JPH0716277A - Kneader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance an effect for stretching a backbone line by making the projection amount of a therapeutic element different between ascending mode and descending mode on the basis of the detected value of the amount, regarding a kneader where the therapeutic element built into the back of a chair or the like is freely rotated and moved vertically for stretching the backbone line. CONSTITUTION:Movable sleeves 65 having respective eccentric cam sections 65a are formed at both sides of a kneading massage shaft 52. Also, an arm 68 having a freely rotatable massage roller 69 as a therapeutic element at the end is jointed to the external surface of the cam section 65a via a bearing 66. Then, the shaft 52 is half turned via a kneading power transmission system including a motor 33, thereby adjusting the projection amount of the element 69 toward the front of the back of a chair, depending upon the eccentric amount of the section 65a. Furthermore, the projection amount of the element 69 is enlarged to provide a backbone line stretching effect, depending upon the projection amount of the element 69 detected with a projection amount sensor. At the same time, the projection force of the element 69 is reduced, when the element 69 reversibly descends.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a massager which is incorporated in a backrest portion of a chair, a bed or the like on which a user's back rests, and which can vertically move a treatment element such as a massage roller to extend the back muscles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a massager incorporated in a backrest of a chair moves a treatment element projected in the front direction of the backrest to change a massage position with respect to a user's back. The treatment element is provided so as to be movable at least in the vertical direction of the back rest portion. A massage machine of this type is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 13857 / 1-1.

In the massage machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 13857/1989, a rolling menu operation, in other words, a spine extension massage, is performed by automatically reversing the vertical movement of the treatment element at the upper and lower movement limit positions. It has the ability to do. In this massage, the treatment element is raised and lowered while keeping the amount of protrusion of the treatment element in the back direction of the user at a maximum.

[0004]

By the way, the present inventor has made a detailed study on a back muscle extension massage,
It was found that among the ascending and descending processes of the treatment element, it is the ascending process that contributes to the actual extension of the back muscles, and rather the massage action acts in the direction of contracting the back muscles during the descending process. Therefore, in the conventional massage machine that performs the back muscle massaging while keeping the protruding amount of the massaging element constant as described above, the effect of contracting the back muscles in the descending process of the massaging element has the effect of extending the back muscles. There is a problem that it is easily damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine which can reduce the effect of contracting the back muscles by the massager in the descending process when performing the back muscles massaging, thereby improving the effect of expanding the back muscles.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a treatment element having a treatment element projecting in front of a backrest portion of a chair or a bed is incorporated into the backrest portion, and the treatment element is automatically inverted and vertically moved. It is applied to a massage machine that can perform a back muscle extension massage operation.

In order to achieve the above object, a projection amount varying means for varying the projection amount of the treatment element to the front side, and a projection amount detecting means for detecting the projection amount of the treatment element, The protrusion amount varying means is controlled based on the detection of the protrusion amount detecting means, and the protrusion amount of the treatment element during the back muscle massaging operation is large when the treatment element is raised and the treatment element is Is provided with a protrusion amount control means for reducing the amount when the is lowered.

[0008]

In the massage machine having the above structure, when the back muscle extension massage operation is selected to perform the back muscle extension massage, the protrusion amount control means controls the protrusion amount varying means and the protrusion amount detecting means is changed by the protrusion amount varying means. The amount of protrusion of the treatment element to be detected is detected. Then, based on this detection data, the protrusion amount control means controls the protrusion amount varying means, thereby maintaining a large protrusion amount of the treatment element when raising the treatment element, and conversely. When lowering the treatment element, the protrusion amount of the treatment element is kept small.

Therefore, the back muscle can be extended by raising the treatment element in a state where the amount of protrusion is large. Then, after this, the treatment element is inverted and lowered in a state in which the amount of protrusion is reduced, so that the treatment element in the descending process pushes down the user's back, in other words, the treatment element in the descending process moves the back muscles in the back massage. The action of shrinking can be reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The machine frame indicated by reference numeral 21 in FIGS.
The left and right side plates 22 and 23, the horizontal members 24 and 25 which are horizontally extended across the side plates 22 and 23, and the other horizontal members 26 and 2.
7 and 7. The horizontal member 26 is horizontally installed across a side plate 22 and a speed reducer case, which will be described later, connected to the side plate 23.
The horizontal member 27 is cantilevered by the side plate 22.

A drive unit 31 is arranged in the machine frame 21 at a substantially central portion in the width direction. The unit 31 includes a housing 32 that forms a gear box, and a first motor 33 that is connected to the outer surface of the housing 32 and that can rotate in the forward and reverse directions. The housing 32 is a horizontal member 2
While being abutted and supported on the inner surface of the central part of 4, 25,
It is bolted to the horizontal member 27. As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the rotary shaft 33 a of the first motor 33 is formed in a gear shape having teeth around the entire outer periphery and is inserted into the housing 32.

A gear device 34 is built in the housing 32. That is, reference numeral 41 in FIGS. 7 and 8 denotes an input shaft which extends in the left-right direction and whose both ends are rotatably supported by bearings 42. The input gear 43 is meshed with the rotating shaft 33a of the first motor 33. On the outer circumference of the input shaft 41,
A massaging system transmission gear 45 via the first one-way clutch 44.
And a striking system transmission gear 47 is attached via a second one-way clutch 46.

When the rotary shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is reversely rotated, the first one-way clutch 44 enters the "on" state to transmit the rotation of the input shaft 41 to the massaging system transmission gear 45, and When the rotation shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is normally rotated, it is in the "off" state and cuts the rotation of the input shaft 41 to the kneading system transmission gear 45. On the contrary, the second one-way clutch 46 enters the “on” state when the rotating shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is normally rotated, and the input shaft 4
1 rotation is transmitted to the striking transmission gear 47, and
When the rotating shaft 33a of the motor 33 is rotated in the reverse direction, it is in the "off" state and cuts off the rotation of the input shaft 41 to the striking system transmission gear 47.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the housing 32, a support shaft 48 which is laid horizontally in parallel with the input shaft 41 is provided in the nut 4.
The large-diameter gear portion 50 a of the first reduction gear 50 rotatably supported by the shaft 48 stopped at 9 is meshed with the kneading system transmission gear 45. Further, the housing 32
Has a second reduction gear 51 as a kneading system output gear, and the gear 51 is a small-diameter gear portion 50 of the first reduction gear 50.
It is meshed with b.

A kneading massage shaft 52 extending in the left-right direction and protruding from both side surfaces of the housing 32 is rotatably supported by the housing 32 by a pair of bearings 53. The central portion of the shaft 52 in the axial direction penetrates the boss portion 51a of the second reduction gear 51 and is spline-engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 51a.

Therefore, the first one-way clutch 44,
The kneading massage shaft 5 from the input shaft 41 by the transmission parts such as the kneading system transmission gear 45, the first and second reduction gears 50 and 51.
A kneading transmission system up to 2 is formed, and the rotation of the input shaft 41 rotated by the first motor 33 is decelerated by the transmission system and transmitted from the first one-way clutch 44 to the kneading massage shaft 52. It has become so.

As shown in FIG. 8, a tapping system output gear 54 which is meshed with the tapping system transmission gear 47 is built in the housing 32. Further, the housing 32 includes
A beating massage shaft 55 protruding from both side surfaces thereof is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 56. This axis 5
Reference numeral 5 is parallel to the kneading massage shaft 52, and its axial center portion penetrates the boss portion 54a of the output gear 54 and is spline-engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 54a.

Therefore, the second one-way clutch 46,
A power transmission component such as the power transmission gear 47 for the hitting system and the output gear 54 for the hitting system forms a hitting transmission system from the input shaft 41 to the hitting massage shaft 55. With this transmission system,
The rotation of the input shaft 41 rotated by the first motor 33 is decelerated and transmitted from the second one-way clutch 46 to the hitting massage shaft 55.

The drive unit 31 has an electromagnetic brake 57. The brake 57 is mounted on the outer surface of the housing 32 so as to be located on the side opposite to the first motor 33. The electromagnetic brake 57 is of a non-excitation type, that is, of a type that exerts a function of braking the brake shaft 57a shown in FIG. 7 when energized and releases the braking function of the brake shaft 57a in a non-energized state. Has been adopted. The brake shaft 57a is inserted into the housing 32, and the brake gear 58 is fixed to the brake shaft 57a. The brake gear 58 is meshed with the massaging system transmission gear 45.

When the rotary shaft 33a of the first motor 33 of the drive unit 31 having the above-described structure is normally rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the input shaft 41 via the input gear 43, and the second
The striking system transmission gear 47 is rotated via the one-way clutch 46. At this time, the first one-way clutch 44 is in the “disengaged” state, and no power is applied to the kneading massage shaft 52. Therefore, the beating massage shaft 55 is decelerated and rotated via the beating system output gear 54 meshed with the beating system transmission gear 47. When the shaft 55 is driven to rotate,
The electromagnetic brake 57 is energized, and the massage of the massage system is prevented from moving due to the weight of the user.

When the rotating shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is reversely rotated while the electromagnetic brake 57 is not operating, the rotation is transmitted through the input gear 43, the input shaft 41 and the first one-way clutch 44. Is transmitted to the kneading type transmission gear 45. At this time, the second one-way clutch 46 is in the “disengaged” state, power is not applied to the hitting massage shaft 55, and the brake shaft 57a and the brake gear 58 rotate integrally. Therefore, the rotation of the massaging system transmission gear 45 is
It is decelerated via the first and second reduction gears 50, 51 and transmitted to the massage massage shaft 52, which is rotated at a low speed.

Both ends of the kneading massaging shaft 52 penetrating the housing 32 are processed so that the cross section of the kneading massaging shaft 52 in the direction perpendicular to the axis is substantially D-shaped. Shaft end caps 76 (see FIG. 7), which are positioned with respect to 52 and are rotated therewith, are each fitted. The shaft end caps 76 are attached to the bearings 7 attached to the side plates 22 and 23, respectively.
7 are respectively rotatably inserted into the bearing holes, and thereby the kneading massage shaft 52 is rotatably provided between the side plates 22 and 23.

Shaft end cap 76 made of synthetic resin or the like
Is formed by providing a circular rotary encoder plate portion 76b at one end portion of a cap portion 76a fitted to the shaft end portion of the kneading massage shaft 52 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 18, respectively. Rotary encoder plate 76b
A first detected part 77 and a second detected part 78 are provided at positions 180 ° apart from each other.

Both of the detected parts 77 and 78 are formed as recesses opened to the outer periphery of the plate part 76b, and the first detected part 77 is distinguished from the second detected part 78. For the sake of simplicity, it is formed wider than the second detected portion 78. The first detected portion 77 is provided for detecting the minimum protrusion amount of the massage roller, which will be described later, and the second detected portion 79 is provided for detecting the maximum protrusion amount of the roller.

A sensor bracket 80, which is a printed circuit board that supports the protrusion amount sensor 79, is attached to one side plate 23 so as to closely face the rotary encoder plate portion 76b. In addition, 80a in FIG. 7 has shown the connector. As the protrusion amount sensor 79, for example, a reflection type optical switch having a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion is used, and the light receiving portion is formed of an element for photoelectric conversion.

Therefore, the light emitted from the light projecting portion alternately passes through the first and second detected portions 77 and 78 every half rotation of the rotary encoder plate portion 76b.
At this time, the reflected light is not incident on the light receiving portion, and at other times, the light reflected by the rotary encoder plate portion 76b is incident on the light receiving portion. The second detected portions 77 and 78 can be alternately detected without contact.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 and 10, the housing 32 of the kneading massage shaft 52 is shown.
Keys 62 are attached to the left and right side portions protruding from each. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 63 is a retaining ring for preventing the key 62 from coming off, and 64 is a retaining screw.

Movable sleeves 65 are attached to the both sides of the kneading massage shaft 52, respectively. The pair of sleeves 65 are fitted to the both side portions so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the massage shaft 52. The movable sleeve 65 has an eccentric cam portion 65a and a connecting portion 65b as shown in FIG.

The eccentric cam portion 65a is a short-axis portion having an axis line that is eccentric and inclined with respect to the axis line of the movable sleeve 65. The inclinations of the axes of the eccentric cam portions 65a of the movable sleeves 65 are opposite to each other. The connecting portion 65b is provided concentrically with the axis of the movable sleeve 65.

A hub 67 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric cam portion 65a via a bearing 66. Therefore, the pair of hubs 67 are provided on the both side portions of the kneading massage shaft 52,
The shaft 52 is supported while being inclined in opposite directions. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, an arm 68 is connected to the hub 67, and a massage roller 69 as a treatment element is rotatably attached to the tip of this arm 68.

The first motor 33, the kneading transmission system from the input shaft 41 to the massage shaft 52, and the movable sleeve 65.
Hub 6 in which the eccentric cam portion 65a and the arm 68 are connected
7, and a protrusion amount varying means is formed. With this protrusion amount varying means, the protrusion amount of the massage roller 69 in the front direction of the backrest portion of the chair can be varied according to the eccentric amount of the eccentric cam portion 65a every half rotation of the kneading massage shaft 52. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 32
Both ends of the hitting massage shaft 55 that penetrates the
5 is provided coaxially with the housing penetrating portion, and the side plate 2
Bearings 71 mounted on the inner surfaces of Nos. 1 and 22 via bearing brackets 70 are rotatably supported. As shown in FIG. 8, the portions between both ends of the hitting massage shaft 55 and the housing penetrating portion form eccentric shaft portions 55a and 55b which are eccentric with respect to these. The eccentric shaft portions 55a and 55b are eccentrically displaced from each other by 180 °.

Metal bearings 72, which are slidable in the axial direction, are fitted in the eccentric shaft portions 55a and 55b, respectively. Figure 9
As shown in FIG. 2, band-shaped joints 73 are connected to the outer circumferences of both metal bearings 72, respectively, and one end of a connecting rod 74 commonly called a ball stud is connected to the joint 73 via a pin 75. Thus, the connecting rod 74 is rotatable about the axis of the pin 75.

The spherical other end 74a of the connecting rod 74 is connected to the hub 67. The connecting portion between the connecting rod 74 and the hub 67 is a spherical pair, and therefore, the other end of the connecting rod 74 is rotatably connected to the hub 67 in a universal joint shape.

Since the joint 73 is connected to the hub 67 via the connecting rod 74 as described above, the rotating shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is normally rotated as described above, and the hitting massage shaft 55 is appropriately rotated. When rotated at various speeds, the joint 73 connected to the metal bearing 72 strikes the massage shaft 55.
The hitting massage shaft 55 is rotated while sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the metal bearing 72.

By the way, since the shaft centers of the eccentric shaft portions 55a and 55b into which the metal bearing 72 is fitted are eccentric, the joint 73 and the connecting rod 74 are moved in the longitudinal direction with a stroke twice the eccentric amount. It is moved back and forth. for that reason,
The pair of hubs 67 are pushed and pulled by the corresponding connecting rods 74 and reciprocally rotated around the bearing 66. Along with this, the massage roller 69 is synchronously moved via the arm 68, and the massage roller 69 makes a striking motion.

The eccentric shaft portions 55a and 55b are 1
Since the pair of massage rollers 69 are eccentrically displaced from each other by 80 °, the pair of massage rollers 69 are moved in the opposite directions, and at this time, the rubbing massage shaft 52 does not receive a rotational force.

When the rotary shaft 33a of the first motor 33 is reversely rotated and the massaging massage shaft 52 is properly rotated at a low speed, a pair of movable sleeves 65 are formed together with the shaft 52 via the key 62. Is rotated. Therefore, the eccentric cam part 65a massages the massage shaft 5 according to the inclination of the axis.
It is apparently displaced so as to swing about the axis of 2.

By the way, the hub 67 fitted to the eccentric cam portion 65a via the bearing 66 is connected to the joint 73 via the connecting rod 74 to restrain the rotation. Therefore, the hub 67 performs a swinging motion about the axis of the kneading massage shaft 52 in synchronization with the apparent displacement of the eccentric cam portion 65a.

At this time, slippage occurs at the universal joint-shaped connecting portion between the hub 67 and the connecting rod 74, and the connecting rod 74
Is rotated around the axis of the pin 75 with respect to the joint 73 to enable the swing motion.

A pair of hubs 67 operated in this way
Since the arm 68 is similarly swung with the swinging motion of
The pair of massage rollers 69 are synchronously moved toward and away from each other, whereby the massage roller 6 is moved.
9 massages.

Side plate 2 as shown in FIGS.
The bearing 8 is attached to the inner surfaces of the bearings 2 and 23 via a bearing bracket 81.
2 are respectively supported, and a space adjusting screw shaft 83 is rotatably provided across the bearings 82. The screw shaft 83 has a mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69.
It is used to vary (see FIG. 6) and is arranged parallel to each massage shaft 52, 55.

Incidentally, reference numeral 32a in FIG. 10 denotes a space adjusting screw shaft 8.
It is a concave portion formed in the housing 32 to escape 3. The interval adjusting screw shafts 83 are respectively provided with screw parts 83 on shaft parts arranged so as to project to the left and right sides of the housing 32.
a and 83b, and these screw portions 83a and 83b are reversely threaded.

As shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 and the like, a mover 92 as an interlocking member which is moved in the axial direction of the interval adjusting screw shaft 83 by interlocking the hub 67 with the both screw portions 83a and 83b.
Are screwed together. The pair of moving elements 92 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the interlocking protrusion 92a has a substantially U shape in a plan view (in FIG. 8), and the recesses 93 are formed in the opposing wall portions of the protrusion 92a. The interlocking protrusion 92a is hit through the recess 93 to strike the massage shaft 55.
The metal bearing 72 and one end of the joint 73 sandwiching the metal bearing 72 are fitted in the interlocking protrusion 92a.

Of course, this fitting portion has a play so as not to interfere with the vibration of the joint 73 accompanying the rotation of the hitting massage shaft 55 and the movement of the joint 73 accompanying the rotation of the kneading massage shaft 52.

A connecting portion 65 of the pair of movable sleeves 65.
Hub supports 96 are rotatably fitted to the outer circumferences of b. As shown in FIG. 9, interlocking members 94 are screwed to the pair of moving members 92, respectively. These interlocks 94
The arm portion 94a is provided so as to hold the hub support 96 from its outer periphery, and is screwed.

On the inner surface of one side plate 22, a second motor 84 for adjusting the mutual distance A, which is rotatable in the forward and reverse directions, is mounted above the kneading massage shaft 52 in FIGS. 10 and 12. On the outer surface of the side plate 22, the side plate 22
A bearing bracket 85 facing the one bearing bracket 81 mounted on the inner surface of the bearing is mounted.

Bearing brackets 81 and 8 facing each other
A driven pulley 87, whose both ends are rotatably supported by bearings 86, is provided between the gears 5, and a gear portion 88 is formed on a shaft portion of the pulley 87. At one end of the side plate 22 of the space adjusting screw shaft 83, the reduction gear 8 is attached.
9 is attached and meshed with the gear portion 88. A drive pulley 90 having a diameter smaller than that of the driven pulley 87 is attached to the rotary shaft of the second motor 84, and a timing belt 91 is provided between the two pulleys 87, 90 so as to extend therebetween.
Is wrapped around.

The interval adjusting screw shaft 83, the second motor 8
4, driven pulley 87, reduction gear 89, drive pulley 90,
The timing belt 91, the moving element 92, the interlock element 94, the hub support 96, and the like form a treatment element spacing adjustment mechanism 95. The mechanism 95 moves the pair of massage rollers 69 in opposite directions to change the mutual distance A.

That is, when the second motor 84 is operated, the rotation of its rotation shaft is transmitted to the driven pulley 87 via the drive pulley 90 and the timing belt 91, and the rotation of this pulley 87 is transmitted to the gear portion 88 thereof. The interval adjusting screw shaft 83 is rotated via the reduction gear 89 meshing with the.

By the way, the screw portion 83 of the screw shaft 83
The moving element 92, which is respectively screwed into the a and 83b, is connected to the movable sleeve 65 via the interlock element 94 and the hub support 96, and its rotation is restricted. Therefore, the pair of moving elements 92 are moved in the axial direction of the screw shaft 83 as the space adjusting screw shaft 83 rotates.

Since the screw portions 83a and 83b are reverse threads, the pair of moving elements 92 are moved in opposite directions. For example, the second motors 84 are brought closer to each other by the normal rotation, and are moved so as to be separated from each other by the reverse rotation. Simultaneously with these movements, the pair of movable sleeves 65 connected to the moving element 92 via the interlocking element 94 and the hub support 96 are moved in the axial direction of the kneading massage shaft 52, so that the pair of massage rollers 69. The mutual interval A of is varied.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, one of the left and right side plates of the machine frame 21, for example, the side plate 22 is
A wide limit switch 165 is attached,
A narrow limit switch 166 is attached to the side surface of the housing 32. These switches 165 and 166 are provided to face each moving element 92 separately, and when the mutual distance A is maximized, the side plate 22 pushes the wide limit switch 165 by one of the moving elements 92. The narrow limit switch 166 is pressed by the other moving element 92 of the side plate 23 when the mutual distance A is narrowed to the minimum.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the rotary shaft 84a of the second motor 84 penetrates through the motor frame of the motor 84 in the axial direction, and the drive pulley 90 described above is provided at one end thereof. Is connected to the second motor 8 at the other end.
A rotary encoder plate 151 that also functions as a fan for air-cooling 4 is connected. The rotary encoder plate 151 is a shallow dish-shaped disc, and has a plurality of rib-shaped blower blades (not shown) radially on the inner surface facing the motor frame and is located off the center. Is formed by providing one through hole 152 as a detected portion.

In the vicinity of the rotary encoder plate 151, the mutual distance sensor 15 for detecting the through hole 152 in a non-contact manner.
3 are arranged. The mutual distance sensor 153 is a machine frame 21.
Alternatively, it is supported by a sensor bracket (not shown) fixed to the housing 32 or the like. This mutual distance sensor 15
For example, a reflection type optical switch having a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion is used as 3, and the light receiving portion is formed of an element for photoelectric conversion.

Therefore, the light emitted from the light projecting portion passes through the through hole 152 only once per one rotation of the rotary encoder plate 151. At this time, there is no incidence of reflected light on the light receiving portion, and the other light is emitted. Sometimes, the light reflected by the rotary encoder plate 151 is incident on the light receiving portion, and thus the mutual interval sensor 153 is provided in the through hole 15
2 can be detected without contact.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 13, a speed reducer box 101 is attached to the side plate 23 of the machine frame 21, and a third motor 102 capable of normal and reverse rotation is attached to the outer surface of the box 101. Installed. Inside the box 101, a worm shaft 105 having an integral worm 103 and a reduction gear 104 attached thereto is supported at both ends via bearings 106, and a drive gear 107 meshing with the reduction gear 104 is built in. There is.
The drive gear 107 is attached to the rotary shaft 102a of the third motor 102 inserted in the speed reducer box 101.

A rotatable wheel gear shaft 108 is inserted in the speed reducer box 101. Incidentally, 122 is a retaining plate. A worm wheel gear 109 meshing with the worm 103 is attached to the wheel gear shaft 108. The wheel gear shaft 108 has a hollow structure, and one end of the wheel gear shaft 108 protruding outside the speed reducer box 101 has a pinion shaft 110 penetrating the wheel gear shaft 108 in the axial direction.
One end of each is connected by spline engagement (121 in FIG. 13 indicates a spline engagement portion).

As shown in FIG. 6, the reducer box 10
1 and the side plate 22 are provided with shaft support portions 111 and 112 facing each other, and a protective pipe 113 is laterally extended through the shaft support portions 111 and 112. A pinion shaft 110 is rotatably passed through the pipe 113. A wheel gear shaft 108 is rotatably fitted to and supported by an outer periphery of one end of the protection pipe 113, which is inserted into the reduction gear box 101, via a sleeve 125 containing lubricating oil.

The one end of the wheel gear shaft 108 is formed as a pinion gear 114 by providing teeth on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A cap-shaped pinion gear 115 that covers the end of the protection pipe 113 is connected to the end of the side plate 22 of the pinion shaft 110 by spline engagement. Although not shown, this connecting structure is the same as the structure of the connecting portion between the wheel gear shaft 108 and one end of the pinion shaft 110.

The small diameter end 108a of the wheel gear shaft 108, which is connected to the pinion shaft 110, and the pinion gear 11.
A small-diameter end portion (not shown) similar to the small-diameter end portion 5 has a roller 116 rotatably supported by being fitted to the outer peripheral surface thereof.

The speed reducer box 101, the third motor 1
02, worm 103, reduction gear 104, drive gear 10
7, wheel gear shaft 108, worm wheel gear 109,
Pinion shaft 110, protection pipe 113, pinion gear 1
14, 115 and the roller 116 form a self-propelled mechanism 117 that moves the entire massage machine in the vertical direction.

The rotation shaft 102 of the third motor 102 is
As shown in FIG. 6, a motor frame 102b is penetrated in the axial direction, and both ends of the rotary shaft 102a are used as output ends. And this rotating shaft 1
The drive gear 107 is connected to one end of 02a, and the rotary encoder plate 155 also serving as a cooling fan is connected to the other end of the 02a, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. The rotary encoder plate 155 is a shallow dish-shaped disc, has a plurality of rib-shaped blades (not shown) radially extending around the rotation shaft 102a on its inner surface, and is provided at a position off the center. It is formed by providing one through hole 156 as a detection portion.

In the vicinity of the rotary encoder plate 155, the vertical position sensor 15 for detecting the through hole 156 in a non-contact manner.
7 are arranged. An optical switch of the same type as the mutual interval sensor 153 is used for the vertical position sensor 157. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, a sensor bracket 158 is screwed to the rear surface of the machine frame 21, and a vertical position sensor 157 for detecting the through hole 156 is attached to the bracket 158. .

A shaft supporting portion 118 is attached to the inner surfaces of the side plates 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 11, and a roller supporting shaft 119 is laid across the side plates 22 and 23 through the shaft supporting portions 118. There is. The roller support shaft 119 is the pinion shaft 1.
Rollers 120 are rotatably attached to both ends of the machine frame 21 that are parallel to the machine frame 10 and project laterally.

As shown in FIG. 14, on the back surface of the backrest E (backrest) of the chair in which the entire massager is incorporated,
Guide rails C extending in the longitudinal direction of the back support portion E are provided on both sides in the width direction. In the massage machine, the rollers 116 and 120 have the pair of left and right guide rails C.
And are provided so as to be linearly or non-linearly moved in the longitudinal direction according to the shape of the back support portion E, respectively. Further, a rack D (see FIGS. 10 and 13) is attached to the back surface of the back support portion E along the guide rail C,
The pinion gears 114 and 115 are separately meshed with these.

The self-propelled mechanism 117 includes the third motor 10 thereof.
The entire massage machine is moved by the operation of 2. That is, when the third motor 102 is operated, the rotation shaft 102
The rotation of a is transmitted to the rotating shaft 105 through the drive gear 107 and the reduction gear 104, and then further reduced through the engagement between the worm 103 and the worm wheel gear 109, and transmitted to the wheel gear shaft 108. .

Then, the pinion gear 114 is rotated at a low speed, and at the same time, the other pinion gear 115 is synchronously rotated via the pinion shaft 110 that is spline-engaged with the wheel gear shaft 108. Therefore, the engagement between the pinion gears 114 and 115 and the rack D gives a moving force to the entire massage machine, and the massage machine is moved by rolling its rollers 116 and 120 on the guide rails C.

Therefore, the rotating shaft 1 of the third motor 102
When 02a is rotated in the forward direction, the entire massage machine is raised along the backrest portion E, and when it is reversed, the entire massage machine is lowered along the backrest portion E. In addition,
Since the roller support shaft 119 and the roller 120 are provided, it is possible to prevent the massage machine from swinging around the pinion shaft 110 and smoothly move the massage machine.

As shown in FIG. 14, an upper limit switch 161 and a lower limit switch 162 are attached to the upper and lower ends of each of the left and right guide rails C. These switches 161 and 162 are the back support part E.
It is used to determine the absolute limit of the vertical movement of the entire massage machine along the longitudinal direction of, and is pushed by the machine frame 21 as the massage machine moves up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the front wall of the housing 32 has parallel grooves 131 and 132 extending in the left-right direction (width direction of the housing 32). One of the grooves 131 has a protective pipe 113.
A half-circumferential portion of the central portion of the roller supporting shaft 119 is fitted in the other groove 132. A machine frame front plate 133 made of sheet metal is screwed to the front wall of the housing 32.

The machine frame front plate 133 covers most of the portion of the protective pipe 113 and the roller support shaft 119 located between the side plates 22 and 23. This machine frame front plate 133
Has a pair of shaft fitting portions 1 extending over the entire length in the width direction.
34 and 135 are integrally formed. These shaft fitting portions 134 and 135 have a semicircular arc shape in cross section, and one shaft fitting portion 134 covers a half circumferential portion in the central portion of the protection pipe 113 and is fitted therein, and the other shaft fitting portion 134. The part 135 covers and fits in a half-circumferential part of the center part of the roller support shaft 119.

1 to 4, reference numeral 141 denotes a terminal box attached to the outer surface of the machine frame 21, and 142 in FIG.
Is a machine frame cover screwed to the side plates 22 and 23 and the housing 32. Further, as described above, this massage machine is installed in the backrest portion E of the chair, and its front surface (front surface) including the pair of massage rollers 69 is rich in flexibility of the backrest portion E of the chair not shown. It is covered with epidermis.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control device 182 which controls the operation of each of the first to third motors 33, 84 and 102 based on the operation of the remote controller 181. Remote controller 18 as input means
Reference numeral 1 is a remote controller control unit 1 including a microcomputer.
83, a remote controller 184, and a sounding device 185 such as an electronic buzzer.

The remote controller control unit 183 receives a signal generated by the operation of the remote controller operation unit 184, inputs the signal to the control device 182 as serial data, and causes the switch button operated by the remote controller operation unit 184 to operate. The corresponding indicator lamp made of a light emitting diode is turned on, and the sound generator 185 is operated in the first sounding mode or the second sounding mode based on the signal input from the control device 182.

As shown in FIG. 16, the remote controller operation unit 1
84 is a remote controller power switch button 191
Further, a display lamp 191a thereof, a shoulder position selection switch button 192 and, for example, three selection display lamps 192a to 192c for this button 192 are attached.
The selection display lamp 192a with the "upper" suffix is intended for users who have a higher shoulder height than the standard shoulder position, and the selection display lamp 192 with the "middle" suffix is attached.
b is for users with standard shoulder position (sitting height is standard),
The selection display lamp 192c with the suffix "lower" is intended for users whose shoulder position is below the standard and whose seat height is low. The shoulder position selection switch button 192 selects any one of the upper, middle, and lower shoulder positions each time the button is pressed, and the upper, middle, and lower shoulder positions are selected by three pressing operations. It is designed to rotate.

A shoulder / neck switch button 193 and its indicator lamp 193a, a whole body switch button 194 and its indicator lamp 194a, a waist switch button 195 and its indicator lamp 195a are attached to the remote control operating portion 184. Each of the switch buttons 193 to 195 selects each course menu in the automatic driving mode in which a massage operation is performed according to a predetermined program. That is, when the shoulder / neck switch button 193 is pressed, the course program centering on the shoulder / neck is selected, and when the whole body switch button 194 is pressed, the course program for the entire back is selected, and the waist switch button 19 is selected.
When 5 is pressed, a course program centered on the waist is selected.

On the remote control operation part 184, the entire massage machine is placed above the back rest part E in order to adjust the position of the massage roller 69 as various switch buttons for selecting each operation menu of the manual operation mode. Up switch button 196 for moving the massage machine to the upper side of the backrest portion E, down switch button 197 for widening the mutual distance A, narrowing switch button 198 for narrowing the mutual distance A. 199 are attached respectively.

Similarly, the remote control operating unit 184 has various switch buttons for selecting each operation menu in the manual operation mode, such as a switch button 200 for increasing the operation speed of the massage roller 69 and an operation speed of the massage roller 69. Switch buttons 201 for slowing down are respectively attached.

Similarly, the remote control operating unit 184 has various types of switch buttons for selecting each operation menu in the manual operation mode, such as a massage switch button 202 and its display lamp 202a, a hit switch button 203 and its switch button 203a. And a pause switch button 204 for stopping the operation of these buttons 202 and 203, respectively. The kneading switch button 202 selects the kneading massage operation, and the hitting switch button 203 selects the hitting massage operation.

Further, the remote control operating unit 184 has various rolling buttons for selecting each operation menu in the manual operation mode, such as a continuous rolling switch button 205 and its display lamp 205a, a partial rolling switch button 206 and its switch. A button 206a and a pause switch button 207 for stopping the operation of these buttons 205, 206 are attached respectively. The rolling menu is a menu in which the massage roller 69 is repeatedly moved up and down to extend the back muscles. When the continuous rolling switch button 205 is selected, the entire massage machine is repeatedly automatically inverted up and down over the vertical movement limit, and when the partial rolling switch button 206 is selected, the movement range is limited to the designated movement range. The entire massage machine is automatically turned upside down repeatedly.

The control device 182 comprises a microcomputer, and has a control section 172 and a motor drive circuit 17
3, a speed setting circuit 174, and a servo circuit 175.

A remote controller controller 183 is connected to the I / O port of the controller 172, and the controller 1
Each output port O of 72 is connected to a motor drive circuit 173 or a speed setting circuit 174. Further, the input port I of the control unit 172 is connected to the upper limit switch 161, the lower limit switch 162, the vertical position sensor 157, the mutual interval sensor 153, and the wide limit switch 1.
65, the narrow limit switch 166, and the protrusion amount sensor 79 are connected. Reference numeral 179 in FIG. 15 is a power switch.

The motor drive circuit 173 is a first motor control section 17 including a photo triac and a triac.
Is connected to the first motor 33 via 6 and
It is connected to the second motor 84 via a second motor control unit 177 composed of a photo triac and a triac, and is further connected to the third motor 102 via a third motor control unit 178 composed of a photo triac and a triac.

The speed setting circuit 174 is connected to the first motor control section 176 via the servo circuit 175, and the servo circuit 175 is supplied with the speed information FG output from the first motor 33. There is.

When the ascending switch button 196 or the descending switch button 197 is pressed, the control section 172 displays the third
The motor drive circuit 1 outputs a control signal to the motor 102.
73, and the drive circuit 173 supplies power to the third motor 102 via the third motor control unit 178.
It is configured to perform a control operation to be applied in the current direction according to the switch button 196 or 197. By this control, the third motor 102 is normally or reversely rotated, and the entire massage machine is moved up or down along the back support portion E.

Similarly, when the widening switch button 165 or the narrowing switch button 166 is pressed, the control section 172 is operated.
Outputs a control signal for the second motor 84 to the motor drive circuit 173, and the drive circuit 173 causes the second motor control unit 177 to energize the second motor 84 according to the switch button 165 or 166. It is configured to perform a control operation given in the direction of current. By this control, the second motor 84 is normally or reversely rotated,
The mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69 is adjusted.

Similarly, when the switch button 200 or the switch button 201 is pressed, the control section 172 sets the operating speed corresponding to the operation of the switch button 200 or 201 in the first motor 33 in the speed setting circuit 174. By the phase control in the first motor control unit 176 according to the set speed, the control operation for changing the amount of current supplied to the first motor 33 is performed. By this control, the operating speed of the first motor 33 is changed, and the speed of the rubbing motion or the speed of the tapping motion of the pair of massage rollers 69 is adjusted.

Further, when the massage menu of massage is selected by the massage switch button 202, the control device 18
2 outputs a control signal for the first motor 33 from the control unit 172 to the motor drive circuit 173, and the drive circuit 173 outputs the first control signal via the first motor control unit 176.
The motor 33 is configured to perform a control operation in which the electric current is supplied to the motor 33 in the current direction according to the massage massage mode. By this control, the first motor 33 is normally rotated.

Similarly, when the operation menu of hit massage is selected by the hit switch button 203, the control device 1
The control unit 172 outputs a control signal for the first motor 33 to the motor drive circuit 173, and the drive circuit 173 energizes the first motor 33 via the first motor control unit 176 to the hit massage mode. It is configured to perform a control operation to be applied in the corresponding current direction. By this control, the first motor 33 is rotated in the reverse direction.

Similarly, when the continuous or partial rolling operation menu is selected by the rolling switch button 206 or 207, the control device 182 causes the control unit 172 to operate.
Outputs a control signal for the third motor 102 to the motor drive circuit 173, and the drive circuit 173 performs a control operation for alternately switching the direction of the current supplied to the third motor 102 via the second motor control unit 178. It is configured. By this control, the third motor 102 is alternately rotated forward and backward.

In addition, each switch button 19 in the automatic operation mode
When any one of 3 to 195 is selected, the control device 182
According to a predetermined program in the control unit 172, controls the operation of the first to third motors 33, 84 and 102, respectively, and combines the above control operations for the pair of massage rollers 69. The selected course menu is executed.

In the massage machine having the above structure, the first motor 33 for operating the massaging massage shaft 52 and the hitting massage shaft 55, the second motor 84 for operating the massaging element spacing adjusting mechanism 95, and the entire massage machine are moved up and down. The third motor 102 for operating the self-propelled mechanism 117 for operating is provided. When the first motor 33 is normally rotated as described above, the drive unit 31 rotates the hitting massage shaft 55 to rotate the pair of massage rollers 6
9 gives motions in which these perform a striking motion. On the contrary,
When the first motor 33 is rotated in the reverse direction, the kneading massage shaft 52 can be rotated by the drive unit 31, and the pair of massage rollers 69 can be given a kneading motion.

Further, as described above, when the second motor 84 is rotated in the normal direction, the pair of hubs 67 supporting the pair of massage rollers 69 are brought closer to each other by the rotation of the gap adjusting screw shaft 83, and the pair of massage rollers is moved. The mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69 can be narrowed, and conversely, when the second motor 84 is rotated in the reverse direction, the mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69 can be widened by the rotation of the distance adjusting screw shaft 83.

Moreover, as described above, when the third motor 102 is rotated in the normal direction, the entire massage machine can be raised along the shape of the back rest portion E, and conversely, the third motor 102 can be moved. When reversed, the entire massage machine can be lowered along the shape of the back support portion E.

Since each of the motors 33, 84 and 102 can be independently controlled, a pair of massage rollers 69 are appropriately arranged on the user's physique and a portion to be massaged to select a massage massage or a hit massage. In addition to being able to perform the selected massage operation, the position of the pair of massage rollers 69 in the width direction (the mutual interval A
Adjustment), or the position of the pair of massage rollers 69 in the vertical direction can be changed, so that a variety of massage modes can be realized.

By the way, in the massage machine having the above structure,
Whether in automatic or manual operation mode,
By pressing the shoulder position selection switch button 192, the upper limit position at which the pair of massage rollers 69 stops when the massage rollers 69 rise can be designated, and the lifting operation of the entire massage machine can be stopped at the designated upper limit position.

That is, FIG. 20 is a flow chart for setting the designated upper limit position, and the procedure for setting the shoulder position will be described. First, when the program of this setting procedure is started, it is determined in step 1 whether or not the remote controller 181 is powered on, that is, whether or not the remote controller power switch button 191 is pressed, and if the determination is YES, step 2 Is executed. In this step 2, the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is rotated in the forward direction to move the entire massage machine upward along the guide rails C. Next step 3
Is the upper limit switch 16 on the machine frame 21 of the massage machine.
It is determined whether 1 is pressed, that is, whether the massage machine has reached the absolute upper limit position. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 4, and if NO, the process returns to step 2.

In step 4, the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is reversely operated to set the origin, and then the entire massage machine is moved downward along the guide rail C. The origin is set based on the fact that the vertical position sensor 157 first detects the through hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155 that is rotated in accordance with the reverse rotation operation. Then, following this origin setting, the entire massage machine is moved downward along the guide rail C by the self-propelled mechanism 117.

In the next step 5, it is determined whether or not the massager has reached the shoulder position designated by the remote controller 181, that is, the designated upper limit position.
In the case of S, the process proceeds to step 6, and in the case of NO, the process returns to step 4. The determination as to whether or not the designated upper limit position has been reached is performed as follows.

That is, according to the reverse rotation operation of the third motor 102, the through hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155.
Is detected by the vertical position sensor 157, the control unit 172 calculates the number of rotations of the third motor 102 based on the detected number to convert the rotational speed of the third motor 102 into a distance in the vertical direction. The current position of the massage roller 69 is detected (position detecting means). On the other hand, the shoulder position selection switch button 192 has already selected one of the shoulder positions, and the shoulder position data is input to the control unit 172 via the remote controller control unit 183 and stored in the storage unit of the control unit 172. ing. Therefore, the control unit 172 compares the stored shoulder position data with the detected current position data, and when the data match, the determination in step 5 is YES.

In step 6, the third movement of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is performed.
The motor 102 is stopped. Thereby, the massage roller 69 can be stopped at the already selected shoulder position. The shoulder position "upper" is the origin position, the shoulder position "middle" is about 7.5 cm below the origin position, and the shoulder position "lower" is about 15 cm below the origin position.
The position is below cm.

In step 7, the remote controller 181 is operated within 5 seconds after the self-propelled mechanism 117 is stopped.
It is determined whether or not there is a shoulder position selection input. The selection input of the shoulder position is given by the pressing operation of the shoulder position selection switch button 192 by the user, and at this time, the user selects the optimum shoulder position that suits his physical constitution.

When the determination in step 7 is YES, step 8 is executed and the selected shoulder position (designated upper limit shoulder position) is stored in the storage section of the control section 172 (storage means). After this, step 9 is executed, and the operation of the self-propelled mechanism 117 moves the entire massage machine to the stored designated upper limit position. When step 9 ends, the process returns to step 7. Therefore, each time the shoulder position selection switch button 192 is pressed, the selected shoulder position data is updated and stored, and then the massage machine is moved to the stored shoulder position.

By the above steps 1 to 9, the desired shoulder position is set and the massage machine is moved to the same position.

When the determination in step 7 is NO, it is determined in step 10 whether the operation mode is the automatic operation mode or the manual operation mode. If the determination in step 10 is the manual operation mode, the following step 11
Thus, for example, it is determined whether or not the operation menu is selected and input within 5 seconds. The input of the operation menu is made by pressing the switch buttons 196 to 206 which are manually operated. If the determination in step 11 is NO, this step 11 is repeated, and the switch button is pressed within 5 seconds so that the determination in step 11 is Y.
When it becomes ES, an operation menu selected by manual operation, for example, a descending operation of the massage roller 69, a kneading massage operation, a tapping massage operation, a variable interval A operation, and the like are executed in step 12.

When the determination in step 10 is the automatic operation mode, it is determined in step 13 whether or not the selection input of the course menu is made within, for example, 5 seconds. Input of this course menu is one of switch buttons 193-1 for shoulder / neck, whole body, and waist.
This is done by pressing 95. If the determination in step 13 is NO, this step 13 is repeated, and if the switch button is pressed within 5 seconds and the determination in step 13 becomes YES, it is set in the selected course menu. The automatic operation according to the existing program is executed by step 14.

FIG. 21 shows that in the manual operation mode,
The flowchart about the raising operation of the massage roller 69 based on the pressing operation of the raising switch button 196 is shown. As shown in this figure, it is judged in step 11 whether or not the up switch button 196 is pressed. If the judgment is YES, in the next step 21, whether the massage roller 69 is positioned at the designated upper limit shoulder position or not. Determine whether If this determination is YES, step 2
Go to 6.

If the determination in step 21 is NO, in step 22, the control unit 172 outputs to the remote controller control unit 183 that there is an input to the control unit 172 based on the pressing operation of the up switch button 196. As a result, the sound generator 185 is operated in the first sound generation mode (confirmation mode). In this pronunciation mode, for example, a short beep is sounded once to prompt the user to confirm the completion of input.

When step 22 ends, step 23 executes a process of rotating the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 forward to raise the entire massage machine.
In accordance with the normal rotation operation of the third motor 102 associated with this execution, the through hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155 is detected by the vertical position sensor 157. Therefore, the third motor 10 is calculated by the control unit 172 based on the detected number.
The number of revolutions of 2 is converted to the vertical distance, and thus
The current position of the massager, and thus the pair of massage rollers 69, with respect to the origin position is detected (position detecting means).

In the next step 24, it is judged whether or not the current position of the massage machine which is moving upward has reached the designated upper limit shoulder position (control means). This determination is performed by comparing the current position data of the massage roller 69 detected as described above with the designated upper limit shoulder position data stored in the storage means. When the comparison results match, the determination in step 24 becomes YES, and when the comparison results do not match, the determination in step 24 maintains NO.

When the determination in step 24 is YES, the operation of the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is stopped (control means) in step 25. Therefore, when the massage roller 69 reaches the designated upper limit shoulder position, the massage roller 69 is stopped and prevented from moving further upward. If the determination in step 24 is NO, the process returns to step 11.

If the determination in step 21 is YES, or if step 25 ends, step 2
6 is executed. In step 26, the massage roller 6
The control unit 172 indicates that 9 has reached the designated upper limit shoulder position.
To the remote controller 183, which causes the sound generator 185 to operate in the second sound generation mode (warning mode). In this sound generation mode, for example, a short beep is continuously sounded a plurality of times, or a long beep is emitted while the rising switch button 196 is being pressed, and the user can further input manually. It encourages confirmation that it is unnecessary.

The second sounding mode as described above allows the user to know that the manual operation limit has been reached. Therefore, although the massage roller 69 has already reached the designated upper limit shoulder position, It is possible to prevent further pressing of the rising switch button 196 more than that, and the usability can be improved.

The input confirmation of the sound generator 185 in the first sound generation mode is carried out for each operation menu each time the various switch buttons 191 to 207 of the remote controller 181 are pressed. Also, the sound generator 1
The warning in the second sound generation mode 85 is also issued when the machine frame 21 pushes the lower limit switch 162 when the massage roller 69 descends. Further, in the warning in the second sounding mode of the sound generator 185, the mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69 is widened to the maximum by the massaging element spacing adjustment mechanism 95, and one moving element 92 pushes the wide limit switch 165. At the same time, and when the mutual distance A is narrowed to the minimum and the other moving element 92 pushes the narrow limit switch 166. Moreover, the sound generator 1
The warning in the second sounding mode 85 is also issued by operating the switch button 200 for increasing the moving speed of the massage roller 69 and the switch button 201 for decreasing the moving speed. For example, in the case where the speed change by the switch buttons 200 and 201 is in five steps and the configuration is such that step-up or step-down is performed for each pressing operation, when the upper-limit speed or the lower-limit speed based on this step-up or step-down is also reached. , A warning is issued in the second sounding mode.

As described above, when the massage roller 69 reaches the movement limit in the vertical direction or the width direction, it can be warned by the second sounding mode of the sound generator 185. Therefore, when the movement limit is reached, the massage roller 69 still moves. You can improve the usability by avoiding the unnecessary operation of holding down the switch button for manual operation until you notice it.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the raising operation of the massage roller 69 in the automatic operation mode. Step 13 as shown in this figure
In step 31 subsequent to the step 31, a process of causing the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 to rotate in the forward direction to raise the entire massage machine is executed. Even in this execution, the massage machine from the origin position and thus the pair of massage rollers 69
The current position of is detected by the position detecting means.

In the next step 32, it is judged whether or not the current position of the massage machine that is moving upward has reached the designated upper limit shoulder position (control means). This determination is performed by comparing the current position data of the massage roller 69 detected as described above with the designated upper limit shoulder position data stored in the storage means. Then, if the comparison results match, the determination in step 32 becomes YES, and if the comparison results do not match, the determination in step 32 remains NO. When the determination in step 32 is YES, the third motor 1 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is determined in the next step 33.
The operation of 02 is stopped (control means). After this, the process moves to the next step such as lowering the massage roller 69. If the determination in step 32 is NO, the process returns to step 31.

As described above, in both the manual operation mode and the automatic operation mode, when the massage roller 69 is lifted, the shoulder position selection switch button 192 of the remote controller 181 is used to specify the physical size of the user. When the massage roller 69 is lifted up to the shoulder position, the roller 69 can be stopped. Therefore, the massage roller 69 does not move carelessly to the head side beyond the shoulder of the user. Therefore, the massage roller 69 can be safely used without giving an uncomfortable feeling by massaging an unnecessary portion, and when the massage roller 69 is lowered, the massage roller 69 that has moved up too much is caught on the shoulder of the user. There is no fear of breaking it. Moreover, in the manual operation mode, it is not necessary to pay attention to the input stop for stopping the rise while monitoring the rise of the massage roller 69, and the manual operation can be performed.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing the spine extension operation when the rolling operation menu is selected in the manual operation mode. As shown in this figure, it is determined in step 51 whether the continuous rolling switch button 205 or the partial rolling switch button 206 has been pressed. If the determination is NO, step 51 is repeated, and if the determination is YES, step 52 is executed.

At step 52, the remote controller 1
It is determined whether the massage machine is located at the shoulder position designated by the shoulder position selection switch button 192 of 81, that is, at the designated upper limit position. This judgment is based on the vertical position sensor 1
It is carried out by detecting the current position data of the pair of massage rollers 69 by the above-mentioned position detecting means of the control unit 172 based on the detection input of 57 and comparing the shoulder position data stored in the storage unit. When they match, the determination in step 52 is YES. If the determination in step 52 is YES, the process proceeds to step 56, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step 53.

At step 53, the third movement of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is performed.
A process of rotating the motor 102 in the forward direction to raise the entire massage machine is executed. Third motor 1 associated with this execution
According to the normal rotation operation of 02, the vertical position sensor 157 detects the through hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155. Therefore, the number of rotations of the third motor 102 is converted into a vertical distance by the calculation in the control unit 172 based on the detected number, and therefore, the current position of the massager and thus the pair of massage rollers 69 with respect to the origin position is detected. Yes (position detection means).

In the next step 54, it is judged whether or not the current position of the massage machine which is moving upward has reached the designated upper limit shoulder position (control means). This determination is performed by comparing the current position data of the massage roller 69 detected as described above with the designated upper limit shoulder position data stored in the storage means. When the comparison results match, the determination in step 54 becomes YES, and when the comparison results do not match, the determination becomes NO.

If the determination in step 54 is YES, the process proceeds to the next step 55, in which the third motor 1 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is driven.
The operation of 02 is stopped (control means). Therefore, the massage roller 69 is stopped when the designated upper limit shoulder position is reached, and is prevented from moving further upward. If the determination in step 54 is NO, the process returns to step 53.

The determination at step 52 is YES,
Alternatively, when step 55 ends, the routine proceeds to step 56, where the first motor 33 is operated in reverse. Then, the kneading transmission shaft rotates the kneading massage shaft 52,
The hub 67 is provided via the eccentric cam portion 65a of the movable sleeve 65.
The amount of protrusion of the massage roller 69 in the front-back direction of the massage roller 69, that is, in the front direction of the back support portion E is changed via the arm 68 (projection amount control means).

Then, it is judged in the next step 57 whether or not the massage roller 69 has reached the retracted position, in other words, whether or not the protrusion amount is the minimum due to the change in the protrusion amount. This determination is based on a signal from the protrusion amount sensor 79 that detects the rotation of the kneading massage shaft 52. That is, the protrusion amount sensor 79 is rotated together with the massage roller 52 for massaging the rotary encoder plate portion 7.
By detecting the first detected part 77 of 6b, the detection signal is input to the control part 172, so the control part 172
Determines that the massage roller 69 has reached the retracted position (projection amount detecting means).

Then, the determination in step 57 is YES.
Then, the control unit 172 executes the next step 58 to stop the reverse rotation operation of the first motor 33 (projection amount control means). Therefore, the pair of massage rollers 69 is held in the retracted position. Also, the determination in step 57 is NO.
If so, the process returns to step 56.

In the next step 59, the process of rotating the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 in the reverse direction to lower the entire massage machine is executed. The through-hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155 is detected by the vertical position sensor 157 according to the reverse rotation operation of the third motor 102 accompanying this execution. Therefore, the number of rotations of the third motor 102 is converted into a vertical distance by the calculation in the control unit 172 based on the detected number, and therefore, the current position of the pair of massage rollers 69 is detected (position detecting means).

In the next step 60, it is judged whether or not the current position of the descending massaging machine has reached the designated lower limit position (the position where the lower limit switch 162 is pushed) (control means). This determination is performed by comparing the current position data of the massage roller 69 detected as described above with the designated lower limit position data stored in the storage means. When the comparison results match, the determination in step 60 becomes YES, and when the comparison results do not match, the determination in step 60 maintains NO.

When the determination in step 60 is YES, the process proceeds to the next step 61, in which the third motor 1 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 is driven.
The operation of 02 is stopped (control means). Therefore, the massage roller 69 is stopped when it reaches the designated lower limit position, and is prevented from moving further downward.
If the determination in step 60 is NO, the process returns to step 59.

The first step 62, which is executed next,
The motor 33 is operated in reverse. Then, the kneading massage shaft 52 is rotated by the kneading transmission system, so that the position of the massage roller 69 in the front-rear direction, that is, the back rest portion E, via the hub 67 and the arm 68 via the eccentric cam portion 65a of the movable sleeve 65. The protrusion amount of the massage roller 69 in the front direction is changed to the forward direction (the front direction) (projection amount control means).

Then, it is judged in the next step 63 whether or not the massage roller 69 has reached the forward movement position, in other words, whether or not the protrusion amount is the maximum, based on the change in the protrusion amount. This determination is based on the fact that the protrusion amount sensor 79 for detecting the rotation of the kneading massage shaft 52 rotates the rotary encoder plate portion 76 together with the kneading massage shaft 52.
By detecting the second detected portion 78 of b, the detection signal is input to the control unit 172, so the control unit 172 determines that the massage roller 69 has reached the forward position (projection amount detection means).

Then, the determination in step 63 is YES.
Then, the control unit 172 executes the next step 64 to stop the reverse rotation operation of the first motor 33 (projection amount control means). Therefore, the pair of massage rollers 69 is held at the forward position. Further, the determination in step 63 is NO.
In the case of, the process returns to step 62.

In the next step 65, the process of rotating the third motor 102 of the self-propelled mechanism 117 in the forward direction to raise the entire massage machine is executed. Even in the normal rotation operation of the third motor 102 accompanying this execution, the through hole 156 of the rotary encoder plate 155 is detected by the vertical position sensor 157, and therefore the third motor is calculated by the control unit 172 based on the number of detections. The rotation speed of 102 is converted into a vertical distance, and the current positions of the pair of massage rollers 69 are detected (position detecting means).

In the next step 66, it is judged whether or not the current position of the massage machine which is moving upward has reached the designated upper limit position (control means). This determination is performed by comparing the current position data of the massage roller 69 detected as described above with the designated upper limit position data stored in the storage means. When the comparison results match, the determination in step 66 becomes YES, and when the comparison results do not match, the determination in step 66 maintains NO.

When the determination in step 66 is YES, the process proceeds to the next step 67, in which the self-propelled mechanism 117 is set to the third position.
The operation of the motor 102 is stopped (control means). Therefore, the massage roller 69 is stopped when reaching the designated upper limit position, and is prevented from moving further upward. If the determination in step 66 is NO, the process returns to step 65.

After the execution of step 67, step 68 is executed. In this step, it is judged whether or not the pause button 207 for rolling operation pause has been pressed. If this judgment is YES, the continuous or partial rolling operation is ended, and if the judgment is NO, the process returns to the step 56 and steps 56 to 67 are repeated. Therefore, the automatic reversal vertical movement of the massage roller 69 is repeated, and the continuous or partial back muscle extension massage operation is continued.

In the back muscle extension massage, the massage roller 69 can be held at the maximum amount of protrusion during the ascending process and raised, and can be lowered while maintaining the minimum amount of protrusion during the descending process. Note that FIG.
Shows a change in the amount of protrusion of the massage roller 69 during the back muscle extension massage, a in the figure shows the locus of the massage roller 69 in the ascending process, b shows the locus of the massage roller 69 in the descending process, and c indicates the change width of the protrusion amount.

Therefore, it goes without saying that a comfortable spine extension can be performed in the process of raising the massage roller 69.
In the descending process performed while the massage roller 69 is retracted with respect to the user's back, the action of contracting the back muscles can be reduced. Therefore, the back muscles can be sufficiently effectively massaged, and uncomfortable feeling can be lessened because the action for contracting the back muscles is small.

The massage roller 69 as described above is also used.
The change in the amount of protrusion due to the elevating operation is performed not only in the manual operation mode but also during the back muscle extension massage in the automatic operation mode. Therefore, also at this time, the back massage effect can be improved.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the hub 67 supporting the massage roller 69 via the arm 68.
However, since it is obliquely supported by the eccentric cam portion 65a of the movable sleeve 65, the mutual distance A between the pair of massage rollers 69 is wide when the protrusion amount is maximum, and conversely the protrusion amount is minimum. The mutual distance A becomes narrower in this case. Note that FIG. 19 shows a change in the mutual interval between the pair of massage rollers 69 in the back muscle extension massage. In FIG. 19, a shows the locus of the massage roller 69 in the ascending process, and b shows the massage roller 69 in the descending process. , And d represents the change width of the mutual interval a. Therefore, the pair of massage rollers 69 that are moved up and down can exert a back massaging action on the back over a wide range.

During the striking massage, the electromagnetic brake 57 is kept energized by the control of the control device 152, the brake shaft 57a is fixed so as not to rotate, and the massaging system is provided via the brake gear 58. Transmission gear 45
The free rotation of is stopped. As a result, the kneading transmission system is held so as not to move, and the kneading massage shaft 52 is fixed so as not to rotate.

By such a braking action, the pair of massage rollers 69 are kneaded with the movement of the kneading transmission system despite the fact that the weight of the user acts so as to open the mutual interval A between them. It is possible to prevent the massage shaft 52 from being rotated carelessly. Therefore, the mutual interval A between the pair of massage rollers 69 does not unintentionally widen, and the user arbitrarily sets, for example, the position of the back pot by the massager interval adjusting mechanism 95 by the user. A mutual massage A of 69 can be maintained and a hit massage can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the case of proceeding from step 51 to step 52 shown in FIG. 23 in the above-mentioned embodiment, that is, even when the massage machine is raised to the designated upper limit position after the continuous or partial rolling button is pressed, 1) Reverse rotation of the motor to determine if the amount of protrusion of the massage roller is large, then stop the reverse rotation of the first motor to keep the amount of protrusion of the massage roller large, and then use the self-propelled mechanism. The massage machine may be raised to the designated upper limit position.

Further, instead of providing the upper and lower limit switches 161 and 162 on the guide rail C in the above-described embodiment, the upper and lower limit switches 161 and 162 are attached to the machine frame 21 of the massage machine and the guide rail C has the upper and lower limit switches 161 and 162. It is also possible to provide a limit plate to hit, and in such a case, the wiring for the upper and lower limit switches 161 and 162 can also be integrated on the machine frame 21 side.

[0146]

As described in detail above, in the back muscle extension massage with the massage machine of the present invention, the back extension can be performed by raising the treatment element with the protrusion amount of the treatment element increased, and thereafter the treatment element. When the reversing descends, the amount of protrusion of the treatment element is reduced, and the action of the treatment element in the lowering process to push down the user's back can be reduced, so that in the back massage, the treatment element in the lowering process contracts the back muscles. It has little effect and can improve the back extension effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a massage machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the entire massage machine according to the same embodiment as seen from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the entire massage machine according to the same embodiment as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the entire massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a partial cross-section of the configuration of the entire massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of the entire massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a kneading massage system of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a hitting massage system of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the massage machine according to the same embodiment, taken along line ZZ in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a massaging element spacing adjustment mechanism of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a partial cross-section of the configuration of the drive unit of the treatment element spacing adjustment mechanism according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing the configuration of a drive unit of a massaging element spacing adjustment mechanism according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a self-propelled mechanism of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view schematically showing the arrangement of the massage machine according to the same embodiment with respect to the back rest portion of the chair.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device for a massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a configuration of a remote controller of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a movement locus of a treatment element when a back muscle is extendedly massaged by the massage machine according to the same embodiment as seen from a side direction.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a shaft end portion cap of the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a movement locus of the treatment element when performing a back muscle extension massage with the massage machine according to the same embodiment, as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for setting a designated upper limit position in the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a lifting operation of the massage roller based on the pressing operation of the lifting switch button in the manual operation mode in the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a massage roller raising operation in an automatic operation mode in the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a back muscle extension massage operation in the massage machine according to the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 ... 1st motor, 52 ... Kneading massage shaft, 65 ... Movable sleeve, 65a ...
Eccentric cam part, 67 ... Hub, 68
… Arm, 69… Massage roller (treatment element), 76b
... rotary encoder plate part, 77 ... first detected part,
Reference numeral 78 ... Second detected portion, 79 ... Protrusion amount sensor, 117 ... Self-propelled mechanism, 102 ... Third motor, 155 ... Rotary encoder plate, 156 ... Through hole, 157 ... Vertical position sensor, 172 ... Control portion, 181 ... remote controller (input means), 182 ... control device, 205 ... continuous rolling switch button, 207 ... partial rolling switch button, E ... back support part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A back muscle massaging operation, comprising a treatment element protruding from the front of a backrest portion of a chair or a bed, incorporated into the backrest portion and automatically reversing and vertically moving the treatment element to extend the back muscles. In the massage machine capable of performing, a protrusion amount varying means for varying the protrusion amount of the treatment element to the front side, a protrusion amount detecting means for detecting the protrusion amount of the treatment element, and a detection of the protrusion amount detecting means. The protrusion amount varying means is controlled on the basis of the protrusion amount to increase the protrusion amount of the treatment element at the time of the back muscle massaging operation, and is small when the treatment element is raised and small when the treatment element is lowered. And a protrusion amount control means for controlling the massage machine.