JP2003275264A - Chair-type massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chair-type massaging machine having a function of providing a stretch treatment unavailable before along muscle fibers by combining rolling and massaging. <P>SOLUTION: The chair-type massaging machine has a massaging unit moving up and down along a backrest, and provides a treatment, following a preprogrammed automatic treatment pattern. A stretch treatment causing the muscles to contract and relax is given by moving massaging members in the directions along the muscle fibers, projecting them forward by combining massaging with rolling and stretching the muscle fibers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chair-type massage machine for performing a treatment according to an automatic treatment course, and more particularly to a chair-type massage machine having a function of performing a stretch treatment which is unprecedented by combining a rolling motion and a rubbing motion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional chair type massage machine, a rolling operation is well known. What is rolling?
This is to move the pair of treatment elements up and down with the treatment element placed on the back, and it has been performed for a long time as a back stretching treatment. The main effect is stretching, but the movement is simple, and there is a drawback that the user feels unsatisfactory.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-99393 discloses a conventional treatment which combines a rolling and a brush to draw a Z-shaped or zigzag-shaped locus. However, according to the publication, either the kneading shaft or the hitting shaft is driven according to the forward or reverse rotation of the massage shaft, and the hitting shaft is not driven during the kneading operation. In the case of the publication, only the kneading shaft is driven during the treatment for drawing a Z-shaped or zigzag-shaped trajectory, so that the treatment element does not project to the front, and the treatment is performed when the treatment element moves diagonally upward or diagonally downward. The amount of protrusion of the child does not change. Therefore, the roundness of the back cannot be kept, and there is almost no stretching effect at the time of the diagonal movement. In other words, the one disclosed in the publication is not a stretch treatment but merely a moving massage treatment, and the oblique movement of the treatment element is merely for the purpose of changing the vertical position of the treatment element.

[0004] Further, the same applicant has proposed that the vertical movement and the protrusion of the treatment element are synchronized. (Refer to JP-A-2001-286522.) The proposal is intended for a stretching operation which is performed by synchronizing the acupressure operation described later and the vertical movement of the treatment element.
Since the width of the treatment element did not change, it was only a vertical stretch parallel to the spine.

However, the muscle fibers of a person's back are few in the vertical direction parallel to the back, and most of them run diagonally upward or diagonally downward from the vicinity of the spine as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. As mentioned above, the stretch parallel to the spine is not necessarily the stretch along the muscle fiber. In other words, stimulation along the muscle fibers has the effect of stimulating muscle receptors (Golgi tendons / muscle spindles) and promoting muscle contraction / relaxation, but in the case of stimulation that intersects with the muscle fibers at a different angle, However, there is a drawback that the receptor does not react and contraction / relaxation does not occur.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a chair-type massage machine having a function of performing a stretching treatment along muscle fibers, which has not been known in the past, by combining rolling and rubbing motions.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a chair-type massage machine of the present invention has a massage unit that can be moved up and down along a backrest, and performs a treatment according to a pre-programmed automatic treatment pattern. In a chair-type massage machine that performs a combination of rubbing motion and rolling motion, the treatment element is moved in the direction along the muscle fiber and is projected forward, and the muscle fiber is stretched to cause contraction / relaxation of the muscle. It is characterized by performing treatment.

More specifically, the stretch treatment is
It is characterized in that a stretch treatment is performed by performing a combination of a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to narrow the width between treatment elements and simultaneously raise the treatment elements and project the treatment elements forward.

Further, the rise of the treatment elements ends up to the position where the treatment element spacing is the minimum, and thereafter the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. Characterized by lowering to the maximum.

Furthermore, the treatment element is gradually raised as a whole by making the rising width of the treatment element larger than the falling width of the treatment element, or the rising width of the treatment element is the falling width of the treatment element. It is characterized in that the treatment element is gradually lowered as a whole by making it smaller.

Alternatively, the stretch treatment is performed by combining a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to narrow the width between the treatment elements and at the same time lower the treatment element and project the treatment element to the front side. It is characterized by performing.

Further, the descent of the treatment elements ends at a position where the treatment element spacing is at a minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. It is characterized by raising it to the maximum.

Further, the descending width of the treatment element is made larger than the ascending width of the treatment element so that the treatment element gradually descends as a whole, or the descending width of the treatment element is the ascending width of the treatment element. It is characterized in that the treatment element gradually rises as a whole by making it smaller.

Alternatively, the stretch treatment is performed by combining a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to widen the width between the treatment elements and at the same time raise the treatment element and project the treatment element forward so that the stretch treatment is performed. It is characterized by performing.

Further, the rise of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements are at the maximum position, and thereafter the width between the treatment elements becomes narrower, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the width between the treatment elements becomes smaller. It is characterized by descending to the minimum.

[0016] Further, the treatment element is gradually raised as a whole by making the rising width of the treatment element larger than the falling width of the treatment element, or the rising width of the treatment element is the falling width of the treatment element. It is characterized in that the treatment element is gradually lowered as a whole by making it smaller.

Alternatively, the stretch treatment is performed by combining a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to widen the width between the treatment elements and at the same time lowering the treatment element and projecting the treatment element to the front side. It is characterized by performing.

Further, the descent of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements are at the maximum position, and then the width between the treatment elements narrows, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. It is characterized by raising to the minimum.

Further, the descending width of the treatment element is made larger than the ascending width of the treatment element so that the treatment element gradually descends as a whole, or the descending width of the treatment element is the ascending width of the treatment element. It is characterized in that the treatment element gradually rises as a whole by making it smaller.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a chair-type massage device to which the present invention is applied. Further, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

The massage device comprises a backrest portion 10, a seat portion 11 and a footrest portion 14. Seat part 11
An electric reclining mechanism and a control device (not shown) are housed inside. A back frame is arranged in the backrest 10 of the massage device, and inside the back frame,
A massage unit 12 is held in the back frame so that it can slide up and down. In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, the portion 13 in which the back massage unit is stored and the footrest portion 14 are cut open. The massage unit 12 is fitted with a vertical feed screw (not shown), and the feed screw is rotatably held by the back frame. A pulley is attached to the lower part of the feed screw and is connected to a vertical movement motor attached to the back frame via a belt. The vertical movement motor is a control device (CP).
Under the control of U), normal rotation and reverse rotation are possible at any speed. The rotation of the vertical movement motor is transmitted to the feed screw,
The massage unit is configured to be movable between upper and lower movement limit position detecting limit switches (not shown) attached to the back frame.

The massage unit 12 is equipped with a clutch and a treatment drive motor. The rotation of the treatment drive motor causes a roller (firball) which is a treatment element to swing back and forth and / or left and right, Kneading massage, kneading (or shiatsu) massage, kneading kneading (or shiatsu)
Take action.

The outline of the known massage unit will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of parts when the massage unit is viewed from the front, including a hitting shaft 39, a kneading shaft 51, and a roller arm 5.
6 and a roller (firball, treatment element) 24. The eccentric shafts 40 and 41 fixed to both ends of the hitting shaft 39 and the two roller arms 56 are respectively the ball joints 5.
7 are engaged. The ball joint 57 is slidable in the axial direction of the eccentric shafts 40 and 41, and the eccentric shafts 40 and 41 and the two roller arms 56 can be engaged with each other at an arbitrary angle.

The helical gear 43 is engaged with the helical gear 50 fixed to the kneading shaft 51. Two eccentric inclined cylindrical members 54 are fixed to both ends of the kneading shaft 51, and permanent magnets 52 for detecting the rotational position are fixed. Further, the roller 24 shown in FIG.
The Hall element 53 is arranged at a position facing the permanent magnet 52 at the rotational position where the width of the hall becomes the narrowest. A slider 55 having a substantially rectangular outer shape is rotatably attached to the eccentric inclined cylindrical member 54 with respect to the eccentric inclined cylindrical member 54, and the slider 55 slides only in a direction substantially parallel to the paper surface of FIG. It is movably fitted to the roller arm 56.

Next, each operation will be described. "Strike"
In the case of, the power of the motor is transmitted to the striking worm, and the striking shaft 39 rotates. Then, since the eccentric shafts 40 and 41 arranged at rotational positions different in phase by 180 degrees rotate while being eccentric, the roller arm 56 and the roller 24 are rotationally driven via the ball joint 57, and the left and right rollers 24 are moved. Alternately project and strike. It is possible to strike at any width position of the roller 24.

In the case of "rubbing", the power of the motor is transmitted to the worm gear by rubbing, and the rubbing shaft 51 rotates. Two eccentric inclined cylindrical members 54 are fixed to both ends of the kneading shaft 51, and a slider 55 having a substantially rectangular outer shape is attached to the eccentric inclined cylindrical member 54.
It is attached so that it can rotate with respect to the slider 5
Reference numeral 5 is fitted to the roller arm 56 so as to be slidable only in a direction substantially parallel to the paper surface of FIG.

Therefore, when the rubbing shaft 51 is rotated, the direction of the inclined surface of the eccentric inclined cylindrical member 54 rotates, and the surfaces of the slider 55 and the roller arm 56 maintain the same surface as the inclined surface. The roller arm 56 and the roller 24 swing left and right around the inclined cylindrical member 54, so that the interval between the rollers 24 becomes wider or narrower as shown in FIGS.

By rotating the kneading shaft 51,
When the hall element 53 detects the permanent magnet 52, the width between the left and right rollers is the narrowest position. The number of times of rubbing is counted by the detection signal of this Hall element. The width position of the roller 24 is determined by setting the drive voltage and drive time of the motor with reference to the narrow position detected by the hall element 53. Therefore, the width position of the roller 24 can be arbitrarily controlled by controlling the drive voltage and drive time of the motor based on the detection signal from the hall element 53. When both rubbing and tapping are performed simultaneously, the power of the motor 25 is transmitted to both the tapping shaft 39 and the rubbing shaft 51, and the above-described rubbing and tapping operations are performed simultaneously.

The structure and operation of these are well known,
For details, refer to JP 2001-286522A and JP 200
No. 1-258972, etc. 4 and 5 show the detailed structure of another example of the massage unit used in these massage machines.

Eccentric shafts 28 which are inclined and eccentric with respect to the fir drive shaft 23 are fixed to the left and right ends of the fir drive shaft 23 so as to rotate integrally with the fir drive shaft 23. The eccentric shaft 28 is rotatably inserted into the slide piece 21.
The slide piece 21 is attached so as to be vertically slidable in a long hole provided in a treatment arm 29 that is obliquely connected to a horizontally arranged base shaft 25. The treatment arm 29 is supported by the spring 30 in the front-back direction with respect to the massage unit.

In the case of the kneading operation, the driving force from the driving source is transmitted to the kneading drive shaft 23, and when the kneading drive shaft 23 rotates, the treatment arm 29 starts from the base shaft 25 by the inclination of the eccentric shaft 28 and the change in the eccentricity. Rotate and oscillate back and forth and left and right to perform a rubbing operation. At this time, when the left and right treatment elements are closest to each other, the treatment element 27 projects forward, and when the left and right treatment elements are separated most, the treatment element 27 is lowered backward. Is made.

When the above-mentioned massage unit is used to operate the massage operation in synchronization with the upward or downward movement of the massage unit, the width between the treatment elements is narrowed and at the same time the treatment element is raised and the treatment element is moved forward. At the same time as the protruding action or the width between treatment elements is narrowed, the treatment element is lowered,
In addition, the operation of projecting the treatment element forward can be realized. This action produces a stretching effect along the muscle fibers running diagonally upward or diagonally downward from around the spine.

In the massage unit, the direction of inclination of the treatment arm 29, which is inclinedly connected to the base shaft 25 arranged in the horizontal direction, is relative to the thickness direction of the eccentric shaft 28 in FIG. Contrary to the above operation, the treatment element 27 projects forward when the left and right treatment elements are most separated, and the treatment element 27 moves backward when the left and right treatment elements are closest to each other. It is also possible to lie down in a direction. With such an eccentric shaft,
When the width between treatment elements is expanded, the treatment element is raised and the treatment element is projected forward, or when the width between treatment elements is expanded, the treatment element is lowered and the treatment element is projected forward. Operation can be realized.

Further, the present invention is preferably used for a three-axis drive type chair-type massage machine proposed by the applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-349496) because a finer treatment pattern can be selected. The structure of the proposed chair-type massage machine is as follows.

The chair-type massage machine proposed in the above is a massage unit that can be moved up and down along a backrest that supports the back of a user who sits on a seat of a chair, and a massager that is applied to the back of the user. A treatment link means for supporting the treatment element is provided, and the treatment link means performs a massage movement of a kneading motion and a tapping motion by driving a kneading shaft and a hitting shaft pivotally supported by the massage unit. In the chair-type massage machine for massaging, the massage unit additionally supports an acupressure shaft for transmitting an acupressure motion independent of the kneading motion and the tapping motion to the treatment link means,
The treatment link means includes the kneading movement, the tapping movement,
And not only one of the acupressure exercises by driving the acupressure axis, but also a combined exercise in which at least any two of these massage exercises are selected and combined. It is composed.

Further, the treatment link means provided in the massage unit is formed by a pantograph-shaped four-joint rotary link mechanism, and one of the four rotary joint portions of the four-joint rotary link mechanism is rotationally coupled. Part is rotatably supported on the kneading shaft, the other end of the tapping push rod having one end attached to the tapping shaft, and one end having the one end attached to the acupressure shaft. The other end of the rod is individually connected to a pair of links of the four-node rotary link mechanism pivotally supported by the rotary connecting portion via ball joints. Further, the treatment arm is swingably provided at an opposing rotary coupling portion located at a position facing the rotary coupling portion of the four-node rotary link mechanism, and a pair of the treatment elements are attached to upper and lower ends of the treatment arm. ing.

The proposed massage machine will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 is an external perspective view of the massage unit of the proposed chair-type massage seen from the front side, FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the massage unit shown in FIG. 8 seen from the rear side, and FIG. 10 is a treatment link means. FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the four-node rotary link mechanism, FIG. 11 is a side view of a main part assembly showing a state in which the four-node rotary link mechanism is incorporated in the massage unit, and FIG. 12 is a massage unit viewed from the left side of FIG. FIG. 13 is a rear view, FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view for explaining a tapping trajectory when the four-bar rotary link mechanism is tapped, (a) is a side view showing the link mechanism in a contracted state, and (b) is an expanded state. FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view for explaining the acupressure orbit when the four-bar rotary link mechanism performs acupressure motion, (a) is a side view showing a state in which the link mechanism is contracted, and (b) is an expanded view. Indicates the state It is a surface view.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the base plate 31a of the massage unit 31 is formed by sheet metal working, and the flanges 31b on both sides of the base plate 31a are formed.
Each of the three rollers 31c is provided on the shaft, and moves up and down while rolling along a seat frame in a seat back (not shown). A gear box 32 is attached to a substantially central portion on the rear surface side of the base plate 31a, and a kneading shaft 33, a tapping shaft 34, and a finger-pressure shaft 35 are axially mounted on the gear plate 32 in three stages arranged vertically. In the gear box 32,
Gear reduction mechanisms G1, G2, G3 formed of a worm gear mechanism or the like corresponding to the shafts 33 to 35 are housed (see FIG. 1).
2). Worm G1a and worm wheel G1b (Fig. 1
The gear reduction mechanism G1 for the kneading shaft 33 described in 1) is driven by the kneading drive motor 37 via the belt 36 (FIG. 12) to rotate the kneading shaft 33. Similarly, the tapping shaft 34 is
It is rotated by a gear reduction mechanism G2 for a beating shaft 34 driven by a beating drive motor 139 via a belt 38 (FIG. 9). Similarly, the worm G3a and the worm wheel G3
The gear reduction mechanism G3 for the acupressure shaft 35 is a belt 1
The acupressure shaft 35 is driven by the acupressure drive motor 141 via 40 (FIG. 12). Thus, the kneading drive motor 37, the belt 36, and the gear reduction mechanism G1 form a kneading drive unit, which is a beating drive motor 39 and a gear reduction mechanism G
2. The striking drive unit by the belt 38 further includes the acupressure drive motor 141, the belt 140, and the gear reduction mechanism G3.
Thus, the acupressure driving units are respectively formed. In addition,
The belt 140 may be a toothed belt, a flat belt, a V-belt, or the like.

In this way, in the two right and left open windows 31d (FIG. 8) formed by cutting out the base plate 31a, a treatment link for performing a kneading motion, a tapping motion, and a shiatsu motion by each of the kneading, tapping, and acupressure driving units. With the means 142 supporting the treatment element 143, the treatment element 143 is passed through from the rear surface side to the front surface side.

Next, the structure of the newly developed treatment link means 142 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 will be described. It is as follows. That is, the treatment link means 142 is a pantograph-shaped four-bar rotary link mechanism in which four links L1 to L4 are rotatably coupled by four pins P1 to P4 (also referred to as “rotary coupling portions”), The pin P3 is coaxially supported so as to be swingable with respect to the kneading shaft 33. The four-node rotary link mechanism 142 moves in a pantograph manner with the rotary coupling portion of the pin P3 as a fixed point. Each of the links L1 to L4 is preferably made of a hard synthetic resin material in order to satisfy the requirements for weight reduction, quietness, and mechanical strength, but a sheet metal product may be used as appropriate. May be a combination of. The return spring 1 is provided between the link L2 and the treatment arm 144 that rotatably supports the treatment element 143.
45 (FIG. 8) is stretched, and the treatment arm 1 is provided by its spring force.
44 is always biased in the arrow Z direction (FIG. 11). The treatment arm 144 is swingably supported by the pin P1 that is an opposed rotary coupling portion that is disposed opposite to the pin P3.

The pin P3 corresponds to a protruding kneading shaft 33a protruding from the shaft end of the kneading shaft 33, which will be described later, and serves as a driving shaft for imparting a kneading motion to the treatment link means 142 by the rotation of the kneading shaft 33. In addition, the pin P3 functions as a swing center for swinging the link L3 and the link L2 of the treatment link means 142 when the treatment element 143 strikes or performs shiatsu movement described later.

A tapping push rod 146 is provided between the tapping shaft 34 and the link L3. In order to allow the movement of the link L3 during the kneading movement, the upper end of the hitting push rod 146 has a ball joint 146.
The link L3 is coupled via a (FIG. 10), and the lower end 146b of the push rod 146 is coupled so as to allow swinging in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

The acupressure shaft 35 for performing the acupressure motion added as a newly developed massage motion is provided between the acupressure shaft 35 and the link L2, as in the case of the massaging shaft 33 described above.
An acupressure push rod 147 is provided. The upper end of the acupressure push rod 147 has a ball joint 147a.
(FIG. 10) via the link L2, its lower end 1
The link 47b is coupled so that the link L2 is allowed to swing in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,
The above-described four-bar rotary link mechanism 142 is installed in the gear box 32.
And the massage unit 31 is formed. First, the relationship between the kneading shaft 33 and the pin P3 will be described.
The pin P3 is formed so that both shaft end surfaces of the kneading shaft 33 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the kneading shaft 33, and the protruding kneading shafts 33a and 33b project in a direction substantially orthogonal to the inclined surface.
Is provided, and the links L2 and L3 are coaxially supported by the shafts 33a and 33b. Then, the main surface of the four-node rotation link mechanism 142, which is the treatment link means, has its main surface protruding and kneaded.
It is arranged so that it exists in a plane oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to b. In this way, a pair of treatment link means 142 is provided on the left and right of the gear box 32. When the beating shaft 34 and the acupressure shaft 35 are stopped, only the kneading shaft 33 rotates, so that the four-node rotation link mechanism 142 can knead.

Next, the attachment structure of the beating shaft 34 and the beating push rod 146 is as follows. Eccentric shafts 34b and 34c are provided at both ends of the beating shaft 34 at positions where their phases are opposite to each other, offset from the center of rotation of the main shaft 34a of the beating shaft 34. The lower end of the hitting push rod 146 is pivotally supported by the eccentric shafts 34b and 34c. That is, as a result, the left and right push rods 146 are alternately moved up and down by the crank movement of the eccentric shafts 34b and 34c. The link L3 swings around the pin P3 in accordance with the vertical movement of the tapping push rod 146, and the shoulder can be tapped.

Acupressure shaft 35 and acupressure push rod 147
With respect to the attachment structure of and, the eccentric shafts 35a and 35b are provided at both ends of the acupressure shaft 35 so as to project, as in the case of the tapping shaft 34. However, unlike the case of the beating shaft 34, since both the eccentric shafts 35a and 35b are arranged in the same phase in left-right symmetry, the left and right push rods 147 both move up and down in the same direction. As the acupressure push rod 47 moves up and down, the pair of left and right links L2 is pin P
Simultaneous swinging in the same direction around 3 enables shiatsu massage.

The massage motion by the massage unit 31 can be controlled by an electronic control system so that each of the above motions can be independently performed, but any two massage motions can be combined or combined. The two massage movements can be controlled to operate in combination at the same time. Further, it is possible to control the strength or speed of each movement or to operate the movement.

The operation of the massage machine will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in the kneading motion mode, only the kneading drive motor 37 drives and the hitting push rod 146 and the acupressure push rod 14 are driven.
7 does not move. Therefore, the treatment link means 142 is restrained in a stopped state, and only the kneading shaft 33 rotates,
The treatment link means 30 performs a tilting movement by the kneading shaft 33, and the treatment link means 142 moves so as to draw a kneading movement trajectory as a whole. Therefore, the treatment element 143 can approach the treatment link means 30 in the direction of the arrow N or be separated in the direction of the arrow D to perform a kneading motion to massage the shoulder of the user.

As shown in FIG. 13, in order to perform the tapping motion mode, only the tapping drive motor 139 is driven. Since the acupressure shaft 35 is stopped, the movement of the link L2 is fixed. Hitting Push Rod 1
Since only 46 moves up and down, only link L3 is pin P3
The four-node rotation link mechanism 142 makes a pantograph movement by swinging about. At this time, since the lever ratio is larger than that in the acupressure movement mode, the amount of movement of the massaging element 143 in the front-back direction is larger than that in the acupressure movement mode. Thus, the pair of four-bar rotary link mechanisms 142 arranged on the left and right sides.
13 so that the center point of the pin P1 draws the locus Q.
The deformation is performed by repeating the closed state shown in (a) and the opened state as shown in FIG. As a result, the pair of left and right treatment elements 143 alternately perform left and right tapping motions, and the shoulder tap of the user can be treated.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the acupressure movement mode is performed, only the acupressure drive motor 141 is driven. The tapping shaft 34 and the push rod 1 for the tapping
46 has stopped, so the movement of link L3 is fixed,
Only the acupressure push rod 147 moves up and down. Therefore, only the link L2 swings around the pin P3.
Therefore, as a result, the pantograph mechanism as the four-bar rotation link mechanism, that is, the treatment link means 30 is pin P.
Deformation is performed repeatedly between the closed state as shown in FIG. 14A and the opened state as shown in FIG. 14B so that the center point of 1 draws the locus R. As a result, it is possible to cause the treatment element 22 to perform acupressure exercise and to apply acupressure massage to the user.

By interlocking the massage operation and the acupressure operation and simultaneously moving the massage unit up and down, it is possible to realize any of the four stretching operations shown in FIG. 3 below. (1) Stretch treatment is performed by narrowing the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously raising the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (b)) Furthermore, the rise of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment element spacing is the minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward to move the treatment elements. Lower until the width between the treatment elements becomes maximum.

By setting the rising width of the treatment element larger than the falling width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually rises as a whole. (2) The stretch treatment is performed by decreasing the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously lowering the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern in FIG. 3 (d)) Further, the descending of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment element spacing is the minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward to move the treatment elements. Raise the width between the treatment elements to the maximum.

By making the descending width of the treatment element larger than the ascending width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually descends as a whole. (3) Stretch treatment is performed by expanding the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously raising the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (a)) Furthermore, the rise of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements are at the maximum position, and then the width between the treatment elements narrows, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted backward to move the treatment elements. Lower until the width between the treatment elements is minimized.

Further, by making the rising width of the treatment element larger than the falling width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually rises as a whole. (4) Stretch treatment is performed by lowering the treatment elements at the same time that the width between the treatment elements is widened and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (c)) Further, the descending of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements have the maximum distance, and then the width between the treatment elements becomes narrower, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted backward to move the treatment elements. Raise the width between the treatment elements to the minimum.

By making the descending width of the treatment element larger than the ascending width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually descends as a whole. Further, since this change can be made simply by changing the control program, in the conventional two-axis drive type massage unit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the rotation axis is not changed, (1), (2) and (3) ) And (4) could not be performed at the same time, but the above three-axis drive type massage
The unit can take in these different patterns as well.

The stretching effect of each pattern described above is as follows. (A) As shown in FIG. 15, the latissimus dorsi muscle 51, the trapezius muscle 52, and the erected spinal column muscle are present in the muscle fibers of the human back, and these muscles run diagonally upward from the vicinity of the spine. Treatment patterns (2) and (3) are stretch treatments along these muscle fibers. (B) As shown in FIG. 16, the muscle fibers of a person's back include long-rotating muscles 53 and short-rotating muscles 54, which are muscles running diagonally downward from the vicinity of the spine. Patterns (1) and (4) are stretch treatments along these muscle fibers.

Since the stretch treatment is a massage treatment in which the muscles are stretched with a relatively weak stimulus that does not damage the muscles, the orthogonal muscle fibers are not damaged. These stretch treatments have the effect of stimulating the muscle receptors (Golgi tendons / muscle spindles) by stimulating along the muscle fibers and promoting muscle contraction / relaxation.

Further, in the above patterns, the patterns (3) and (4) in which the treatment element protrudes from a narrow width to a wide width are different from the treatment element when the width is narrow from another width in consideration of the roundness of a person's back. Compared to (1) and (2), the stretch is slightly weaker.

In the case where the treatment element protrudes from a wide width to a narrow width, for example, when the movement is performed in all the patterns (1) to (4), the protrusion amount is generally small when the stroke is long. "Strong stretch",
On the other hand, when the stroke is long, the amount of protrusion changes from large to small, resulting in a “weak stretch”. That is, the longer the upper limit movement distance from the wider width to the narrower width is, the faster the speed is, and the stronger the feeling of stimulation is.

Therefore, in the case of a mechanism in which the amount of protrusion is large according to the operation in the narrow direction, the patterns (1) and (2) are strong stretches, and the patterns (3) and (4) are weak stretches. On the contrary, when the protrusion amount is increased according to the operation in the wide direction, the patterns (3) and (4) are stretched strongly,
(1) and (2) are weak stretches.

Therefore, if the weak stretch is adopted for the same movement pattern as compared with the patterns (1) to (4) which adopt the strong stretch, the other 4
Different types of patterns can be realized. For example: (5) Stretch treatment is performed by narrowing the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously raising the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (c)) Furthermore, the rise of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment element spacing is the minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward to move the treatment elements. Lower until the width between the treatment elements becomes maximum.

By setting the rising width of the treatment element smaller than the falling width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually descends as a whole. (6) Stretch treatment is performed by decreasing the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously lowering the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (a)) Further, the descending of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements are at the minimum distance, and thereafter the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted backward to move the treatment elements. Raise the width between the treatment elements to the maximum.

By making the descending width of the treatment element smaller than the ascending width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually rises as a whole. (7) Stretch treatment is performed by increasing the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously raising the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (d)) Furthermore, the rise of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements have the maximum distance, and then the width between the treatment elements narrows, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward to move the treatment elements. Lower until the width between the treatment elements is minimized.

By setting the rising width of the treatment element smaller than the falling width of the treatment element, the treatment element gradually descends as a whole. (8) Stretch treatment is performed by expanding the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously lowering the treatment elements and projecting the treatment elements forward. (Pattern of FIG. 3 (b)) Further, the descending of the treatment elements ends at the position where the treatment elements are at the maximum position, and then the width between the treatment elements becomes narrower, and at the same time, the treatment elements are moved backward to move the treatment elements. Raise the width between the treatment elements to the minimum.

By setting the descending width of the treatment element smaller than the ascending width of the treatment element, the treatment element as a whole gradually rises. As described above, in the case of the three-axis drive type massage unit, these patterns can be realized in any combination, so that the treatment pattern can have variations. It should be noted that the above-mentioned strong / weak comparison is a comparison when ascending or descending by repeating the same pattern as shown in FIG. 13, and is not limited to this in the case of a random trajectory of the treatment element in an arbitrary pattern.

Further, since the ribs of a person spread laterally during breathing and at the same time lift up, it is possible to interlock with breathing if the above pattern (3) or (2) is used properly. That is, in order to provide a feeling of relaxation, the breathing is guided so as to gradually calm down, or conversely, the treatment according to the pattern of (3) or (2) described above is performed according to the breathing of the person to be treated, so that the human body is naturally treated. It is possible to perform various stretch treatments. That is, if the pattern (3) is taken during inspiration and the pattern (2) is taken during expiration, the movement of the ribs will be the same, so that the user will not feel uncomfortable.

[0067]

As described above, the stretch treatment of the present invention has the effect of stimulating muscle receptors (Golgi tendons / muscle spindles) by stimulating along the muscle fibers and promoting muscle contraction / relaxation. There is.

In addition, the stretching treatment in the oblique direction is strong,
By mixing weaknesses to give a change, it is possible to bring out a combination of treatment patterns, and there is a remarkable effect that the treatments can have variations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a massage unit of a conventional chair-type massage machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another operation state of the massage unit of the conventional chair-type massage machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a trajectory pattern of a treatment element in a stretching operation of the chair-type massage machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a conventional massage unit.

5 is a sectional structural view of the massage unit of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a conventional chair-type massage machine.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional chair-type massage machine.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a massage unit of another chair type massage to which the present invention is applied, as seen from the front side.

9 is an external perspective view of the massage unit of FIG. 8 viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the configuration of a four-bar rotation link mechanism that is a treatment link means.

FIG. 11 is a side view of essential parts showing a state in which a four-bar rotation link mechanism is incorporated in a massage unit.

12 is a rear view of the massage unit viewed from the left side of FIG. 11. FIG.

13A and 13B are operation explanatory diagrams for explaining a tapping trajectory when the four-bar rotary link mechanism performs a tapping motion, FIG. 13A is a side view showing a state in which the link mechanism is contracted, and FIG. 13B is an expanded state. It is a side view shown.

14A and 14B are operation explanatory views for explaining the acupressure orbit when the four-bar rotary link mechanism performs acupressure movement, FIG. 14A is a side view showing a state in which the link mechanism is contracted, and FIG. 14B is an expanded state. It is a side view shown.

FIG. 15 is a state diagram of muscle fibers on the back of a person.

FIG. 16 is another state diagram of muscle fibers on the back of a person.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 backrest 11 sheets 14 footrest 21 Slide piece 23 Fir drive shaft 24 rollers 27 treatment child 28 Eccentric shaft 29 Treatment arm 40, 41 eccentric shaft 42 Shiatsu spiral gear 43,50 helical gear 51 Shiatsu shaft 52 Permanent magnet 53 Hall element 54 Eccentric cylindrical member 55 slider 56 roller arm 57 ball joint 31 Massage Unit 32 gearbox 33 Kneading axis 34 tapping axis 35 Shiatsu axis 37 Kneading axis drive motor 139 tapping shaft drive motor 141 Shiatsu shaft drive motor 142 Treatment link means (4-bar rotation link mechanism) 143 treatment child 144 treatment arm 146 Push Push Rod 147 Shiatsu push rod L1 to L4 links P1 to P4 pin shaft (rotary coupling part)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) A61H 23/02 357 A61H 23/02 357 39/04 39/04 V (72) Inventor Yuki Akiyama Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture 550-1, Hirodori, Hachiman, Ichi, Maruta, Stock Company, Incorporated (72) Inventor, Katsuhiro Maekawa, Fujieda, Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yawata, Maruka, 72, Ltd. 550 No. 1 F-term in Maruka stock company (reference) 4C074 AA04 BB05 CC11 CC17 DD01 GG03 HH02 HH08 4C100 AD12 AD22 AE13 AE19 AF03 BA03 BA05 BB03 BC02 BC03 CA03 CA06 CA08 CA09 DA05 DA06 DA10 EA10 EA12 4C101 BA06 BB05 BB05 BB05 BB05 BE07

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A chair-type massage machine having a massage unit that can be moved up and down along a backrest to perform treatment in accordance with a pre-programmed automatic treatment pattern, by performing a combination of a rubbing motion and a rolling motion to form muscle fibers. A chair-type massage machine characterized by performing a stretch treatment that causes the muscles to contract and relax by moving the treatment element in the direction along it and projecting it forward and stretching the muscle fibers. 2. A stretch treatment is performed by performing a combination of a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to narrow the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously raise the treatment elements and project the treatment elements forward. The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the chair type massage machine is used. 3. The treatment elements are lifted up to a position where the treatment element spacing is at a minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements extend between the treatment elements. 3. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 2, wherein the chair-type massage machine is lowered until it reaches a maximum value. 4. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the treatment element gradually rises as a whole by making a rising width of the treatment element larger than a descending width of the treatment element. 5. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 3, wherein the treatment element is gradually lowered as a whole by making a rising width of the treatment element smaller than a descending width of the treatment element. 6. A stretch treatment is performed by performing a combination of a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to reduce the width between the treatment elements and simultaneously lower the treatment element and project the treatment element forward. The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the chair type massage machine is used. 7. The descent of the treatment elements ends at a position where the treatment element spacing is at a minimum, and then the width between the treatment elements widens, and at the same time, the treatment elements are moved backward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 6, wherein the chair-type massage machine is elevated to the maximum. 8. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 7, wherein the treatment element gradually descends as a whole by making the descending width of the treatment element larger than the ascending width of the treatment element. 9. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 7, wherein the treatment element is gradually raised as a whole by making the descending width of the treatment element smaller than the ascending width of the treatment element. 10. A stretch treatment is performed by performing a combination of a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to increase the width between treatment elements and simultaneously raise the treatment elements and project the treatment elements forward. The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the chair type massage machine is used. 11. The treatment elements are lifted up to a position where the treatment elements have a maximum distance, and then the width between the treatment elements is narrowed, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 10, wherein the chair-type massage machine is lowered to the minimum. 12. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 11, wherein the treatment element gradually rises as a whole by making the rising width of the treatment element larger than the falling width of the treatment element. 13. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 11, wherein the treatment element is gradually lowered as a whole by making the rising width of the treatment element smaller than the falling width of the treatment element. 14. A stretch treatment is performed by performing a combination of a rubbing operation and a rolling operation to widen the width between the treatment elements and at the same time lower the treatment element and project the treatment element forward. The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the chair type massage machine is used. 15. The descending of the treatment elements ends at a position where the treatment element spacing is at a maximum, and thereafter the width between the treatment elements becomes narrower, and at the same time, the treatment elements are retracted rearward so that the treatment elements have a width between the treatment elements. The chair type massage machine according to claim 14, wherein the chair type massage machine is elevated to a minimum level. 16. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 15, wherein the treatment element is gradually lowered as a whole by making the descending width of the treatment element larger than the ascending width of the treatment element. 17. The chair-type massage machine according to claim 15, wherein the treatment element is gradually raised as a whole by making the descending width of the treatment element smaller than the ascending width of the treatment element.