JP2012030030A - Massage machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a massage machine making the rubbing feeling of a massage ball changeable by a simpler composition.SOLUTION: The massage ball 32 of a massage mechanism is composed to have different hardness in a radiation direction (radial direction) from a center, and the massage mechanism is controlled by a control part to adjust the deformation quantity of the massage ball 32, thereby having the changeable rubbing feeling of the massage ball 32 given to a user (massage feeling).

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage machine for massaging a user's shoulder or the like by a hitting operation with a kneading ball or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, massage machines (see, for example, Patent Document 1) have become widespread as machines that massage the user's body. In this type of massage machine, for example, there is an apparatus that massages a user (mechanical massage) by, for example, a hitting operation with a massaging ball (contact member) of a treatment element.

  The kneading balls provided in the massage machine of Patent Document 1 are configured by filling a magnetic viscous fluid in a hollow skin portion having flexibility. Then, the hardness of the magnetorheological fluid is changed by applying an electric current to the electromagnet provided at the center of the kneading balls and magnetizing the electromagnet.

JP 2004-24523 A

  By the way, in the massage machine described above, when it is desired to change the hardness of the kneading balls, the hardness of the magnetic viscous fluid is changed by applying a current to the electromagnet provided at the center of the kneading balls and magnetizing it. That is, the kneading balls need to be provided with a magnetorheological fluid and an electromagnet, so that the structure becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine that can change the massaging taste of the massaging balls with an easier configuration.

Hereinafter, means for achieving the above object will be described.
The massage machine of the present invention controls a massage mechanism that applies a pressing force to the user's body via the contact member by operating a treatment element including the contact member for the user, and the driving of the massage mechanism Control means for controlling the massage mechanism by the control means to perform a desired massage on the user's body, the contact member having a hardness from a central portion The control means is characterized in that the control means controls the massaging mechanism to adjust the deformation amount of the contact member.

-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member contains the part which consists of elastic foam materials.
-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member differs in hardness in a radial direction by the structural change of one member.

-In this massage machine, it is preferable that hardness differs in a radial direction by the foaming magnification of the said foam material differing.
In this massage machine, the contact member preferably has different hardness in the radial direction by overlapping a plurality of members having different hardnesses.

In this massage machine, it is preferable that at least one of the plurality of members having different hardnesses is made of a foam material.
-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the contact member overlaps a plurality of members having different hardnesses, and at least one of the members is structurally changed to change the hardness in the radial direction.

  In this massage machine, it is preferable that the plurality of members constituting the contact member have a non-circular shape in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction of the boundary portion between the members to be overlapped.

-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member is so hard that the center side.
-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member is so hard that the outer side.
-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member has softness of the intermediate part which is between an outer part and a center part rather than the outer part and the center part.

  In this massage machine, the contact member is softer in the inner part than the outer part, and softer in the inner part of the contact member than the support member that supports the contact member from the inner side. It is preferable.

-In this massage machine, it is preferable that the said contact member is provided with the outer peripheral layer which consists of a non-foaming material.
In this massage machine, the massage mechanism is assembled in a backrest portion provided at a rear portion of the seat portion on which the user can be seated, and at least a front-rear direction position and a vertical position relative to the backrest portion of the contact member It is preferable that one of the positions can be adjusted, and the control unit adjusts the deformation amount of the contact member by causing the user who is seated by controlling the massage mechanism to press the contact member.

  The massage machine includes a pressing force detection unit that detects a pressing force when the contact member comes into contact with the user's body, and the control unit is based on a detection result of the pressing force detection unit. It is preferable to control the massage mechanism.

  -In this massage machine, it is preferable to provide the displacement amount detection means which detects the displacement amount of the said contact member, and the said control means controls the said massage mechanism based on the detection result by the said displacement amount detection means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the massage machine which can make the kneading taste of a kneading ball variable by an easier structure can be provided.

About the massage machine of a 1st embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a side view showing the side structure, and (b) is a front view showing the front structure. The block diagram which shows an electrical structure about the massage machine of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about the massage machine of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the partial cross section structure of the treatment element for demonstrating the relationship between the displacement amount of a massage ball, and a massage feeling about the massage machine of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the partial cross-section of the treatment element for demonstrating the relationship between the displacement amount of a massage ball, and a massage feeling about the same example. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the partial cross-section of the treatment element for demonstrating the relationship between the displacement amount of a massage ball, and a massage feeling about the same example. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which showed typically the cross-section of the kneading ball for demonstrating the kneading ball which equipped the inside with the laser displacement meter about another example of the same embodiment. The table for demonstrating the pressing force of a massage ball and a massage sensation about the same example. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the kneading ball for demonstrating the relationship between the displacement amount of a kneading ball and a massage feeling about the massage machine of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The graph which shows the relationship between the pressing force given to a kneading ball, and the displacement amount of a kneading ball about the massage machine of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the kneading ball for demonstrating the relationship between the displacement amount of a kneading ball and a massage feeling about another example of the embodiment. The graph which shows the relationship between the pressing force given to a kneading ball, and the amount of displacement of a kneading ball about the same example. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the kneading ball for demonstrating the difference in the massage feeling by the difference in the displacement amount of the kneading ball about another example of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a kneading ball about another example of the embodiment.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig.1 (a) and FIG.1 (b) show the massage machine 10 of this embodiment. The massage machine 10 is assembled with a backrest 13 that can be tilted by a rotation shaft in the width direction at a rear end of a seat 12 supported by a pair of left and right support legs 11, and an ottoman at the front end of the seat 12. 14 is assembled so that it can be tilted by a rotation shaft in the same direction. In addition, armrest portions 15 extending in the front-rear direction are assembled on both sides of the seat portion 12.

  A reclining mechanism 16 for the backrest portion 13 is provided below the seat portion 12, and the backrest portion 13 is reclined by driving a motor 16 </ b> A of the mechanism 16. The ottoman 14 is also provided with a vertical movement mechanism 17 for the ottoman 14 below the seat portion 12, and the ottoman 14 is moved up and down by driving a motor 17 </ b> A of the mechanism 17.

  A space extending in the vertical direction and opened forward is provided in the center of the backrest 13 in the width direction, and a massage mechanism 21 for massaging the back of the user is assembled in the space. The massage mechanism 21 is moved up and down by a vertical drive unit 25 (vertical drive motor 25A) shown in FIG. 2 assembled to the mechanism 21 along a guide rail 22 extending in the vertical direction. Further, the massage mechanism 21 is provided with a strength (front / rear) drive unit 26 (strength drive motor 26A) and a width drive unit 27 (width drive motor 27A), and a pair of treatments by driving the drive units 26 and 27. The child 30 operates. As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical drive unit 25, the strength (front / rear) drive unit 26, and the width drive unit 27 have drive motors 25A to 27A as drive sources, respectively, and the drive motors 25A to 27A serve as control means. The controller 28 controls the drive.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the treatment element 30 is connected to the arm member 31 extending forward from the main body of the massage mechanism 21 by a support member 31 </ b> A at the distal end portion of the arm member 31 and the user's body. It has the kneading ball 32 as a contact member which can contact | abut.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the kneading balls 32 are cylindrical members having a circular cross section. A plurality of elastic members having different hardnesses are laminated and bonded together in the radial direction (radial direction) so as to be integrated. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the boundary portion between the inner elastic portion 32A and the outer elastic portion 32B is configured to be a circular shape. Further, in this embodiment, the kneading balls 32 have an inner elastic portion 32A made of a relatively hard elastic member on the radially inner side and an outer elastic portion 32B made of an elastic member softer than the inner elastic portion 32A on the radially outer side. It consists of and. 3 and 4, the hardness of each elastic portion 32A, 32B of the kneading ball 32 is expressed by the dot density, and the soft member is illustrated so that the dot is thin, and the hard member is illustrated so that the dot is dark. ing.

  Further, a load cell 33 as a pressing force detecting means is provided on the inner side in the radial direction of the kneading balls 32, and the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is detected by the load cell 33, and a detection signal is output to the control unit 28. It has become so.

  In the massage machine 10 configured as described above, the drive of each of the drive motors 25A to 27A of the massage mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28, whereby the treatment element 30 is subjected to a treatment operation and the user's shoulder / back / Massage such as massage or hitting is given to the treatment site such as the waist. Further, at the time of this massage, the control unit 28 appropriately massages the massage mechanism 21 according to the detection signal from the load cell 33 so that the pressing force applied to the user according to a pre-programmed massage course becomes a desired pressing force. Feedback control is implemented.

  The control of the massage mechanism 21 will be described in detail. First, the control unit 28 has a pressing force for pressing the user's body by the kneading balls 32 obtained in the load cell 33, and a desired pressing force according to the course. The difference is calculated. The control unit 28 calculates a numerical value obtained by multiplying the result calculated by the difference by a pre-programmed coefficient, and changes the protrusion amount of the massaging ball 32 (the treatment element 30) based on the calculated numerical value. Yes. In this way, the massage mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28, whereby the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is set to a desired pressing force according to the course.

Here, the change of the massage feeling (bitter taste) by the difference in the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 having different hardness in the radial direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).
The center of the kneading balls 32 when the surface of the kneading balls 32 is in contact with the user and is not deformed, that is, the distance from the central axis of the support member 31A to the user 100 is defined as a “reference distance”. The difference in distance when the distance from the central axis of the support member 31 </ b> A to the user 100 is closer than the reference distance is defined as the “displacement amount” of the kneading balls 32.

  The displacement amount when the kneading balls 32 are at the reference position is “0”. Further, the distance from the backrest 13 to the center of the massaging ball 32 is defined as the “projection amount” of the massaging ball 32. The magnitude of the force that presses the kneading balls 32 against the user 100 is defined as the “pressing force” of the kneading balls 32.

  When the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100, the kneading balls 32 are elastically deformed. Along with this, since the distance between the kneading balls 32 and the user 100 becomes smaller than the reference position, the amount of displacement of the kneading balls 32 increases. That is, as the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 increases, the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 and the displacement amount of the kneading balls 32 increase.

  FIG. 4A shows a state in which the kneading balls 32 are pressed relatively lightly (the pressing force is small) against the user. In this case, since the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 is small, the relatively soft outer elastic portion 32B is mainly elastically deformed in the kneading balls 32. As described above, the outer elastic portion 32B mainly elastically deforms, thereby giving a soft massage feeling to the user's body.

  FIG. 4B shows a state where the kneading balls 32 are strongly pressed against the body (the pressing force is large). In this case, since the amount of deformation of the kneading balls 32 is large, the outer elastic portion 32B of the kneading balls 32 is elastically deformed (compressed) and a massage feeling by the relatively hard inner elastic portions 32A in the kneading balls 32 is also given to the user. can do. For this reason, by giving a massage feeling by the relatively hard inner elastic part 32A in the kneading balls 32, a hard massage feeling can be given to the user's body.

  As described above, in the massage machine 10 of the present embodiment, the displacement amount of the kneading balls 32 is changed by the strength driving unit 26 and the vertical driving unit 25 of the massage mechanism 21 by changing the pressing force by the kneading balls 32. For this reason, by using the kneading balls 32 having a simple configuration composed of elastic members having different hardnesses in the radial direction, the massage is performed with the soft outer elastic portion 32B on the radial outer side as the center and the radial inner hard It can be changed between the massage centering on the inner elastic portion 32A. Further, since the kneading balls 32 are simply elastic members having different hardnesses in the radial direction, the magnetic fluid filled in the kneading balls as in the prior art or an electromagnet that changes the hardness of the magnetic fluid is relatively complicated. Compared with a simple structure (configuration), it is possible to change the taste (massage feeling) with an easy configuration.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The kneading balls 32 of the massage mechanism 21 are configured such that their hardness differs from the center in the radial direction (radial direction). The massaging mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28 and the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 is adjusted. Thus, by adjusting the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32, it is possible to change the kneading taste (massage feeling) by the kneading balls 32 having different hardness.

  (2) The kneading balls 32 are configured to have different hardness in the radial direction by overlapping the inner elastic portion 32A and the outer elastic portion 32B, which are a plurality of elastic members having different hardnesses. Thus, by forming the kneading balls 32 having different hardness by overlapping a plurality of elastic members, the difference in hardness between the elastic members (the inner elastic portion 32A and the outer elastic portion 32B) can be clarified. , You can realize a variety of massage.

  (3) Since the kneading balls 32 are configured to be harder toward the center side, for example, when the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 is small, a soft massage feeling can be imparted by the outer elastic portion 32B, and the kneading balls 32 can be deformed. When the amount is large, it is possible to give a hard massage feeling by the inner elastic portion 32A.

  (4) The massage mechanism 21 is assembled in the backrest part 13 provided in the rear part of the seat part on which the user can sit. The front-rear direction position and the up-down direction position of the kneading balls 32 with respect to the backrest part 13 are configured to be adjustable by the driving units 25 and 26. The control unit 28 is configured to control the massage mechanism 21 and adjust the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32. As described above, by adjusting the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 by the drive units 25 and 26 that are generally provided in the conventional massage machine, a mechanism for separately adjusting the deformation amount by moving the kneading balls 32 is provided. Since it is not necessary, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

  (5) The load cell 33 is provided as a pressing force detecting means for detecting the pressing force when the kneading balls 32 are brought into contact with the user's body. The massage mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28 based on the detection result of the load cell 33. Thus, the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 can be adjusted by controlling the pressing force of the kneading balls 32, and a desired massage feeling can be given to the user.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.
The massage machine 10 of this embodiment is configured as a part of the massage machine 10 of the first embodiment changed as follows. That is, in the massage machine 10 of this embodiment, it replaces with the kneading ball 32 of 1st Embodiment, and the kneading ball 32 including the outer side elastic part 50 which consists of foams is provided.

  Details of the changed part will be described below. In addition, since the same structure as 1st Embodiment is employ | adopted about the other point, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about a common structure, and the one part or all part of the description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, the kneading balls 32 include a core portion 32S provided on the outer periphery of the support member 31A, and an outer elastic portion 50 provided on the outer periphery of the core portion 32S and made of a foam material. The core portion 32S and the outer elastic portion 50 are cylindrical members each having a circular cross section. The core portion 32S and the outer elastic portion 50 are laminated and bonded in layers in the radial direction (radial direction). In the cross section of FIG. 16A, the boundary portion between the core portion 32S and the outer elastic portion 50 has a circular shape. As the foaming material, a material obtained by foaming nitrile rubber (NBR), natural rubber (NR), chloroprene rubber (CR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), polyurethane or the like with a foaming agent can be used.

With reference to FIG.16 (b)-(d), the change of the massage feeling by the difference in the pressing force of the kneading ball 32 from which hardness differs in radial direction is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 16B, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is less than a predetermined value Y1, the bubbles in the outer elastic portion 50 are mainly deformed. To do. For this reason, the user 100 is given a soft massage feeling.

  As shown in FIG. 16C, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is not less than the predetermined value Y1 and less than the predetermined value Y2, the material of the outer elastic portion 50 is used. The part of is deformed mainly. For this reason, the user 100 is given a harder massage feeling than when the pressing force is less than the predetermined value Y1.

  As shown in FIG. 16 (d), when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value Y2, the core portion 32S is moved via the outer elastic portion 50. It is pressed against the user 100. For this reason, the user 100 is given a harder massage feeling than when the pressing force is less than the predetermined value Y2.

  The graph of FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the pressing force on the user 100 of the kneading balls 32 and the amount of displacement of the kneading balls 32. In addition, (a)-(d) in a figure respond | corresponds to Fig.16 (a)-(d). The kneading balls 32 are displaced in three stages according to the pressing force.

  According to this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment that the savory taste (massage feeling) can be changed with an easy configuration, and the effects described below in addition to the effects (1) to (5) Is obtained.

  (6) The kneading balls 32 are provided with a core portion 32S and an outer elastic portion 50 made of an elastic foam material. For this reason, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the body of the user 100, the tendency of the change in the pressing force with respect to the change in the displacement changes in three stages. Further, the degree of increase of the displacement amount with respect to the increase of the pressing force becomes smaller in the order of the first stage, the second stage and the third stage. Thereby, the savory taste given to the user 100 can be hardened in steps.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as shown below, for example. The following modifications are not applied only to the above embodiments, and different modifications can be combined with each other.

  In the first embodiment, the inner elastic portion 32A of the kneading ball 32 is configured by an elastic member that is harder than the outer elastic portion 32B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer elastic portion 32B is provided on the inner side as shown in FIG. You may comprise with an elastic member harder than the elastic part 32A. With such a configuration, when the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is small on the user's body, the relatively soft inner portion is deformed as shown in FIG. Can be realized. On the other hand, when the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is large on the user's body, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the inner elastic portion 32A is deformed to a position where it cannot be deformed any more or is deformed to a position close thereto. Can achieve a hard massage feeling.

  -In the said 1st Embodiment, although the kneading ball 32 was comprised with the some elastic member, you may comprise with one member. In this case, the hardness in the radial direction (radial direction) is changed by the structural change of one member constituting the kneading balls 32. As an example of the structural change, for example, a method of changing the density (at least one of the number of bubbles or the bubble diameter) in the radial direction of the kneading balls 32 can be considered. Further, as in the above embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the hardness is changed by changing the structure of at least one of a plurality of members (inner elastic portion 32A and outer elastic portion 32B) having different hardnesses as described above. May be.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14, by setting the hardness of the kneading balls 32 to be changed continuously (smoothly) with one member, it is possible to smoothly change the massage feeling to be given to the user. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the hardness of the kneading balls 32 can be changed continuously (smoothly) in the axial direction from the center. Thereby, even if the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the body of the user 100 from any direction, the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 changes based on the pressing force. That is, when the kneading balls 32 are applied to the user from the axial direction, it is possible to change the massage feeling with different hardness by the kneading balls 32.

  In the first embodiment, the kneading balls 32 are configured by overlapping (adhering) two elastic members, but may be configured by three or more elastic members. In the case of such a configuration, the following structures (Structure 1) to (Structure 4) can be considered as the structure of change in hardness in the radial direction.

(Structure 1) A structure that softens in order from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.
(Structure 2) A structure that becomes harder in order from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.
(Structure 3) The radially outer outer elastic portion 40C and the radially inner elastic portion 40A (the central portion of the kneading balls 32) are hardened, and the intermediate elastic portion 40B between the elastic portions 40A and 40C is softened. Structure (see FIG. 7).

  (Structure 4) The radially outer outer elastic portion 40C and the radially inner inner elastic portion 40A (the central portion of the kneading balls 32) are softened, and the intermediate elastic portion 40B between these elastic portions 40A and 40C is hardened. Structure (see FIG. 10).

  Moreover, a soft massage feeling and a hard massage feeling are obtained by setting it as the structure of the said (structure 3). In addition, since the outer elastic portion 40C is hard, it can contribute to the long life (improvement of durability) of the kneading balls 32 and the treatment element 30, and since the inner elastic portion 40A is hard, the kneading balls 32 are supported by the supporting member 31A. It becomes easy to fix to.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, as an alternative to the structure (Structure 3), instead of the inner elastic portion 40A, the support member 31A that supports the kneading balls 32 harder than the intermediate elastic portion 40B. The same effect can be produced by providing the. In this case, it is possible to contribute to cost reduction by replacing the supporting member 31A, which is an indispensable member for supporting the kneading balls 32, with the inner elastic portion 40A in the above (Structure 3). Further, the kneading balls 32 can be easily manufactured.

  In the second embodiment, only the outer elastic part 50 is provided as the elastic part of the kneading balls 32. However, the outer elastic part 50 and the core part 32S are harder between the outer elastic part 50 and the core part 32S. Different inner elastic portions 60 may be provided.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 18A, an inner elastic portion 60 that is smaller in hardness than the core portion 32S and larger in hardness than the outer elastic portion 50 is disposed outside the core portion 32S and inside the outer elastic portion 50. Provided. As the inner elastic portion 60, one formed of a foam material is used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 19, the tendency of the change in the displacement amount with respect to the change in the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 changes in five stages. Moreover, the massage feeling given to the user 100 differs as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 18B, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is less than the predetermined value X1, the bubbles in the outer elastic portion 50 are mainly deformed. To do. For this reason, the user 100 is given a soft massage feeling.

  As shown in FIG. 18 (c), when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is not less than the predetermined value X 1 and less than the predetermined value X 2, Bubbles are mainly deformed. For this reason, the user 100 is given a soft massage feeling.

  As shown in FIG. 18D, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is not less than the predetermined value X2 and less than the predetermined value X3, the material of the outer elastic portion 50 is used. The part of is deformed mainly. For this reason, the user 100 is given a harder massage feeling than when the pressing force is less than the predetermined value X2.

  As shown in FIG. 18 (e), when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value X3 and less than the predetermined value X, the material of the inner elastic portion 60 is obtained. The part of is deformed mainly. For this reason, the user 100 is given a harder massage feeling than when the pressing force is less than the predetermined value X3.

  As shown in FIG. 18 (f), when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a range where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value X4, the inner elastic portions 60 and the outer elastic portions 50 are interposed. The core portion 32S is pressed against the user 100. For this reason, the user 100 is given a harder massage feeling than when the pressing force is less than the predetermined value X4.

  The graph of FIG. 19 shows the relationship between the pressing force against the user 100 of the kneading balls 32 and the amount of displacement of the kneading balls 32. In addition, (a)-(f) in a figure respond | corresponds to Fig.18 (a)-(f).

Either one of the inner elastic part 60 and the outer elastic part 50 can be made of a non-foaming material. Further, the inner elastic portion 60 can be made of a material softer than the outer elastic portion 50.
In the second embodiment, the entire outer elastic portion 50 of the kneading balls 32 is formed of the foam material having the same expansion ratio. However, the expansion ratio is different in the radial direction based on the central portion of the outer elastic portion 50. You can also.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the foaming ratio is decreased toward the outer side in the radial direction by gradually decreasing the diameter of one bubble toward the outer side in the radial direction of the outer elastic portion 50. You can also. In this case, the massage feeling given to the user 100 in accordance with the pressing force on the user 100 is different as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 20B, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a state where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 against the user 100 is small, the radial direction in which the expansion ratio is small in the outer elastic portion 50. The outer part is mainly deformed. For this reason, the user 100 is given a hard massage feeling.

  As shown in FIG. 20C, when the kneading balls 32 are pressed against the user 100 in a state where the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 against the user 100 is large, the radial direction in which the expansion ratio is large in the outer elastic portion 50. The inner part is mainly deformed. For this reason, the user 100 is given a soft massage feeling.

  -In the said 2nd Embodiment, although it was set as the kneading ball 32 comprised from the outer side elastic part 50 which consists of a foam material, and the core part 32S, it can also be set as the kneading ball 32 provided with the outer peripheral layer which consists of a non-foaming material. .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 21, a thin outer peripheral layer 32F made of a non-foaming material is provided outside the outer elastic portion 50. Thereby, the surface of the kneading balls 32 becomes hard. For this reason, when the kneading balls 32 are quickly applied to the body of the user 100, the user 100 can be given a sense of being beaten. On the other hand, since the outer peripheral layer 32F is thin, when the kneading balls 32 are slowly pressed against the body of the user 100, the user 100 can be given a feeling of being held.

  The outer peripheral layer 32F can be manufactured by coating a non-foamed and elastic material by dipping on the skin layer having a high material density of the outer elastic portion 50 formed in the foaming step. As the coating material, polyurethane, nitrile rubber (NBR), or the like can be used.

  Further, instead of the non-foamed material, a material having a low foaming ratio can be used as the outer peripheral layer 32F. In this case, the same function as that of the outer peripheral layer 32 </ b> F can be provided by attaching another member having a low expansion ratio to the outer elastic portion 50. Moreover, in the foaming process of the foam material of the outer side elastic part 50, the same function as the outer peripheral layer 32F can be given by manufacturing so that the foaming magnification of the outer peripheral surface vicinity of the outer side elastic part 50 may become low.

  In the second embodiment, the core portion 32S is provided between the outer elastic portion 50 and the support member 31A. However, the core portion 32S may be omitted. At this time, the support member 31A functions as the core portion 32S.

In each of the above embodiments, the cylindrical kneading balls 32 are used, but spherical kneading balls can also be used.
In each of the above embodiments, a pair (two) of treatment elements 30 are provided. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a structure in which one treatment element 30 is provided or three or more treatment elements 30 may be employed. Further, when a plurality of treatment elements 30 are provided and each treatment element 30 can be driven independently, the shape and material of the kneading balls 32 of the treatment elements 30 may be different among the treatment elements 30. .

  In each of the above embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the boundary portion between the inner elastic portion 32A and the outer elastic portion 32B of the kneading balls 32 is a circular shape, but may be a non-circular shape. Moreover, by giving the inner elastic portion 32A, which is the radially inner side (center side) of the kneading balls 32, for example, a non-circular shape, various massage feelings are given to the user according to the shape of the inner elastic portion 32A. Can do.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9A, 9B, and 11, the shape of the radially outer surface of the inner elastic portion 32A that is harder than the outer elastic portion 32B is made uneven. It is good also as a simple structure. In this case, when the pressing force by the kneading balls 32 is small, it is possible to massage with a relatively soft massage feeling by the radially outer outer elastic portion 32B. On the other hand, when the pressing force by the kneading balls 32 is large, the user's body can be pressed by the radial convex portions 32C of the inner elastic portion 32A constituting the kneading balls 32. This makes it possible to massage with a relatively hard and strong massage feeling. The shape of the inner elastic portion 32A may be a simple oval shape or a configuration in which a plurality of spheres as shown in FIG. 10 are arranged in the circumferential direction.

  In each of the above embodiments, although not particularly mentioned, the relationship of the massage feeling to the deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 is obtained in advance through experiments or the like, and for example, a table as shown in FIG. It is preferable to set the memory (not shown). For example, when it is desired to give the user a “hard” massage feeling, it is understood that the pressing force is set to 60 [N] and the treatment element deformation amount is set to 17 [mm]. In addition, as control of each drive part 25 and 26 based on the load cell 33 by the control part 28, if a pressing force is set to 60 [N] and control of each drive part 25 and 26 is performed, it is "hard" massage feeling. It becomes possible to massage.

In each of the above embodiments, the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is measured by the load cell 33. However, a configuration of measuring the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 using another pressure sensor may be adopted.
In each of the above embodiments, the pressing force of the kneading balls 32 is measured and the massage mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28 based on the pressing force. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a laser displacement meter 34 as a displacement amount detecting means is provided at a substantially radial center of the kneading balls 32, and the massage mechanism 21 is controlled by the control unit 28 based on the displacement of the kneading balls 32. You may employ | adopt the structure to do. Specifically, first, the distance L1 to the user's body is measured by the laser displacement meter 34, and the measured value is measured from the laser displacement meter 34 to the massaging ball 32 when the massaging ball 32 is not in contact with the body. The control unit 28 determines whether or not the distance to the outer surface is less than L0. When the distance L1 is determined to be greater than or equal to the distance L0 (L1 ≧ L0), the control unit 28 determines that the kneading balls 32 are not in contact with the user's body (see FIG. 12A). On the other hand, when the control unit 28 determines that the distance L1 is less than the distance L0 (L1 <L0), the control unit 28 determines that the kneading balls 32 are in contact with the body, and subtracts the distance L1 from the distance L0. The deformation amount of the kneading balls 32 is calculated. By setting it as such a structure, the deformation amount of the kneading ball 32 can be measured comparatively easily and with high precision, and it becomes possible to implement more highly accurate massage.

  In each of the above embodiments, the vertical movement position and the vertical movement position of the massaging ball 32 (therapeutic element 30) can be changed by the vertical driving section 25 and the strength driving section 26 of the massage mechanism 21, but this is not limitative. Alternatively, a configuration that can be changed to only one of them may be adopted.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, although not particularly mentioned, an airbag capable of inflating and contracting is disposed in at least one of the seat portion 12, the backrest portion 13, the ottoman 14 and the armrest portion 15, and the air bag by the airbag is arranged. You may add the structure which implements a massage.

  In each of the above embodiments and the above configuration, the present invention is applied to the massage machine having the backrest 13 at the back of the seat 12, but the bed (mat) that can be used while the user is sleeping It can also be applied to a type of massage machine. Further, the present invention can be applied to a handheld type massage machine including a treatment element 30 and a grip portion connected to the treatment element 30. In short, any massage machine provided with the treatment element 30 (the kneading balls 32) for pressing the user's body may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Massage machine, 13 ... Backrest part, 12 ... Seat part, 21 ... Massage mechanism, 28 ... Control part, 30 ... Treatment element, 31A ... Supporting member, 32 ... Grudge ball, 33 ... Load cell, 34 ... Laser displacement meter.

Claims (16)

A massage mechanism that applies a pressing force to the user's body through the contact member by performing a treatment operation including a contact member for the user, and a control unit that controls driving of the massage mechanism;
A massage machine for controlling the massage mechanism by the control means to perform a desired massage on the user's body,
The contact member has different hardness in the radial direction from the center,
The said control means controls the said massage mechanism, and adjusts the deformation amount of the said contact member. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. The massage machine according to claim 1,
The said contact member contains the part which consists of elastic foam materials. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact member has a different hardness in the radial direction due to a structural change of one member. The massage machine according to claim 3 quoting claim 2.
A massaging machine characterized by having different hardness in the radial direction due to different foaming ratios of the foamed material. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact member has a different hardness in the radial direction by overlapping a plurality of members having different hardnesses. The massage machine according to claim 5,
At least one of the plurality of members having different hardnesses is made of a foam material. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-6,
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact member has a plurality of members having different hardnesses overlapped, and at least one of the members is structurally changed to change the hardness in the radial direction. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 5-7,
The plurality of members constituting the contact member have a non-circular shape in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction of the boundary portion between the members to be overlapped. In the massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The said contact member is harder toward the center side. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. In the massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The massaging machine, wherein the contact member is harder toward the outside. In the massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact member has a softness in an intermediate portion between the outer portion and the central portion than the outer portion and the central portion. In the massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A massaging machine characterized in that the contact member is softer in the inner part than the outer part, and softer in the inner part of the contact member than the support member that supports the contact member from the inner side. . In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-12,
The said contact member is provided with the outer peripheral layer which consists of a non-foaming material. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-13,
The massage mechanism is assembled in a backrest portion provided at a rear portion of a seat portion on which the user can be seated, and at least one of a front-rear position and a vertical position of the contact member can be adjusted. Configured,
The said control means presses the said contact member with respect to the user who seated by controlling the said massage mechanism, and adjusts the deformation amount of the said contact member. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-14,
A pressing force detecting means for detecting a pressing force when the contact member comes into contact with the user's body;
The said control means controls the said massage mechanism based on the detection result of the said pressing force detection means. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned. In the massage machine as described in any one of Claims 1-15,
Displacement amount detection means for detecting the displacement amount of the contact member,
The said control means controls the said massage mechanism based on the detection result by the said displacement amount detection means. The massage machine characterized by the above-mentioned.

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