JP3717726B2 - Massage machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a massage machine that can accurately detect a position on a backrest of a massage unit that is movably arranged on the backrest.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are known chair-type and bed-type massage machines that massage the affected area such as the shoulder and waist of the user.
The chair type massage machine (80) will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the massage machine (80) has a backrest (82) that corresponds to the back of the user (which corresponds to a backrest in the chair type massage machine). Inside, a massage unit (86) having treatment fingers (84) is provided, and the massage unit (86) can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the backrest. The user can move the massage unit (86) in the longitudinal direction and receive a massage at a desired position, or can receive a so-called rolling massage that reciprocates the massage unit within a desired range.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 9, there is one that uses screw thrust to raise and lower the massage unit (86). In this configuration, a screw shaft (90) is provided in the longitudinal direction inside the backrest, and the screw shaft (90) can be rotated by a lifting motor (92). The massage unit (86) is screwed onto the screw shaft (90) and is slidable on a guide rail (88) arranged parallel to the screw shaft (90). When the shaft (90) rotates forward and backward, the massage unit (86) moves up and down by screw thrust.
[0004]
When performing massage or rolling massage by fixing the massage unit (86) at a desired position of the user, it is necessary to detect the height position of the massage unit (86).
Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, limit detectors (94) and (95) are respectively installed at the upper and lower ends of the transition path of the massage unit (86), and a magnet (96) is attached to the screw shaft (90). A hall element (98) is arranged on the frame of the massage machine, arranged to rotate integrally with the screw shaft (90), approaching the rotation transition path of the magnet (96).
The limit detectors (94) and (95) and the hall element (98) are electrically connected to control means (not shown) for controlling various operations of the massage machine (80). The control means includes a counter that counts the detection signal from the Hall element (98), and each time the magnet (96) passes near the Hall element (98) by the rotation of the screw shaft (90), the Hall element (98) outputs a detection signal, and the number of detections is counted by a counter. The counter is reset when the limit detectors (94) and (95) at the upper and lower ends detect the approach of the massage unit (86). Each time the Hall element detects the passage of the magnet, the counter counts up or down according to the direction of rotation of the lifting motor (92), and the control means controls the upper or lower limit detector according to the count value of the counter. (94) The height position of the massage unit (86) from (95) is judged.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a strong external force is applied to the massage unit (86), the massage unit (86) may be displaced in the vertical direction. The vertical displacement of the massage unit (86) acts as a rotational force on the screw shaft (90), and the screw shaft (90) rotates by the amount of displacement. When the lift motor (92) is stopped, if such a shift occurs and the screw shaft (90) rotates, the control means will not move up and down even if the Hall element (98) detects the magnet (96). Since the motor (92) is stopped, it cannot be discriminated whether to count up or count down according to the signal. For this reason, while performing rolling massage etc. for a long time, an error is integrated | accumulated and a treatment range will shift | deviate gradually, and the sufficient massage effect might not be acquired.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine that can accurately determine the position of a massage unit by detecting the rotation and direction of a screw shaft regardless of the operating state of a lifting motor.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the massage machine of the present invention is a chair-type or bed-type massage machine for performing massage on a user, inside the backrest (12) where the back of the user hits, A screw shaft (30) that is rotationally driven by the elevating motor (31) is provided along the longitudinal direction, and the screw shaft (30) is movable along the longitudinal direction of the backrest by the screw thrust of the screw shaft. Yes, in a massage machine equipped with a massage unit (20) for massaging a user,
In the vicinity of the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft, two pulse generating means (50) (51) for detecting the rotation of the screw shaft are connected to the screw shaft or the screw shaft. The phase is shifted in the rotation circumferential direction of the rotating body in the system,
In the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft (30) or the screw shaft, a detected member (40) that can be detected by the pulse generating means (50) (51) is provided.
The pulse generation means (50) (51) is electrically connected to the control means (60), and the control means (60) is based on the signal from the pulse generation means (50) (51), and the massage unit (20 ) Is detected.
[0008]
The screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft is provided with two detected members (40) and (42) by shifting the phase in the rotational circumferential direction, and the screw shaft (30 ) Or in the vicinity of the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft, a pulse generating means (50) for detecting the detected member (40) and a pulse generating means (51) for detecting the detected member (42) Alternatively, each of the pulse generating means (50) and (51) may be arranged so as to detect the detected members (40) and (42) by shifting the phase.
[0009]
For detecting that the massage unit (20) has moved to the end of the transition path between one end of the transition path along the screw shaft (30) of the massage unit (20) and the massage unit. It is desirable to have a limit detector (45) and a hit (46).
[0010]
[Action and effect]
The phase of the detected member (40) or (41) arranged on the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft is shifted by two pulse generating means (50) (51). Based on the signal generated by each of the pulse generation means (50) and (51), the screw shaft (30) is rotated and rotated regardless of the rotation direction of the elevating motor (31) and the operation state such as stoppage. The number can be detected. Moreover, the present location of the massage unit (20) can be accurately determined based on the number of rotations from the limit detector (45).
Therefore, even when the massage unit (20) is displaced in the vertical direction due to an external force, the rotation of the screw shaft (30) can be detected and the deviation can be detected, so the current position of the massage unit (20) is accurately detected. be able to.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, the example which applied this invention to the chair type massage machine (10) is demonstrated. The present invention is not limited to a chair type, and can be applied to, for example, a bed type massage machine, a nursing bed, and the like.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the chair of the massage machine (10) has a seat (11) on which the user sits, a backrest (12) formed upward from the rear end of the seat, and left and right of the seat. It is composed of armrests (13) formed upward on both sides. The seat (11), backrest (12), and armrest (13) are each formed by connecting a metal pipe, frame, plate, etc. inside, and the outside is covered with a patch or cushion. Yes.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the backrest (12) has an upper frame (14) and a lower frame (15) at the upper and lower portions, respectively, and the ends of the upper and lower frames (14) and (15). The parts are connected by a pair of guide rails (16) extending parallel to the vertical direction. The upper end of the guide rail (16) extends upward beyond the upper frame (14), and a head rest (17) to which the head of the user hits is attached to the tip. The lower part of the guide rail (16) is pivotally supported by a frame (18) forming a seat, and a known reclining mechanism (70) is connected to the lower frame (15), and the backrest (12) is The seat (11) can be raised and lowered.
The guide rail (16) has a U-shaped cross section, is disposed so that the grooves face each other, and the massage unit (20) is attached along the guide rail (16) so as to be movable up and down.
[0014]
Inside the backrest (12), there are a screw shaft (30) rotatably supported in parallel with the guide rail (16) by the upper and lower frames (14) (15), and a lifting motor (31) for rotating the screw shaft. ) Is provided. The lower end of the screw shaft (30) is provided with a pulley (32), which is connected to the rotary shaft of the lifting motor (31) via a belt (not shown) .When the lifting motor (31) is driven, the screw shaft (30) performs forward or reverse rotation. The drive of the elevating motor (31) is controlled by the control means (60).
A member to be detected (40) is arranged on the screw shaft (30) at a position that can be detected by pulse generation means (50) and (51) described later. The detected member will be described later.
[0015]
A limit detector (45) is attached in the vicinity of the upper end or the lower end of one guide rail (16). The limit detector (45) is electrically connected to the control means (60), detects the hit (46) formed on the massage unit (20) described later, and the massage unit (20) is directed upward or downward. The movement limit is detected, and a detection signal is transmitted to the control means (60). Although the number of parts increases, limit detectors may be attached both above and below the guide rail. Further, the limit detector may be attached to the massage unit (20), and the contact (46) may be formed at one end of the transition path of the massage unit (20).
Examples of the limit detector (45) include a limit switch and an optical sensor.
[0016]
The massage unit (20) pivotally supports a pair of rollers (21) and (21) that fit into the grooves of the guide rail (16) at the upper and lower portions of the chassis (22), respectively. It comprises a pair of treatment fingers (23) and massage means drive means (24) for applying massage such as itching and beating to the affected area of the user, and the contact detected by the limit detector (45) (46 ) Is formed. In addition, the structure of the treatment finger (23) and its driving means (24) can be any known one.
[0017]
The chassis (22) of the massage unit (20) is provided with a screw cylinder (25) that is screwed onto the screw shaft (30) .When the screw shaft (30) rotates forward and backward, the massage unit (20) The screw thrust moves up and down along the guide rail (16). In this specification, it is assumed that the massage unit (20) is lowered by the forward rotation of the screw shaft (30), and the massage unit (20) is raised by the reverse rotation of the screw shaft (30).
[0018]
Two pulse generating means (50) and (51) are arranged in the vicinity of the outside of the rotation transition path of the detected member (40) arranged on the screw shaft (30). The pulse generation means (50) (51) can be mounted on a substrate (57) as shown in FIG. 2, for example. An arc-shaped recess (58) slightly larger than the diameter of the screw shaft (30) is formed at the corner of the substrate (57), the recess (58) is brought close to the screw shaft (30), and massage is performed. The unit (20) is disposed near the upper end or the lower end of the screw shaft (30) away from the upper and lower transition ends of the unit (20).
Examples of the pulse generating means (50) (51) include Hall elements (52) (53) and a reed switch. An optical switch can also be used as the pulse generating means.
When the Hall element (52) (53) or the reed switch is used as the pulse generating means (50) (51), the magnet (41) is used as the detected member (40) arranged on the screw shaft (30). It is done.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pulse generating means (50) and (51) are arranged in positions different in phase by shifting in the rotational circumferential direction of the screw shaft.
The two pulse generating means (50) and (51) are arranged at an angle at which the phase difference θ is 30 to 40 °, depending on the performance of the element to be used. Specifically, the phase difference θ of the pulse generation means (50) (51) is determined as follows.
When the screw shaft (30) is rotated once in the forward direction, the detected member (40) first approaches one of the pulse generating means (50). When the member to be detected (40) enters the region of range A, only one of the pulse generation means (50) emits a detection signal. When the rotation of the screw shaft (30) advances, the detected member (40) is also detected by the other pulse generation means (51). In the range B, both of the two pulse generation means (50) (51) are detected. A detection signal is issued. Furthermore, when the member to be detected (40) moves away from the first pulse generation means (50) and enters the region of the range C, only the second pulse generation means (51) issues a detection signal. When the screw shaft (30) further rotates, the detected member (40) moves away from the two pulse generation means (50) and (51), and in the region D where the detection is not detected, both pulse generation means (50) and (51) ) Does not emit a detection signal. The phase difference θ at which the two pulse generating means (50) and (51) are arranged is set so that such ranges A, B, C, and D are established.
The relationship between the signal generated by the pulse generation means (50) (51) and the rotation direction of the screw shaft (30) will be described later.
[0020]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control means (60) for controlling the massage machine (10). The control means (60) is mainly composed of the microcomputer (61), and is arranged at an appropriate position of the massage machine (10).
The microcomputer (61) includes a lift motor drive circuit (62) that controls the lift motor (31) that rotates the screw shaft (30), and a treatment finger that controls the treatment finger drive means (24) of the massage unit (20). A control circuit (63), an operation unit I / F circuit (64) that receives a signal from an operation unit (72) that a user selects and operates a massage operation, and a reclining control circuit that controls a reclining mechanism (70) ( 65) and the above-described limit detector (45) and pulse generating means (50) (51) are connected.
In the control means (60), when the user operates the operation unit (72) and selects, for example, squeeze, hit, rolling massage, etc., according to the operation command, each control circuit sends a motor or drive means. An operation command is transmitted and a massage is performed.
[0021]
The relationship between the signal generated by the pulse generating means (50) (51) and the rotation direction of the screw shaft (30) will be described. In the following, an embodiment using Hall elements (52) and (53) as the pulse generating means (50) and (51) will be described.
[0022]
The Hall elements (52) and (53) are set to transmit a signal “H” to the control means (60) when the magnet (41) is not detected (range D in FIGS. 3 and 4). .
First, the case where the screw shaft (30) is rotated in the positive direction will be described. When the screw shaft (30) is rotated in the forward direction, the first Hall element (52) first detects the magnet and generates a signal “L” as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. At this time, the second Hall element (53) emits a signal “H”. When the screw shaft (30) rotates forward with the first Hall element (52) in the signal “L” state, the second Hall element (53) detects the magnet (41) and generates a signal “L” (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B). Further, when the screw shaft (30) rotates forward, the first Hall element (52) moves away from the magnet (41) and does not detect the magnet (41), so that a signal “H” is generated (see FIGS. 3 and 4). C). At this time, the second Hall element (53) is in a state of detecting the magnet (41) (signal “L”), and when the screw shaft (30) rotates forward, the second Hall element (53) Apart from the magnet (41), the magnet (41) is not detected and a signal “H” is generated (D in FIGS. 3 and 4).
As described above, when the first Hall element (52) emits the signal “L” and the second Hall element (53) emits the signal “H”, the screw shaft is rotated in the positive direction. As can be seen, the control means (60) detects that the screw shaft (30) has rotated once in the forward direction. At this time, the massage unit (20) is lowered.
Depending on the stop position of the screw shaft (30), the signal may be detected from the state in which both Hall elements (52) and (53) emit "L". If the first Hall element (52) emits a signal "H", it can be seen that the screw shaft (30) is rotating in the positive direction.
[0023]
When the screw shaft (30) is rotated in the reverse direction, the second Hall element (53) detects the magnet (41) and generates a signal “L” (C in FIGS. 3 and 5). When the screw shaft rotates while the second Hall element (53) emits the signal “L”, the first Hall element (52) then detects the magnet (41) and emits the signal “L”. (B in FIGS. 3 and 5). When the screw shaft (30) further rotates, the second Hall element (53) moves away from the magnet (41) and does not detect the magnet (41), so that a signal “H” is generated (A in FIGS. 3 and 5). ). At this time, the first Hall element (52) is in a state of detecting the magnet (41) (signal "L"), and when the screw shaft (30) is further rotated, the first Hall element (52) is moved to the magnet (41). Since the magnet (41) is no longer detected, the signal “H” is generated (D in FIGS. 3 and 5).
As described above, when the second Hall element (53) emits the signal “L” and the first Hall element (52) emits the signal “H”, the screw shaft is rotated in the reverse direction. As can be seen, the control means (60) detects that the screw shaft (30) has rotated once in the reverse direction. At this time, the massage unit (20) is raised.
Depending on the stop position of the screw shaft (30), the signal may be detected from the state in which both Hall elements (52) and (53) emit "L". If the second Hall element (53) emits a signal “H”, it can be seen that the screw shaft (30) is rotating in the opposite direction.
[0024]
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of rotations of the screw shaft (30) measured using the two Hall elements (52) and (53) is independent of the operating state of the lifting motor (31). The present location in the ascending / descending direction of the massage unit (20) can be determined.
[0025]
Generally, when comparing the price of a limit detector and a Hall element, the Hall element is cheaper, so compared to the case of using two limit detectors and one Hall element as in the past, In the present invention, only one limit detector and two Hall elements are required, so that cost reduction can be achieved.
[0026]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, two detected members (40) and (42) are disposed on the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft by shifting the phase in the rotational circumferential direction. In the vicinity of the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft, a pulse generating means (50) for detecting only the detected member (40), and the pulse generating means (50) May be provided with a pulse generating means (51) so as to detect only the detected member (42) by shifting the phase.
When the detected members (40) and (42) are arranged with a phase shifted, the pulse generating means (50) and (52) may be arranged on a straight line as shown in FIG. As long as the detection members (40) and (42) can be detected with the phase shifted, they may be provided not at a straight line but at a position shifted in the rotational direction.
[0027]
In the above description, the member to be detected (40) is attached to the screw shaft (30), but the member to be detected (40) is not limited to the screw shaft (30), but is disposed on a rotating body in the power transmission system of the screw shaft. May be. As described above, when the power transmission between the screw shaft (30) and the lifting motor (31) is performed via a belt, slippage may occur between the pulley and the belt. In order to accurately determine the position of 20), it is desirable to arrange the detected member (40) on the screw shaft (30).
[0028]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a routine for measuring the present location in the ascending / descending direction of the massage unit (20) based on the signal state of the Hall element (53) when the signal of the Hall element (52) is changed with respect to the massage machine (10). It shows.
In order to know the present location of the massage unit (20), the massage unit (20) has a reference point, in the present invention, the screw shaft (30) after the limit detector (45) detects the massage unit (20). It is necessary to examine the difference in the rotational speed between the forward direction and the reverse direction. Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the rotation of the screw shaft (30) is caused by transmitting the “L” signal (falling signal) of the Hall element (52) and “H” of the Hall element (52). Counting was based on the direction of rotation in signal transmission (signal rise). Since the signal change of the Hall element (52) occurs twice during one revolution of the screw shaft (30), Pnow corresponds to twice the rotational speed difference of the screw shaft (30).
[0029]
When the screw shaft (30) starts to rotate, the Hall element (52) is in a state of not detecting or detecting the magnet (41).
[0030]
When the Hall element (52) does not detect the magnet (41) and the screw shaft (30) rotates due to the rotation of the elevating motor (31) or external force, the Hall element (52) causes the magnet (41) to move. Upon detection, the signal falls from “H” to “L” (step 1). When the control means (60) detects the fall of the signal of the Hall element (52), it checks the signal state of the Hall element (53) at that time (Step 2), and the signal of the Hall element (53) is “H”. If so, it is determined that the screw shaft (30) is rotating forward (the massage unit is lowered) (see the embodiment), and Pnow is counted up (step 3). On the contrary, if the signal of the Hall element (53) is “L”, it is determined that the screw shaft (30) is reversely rotated, and Pnow is counted down (step 4).
[0031]
When the Hall element (52) is detecting the magnet (41), the signal of the Hall element (52) rises when the screw shaft (30) rotates due to the rotation or the external force of the elevating motor (31). When the rising edge of the signal of the hall element (52) is detected (step 5), the control means (60) checks the signal state of the hall element (53) at that time (step 6), and the signal of the hall element (53) is detected. If it is “L”, Pnow is counted up (step 7). Conversely, if the signal of the hall element 53 is “H”, Pnow is counted down (step 8).
[0032]
When the limit detector (45) detects the massage unit (step 9), the count value Pnow of the rotation speed is reset (step 10) so that it can be corrected even if an error occurs in the rotation speed measurement. Keep it.
[0033]
By repeating the above routine, the present location of the massage unit (20) can be accurately determined from the count value Pnow regardless of the operating state of the lifting motor (31).
[0034]
The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Moreover, each part structure of this invention is not restricted to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the technical scope as described in a claim.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a massage machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a hall element installation portion.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnet detection range of the Hall element.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating signals generated by both Hall elements when a screw shaft rotates in the positive direction.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating signals generated by both Hall elements when the screw shaft rotates in the opposite direction.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of control means.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a part where pulse generation means is installed according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional massage machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
(10) Massage machine
(30) Screw shaft
(40) Detected member
(50) Pulse generation means
(51) Pulse generation means

Claims (6)

A chair-type or bed-type massage machine that massages a user,
Inside the backrest (12) where the back of the user hits, a screw shaft (30) that is driven to rotate by the elevating motor (31) is provided along the longitudinal direction,
The screw shaft (30) is movable along the longitudinal direction of the backrest by the screw thrust of the screw shaft.
In the vicinity of the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft, two pulse generating means (50) (51) for detecting the rotation of the screw shaft are arranged in the circumferential direction of the screw shaft or the rotating body. Deploy with a phase shift,
In the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft (30) or the screw shaft, a detected member (40) that can be detected by the pulse generating means (50) (51) is provided.
The pulse generation means (50) (51) is electrically connected to the control means (60), and the control means (60) is based on the signal from the pulse generation means (50) (51), and the massage unit (20 ) To detect the lift position. A chair-type or bed-type massage machine that massages a user,
Inside the backrest (12) where the back of the user hits, a screw shaft (30) that is driven to rotate by the elevating motor (31) is provided along the longitudinal direction,
The screw shaft (30) is movable along the longitudinal direction of the backrest by the screw thrust of the screw shaft.
The rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft (30) or the screw shaft is provided with two detected members (40) (42) with a phase shifted in the rotational circumferential direction,
In the vicinity of the screw shaft (30) or the rotating body in the power transmission system to the screw shaft, the pulse generating means (50) for detecting the detected member (40) and the pulse generating means (50) have a phase. Disposed pulse generating means (51) for detecting the detected member (42) by shifting,
The pulse generation means (50) (51) is electrically connected to the control means (60), and the control means (60) is based on the signal from the pulse generation means (50) (51), and the massage unit (20 ) To detect the lift position. For detecting that the massage unit (20) has moved to the end of the transition path between one end of the transition path along the screw shaft (30) of the massage unit (20) and the massage unit. The massage machine according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a limit detector (45) and a contact (46), the limit detector (45) being electrically connected to the control means (60). The pulse generating means (50) (51) or the member to be detected (40) (42) is arranged at a position shifted by 30 ° to 40 ° in phase with respect to the rotational direction of the screw shaft (30). Or the massage machine of Claim 2. The phase difference θ of the pulse generating means (50) (51) or the detected member (40) (42) is determined so that the detected member has one pulse generating means (50) while the screw shaft (30) rotates once. A range A detected by both the two pulse generation means (50) and (51), a range B detected by only the other pulse generation means (51), and both pulse generation The massage machine according to claim 4, wherein the massage machine is set to have a range D that is not detected by the means (50) (51). The pulse generating means (50) (51) is a Hall element (52) (53), and a magnet (41) is arranged on the screw shaft (30) as a member to be detected (40) (42). The massage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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