JPH10286294A - Massager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the monotonousness of patting operation by providing a vertically reciprocating means for vertically reciprocating a lateral pair of therapeutic elements to perform a patting massage, and automatically varying the patting speed in a fixed time when the patting speed is controlled by a control means. SOLUTION: When a person to be treated pushes the patting button of a control part, a command signal is transmitted to a control means 37, a TAP signal is outputted from a microcomputer 80 to a massage motor driving circuit 82, and a massage shaft 53 is reversely rotated by a massage motor 55. A patting shaft is thus rotated, and a lateral pair of massage balls are substantially vertically reciprocated through an eccentric member and a lever to pat the person to be treated. When the operation 1 button of the control part is pressed, the patting speed is regularly or irregularly gradually reduced or gradually increased to high speed, middle speed or low speed within a fixed time, so that the person to be treate can be massaged over a long time without getting tired of it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beating operation of a massager of a massage machine, and more particularly, to a massage machine which can automatically change the speed of the beating operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known chair-type and bed-type massage machines which massage an affected part such as a shoulder and a waist of a user. This kind of massage machine includes a pair of treatment elements inside a back contact portion against which the user's back hits, a tapping massage that reciprocates the treatment element up and down, a massage massage that moves the treatment element close and far, In some cases, a massager can be moved up and down in the longitudinal direction of the back contact portion to perform rolling massage from the neck to the waist.

[0003] There is also a massager that can switch the operation speed of the reciprocating means for hitting and massaging to "high", "low", and the like. With this kind of device, the user selects a desired operation speed, It is possible to receive a massage of desired strength.

[0004]

However, the hitting operation in the conventional massage machine only hits the designated treatment site monotonously at a specified constant speed, such as high speed or low speed. There was a drawback that people became accustomed to massage and became less conscious of being massaged.

[0005] The present invention provides a massage machine that can solve the above-mentioned problem by automatically changing the hitting speed in the hitting operation.

[0006]

The massage machine according to the present invention comprises a vertical reciprocating means (100) for performing a beating massage by reciprocating a pair of right and left treatment elements (71) (71) in a vertical direction.
And, in a massage machine provided with a control means (37) for controlling the hitting speed, the control means (37) has a function capable of automatically changing the hitting speed within a certain time. I have.

[0007] For example, the hitting speed can be changed in three stages: low speed, medium speed, and high speed. Also, the hitting speed can be changed at a constant cycle. In addition to the beating operation, the treatment element can also perform a kneading operation by moving the treatment element close to and away from the left and right.

[0008]

[Function and Effect] At the time of beating massage, since the beating speed is not constant, the change of the beating speed eliminates the monotony, so that the consciousness being massaged does not fade and the massage can be received without getting tired.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a chair-type massage machine (1).
An example applied to (0) will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to a chair type, but can be applied to, for example, a bed-type massage machine, furthermore, a nursing bed. In the embodiment, when the user sits on the chair (12) in FIG. 1, the ventral side is the front, the back side is the rear, the right hand side is the right, and the left hand side is the left. Further, a massage motor (55) is used as a reciprocating means for rubbing and hitting the treatment element, and an elevating motor (32) is used as an elevating means for elevating the massage unit (28).

[0010] Chair structure described massage machine (10) (12), as shown in FIG. 1, a seat which sit in treated person (13), is upwardly formed from the rear end of the seat portion (13) And a backrest (14), and armrests (15) formed upward on both left and right sides of the seat (13). The seat portion (13), the back contact portion (14), and the armrest portion (15) are each formed by connecting a metal pipe, a frame, a plate, or the like inside, and the outer periphery is formed of a patch cloth (16) or a cushion ( Surrounded by 17).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the back contact portion (14) has an upper frame (20) and a lower frame (2) at an upper portion and a lower portion, respectively.
The upper and lower frames (20) and (21) are provided with a pair of guide rails (22) and (22) extending in parallel in the vertical direction at both ends. The upper ends of the guide rails (22) and (22) are the upper frame (20)
And is connected by a headrest frame (27) having a headrest (26) at the tip of which the head of the user touches. The lower portions of the guide rails (22) are pivotally supported by a frame forming the seat (13). Further, the lower frame (21) is connected to a known reclining mechanism (24),
Is swingable with respect to the seat (13).

The guide rails (22) and (22) have a U-shaped cross section and are arranged so that the grooves face each other. A massage unit (28) is arranged along the guide rails (22) and (22). It is mounted to be able to move up and down. In addition, upper and lower frames (20) (2
In 1), a screw shaft (30) is pivotally supported in parallel with the guide rails (22) and (22). As shown in FIG. 2, a pulley (31) is fitted to the lower end of the screw shaft (30). Is connected to a pulley (33) of a lifting / lowering motor (32) provided on a lower frame (21) via a belt (34), and the screw shaft (30) is rotated forward or backward by driving the lifting / lowering motor (32). Perform rotation. The screw shaft (30) penetrates the upper frame (20), and an encoder (35) for measuring the rotation speed of the screw shaft (30) is provided at the upper end. The encoder (35) is connected to control means described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the massage unit (28) includes rollers (40) (4) which fit into the grooves of the guide rails (22) and (22).
(0) (40) (40) a pair of side plates (41) (41) pivotally supported vertically, and an upper support rod (43) connecting the upper and lower ends of the side plates (41) (41), respectively. A lower support rod (44) is provided. The lower support rod (44) includes an elevating member (45) provided with a screw hole that meshes with the screw shaft (30), and when the screw shaft (30) is rotated by driving the elevating motor (32). The massage unit (28) moves up and down along the guide rails (22) and (22) by the screw thrust. The movement limit of the massage unit (28) in the elevating direction is, as shown in FIG. 2, one guide rail (22).
Are detected by limit switches (47) and (48) provided above and below, respectively. The limit switches (47) and (48), when the massage unit (28) reaches the upper or lower movement limit, hits the upper support rod (43) or the lower support rod (44),
Detecting that the ascent or descent of the massage unit (28) has reached the limit, and transmitting it to the control means (37).

A gear box (50) is provided substantially at the center of the upper and lower support rods (43) and (44). The gearbox (50) has a kneading shaft (51) that penetrates in the left-right direction and rotates at low speed, and a kneading shaft (5).
A hitting shaft (52) that rotates at a high speed through the gear box (50) in the left-right direction below 1). A massage shaft (53) for driving these two shafts (51) (52) protrudes from the bottom surface of the gear box (50). A pulley (54) is fitted to the lower end of the massage shaft (53), and the pulley (54)
Is the massage motor (55) attached to the lower support rod (44)
The pulley (56) is connected via a belt (57), and the rotation of the massage motor (55) causes the massage shaft (53) to rotate forward or backward. The description of the internal structure of the gearbox (50) is omitted, but its operation is performed by the massage shaft (5).
When 3) is rotated forward, only the massaging shaft (51) is rotated at a low speed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, and the beating shaft (52) does not rotate with the clutch disengaged, while the massage shaft (53) When is rotated in the reverse direction, the kneading shaft (51) does not rotate with the clutch disengaged, and only the hitting shaft (52) rotates at a high speed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. A pulley (54) provided on the massage shaft (53) is provided with an encoder (not shown), and detects the rotation speed of the massage shaft (53). The encoder is electrically connected to control means (37) described later.

The massaging shaft (51) is a shaft located above the gearbox (50), and both ends (51a) of the shaft protruding from the gearbox (50) are bent in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 5, at one end of the kneading shaft (51), on the same side as the bending direction of the end,
A projecting piece (61) having a magnet (60) therein is formed.
Also, on the wall of the gearbox (50), three reed switches (63) (64) are opposed to the rotation transition path of the magnet (60).
A substrate (66) comprising (65) is provided. One reed switch is provided above, behind, and below the kneading shaft.
These reed switches (63), (64), (65) are electrically connected to the control means (37). When the upper reed switch (63) detects the magnet (60), the massaging balls (70) (7
0) When the interval between them is the longest, and when the lower reed switch (65) detects the magnet (60), the interval between the rubbing balls facing left and right is the closest.
Further, since the kneading shaft (51) rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, when the rear reed switch (64) detects the magnet (60), the kneading balls shift from the separated state to the approaching state. Means that the distance between the opposing kneading balls is between the approach and the separation.

The hitting shaft (52) is a shaft located below the gearbox (50). Both ends (52a) of the shaft protruding from the gearbox (50) are, as shown in FIG. Each of them is eccentric by the distance H from the axis of (52). The eccentric direction of the end is
They are symmetrical with each other, that is, they are shifted by 180 °.

The treatment elements (71) and (71) are arranged on the left and right sides of the gear box (50), as shown in FIGS. Treatment child (71)
Are a pair of kneading balls (70) attached inwardly to both ends of a plate-like arm (72) whose center is bent in a U shape. The arm (72) is pivotally supported at a bent portion by a plate-like lever (73). The base end of the lever (73) is rotatably supported by the end of the kneading shaft (51). Since the end (51a) of the kneading shaft (51) is bent as described above, the lever (73) is connected to the kneading shaft (51).
When the massaging shaft (51) rotates, the lever (73) swings left and right due to the inclination of the end (51a). A connecting rod (75) is attached to the lower end of the lever (73) via a ball joint (74), and the connecting rod (75) is an eccentric member (76) provided at the end of the hitting shaft (52). ).

Each arm (72) is provided with pins (77) and (78) for regulating the swing angle of the arm (72) with respect to the lever (73) so as to project upward and downward, respectively. The arm (72) is connected to the lower pin
At a position lower than (78), it is connected to the lever (73) by a spring (79). The spring (79) always urges the lower part of the arm (72) in the lever direction. Therefore, with no load,
By the biasing force of the spring (79), the lower pin (78) moves the lever (73).
Is in contact with When the massage is started and the massage ball (70) is pressed against the user, the massage ball (70) swings within the swing range of the lever (73) against the urging force of the spring (79). It is possible to move. Hitting axis (52), arm (72), lever
(73), a spring (79) and a connecting rod (75) constitute a reciprocating means (100) for the treatment element (71).

Each operation of the massage machine (10) is arranged at an appropriate position on the armrest (15) of the massage machine or is performed by a command from a remote control type operation unit (86).
The operation unit (86) is a lifting button for adjusting the height of the massage unit (28) to “up” and “down”, a rolling button for starting a rolling operation, a kneading button for starting a kneading operation, and starting a beating operation. Hit button, width adjustment button to adjust the interval between kneading balls to "wide", "medium", "narrow", speed of kneading operation, hitting operation to "high",
It has a speed adjustment button for adjusting to "medium" or "low", an operation 1 button for starting operation 1 described later, a reclining button for operating a reclining mechanism, a stop button for stopping each operation, and the like. The instruction signal input to the operation unit by the user pressing the button is transmitted to the control means (37).

The control means of the massage machine (10) will be described. FIG. 6 shows a control means (37) mainly composed of a microcomputer. The control means (37) includes a massage machine (1
It is deployed in the right place of 0). The microcomputer (80) has a massage motor drive circuit that controls the drive of the massage motor (55).
(82), the output value of the encoder (58) disposed on the pulley (54) of the massage shaft (53) and the reed switches (63), (64), and (65) that detect the rotation angle of the massage shaft (51) The massage detection circuit (83) that receives the output value of (1) is connected. The massage motor drive circuit (82) includes a PWM circuit (not shown), performs pulse width modulation, adjusts a driving average voltage supplied to the massage motor (55), and controls the rotation speed of the massage motor (55). Can be controlled. The massage detection circuit (83) detects whether the massage motor (55) is rotating at a predetermined rotation speed by detecting the encoder pulse, and if the rotation is out of the predetermined rotation speed, the massage motor drive circuit (82) ) To adjust the supply voltage. Also, reed switch (63) (6
4) Receiving the output value from (65), the kneading balls (7
0) (70) Determine the interval between each other.

The microcomputer (80) includes an elevating motor drive circuit (84) for controlling the driving of the elevating motor (32), an output value of an encoder (35) for detecting the number of revolutions of the screw shaft (30), and massaging. A vertical position detection circuit (8) that receives output values from upper and lower limit switches (47) and (48) that detect the upper and lower limits of the unit (28)
5) is connected. The rotation speed of the screw shaft (30) from the state where the upper limit switch (47) detects the massage unit (28) is calculated as the integrated value of the encoder pulse,
The sum is calculated at (85), and the current position of the massage unit (28) is measured. Note that the current position of the massage unit (28) can be measured based on both the lower limit switch (48) or the upper and lower limit switches (47) and (48).

An operation unit I / F circuit (87) for receiving an operation signal from the operation unit (86) is connected to the microcomputer (80). The operation unit (86) has a large number of operation buttons as described above, and command signals from these buttons are transmitted to the microcomputer (80) via the operation unit I / F circuit (87), Control is performed.

Further, the control means (37) is provided with a reclining control circuit (89) for controlling the reclining mechanism (24) and swinging the back contact portion (14). Note that the reclining control circuit (89) is well-known and will not be described.

[0024] Operation First, an explanation will be given of the basic operation of the massage machine (10). In addition, the massage operation of the present invention is the operation 1 described later.
It is. When the power of the massage machine (10) is turned on, the initial position of the massage unit (28) is confirmed. This is because the amount of movement of the massage unit (28) is determined by integrating or subtracting the number of pulses of the encoder (35) provided on the screw shaft (30). In the present invention, the initial position of the massage unit (28) is the upper movement limit position where the massage unit (28) and the upper limit switch (47) are in contact. Therefore, the massage unit (28) moves upward until it is detected by the upper limit switch (47). When the upper limit switch (47) detects the massage unit (28), the integrated value of the encoder pulse of the screw shaft (30) is reset. From this state, each operation of the massage machine (10) can be performed.

When the user presses one of the "up" and "down" buttons, the command signal is sent to the control means (37), and the operation unit I / F circuit is operated. (8
The signal is input to the microcomputer (80) via 7) and output as an UP signal or a DOWN signal to the lifting / lowering motor drive circuit (84). Upon receiving the signal, the lifting motor (32) rotates in a predetermined direction. When the massage unit (28) is performing a descending operation, the number of rotations of the screw shaft (30) by the elevating motor (32) is counted as an integrated value of the encoder pulse, and the massage unit (28) is moved upward. During operation, the number of encoder pulses is subtracted from the integrated value. From the integrated value of the encoder pulse, the current position of the massage unit (28) can be determined.
The massage unit (28) performs an ascending or descending operation until it is detected by one of the upper and lower limit switches (47) and (48), and also presses a stop button of the operation unit to operate the elevating motor (32). The driving can be stopped, and the massage unit (28) can be stopped at an arbitrary position.

[Rolling massage operation] In the rolling massage, the massage unit (28) is connected to the backrest (14).
Is an operation of repeatedly ascending and descending along the longitudinal direction.
In the following, the rolling range is defined as the guide rail (22) (2
2), but the rolling range is, for example, around the shoulder,
It may be around the back, around the waist, or in a desired range. When the user presses the rolling button on the operation unit of the massage unit (28), a command signal is sent to the control unit (37) and input to the microcomputer (80) via the operation unit I / F circuit (87). Is done.

The microcomputer (80) includes a lifting motor drive circuit (84)
To send a DOWN signal. Receiving the signal, lifting motor (32)
Rotates in the direction to lower the massage unit (28), and lowers the massage unit (28) along the backrest (14). When the lower limit switch (48) detects that the massage unit (28) has moved to the lower end of the guide rails (22), (22), transmission of the DOWN signal is stopped, and the microcomputer (80) sends an UP signal. Sent. After receiving the UP signal,
The elevating motor (32) rotates in a direction to raise the massage unit (28), and moves the massage unit (28) to the back contact portion (1).
4) Follow along. When the upper limit switch (47) detects that the massage unit (28) has moved to the upper ends of the guide rails (22) and (22), the transmission of the UP signal is stopped, and the DOWN signal is sent from the microcomputer (80). Sent. By repeating the above operation, the massage unit (28) can perform a rolling massage by repeatedly moving up and down along the longitudinal direction of the back contact portion (14). The rolling massage can be stopped by pressing a stop button, a timer (not shown), or the like.

In the above description, the driving of the elevating motor (32) after the input of the rolling command signal is started from the descending direction, but may be started from the ascending. In addition, by performing the rolling massage and the kneading operation or the hitting operation described later at the same time, the kneading rolling massage or the hitting rolling massage can be performed.

[Kneading Operation] In the kneading operation, only the kneading shaft (51) is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, and as shown by arrow C in FIG. Are moved toward and away from each other in the left-right direction, and the massage is given to the user. However, since it is technically unrelated to the present invention, detailed description is omitted.

[Slap operation] When the user presses the strike button, a command signal is sent to the control means (37) and the operation unit I / F circuit is operated.
The signal is input to the microcomputer (80) via (87), and output as a TAP signal to the massage motor drive circuit (82). Upon receiving the TAP signal, the massage motor drive circuit (82) rotates the massage motor (5) so that the massage shaft (53) rotates in the reverse direction.
5), and only the hitting shaft (52) is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The eccentric member (76) is pivotally supported eccentrically with respect to the rotation center of the hitting shaft (52), and the base end of the lever (73) is pivotally supported by the non-rotating kneading shaft (51). When (52) is rotated, the kneading balls (70) and (70) make a reciprocating motion in a substantially vertical direction as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 4 to apply a beating massage to the user. When the massage shaft (53) makes one rotation, the hitting shaft (52) also makes one rotation, and one hit operation is performed. That is, the number of taps is set to be equal to the number of encoder pulses (hereinafter referred to as “TAP-PLS”) from the encoder (58) provided on the pulley (54) of the massage shaft (53).

In the above-described kneading operation and hitting operation, the operating speed of the kneading balls can be adjusted by changing the rotation speed of the massage motor (55). To adjust the operation speed, press the speed adjustment button on the operation unit,
When any one of "low" is selected, the operation is performed by adjusting and applying the driving average voltage to the massage motor (55) by the PWM circuit of the massage motor drive circuit (82).
When the rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is adjusted to a desired speed, the speed of the kneading balls (70) (70) operated by the motor (55) changes. Whether the massaging balls (70) and (70) are adjusted to the desired speed is measured by measuring the pulse (TAP-PLS) interval from the encoder (58) provided on the pulley (54) of the massage shaft (53). Can be determined.

[Operation 1] Operation 1 is a massage operation of the present invention. In the embodiment, a beating massage operation in which the rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is periodically changed to low, middle, and high sequentially will be described. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7 and the timing chart in FIG. In addition,
In the flowchart in FIG. 7, the massage motor (55) is indicated by an M motor. This massage operation is the operation 1 of the operation unit.
Initiated by pressing a button. When the operation 1 button is pressed (step 1), a command signal of operation 1 is sent to the control means (37), and the microcomputer (80) is operated via the operation section I / F circuit (87).
Is input to

When the microcomputer (80) receives the command signal,
A TAP signal is transmitted to the massage motor drive circuit (82).
The massage motor drive circuit (82)
In order to rotate 5) at low speed, pulse width modulation is performed by a PWM circuit. At this time, massage unit (2
The lifting motor (32) for lifting and lowering 8) is in a stopped state. When the massage motor (55) rotates and the low-speed beating operation is started, the number of beatings is determined from the encoder (58) of the massage shaft (53).
TAP-PLS corresponding to the massage detection circuit (for example, 5 times)
Sent to 3).

A predetermined TAP-PLS is detected by a massage detecting circuit (83).
Until is counted, the rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is maintained at a low speed (step 2). In step 2, when the massage detection circuit (83) counts a predetermined TAP-PLS, the massage motor drive circuit (82) uses the PWM circuit to switch the massage motor (55) from low speed to medium speed. Width modulation is performed (step 3).

Similarly, in step 3, when the massage detection circuit (83) counts a predetermined number of TAP-PLS (for example, seven times), the massage motor drive circuit (82) sets the massage motor (55) to the medium speed. The pulse width modulation is performed by the PWM circuit in order to switch from the high speed to the high speed (step 4). Further, in step 4, similarly, when the massage detection circuit (83) counts a predetermined TAP-PLS (for example, 13 times), the massage motor drive circuit (82) restarts the massage motor (55) from high speed. In order to switch to a low speed, a PWM circuit performs pulse width modulation.

The operation from step 2 to step 4 is defined as one cycle, and the cycle is repeated unless the stop button is pressed or the stop is performed by a timer or the like (step 5), so that the hitting speed can be reduced. Varying (eg, 5 low speeds, 7 medium speeds, 13 high speeds) tapping massages are performed. In the flowchart of FIG.
Although the stop is determined after one cycle, when the stop command is input, the massage motor is
(55) and the drive of the elevating motor (32) can be set to be stopped.

In the above embodiment, the massage motor
The rotation speed of (55) was switched in three stages in the order of low, medium, and high, but it could be high, medium, and low, or low to high,
Alternatively, it may be continuously changed from high to low. further,
The speed switching may be performed in two stages, four stages or more.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment for smoothly changing the hitting strength. In the embodiment of the above-described operation 1, the rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is switched stepwise in three stages, but FIG. 9 shows that the rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is changed from a low speed to a high speed and from a high speed to a low speed. This is an embodiment in which the value is gradually increased and decreased regularly. In this embodiment, the massage motor
Since the rotation speed of (55) changes regularly and continuously,
The change of the massage strength of tapping also becomes smooth.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment in which the hitting strength is changed irregularly in one cycle. The rotation speed of the massage motor (55) is irregularly increased and decreased gradually from low to high and to high. In this embodiment, the massage motor (5
Since the rotation speed of 5) changes irregularly and continuously in one cycle, the massage strength of tapping also changes irregularly but smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a massage machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a back contact portion of the massage machine from which a patch has been removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the massage unit.

FIG. 4 is a left sectional view of the massage unit taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right sectional view of the massage unit taken along line YY in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operation 1;

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of the operation 1;

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of an embodiment in which the hitting strength is smoothly changed.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of an embodiment in which the hitting strength is changed irregularly in one cycle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (10) Massage machine (28) Massage unit (32) Lifting motor (37) Control means (52) Tapping axis (55) Massage motor (70) Massage ball (71) Treatment element

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takeya Matsushita 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Matsuoka 2-5-5-1 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A massage machine comprising a reciprocating means for vertically reciprocating a pair of left and right treatment elements in a vertical direction to apply a beating massage and a control means for controlling the speed of beating. A massage machine that has a function that can automatically change the tapping speed inside. 2. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the beating speed can be changed in three stages of low speed, medium speed and high speed. 3. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the beating speed can be changed at a constant cycle. 4. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the pair of treatment elements have a function of a kneading operation of approaching and separating right and left.