JP3707306B2 - Chair type massage machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chair type massage machine provided with a massage treatment element that moves up and down in the back of a chair.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a chair type massage machine with a massage treatment element on the back of the chair, the treatment position can be changed by moving the treatment element along the back of the human body. Since it is drawn, as shown in FIG. 9, a guide frame 5 corresponding to the curve is provided on the backrest, and the massage mechanism 2 including the treatment element 1 moves up and down along the guide frame 5. In many cases, the treatment element 1 corresponds to the back curve of the human body. In this case, the shape of the guide frame 5 is based on typical body shape data. In particular, the difference in sitting height cannot be absorbed.
[0003]
On the other hand, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-343848, the massage mechanism itself moves linearly, but the treatment element appears and disappears according to its vertical position and can move up and down along the back curve of the human body. In what is made, it is used regardless of individual differences of the user by capturing the physical characteristics of the user with the pressure sensor attached to the treatment element and controlling the above-mentioned appearance operation based on this data In addition, the guide frame can be straight, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the posture in which the user is sitting on the chair is not always appropriate, and if the treatment element is controlled by capturing the physical characteristics when sitting in an unfavorable posture, the health of the user is worsened. May occur.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and the object of the present invention is to be able to flexibly cope with the individual body shape of the user and to make the user take an appropriate posture. To provide a massage machine.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Thus, the present invention provides a chair-type massage machine having a massage treatment element disposed on the backrest and a drive unit that moves the treatment element along the backrest in a curved line. An input means for inputting, a database storing model data about the physical characteristics of the human body, and a model data corresponding to the physical characteristics input from the input means are extracted from the database and the movement path of the treatment element based on the data And a control means for setting the movement of the treatment element along the set path, and a shape changing means for matching the cross-sectional shape of the front surface of the backrest with the set movement path of the treatment element. Yes.
[0007]
Instead of setting the movement path based on the input physical characteristics, the movement path is set based on the template data about the physical characteristics of the human body, and the cross section of the front of the backrest The shape is also adapted to the physical characteristics of the human body .
[0008]
The drive unit here is preferably composed of a linear motor that linearly moves a massage mechanism provided with a treatment element, and a position adjustment means that changes the position of the treatment element in the front-rear direction of the backrest in the massage mechanism.
[0009]
The shape changing means for matching the cross-sectional shape of the front surface of the backrest with the set movement path of the treatment element includes a large number of air bags forming the front surface of the backrest and the expansion / contraction control unit of each air bag. It is possible to suitably use a thing composed of a large number of telescopic actuators disposed behind the skin on the front surface of the backrest and an operation control unit of these actuators.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example of an embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 5 in the figure denotes a guide frame arranged in a backrest of a chair, and the guide frame 5 is formed as a linear one. Is equipped with a self-propelled massage mechanism 2.
[0011]
The massage mechanism 2 that includes guide rollers 50 that are in rolling contact with the guide frame 5 and that moves linearly along the guide frame 5 by itself using a rack and pinion mechanism or the like is shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). as such, the arm 10 provided with a treatment element 1 to the tip by a ball joint driving units 21 and 22 on which can be driven in two axes, as shown in FIG. 3 (c) (d), the arm 10 Is formed by a telescopic actuator. For this reason, the massage mechanism 2 itself can only move linearly along the guide frame 5, but in accordance with this linear movement, the ball joint drive units 21 and 22 and the arm 10 which is an extendable actuator are driven to treat the treatment element 1. By changing the position in the back-and-forth direction of the backrest, it is possible to draw a moving path of a desired curve as shown in FIG. The ball joint drive units 21 and 22 and the arm 10 (extensible actuator) also serve as drive members for causing the treatment element 1 to perform a massage operation.
[0012]
The control means for controlling the vertical movement of the massage mechanism 2 and the operation of the ball joint driving units 21 and 22 and the arm 10 is configured by connecting a driving circuit for each of the above members to a microcomputer. An input means for inputting a person's physical characteristics and a database storing template data on the human body's physical characteristics are connected, and the user's physical characteristics can be input from the input means. For example, the control means selects model data corresponding to the inputted physical feature from the database, sets a movement route based on the template data, and causes the treatment element 1 to move along the set route. Control.
[0013]
This point will be described in more detail. The model data stored in the database includes, for example, height: 169 cm, sitting height: 88 cm, and body type: AB, when y = 0 is the seating surface and h = sitting height, The front-rear position x of 1 is data that x = f (y) (see FIG. 8, 0 ≦ y <h), and has curve data that is considered to be the most preferable moving path depending on the sitting height value and the body shape. It is as.
[0014]
Now, as shown in FIG. 1, if the user inputs data such as his sitting height and body shape from the input means, the control means searches the database using the input data as a key and has the corresponding key. The model data is extracted, the curve data x = f (y) is extracted and set as the movement path, and is replaced with the vertical position t of the massage mechanism on the guide frame 5 and the front / back position s of the treatment element 1. Based on the data (t, s), the up / down driving of the massage mechanism 2 and the front / rear position of the treatment element 1 are controlled.
[0015]
In other words, since the treatment element 1 takes a movement route on the assumption that the user is sitting and receiving massage in an appropriate posture, the treatment element 1 is used when the user sits in an inappropriate posture and receives massage. The state where 1 does not contact the human body occurs, and from this point, the user can recognize that his / her posture is inappropriate. When the user sits in an appropriate posture, the treatment element 1 moves along a movement path that matches the physical characteristics of the user such as the body shape and the sitting height value, so that an effective massage can be given to the user. it can.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical movement of the massage mechanism 2 along the guide frame 5 can be performed using a linear motor 4, thereby enabling a faster and smoother movement. In addition to effectively performing massage massage on the back surface, driving noise can also be reduced.
[0017]
By the way, a cushion material having a predetermined thickness and an epidermis covering the cushion material are usually arranged on the front surface of the backrest. However, in the chair type massage machine shown here, the movement path of the treatment element 1 is the body of the user. Since it changes according to the characteristic, as shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the front cover 6 of the backrest can be changed to match the set movement path of the treatment element 1.
[0018]
FIG. 6 shows a specific example regarding this point. A large number of independent air bags 61 are arranged behind the skin 60 on the surface of the backrest, and the control means adjusts the air pressure of each air bag 61 according to the set movement route. By doing so, the cross-sectional shape of the front cover 6 of the backrest can be changed. A liquid may be used instead of air.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 7, a telescopic actuator 62 may be arranged behind the skin 6 so that the cross-sectional shape of the front cover 6 of the backrest can be changed by controlling the expansion and contraction of each actuator 62.
[0020]
In any case, since the cross-sectional shape of the front cover 6 of the backrest can be matched with the movement route set based on the template data corresponding to the physical characteristics of the user, the chair in an appropriate posture for the user It is a comfortable state to sit on.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the input means for inputting the physical features of the user, the database storing the template data about the physical features of the human body, and the templates corresponding to the physical features input from the input means. Because it is equipped with a control means that takes the data from the database and sets the movement path of the treatment element based on the data and makes the movement of the treatment element follow the set path, it is flexible to the individual physical characteristics of the user Of course, if the user sits in an inappropriate posture, the treatment element will move away from the body, and the user will not be confident in his posture. It can be recognized, and when sitting in the proper posture, the treatment can give the user an appropriate and effective massage. In addition, because it has shape changing means to match the cross-sectional shape of the front of the backrest with the set movement path of the treatment element, it can prompt the user to sit in an appropriate posture and the place according to the appropriate posture Can enjoy a proper massage.
[0022]
The drive unit here uses a linear motor that linearly moves a massage mechanism including a treatment element, and a position adjustment unit that changes the position of the treatment element in the front-rear direction of the backrest in the massage mechanism. Further, it is easy to cause the treatment element to move along the set movement route, and it is possible to obtain a high-speed and smooth movement operation by the linear motor, thereby enhancing the massage effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart of an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the above.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a treatment element driving portion of the same, in which FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views, and FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of another example provided with another drive mechanism.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show examples of a variable shape front cover, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic cross-sectional views. FIGS.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of the above example, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic sectional views. FIGS.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show another example of the above specific example, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views. FIGS.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a movement route.
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Treatment child 2 Massage mechanism

Claims (4)

In the chair-type massage machine which has a massage treatment element on the backrest and has a drive unit that moves the treatment element along the backrest in a curved line, input means for inputting the physical characteristics of the user; A database storing model data on the physical characteristics of the human body and model data corresponding to the physical characteristics input from the input means are extracted from the database, and the movement path of the treatment element is set based on the data and the treatment element A chair-type massage machine comprising: control means for performing movement of the body in a set route; and shape changing means for matching the cross-sectional shape of the front surface of the backrest with the set movement route of the treatment element .   The drive unit includes a linear motor that linearly moves a massage mechanism including a treatment element, and a position adjustment unit that changes the position of the treatment element in the front-rear direction of the backrest in the massage mechanism. The chair type massage machine according to 1. 2. The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein a front surface of the backrest is formed of a plurality of air bags, and the shape changing means is an expansion / contraction control unit of each air bag and each air bag . The chair type massage machine according to claim 1, wherein a number of expansion / contraction actuators are arranged behind the skin on the front of the backrest, and the shape changing means is the expansion / contraction actuators and an operation control unit of these actuators .

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