JP7488859B2 - Bed Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bed device.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric bed equipped with a lifting device that raises and lowers the bed frame and a switch that operates the lifting device. Patent Document 2 discloses an electric bed that can raise and lower the bed frame in stages. Patent Document 3 discloses an electric bed in which the lifting speed of the bed frame can be changed. These bed devices can raise and lower the bed frame and adjust the bed height by operating a switch.

JP 2004-159807 A JP 2014-076214 A Japanese Patent No. 5690033

These electric beds are operated by a user of the electric bed or the user's caregiver (hereafter referred to as the operator) who visually checks the height of the bed supported by the bed frame from the floor. At this time, the operator is often looking from above, which can make it difficult to visually confirm the height of the bed. It is particularly difficult to visually confirm the height of the bed in a dark room, for example. Furthermore, if the height of the bed cannot be recognized, there is a risk that items (such as nursing care products) placed around the bed device will become caught between the bed and the floor.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to make it easier to recognize changes in bed height.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first invention, a bed device including a bed, a drive mechanism for raising and lowering the bed, a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism, and an alarm unit for notifying notification information based on a command from the control unit, and the control unit causes the alarm unit to notify notification information of different patterns depending on the height of the bed from the floor.

According to this invention, the notification unit notifies different patterns of notification information depending on the height of the bed from the floor. This allows the operator to recognize the notification information and ascertain the height of the bed without visually checking the height of the bed. This makes it easier for the operator to recognize changes in the height of the bed.

As a second invention, in the first invention, the control unit employs a means for causing the drive mechanism to temporarily stop the descent of the bed when the height of the bed from the floor reaches a preset temporary stop height.

In this case, the drive mechanism stops operating when the height of the bed from the floor reaches the temporary stop height. This causes the descent of the bed to temporarily stop at the temporary stop height. Therefore, when the operator realizes that the descent of the bed has stopped, he or she can check whether there are any obstacles between the bed and the floor, etc.

As a third invention, in the second invention, the control unit adopts a means for causing the notification unit to notify notification information only when the bed is at or below the temporary stop height.

In this case, the notification unit notifies the notification information only when the height of the bed from the floor is equal to or lower than the temporary stop height. This allows the operator to recognize that the height of the bed from the floor is equal to or lower than the temporary stop height by recognizing the notification information, without having to visually check the height of the bed.

As a fourth invention, in the first to third inventions, the notification unit includes a speaker, and the control unit causes the speaker to emit notification information sounds of different patterns depending on the height of the bed from the floor.

In this case, the speaker emits notification information sounds with different patterns depending on the height of the bed from the floor. This allows the operator to recognize the pattern of the notification information sounds and thus recognize the change in the height of the bed from the floor without visually checking the height of the bed.

As a fifth invention, in the fourth invention, the notification information sound has a pattern in which a sound generation period during which the sound continues to be generated and a sound suppression period during which the sound does not generate are alternately repeated, and at least one of the sound generation period and the sound suppression period is set to become shorter as the height of the bed from the floor becomes lower.

In this case, the lower the height of the bed from the floor, the shorter at least one of the sounding period and the mute period of the notification information sound is set. This allows the operator to intuitively recognize the pattern of the notification information sound, and to recognize the change in the height of the bed from the floor without visually checking the height of the bed.

As a sixth invention, in the fourth or fifth invention, the control unit employs a means for making the speaker emit a stop sound, which is a sound that notifies the user that the descent of the bed has stopped, when the descent of the bed stops.

In this case, when the descent of the bed stops, a stop sound is emitted from the speaker. This allows the operator to know that the descent of the bed has stopped without visually checking.

As a seventh invention, in any one of the fourth to sixth inventions, a detection unit is further provided for detecting an environmental change around the bed, and the control unit adopts a means for changing at least one of the sound pressure and the frequency of the notification information sound based on an input from the detection unit.

In this case, the speaker emits a notification information sound with a sound pressure or frequency that corresponds to changes in the environment around the bed device. This prevents the notification information sound from disrupting the surrounding environment.

As an eighth invention, in the first to seventh inventions, a control unit to which an elevation command is input is further provided, the notification unit includes a vibration generating unit that vibrates the control unit, and the control unit causes the vibration generating unit to generate vibrations of different patterns depending on the height of the bed from the floor.

In this case, the vibration generating unit generates vibrations with different patterns depending on the height of the bed from the floor. This allows the operator to recognize the vibration pattern and thus recognize the change in the height of the bed from the floor without visually checking the height of the bed.

As a ninth invention, in the first to eighth inventions, the notification unit has a display unit that displays notification information, and the display unit displays a warning display of a different pattern depending on the height of the bed from the floor.

In this case, the display unit displays a warning with a different pattern depending on the height of the bed from the floor. This allows the operator to recognize the change in the height of the bed from the floor by checking the display on the display unit.

According to the present invention, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify different patterns of notification information depending on the height of the bed from the floor. Therefore, by recognizing the notification information, the operator can check the height of the bed from the floor without looking at the bed, making it easier to recognize changes in the bed height.

1 is a side view of a bed apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operation unit of the bed device. FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation unit of the bed apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of a lowering operation of a bed of the bed apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing details of an operation performed when a bed of the bed apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is lowered. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern of a buzzer sound emitted by a speaker of the bed apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a functional block diagram of a modified example of the drive mechanism, controller, and operation unit of the bed apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a bed apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a side view of the bed apparatus shown in FIG. 8 . 9 is an exploded perspective view of a support pedestal constituting the bed apparatus shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the support stand shown in FIG. 10 . FIG. 11 is a side view of the support cradle shown in FIG. 10 . 11 is a side view of the support base shown in FIG. 10 , showing a state in which the main frame is raised by the lifting mechanism. FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view of an operation unit applied to a bed apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
A first embodiment of a bed device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 is a side view of a bed device A according to this embodiment. Note that the H direction in Fig. 1 indicates the direction in which the head of a user of the bed device A is located, and the F direction indicates the direction in which the feet of the user are located. In the following description, the H direction (head side) is the forward direction, the F direction (foot side) is the backward direction, and the right side when lying on one's back on a bed 200 (described later) is the right side, and the left side is the left side. The bed device A has a support cradle 100, a bed 200, a drive mechanism 300, a controller 400, and an operation unit 500.

The support stand 100 comprises a base frame 110, a main frame 111, a lifting mechanism 120, and a board 130. The base frame 110 is a rectangular member that is placed on the floor surface (installation surface). This base frame 110 has leg members 10a attached to the ends that come into contact with the floor surface. The leg members 100a are rubber cover members that are installed to prevent damage to the floor surface due to the concentration of load on the floor surface.

The main frame 111 is a rectangular frame member when viewed from the floor side, and directly supports the bed 200. The main frame 111 also has option mounting parts 110a. A pair of option mounting parts 110a are provided on the left and right sides of the main frame 111, and a pair is also provided in the front-to-rear direction with a gap between them. These option mounting parts 110a are members for fixing a fence for preventing falls (not shown).

The lifting mechanism 120 has a first link 120a, a second link 120b, and a connecting pin 120c. The first link 120a is a rod-shaped member that connects the base frame 110 and the main frame 111. This first link 120a is fixed to the base frame 110 and is fixed to the main frame 111 so as to be slidable along the front-rear direction. The second link 120b is a rod-shaped member that connects the base frame 110 and the main frame 111 like the first link 120a, and is installed crossing the first link 120a. This second link 120b is fixed to the main frame 111 and is fixed to the base frame 110 so as to be slidable along the front-rear direction.

The connecting pin 120c connects the first link 120a and the second link 120b so that both components can rotate around the intersection of the first link 120a and the second link 120b. A pair of such lifting mechanisms 120 are provided on the left and right in the forward direction. These lifting mechanisms 120 are members that support the main frame 111 so that the main frame 111 can be raised and lowered by the first link 120a and the second link 120b.

The board 130 is fixed to the support frame 12 and rises above the bed surface 21. A pair of boards 130 are provided, one for the front and one for the back, and rise from both ends of the second vertical member 33 in the front-rear direction.

The support cradle 100 configured as described above supports the bed 200 by connecting the main frame 111, which directly supports the bed 200, to the base frame 110, which is placed directly on the floor surface, via the lifting mechanism 120. The support cradle 100 also enables the bed 200, which is supported by the main frame 111, to be raised and lowered by the lifting mechanism 120. The bed 200 is a flat plate-shaped member, and is placed on the support cradle 100 as shown in FIG. 1. A mattress (not shown) is placed on such a bed 200.

2 is a functional block diagram of the drive mechanism 300, the controller 400, and the operation unit 500. The drive mechanism 300 is connected to the first link 120a by a connecting unit (not shown) so that the operation is transmitted to the first link 120a, and is installed inside the main frame 111. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 300 has a motor 330 and a position information detection unit 331. The motor 330 has a rotating shaft (not shown) that is rotated, and generates power to raise and lower the bed 200. The position information detection unit 331 detects the amount of rotation of the motor 330 from the amount of rotation as information on the height of the bed 200 from the floor (the installation surface of the base frame), and inputs it to the first control unit 440 described later. Such a drive mechanism 300 is connected to a power source (not shown), and rotates the first link 120a clockwise or counterclockwise according to an instruction from the first control unit 440 to raise and lower the bed 200.

The controller 400 is fixed to the support stand 100 and connected to a power source (not shown). The controller 400 has a first control unit 440, a memory unit 441, and an environment detection unit 442. The first control unit 440 controls the motor 330 based on data acquired from the position information detection unit 331. The first control unit 440 also determines the brightness of the room from a signal input from the environment detection unit 442, and transmits an instruction regarding the volume (sound pressure) of the speaker 552 to the second control unit 550. In other words, the first control unit 440 changes the sound pressure of the buzzer sound (notification information sound) based on the input from the environment detection unit 442.

The storage unit 441 is a memory that transmits and receives data to and from the first control unit 440 in response to a request from the first control unit 440. The storage unit 441 also pre-stores a maximum floor height, which is the maximum height from the floor of the bed 200, a temporary stop height, a minimum floor height, which is the lowest height to which the bed 200 can be lowered, a buzzer sound pattern, and a program to be executed by the first control unit 440. This temporary stop height is the height from the floor at which the descent of the bed 200 is temporarily stopped, and is determined in advance when the bed device A is manufactured. In this embodiment, the temporary stop height is set to 29 cm (290 mm) as an example. The environment detection unit 442 (detection unit) is an illuminance sensor that detects the brightness of the room in which the bed device A is installed. The environment detection unit 442 outputs a signal of the detected illuminance to the first control unit 440.

Figure 3 is a front view of the operation unit 500. The operation unit 500 is connected to the controller 400 by a cable (not shown). As shown in Figure 2, the operation unit 500 includes a second control unit 550, an input unit 551, a speaker 552, and a display unit 553. The second control unit 550 controls the speaker 552 and the display unit 553 based on instructions from the first control unit 440 and a signal input from the input unit 551. The first control unit 440 and the second control unit 550 work together to function as a control unit in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the input unit 551 has a descent switch 551a, an ascent switch 551b, and a volume control button (not shown). The descent switch 551a is a switch that the operator operates to lower the bed 200. The ascent switch 551b is a switch that the operator operates to raise the bed 200. The descent switch 551a and the ascent switch 551b are only ON while the operator continues to press them. The volume control button is a button that the operator uses to adjust the volume of the speaker 552. The operator can also set the buzzer not to sound by operating the volume control button.

The speaker 552 emits a buzzer sound based on instructions from the second control unit 550. The speaker 552 corresponds to the notification unit in the present invention. The display unit 553 is a monitor that displays information such as the height of the bed 200 based on instructions from the second control unit 550.

Such a bed device A is an electric bed in which the height of the bed 200 from the floor can be adjusted by the user or the user's caregiver. The operator inputs the operation of raising and lowering the bed 200 from the operation unit 500 placed at the operator's hand. The bed device A raises and lowers the bed 200 based on this input. Also, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the lowering operation of the bed 200. As shown in FIG. 4, when the lowering switch 551a is pressed, the lowering of the bed 200 starts (step S1). When the height of the bed 200 from the floor reaches the temporary stop height, a buzzer (temporary stop sound) is sounded from the speaker 552, and the lowering operation of the bed 200 is stopped (step S2). Furthermore, when the lowering switch 551a is pressed again, the bed 200 is lowered again with the buzzer sound (descent sound) being sounded (step S3). When the height of the bed 200 from the floor reaches the minimum floor height, a buzzer (final stop sound) is sounded from the speaker 552, and the descent of the bed 200 is stopped (step S4).

Next, the operation of the bed 200 in this type of bed device A when it is lowered will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the operation of the bed 200 when it is lowered.

First, it is determined whether the descent switch 551a is ON (step S1). Here, the second control unit 550 determines whether the descent switch 551a is ON or not. If it is determined that the descent switch 551a is not ON, the descent of the bed 200 is stopped (step S12). If it is determined that the descent switch is ON, it is determined whether the bed height is higher than the temporary stop height (step S13). Here, the first control unit 440 compares the height of the bed 200 from the floor obtained from the position information detection unit 331 with the temporary stop height (29 cm) stored in the memory unit 441.

If it is determined that the height of the bed 200 from the floor is higher than the temporary stop height, i.e., if the determination is YES in step S13, the first control unit 440 rotates the motor 330 to lower the bed 200 (step S14). Next, it is determined whether the height of the bed 200 from the floor is the temporary stop height (step S15). Here, the first control unit 440 compares the height of the bed 200 from the floor acquired from the position information detection unit 331 with the temporary stop height stored in the memory unit 441. If the height of the bed 200 from the floor is higher than the temporary stop height, i.e., if the determination is NO in step S15, the process returns to step S2.

When the height of the bed 200 from the floor reaches the temporary stop height, i.e., when the determination is YES in step S15, the first control unit 440 stops the operation of the motor 330 and stops the descent of the bed 200 (step S16). Furthermore, the first control unit 440 causes the speaker 552 to emit a buzzer sound indicating that the bed 200 has reached the temporary stop height (step S17). Note that the operations of steps S16 and S17 can be performed in any order, and step S17 can be performed first and then step S16.

Next, it is determined whether the descent switch is ON even after the buzzer sound is generated (step S18). Here, the first control unit 440 determines whether the descent switch 551a is ON. If the descent switch 551a is ON, i.e., if the determination is YES in step S18, the first control unit 440 stops the descent of the bed 200 (step S19) and returns to step S18. If the bed 200 is lowered from a position higher than the temporary stop height, the bed 200 continues to be stopped at the temporary stop height even if the user continues to press the descent switch 551a. In other words, even if the operator continues to press the descent switch 551a, the bed 200 does not descend in step S19.

On the other hand, if the descent switch 551a is not ON, that is, if the determination is NO in step S18, the process returns to step S2. In this way, the operator needs to press the descent switch 551a again to lower the height of the bed 200 below the temporary stop height. When the operator presses the descent switch 551a again and a signal is input to the second control unit 550, the determination in step S2 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, if the height of the bed 200 from the floor is equal to or lower than the temporary stop height, i.e., if the determination is NO, a buzzer sound is emitted in a buzzer sound pattern according to the height, in accordance with the unit interval period t3 in Table 1 (step S20). At this time, the first control unit 440 changes the sound pressure of the buzzer sound based on the input from the environment detection unit 442.

Figure 6 shows an example of a pattern of a buzzer sound produced by speaker 552. t1 in Figure 6 indicates a sound production period (100 ms) during which sound (buzzer sound) continues to be produced from speaker 552, and t2 indicates a mute period (50 ms) during which no sound is produced from speaker 552. In other words, in the diagram shown in Figure 6, the horizontal direction on the paper indicates time, and the vertical direction on the paper indicates the presence or absence of a buzzer sound, and at a given time, when the solid line is located on the upper side of the paper, it means that a sound is produced from speaker 552, and when the solid line is located on the lower side of the paper, no sound is produced from speaker 552. t3 indicates a unit interval period (variable).

The buzzer sound has one unit consisting of an on/off period, a mute period, and another on/off period, and this unit U (see FIG. 6) is sounded multiple times with a unit interval period t3 between each, to attract the operator's attention. Note that the unit interval period t3 of this buzzer sound is set according to Table 1 shown below so that the lower the height of the bed 200 from the floor, the shorter the unit interval period t3. In other words, the pattern of the buzzer sound changes depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor. Note that the output value of the height of the bed 200 from the floor detected by the position information detection unit 331 is in centimeters (cm) with the decimal point rounded down.

Returning to FIG. 5, following step S20, the first control unit 440 controls the motor 330 to start the descent of the bed 200 (step S21). Next, the first control unit 440 judges whether the height of the bed 200 from the floor has reached the minimum floor height, which is the lowest height to which the bed 200 can be lowered (step S22). If it is higher than the minimum floor height, i.e., if the judgment in step S22 is NO, the process returns to step S2. If it is at the minimum floor height, i.e., if the judgment in step S22 is YES, the first control unit 440 stops the descent of the bed 200 (step S23). At this time, a long stop buzzer sound (stop sound) may be sounded together with the descent of the bed 200 being stopped.

The bed device A of this embodiment is equipped with a first control unit 440 and a second control unit 550 as control units that cause the speaker 552 to emit buzzer sounds of different patterns depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor. This allows the operator to check the change in the height of the bed 200 from the floor without visually checking the height of the bed.

The bed device A of this embodiment also includes a memory unit 441 that stores the temporary stop height. As a result, when the height of the bed 200 from the floor reaches the temporary stop height, the first control unit 440 temporarily stops the descent of the bed 200 even if the operator continues to press the descent switch 551a. Therefore, when the operator recognizes that the descent of the bed 200 has stopped, he or she can check whether there is an obstacle between the bed 200 and the floor, etc.

The bed device A of this embodiment also includes an environment detection unit 442. This allows the first control unit 440 to set the sound pressure of the buzzer sound emitted by the speaker 552 according to the brightness of the room in which the bed device A is installed. Therefore, the buzzer sound is emitted at a volume that matches the surrounding environment and the situation of the user of the bed device A, such as when going to sleep. In other words, it is possible to prevent the buzzer sound from disturbing the surrounding environment.

[Second embodiment]
A modified example of the support gantry, bed, and drive mechanism of the bed apparatus according to the present invention will be described as the second embodiment with reference to Figures 8 to 14. Note that in the bed apparatus B according to this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

8 to 14, the bed device B includes a bed 11, a support base 12, a drive mechanism 13, a board 14, a control unit 15, and an operation unit 501. The bed device B is a so-called electric bed that uses electricity as a power source.
The bed 11 is longer in the front-to-rear direction than in the left-to-right direction when viewed from above. The bed 11 includes a back bottom 16, a waist bottom 17, and a leg bottom 18, which are arranged in this order from the head side H to the foot side F. The leg bottom 18 includes a knee bottom 19 and a foot bottom 20, which are arranged in this order from the head side H to the foot side F.

The upper surface of the back bottom 16, the upper surface of the waist bottom 17, and the upper surface of the leg bottom 18 (knee bottom 19 and foot bottom 20) each form a part of the bed surface 21. The back bottom 16 corresponds to the part that supports the back of the user on the bed surface 21, the waist bottom 17 corresponds to the part that supports the waist of the user on the bed surface 21, and the leg bottom 18 corresponds to the part that supports the legs of the user on the bed surface 21. The knee bottom 19 corresponds to the part that supports the knees to the waist of the user on the bed surface 21, and the foot bottom 20 corresponds to the part that supports the knees to the toes of the user on the bed surface 21. The waist bottom 17 is formed to be freely stretchable in the front-rear direction. The knee bottom 19 and the foot bottom 20 are connected to be freely rotatable around a bending axis 22 that extends in the left-right direction.

The bed surface 21 is an orthogonal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction in the standard state before the bed 11 is deformed (e.g., rotated with undulations) by the drive mechanism 13 to raise the back or knees. The bed surface 21 is formed in a rectangular shape that is longer in the front-to-back direction than in the left-to-right direction in a plan view. The long side of the bed surface 21 (bed 11) is the front-to-back direction, and the short side of the bed surface 21 is the left-to-right direction. A mattress (not shown) is placed on the bed surface 21.

The support cradle 12 supports the bed 11 and bears the weight of the bed 11 and the user on the bed 11. In this embodiment, the support cradle 12 supports the back bottom 16 and leg bottom 18 (movable bottom) so that they can rotate freely around rotation axes 23 and 24 extending in the left-right direction, and the bed device B is a so-called gatch bed. The support cradle 12 includes a base frame 25, a main frame 26, and a lifting mechanism 27.

The base frame 25 is installed on an installation surface S and has a rectangular shape in a plan view. As shown in Fig. 10, the base frame 25 includes a first vertical member 28 extending in the front-rear direction and a first horizontal member 29 extending in the left-right direction.
The first vertical members 28 are provided as a pair spaced apart in the left-right direction.
The first horizontal member 29 is bridged between the pair of left and right first vertical members 28 and connects these first vertical members 28 in the left-right direction. The first horizontal members 29 are provided as a pair with a gap in the front-rear direction. The first horizontal member 29 is fixed to the first vertical members 28 so as not to move.

The front-rear end of the first vertical member 28 protrudes further outward in the front-rear direction than the first horizontal member 29, and a leg member 30 for installation is attached to each of these ends. In the illustrated example, a rubber cover is used as the leg member 30, but casters can also be used instead of the rubber cover.

The main frame 26 directly supports the bed 11. The main frame 26 includes a frame portion 31 that supports the bed 11 from below, and an option mounting portion 32 that protrudes in the left-right direction from the frame portion 31 and is disposed below the bed 11.
The frame portion 31 has a rectangular shape in a plan view and includes a second vertical member 33 (vertical member) extending in the front-rear direction and a second horizontal member 34 (receiving member) extending in the left-right direction.

The second vertical members 33 are provided as a pair with a gap in between in the left-right direction.
The second horizontal member 34 is installed across a pair of left and right second vertical members 33 and connects these two second vertical members 33 in the left-right direction. A plurality of second horizontal members 34 (five in the illustrated example) are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. The second horizontal members 34 are fixed immovably to the second vertical members 33. The front-rear end of the second vertical member 33 protrudes in the front-rear direction further than the second horizontal member 34 that is located outermost in the front-rear direction among the plurality of second horizontal members 34.

A pair of option mounting parts 32 are provided on the left and right sides of the frame part 31, and a pair of left and right option mounting parts 32 are provided with a gap in the front-rear direction. Each option mounting part 32 has a pair of front and rear protruding members 35 extending in the left-right direction from the second vertical member 33, and an option receiver 36 attached to both protruding members 35 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The option receiver 36 protrudes in the left-right direction from the bed 11. A fence (not shown) for preventing falls is attached and detached to the option receiver 36.

The main frame 26 is divided into two parts, a head side frame 37 and a foot side frame 38, along the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, each of the pair of second vertical members 33 is divided into two parts, a head side member 33a and a foot side member 33b, along the front-rear direction. The head side frame 37 is formed by connecting the pair of left and right head side members 33a with two second horizontal members 34 located on the head side H of the multiple second horizontal members 34. The foot side frame 38 is formed by connecting the pair of left and right foot side members 33b with three second horizontal members 34 located on the foot side F of the multiple second horizontal members 34. The optional attachment parts 32 are arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of each of the head side frame 37 and the foot side frame 38.

The head-side frame 37 is provided with a retractable frame 39 to which the back bottom 16 is fixed, and a first rotating member 43 that rotates the retractable frame 39 (back bottom 16) around the first rotating shaft 23. Both the retractable frame 39 and the first rotating member 43 are formed in an inverted U-shape that opens toward the head side H in a plan view.
The retractable frame 39 includes a pair of bottom support parts 40 spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a connecting shaft 41 that connects the ends of the bottom support parts 40 on the foot side F in the front-rear direction. The left-right ends of the connecting shaft 41 protrude in the left-right direction from the bottom support parts 40.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the retractable frame 39 is connected to the main frame 26 via a retractable link 42. A pair of retractable links 42 are provided, sandwiching the retractable frame 39 in the left-right direction. The left-right end of the connecting shaft 41 is rotatably connected to the foot side F end of each retractable link 42. The head side H end of each retractable link 42 is rotatably connected to the main frame 26 via a first rotating shaft 23. The first rotating shaft 23 rotatably connects the retractable link 42 to the main frame 26.

9 to 11, the first rotating member 43 includes a pair of first push-up arms 43a extending in the front-rear direction along the underside of the back bottom 16, and a first connecting portion 43b (receiving member) connecting the pair of first push-up arms 43a in the left-right direction. The first connecting portion 43b connects the foot side F ends of the first push-up arms 43a. The left-right ends of the first connecting portion 43b protrude in the left-right direction from the first push-up arms 43a and are connected to the second vertical member 33 so as to be freely rotatable. The head side H end of the first push-up arm 43a slidably abuts against the underside of the bottom support portion 40.

In the head side frame 37, as the first rotating member 43 rotates upward, the head side H end of the first push-up arm 43a slides against the underside of the bottom support 40, and the first rotating member 43 pushes up the retractor frame 39. Then, the retractor link 42 rotates around the first rotating shaft 23, and the retractor frame 39 rotates around the connecting shaft 41. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire back bottom 16 moves to the head side H, while the back bottom 16 rotates up and down around the first rotating shaft 23, and the back bottom 16 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane, in a so-called back-raised state.

The retractable frame 39 in the back-raised state is supported by the retractable stay 44 extending in the front-rear direction. The retractable stay 44 is provided between the retractable frame 39 and the second cross member 34 located furthest to the head side H among the multiple second cross members 34. The end of the retractable stay 44 on the foot side F is rotatably connected to the retractable frame 39, and the end of the retractable stay 44 on the head side H is rotatably connected to the second cross member 34. The retractable stay 44 supports the retractable frame 39 in the back-raised state from diagonally below the head side H.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the foot side frame 38 is provided with a fixed member 45 to which the leg bottom 18 is fixed via the second pivot shaft 24, and a second rotating member 46 that rotates the leg bottom 18 around the second pivot shaft 24.
The fixing member 45 is provided on the second horizontal member 34 located furthest on the head side H among the multiple second horizontal members 34 constituting the foot side frame 38. The fixing member 45 protrudes from the second horizontal member 34 toward the foot side F. The end of the head side H of the leg bottom 18 is rotatably fixed to the fixing member 45 via the second rotating shaft 24.

The second rotating member 46 is connected to the second vertical member 33 so as to be rotatable around the push-up shaft 47. A pair of push-up shafts 47 are provided on either side of the second rotating member 46 in the left-right direction. These push-up shafts 47 are arranged coaxially with each other.

The second rotating member 46 is formed in an inverted U-shape that opens to the foot side F in a plan view. The second rotating member 46 includes a pair of left and right second push-up arms 48 that extend in the front-rear direction along the underside of the leg bottom 18, and a second connecting part 49 (receiving member) that connects the pair of left and right second push-up arms 48 in the left-right direction. The second connecting part 49 connects the head side H ends of the pair of left and right second push-up arms 48. The head side H ends of the second push-up arms 48 are connected to the second vertical member 33 via the push-up shaft 47. The foot side F ends of the second push-up arms 48 slidably abut the underside of the knee bottom 19.

In the foot side frame 38, the second rotating member 46 rotates upward, and the end of the foot side F of the second push-up arm 48 slides on the underside of the knee bottom 19 while the second rotating member 46 pushes up the knee bottom 19. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the knee bottom 19 rotates around the first rotating shaft 23, and the end of the foot side F of the knee bottom 19 rises, while the foot bottom 20 rotates relatively around the bending shaft 22, and the part of the bed surface 21 that corresponds to the knee is bent so as to protrude upward, resulting in a so-called leg-raised state.

The foot bottom 20 is provided with a toe-raising stay 50. The toe-raising stay 50 holds the leg bottom 18 in a toe-raised state. The leg bottom 18 in the toe-raised state is achieved by rotating the foot bottom 20 upward about the bending axis 22 after the leg bottom 18 is placed in the leg-raised state. The toe-raising stay 50 extends in the front-rear direction along the underside of the foot bottom 20. The end of the toe-raising stay 50 on the foot side F is rotatably connected to the foot bottom 20. The end of the toe-raising stay 50 on the head side H is a free end.
In the toe-raising stay 50, when the leg bottom 18 is placed in a toe-raised state, the entire toe-raising stay 50 rotates downward and extends diagonally downward from the foot bottom 20 to the head side H, and the end of the toe-raising stay 50 on the head side H is engaged with the second vertical member 33.

Here, the end of the waist bottom 17 on the head side H is fixed to the retractable frame 39, and the end of the waist bottom 17 on the foot side F is fixed to the fixing member 45. When the back bottom 16 rises and rotates, the end of the waist bottom 17 on the head side H rises and falls together with the back bottom 16, and the waist bottom 17 as a whole curves downward while extending in the front-to-rear direction.

In the support cradle 12, the first rotating member 43 and the second rotating member 46 rotate the back bottom 16 and the leg bottom 18 from the standard state described above, so that the bed 11 reaches a typical use state in which the back and legs (knees) are raised, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9. When changing the bed 11 from the standard state to the use state, by raising the legs before raising the back, it is possible to effectively prevent the user from slipping relative to the bed device B.

10, 12 and 13, the lifting mechanism 27 lifts and lowers the main frame 26 relative to the base frame 25. The lifting mechanism 27 employs a so-called X-link structure. The lifting mechanism 27 includes a first link 51, a second link 52, and a connecting rod 53 (receiving member).
The first link 51 and the second link 52 are provided as a pair with a gap in the left-right direction. The first link 51 and the second link 52 both extend in the front-rear direction, and the central portions of the first link 51 and the second link 52 in the front-rear direction are connected to each other via a connecting pin 54 so as to be freely rotatable.

There are four connecting rods 53. Each connecting rod 53 connects both front-rear end portions of the pair of left and right first links 51 and both front-rear end portions of the pair of left and right second links 52.
Of the four connecting rods 53, the connecting rod 53 connecting the ends of the head side H of the first links 51 is rotatably connected to the first vertical member 28, and the connecting rod 53 connecting the ends of the head side H of the second links 52 is rotatably connected to the second vertical member 33. Of the four connecting rods 53, the connecting rod 53 connecting the ends of the foot side F of the first links 51 is attached to an upper guide portion 55 provided on the second vertical member 33, and the connecting rod 53 connecting the ends of the foot side F of the second links 52 is attached to a lower guide portion 56 provided on the first vertical member 28. The upper guide portion 55 and the lower guide portion 56 each support the connecting rod 53 slidably along the front-rear direction.

In the lifting mechanism 27, when the first link 51 rotates upward, the second link 52 also rotates upward in conjunction. At this time, the first link 51 and the second link 52 rotate while the foot side F end of the first link 51 and the foot side F end of the second link 52 are guided toward the head side H by the upper guide portion 55 and the lower guide portion 56, respectively, and the main frame 26 rises relative to the base frame 25.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the drive mechanism 13 is attached to the support cradle 12 and moves a movable part 57 which is at least a part of the bed 11 and the support cradle 12. The drive mechanism 13 is a linear actuator that expands and contracts in the front-rear direction, and moves the movable part 57 by expanding and contracting in the front-rear direction. The drive mechanism 13 includes a bottom drive mechanism 58 that rotates the back bottom 16 or leg bottom 18 (movable bottom) as the movable part 57, and a link drive mechanism 59 that rotates the first link 51 or second link 52 (link) as the movable part 57.

The bottom drive mechanism 58 includes a first drive mechanism 58 a that rotates the back bottom 16 and a second drive mechanism 58 b that rotates the leg bottom 18 .
The first drive mechanism 58a is disposed in a portion of the support cradle 12 located on the head side H along the front-rear direction. The first drive mechanism 58a extends in the front-rear direction to rotate the first rotating member 43 upward. The first drive mechanism 58a is provided between the second horizontal member 34 located closest to the head side H among the plurality of second horizontal members 34 and the first connecting portion 43b. The first drive mechanism 58a is connected to the second horizontal member 34 and the first connecting portion 43b via the mounting member 60 protruding from each of the second horizontal member 34 and the first connecting portion 43b. The first drive mechanism 58a is connected to the mounting member 60 so as to be freely rotatable.

The second drive mechanism 58b is disposed in the center of the support frame 12 in the front-rear direction. The second drive mechanism 58b extends in the front-rear direction to rotate the second rotating member 46 upward. The second drive mechanism 58b is provided between the second cross member 34 located furthest to the head side H among the multiple second cross members 34 provided on the foot side frame 38 and the second connecting portion 49 of the second rotating member 46. The second drive mechanism 58b is connected to the second cross member 34 and the second connecting portion 49 via the attachment member 60 protruding from each of the second cross member 34 and the second connecting portion 49. The second drive mechanism 58b is connected to the attachment member 60 so as to be freely rotatable.

The link drive mechanism 59 is disposed in a portion of the support frame 12 that is located on the foot side F along the front-rear direction. The link drive mechanism 59 rotates the first link 51 upward by extending in the front-rear direction. The link drive mechanism 59 is provided between the first link 51 and a connecting rod 53 that connects the end of the first link 51 on the foot side F among the multiple connecting rods 53. The link drive mechanism 59 is connected to the connecting rod 53 via an attachment member 60 that protrudes from the connecting rod 53. The link drive mechanism 59 is connected to the first link 51 via a conversion mechanism 61. The conversion mechanism 61 converts the extension and contraction motion of the link drive mechanism 59 into the rotational motion of the first link 51. The link drive mechanism 59 is connected to the attachment member 60 and the conversion mechanism 61 so as to be freely rotatable.

8 to 13, the board 14 is fixed to the support frame 12 and stands above the bed surface 21. A pair of front and rear boards 14 are provided, and stand from both ends of the second vertical member 33 in the front-rear direction.
The control unit 15 controls the drive mechanism 13. The control unit 15 is electrically connected to the drive mechanism 13. A power cord C and an operation unit (not shown) are electrically connected to the control unit 15. Power is supplied to the control unit 15 from the outside via the power cord C, and instructions are input from the outside via the operation unit. The control unit 15 controls the drive mechanism 13 based on instructions from an operation unit 501 shown in FIG. 14.

Figure 14 is a front view of the operation unit 501 applied to the bed device B. As in the first embodiment, the operation unit 501 includes a second control unit 550, an input unit 551, a speaker 552, and a display unit 553. As shown in Figure 14, the input unit 551 includes a lowering switch 551a and an up switch 551b, as well as a leg lowering switch 551c, a leg raising switch 551d, a back lowering switch 551e, a back raising switch 551f, an interlocking (back/leg lowering) switch 551g, and an interlocking (back/leg raising) switch 551h.

The leg lowering switch 551c is a switch that moves the knee bottom 19 and the foot bottom 20 from the leg-raised state to a direction horizontal to the floor surface. The leg-raising switch 551d is operated when moving the knee bottom 19 and the foot bottom 20 to the leg-raised state. The back lowering switch 551e is operated when moving the back bottom 16 from the back-raised state to a direction horizontal to the floor surface. The back-raising switch 551f is operated when moving the back bottom 16 to the back-raised state. The back/leg lowering switch 551g is operated when moving the back bottom 16 and the knee bottom 19 in conjunction from the back-raised state and the leg-raised state to a state horizontal to the floor surface. The back/leg-raising switch 551h is operated when moving the back bottom 16 and the knee bottom 19 in conjunction to move to the back-raised state and the leg-raised state.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications are possible.
(1) In the above embodiment, the speaker 552 emits a buzzer sound in the pattern shown in Fig. 6, but the present invention is not limited to this. The speaker 552 may notify information by voice. If information is notified by voice, the operator can more easily recognize the height of the bed 200 from the floor.

(2) The first control unit 440 may cause the display unit 553 to display different patterns of notification information depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor. The display unit 553 may also have an LED light or the like, and may light up in different patterns depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor. In this case, the display unit 553 may function as the notification unit in the present invention.

(3) Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram of a modified example of the drive mechanism 300, the controller 400, and the operation unit 500. As shown in Fig. 7, the operation unit 500 may further include a vibration generating unit 554, and the first control unit 440 and the second control unit 550 may cause the vibration generating unit 554 to oscillate in different patterns depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor. When the operation unit 500 includes the vibration generating unit 554, the operator can recognize the change in the height of the bed 200 from the floor by the vibration pattern of the operation unit 500 at hand. In this case, the vibration generating unit 554 can function as the notification unit in the present invention.
Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a configuration including at least one of the speaker 552, the display unit 553, and the vibration generating unit 554 as the notification unit.

(4) In the above embodiment, during the lowering operation of the bed 200, a buzzer sound is generated only when the height of the bed 200 from the floor is equal to or lower than the temporary stop height, but the present invention is not limited to this. The buzzer sound may be generated whenever the bed 200 is lowered. Also, the buzzer sound may be generated when the bed 200 is raised.

(5) In the above embodiment, the environment detection unit 442 is an illuminance sensor, and the first control unit 440 changes the sound pressure of the buzzer sound based on the input from the environment detection unit 442, but the present invention is not limited to this. The environment detection unit 442 may be a sound sensor such as a microphone. A detection unit that detects changes in the surrounding environment can be appropriately adopted for the environment detection unit 442. For example, a clock can be adopted as the environment detection unit 442, and the volume pattern of the buzzer sound can be changed according to the time, for example, by lowering the sound pressure of the buzzer sound at night based on the time.
The first control unit 440 may change the frequency of the buzzer sound based on a signal from the environment detection unit 442. In this case, for example, the frequency of the buzzer sound may be set to be switchable between 2.7 kHz and 1.2 kHz.

(6) Although the environment detection unit 442 is provided in the controller 400, the present invention is not limited to this. The environment detection unit 442 may be provided in the operation unit 500. The environment detection unit 442 may be provided in the support stand 100.

(7) In the above embodiment, the unit interval period t3 is changed depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor to emit buzzer sounds of different patterns from the speaker 552, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sound pressure or frequency of the buzzer sound may be changed depending on the height of the bed 200 from the floor to emit buzzer sounds of different patterns from the speaker 552.

(8) In addition, in the above embodiment, a buzzer sound is generated simultaneously with the lowering operation of the bed 200, but the present invention is not limited to this. The buzzer sound may be generated prior to the lowering operation of the bed 200. If the buzzer sound is generated prior to the lowering operation, the buzzer sound is generated earlier than the operation of the bed 200, allowing the operator to anticipate the operation of the bed 200 and operate it safely. Furthermore, the buzzer sound may be configured to be generated not only during the lowering operation of the bed 200 but also during the raising operation.

(9) In addition, if the motor 330 has a variable rotation speed, the first control unit 440 can reduce the rotation speed of the motor 330 and slow down the descent speed of the bed 200 when the height of the bed 200 from the floor falls below the temporary stop height.

(10) In the above embodiment, the unit interval period t3 becomes shorter as the height of the bed 200 from the floor becomes lower, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of the sound generation period t1 and the sound silencing period t2 may become shorter as the height of the bed 200 from the floor becomes lower.

A Bed device 120 Lifting mechanism 200 Bed 300 Driving mechanism 400 Controller 440 First control unit 441 Memory unit 442 Environment detection unit (detection unit)
500 Operation unit 550 Second control unit 551 Input unit 551a Down switch 551b Up switch 552 Speaker 553 Display unit 554 Vibration generating unit B Bed device 11 Bed 12 Support stand 13 Drive mechanism 16 Back bottom (movable bottom)
18 Leg bottom (movable bottom)
23, 24 Rotating shaft 26 Main frame 33 Second vertical member (vertical member)
34 Second horizontal member (receiving member)
34a Side surface 34b Lower surface 43b First connecting portion (receiving member)
49 Second connecting portion (receiving member)
53 Connecting rod (receiving member)
57 Movable part

Claims (5)

A sleeper having a plurality of bottoms including a back bottom, a waist bottom, a leg bottom, and a knee bottom;
A first frame having a first mounting portion that can be attached to an option and supports the bottoms;
a second frame supporting the plurality of first frames;
A drive mechanism for moving the bed;
A control unit connected to the drive mechanism;
A notification unit connected to the control unit;
An environment detection unit capable of detecting an environmental change;
Equipped with
The environment detection unit includes an illuminance sensor,
the notification unit emits buzzer sounds of a plurality of patterns, the buzzer sounds having different sounding periods based on a height of the bed from a floor, when the bed is lowered;
The notification unit changes a sound pressure of the buzzer sound based on the environmental change detected by the illuminance sensor of the environment detection unit,
The notification unit vibrates an operation unit to which an instruction to raise or lower the bed is input in different patterns depending on the height of the bed from a floor,
An electric bed, wherein an upper surface of the first mounting portion is lower than an upper surface of the first frame. The first frame includes a first rotating member for placing the back bottom in a back-raised state and a second rotating member for placing the knee bottom in a knee-raised state,
The electric bed of claim 1, wherein, in a plan view, the first rotating member, a connecting rod including a curved portion, and the second rotating member are arranged in that order from the back bottom side to the leg bottom side. The electric bed according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of patterns include a first pattern including a first sounding period, a second pattern including a second sounding period shorter than the first sounding period and different from the first pattern, and a third pattern including a third sounding period shorter than the second sounding period and different from both the first and second patterns. When the bed is lowered and reaches a first height, the lowering of the bed is temporarily stopped and the notification unit emits the buzzer sound of the first pattern;
The electric bed according to claim 3 , wherein the notification unit sequentially emits the buzzer sounds of the second pattern and the third pattern while the bed is lowering again. The electric bed of claim 4, wherein the bed is lowered when the height of the bed from the floor is higher than the first height while the lowering switch is pressed.