JP2016047004A - Stretchable fiber, stretchable sheet employing stretchable fiber, and assist device employing stretchable sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stretchable fiber capable of giving a sense of fitting to a person and supporting various actions of the person, a stretchable sheet formed from the fiber, and clothing employing the stretchable sheet.SOLUTION: A stretchable fiber 1 includes: a first conductive fiber 11 including an electric field responsive gel-state polymer layer 13; and a second conductive fiber 14 that imparts an electric field to the first conductive fiber 11. The first conductive fiber 11 is wound around the second conductive fiber 14 while entirely or partially bringing the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 into contact in a length direction of the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14. The stretchable sheet formed from the stretchable fiber and an assist device employing the stretchable sheet are also disclosed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a stretchable fiber, a stretchable sheet using the stretchable fiber, and an assist device using the stretchable sheet, and more specifically, a stretchable fiber used for assisting body movement, and a stretchable sheet using the stretchable fiber. And an assist device using the stretchable sheet.

  An actuator using a polymer material having dielectric properties is small and light, and can move flexibly. Therefore, this actuator is attracting attention as a next-generation drive source that replaces the motor.

  An actuator using a polymer material having dielectric properties is expected to be applied to, for example, an artificial muscle. Examples of the polymer material include polyvinyl chloride and polymethyl methacrylate. Among them, the polyvinyl chloride gel containing a plasticizer is similar to a living muscle and causes creep deformation or bending deformation by electrical stimulation. Therefore, the polyvinyl chloride gel containing a plasticizer is suitable for use in artificial muscles and the like.

  The present applicant has conducted research on actuators using a polyvinyl chloride gel containing a plasticizer. The applicant of the present patent proposes the results of research so far related to such an actuator in, for example, Patent Document 1.

  The actuator proposed in Patent Document 1 is configured by alternately overlapping a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes, and providing a gel made of a dielectric polymer material between the anode and the cathode, respectively. This actuator expands and contracts in a direction in which the anode and the cathode overlap each other by applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode or by stopping the application of the voltage.

  On the other hand, in recent years, research on human-friendly robots has been conducted. In particular, research on support devices for supporting movements of persons with reduced motor function and elderly people has been actively conducted in recent years. For example, various devices have been proposed for assisting human walking.

  The walking exercise assisting tool proposed in Patent Document 2 is a device for assisting walking motion. The walking exercise assisting device has a drive motor, an auxiliary force transmission unit attached to the front of the thigh, a capacitive sensor that detects the angle of the hip joint, and a control means for controlling the operation of the drive motor. doing. In this walking exercise assisting device, a capacitive sensor detects the angle of the hip joint. The control means controls the operation of the drive motor based on the output from the capacitance type sensor, and supports the walking motion of the person by applying a tensile force to the walking motion assisting tool.

  Specifically, the capacitive sensor detects the joint angle in the front-rear direction at the user's hip joint. The storage means included in the control means stores control information related to drive timing information and drive output information for driving the drive motor in response to a change in the joint angle of the user's hip joint. The control means controls the pair of left and right drive motors based on the control information stored in the storage means.

JP2012-130201A JP 2013-208397 A

  However, since the walking exercise assisting device proposed in Patent Document 2 moves the assisting force transmitting unit using the driving force of the motor, the assisting force transmitting unit can be moved only within a limited range. That is, this walking exercise assisting tool has a low degree of freedom of movement, and the content of the action of a person who can assist is limited. In addition, this walking exercise assisting tool needs to be wound around a person's leg and attached to the person's leg with a hook-and-loop fastener or the like. Therefore, this walking exercise assisting device cannot give a fit feeling to the person who wears it, and may give a sense of incongruity.

  Accordingly, the applicant of the present patent application has considered applying the technology related to the actuator proposed in Patent Document 1 and the like to a support device and the like for supporting the movement of a person proposed in Patent Document 2 and the like.

  However, the actuator proposed in Patent Document 1 is an actuator that expands and contracts in one direction. The actuator has a constant volume. Therefore, when this actuator is directly applied to a support device or the like, it is difficult to make a support device that can give a fit feeling to the person who wears it, and a support device that can cope with various human movements. It is also difficult to make.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable fiber capable of giving a sense of fitting to a person and supporting various people's movements, and using this fiber. An object is to provide an elastic sheet and an assist device using the elastic sheet.

  (1) The stretchable fiber according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems includes a first conductive fiber having an electric field-responsive gel polymer layer, and a second conductive that applies an electric field to the first conductive fiber. And the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are wholly or partially in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber. The first conductive fiber is wound around the second conductive fiber in contact with each other.

  According to this invention, since the stretchable fiber has the above-described configuration, an electric field is applied to the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer when a voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber. When an electric field is applied, electrons are injected into the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer, and the injected electrons move to the electric field-responsive gel polymer in the vicinity of the second conductive fiber and are accumulated. The injected electrons generate an electrostatic adhesive force with the second conductive fiber, whereby the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer is attracted to the second conductive fiber. Therefore, a force that pulls the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber in the longitudinal direction acts, and the stretchable fiber extends in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, when the application of voltage is stopped, the electric field disappears, so that the movement and accumulation of electrons in the electric field responsive gel polymer layer are eliminated, and the electric field responsive gel polymer of the first conductive fiber and the second The first and second conductive fibers are separated from each other, and the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are moved in the longitudinal direction. The pulling force is released. Therefore, the stretchable fiber contracts in the longitudinal direction and restores the original length. Thus, the stretchable fiber functions as an actuator by itself.

  The stretchable fiber according to the present invention has a contact portion in which the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are in contact with each other at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and the first conductive fiber and The second conductive fibers are spirally wound around each other with a gap between the contact portions.

  According to the present invention, since the stretchable fiber is configured as described above, when a voltage is applied, the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer is attracted to the second conductive fiber at the contact portion, and the second The first conductive fiber and the first conductive fiber are pulled in the longitudinal direction. Since the second conductive fiber and the first conductive fiber are spirally wound around each other with a gap between the contact portions, the second conductive fiber and the first conductive fiber are formed. When the conductive fiber is pulled, the gap existing between the contact portions is reduced. Therefore, the stretchable fiber extends in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, when the application of voltage is stopped, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer attracted to the second conductive fiber returns to the original state, whereby the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber. The force of pulling in the longitudinal direction is released. Therefore, the stretchable fiber contracts in the longitudinal direction and restores the original length.

  In the stretchable fiber according to the present invention, the second conductive fiber is located at the center, the first conductive fiber is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the second conductive fiber, and the first conductive fiber A conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are in contact with each other in the longitudinal direction, and the adjacent first conductive fibers are in contact with each other.

  According to this invention, since the stretchable fiber is configured as described above, when a voltage is applied, the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer is attracted to the second conductive fiber, and the first conductive The fiber is pulled in the longitudinal direction. The second conductive fiber receives a force from the first conductive fiber and is pulled in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the stretchable fiber extends in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, when the application of voltage is stopped, the electric field-responsive gel-like polymer layer attracted to the second conductive fiber returns to the original state, so that the first conductive fiber contracts to the original length. The second conductive fiber receives force from the first conductive fiber and contracts to the original length.

  In the stretchable fiber according to the present invention, the first conductive fiber is constituted by a conductive wire and the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer covering the periphery of the conductive wire.

  According to this invention, since the first conductive fiber is configured as described above, the structure of the first conductive fiber can be simplified. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture the first conductive fiber.

  (2) The stretchable sheet according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems uses the stretchable fiber according to the present invention described above, and the stretchable fiber includes a longitudinal fiber that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction, and a lateral fiber. A transverse fiber that extends linearly in a direction is formed, and the longitudinal fiber and the transverse fiber are configured as a woven fabric.

  According to this invention, since the stretchable sheet is composed of longitudinal fibers and transverse fibers made of stretchable fibers, by applying a voltage to the longitudinal fibers and the transverse fibers or stopping the application of the voltage, The elastic sheet can be expanded and contracted in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Therefore, according to this invention, an elastic sheet can be functioned as an actuator which expands and contracts two-dimensionally.

  The elastic sheet according to another aspect of the present invention, which is stretchable, uses the elastic fiber according to the present invention described above, and is formed by connecting a plurality of loops with the elastic fiber and knitting the loops together. It is comprised as follows.

  According to this invention, since the stretchable sheet is configured as a knitted fabric, the stretchable sheet expands and contracts two-dimensionally when a voltage is applied to the stretchable fibers constituting the stretchable sheet. Therefore, according to this invention, an elastic sheet can be functioned as an actuator which expands and contracts two-dimensionally. Moreover, since the elastic sheet is configured as a knitted fabric, the elastic sheet can be made flexible. Further, the degree of expansion / contraction can be freely set according to the knitting method.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable sheet is provided with a first conductive fiber having an electric field responsive gel polymer layer, and a second conductive fiber that applies an electric field to the first conductive fiber. It is characterized by being configured as a woven fabric.

  According to this invention, since the fabric is composed of the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber that applies an electric field to the first conductive fiber, a voltage is applied to the second conductive fiber. By applying the voltage or stopping the voltage application, the first conductive fiber can be bent and the elastic sheet can be expanded and contracted in one direction. Therefore, according to this invention, an elastic sheet can be functioned as an actuator which expands-contracts in one direction.

  (4) An assist device according to the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an assist device in which the above-described stretchable sheet according to the present invention is configured as a clothing, and the stretchable sheet is a target of assistance. It is used at least in a position corresponding to a muscle for causing wrinkles.

  According to this invention, since the assist device is configured as a garment using the stretchable sheet according to the present invention, the stretchable sheet itself functions as an actuator. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an actuator such as a motor. Further, when the assist device is mounted on a person's arm or leg, it is not necessary to use a belt or a hook-and-loop fastener. Therefore, it is possible to give a fit feeling to the person wearing the assist device. In addition, since the assist device is configured using the stretchable sheet according to the present invention, it is suitable for the operation of a person who intends to assist by freely setting the direction in which the stretchable sheet stretches and the length of stretch. You can make it move.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the stretchable fiber which can give the feeling fitted with the person and can support operation | movement of various people, the stretchable sheet using this stretchable fiber, and the assist apparatus using this stretchable sheet are provided. be able to.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the 1st type elastic fiber of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a 1st electroconductive fiber. It is explanatory drawing which shows the longitudinal cross-section of the elastic fiber for demonstrating the mechanism of an electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cross section of the elastic fiber for demonstrating the mechanism of an electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the 2nd type elastic fiber of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cross section of the elastic fiber for demonstrating the mechanism of the electric field response gel-like polymer layer of a 2nd type elastic fiber. It is the top view which showed typically the elastic sheet as a textile fabric of this invention. It is the top view which showed typically the elastic sheet as a knitted fabric of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the aspect which the person mounted | weared with the clothes as an assist apparatus of this invention. It is a top view which shows the back surface of the clothing as an assist apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the case where the clothing as an assist apparatus of this invention is used for walking training. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the case where the shirt as an assist apparatus of this invention is used for a fusion | melting operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically an example of the method of forming an electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer in a conductive wire. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the method different from FIG. 13 which forms an electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer in a conductive wire. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of preparation of an elastic sheet. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st electroconductive fiber (what has an electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer) used for the elastic sheet shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a plan photograph (A) and a front photograph (B) of an operation experiment of the first conductive fiber shown in FIG. 16. It is a front photograph which shows the mode of the bending before voltage application (A) and after voltage application (B) in the operation experiment shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited only to the following description and drawings.

[Basic configuration]
The stretchable fiber 1 (1A, 1B) according to the present invention includes, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, first conductive fibers 11 and 21 having electric field responsive gel polymer layers 13 and 23, and electric field responsiveness. It is comprised by the 2nd electroconductive fibers 14 and 24 which give an electric field to the gel-like polymer layers 13 and 23. FIG. These stretchable fibers 1 (1A, 1B) are configured by winding first conductive fibers 11, 21 around second conductive fibers 14, 24. In the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A shown in FIG. 1, the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 are partially in contact with each other in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14. It is a form. In the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> B shown in FIG. 5, the second conductive fiber 24 is wound around the outer periphery of the first conductive fiber 21, whereby the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 21 and the second conductive fiber 24 is obtained. It is the form which is contacting in the whole.

  In addition, in this application, "fiber" is used in the meaning which shows a string-like raw material, and may be paraphrased with a wire (wire) and a wire. Therefore, the stretchable fiber and the conductive fiber may be rephrased as a stretchable wire (stretchable wire) or a conductive wire (conductive wire).

  The stretchable sheet 30 (30A, 30B) according to the present invention is, as shown in FIG. 7 or 8, a woven fabric (see FIG. 7) formed by weaving the stretchable fibers 1 (1A, 1B) described above, or It is a knitted fabric (see FIG. 8) formed by knitting stretchable fibers 1 (1A, 1B).

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the assist devices 50 and 70 according to the present invention are positions where the stretchable sheet 30 (30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B) corresponds to a muscle for causing an action to be supported. It is configured as a garment used at least.

  According to the stretchable fiber 1 (1A, 1B) having the above configuration, the stretchable sheet 30 (30A, 30B) composed of this fiber, and the assist devices 50, 70 using the stretchable sheet 30 (30A, 30B), It has a unique effect that it can give a feeling that fits people and can support the movement of various people. Hereinafter, specific configurations of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[Expandable fiber]
The stretchable fiber 1 includes two types. In the first type of stretchable fiber 1A, the first conductive fiber 11 is wound around the second conductive fiber 14, and the second conductive fiber 14 is wound around the first conductive fiber 11 to form a spiral shape. I am doing. Hereinafter, the first type of stretchable fiber 1A may be referred to as a “strand structure” stretchable fiber 1A. The second type stretchable fiber 1B has a structure in which the second conductive fiber 24 is located at the center and the first conductive fiber 21 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the second conductive fiber 24. Yes. Hereinafter, the second type of stretchable fiber 1B may be referred to as a “covered yarn structure” stretchable fiber 1B.

<First type elastic fiber>
The first type of stretchable fiber 1A has a stranded wire structure. The stretchable fiber 1A has a spiral structure in which a first conductive fiber 11 and a second conductive fiber 14 are wound around each other. The first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 are in contact with each other at a plurality of positions spaced in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14. Hereinafter, a plurality of portions where the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 are in contact are referred to as “contact portions 15”. Between the contact portion 15 and the contact portion 15, a gap exists between the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first conductive fiber 11 is composed of a conductive wire 12 including a conductive material and an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 covering the periphery of the conductive wire 12. Yes. The conductive wire 12 only needs to have conductivity, and it is not essential that the conductive wire 12 itself expands and contracts. Moreover, the 2nd conductive fiber 14 should just have electroconductivity, and it is not essential for 2nd conductive fiber 14 itself to expand-contract.

  Hereinafter, the mechanism by which the elastic fiber 1 expands and contracts will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4, the first type of stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A shown in FIG. 1 is used as the stretchable fiber 1, the first conductive fiber 11 is a cathode wire, and the second conductive fiber 14 is an anode wire. The case is shown as an example. 3 and 4 schematically show the contact portion 15 where the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 are in contact with each other. FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the stretchable fiber 1A, and FIG. 4 shows a transverse section of the stretchable fiber 1A, but hatching is omitted for easy understanding.

  When no voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1A, as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 4 (A), the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 is uniformly dispersed in a gel state. Yes. In the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13, no voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A, and no electric field is formed in the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13.

  When a voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A, an electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13. When an electric field is applied, as shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B, electrons are injected from the cathode line 12 into the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13, and the injected electrons are used as the anode. It moves to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 in the vicinity of the second conductive fiber 14 and accumulates.

  As a result, an electrostatic adhesive force is generated between the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 and the second conductive fiber 14 in the vicinity of the second conductive fiber that is the anode, and FIGS. As shown in (C), the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 itself is drawn around the second conductive fiber 14. The action of the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 itself being drawn around the second conductive fiber 14 gives a tensile force that pulls the first conductive fiber 11 in the longitudinal direction.

  On the other hand, when the application of voltage to the stretchable fiber 1A is stopped, the electric field applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 disappears. When the electric field disappears, the movement and accumulation of electrons in the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 are eliminated, and the electrostatic adhesion force between the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 and the second conductive fiber 14 is Disappear. As a result, the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 drawn around the second conductive fiber 14 moves away from the periphery of the second conductive fiber 14, and the first conductive fiber 11. Is restored to a form covering the periphery of the conductive wire 12 (see FIGS. 3A and 4A). In addition, the tensile force generated in the first conductive fiber 11 disappears.

  When the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 acts as described above, the elastic fiber 1A expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction as described below.

  The operation of the first type of stretchable fiber 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again. FIG. 1A shows a form in which no voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1A and no electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13. In the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A shown in FIG. 1A, there is a wide gap between the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 between the contact portions 15.

  When a voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A, an electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 at each contact portion 15. When an electric field is applied, the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 of the first conductive fiber 11 is attracted to the second conductive fiber 14 at each contact portion 15. Therefore, a tensile force is generated in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 11. Further, since the second conductive fiber 14 is connected to the first conductive fiber 11 at the contact portion 15, the tensile force of the first conductive fiber 11 is the second conductive fiber at the contact portion 15. The tensile force acts on the second conductive fiber 14 as well.

  When the tensile force acts on the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14, the gap existing between the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14 becomes small. As a result, the stretchable fiber 1A extends in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the application of voltage is stopped and the electric field applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is extinguished, the first conductive fiber attracted to the second conductive fiber 14 at the contact portion 15 is removed. The eleven electric field responsive gel polymer layers 13 move away from the second conductive fibers 14. Therefore, the tensile force disappears even though it is generated in the first conductive fiber 11. As the tensile force disappears, the stretchable fiber 1 </ b> A expands the gap that exists between the contact portions 15. As a result, the stretchable fiber 1A shrinks in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the first type of stretchable fiber 1A functions as an actuator that stretches in the longitudinal direction.

<Second type of stretchable fiber>
As shown in FIG. 5, the second type of stretchable fiber 1B has a covered yarn structure. The stretchable fiber 1 </ b> B includes a second conductive fiber 24 located at the center and a first conductive fiber 21 wound around the outer periphery of the second conductive fiber 24. The first conductive fiber 21 is wound around the outer periphery of the second conductive fiber 24 in a spiral shape in the longitudinal direction of the second conductive fiber 24. Adjacent first conductive fibers 21 are in contact with each other.

  The structures of the first conductive fiber 21 and the second conductive fiber 24 are the same as the structures of the first conductive fiber 11 and the second conductive fiber 14, respectively. However, the stretchable fiber 1B has a structure in which the first conductive fiber 21 and the second conductive fiber 24 are stretched as shown in FIG. Therefore, the conductive wire 22 and the second conductive fiber 24 of the first conductive fiber 21 have stretchability.

  The stretchable fiber 1B is stretched in the longitudinal direction like the first stretchable fiber 1A, and the stretchable fiber 1B itself functions as an actuator. Regarding the stretchable fiber 1B, the mechanism of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is the same as the mechanism described with reference to FIG. The action of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 and the action of the elastic fiber 1B extending and contracting in the longitudinal direction will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5A shows a form in which no voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1B and no electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23. FIG. When an electric field is not applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23, as shown in FIG. 6A, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 has a gel state in which the polymer is uniformly dispersed. .

  When a voltage is applied to the stretchable fiber 1B and an electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23, an electric field is applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23. When an electric field is applied, electrons are injected from the cathode line 22 into the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23, and the injected electrons are an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 near the second conductive fiber 24 used as an anode. And accumulate. As a result, an electrostatic adhesive force is generated between the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer 23 in the vicinity of the second conductive fiber that is the anode and the second conductive fiber 24, as shown in FIG. 6B. In addition, the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer 12 itself is attracted to the second conductive fiber 24. At that time, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 of the first conductive fiber 21 is deformed flat or substantially flat as a whole.

  Therefore, a tensile force is generated in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 21. This tensile force stretches the first conductive fiber 21 in the longitudinal direction. Since the second conductive fiber 24 is wound around the first conductive fiber 21, it extends in the longitudinal direction as the first conductive fiber 21 extends. As a result, the stretchable fiber 1B extends in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the application of voltage to the stretchable fiber 1B is stopped and the electric field applied to the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 disappears, the first conductive that has been attracted to the second conductive fiber 24 is removed. The electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 of the conductive fiber 21 returns to the original state while moving in a direction away from the second conductive fiber 24. Therefore, the tensile force disappears even though it is generated in the first conductive fiber 21. As the tensile force disappears, the first conductive fiber 21 stretched in the longitudinal direction returns to its original form. The second conductive fiber 24 returns to the original form as the first conductive fiber 21 returns to the original form. As a result, the stretchable fiber 1B shrinks in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the stretchable fiber 1B, the stretchable fiber 1B itself functions as an actuator. It should be noted that it is necessary to configure the stretchable fiber B so that when the stretchable fiber 1B is stretched, the first conductive fiber 21 is slack and no gap is formed between the second conductive fiber 24. It is. For this purpose, the first conductive fiber 21 may be wound around the outer periphery of the second conductive fiber by applying a small tension in the longitudinal direction. Further, it is also necessary to configure the stretchable fiber 1B so that the first conductive fiber 21 does not protrude from the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the second conductive fiber 24 when the stretchable fiber 1B is stretched. is there. For this purpose, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable fiber 1B, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 21 are outside the end of the second conductive fiber 24 wound around the first conductive fiber 21. The stretchable fiber 1 </ b> B may be configured in a form extending in a straight line.

  The first conductive fibers 11 and 21 described so far are composed of the conductive wires 12 and 22 and the electric field responsive gel polymer layers 13 and 23 covering the periphery of the conductive wires 12 and 22. Therefore, the structure of the first conductive fibers 11 and 21 is simple, and the first conductive fibers 11 and 21 can be easily manufactured. In addition, the specific manufacturing method of the 1st electroconductive fibers 11 and 21 is demonstrated in detail later.

[Elastic sheet composed of elastic fiber]
The stretchable sheet 30 is configured using the first type stretchable fiber 1A and the second type stretchable fiber 1B according to the present invention. The stretchable sheet 30 includes a woven stretchable sheet 30A and a knitted stretchable sheet 30B. The woven fabric is a stretchable sheet in which a plurality of parallel vertical fibers and a plurality of parallel horizontal fibers are both linear, and the vertical fibers and the horizontal fibers are formed orthogonal to each other. . However, those having a gap between a plurality of parallel longitudinal fibers and those having a gap between a plurality of parallel horizontal fibers are also treated as a fabric here. On the other hand, a knitted fabric refers to a stretchable sheet formed by connecting a plurality of loops with stretchable fibers and knitting the loops together. One or more fibers may be used for the stretch sheet which is a knitted fabric.

<Elastic sheet as a fabric>
As shown in FIG. 7, the stretchable sheet 30A, which is a woven fabric, is composed of a plurality of parallel vertical fibers 2 and a plurality of parallel horizontal fibers 3. The vertical fiber 2 and the horizontal fiber 3 are the stretchable fibers 1 (1A, 1B) according to the present invention described above. The horizontal fiber 3 and the vertical fiber 2 are orthogonal to each other. In the stretchable sheet 30 </ b> A that is a woven fabric, a part where the horizontal fiber 3 is arranged on the vertical fiber 2 and a part where the horizontal fiber 3 is arranged below the vertical fiber 2 are alternately arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. appear. The weaving method of the stretchable sheet 30A using the stretchable fiber 1 is not particularly limited. For example, a twill weave or a weave weave can be selected in addition to the plain weave structure shown in FIG.

  Electrodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are disposed around the stretchable sheet 30A. The electrode 31 located on the upper side and the electrode 32 located on the right side in FIG. 7 are anodes (positive electrodes). The electrode 33 located on the lower side in FIG. 7 and the electrode 34 located on the left side are cathodes (negative electrodes). In FIG. 7, the upper end of the longitudinal fiber 2 is connected to the anode 31, and the lower end of the longitudinal fiber 2 is connected to the cathode 33. On the other hand, the right end of the horizontal fiber 3 is connected to the anode 32, and the left end of the horizontal fiber 3 is connected to the cathode 34. The electrodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are connected to a power source (not shown), and a voltage can be applied to the vertical fiber 2 and the horizontal fiber 3 simultaneously, or voltages can be applied separately.

  The stretchable sheet 30 </ b> A extends in the vertical direction when a voltage is applied to the vertical fiber 2 from the upper and lower electrodes 31 and 33. On the other hand, when the application of voltages from the voltages 31 and 33 to the vertical fiber 2 is stopped, the vertical fiber 2 contracts in the vertical direction. The stretchable sheet 30 </ b> A extends in the left-right direction when a voltage is applied to the lateral fiber 3 from the left and right electrodes 32, 34. On the other hand, when the application of voltage to the lateral fiber 3 is stopped, the lateral fiber 3 contracts in the left-right direction. The length that expands and contracts in the vertical direction and the length that expands and contracts in the left and right directions can be freely adjusted by the applied voltage. Therefore, the length of the stretchable sheet 30A is adjusted so that the length that stretches vertically is the same as the length that stretches horizontally, or the length that stretches vertically is longer or shorter than the length that stretches horizontally. Can be adjusted as follows.

  The stretchable sheet 30A can also be configured using different types of vertical fibers 2 and horizontal fibers 3 depending on the location. For example, the vertical fiber 2 located in the central region of the stretchable sheet 30 uses the stretchable fiber 1 having relatively low stretchability, and the vertical fiber 2 located in the regions on both sides of the stretchable fiber 30 stretches relatively high in stretchability. The elastic sheet 30 can be configured using the fiber 1. The stretchable sheet 30A composed of the stretchable fiber 1 having a relatively high stretchability and the stretchable sheet having a relatively low stretchability has the same voltage value applied to or stopped from the stretchable fiber 1 of the stretchable sheet A. Even so, the stretchable sheet 30A can be formed with a region that stretches relatively large and a region that stretches relatively small.

<Elastic sheet that is knitted>
As shown in FIG. 8, the stretchable sheet 30B, which is a knitted fabric, is formed by connecting a plurality of loops with the stretchable fiber 1 according to the present invention, and knitting the loops together. The stretchable sheet 30B can be formed by weaving one stretchable fiber 1 or by weaving a plurality of stretchable fibers 1. FIG. 8 shows an example of a stretchable sheet 30B knitted by a weft knit flat knitting. However, the method of knitting the elastic sheet 30B that is a knitted fabric is not particularly limited. The stretchable sheet 30B, which is a knitted fabric, may be knitted with the stretchable fiber 1 by weft knitting, or may be knitted with the stretchable fiber 1 by warp knitting. Examples of the weft knitting include tenshi knitting, rib knitting (also referred to as milling knitting or rubber knitting) and pearl knitting (also referred to as linking knitting or garter knitting). Examples of warp knitting include tricot knitting and atlas knitting. The knitting method can be appropriately selected from the above knitting methods according to the use of the stretchable sheet 30B.

  In the stretchable sheet 30 </ b> B that is a knitted fabric, a space is formed at a portion where the loops of the stretchable fiber 1 are entangled with each other. In the portion where the space is formed, the stretchable fiber is freely deformed, so that the loop portion is elastically deformed. The elastic sheet 30B, which is a knitted fabric, is formed by connecting a plurality of portions in which loops are entangled with each other. Therefore, the elastic sheet 30B, which is a knitted fabric, has a high elasticity because the elastically deforming portion exists in the entire elastic sheet 30B.

  When the elastic sheet 30 </ b> B is formed by weaving a plurality of elastic fibers 1, the same voltage can be applied to all the elastic fibers 1, or different voltages can be applied to each elastic fiber 1. . When a voltage of the same magnitude is applied to all of the stretchable fibers 1 or the application of the voltage is stopped, the stretchable sheet 30B is stretched uniformly in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. On the other hand, when a voltage having a different magnitude is applied to each of the stretchable fibers 1 or when the application of the voltage is stopped, the length of the stretchable sheet 30 </ b> B that is stretched becomes uneven. By utilizing this phenomenon, it is possible to set a region that expands and contracts relatively large and a region that expands and contracts relatively small in different regions of one stretchable sheet 30B.

  The stretchable sheet 30B can also be configured using different types of stretchable fibers 1. For example, the stretchable sheet 30B can be configured by providing a portion knitted with stretchable fibers 1 having relatively high stretchability and a portion knitted with stretchable fibers having relatively low stretchability. The stretchable sheet 30 can also be configured so that different knitting methods are formed. For example, the stretchable sheet 30B can be configured by providing a portion knitted by a knitting method having relatively high stretchability and a portion knitted by a knitting method having relatively low stretchability.

[Assist device using elastic sheet]
The assist device using the stretchable sheet 30 includes a first type assist device 50 and a second type assist device 70. The first type assist device 50 is a device that is used to assist the operation of a person who requires a relatively large force, such as walking training. The second type assist device 70 is a device that assists an operation that repeatedly applies a relatively small force to a human muscle and removes it slowly, such as a fusion operation.

<First type assist device>
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first type assist device 50 is a body suit type device that covers a person's arms, legs, and torso. The assist device 50 includes a general fiber that easily expands and contracts and a stretchable fiber 1 that constitutes each support portion described below. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the elastic sheet 30 formed of the elastic fiber 1 includes a chest support part 51, a back support part 52, a waist support part 53, a wrist support part 54, an arm support part 55, and a leg support part. 56 and the foot support 57. The assist device 50 includes a control box 60 for controlling the operation of the assist device 50. 9 and 10 show an example of the assist device 50. FIG. The place where the stretchable fiber 1 is used and the form where the stretchable fiber 1 is used are not limited to the positions and forms shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the chest support portion 51 is composed of a portion 51a extending from the right shoulder to the left flank and a portion 51b extending from the left shoulder to the right flank. A portion 51a extending from the right shoulder to the left flank intersects with a portion 51b extending from the left shoulder to the right flank at the center of the chest. The chest support unit 51 applies, for example, a voltage to the stretchable fiber 1 constituting the chest support unit 51, and expands or contracts the chest support unit 51 in the direction of the arrow indicated by a dotted line, or an arrow indicated by a solid line. The movement of the chest muscles is supported by expanding and contracting the chest support part 51 in the direction of. The width of the chest support portion 51 (the dimension in the direction in which the arrow shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 extends) may be formed to be constant, or may be formed to have a wide portion and a narrow portion. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the back support portion 52 includes a portion 52 a extending from the right shoulder to the left flank and a portion 52 b extending from the left shoulder to the right flank. For example, the back support unit 52 extends or contracts the back support unit 52 in the direction of the arrow indicated by the dotted line, or extends or contracts the back support unit 52 in the direction of the arrow illustrated by the solid line. Use to support and force posture. Note that the width of the back support portion 52 (the dimension in the direction in which the arrow shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 extends) may be constant, or may be formed so that a wide portion and a narrow portion are provided. it can.

  The waist support part 53 surrounds the abdomen and the waist. The waist support portion 53 extends and contracts in the direction in which the waist support portion 53 extends (the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGS. 9 and 10), or the width direction (the direction in which the arrow indicated by the solid line in FIGS. 9 and 10 extends). ) To support the movement of the abdominal muscles and stabilize the position of the pelvis.

  The wrist support portion 54 surrounds the wrist. The wrist support portion 54 acts on the arm by expanding and contracting in the direction in which the arrow indicated by the solid line in FIGS. 9 and 10 extends and in the direction in which the arrow indicated by the dotted line extends. The wrist support portion 54 is configured to be able to cooperate with a chest support portion 51, a back support portion 52, and an arm support portion 55 described later. The wrist support part 54 cooperates with the chest support part 51, the back support part 52, and the arm support part 55, for example, and supports the operation | movement which lifts a heavy load.

  The arm support part 55 is provided at the position of the upper arm. The arm support portion 55 includes a portion 55a located inside the upper arm and a portion 55b located outside. 9 and 10, the arm support portion 55 acts on the upper arm by expanding and contracting in the direction in which the arrow indicated by the dotted line extends and in the direction in which the arrow indicated by the solid line extends. This arm support part 55 cooperates with the chest support part 51, the back support part 52, and the wrist support part 54, and supports the operation | movement which lifts a heavy load.

  The leg support part 56 is provided at the position of the crotch of both legs. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the front portion of the leg support portion 56 includes a portion 56a extending obliquely from the side of the waist support portion 53 to the position above the knee, and a portion 56b extending obliquely from the inside to the outside of the thigh. Are configured to intersect. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the rear portion of the leg support portion 56 is configured such that a portion 56c extending from the waist to the inside of the thigh and a portion 56d extending smoothly from the outside to the inside of the thigh intersect. The leg support portion 56 has a direction in which each of the portions 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d constituting the leg support portion 56 extends (the direction in which the arrows shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 9 and 10 extend) and the width direction (see FIGS. 9 and 10). The movement of the leg portion is supported by extending and contracting in the direction shown by the solid line in FIG.

  The foot support part 57 is provided on the sole of the foot. For example, the foot support part 57 reduces the impact generated during walking.

  The control box 60 includes a power source and a controller for controlling the operation of the assist device 50 inside. The controller includes a storage unit storing operation information and a control unit that controls the operation of each support unit. The storage unit stores information related to operations such as an operation of standing up from a squatting state, an operation of squatting, a walking operation, and an operation of lifting an object. Each information is information obtained by measuring in advance the relationship between the degree of expansion and contraction of the stretchable sheet 30 constituting each support section and the voltage at that time when each of the above operations is performed.

  A connecting portion between the lead wire and the lead wire for connecting the control box 60 and the support portions 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and the support portions 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 Is made of a material having flexibility and elasticity that can follow the expansion and contraction of the assist device 50.

  The person who uses the assist device 50 selects the support units 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 to be operated according to the contents to be supported, and the selected support units 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. , 56 and 57 can be selected. FIG. 11 shows a case where walking assistance is performed using the assist device 50. The walking support is performed by mainly operating the leg support portion 56 of the assist device 50.

  When walking assistance is performed as shown in FIG. 11 using the assist device 50, information such as a program for walking is selected from information stored in the storage unit. Based on the selected information, the controller controls the leg support unit 56 of the assist device 50 so as to alternately perform the operation of lifting and lowering the thighs on the right foot and the left foot. At that time, in order to smoothly raise and lower the thighs, the controller applies a voltage to the leg support part 56 so that the degree of expansion / contraction of the leg support part 56 is different in different regions in the leg support part 56. For example, the controller controls the voltage to be applied to the leg support unit 56 so that the upper part of the front part of the leg support part 56 is greatly contracted and the lower part is extended small.

  In addition, the 1st type assist apparatus 50 can also function each support part 51,52,53,54,55,56,57 as a sensor. That is, in the stretchable sheet 30 constituting each of the support portions 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, the applied voltage corresponds to the stretched state corresponding to the voltage. The voltage and the state of expansion / contraction are stored in advance in the storage unit, and the controller determines the state of the support unit based on the applied voltage and information on the recording unit. The determined states of the support units 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 are fed back to the controller, for example, and used when supporting the operation.

  However, the support units 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 include, for example, a strain gauge or the like incorporated in the support distribution unit, and the support units 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 by signals sent from the load cell. , 57 can be determined.

  As described above, in the first type assist device 50, the support portions 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57 are constituted by the stretchable sheet 30, so that the support portions 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57 themselves function as actuators. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate drive source such as a motor. Further, when the assist device 50 is mounted, there is no need to use a belt or a hook-and-loop fastener. Therefore, it is possible to give a fit feeling to the person wearing the assist device 50. In addition, since the assist device 50 is configured using the stretchable sheet 30, the movement suitable for the operation of the person who intends to assist can be achieved by freely setting the direction in which the stretchable sheet 30 stretches and the length in which the stretchable sheet 30 stretches. Can be done.

<Second type assist device>
As shown in FIG. 12, the second type assist device 70 is a device in the form of a T-shirt. The second type assist device 70 includes a support portion 71 at a portion corresponding to a human chest. This support part 71 massages a person's chest as the elastic sheet 30 expands and contracts. For example, the second type assist device 70 massages the chest part by slowly extending or extending the support part so that a load is slowly applied to the chest part when palpitations or shortness of breath appear. Is used when performing a melting operation such as calming the human spirit.

[Specific configuration of stretchable fiber]
Next, a specific configuration of the stretchable fiber 1 will be described in detail.

<Specific configuration of first type stretchable fiber>
As described above, the first type of stretchable fiber 1A includes the first conductive fiber 11 having the electric field-responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 and the second conductive material that applies an electric field to the electric-field-responsive gel-like polymer layer 13. It is comprised by the property fiber 14. FIG. In addition, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the stretchable fiber 1A is not particularly limited, and may be a round wire, a rectangular wire, or a belt-like wire.

(First conductive fiber)
The first conductive fiber 11 includes a conductive wire 12 and an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 covering the periphery of the conductive wire 12.

(Conductive wire)
The conductive wire 12 is made of a conductive material. The conductive wire 12 may itself be stretchable, but the stretchability is not essential. In addition to the conductive wire having elasticity, such a conductive wire 12 includes (1) a wire that does not expand and contract itself, and (2) a conductive filler in a non-conductive substrate. Combined linear members, (3) Non-conductive substrate surface coated with conductive filler, (4) Conductive linear members having a certain length, Examples thereof include members configured as fibers that gather in the radial direction and the longitudinal direction and that expand and contract themselves. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conductive wire 12 is not particularly limited, and may be a round wire, a flat wire, or a belt-like wire. In the present application, “filler” is used to indicate an additive.

  Hereinafter, as an example, (2) a case where the conductive wire 12 is configured by a linear member obtained by mixing a conductive filler with a non-conductive base material will be described in detail.

  The conductive wire 12 includes a stretchable base material and a filler that imparts conductivity to the conductive wire 12. Examples of the base material include synthetic rubber-based, polyurethane-based, epoxy-based, and silicone-based materials. On the other hand, examples of the filler include a carbon-based filler and a metal-based filler.

  Examples of the carbon-based filler include fine particles such as graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, carbon whisker, carbon fiber, carbon nanotube, and carbon microcoil. Examples of the metal filler include gold, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, silver, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and titanium. Among them, it is preferable to use highly conductive silver, copper, or the like as a metallic filler. In that case, as the metallic filler, fine particles such as silver and copper, or fine particles obtained by plating silver or the like on the surface can be used.

  Note that the conductive wire 12 is not limited to using the wire described above. As the conductive wire 12, for example, a known electrode material such as a metal material such as aluminum, copper, or titanium, a conductive inorganic material such as indium tin oxide or carbon material, or a conductive organic material can be selected and used.

(Electric field-responsive gel polymer layer)
The electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is a gel layer made of a polymer material. The electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is purified by mixing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and dibutyl adipate (DBA) as a plasticizer in tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent. The rigidity of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 can be adjusted by adjusting the weight ratio of polyvinyl chloride and dibutyl adipate. In this electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13, it is preferable that polyvinyl chloride: dibutyl adipate (weight ratio) is in the range of 1: 2 to 1: 8.

  The base material of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is a dielectric such as polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, polyurethane, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, nylon 6, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, silicone or the like. It is possible to use a polymer material having As the plasticizer, one or more organic acid ester compounds such as diethyl adipate, dimethyl adipate, dioctyl adipate, dibutyl sebacate, dioctyl sebacate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diethyl succinate, etc. Multiple selections are possible.

  The first conductive fiber 11 may be manufactured by either a wet spinning method or a melt spinning method. The wet spinning method is a method in which a raw material is dissolved in a solvent, a weight loss is extruded from a die in a solution called a coagulation bath, and a chemical reaction is performed, and then the solvent is removed to manufacture. The melt spinning method is a method in which a raw material is melted by heat, and a weight loss is extruded from a die to form a fiber, which is then cooled and solidified. When the second conductive member 14 is manufactured by the melt spinning method, the desired first conductive member 14 is obtained by adjusting the melting temperature, tension, nozzle diameter, drying conditions, and the like.

  When the first conductive fiber 11 is manufactured by the melt spinning method, the conductive wire 12 and the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 are made of a material having a thermoplastic glass transition temperature close to each other. The Further, when the first conductive fiber 11 is manufactured by the melt spinning method, the desired first conductive fiber 11 is obtained by adjusting the melting temperature, tension, nozzle diameter, drying conditions, and the like.

  However, the method for producing the first conductive fiber 11 does not exclude the dry spinning method. The dry spinning method is a method in which a raw material is dissolved in a solvent that is vaporized by heat, and a weight loss is extruded from a die in a hot atmosphere to evaporate the solvent.

  In addition, the 1st conductive fiber 11 is not limited to manufacturing with said manufacturing method. For example, the conductive wire 12 is manufactured by the wet spinning method, the melt spinning method or the dry spinning method in the first step, and the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is formed in the second step. You can also. In this case, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 can be formed by, for example, the method shown in FIG. 13 or the method shown in FIG.

  The method shown in FIG. 13 is a method of forming the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 using a polymer having a relatively low viscosity. FIG. 13 shows a simplified apparatus used for the method of forming the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13. The apparatus used in this method is arranged between a pair of rollers 102 and 103, which are arranged at a certain distance and over which a conductive wire 12 is stretched, a tank 101 containing a polymer, and two rollers 102 and 103. And a drying tank 104 provided in the apparatus. One of the two rollers 102 and 103 is arranged inside the tank 101. Further, this apparatus includes a drum (not shown) for winding the completed first conductive fiber 11.

  The two rollers 102 and 103 reciprocate the conductive wire 12 a plurality of times between them. The layer 101 containing the polymer guides the conductive wire 12 with a roller and feeds it into the polymer contained in the tank 101 to form a polymer layer on the surface of the conductive wire 12. The drying tank 104 dries the polymer adhering to the surface of the conductive wire 12.

  The electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is formed by immersing the conductive wire 12 in the polymer accommodated in the tank 101 while the conductive wire 12 is reciprocated by the two rollers 102 and 103 to form a thin film. The formation on the surface of the conductive wire 12 and the drying of the thin film formed on the surface of the conductive wire 12 in the drying bath 104 are repeated. And the method of forming this electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 forms a plurality of thin films on the surface of the conductive wire 12 by repeatedly dipping into the polymer and drying, and the electric field responsive gel-like polymer 13 Layer 13 is formed to the desired thickness.

  The method shown in FIG. 14 is a method of forming the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 using a polymer having a relatively high viscosity. FIG. 14 shows a simplified apparatus for use in the method of forming the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13. The apparatus used in this method includes, for example, a tank 111 in which a polymer is stored, a roller 112 that guides the conductive wire 12 inside the tank 111, and a drying tank 113. The apparatus also includes a drum 114 for winding the completed first conductive fiber 11.

  The tank 111 accommodates a polymer having a relatively high viscosity, which is later formed as the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13. The roller 112 guides the conductive wire 12 fed into the tank 111 containing the polymer into the polymer, and immerses the conductive wire 112 in the polymer. Further, the roller 112 guides the conductive wire 12 having a polymer adhered to the surface thereof toward the drying tank 113. The drying tank 113 forms the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 by drying the polymer adhering to the surface of the conductive wire 12.

  In the method of forming the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 having a desired thickness is obtained by immersing the conductive wire 12 in the polymer accommodated in the tank 111 only once. Form.

  The surface of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 constituting the first conductive fiber 11 has adsorptivity. Therefore, the surface of the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 13 may be coated with a silicone-based material or a fluorine-based lubricating material so that the stretchable fiber 1A can be easily formed into a stranded wire structure.

  The diameter when the first conductive fiber 11 is a round wire is 0.01 mm or more and 2 mm or less. When the conductive wire 12 is a round wire, the diameter is 0.005 mm or more and 1.95 mm or less, and the thickness of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 is 0.005 mm or more and 1.95 mm or less. It is.

(Second conductive fiber)
The second conductive fiber 14 is made of a conductive material. The second conductive fiber 14 may itself be stretchable, but it is not essential to have stretchability. As the second conductive fiber 14, in the same manner as the first conductive fiber 11, in addition to a conductive wire having elasticity, (1) a wire having a conductive property and itself does not expand and contract, (2) A linear member in which a conductive filler is mixed with a non-conductive substrate, (3) a member in which a conductive filler is coated on the surface of the non-conductive substrate, and (4) a conductive member. In addition, a linear member having a certain length gathers in the radial direction and the longitudinal direction, and a member configured as a fiber that itself expands and contracts can be exemplified. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the second conductive fiber 14 is not particularly limited, and may be a round wire, a flat wire, or a belt-like wire. Here, “filler” is also used to indicate an additive.

  A specific material is the same as that of the conductive wire 12 of the first conductive fiber 11. The manufacturing method is the same as the manufacturing method of the conductive wire 12 of the first conductive fiber 11. The diameter when the second conductive fiber is a round wire is 0.005 mm or more and 2 mm or less.

<Specific configuration of the second type stretchable fiber>
As described above, the second type of stretchable fiber 1B includes the first conductive fiber 21 having the electric field-responsive gel-like polymer layer 23 and the second conductive material that applies an electric field to the electric-field-responsive gel-like polymer layer 23. It is comprised with the property fiber 24. FIG. In addition, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the stretchable fiber 1B is not particularly limited, and may be a round wire, a rectangular wire, or a belt-like wire.

(First conductive fiber)
The first conductive fiber 21 includes a conductive wire 22 and an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 made of a polymer material that covers the periphery of the conductive wire 22. The conductive wire 22 has both stretchability and conductivity. As the conductive wire 22, in addition to a conductive wire having elasticity, (1) a linear member obtained by mixing a conductive filler with a non-conductive base material having elasticity, and (2) having conductivity. In addition, a linear member having a certain length gathers in the radial direction and the longitudinal direction, and a member configured as a fiber that itself expands and contracts can be exemplified.

  When the conductive wire 22 is a linear member obtained by mixing a conductive filler with a non-conductive base material having elasticity, the material of the conductive wire 22 and the manufacturing method of the conductive wire 22 are of the first type. This is the same as the material and manufacturing method of the conductive wire 12 of the stretchable fiber 1A. Further, the material and layer forming method of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 are the same as the material and layer forming method of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 13 of the first type stretchable fiber 1A. Moreover, the manufacturing method of this cathode wire 22 is the same as the manufacturing method of the 2nd conductive member 11 which comprises 1A of 1st type elastic fibers. In the second type stretchable fiber 1B, it is preferable that the polyvinyl chloride: dibutyl adipate (weight ratio) in the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 is in the range of 1: 2 to 1: 8. “Filler” here is also used to indicate an additive.

  In addition, also about the 2nd type elastic fiber 1B, the surface of the electric field response gel-like polymer layer 2 which comprises the 1st conductive fiber 21 has adsorptivity. It is preferable to coat the surface of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 with a silicone-based material or a fluorine-based lubricating material so that the stretchable fiber 1B can easily have a covered yarn structure.

  The diameter when the first conductive fiber 21 is a round wire is 0.01 mm or more and 2 mm or less. When the conductive wire 22 is a round wire, the diameter is 0.005 mm or more and 1.95 mm or less, and the thickness of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 23 is 0.005 mm or more and 1.95 mm or less. It is.

(Second conductive fiber)
The second conductive fiber 24 is made of a material having both stretchable and conductive properties. As the second conductive fiber 24, similarly to the first conductive fiber 21, in addition to the conductive wire having elasticity, (1) a conductive filler on a non-conductive substrate having elasticity. Mixed linear members, (2) Members configured as fibers that are conductive and have a certain length gather in the radial and longitudinal directions, and expand and contract themselves Can be mentioned. The specific material of the second conductive fiber 24 is the same as that of the conductive wire 22 of the first conductive fiber 21. The manufacturing method is the same as the manufacturing method of the conductive wire 22 of the first conductive fiber 21. When the second conductive fiber 24 is a round wire, the diameter is 0.005 mm or more and 2 mm or less.

[Examples of production of stretchable sheets and their stretch results]
Below, the other aspect of the elastic sheet which expands and contracts is demonstrated, referring FIGS. 15-18. As shown in FIG. 15, the stretchable sheet 40 of this embodiment includes a first conductive fiber 41 having an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 and a second electric field applied to the first conductive fiber 41. The woven fabric is woven with conductive fibers 44. The first conductive fiber 41 includes a conductive wire 42 having a conductive material, as well as the first conductive fiber 41 indicated by the reference numerals 11 and 21 described above. It is comprised by the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 43 which covers the circumference | surroundings. The conductive wire 42 and the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 have the same materials and functions as the conductive wires indicated by the reference numerals 11 and 22 and the electric field responsive gel polymer layers indicated by the reference numerals 13 and 23. Therefore, explanation here is omitted.

(Configuration of stretchable sheet)
The stretchable sheet 40 shown in FIG. 15 is a woven fabric woven with first conductive fibers 41 and second conductive fibers 44. A plurality of first conductive fibers 41 are provided as parallel horizontal fibers, and a cathode (cathode) is disposed at one end thereof. On the other hand, a plurality of second conductive fibers 44 are provided as parallel vertical fibers, and an anode (anode) is disposed at one end thereof. The first conductive fiber 41 and the second conductive fiber 44 are woven so as to be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal, and the first conductive fiber 41 is formed of the second conductive fiber 44. The portion disposed above and the portion where the first conductive fiber 41 is disposed below the second conductive fiber 44 appear alternately in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  The cathode and anode described above are connected to a power source (not shown), and a voltage can be applied to the cathode and anode simultaneously, or voltages can be applied separately. As will be apparent from the experimental results described later, when a voltage is applied to the cathode and the anode, the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 41 contracts, and when the voltage application is stopped, the first conductive fiber 41 is stopped. The contraction in the longitudinal direction is restored. In this operation, by applying a voltage to the stretchable sheet 40, the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 43 constituting the first conductive fiber 41 serving as the cathode is adsorbed to the second conductive fiber 44 serving as the anode. However, the longitudinal direction of the first conductive fiber 41 contracts. Further, by releasing the voltage application, the original state is restored by the elasticity of the electric field responsive gel polymer layer itself constituting the first conductive fiber 41.

(Preparation of test sample used for operation experiment)
An experiment for confirming the operation of the first conductive fiber 41 and the second conductive fiber 44 constituting the stretchable sheet 40 shown in FIG. 15 was performed. FIG. 16 shows the first conductive fiber 41 having a rectangular cross section used in the experiment. The first conductive fiber 41 is manufactured by 1) preparing a 1: 4: 10 weight ratio of polyvinyl chloride: dibutyl adipate: THF, casting the solution on a glass plate, and drying. An electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 having a thickness of about 0.15 mm was obtained. 2) Next, a solution of polyvinyl chloride: dibutyl adipate: acetylene carbon black: THF in a weight ratio of 1: 4: 1.5: 40 was prepared, and a conductive film having a thickness of 0.012 mm was formed in the same manner as described above. A gel thin film was obtained. When the resistance value of this conductive gel thin film was measured with a multimeter, it was about 50 kΩ (distance between terminals: 1 cm). 3) Next, the conductive gel thin film was cut into a 1 mm width to obtain a conductive gel thin film wire 42, which was placed on the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 prepared in 1) above. Further, an electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 is laminated and sandwiched by the same method as in 1) above, and the conductive gel thin film wire 42 is cut into a width of 4 mm so as to be in the center, as shown in FIG. A first conductive fiber 41 having a rectangular cross section was obtained. The total thickness of the first conductive fiber 41 was about 0.3 mm. When confirmed with a multimeter, it was confirmed that the conductivity was not impaired. In this experiment, aluminum wires having diameters of 0.45 mm, 0.90 mm, and 1.5 mm were used as the second conductive fibers 44, respectively.

(Operation test results)
FIG. 17 is a plan photograph (A) and a front photograph (B) of an operation experiment of the first conductive fiber 41 shown in FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 shows a voltage application before the voltage application (A) in the operation experiment. It is a front photograph which shows the mode of the back (B) bending. When a voltage is applied to the stretchable sheet 40 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the electric field responsive gel polymer layer 43 constituting the first conductive fiber 41 becomes the second conductive property as shown in FIG. Adheres to the fiber 44 and clings. Thereby, bending occurred in the first conductive fiber 41 and the stretchable sheet 40 contracted.

  The degree of bending was evaluated by the bending angle before and after voltage application at the contact portion 45 between the first conductive fiber 41 and the second conductive fiber 44. When the angle before voltage application is α and the angle after voltage application is β, the difference between the angles is the variation angle θ. This variation angle was measured using the angle measuring function of a digital microscope (manufactured by Keyence: VHX-2000). As conditions, the applied voltage and the frequency of the applied voltage were changed, and the diameter of the second conductive fiber 44 was also changed.

  First, a DC voltage was applied every 100 V from 100 V to 500 V, and the fluctuation angle θ (angle difference before and after voltage application) after 15 seconds was measured. This measurement was performed with three types of aluminum wires (second conductive fibers 44) having diameters of 0.45 mm, 0.90 mm, and 1.5 mm. The results are shown in Table 1. The variation angle θ increased as the applied voltage increased in each diameter of aluminum wire. Further, the variation angle θ increased as the diameter of the aluminum wire increased. Specifically, at an applied voltage of 300 V, the variation angle θ is 10.3 ° at a diameter of 0.45 mm, the variation angle θ is 25.6 ° at a diameter of 0.9 mm, and the variation angle at a diameter of 1.5 mm. θ was 50.1 °.

  Next, the fluctuation angle θ when the frequency of the DC pulse voltage to be applied was 0.3 Hz and 1 Hz was evaluated every 100 V from 100 V to 500 V. The results are shown in Table 2. The variation angle θ increased with the aluminum rod of each diameter as the applied DC pulse voltage increased. Moreover, the variation angle θ increased as the diameter of the aluminum wire increased. However, as the frequency of the applied DC pulse voltage increased, the variation angle θ decreased. Specifically, when an aluminum wire having a diameter of 0.45 mm is used, the variation angle θ when a 300 V DC pulse voltage is applied at 0.3 Hz is 7.5 °, and the variation angle when applied at 1 Hz. θ was 6.1 °. When an aluminum wire having a diameter of 0.90 mm is used, the variation angle θ when a 300 V DC pulse voltage is applied at 0.3 Hz is 14.4 °, and the variation angle θ when applied at 1 Hz is 11 It was 8 °. When an aluminum wire having a diameter of 1.50 mm is used, the variation angle θ when a 300 V DC pulse voltage is applied at 0.3 Hz is 32.8 °, and the variation angle θ when applied at 1 Hz is 16 It was 8 °.

  As described above, at the intersection (contact portion 45) between the first conductive fiber 41 and the second conductive fiber 44 constituting the stretchable sheet 40 of the aspect shown in FIG. 15, the fluctuation of the first conductive fiber 41 that is the cathode. It has been found that the angle increases as the applied voltage and the diameter of the second conductive fiber 44 (aluminum wire) increase. This is because, when a large voltage is applied or the diameter is large, the electric field-responsive gel polymer layer 43 constituting the first conductive fiber 41 operates to cling to the second conductive fiber 44 while adhering to it. It is thought to be based on what is likely to happen. Further, the variation angle θ became smaller as the frequency of the applied DC pulse voltage increased. This is probably because the restoration of the electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 43 constituting the first conductive fiber 41 does not return when the frequency is increased.

  From this result, the stretchable sheet 40 in which the woven fabric is composed of the first conductive fiber 41 and the second conductive fiber 44 that applies an electric field to the first conductive fiber 41 is the second conductive fiber. By applying a voltage to the fiber 44 or stopping the application of the voltage, the first conductive fiber 41 can be bent and the elastic sheet 40 can be expanded and contracted in one direction. It was confirmed that it can function as an actuator that expands and contracts in the direction.

1,1A, 1B Stretch fiber 2 Vertical fiber (stretch fiber)
3 Horizontal fiber (stretchable fiber)
11, 21 First conductive fiber 12, 22 Conductive wire 13, 23 Electric field responsive gel polymer layer 14, 24 Second conductive fiber 15 Contact portion 30 Stretch sheet 30A Stretch sheet (woven fabric)
30B Elastic sheet (knitted fabric)
31, 32, 33, 34 Electrode 40 Stretch sheet 41 First conductive fiber 42 Conductive wire (conductive gel thin film wire)
43 Electric field responsive gel-like polymer layer 44 Second conductive fiber 45 Contact portion θ Variation angle (α-β)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Assist device 51 Chest support part 52 Back support part 53 Waist support part 54 Wrist support part 55 Arm support part 56 Leg support part 57 Foot support part 60 Control box 70 Assist apparatus 71 Chest support part

Claims (8)

A first conductive fiber having an electric field responsive gel polymer layer;
A second conductive fiber for applying an electric field to the first conductive fiber,
The first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are in contact with the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber in whole or in part in the longitudinal direction, and the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are in contact with each other. A stretchable fiber, wherein a conductive fiber is wound around the second conductive fiber. A contact portion in which the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are brought into contact with each other at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction;
2. The stretchable fiber according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are spirally wound around each other with a gap between the contact portions. The second conductive fiber is centrally located;
The first conductive fiber is spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of the second conductive fiber;
The first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber are in contact with each other in the longitudinal direction;
The stretchable fiber according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent first conductive fibers are in contact with each other.   The stretchable fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first conductive fiber includes a conductive wire and the electric field-responsive gel-like polymer layer covering the periphery of the conductive wire. The stretchable fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, is used,
The stretchable fiber constitutes a vertical fiber extending linearly in the vertical direction and a horizontal fiber extending linearly in the horizontal direction,
A stretchable sheet that expands and contracts, wherein the stretchable fiber is configured as a woven fabric in which the vertical fibers and the horizontal fibers are woven. The stretchable fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, is used,
A stretchable sheet that stretches and contracts, wherein the stretchable fiber is formed by linking a plurality of loops with the stretchable fiber and knitting the loops together.   It is configured as a woven fabric woven with a first conductive fiber having an electric field-responsive gel polymer layer and a second conductive fiber that applies an electric field to the first conductive fiber. An elastic sheet that stretches and contracts.   8. The assist device in which the stretchable sheet according to any one of claims 5 to 7 is configured as a garment, wherein the stretchable sheet is at least at a position corresponding to a muscle for causing an action to be supported. An assist device that is used.