an air cell 53 that inflates and shrinks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a massage machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-190012, for example, a treatment element for massaging and tapping a shoulder and a back of a user and a massage operation of the treatment element are performed. 2. Description of the Related Art A chair-type massage machine provided with a massage mechanism so as to be vertically movable with respect to a backrest portion of a chair-type treatment table is conventionally known. In this massage machine, the massage mechanism includes a mechanism for changing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element toward the user and a pressure sensor for detecting a force of the treatment element pressing the back of the user. In addition, the strength of kneading and the like is detected by a pressure sensor, and the amount of protrusion of the treatment element is changed according to the detection signal, so that massage can be performed with an appropriate strength.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional massage machine, the treatment element is attached to the tip of a support arm protruding toward the user, and the support arm is swung in a complicated manner, such as back and forth, right and left, and up and down. Massage operations such as massaging and tapping are possible, and therefore, the massage mechanism has a complicated structure having a large number of shafts, cams, transmission devices, and the like in order to make the support arm perform complicated movements. In addition, the conventional massage machine has a structure in which a mechanism for changing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element is added to the massage mechanism having a complicated structure, so that the structure is further complicated, and This has made it difficult to assemble and adjust the mechanism and has led to an increase in cost.

[0004] Further, since the massaging, tapping, and adjustment of the amount of protrusion of the treatment element are all performed by swinging the support arm, it is difficult to control the position of the treatment element by the combination of the swing of the support arm in each of these operations. It was something. The present invention
In view of such circumstances, it is possible to change the protruding amount of the treatment element with respect to the user by enabling the drive unit itself that performs the massage operation of the treatment element to be able to move back and forth to the user side. An object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine that does not complicate the structure of a drive unit.

[0005]

The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object. That is, the present invention provides a massager including a treatment element for massaging a user's body and a drive unit for massaging the treatment element, wherein the drive unit is capable of moving in and out of the user. A moving mechanism is provided. According to this, by moving the drive unit toward and away from the user, the amount of protrusion of the treatment element with respect to the user can be changed, and the intensity of massage and the like can be adjusted appropriately. By moving the drive unit itself, the structure inside the drive unit is hardly complicated, and assembly and adjustment can be easily performed.

In addition, although the protrusion amount of the treatment element can be changed, there is no need to particularly change the structure in the drive unit for the massage operation, so that it is possible to use a conventional component. As a result, the cost can be reduced. The retracting mechanism is provided so as to be movable to the user side by swinging the drive unit, or the drive unit is configured to be movable in and out substantially in parallel to a direction facing the user. A configuration can be employed. This allows the drive unit to move in and out with a simple configuration, and in particular, when the drive unit moves in and out substantially in parallel to the direction facing the user, displacement of the treatment element with respect to the user is prevented. In addition, the position of the treatment element can be easily controlled and an effective massage operation can be maintained.

[0007] As the retracting operation mechanism, air supply and
It is preferable to have a configuration having an air cell that expands and contracts by discharging, and that the drive unit moves back and forth by the expansion and contraction. In this case, the structure of the moving mechanism can be simplified, and the moving mechanism can be incorporated even in a narrow space.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 6 and 7 show a massage machine 1 according to the present invention.
The chair-type massage machine includes a chair body (treatment table) 4 having a seat 2 on which a user sits and a backrest 3 for supporting the back of the user. The chair body 4 has a footrest 8 in addition to the backrest 3 and the seat 2, and also has a leg 10 integrally provided with an elbow rest 9 on both sides of the seat 2. Part 3 and footrest 8
The angle with respect to the seat 2 can be changed by an electric drive mechanism, a fluid pressure drive mechanism, a manual structure, or the like for reclining as appropriate.

The seat 2 is provided with a first massage part 16 for massaging the user's buttocks and the back side of the thigh, and the footrest 8 is provided with a second massage part 17 for massaging the inflated shin, ankle and the like. The backrest unit 3 is provided with a third massage unit (massage mechanism) 7 for massaging the shoulders, back, waist, and the like of the user. The first massage part 16 has two left and right massage tools 18 provided on the rear of the seat 2 and two left and right massage tools 19 provided on the front, and each of these massage tools Reference numerals 18 and 19 denote air cells 18A and 19A that expand and contract by supply and discharge of air, and the air cells 18A and 19A.
And treatment elements 18B and 19B provided on the upper part of the body.

The air cells 18A, 19A are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a bellows-shaped outer peripheral surface made of a resin having excellent flexibility and elasticity such as vinyl acetate. Compressed air from an air compressor (air supply source) 45 is supplied via an electromagnetic valve to expand and contract in the vertical direction. And, this air cell 18A, 1
By the expansion and contraction of 9B, the rear buttocks 18 can massage the buttocks and the front two massagers 19 can massage the back of the thigh.

The second massage part 17 is provided on the footrest 8 and has a groove-shaped foot holding part 46 for separately holding left and right feet, and a groove bottom wall 46A of each of the left and right foot holding parts 46. And massage tools 47 and 48 respectively provided on the left and right side walls 46B. These massage tools 47 and 48 are also air cells 47A and 4
8A and treatment elements 47B and 48B provided at the distal ends of the air cells 47A and 48A.
A is supplied with compressed air from the compressor 45 via an electromagnetic valve, and expands and contracts each of the air cells 47A, 48A, thereby producing a massage tool 47 for the groove bottom wall 46A.
And the ankle can be massaged by the massage tool 48 on the side wall 46B.

The backrest 3 of the chair body 4 is provided with a mobile unit frame 6 provided inside the backrest unit 3 so as to be movable in the height direction by a moving drive unit 5. A section (massage mechanism) 7 is provided. The front side of the massage mechanism 7 is covered with a flexible cover member 15 made of cloth, leather, or the like.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile device frame 6 has a rectangular shape in which upper and lower ends of left and right frames 6A, 6A are connected by upper and lower frames 6B, 6B. A longitudinal feed screw shaft 11 rotatably provided along the height direction of the portion 3; and a driving portion 12 such as a motor with a speed reducer for rotating the longitudinal feed screw shaft 11 forward and reverse. The vertical feed screw shaft 11 is screwed into a female screw body 6C provided on the mobile device frame 6 in a vertically penetrating manner. A pair of upper and lower running rollers 13 are provided on both left and right sides of the mobile device frame 6, and the running rollers 13 roll on two guide rails 14 provided in the height direction in the backrest 3. Mounted freely.

The massaging mechanism 7 is moved in the height direction to the neck side or the waist side along the back of the upper body of the user sitting on the seat 2 by the operation of the movement driving unit 5. The moving position (movement amount) of the massage mechanism 7 in the height direction is detected by a vertical position detecting unit (not shown).
For example, the number of rotations and the rotation angle of the vertical feed screw shaft 11 and the driving unit 12 are pulsed by a rotary encoder or the like, and the number of pulses is counted. The height position of the massage mechanism 7 is optically determined by a photoelectric sensor or the like. A suitable means such as a configuration for detecting the error is adopted.

The moving drive unit 5 can be replaced with a winding drive mechanism, a meshing structure of a rack and a pinion, or a lifting / lowering driving structure using a fluid pressure cylinder or the like. The massage mechanism 7 is a treatment element 2 for massaging the body of the user.
6 and a drive unit 20 for massaging the treatment element 26. The drive unit 20 is the case 2
0A, a driving part 23 composed of an electric motor provided at the upper part of the case, a transmission shaft and a clutch (not shown) arranged in the case 20A, a left-right kneading operation shaft 21 and a hitting operation shaft 22. have.

The kneading operation shaft 21 penetrates the case 20A to the left and right, and both ends protrude from both right and left sides of the case 20A.
1 is provided substantially parallel to the lower side of the case 1 and penetrates the case 20A to the left and right, and both end portions protrude from the left and right sides of the case 20A. The power from the driving portion 23 is selectively transmitted to the kneading operation shaft 21 and the hitting operation shaft 22 via a transmission shaft and a clutch in the case 20A.

The drive unit 20 is connected to a pair of drive arms 24 in the left-right direction (the width direction of the user's body) held by a kneading operation shaft 21 and a hitting operation shaft 22, and to the distal end of each drive arm 24. A support arm 25 is also provided, and a roller-shaped treatment element 26 is rotatably attached to both upper and lower ends of the support arm 25 via a support shaft 30 in the left-right direction. At both ends of the kneading operation shaft 21, an inclined shaft portion 21a which is inclined so as to be eccentric and decentered with respect to its rotation axis is provided.
The rear end of the drive arm 24 is attached via a bearing.

The support arm 25 is formed of a plate shaped like a letter when viewed from the side, and its upper and lower middle portion is pivotally connected to the tip of the drive arm 24 via a left-right support shaft 24a so as to be rotatable around the axis. The upper portion and the lower portion of the support shaft 24a project obliquely forward and obliquely downward toward the user side. The support arm 2 is located below the support shaft 24a.
5 and the drive arm 24 and the tension coil spring 27
Is provided, and elasticity in a direction in which the upper side of the support arm 25 projects forward is imparted.

At both ends of the hitting operation shaft 22, eccentric shaft portions 22a which are eccentric with respect to the rotation axis thereof in directions opposite to each other are provided, and the eccentric shaft portions 22a are connected to the connecting rods 28 via bearings. The lower end of the drive arm 24 is swingably connected to the lower end of the drive arm 24 via a ball joint or the like. With the above configuration,
When the driving unit 23 drives the kneading operation shaft 21 to rotate, the inclined shaft portions 21a at both ends of the kneading operation shaft 21 perform circumferential motion including left and right movement such that the treatment elements 26 corresponding to the left and right move toward and away from each other. Thus, a kneading operation is performed.

When the hitting operation shaft 22 is driven to rotate,
The drive arm 24 is reciprocated up and down through the connecting arm 28 by the eccentric shaft portions 22a at both ends, and the treatment element 2 is moved through the support arm 25 pivotally connected to the drive arm 24.
6 performs a beating operation. When the moving machine frame 6 is moved up and down with the kneading operation shaft 21 and the hitting operation shaft 22 stopped, the treatment element 26 rubs the back and waist (rolling massage).

The power from the prime mover 23 is selectively transmitted to the kneading operation shaft 21 and the hitting operation shaft 22 via a clutch in the drive unit 20. An individual and dedicated prime mover may be provided for 21 and 22. A detector 40 for detecting a load applied to the treatment element 26 is provided for both or one of the treatment elements 26 provided on the upper side of the left and right support arm 25. 4 and 5 showing the attachment structure of the treatment element 26, the support arm 25 is provided with the support shaft 30 having a left-right axis and protruding inward from the left and right. A boss 31 is provided at the center thereof, and the boss 31 is rotatably fitted on the support shaft 30. A mounting nut 32 for preventing the treatment element 26 from being pulled out is screwed to a distal end portion of the support shaft 30 via a washer (pressing member) 32a.

The boss body 31 includes a cylindrical portion 31a fitted to the inner periphery of a through hole formed in the center of the treatment element 26, and a cylindrical portion 3a.
A flange 31b sandwiching the treatment element 26 is provided on both left and right sides of 1a, and the cylindrical portion 31a is divided into two parts at the center in the axial direction. The outer peripheral surface of the treatment element 26 is formed as an arc-shaped inclined surface 26a that moves radially inward toward the left and right inner sides. As the detector 40, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a pressure-sensitive conductive elastomer 40 a in which conductive particles are blended with an elastic material such as rubber as an insulator is used as a pair of electrodes 40.
Pressure (pressure-sensitive) constituted by pasting between b
Sensors are used. The pressure sensor 40 is connected between the support arm 25 and the boss body 31 by the support shaft 3.
The support arm 25 is formed in a donut disk shape so as to be fitted over the inner surface of the support arm 25.

The left and right inner surfaces of the pressure sensor 40 are covered with a donut disk-shaped cover plate 36.
6 are in contact with the boss body 31. Cover plate 36
A plurality of detent protrusions 42 project from the outer surface of the support arm 25, and are inserted through insertion holes 43 formed in the support arm 25 movably in the axial direction of the support shaft 30. Thereby, the cover plate 3
Reference numeral 6 indicates that the pressure sensor 40 can be pressed to the left and right outside in a state where the rotation about the support shaft 30 is restricted.
The cover plate 36 not only functions as a pressing member that presses the pressure sensor 40 but also prevents direct contact between the rotating treatment element 26 and the pressure sensor 40 to prevent wear of the pressure sensor 40 and the like. It has a function as a protection member.

Between the boss body 31 and the washer 32a, spacer members 35, 4 for maintaining a space therebetween are provided.
1 is provided so as to be fitted on the support shaft 30. The spacer members 35 and 41 include a first member 35 formed in a donut disk shape from a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene, and a second member 41 formed from an elastic material such as polyethylene rubber or sponge rubber. The left and right inner side surfaces of the first member 35 come into contact with the boss body 31. Second member 41
Is compressed in the axial direction by tightening the mounting nut 32 on the support shaft 30, and presses the pressure sensor 40 via the first member 35, the boss body 31 and the cover plate 36 by the elastic restoring force. It is like
Accordingly, pressure is applied to the pressure sensor 40 in advance even when the treatment element 26 is not receiving an external force in the left-right direction.

It is preferable that the first member 35 and the cover plate 36 are formed of a material having a small frictional resistance, or have a structure in which at least a contact surface with the boss body 31 is subjected to a low friction treatment. Then, the support shaft 30 of the treatment element 26
Around rotation can be performed smoothly. With the above-described configuration, when the treatment element 26 performs the kneading operation, a load in the left-right direction is applied to the treatment element 26 by a reaction force from the user side to the movement in the left-right direction. At this time, since the treatment element 26 presses the pressure sensor 40 via the cover plate 36,
The pressure is detected by the pressure sensor 40.

Since the magnitude of the pressure detected in this manner is proportional to the strength of the massage, the detected value is fed back to the control unit of the massage machine 1 so that the appropriate massage control (for example, As will be described later, it is possible to perform a control that changes the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 to the user, and a more effective kneading operation can be performed. Since the pressure sensor 40 is pre-applied with pressure, for example, the treatment element 2
Accurate pressure detection can be performed without deteriorating the accuracy of detecting the load applied to the treatment element 26 due to play or play between the axial direction of the support arm 6 and the support arm 25.

The pressure sensor 40 is provided not on the treatment element 26 rotating around the support shaft 30 but on the support arm 25 side (substantially, the support shaft 30), and the cover plate 36 rotates around the support shaft 30. Since the movement is regulated, the position of the pressure sensor 40 is also regulated without rotating by the rotation of the treatment element 26, whereby the pressure sensor 4
The wiring of 0 can be easily performed. The pressure sensor 40 can be used to determine a height position such as the shoulder S of the user in order to perform a massage operation according to the physique of the user.

In other words, when starting a massage operation, for example, an automatic massage programmed with a series of operations such as massaging and tapping, the treatment element 26 is moved downward from the user's head side, so that the support arm 25 is moved upward. When the treatment element 26 abuts on the shoulder S, the load F is applied to the treatment element 26 as a reaction force of the pressing force acting on the shoulder S. The load F mainly has a vertical component. However, since the treatment element 26 is supported in a cantilever shape on the left and right outer sides, a moment as indicated by an arrow M is generated. Due to the moment M, a force is generated that inclines the upper side of the treatment element 26 to the left and right outside through the gap between the support shaft 30 and the boss body 31.

The load F is substantially 2 due to factors such as the inclined surface 26a on the outer periphery of the treatment element 26 and a slight inclination applied to the support shaft 30, the elastic deformation of the treatment element 26 itself, and the like.
As shown by the dashed line, it includes a left-right component that presses the treatment element 26 right and left outward. The force for tilting the treatment element 26 and the force for pressing the treatment element 26 to the left and right sides are detected by the pressure sensor 40 via the cover plate 36, and the movement position (height) of the massage mechanism 7 (treatment element 26) at the time of the detection is detected. ) Makes it possible to determine the height of the user's shoulder S. Therefore, by setting the height of the shoulder S as the reference position of the massage operation, massage according to the user's physique can be performed.

That is, the pressure sensor 40 is used for both the detection of the load in the kneading operation and the determination of the height of the shoulder, compared with the case where these are performed using separate pressure sensors. As a result, it is possible to achieve cost reduction, downsizing, and the like. As described above, even when a load is applied to the treatment element 26 in the up-down (or back-and-forth) direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, the load can be detected by the pressure sensor 40. By detecting the magnitude of the load with the pressure sensor 40 and feeding back the detected value to the control unit of the massage machine 1, it is possible to perform appropriate beating control, and perform more effective beating massage. Becomes

Further, in the above description, the height position of the shoulder S is determined by detecting the load received from the user's shoulder S by the pressure sensor 40. However, the load received from the user's back and waist is determined. The height position such as waist may be determined by detecting the pressure with the pressure sensor 40 and analyzing the pressure distribution. The treatment element 26
May be configured to determine the height position of the shoulder S in the process of moving upward from the waist side of the user. In this case, the treatment element 2
The shoulder position can be determined from the movement position of the treatment element 26 when the load 6 is no longer detected due to the distance from the shoulder S upward.

As the structure of the detector 40, instead of the pressure sensor, a distortion sensor for detecting the distortion of the support shaft 30 or the support arm 25 or a pressure sensor for detecting the internal air pressure with the treatment element 26 having a hollow shape is used. It is also possible to use a sensor. Further, a pressure sensor can be built in the treatment element 26. The massage machine 1 according to the present invention includes a retracting operation mechanism 49 that allows the driving unit 20 to move toward and away from the user. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the retracting operation mechanism 49 includes the drive unit 2.
The drive unit 20 has a structure for supporting the drive unit 20 to move back and forth toward the user side, and a drive unit 51 for moving the drive unit 20 back and forth.

In the present embodiment, a structure is employed in which the lower portion of the drive unit 20 is supported by the movable machine frame 6 via a horizontal support shaft 50 so as to be able to swing back and forth. By swinging back and forth around the shaft 50, the device is configured to be able to move back and forth toward the user. Exit drive unit 51
Is an air cell 5 interposed between a receiving member 52 attached to a rear portion of the mobile device frame 6 and a rear surface of the drive unit 20.
The air cell 53 has a bellows-shaped outer peripheral surface made of a resin having excellent flexibility and elasticity, such as vinyl acetate, like the air cells of the first and second massaging sections 16 and 17. It is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

The compressed air from the air compressor 45 is supplied to the air cell 53 via a solenoid valve 54, and the compressed air expands (expands) in the front-rear direction. When the air cell 53 extends back and forth, the drive unit 20 swings forward around the support shaft 50 and advances toward the user, and the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 with respect to the user increases. When the air is discharged, the drive unit 20 swings backward about the support shaft 50 and retreats from the user side, and the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 with respect to the user decreases.

Therefore, by supplying / exhausting air to / from the air cell 53, the amount of projection of the treatment element 26 can be freely adjusted, and when the treatment element 26 is largely projected to the user side, a strong massage is reduced. When it protrudes, a weak massage can be performed. In other words, the sense of the strength of the massage is different for each person.For example, if the user is a male, the muscles such as the back are strong, so the normal massage may feel weak, and conversely, women and In the case of an elderly person, the muscles such as the back are weak, and therefore the stimulation may be strongly felt even with the same massage intensity. Therefore, by freely changing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 as described above, it is possible to arbitrarily change the intensity of the massage according to the user's preference.

The retractable drive unit 51 is composed of an air cell 53 that expands and contracts by supplying and discharging air.
The space occupied on the back side of the drive unit 20 can be reduced as a simple structure, and the air cells 18A, 19A, 47 of the first and second massage units 16, 17 can be reduced.
Since the air compressor 45 that supplies compressed air to A and 48A can also be used, it is possible to simplify the structure of the massage machine 1 and reduce costs. The solenoid valve 52 can be switched to a state in which the supply of compressed air from the air compressor 45 is permitted, a state in which the inflow and outflow of air in the air cell 53 is closed, and a state in which the discharge of air in the air cell 53 is permitted. The direction switching valve is used to discharge air from the air cell 53 by switching the solenoid valve 52 to an exhausted state, and the back of the user
The force is naturally exerted by the force of pressing the air cell 53 through the 6 and the like, the weight of the drive unit 20, and the like.

The amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 can be controlled based on the detection value from the pressure sensor 40. That is, when the detected value from the pressure sensor 40 during the massage operation is larger than a predetermined value, it can be determined that the massage is strong. Exhaust. Conversely, if the detected value from the pressure sensor 40 is smaller than the predetermined value, it can be determined that the massage is weak, and the compressed air is supplied with the solenoid valve 52 being in the supply state until the detected value becomes the predetermined value.

By performing such control, massage with an appropriate force can be effectively performed. The automatic massage function of the massage machine 1 includes a treatment element 2
It is also possible to set a program that performs a series of massages such as massaging and tapping while gradually changing the protruding amount of 6, thereby enabling a variety of massages that combine a strong massage and a weak massage Becomes When massaging the left and right sides of the shoulder and neck,
By changing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26, it becomes possible to massage widely from the front side to the back side of the shoulder or the neck, and when massaging the waist portion that is a line that is recessed forward from the back, By increasing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26, it is possible to perform a massage of appropriate strength.

When the massage machine 1 is simply used as a chair or the like, the drive unit 20 is retracted by the retracting drive unit 51, so that the treatment element 26 can be stored inside the backrest. This makes it possible to immediately start the next massage operation without having to retract the massage mechanism 7 upward after the end of massage or the like. FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The retracting operation mechanism 49 according to the present embodiment includes:
The upper and lower portions of the drive unit 20 are swingably supported on the mobile device frame 6 via a support shaft 50, and air cells 53 are provided above and below the support shaft 50, respectively.

Thus, the drive unit 20 can be moved in a seesaw motion, and the protrusion of the lower treatment element 26 is reduced while the protrusion of the upper treatment element 26 is increased.
Conversely, it is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion of the upper treatment element 26 while increasing the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 downward. FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The extension / retraction drive unit 51 of the extension / retraction operation mechanism 49 according to the present embodiment includes a vertical screw shaft 56 rotatably provided on the mobile device frame 6, and a pair of upper and lower female screws screwed to the screw shaft 56. It has a body 57 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 that can be rotated forward and backward, and has screw portions 56A and 56B formed in upper and lower sides thereof in opposite directions. Female screw bodies 57, 57 are screwed to the screw portions 56A, 56B, respectively. The distal ends of the upper and lower links 59, 59 are both rotatably connected to the rear surface of the drive unit 20 via a connecting shaft 61. According to the above configuration, when the electric motor 60 is rotated forward and reverse, the female screw bodies 57 and 57 are moved in directions approaching and separating from each other by the upper and lower threaded portions 56A and 56B that are oppositely threaded, thereby forming the upper and lower links 59 and 59. The relative angle of is expanded or contracted. The movement of the links 59, 59 causes the drive unit 20 to move back and forth through the connecting shaft 61, so that the amount of protrusion of the treatment element 26 with respect to the user can be changed.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The retracting drive unit 51 of the retracting operation mechanism 49 according to the present embodiment includes a left-right drive shaft 63 rotatably supported by the mobile unit frame 6 and a belt transmission mechanism 6 attached to the drive shaft 63.
A driving body 6 such as an electric motor for applying rotational power via the motor 4
5, an eccentric cam 66 fixed to the drive shaft 63 so as to be rotatable integrally, and a support 67 provided on the back surface of the drive unit 20 and connected to the eccentric cam 66 via a bearing.
And When the electric motor 65 is operated, the drive shaft 63 and the eccentric cam 65 rotate, and the operation of the eccentric cam 65 causes the drive unit 20 to move back and forth and swing.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The retractable drive unit 51 according to the present embodiment includes a worm gear 69 rotatably supported on the mobile device frame 6 about a longitudinal axis, a forward / reverse rotatable electric motor for driving the worm gear 69, and the like. , A screw gear 72 rotatably supported by the mobile device frame 6 and meshing with the worm gear 69, and a link 73 fixed to the screw gear 72. The tip of the link 73 is a drive unit. 20
Is connected via a connecting shaft 74 to the rear surface of the vehicle. The connecting shaft 74 is provided to be vertically movable via a guide rail 71 provided on the back surface of the drive unit 20.

Therefore, when the electric motor 70 is operated, the war gear 69 rotates and the screw gear 72 rotates about the axis, so that the link 73 swings up and down. The vertical movement of the link 73 causes the drive unit 20 to swing.
Swing back and forth around the support shaft 50. In the third to fifth embodiments, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
The drive unit 2 is provided with a mechanical structure such as a link mechanism, a motor, and an eccentric cam for moving the drive unit 2 back and forth.
0 requires a relatively large space on the back side, and it is necessary to provide a drive source different from the first and second massage units 16 and 17. Therefore, the first embodiment is more advantageous in these respects. It becomes something.

The retracting mechanism 4 of the first to fifth embodiments.
In FIG. 9, a structure is adopted in which the drive unit 20 is supported so as to be able to swing back and forth around the support shaft 50 in the left-right direction with respect to the mobile machine frame 6, but as shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the device is supported so as to be able to move back and forth substantially in parallel with the direction facing the user (the direction substantially perpendicular to the height direction of the user). That is, the support structure shown in FIG.
A pair of upper and lower rails 76 are provided to guide and support the mobile unit so that it can move back and forth. The support structure shown in FIG. The drive unit 20 is supported movably back and forth by expansion and contraction of the mechanism 77.

Then, by combining these support structures with the extension / retraction drive units 51 shown in the first to fifth embodiments, the drive unit 20 is extended / retracted substantially parallel to the direction facing the user. Since the protrusion amount can be changed without substantially changing the vertical position of the treatment element 26 with respect to the user, the treatment element 26 can be changed during the massage operation.
Even if the amount of protrusion is changed, an effective massage can be maintained without removing the acupoint position of the body. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed in design.

For example, the air cells 52, 18A, 19A,
47A and 48A are not limited to bellows, but may be bags. In addition, the first and second massage parts 1
It is possible to replace the drive types 6 and 17 with a mechanical type driven by an electric motor or the like, or to replace the treatment element 26 of the third massage unit (massage mechanism) 7 with a massaging operation by expansion and contraction of an air cell. it can. The number and detailed shape of the treatment elements 26 can be changed as appropriate,
The treatment element 26 may be attached to the support shaft 30 so as not to rotate.

The massage mechanism 7 does not perform a beating operation,
A massage operation may be performed alone, or another massage operation may be performed. The massage machine 1 according to the present invention is not limited to the one provided with the chair-type treatment table,
It can be changed to one provided with a treatment table of another form such as a bed type.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the drive unit itself for massaging the treatment element is moved back and forth toward the user by the movement mechanism so that treatment for the user can be performed. While the protrusion amount of the child can be changed, the assembly and adjustment of the drive unit can be easily performed without complicating the structure of the drive unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a massage mechanism of a massage machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the retracting operation mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a mounting portion of a treatment element.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the massage machine.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a massage mechanism of a massage machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a massage mechanism of a massage machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a massage mechanism of a massage machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a massage mechanism of a massage machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment according to the support structure of the drive unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massage machine 7 Massage mechanism 20 Drive unit 26 Treatment element 49 Exit / retreat operation mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A massage machine comprising a treatment element for massaging a user's body and a drive unit for massaging the treatment element.