JP2002272798A - Massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of a massaging machine by using a timer instead of a costly sensor. SOLUTION: The massaging machine has an appearance of a chair type massaging machine, a supporting member provided in a backrest against which a user leans and supporting the backrest, a connection fixed to a seat portion, and the supporting member is angularly displaceably connected to, a driving member angularly displaceably driving the supporting member around the connection, a timer 20 measuring time when the driving member drives and a control section 30 driving the driving member on the basis of change input for changing the posture of the backrest and storing an angular displacement position relative to the seat portion of the backrest on the basis of memory input for storing the posture of the backrest on the basis of measurement data of the driving member measured by the timer 20, and driving the driving member on the basis of the angular displacement position stored on the basis of memory reading input.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chair-type massage machine, and more particularly, to a mechanism for reclining, that is, adjusting a backrest angle by a linear actuator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a chair-type massage machine as shown in FIG. 6 has been used in which a user sits down and receives a massage operation. In such a massage machine, a drive mechanism for performing a massage operation is stored in a back portion of a chair,
The drive mechanism is provided with a pair of treatment elements. The massager is configured to perform a massage operation such as a kneading operation or a hitting operation by driving a kneading or hitting motor provided in the drive mechanism.

[0003] The chair-type massage machine is used to start a pre-programmed massage course,
On the way, there are times when the user wants to set the backrest angle to a desired angle, for example, when simply sitting.

In order to respond to such a demand, in a conventional massage machine, a reclining drive mechanism allows the back portion of the chair-type massage machine to have an arbitrary posture between a maximum standing state and a maximum lying state. , And the user is provided with a control device that can set the backrest in a posture according to the user's preference.

That is, when the user operates the linear actuator by manual operation to adjust the backrest angle, or when the backrest angle is to be automatic, an expensive backrest angle detector S as shown in the following 1 to 3 is attached, and the controller is mounted on the controller. The feedback function of the backrest angle was necessary.

[0006] 1. Attach micro switches to linear actuators and the number of points to be positioned on the backrest, and detect the angle of the backrest. In this case, it is difficult to change the set position.

[0007] 2. A linear sensor is attached to the linear actuator itself to continuously detect the amount of elongation and indirectly detect the angle of the backrest. In this case, it is expensive, but the setting position can be easily changed.

[0008] 3. A pulse coder or the like is attached to the motor, and the angle of the backrest is indirectly detected from the rotational position. In this case as well, it is expensive, but the setting position can be easily changed.

[0009]

However, the means for setting an arbitrary posture in the reclining drive mechanism as described above requires an expensive sensor and has a disadvantage that the massage machine itself becomes expensive. Also, if it becomes necessary to replace and repair such an expensive sensor, the repair cost will be high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to avoid the use of expensive sensors and to use a cheap reclining drive mechanism having an arbitrary posture in a reclining drive mechanism similar to the conventional one. It is to provide a massage machine that has achieved the setting.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A massage machine according to the present invention is a massage machine having a chair-like appearance, provided on a backrest against which a user leans, a support member for supporting the backrest, and a seat. A connecting portion fixed to the surface portion, the connecting member being connected so that the supporting member can be angularly displaced, a driving member for driving the supporting member to be angularly displaced around the connecting portion, and measuring a driving time of the driving member. An angular displacement of the backrest portion with respect to the seat surface portion based on a timer and a driving input based on a change input for changing the posture of the backrest portion, based on a storage input for storing the posture of the backrest portion. A control unit that stores the position with reference to the timing data of the driving member measured by the timer, and drives the driving member based on the stored angular displacement position based on a memory read input. To have.

According to the above configuration, when the user attempts to adjust the posture of the backrest of the massage machine having a chair-shaped appearance, a change input is made, and the driving member is driven to move the support member around the connecting portion. At a predetermined angle. As a result, the backrest portion supported by the support member has a predetermined posture.

When the user attempts to store this posture, the user makes a memory input and causes the control unit to store the angular displacement position of the backrest with respect to the seat surface. The stored angular displacement position is based on time data of the driving member measured by a timer that measures the time during which the driving member is driven. The reason is that, for example, a linear actuator is used as a means for driving the drive member, for example, converting the rotational movement to a linear movement of the support member, for example, and using a linear actuator, but such a linear actuator moves in the load direction. At times, it utilizes the fact that it moves at a substantially constant speed regardless of the magnitude of the load. When the user intends to use the stored angular displacement position of the backrest, the user performs a memory readout input, and the control unit drives the driving member based on the stored angular displacement position, and seats the backrest. It is the angular displacement position stored with respect to the surface. In this way, the user operates the actuator to measure the time required to move from the reference position, which is the most upright position, to the desired angle, and stores it in the control device, so that the user can use the desired backrest angle. By operating the control device, the backrest angle is automatically positioned at the desired setting angle. At this time, since the control device has no information on the angle of the backrest, the backrest is temporarily returned to the above-described reference position, and the actuator is moved in a direction (load direction) in which the actuator is tilted for a previously measured time. To position the camera at a desired angle. As described above, once the reference position and the desired angle are set, the backrest can be automatically set to the user's desired inclination angle by reproducing the movement thereafter. When setting the desired angle, if you measure the time in the direction in which the backrest stands, the load will differ depending on the difference in the weight of the user, etc., and the moving speed will change accordingly, so the backrest will fall in the direction of sleeping. Measure the time when you move.

Therefore, even if one user sets the backrest to his / her desired posture, even if another user changes his / her posture, the above-mentioned memory reading and inputting operation is performed, so that the already-stored seating portion is obtained. If you select from among the postures of the backrest with respect to the position of the backrest, you can adjust to the desired angular displacement of the backrest, eliminating the need to adjust the angular displacement of the backrest yourself again, and improving the convenience of the massage machine. It can be significantly improved.

Further, the massage machine of the present invention is a massage machine having a chair-shaped appearance, wherein the massage machine is provided on a backrest against which a user leans, and a support member for supporting the backrest, A connecting portion fixedly connected to the support member such that the support member can be angularly displaced, a driving member for driving the support member to angularly displace around the connection portion, a timer for measuring a driving time of the driving member, When it is desired to position the backrest at a desired angle, the driving member is driven to change the posture of the backrest to the standing position, and the driving member is driven based on a change input for changing the posture of the backrest. An angular displacement position of the backrest with respect to the seat based on a storage input for storing a posture of the backrest, based on timing data of the driving member measured by the timer. And it may be configured to include a control unit for driving the driving member based on the angular displacement position, which is the storage based on the stored read input.

With this configuration, the user can
At any time, a desired tilt state can be obtained.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
This will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a massage machine 1 having a configuration serving as a basis of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electric configuration of the massage machine 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the memory 22 of the massage machine 1, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a massage machine 1 illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.
3 is a simplified sectional view of FIG.

Hereinafter, the mechanical structure of the massage machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the massage machine 1 is in the form of a chair, and includes a seat portion 2 on which a user sits and a backrest portion 3 on which the user leans. A frame 5 including a rack 4 is fixed inside the backrest 3, and a pair of pinions 7 provided in a drive mechanism 6 that performs a massage operation such as a hitting operation and a kneading operation are engaged with the rack 4. .

The rotation of the motor for raising and lowering the drive mechanism 6 provided in the drive mechanism 6 is changed from the left and right direction in FIG. 1 through a motion conversion mechanism using a helical gear or a worm gear. The light is converted into a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and transmitted to the pinion 7. By rotating the pinion 7 in one of two directions by the motor, the driving mechanism 6 is driven by the engagement of the pinion 7 and the rack 4 so that the chair 2 can rotate.
Is driven up and down by the backrest 3. The drive mechanism 6 is configured such that a pair of massage treatment elements 8 provided in the drive mechanism 6 face the back of the user leaning on the backrest 3 while being attached to the backrest 3.

The seat 2 is provided with a frame 9.
A support 10 for rotatably supporting the frame 5 is provided at the upper right end in the drawing of the frame 9. The seat 2 is provided with a reclining drive mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a drive mechanism) 11 fixed to the frame 9. The drive mechanism 11 includes a linear actuator, that is, the frame 9.
, A screw shaft 13 having an external thread formed by rotation of the motor 12 in both directions around a rotation axis along the left-right direction in the figure, and a screw shaft having one end fixed to the frame 9. And a cylindrical guide 14 formed with an internal thread for meshing with the guide 13. An end of the screw shaft 13 on the opposite side of the guide 14 is connected to a lower end of the frame 5 by a support portion 15 so as to be angularly displaceable. You.

By rotating the motor 12 bidirectionally, the screw shaft 13 rotates bidirectionally around its axis, and the screw between the outer screw of the screw shaft 13 and the inner screw of the guide 14 is The shaft 13 moves in the left-right direction in the figure. This movement displaces the lower end of the frame 5 in the support portion 15 in the left-right direction in the drawing. Due to this displacement, the frame 5 is bidirectionally angularly displaced around the support portion 10.
As a result, the backrest portion 3 is angularly displaced relative to the seating surface portion 2 in both directions indicated by an arrow A1 in the drawing. Thereby, a reclining function is realized.

In this embodiment, the linear actuator is D
A function that operates with a C motor (without a pulse coder) and uses a limit switch that stops the motor in the most upright position and a limit switch that stops the motor in the most lying position, automatically positioning it to the desired backrest angle Is realized at low cost. Further, the setting position can be easily changed without changing the position of a conventional mechanical micro switch or the like.

This reclining function is activated by operating switches such as a switch for standing up and a switch for lying down which are provided on an operation panel unit (not shown) provided on the massage machine 1 and a remote control device. By continuing to operate the switches, the motor 12 continues to rotate in one of the directions, the backrest 3 continues the angular displacement in the standing direction or the reclining direction, and the backrest 3 desired by the user. When the operation of the switch is stopped at the position shown in FIG.
Hold that position.

Here, a specific operation example will be described.

As a setting operation, that is, an operation of storing the user's preferred reclining angle in the control device, the user first presses a display button for starting the setting, for example, a "setting start" button, and manually or automatically reclines. To the most upright “reference position”. Next, the user presses and releases the display button for tilting the backrest, for example, the "Touch Button" while sitting in the chair, reclines to a desired angle, and releases the "Touch Button".
The controller records the time required to move from the "reference position" to the desired position in the memory.

Automatic operation, that is, after the setting operation, whether the user is sitting or not, the operation of reproducing the above-described reclining movement to automatically set the backrest to a desired reclining angle. First, the user presses a display button for switching to an automatic operation, for example, a button of “setting automatic reproduction”. Accordingly, the control device automatically moves the backrest to the upright state regardless of the reclining angle of the backrest.
Thereafter, the control device activates the actuator in a direction in which the reclining is depressed for the time recorded in the memory. As a result, the above-described setting operation is reproduced, and the backrest has a reclining angle desired by the user.

If a plurality of memories for recording time are prepared in the control device, a plurality of desired reclining angles can be set.

Next, the electrical configuration of the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Massage machine 1
Includes a control unit 30 for driving the motor 12, and the control unit 30 is connected to the AC power supply 16. The power supply voltage from the AC power supply 16 is supplied to the PWM
(Pulse width modulation) or other predetermined modulation
2 is supplied.

A control power supply 18 is connected to the AC power supply 16, and generates a plurality of types of DC voltages based on the power supply voltage from the AC power supply 16, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
An operating voltage is supplied to circuit elements such as 19. CPU1
9 controls the motor drive unit 21 based on a set value of a timer 20 that can measure the drive time of the motor 12, and generates a control signal for performing the PWM modulation and the like. A memory 22 is connected to the CPU 19 and stores angle data as described later.

A remote controller 23 is connected to the CPU 16 and the control power supply 18. The remote controller 23 has a power switch 24 for switching the power of the massage machine 1 between an on state and an off state, a start switch 25 for starting the massage operation of the massage machine 1, and the backrest 3 with respect to the seat 2. An upright switch 26 for angularly displacing in the direction in which the backrest 3 is tilted with respect to the seating surface 2, and a degree of inclination of the backrest 3 with respect to the seating surface 2. And switches including a memory switch 28 for causing the massage machine 1 to store the data. In this embodiment,
The upright switch 26 and the recumbent switch 27 are preferably provided in a mode in which a child or the like cannot easily operate them, for example, by providing an openable / closable lid on the remote controller 23 and arranging the lid inside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 22 has a plurality of inclination angles θ1, θ2,...
) Are stored in the order in which they are stored, for example. The data of the inclination angle θ is calculated based on the driving time of the motor 12 measured by the timer 20, for example, the angle at which the backrest 3 is inclined with respect to the seating surface 2 from a reference position such as a maximum standing position. Obtained by Further, the stored data is not limited to the angle data, and may be the number of driving hours of the motor 12 or the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In step a1 in FIG. 4, the power switch 24 shown in FIG. 2 is operated, and the massage machine 1 is turned on. In step a2, the CP
U19 searches the contents stored in the memory 22 to determine whether or not the angle data relating to the posture of the backrest 3 described with reference to FIG. 3 is stored. If the angle data is stored, the determination in step a2 becomes affirmative,
At step a3, as an example, the angle data θ1 having the first storage order is read. In step a4, the CPU 19
After rotating the motor to move the backrest to a reference position such as the maximum standing position, the motor 12 is rotationally driven in the reclining direction for a predetermined time based on the read angle data θ1, and the seat of the backrest portion 3 is rotated. The posture of the backrest 3 is changed so that the angle with respect to the surface 2 becomes the angle data θ1.

That is, in this embodiment, when the power of the massage machine 1 is turned on, the tilt angle of the backrest 3 of the massage machine 1 is automatically changed to the stored posture. Of course, in the present embodiment, an automatic posture adjustment switch or the like may be provided, and the processing of step a2 and subsequent steps may be performed when this switch is operated.

In step a5, the process waits for reading out other angle data for setting another posture of the backrest 3. That is, in the present embodiment, as an example, a plurality of posture setting switches are provided, and one of the plurality of angle data θ1 to θn described with reference to FIG. 3 is selected by operating any one of the posture setting switches. The angle data θ may be sequentially specified according to the storage order when a single attitude setting switch is operated a plurality of times. As described above, in step a5, the operation waits for an operation to read out the angle data θ regarding the other postures of the backrest 3.

If the determination in step a5 is affirmative, the process returns to step a3 to read out the angle data θ of another storage order, and changes the posture of the backrest 3 in step a4. If the determination in step a5 is negative, it is determined in step a6 whether the posture of the backrest 3 is adjusted.
If this determination is affirmative, in step a10, for example,
After the backrest 3 is moved to the reference position such as the maximum standing position, the motor 12 is driven so that the backrest 3 is angularly displaced to the reclined posture, and the backrest 3 is adjusted to have a desired inclination angle. At this time, the driving time of the motor 12 is measured by the timer 20, and the time measured when the motor 12 stops is recorded. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step a7.

If the determination in step a6 is negative, the process proceeds to step a7. In step a7, it is determined whether or not the memory switch 28 has been operated to store the current posture of the backrest 3. If this determination is affirmative, in step a11, based on the timekeeping record measured by the timer 20, the content stored in the memory 22 is changed with the angle data converted from the timekeeping record. For this change, the angle data θ of the current storage order may be rewritten, or new angle data θ may be stored with a new storage order. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step a8.

If the determination in step a7 is negative, the process proceeds to step a8, where it is determined whether the start switch 25 has been operated to start the massage operation. If this determination is negative, the process returns to step a5, and the above process is repeated to perform an operation relating to the posture adjustment of the backrest unit 3. If the determination in step a8 is affirmative, a massage operation is performed in step a9.

As described above, in the massage machine 1 of the present embodiment, the backrest 3 stores an arbitrary posture indicated by a two-dot chain line between the maximum standing state shown by the solid line and the maximum lying state shown by the broken line in FIG. can do. When trying to memorize the posture of the backrest 3, the user operates the memory switch 2.
8 to make a memory entry, and the seating surface 2 of the backrest 3
Control unit 3 outputs angle data θ corresponding to the degree of inclination with respect to
0 in the memory 22. The user is a massage machine 1
When the power is turned on in order to utilize the angle data, the CPU 19 reads out the stored angle data θ and adjusts the backrest 3 to a posture corresponding to the angle data θ.

Therefore, one user can use the backrest 3
Even if another user changes the posture after setting the posture to his / her desired position, simply turning on the power again allows the user to select from the previously stored postures of the backrest 3 with respect to the seat 2. For example, since the posture is adjusted to a desired posture, the trouble of adjusting the posture of the backrest portion 3 by himself again is eliminated, and the convenience of the massage machine 1 can be remarkably improved.

As described above, the massage machine 1 according to the present embodiment can achieve the same desired setting of the reclining drive mechanism as in the related art only by disposing the inexpensive timer 20.

When the backrest of the massage machine is desired to be set to a desired angle, not only when the power is turned on as described above, but also when an angle adjustment is incorporated into a previously programmed massage course and the massage course is performed, The user A's preferred back angle is set to be 30 degrees during the kneading operation and 45 degrees during the hitting operation,
In addition, the user B has 30 degrees during the kneading operation and 6 degrees during the beating operation.
You may make it set so that it may become 0 degree. In addition, even when simply using the massage machine as a chair, if you want to position the camera at a desired angle with the push of a button, for example, do not perform a massage, raise the backrest a little, and watch the TV. The angle may be set so as to be adapted to the case where it is desired to return to the angle with one switch.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes a wide range of modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044]

As described above, according to the massage machine of the present invention, when the tilt angle of the backrest portion is moved to the user's preferred angle stored in the control device in advance in the reclining drive mechanism. Since the amount of extension of the linear actuator for moving the linear actuator is measured by an inexpensive timer, it is possible to achieve the same desired setting of the reclining drive mechanism as in the related art.

Therefore, the massage machine of the present invention can reduce the cost of the whole massage machine by using inexpensive parts while maintaining the same function as that of the conventional massage machine. There is an advantage that repair costs can be reduced even when parts are replaced and repaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a massage machine 1 having a configuration serving as a basis of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the massage machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in a memory 22 of the massage machine 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a simplified sectional view of the massage machine 1 for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional massage machine 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Massager 2 Seat part 3 Backrest part 9 Frame 10 Support part 11 Reclining drive mechanism 12 Motor 13 Screw shaft 14 Guide 19 CPU 20 Timer 22 Memory 23 Remote control 24 Power switch 25 Start switch 26 Standing switch 27 Side switch 28 Memory switch 30 Control Department

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A massage machine having a chair-type appearance, comprising: a support member provided on a backrest portion against which a user leans, supporting the backrest portion, and fixed to the seat surface portion; A connecting portion connected to be angularly displaceable; a driving member for driving the supporting member to be angularly displaced around the connecting portion; a timer for measuring a driving time of the driving member; and changing a posture of the backrest portion. The drive member is driven based on a change input for the drive member, and the angular displacement position of the backrest relative to the seat surface is measured by the timer based on the storage input for storing the posture of the backrest. A control unit that stores the timekeeping data as a reference and drives the driving member based on the stored angular displacement position based on a storage read input. 2. A massage machine having a chair-shaped appearance, comprising: a support member provided on a backrest portion against which a user leans, supporting the backrest portion, and fixed to the seat surface portion; A connecting portion connected to be angularly displaceable; a driving member for driving the supporting member to be angularly displaced around the connecting portion; a timer for measuring a driving time of the driving member; and setting the backrest portion to a desired angle. When the positioning is desired, the driving member is driven to change the posture of the backrest portion to the standing position, and the driving member is driven based on a change input for changing the posture of the backrest portion, and the posture of the backrest portion is changed. The angular displacement position of the backrest with respect to the seat surface is stored based on a memory input for storage based on timed data of the driving member measured by the timer, and is stored based on a memory read input. There are massage machine and a control unit for driving the driving member based on the stored angular displacement position.