JP2009125299A - Chair type massage machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massage machine which makes inflation-deflation timing of a plurality of air cells different in accordance with purposes for a massage by a simple structure inexpensively. <P>SOLUTION: The massage machine is equipped with the plurality of air cells 5A-1 to 5D-2 for giving a massage to a user by inflating and deflating; an air supply device 7 and air supply piping 100 for supplying air to the plurality of the air cells; and a control part 9 for controlling movements of the plurality of the air cells. The air supply piping 100 keeps one side connected to the air supply device 7 and the other side branched into at least two portions connected to the plurality of the air cells. The other side of the air supply piping 100 is configured to have different air supply speed to the plurality of the air cells. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a plurality of air cells that massage a user by expanding and contracting, an air supply device and an air supply pipe for supplying air to the plurality of air cells, and a control for controlling operations of the plurality of air cells. The air supply pipe is connected to the air supply device on one side and is connected to the plurality of air cells on the other side at least two branches, the air supply on the other side The piping relates to a massage machine formed so that air supply speeds to the plurality of air cells are different from each other.

Conventionally, in a massaging machine having a plurality of air cells that massage a user by expanding and contracting, an air supply device that supplies air to the plurality of air cells, and an air supply piping, one side of the air supply piping is an air supply device Many massage machines are proposed in which the other side is branched via a switching valve (such as a solenoid valve or a rotary valve) and connected to a plurality of air cells. Such a massage machine can control the timing of supplying air to a plurality of air cells by controlling the opening and closing of the switching valve (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-257083

  In the massage machine of patent document 1, by controlling a switching valve (rotary valve), the expansion / contraction timings of a plurality of air cells can be varied according to the purpose of massage. However, in order to vary the expansion / contraction timings of the plurality of air cells, it is necessary to control the operation of a switching valve such as a rotary valve, which causes a problem that the circuit becomes complicated and the cost is increased.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a massage machine capable of varying the expansion / contraction timings of a plurality of air cells according to the purpose of massage with a simple configuration and at low cost. And

  The present invention relates to a plurality of air cells that massage a user by expanding and contracting, an air supply device and an air supply pipe for supplying air to the plurality of air cells, and a control for controlling operations of the plurality of air cells. The air supply pipe is connected to the air supply device on one side and is connected to the plurality of air cells on the other side at least two branches, the air supply on the other side The piping is formed so that air supply speeds to the plurality of air cells are different from each other. By setting it as such a structure, the expansion / contraction timing of each air cell to which the said air supply piping branched and connected can be varied.

The plurality of air cells include at least a first air cell and a second air cell, and the other air supply pipe is connected to the first air supply pipe and the second air cell for supplying air to the first air cell. Branching to a second air supply pipe for supplying air, the second air supply pipe is formed such that the air supply speed to the second air cell is slower than the air supply speed to the first air cell. Preferably it is. By setting it as such a structure, according to the massage objective, a 1st air cell with a quick expansion | swelling speed and a 2nd air cell with a slower expansion | swelling speed than a 1st air cell can be provided in a massage machine.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the flow path of the second air supply pipe is narrower than that of the first air supply pipe. By adopting such a configuration, a pressure difference is generated between the first air supply pipe and the second air supply pipe, so that the air easily flows to the first air supply pipe side, and the expansion speed of the first air cell is set to the second air cell. It can be made faster than the expansion rate.

A connector provided with a communication hole is connected to the second air supply pipe, and an air supply speed to the second air cell is adjusted by adjusting an inner diameter of the communication hole provided in the connector. It is preferable to make it slower than the air supply speed. With such a configuration, it is possible to change the expansion / contraction timing of the first air cell and the second air cell only by changing the connector connected to the second air supply pipe, and the first and second air supply. Piping can be a common part.

In addition, a connector provided with a communication hole is connected to the second air supply pipe, and the air supply speed to the second air cell is adjusted by adjusting the number of communication holes provided in the connector. It is preferable to make it slower than the air supply speed to the air cell. With such a configuration, it is possible to change the expansion / contraction timing of the first air cell and the second air cell only by changing the connector connected to the second air supply pipe, and the first and second air supply. Piping can be a common part. Furthermore, since the air supply speed to the second air cell increases in proportion to the number of communication holes, the air supply speed can be easily adjusted.

Further, it is preferable that an exhaust valve for forcibly exhausting the air supplied to the second air cell is provided in the second air supply pipe. Further, it is preferable that the exhaust valve is provided in the second air supply pipe at a position upstream of the second air cell and downstream of the connector. By setting it as such a structure, the air supplied to the 2nd air cell whose air supply / exhaust speed is slower than a 1st air cell can be exhausted rapidly. Thereby, when the second air cell performs the next inflating operation, the second air cell can be kept in a contracted state, the continuous expansion of the second air cell can be prevented, and a sharp massage can be performed. .

Further, in a massage machine having a plurality of different massage modes, a first massage mode for performing expansion / contraction operations of the plurality of air cells by repeating air supply and exhaust, and air in a shorter time than the first massage mode. It is preferable to have a second massage mode in which the plurality of air cells are expanded and contracted by repeating the air supply and exhaust. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a massage machine having a plurality of massage modes with different air supply / exhaust speeds without changing the air supply speed by controlling the air supply device, the switching valve, and the like. .

Moreover, it is preferable that the second massage mode is a massage mode in which the plurality of air cells are inflated / contracted based on a change in an acoustic signal. By adopting such a configuration, the second massage mode can be a mode in which the air cell is inflated and contracted in a short time following an acoustic signal that changes frequently, and massage that is synchronized with the rhythm of music is performed. Can do.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the massage machine which can vary the expansion / contraction timing of several air cell according to the objective of massage with a simple structure and low cost is realizable.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A massage machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a chair-type massage machine including a seat 2 and a backrest 3. In addition, you may equip the front part of the seat part 2 with the footrest which mounts a leg. The massage machine 1 also includes an operation device 4 that performs various operations on the massage machine 1. Further, a music player 8 for playing back an acoustic signal (music signal) recorded on a recording medium such as a CD, MD, DVD, or hard disk is provided (see also FIG. 5). The music player 8 may be provided integrally with the operation device 4 or may be provided separately from the operation device 4. Note that the acoustic signal may be obtained from a sound source device (audio device, microphone, etc.) connected to an external input terminal provided in the massage machine 1 instead of being obtained from the music player 8 provided in the massage machine. In this specification, the width direction of the backrest 3 is referred to as “left-right direction”, the height direction is referred to as “up-down direction”, and the depth direction is referred to as “front-rear direction”. .

  The backrest part 3 is provided with a plurality of massage parts 5 and two speakers 6. The massage unit 5 of the present embodiment has a backrest 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D as a massage actuator that expands and contracts by air supply / exhaust from an air supply device 7 (see also FIG. 2) and presses the user's body. The first air cells 5A-1, 5B-1, 5C-1, 5D-1 and the second air cells 5A-2, 5B-2, 5C-2, which are provided in four rows in the vertical direction in the part 3 and make a pair on the left and right. , 5D-2 is adopted. The first air cell 5A-1 has a sufficiently smaller volume than the second air cell 5A-2, and is provided on the front side of the second air cell 5A-2. When the second air cell 5A-2 expands, the first air cell 5A-1 provided on the front side of the second air cell 5A-2 is pushed out by the second air cell 5A-2 and arranged to move to the front side. Regarding the air cells 5B, 5C, and 5D, the arrangement relationship between the first air cell and the second air cell is the same as that of the air cell 5A, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The massage part 5 may be provided on the seat part 2 in addition to the backrest part 3. Moreover, you may equip a footrest or an armrest with the massage part which massages a user's leg | leg or arm.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an air supply / exhaust system of the massage machine 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, one side of an air supply pipe (flow path) 100 made of a flexible air tube such as a soft vinyl pipe is connected to an electromagnetic valve (switching valve) SV. It is connected to an air supply device 7 comprising an air pump or the like. The solenoid valve SV includes a first solenoid valve SV-A that switches between supply and discharge of the air cell 5A, a second solenoid valve SV-B that switches between supply and discharge of the air cell 5B, and a third solenoid valve SV that switches between supply and discharge of the air cell 5C. -C, 4th solenoid valve SV-D which performs supply / discharge switching of the air cell 5D is comprised. The massage machine 1 has a control unit 9 that controls the driving of the electromagnetic valve SV and the air supply device 7. The solenoid valve SV, the air supply device 7 and the control unit 9 are all unitized and arranged below the seat portion 2.

The air supply pipe 100 connected to the air cell 5A (the pair of first air cell 5A-1 and second air cell 5A-2) will be described below. Since the air supply pipe 100 connected to the other air cells 5B to 5D has the same configuration as the air supply pipe 100 connected to the air cell 5A, the description thereof is omitted.
One side of the air supply pipe 100 is connected to the first solenoid valve SV-A, and the other side of the air supply pipe 100 branches into the first air supply pipe 100a and the second air supply pipe 100b, and the following Are connected to the first air cell 5A-1 and the second air cell 5A-2, respectively. The first air supply pipe 100a is further branched into two branch air supply pipes 100c and 100d and connected to the pair of first air cells 5A-1. The second air supply pipe 100b is connected to the second air cell 5A-2 via a connector 101 as a flow passage restricting member for restricting the flow path of the second air supply pipe and an exhaust valve 102 described later.
In order to reduce the flow rate of air supplied to the second air cell 5A-2 as compared to the flow rate of air supplied to each first air cell 5A-1, the connector 101 as the flow passage restricting member is connected to the second air cell. By providing the supply pipe 100b, the flow path of the second air supply pipe 100b located on the downstream side of the connector 101 may be narrowed to reduce the flow rate of the air supplied to the second air cell 5A-2.

Hereinafter, the structure of the connector 101 as a flow path restricting member that restricts the flow path of the air supply pipe will be described.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the connector 101 (the direction in which air flows). The connector 101 is formed by a connector main body 101a made of resin or the like and a communication hole 101b in which the flow rate of air sent from the air supply device 7 to the second air cell 5A-2 is adjusted (restricted) to a predetermined amount. As a method of adjusting the air flow rate, it is possible to appropriately set the inner diameter of the communication hole 101b. The connector 101 of this embodiment is formed so that the inner diameter of the communication hole 101b is smaller than the inner diameter of the first air supply pipe 100a. As another method for adjusting the air flow rate, there is a method of changing the number of the plurality of communication holes 101b formed in the connector 101 as shown in FIG. In this case, if the inner diameter of the communication hole 101b is unified to a predetermined size, the air flow rate increases in proportion to the number of communication holes 101b. Therefore, the air supply speed to the second air cell 5A-2 is adjusted. It can be done easily. Further, the inner diameter of the second air supply pipe 100b itself may be formed smaller than the inner diameter of the first air supply pipe 100a without providing the connector 101.

As described above, the connector 101 provided in the second air supply pipe 100b narrows the flow path of the second air supply pipe located on the downstream side of the connector 101, so that it is supplied from the air supply device 7. The air easily flows to the first air supply pipe 100a side. That is, the air supply to the first air cell 5A-1 is promoted, the air supply speed becomes faster than the air supply speed to the second air cell 5A-2, and the first air cell 5A-1 is more than the second air cell 5A-2. Also, the expansion is completed first.

  In the second air supply pipe 100b, exhaust as a quick exhaust means is provided between the second air cell 5A-2 and the connector 101 as the flow passage restricting member (upstream of the first air cell 5A-2 and downstream of the connector 101). A valve 102 is provided. The structure of the exhaust valve 102 will be described below. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust valve 102 in the axial direction (the direction in which air flows). As shown in FIG. 4A, the exhaust valve 102 includes a valve housing 103, a valve body 104, a protrusion 105, and an exhaust port 106.

The valve housing 103 includes a housing main body 103a having a short cylindrical peripheral wall and a side wall connected to one end of the peripheral wall, and a housing cover 103b connected to the housing main body 103a by covering the opening of the cylindrical peripheral wall. 4B is a cross-sectional view in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing main body 103a, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing lid 103b. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, a first port 107 protrudes from the edge of the side wall of the housing lid 103b, and the central portion of the housing main body 103a corresponds to the first port 107. Is provided with a second port 108. The first port 107 is provided at a position eccentric from the center of the housing lid 103b, and is not collinear with the second port 108 in the axial direction. The second port 108 is connected to the second air cell 5A-2 via the second air supply pipe 100b, and the first port 107 is connected to the solenoid valve SV (first valve) via the connector 101 via the second air supply pipe 100b. It is connected to the solenoid valve SV-A).

The valve body 104 that opens and closes the second port 108 is formed in a disc shape using vinyl chloride or the like, and an opening / closing portion 109 is provided at the center thereof. The opening / closing portion 109 has a deployment end 109b with a deployment base 109a as a fulcrum. It is configured to be expandable on the second port side. A stopper 109c for preventing the opening / closing portion 109 from expanding toward the first port is provided at the opening end 109b of the opening / closing portion 109. The valve body 104 is accommodated in the valve housing 103 so as to be movable along its axial direction (direction in which air flows). As shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 104 is made of a disc having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the valve housing 103. One protrusion 105 is provided at the center of the inner surface of the side wall of the housing lid 103b, and a plurality of protrusions 105 are provided around the center at the edge. The protrusion 105 serves to prevent the valve body 104 from sticking to the inner surface of the side wall of the housing lid 103b when air is exhausted from the second air cell 5A-2. A plurality of exhaust ports 106 penetrating in the axial direction are formed in the circumferential direction of the housing main body 103a. These exhaust ports 106 are opened and closed by the movement of the valve body 104.

The exhaust valve 102 configured as described above operates as follows. That is, when air is supplied from the first port 107 under the operation of the air supply device 7, the valve body 104 is moved to the side wall side of the housing body 103 a by the pressure to close each exhaust port 106. In this state, the opening / closing part 109 of the valve body 104 is opened, and the first port 107 communicates with the second port 108 to allow air to flow to the second air cell 5A-2.

Further, when air is not supplied when air is introduced from the second air cell 5A-2 to the second port 108 while the air supply device 7 is stopped, the valve body 104 is moved by the pressure in the second air cell 5A-2 to cause the housing lid 103b to move. The first port 107 is closed by being pressed against the inner surface of the side wall of the housing lid 103b via the protrusion 105. And since the pressure in 2nd air cell 5A-2 is larger than atmospheric pressure, the air which flowed back in the valve housing 103 from the 2nd port 108 is discharged | emitted out of the valve housing 103 through each exhaust port 106. FIG. As a result, rapid exhaust is performed to exhaust a large amount of air at once. And the exhaust efficiency in the exhaust valve 102 which performs such a rapid exhaust operation | movement is larger than the exhaust efficiency in the said solenoid valve SV (1st solenoid valve SV-A).

  By configuring the air supply / exhaust system of the massage machine 1 as described above, the expansion / contraction timing of the first air cell 5A-1 of the pair and the second air cell 5A-2 disposed on the rear side of the first air cell of the pair, It can be made different only by supply / discharge switching of one solenoid valve SV (first solenoid valve SV-A). Specifically, the supply / exhaust speed to the first air cell 5A-1 can be made faster than the supply / exhaust speed to the second air cell 5A-2. Further, by providing the second air supply air pipe 100b connected to the second air cell 5A-2 with the exhaust valve 102 as a quick exhaust means, the exhaust of the air supplied to the second air cell 5A-2 is promoted. In addition, since the second air cell 5A-2 can be prepared for the next expansion, a sharp expansion and contraction operation can be performed. That is, the air supply speed to the second air cell 5A-2 can be made slower than that of the first air cell 5A-1, and the exhaust speed can be made substantially equal to that of the first air cell 5A-1.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the flow passage restricting member (connector 101) for restricting the flow passage of the second air supply pipe 100b and the exhaust valve 102 as the quick exhaust means are separately configured. A valve unit in which the quick exhaust means is unitized may be provided in the second air supply pipe 100b. The valve unit is provided with a valve body 110 with a flow restricting function instead of the valve body 104 in the valve housing 103 described above. FIG. 4D is a sectional view in the axial direction of the valve element 110 with a flow restricting function. The valve element 110 with a flow restricting function is formed in a disk shape from vinyl chloride or the like, and a small hole 111 is provided in the center thereof. The diameter of the small hole 111 which is a piping path is formed smaller than the diameters of all other piping paths (such as the air supply pipe 100 and the orifice of the solenoid valve SV). Since the other structure of the valve unit is the same as the structure of the exhaust valve 102, the description thereof is omitted. By providing this valve unit in the second air supply piping 100b between the electromagnetic valve SV (first electromagnetic valve SV-A) and the second air cell 5A-2, the piping structure can be simplified.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the massage machine 1.
The massage machine 1 includes a speaker 6, an air supply device 7, a solenoid valve SV, a music player 8, and a delay circuit 10, and includes a first control circuit 11, a second control circuit 12, a drive circuit 13, an operation mode setting device 14, and A control unit 9 including an operation mode storage device 15 is provided. The drive circuit 13 includes a first drive circuit 13A that drives the first solenoid valve SV-A, a second drive circuit 13B that drives the second solenoid valve SV-B, and a third drive that drives the third solenoid valve SV-C. A circuit 13C and a fourth drive circuit 13D that drives the fourth electromagnetic valve SV-D are configured (see also FIG. 7). The operation mode setting device 14 includes an operation device 4 and a CPU 16. The operation mode storage device 15 stores a plurality of different massage modes (two in the embodiment of the present invention). Specifically, the “normal massage mode” which is the first massage mode for performing the expansion and contraction operation of the air cell 5 with a preset operation pattern and the air signal to the air cell 5 based on the acoustic signal output from the music player 8. The “music sync mode” which is the second massage mode in which the air supply / exhaust is repeatedly performed in a short time is stored in the operation mode storage device 15. Furthermore, a plurality of massage courses (three for each mode in the embodiment of the present invention) corresponding to each massage mode are stored in the operation mode storage device 15. Details of each massage mode will be described later. The second massage mode may be a massage mode in which air is supplied to and discharged from the air cell 5 in a shorter time than the first massage mode, regardless of the acoustic signal.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the operation device 4 includes a power switch 4a, a sudden stop switch 4b, an operation mode selection unit 4c including a first course selection switch 4d and a second course selection switch 4e, and an air strength adjustment. A strength adjustment switch 4f, etc., which serves as both means and sensitivity adjustment means is provided. The strength adjustment switch 4f is set so as to function as an air strength adjustment means when the first massage mode is selected, and to function as a sensitivity adjustment means when the second massage mode is selected. Further, the operation device 4 may be provided with an LED or a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the content of the massage operation.

The details of the first control circuit 11 and the second control circuit 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
The first control circuit 11 includes an amplifier 121 that amplifies an input acoustic signal, a frequency filter (active filter) 122 that extracts a low frequency range from the acoustic signal, a rectifier 123 that rectifies the acoustic signal, and a signal of the acoustic signal A first threshold value setting unit 124 that sets a first threshold value (Low threshold value), and a second threshold value that sets a second threshold value (High threshold value) of the signal level of the acoustic signal A setting unit 125, a first pulse generating unit 126 that generates a pulse when the first threshold value is exceeded, a second pulse generating unit 127 that generates a pulse when the second threshold value is exceeded, a first pulse A first latch unit 128 that latches a pulse generated by the generation unit 126, a second latch unit 129 that latches a pulse generated by the second pulse generation unit 127, and the like.
The second control circuit 12 includes a first massage operation control signal generation unit 131 that generates a first massage operation control signal based on the pulse signal generated by the first pulse generation unit 126, and a pulse generated by the second pulse generation unit 127. Second massage operation control signal generation unit 132 that generates a second massage operation control signal based on the signal, third massage operation control signal generation unit 133 that generates a third massage operation control signal regardless of the acoustic signal, and massage operation A selection circuit (selection unit) 134 for selecting the drive circuits 13A to 13D (massage unit 5) that gives control signals is included.

  The amplifier 121 is capable of adjusting the amplification degree of the acoustic signal, and appropriately adjusts the amplification degree according to the signal level (voltage) of the acoustic signal that varies depending on the sound source, thereby appropriately controlling the massage start control signal or the massage operation control. A signal can be generated. The amplification degree can be adjusted by operating the strength adjustment switch 4f as the sensitivity adjustment means of the operation device 4.

  The frequency filter 122 is configured by a low-pass filter, and is for detecting a low frequency range constituting a rhythm of an acoustic signal (music signal). The frequency filter 122 is composed of a low-pass filter that passes only a specific frequency. The frequency filter 122 includes, for example, a plurality of low-pass filters having cut-off frequencies of about 20 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, and 200 Hz. The frequency filter 122 is operated by operating a frequency range switch (not shown) of the operation device 4. It may be selected so that the cutoff frequency can be adjusted. When the cut-off frequency is lowered, a massage operation that follows only the low sound range is obtained, and when the cut-off frequency is raised, a massage operation that follows a relatively high sound range can be obtained.

The rectifying unit 123 is for half-wave rectification of the acoustic signal, and is configured by a diode.
Each of the first and second threshold value setting units 124 and 125 is configured by a variable resistor, and is configured to be able to adjust the Low side threshold value and the High side threshold value.

The first pulse generator 126 is configured by a comparator (comparator) that generates a pulse when it detects that the input acoustic signal exceeds the Low-side threshold set by the first threshold setting unit 124. Has been.
The second pulse generator 127 is configured by a comparator (comparator) that generates a pulse when it detects that the input acoustic signal exceeds the High threshold value set by the second threshold value setting unit 125. Has been.

In the present embodiment, when the acoustic signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, the massage operation is started. When the pulses generated by the pulse generators 126 and 127 are generated, the acoustic signal is This indicates that the massage has started. That is, the pulses generated by the pulse generators 126 and 127 are massage start control signals.
However, the pulse generated by each of the pulse generators 126 and 127 is an oscillating pulse that repeats ON / OFF in a short time because the signal level of the acoustic signal changes very frequently (FIG. 8B). c)).

The first and second latch units 128 and 129 are for latching the outputs of the first and second pulse generators 126 and 127, which frequently change in accordance with changes in the signal level of the acoustic signal, respectively. It is composed of flip-flops. Since the pulses generated by the pulse generators 126 and 127 are oscillatory in the latch units 128 and 129, once a pulse is generated in the pulse generators 126 and 127, until the latch unit output is reset by the CPU 16. The output high state is maintained (see FIGS. 8D and 8E, details will be described later).
By maintaining the high state of the pulse by the latch units 128 and 129, the vibration pulse becomes a stable pulse, and the CPU 16 can easily detect that the acoustic signal is in the massage start state.

The CPU 16 performs various processes by a computer program stored in a memory (not shown). For example, based on the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the acoustic signal exceeds a threshold value (Low-side threshold value, High-side threshold value), and determines the level of the acoustic signal. A signal corresponding to (High or Low) is output (see FIGS. 8F and 8G).
More specifically, the CPU 16 has any of the following: the acoustic signal is less than the Low threshold, the acoustic signal is greater than or equal to the Low threshold and less than the High threshold, and the acoustic signal is greater than or equal to the High threshold. Determine whether. If the result of determination is that the acoustic signal is greater than or equal to the Low threshold and less than the High threshold, the CPU 16 outputs a Low determination signal, which is given to the first massage operation time control signal generator 131, and the acoustic signal is High. If it is equal to or greater than the side threshold value, a High determination signal is output and provided to the second massage operation time control signal generator 132. A predetermined signal irrelevant to the acoustic signal is given from the CPU 16 to the third massage operation signal generation unit 133.

The first massage operation control signal generation unit 131 includes a one-shot multivibrator (74LS123) that can adjust the pulse length using an external resistor and a capacitor. When a low determination signal is given from the CPU 16 to the first massage operation control signal generator 131, the first pulse length (time length) is set to the first pulse length (for example, 0.08 [s]). A massage operation control signal is generated (see FIG. 8I).
The second massage operation control signal generation unit 132 is also configured by a one-shot multivibrator (74LS123) whose pulse length can be adjusted by an external resistor and a capacitor. When a high determination signal is given from the CPU 16 to the second massage operation control signal generator 132, the second pulse length (time length) is set to the second pulse length (for example, 0.12 [s]). A massage operation control signal is generated (see FIG. 8H). Note that the pulse length of the massage operation control signal generation units 131 and 132 may be adjustable by an unillustrated air supply time switch provided in the operation device 4.

Since the time lengths of both massage operation control signals are different, the air supply time (massage operation time) to the air cell can be varied according to the signal level of the acoustic signal. That is, when the signal level of the acoustic signal is relatively low (Low), the air supply time to the air cell is relatively short, and when the signal level of the acoustic signal is relatively high (High), the air supply to the air cell is performed. Time is relatively long.
As a result, when the signal level of the acoustic signal is relatively low, a weak pressing massage occurs, and when the signal level of the acoustic signal is relatively high, a strong pressing massage occurs.
The first air cells 5A-1 to 5D-1 are almost completely inflated by supplying air during the massage operation time (0.12 [s] or 0.08 [s]) by one massage operation control signal. Is smaller than a conventional massage air cell.

  The selection circuit 134 selects which of the drive circuits 13A to 13D is provided with the generated first massage operation control signal or the second massage operation control signal based on a selection signal (details will be described later) output from the CPU 16. I do. The drive circuits 13A to 13D selected by the selection circuit 134 are supplied with the first massage operation control signal or the second massage operation control signal, and the selected electromagnetic wave is output for a time corresponding to the pulse length of each operation control signal. The valves SV-A to SV-D are switched to the air supply state, and the selected air cell groups 5-A to 5-D are inflated.

Hereinafter, the flow of operation control processing in the “normal massage mode” that is the first massage mode will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the power switch 4a is turned on by the operation device 4, and the massage course corresponding to the first massage mode is selected by the first massage course selection switch 4d which is the operation mode selection unit 4c. Further, if necessary, the pressing force (air supply time to the air cell 5) is adjusted by the strength adjustment switch 4f as the air strength adjusting means. In the normal massage mode, the second course selection switch 4e is not used.

When the first massage mode is selected by the operation mode selection unit 4c, the CPU 16 of the operation mode setting device 14 executes the program as follows.
The state of the first course selection switch 4 d is input to the CPU 16, and information on the selected massage course is read from the operation mode storage device 15. The CPU 16 outputs a signal based on the selected massage course information, and the third massage operation signal generation unit 133 generates a third massage operation control signal. The third massage operation signal is given to the selection circuit 134, and the selection circuit 134 selects and operates the drive circuits 13A to 13D based on a preset selection pattern of the drive circuits 13A to 13D. As a result, the air cells 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D are expanded and contracted in an operation pattern preset in the operation mode storage device 15. The first massage mode is a massage mode in which the expansion time of the air cell 5 is set longer than that in the second massage mode described later, and a sufficient pressing time can be given to the user. The first air cells 5A-1 to 5D-1 are formed with a sufficiently smaller volume than the second air cells 5A-2 to 5D-2. Air cells 5A-2 to 5D-2.

Next, the flow of the operation control process of the “music sync mode” that is the second massage mode will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the power switch 4a is turned on, the massage course corresponding to the second massage mode is selected by the second massage course selection switch 4e which is the operation mode selection unit 4c, and the music player 8 generates an acoustic signal. Further, if necessary, a sensitivity to be tuned to music is selected by a strength adjustment switch 4f as a sensitivity adjustment means. The strength adjustment switch 4f as the sensitivity adjustment means is for adjusting the degree of amplification of the acoustic signal by the amplifier 121, and the sensitivity is set up to seven stages. As the sensitivity is set higher (intensity is increased), the overall signal level of the acoustic signal is increased and the number of massage operations is increased. In the music sync mode, the first course selection switch 4d is not used.

When the second massage mode is selected by the operation mode selection unit 4c, the CPU 16 of the operation mode setting device 14 executes the program as follows.
The acoustic signal (analog signal or digital signal) output from the music player 8 is given to the delay device 10 and the first control circuit 11. The delay device 10 delays the sound signal of the music player 8 according to the delay (for example, 60 msec) that occurs during the sound signal processing in the first control circuit 11 and the second control circuit 12 to the speaker 6. Output. This delay can eliminate the sound output from the speaker 6 and the time lag of the massage operation.

  The first control circuit 11 to which the acoustic signal is input generates a pulse signal for generating a massage operation control signal based on the acoustic signal. The first control circuit 11 is connected to the operation mode setting device 14 (the operation device 4 and the CPU). The second course selection switch 4e is for switching and selecting a massage course for expanding and contracting the air cell 5 based on an acoustic signal corresponding to the second massage mode. As the second course, a plurality of (three types in the present embodiment) prepared with different selection rules for the massage unit 5 to be operated are prepared.

The state of the second course selection switch 4e is input to the CPU 16. The pulse signal generated by the first control circuit 11 is input to the CPU 16, and the CPU 16 performs each process described later, and the first massage operation signal generation unit 131 or the second massage control signal generation unit 132 of the second control circuit 12 performs the massage. An operation control signal is generated. The generated massage operation control signal is given to the selection circuit 134 of the second control circuit 12 to select the massage unit 5 to be operated, and the selected first air cells 5A-1 to 5D-1 and second air cells 5A-2 to It is given to the drive circuit 13 that drives 5D-2.

Hereinafter, the flow of the operation control process in the second massage mode will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.
When an acoustic signal is given from the music player 8 to the first control circuit 11, the amplifier 121 performs signal amplification. Then, the frequency filter 122 extracts a low-frequency signal from the amplified acoustic signal, and extracts a signal of the rhythm part of the music.

The filtered acoustic signal is half-wave rectified by the rectification unit 123. A half-wave rectified acoustic signal is shown in FIG.
FIG. 8A also shows the low-side threshold set by the first threshold setting unit 124 and the high-side threshold set by the second threshold setting unit 125. .

The acoustic signal in FIG. 8A is input to the first and second pulse generators 126 and 127.
First, a case where the W1 portion of the acoustic signal in FIG. 8A is input will be described. As shown in FIG. 8B, the first pulse generator 126 is High while the W1 portion of the acoustic signal exceeds the Low side threshold, and Low when it is below the Low side threshold. A pulse is generated.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), in the second pulse generator 127, when the W1 portion of the acoustic signal exceeds the High side threshold, it is High, and when it is less than the High side threshold, A pulse that becomes Low is generated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the massage start state is set when the acoustic signal exceeds the threshold value, and it is clear from FIGS. 8B and 8C that the pulse is vibrating. In addition, it can be seen that the acoustic signal frequently enters the non-massage start state immediately after the massage start state.

When the output of the first latch unit 128 is Low and the pulse of FIG. 8B is input to the first latch unit 128, the output of the first latch unit 128 is latched High (FIG. 8 ( d)).
When the output of the second latch unit 129 is Low and the pulse of FIG. 8C is input to the second latch unit 129, the output of the second latch unit 129 is latched High (FIG. 8). 8 (e)).

The first input unit P1 of the CPU 16 is connected to the output of the first latch unit 128, and the second input unit P2 of the CPU 16 is connected to the output of the second latch unit 129, to the first input unit P1 and the second input unit P2. The signal level determination processing of the acoustic signal is performed based on the input signal.
In the signal level determination process, first, it is determined whether or not the input signal to the second input unit P2 is High, that is, whether or not the signal level of the acoustic signal exceeds the high side threshold, and the second input unit If the input signal of P2 is High, a High determination signal is output.
If the input signal to the second input unit P2 is Low, then the input signal to the first input unit P1 is High, that is, the signal level of the acoustic signal exceeds the Low side threshold value. If the input signal of the first input unit is High, a Low determination signal is output.
If the input signal to the first input part P1 is also Low, nothing is output.

Here, regarding the W1 portion of the acoustic signal, since the input signal to the second input unit P2 is High, a High determination signal is output by the determination process of the CPU 16 (see FIG. 8F).
When the High determination signal (pulse) is output from the CPU 16, the second massage operation control signal generation unit 132 uses the rising edge of the High determination signal as a one-shot trigger, and the second massage with a pulse length of 0.12 [s]. An operation control signal is generated (see FIG. 8H).
The second massage operation control signal is given to the selection circuit 134 via an OR circuit (not shown), and operates the drive circuits 13A to 13D selected by the selection circuit 134. The output of the OR circuit is shown in FIG.
As a result, a second massage operation control signal that lasts for 0.12 [s] is generated corresponding to the W1 portion of the acoustic signal having a relatively high signal level, and the selected air cells 5A to 5D are set to 0.12. Inflates for [s] and presses the user. When the second massage operation control signal ends, the expanded air cell contracts.

Further, the CPU 16 receives the output of the OR circuit (the logical sum of the first massage operation control signal and the second massage operation control signal) and resets the outputs of the first latch unit 128 and the second latch unit 129. A reset (RS) signal generation process to perform (set to Low) is performed.
The reset signal is generated with the falling of the output of the OR circuit (the falling of the first massage operation control signal or the falling of the second massage operation control signal) as a trigger and is delayed by a predetermined time D from the trigger. (See FIG. 8 (k)).

Since the reset signal is generated later than the end of the massage operation control signal, the high state of the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 continues longer than the massage operation control signal.
Here, since the CPU 16 is configured to output a High determination signal or a Low determination signal when the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 change from Low to High, the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 are maintained at High. If the sound signal is changed, the sound signal level determination processing is not performed in the CPU 16 even if the sound signal changes.
That is, when the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 are High, the CPU 16 serving as the processing device is insensitive to changes in the acoustic signal.

In the present embodiment, not only when the first massage operation control signal or the second massage operation control signal is generated, but also the predetermined delay time D after the massage operation control signal ends is in an insensitive state.
In this insensitive state, even if the acoustic signal enters the massage start state (a state where the threshold value is exceeded), no massage operation control signal is generated, and therefore no massage operation is performed. That is, the massage unit 5 does not operate during the time corresponding to the delay time D immediately after the massage operation control signal having the predetermined massage operation time (0.12 [s] or 0.008 [s]) is completed. Time zone D is set.

Now, a case where the W2 portion comes after the W1 portion of the acoustic signal will be described. The portion W2 appears in a state where the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 are reset (see FIGS. 8D and 8E), and is therefore a target of latching by the latch units 128 and 129.
That is, since the W2 portion of the acoustic signal exceeds the Low threshold value but does not exceed the High threshold value (see FIG. 8A), only the output of the first latch unit 128 becomes High (see FIG. 8). 8 (d)), a Low determination signal is output by the determination process of the CPU 16 (see FIG. 8 (g)).

The first massage operation control signal generation unit 131 that has received the Low determination signal generates a first massage operation control signal having a pulse length of 0.08 [s] with the rising edge of the Low determination signal as a one-shot trigger (see FIG. 8 (i)).
The first massage operation control signal is given to the selection circuit 134 via the OR circuit (not shown) and operates the selected drive circuits 13A to 13D.
As a result, a first massage operation control signal that lasts for a relatively short 0.08 [s] is generated corresponding to the W2 portion of the acoustic signal having a relatively low signal level, and the selected air cells 5A to 5D Swells for 0.08 [s].

  In the case of the first massage operation control signal, since the time is shorter than that of the second massage operation control signal, the air supply time to the air cell is short, relatively small expansion is obtained, and a weaker pressure massage occurs. . Conversely, in the case of the second massage operation control signal, since the time is long, a press massage stronger than the first massage operation control signal is generated.

Furthermore, the case where the W3, W4, and W5 portions follow the W2 portion of the acoustic signal will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, since the outputs of the first latch unit 128 and the second latch unit 129 are both high due to the W3 portion of the acoustic signal, the CPU 16 determines that the acoustic signal exceeds the high-side threshold value. It judges that it is, outputs a High judgment signal, and outputs a 2nd massage operation control signal.
And while this second massage operation control signal is generated, the next peak portion W4 of the acoustic signal comes, but since the outputs of the latch units 128 and 129 are latched, the CPU 16 does not perform the signal determination process, The massage operation time is not extended.

Furthermore, the peak portion W5 of the acoustic signal is a signal (massage start state) exceeding the Low-side threshold value after the end of the second massage operation control signal. Since it appears in the non-operating time zone before the output is reset, the CPU 16 does not perform the signal determination process. Therefore, even if W5 is present, no massage operation control signal is generated.
In this way, immediately after the end of the massage operation control signal (end of the massage operation time), even if the acoustic signal exceeds the threshold value (even if the massage starts state), during the non-operation time zone D, the massage unit 5 does not work. That is, in the non-operation time zone D, the exhaust time from the air cell 5 (massage part retreat time) can be secured, and a sharp pressing operation can be performed.

As described above, in the second massage mode, the expansion and contraction operations of the air cells 5A to 5D are performed in a relatively short time (0.12 [s] or 0. 0 in this embodiment) corresponding to the acoustic signal level that changes very frequently. 08 [s]).
The first air cells 5A-1 to 5D-1 are formed to be sufficiently smaller in volume than the second air cells 5A-2 to 5D-2, and the second air supply pipe 100b is more restrictive than the first air supply pipe 100a. Since the flow path is narrowed by the connector 101 as a member, the expansion is completed in a short time, and it is possible to give the user a tapping massage synchronized with the rhythm of music.
On the other hand, the second air cells 5A-2 to 5D-2 are formed to have a sufficiently larger volume than the first air cells 5A-1 to 5D-1, and the flow path of the second air supply pipe 100b is narrowed. A sufficient expansion and contraction operation as a massage operation is not performed. That is, during the execution of the second massage mode, the second air cell has little influence as a massage operation.

  As described above, the first massage mode in which the air cell 5 is expanded (supply) or contracted (exhaust) for a relatively long time, and the air cell 5 is expanded (supply) or contracted in a shorter time than the first mode. The second massage mode to be (exhaust) can be realized by a single solenoid valve (switching valve) SV.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
The massage machine can employ various forms of massage machines such as mats and boots.
Moreover, as a massage part, not only the press type by an air cell or a solenoid but what performs massage operation | movement, such as a squeeze, a hit, a vibration, and the thing which shakes a body and gives a relaxation effect may be used.
The acoustic signal is not limited to music and may be any acoustic signal.

It is a perspective view of a massage machine. It is a block diagram which shows the air supply / exhaust system of a massage machine. It is sectional drawing of a connector. It is sectional drawing of an exhaust valve. It is a block diagram of a massage machine. It is a top view of an operating device. It is a block diagram centering on a control circuit. It is a waveform diagram.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massage machine 2 Seat part 3 Backrest part 4 Operating device 5 Massage part (air cell)
7 Air supply device 8 Music player 9 Control unit 11 First control circuit 12 Second control circuit 13 Drive circuit 14 Operation mode setting device 15 Operation mode storage device 16 CPU
100a 1st air supply piping 100b 2nd air supply piping 101 Connector (flow-path throttle member)
102 Exhaust valve 126 First pulse generator (massage start control signal generator)
127 Second pulse generator (massage start control signal generator)
131 1st massage operation control signal generation part 132 2nd massage operation control signal generation part 133 3rd massage operation control signal generation part SV Solenoid valve (switching valve)
D Non-operation time

Claims (9)

A plurality of air cells that massage the user by expanding and contracting;
An air supply device and an air supply pipe for supplying air to the plurality of air cells;
In a massage machine comprising a control unit that controls the operation of the plurality of air cells,
One side of the air supply pipe is connected to the air supply device, and the other side is branched into at least two or more and connected to the plurality of air cells,
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the air supply pipes on the other side are formed so that air supply speeds to the plurality of air cells are different from each other. The plurality of air cells have at least a first air cell and a second air cell,
The other side air supply pipe branches into a first air supply pipe for supplying air to the first air cell and a second air supply pipe for supplying air to the second air cell;
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the second air supply pipe is formed such that an air supply speed to the second air cell is slower than an air supply speed to the first air cell.   The massage machine according to claim 2, wherein a flow path of the second air supply pipe is narrower than that of the first air supply pipe. A connector provided with a communication hole is connected to the second air supply pipe,
4. The air supply speed to the second air cell is made slower than the air supply speed to the first air cell by adjusting the inner diameter of the communication hole provided in the connector. 5. Massage machine according to crab. A connector provided with a communication hole is connected to the second air supply pipe,
4. The air supply speed to the second air cell is made slower than the air supply speed to the first air cell by adjusting the number of communication holes provided in the connector. 5. The massage machine described in any one. The massage machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an exhaust valve for forcibly exhausting the air supplied to the second air cell is provided in the second air supply pipe.   The massage machine according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust valve is provided in the second air supply pipe at a position upstream of the second air cell and downstream of the connector. In a massage machine with multiple different massage modes,
A first massage mode for performing expansion and contraction operations of the plurality of air cells by repeating air supply and exhaust; and
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second massage mode for performing expansion / contraction operations of the plurality of air cells by repeating air supply / exhaust in a shorter time than the first massage mode. The listed massage machine.   The massage machine according to claim 8, wherein the second massage mode is a massage mode in which expansion and contraction operations of the plurality of air cells are performed based on a change in an acoustic signal.