Hair supply device

Abstract

The present application performs a supply of one by one of hair for implantation. In a hair supply device (10) that performs a supply operation of pulling out one by one of the hair for implantation from a bundle (B) of the hair for implantation (M), there are provided: a supply portion (20) that holds the bundle of the hair for implantation and sorts tips of a plurality of the hair for implantation in a direction different from the bundle; a head portion (60) that holds the tips of the hair for implantation; a conveying mechanism (70) that conveys the head portion; and a control device (100) that performs operation control of the supply operation, the supply portion (20) has: a bundle holding portion (30) that holds the bundle of the hair for implantation; and a separation portion (40) that sorts the plurality of the hair for implantation in a state of having the tips directed in a direction different from the bundle from the bundle of the hair for implantation held by the bundle holding portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a hair supply device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, a hair implantation device that forms a knot of a hair for implantation using a plurality of hooks for each mesh hole of a mesh-shaped base material to implant a hair for implantation has been developed, and automation of manufacturing of a wig has been progressing (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-040084

[0004] With the above-described hair implantation device, it is possible to automate a hair implantation work that has been performed by manual work in the past, and to stably and continuously perform hair implantation to a base material.

[0005] However, the hair implantation device needs to receive supply of a hair for implantation one by one, and in order to achieve stable and continuous hair implantation work, stable and continuous supply of the hair for implantation is indispensable.

[0006] Generally, a large number of hairs for implantation are required in a hair implantation work, and thus the hairs for implantation are circulated in a bundled state. Therefore, it is required to appropriately supply the hair for implantation to the hair implantation device by extracting the hair for implantation one by one from a hair bundle of the hair for implantation as described above, but automation of the above-described supply work has not been achieved. SUMMARY

[0007] An object of the present application is to supply a hair for implantation one by one from a hair bundle of the hair for implantation.

[0008] The invention described in Technical Solution 1 is a hair supply device that performs a supply operation for extracting a hair for implantation one by one from a hair bundle of the hair for implantation,

[0009] The hair supply device is characterized by comprising:

[0010] a supply portion that holds the hair bundle of the hair for implantation and sorts a plurality of tips of the hair for implantation in a direction different from the hair bundle;

[0011] a head portion that holds the tips of the hair for implantation;

[0012] a conveying mechanism that conveys the head portion; and

[0013] a control device that controls an operation of the supply operation,

[0014] The supply portion has:

[0015] a hair bundle holding portion that holds the hair bundle of the hair for implantation; and

[0016] a separation section that separates a plurality of the hair grafts from the hair bundle of the hair grafts held by the hair bundle holding section in a state in which the tips of the hair grafts are directed in a direction different from the hair bundle.

[0017] The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the hair supply device according to claim 1,

[0018] The hair bundle holding section has an abutting member that holds the hair bundle of the hair grafts in contact with two abutting surfaces whose interval gradually decreases and intersects,

[0019] The separation section has a separation plate that is inserted from the outer periphery of the hair bundle of the hair grafts to separate a plurality of the hair grafts.

[0020] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the hair supply device according to claim 2,

[0021] The separation plate directs a plurality of the hair grafts in a direction different from the hair bundle by rotating a flat surface in a state in which the separation plate is inserted into the hair bundle of the hair grafts.

[0022] The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the hair supply device according to claim 3,

[0023] The separation plate has a recess in the flat surface that allows a state in which the tips of a plurality of the separated hair grafts are spread.

[0024] The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the hair supply device according to claim 3 or 4,

[0025] An air nozzle that blows air to the flat surface in contact with a plurality of the hair grafts after the separation plate is rotated.

[0026] Effects of the invention

[0027] The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the hair supply device according to claim 3 or 4, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the overall structure of the hair supply device as an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 2is a plan view showing the overall structure of the hair supply device.

[0030] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the control system of the hair supply device.

[0031] Figure 4 is an oblique view of the structure on the support plate of the hair supply device.

[0032] Figure 5 is an oblique view of the supply section with the separation plate in the waiting state.

[0033] Figure 6 is an oblique view of the supply section with the separation plate in the dumping state.

[0034] Figure 7 is a plan view of the supply section.

[0035] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the separation plate.

[0036] Figure 9 is a view of the separation plate as viewed from the right.

[0037] Figure 10 is a plan view of the supply section with the separation plate in the dumping state.

[0038] Figure 11 is an oblique view of the structure that rotates the separation plate.

[0039] Figure 12 is an oblique view of the structure on the support plate of the hair supply device in a state where the head pulls out a hair from a hair bundle for implantation.

[0040] Figure 13 is an oblique view of the head and the transport mechanism.

[0041] Figure 14 (A) to Figure 14 (C) are sectional views showing, in order, the suction action of the hair for implantation by the head.

[0042] Figure 15 is an oblique view of the transport mechanism as viewed from a direction different from Figure 13

[0043] Figure 16 is an oblique view of the gripping device.

[0044] Figure 17 is a flowchart of the action control for automatically extracting the hair for implantation one by one from the hair bundle for implantation by the hair implantation device.

[0045] Explanation of reference numerals

[0046] 10 hair supply device​

[0047] 20 supply section

[0048] 30 bundle holding section

[0049] 33 support plate (abutting member)

[0050] 331 abutting surface

[0051] 333 narrow portion

[0052] 34 pressurizing plate

[0053] 341 cutout portion

[0054] 342 auxiliary pressurizing plate

[0055] 343 cutout portion

[0056] 36 holding cylinder

[0057] 40 separation section

[0058] 41 separation plate

[0059] 411 flat plate surface

[0060] 412 groove (recess)

[0061] 44 entry cylinder

[0062] 48 rotation cylinder

[0063] 49 air nozzle

[0064] 50 detection section

[0065] 51 displacement sensor

[0066] 511 light source

[0067] 512 light-receiving element

[0068] 52 conveyance unit

[0069] 53 sensor conveyance motor

[0070] 60 head

[0071] 61 suction nozzle

[0072] 62 suction nozzle housing

[0073] 621 air chamber

[0074] 625 flowmeter (flow detection section)

[0075] 63 gripping member

[0076] 64 first gripping cylinder (actuator)

[0077] 70 conveying mechanism

[0078] 711 X-axis conveying motor

[0079] 721 Z-axis conveying motor

[0080] 731 Y-axis conveying motor

[0081] 80 gripping device

[0082] 81 upper gripping member

[0083] 82 lower gripping member

[0084] 83 second gripping cylinder

[0085] 85 retreat cylinder

[0086] 100 control device

[0087] 101 CPU

[0088] 104 data storage

[0089] B bundle of hairs for implantation

[0090] D detection area

[0091] M hair for implantation DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] [Overall configuration of embodiment]

[0093] Hereinafter, a hair supply device 10 as an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0094] Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the overall configuration of the hair supply device 10, Figure 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the hair supply device 10, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a control system thereof.

[0095] The hair supply device 10 is used for automatically taking out the hair for implantation M one by one from a bundle B of the hair for implantation M for an unillustrated hair implantation device.

[0096] The hair for implantation M is not limited to human hair, but all other fibers which are regarded as human hair, including natural fibers and artificial fibers, are also targeted.

[0097] As illustrated, the hair supply device 10 has: a supply portion 20 that sorts a part of a bundle B of implantation hair M, that is, a plurality of tips of implantation hair M, toward a direction different from the bundle B (for example, a side of a head portion 60 described later); a detection portion 50 that detects a position on three dimensions of the sorted plurality of tips of implantation hair M; the head portion 60 that captures a tip of one implantation hair M; a transport mechanism 70 that transports the head portion 60 to an arbitrary position on three dimensions; a gripping device 80 that is a holding unit that holds an end portion on the opposite side of the tip of implantation hair M pulled out by the head portion 60; a pedal 14 that performs a supply operation of implantation hair M; a control device 100 that performs operation control of the supply operation of implantation hair M; and a base 12 that supports each of the above-described structures.

[0098] Further, in the following description, as illustrated in Figure 1 the device is set to be horizontal in a state where the device is set on a horizontal plane, two directions orthogonal to each other are set as an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, one of the X-axis direction is set as a "left" side, the other is set as a "right" side, one of the Y-axis direction is set as a "front" side, the other is set as a "rear" side. In addition, a vertical up-and-down direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is set as a Z-axis direction, one of the Z-axis direction is set as an "upper" side, the other is set as a "lower" side.

[0099] [Base]

[0100] The base 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an upper surface thereof becomes a horizontal plane along an X-Y plane. Further, on the upper surface of the base 12, a long rectangular support plate 121 is provided in the Y-axis direction, and each structure of the hair supply device 10 is placed on the upper surface of the support plate 121.

[0101] In addition, six support legs 122 (two are omitted from the illustration) are provided on the bottom of the base 12, but a castor that enables the device to move can be provided on the bottom of the base 12.

[0102] [Supply portion]

[0103] Figure 4 is an oblique view of each structure on the support plate 121, Figure 5 and Figure 6 is an oblique view of the supply portion 20, Figure 7 is a plan view.

[0104] The supply portion 20 is as Figure 4 to Figure 7As shown, the supply portion 20 is provided on the front side portion of the upper surface of the support plate 121. The supply portion 20 has a bundle holding portion 30 which holds the bundle B of the hair M for implanting, and a separating portion 40 which separates the bundle B of the hair M for implanting held by the bundle holding portion 30 to select a plurality of the hair M for implanting in a state in which the tips are directed in a prescribed direction (the head 60 side, for example, the rear direction).

[0105] The bundle B of the hair M for implanting is a bundle of several hundreds to several thousands of the hair M for implanting aligned in length.

[0106] The bundle holding portion 30 has a main plate 31 which is supported at a position near the right end portion of the upper surface of the support plate 121 by the support wall 123 which is vertically provided in a state along the Y-Z plane, and a side wall plate 32 which is connected to the left end portion of the main plate 31.

[0107] The main plate 31 is a rectangular flat plate along the X-Z plane, and the side wall plate 32 is a flat plate along the Y-Z plane which extends rearward from the left end portion of the main plate 31. The side wall plate 32 has a foot portion which is vertically provided on the upper surface of the support plate 121.

[0108] Further, the bundle holding portion 30 has a support plate 33 which is provided at the rear of the main plate 31 to support the bundle B of the hair M for implanting as an abutting member, and a pressing plate 34 which pushes the bundle B of the hair M for implanting toward the support plate 33.

[0109] The support plate 33 is curved in a substantially V shape when viewed from above, and is supported on the main plate 31 and the side wall plate 32 in a manner in which the opening portion of the V shape faces the front direction.

[0110] Further, the support plate 33 has two abutting surfaces 331 which gradually decrease in interval toward the rear direction on the inner side of the V shape. The abutting surfaces 331 are both perpendicular with respect to the X-Y plane, and intersect at a portion which is a valley of the V shape, and the intersecting portion of the two abutting surfaces 331 is along the Z axis direction. Further, the bundle B of the hair M for implanting is pressed and contacted to the valley portion of the V shape, and thus the bundle B of the hair M for implanting is held in a state along the Z axis direction.

[0111] The pressing plate 34 is a rectangular flat plate along the X-Y plane, and a substantially V-shaped notch portion 341 is formed in the center of the rear end portion thereof. Further, the front end portion of the pressing plate 34 is supported so as to be slidable in the Y axis direction at both end portions by two slide guide portions 35 which are provided on the main plate 31. Further, the pressing plate 34 is connected to a plunger of a holding cylinder 36 which is fixedly installed on the main plate 31, and is given a reciprocating movement in the Y axis direction.

[0112] The left and right end portions of the rear end portion of the pressing plate 34 can be inserted into slit holes 332 parallel to the X-Y plane formed in the two abutting surfaces 331 of the support plate 33. Thus, the rear end portion of the pressing plate 34 can be retracted to the vicinity of the valley portion of the V letter of the support plate 33.

[0113] The valley portion of the substantially V letter-shaped notch portion 341 formed in the rear end portion of the pressing plate 34 and the aforementioned valley portion of the substantially V letter-shaped valley portion of the support plate 33 are arranged in the same direction in the X axis direction.

[0114] Thus, if the pressing plate 34 is pressed in the retraction direction by the holding cylinder 36, the hair M for implantation arranged in the substantially V letter-shaped valley portion of the support plate 33 is held in a state of being fitted into the valley portion of the substantially V letter-shaped notch portion 341 of the pressing plate 34.

[0115] The hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation held by the hair bundle holding portion 30 is sequentially taken out from the rear side portion (the portion on the two abutting surfaces 331 side) and supplied to the supply destination. Thus, regarding the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation, the number of the hair M for implantation gradually decreases, and the cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases.

[0116] Further, if the cross-sectional area of the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation becomes small, it is difficult to hold between the substantially V letter-shaped valley portion of the support plate 33 and the valley portion of the substantially V letter-shaped notch portion 341 of the pressing plate 34.

[0117] Thus, on the upper surface of the pressing plate 34, an auxiliary pressing plate 342 having a small width in the X axis direction is provided. The auxiliary pressing plate 342 is formed with a small substantially V letter-shaped notch portion 343 in the rear end portion, like the pressing plate 34. The auxiliary pressing plate 342 is formed with a long hole in the Y axis direction and is fixed to the pressing plate 34 by a lock screw. Thus, the auxiliary pressing plate 342 can be moved in the Y axis direction with respect to the pressing plate 34, and the fixed position can be adjusted.

[0118] The auxiliary pressing plate 342 has a small width in the X axis direction, and thus the rear end portion thereof can be made closer to the support plate 33 side. Thus, the position is adjusted so that the rear end portion of the auxiliary pressing plate 342 is located rearward of the rear end portion of the pressing plate 34 in the case where the cross-sectional area of the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation becomes small, and thus the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation having a small number can be held.

[0119] The separation portion 40 has a separation plate 41 that is inserted from the outer periphery of the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation to separate a plurality of the hair M for implantation in a state of having the tips directed rearward.

[0120] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the separation plate 41, Figure 9This is a view of the separating plate 41 from the right. The separating plate 41 is a long strip along the X-axis, and is a long flat plate with a flat surface parallel to the X-axis, with its front end extending to the right. The front end of the separating plate 41 forms a thin wedge shape, allowing it to pass through the outer periphery of the hair tuft B of the retained hair M when the flat surface 411 of the separating plate 41 is along the X-Z plane.

[0121] The separation plate 41 is fixedly supported at the right end of the support shaft 42 along the X-axis. The support shaft 42 is supported relative to the side wall plate 32 in a manner that allows it to rotate about the X-axis and slide along the X-axis.

[0122] When the separation plate 41 is in a state where its flat surface is along the X-Z plane, it waits to the left of the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation (set as waiting state), and then enters to the right from the waiting state, thereby inserting into the hair bundle B of the hair M for implantation (set as entering state).

[0123] The hair tufts B of the implantation hairs M are pressed into the vicinity of the bottom (designated as narrow section 333) of the trough formed by the two abutment surfaces 331 of the support plate 33 by pressure from the pressure plate 34. The separation plate 41 is inserted into the hair tufts B of the implantation hairs M on the upper side of the support plate 33 and slightly forward of the narrow section 333 of the support plate 33 when viewed from above. Therefore, the separation plate 41 can perform a "minor separation" that sorts a small number of implantation hairs M that have entered the narrow section 333 of the support plate 33 towards the rear of the separation plate 41.

[0124] Furthermore, the separating plate 41, together with the support shaft 42, can rotate around the X-axis, and in the engaged state, it rotates 90° clockwise when viewed from the left. At this time, the separating plate 41 is located directly above the support plate 33, thus allowing several hairs M for implantation to be separated rearward. Figure 6 As shown, when viewed from the left, the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41 is pressed down 90° clockwise, and the tip of its upper end is in a rearward-facing state (set as a tilted state).

[0125] At this time, as Figure 9 As shown, the flat surface 411 of the separating plate 41 is configured to be offset relative to the rotation center O involved in the support shaft 42. That is, in the initial state after insertion, the flat surface 411 of the separating plate 41 is located outside the radius direction centered on the rotation center O and above the rotation center O, and moves towards the rear of the rotation center O in the tilting state (illustrated by double-dotted lines). Therefore, when tilting, the front end of the flat surface 411 of the separating plate 41 can be moved further rearward in the radius direction, which can effectively press down the small number of separated and sorted hairs M for implantation.

[0126] Further, if at least the rear end portion of the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41 at the time of dumping is located rearward compared to the narrow portion 333 in plan view, the sorted fine hair M can be more effectively pushed rearward. In addition, it is preferable that the lower surface (flat surface 411) of the separation plate 41 at the time of dumping be lowered to the same height or a close height as the upper end portion of the support plate 33.

[0127] Further, by the offset configuration of the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41, protrusion forward compared to the center of rotation O at the time of dumping can be suppressed, interference with the bundle B of fine hair M at a portion that becomes forward compared to the center of rotation O can be suppressed, and smooth rotation action of the separation plate 41 can be ensured.

[0128] Further, the separation plate 41 can also be offset downward from the center of rotation O in the state immediately after entry, and rotated 90° counterclockwise when viewed from the left. In this case, the sorted fine hair M that is separated in small numbers can be kicked out to the rear.

[0129] Further, the separation plate 41 is not limited to being rotatable, and can also be configured to be inserted to the bundle B of fine hair M in a state along the X-Z plane, directly moved parallel to the rear, and push the sorted fine hair M in small numbers rearward between the lower end portion of the separation plate 41 and the upper end portion of the support plate 33.

[0130] Further, the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41 is formed with a recessed groove 412 as a recess portion that allows the state in which the tips of the plurality of sorted fine hair M expand. The recessed groove 412, as shown in Figure 8 is a groove that becomes a state along the vertical direction when the separation plate 41 is not in a dumping state (supposed to be a normal state (the state immediately after entry described above)), and becomes a shape in which the width gradually increases from the bottom to the top. Therefore, if the separation plate 41 is rotated to become a dumping state, the recessed groove 412 becomes a state in which it expands toward the rear, and the plurality of fine hair M that is pushed down in the recessed groove 412, as shown in Figure 10 is allowed to expand toward the rear within the angle range of the recessed groove 412.

[0131] The support shaft 42 that supports the separation plate 41 described above is connected to the link plate 43 near the right end portion.

[0132] The link plate 43 is connected to the plunger of the entry cylinder 44 that is fixed and supported to the front side of the support shaft 42 by the side wall plate 32. The entry cylinder 44 is fixed and supported to the side wall plate 32 in a manner in which the plunger reciprocates left and right. Therefore, the separation plate 41 can be caused to enter to the right by the link plate 43 by the operation of the entry cylinder 44, and switched from a standby state to an entry state. In addition, the entry cylinder 44 can also switch the separation plate 41 from the entry state to the standby state.

[0133] In addition, the support shaft 42 is supported to the side wall plate 32 via a key groove nut 45. The key groove nut 45 is supported so as to be rotatable about the X axis with respect to the side wall plate 32. Moreover, the key groove nut 45 allows a sliding action of the support shaft 42 in the X axis direction and rotates in conjunction with the support shaft 42 about the X axis.

[0134] The key groove nut 45 is engaged and fixed to one end portion of a driven arm 46 as shown in Figure 11 The other end portion of the driven arm 46 is linked to a plunger of a rotation cylinder 48 via a link member 47.

[0135] The driven arm 46 is rotatable about the X axis with the key groove nut 45 as a shaft, and both end portions of the link member 47 are each linked to the driven arm 46 and the plunger of the rotation cylinder 48 so as to be rotatable about the X axis.

[0136] The rotation cylinder 48 is installed to the side wall plate 32 with the plunger directed upward. Moreover, if the plunger of the rotation cylinder 48 is brought into the upper side, the driven arm 46 is rotatable by 90° in the clockwise direction from the left side in conjunction with the key groove nut 45 and the support shaft 42 via the link member 47.

[0137] Therefore, the rotation cylinder 48 is capable of switching the separation plate 41 from the entry state to the dumping state. In addition, the rotation cylinder 48 is capable of restoring the separation plate 41 from the dumping state to the normal state.

[0138] In addition, an air nozzle 49 is provided below the rear end portion of the support plate 33. The air nozzle 49 is disposed below the recess 412 of the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41 in the dumping state in a state in which a nozzle front end portion is directed upward, and is capable of blowing air to the recess 412. The air nozzle 49 is connected to a supply source of high-pressure air which is not shown, and is capable of blowing air at a prescribed timing by controlling an electromagnetic valve 49a (refer to Figure 3 ).

[0139] The air nozzle 49 blows air from below to the recess 412 of the flat surface 411 of the separation plate 41 in the dumping state, and thereby is capable of dispersing a plurality of bristle hairs M which are pressed into the recess 412 without overlapping.

[0140] [Detection Section]

[0141] The detection section 50 is supported to a support wall 123 and is disposed to the rear of the supply section 20 as shown in Figure 4 . Moreover, the detection section 50 has a displacement sensor 51 and a conveyance unit 52 which conveys the displacement sensor 51 in the Y axis direction.

[0142] The conveyance unit 52 has, for example, a ball screw mechanism and a sensor conveyance motor 53 that is a drive source thereof (see Figure 3 ).

[0143] Further, by driving of the sensor conveyance motor 53, the ball screw of the ball screw mechanism rotates, and a carriage 54 that supports the displacement sensor 51 moves in the Y-axis direction, so that the displacement sensor 51 is movable to be positioned at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.

[0144] Furthermore, the conveyance unit 52 can use a known direct-acting mechanism other than the ball screw mechanism, as long as it can move the displacement sensor 51 to be positioned at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.

[0145] Figure 12 is a perspective view that shows a detection region D of the displacement sensor 51.

[0146] The displacement sensor 51 has a light source 511 that emits light and a light-receiving element 512 that receives reflected light therefrom (see Figure 3 ).

[0147] The light source 511 of the displacement sensor 51 emits, as shown in Figure 12 , detection light composed of laser light in the X-Z plane toward the vertically downward direction.

[0148] On the other hand, the light-receiving element 512 is a planar image sensor, and the optical axis of the light-receiving element 512 and an optical system not shown is inclined a little toward the front direction from the vertically downward direction, and the detection range has a little width in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0149] Therefore, the detection region D of the displacement sensor 51 becomes a region in the X-Z plane (a region of a trapezoid indicated by a slant line in Figure 12 ) in which the detection range of the light-receiving element 512 for the detection light in the X-Z plane overlaps.

[0150] The displacement sensor 51 can detect the intersecting position on the detection region D if the hair M for implantation crosses the detection region D, because the displacement sensor 51 generates scattered light. That is, the displacement sensor 51 constitutes a sensor that detects the position in two dimensions in the X-Z plane.

[0151] Further, the displacement sensor 51 can move in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the detection region D by the conveyance unit 52, so that the position of the hair M for implantation in three dimensions can be detected by scanning the detection region D in the Y-axis direction.

[0152] For example, as shown in Figure 10As shown, if the detection area D is scanned forward, the tips of the plurality of implanted hairs M become in a state of intersecting the detection area D, and the tip positions of the implanted hairs M in three dimensions can be detected.

[0153] [Head]

[0154] Figure 13 is an oblique view of the head 60 and the transport mechanism 70, Figure 14 (A) to Figure 14 (C) are cross-sectional views showing the suction action of the implanted hair M by the head 60.

[0155] The head 60 that holds the tips of the implanted hair M is supported by the transport mechanism 70, and the head 60 and the transport mechanism 70 are disposed behind the supply part 20.

[0156] The head 60 has a suction nozzle 61 that suctions the tips of the implanted hair M, a suction nozzle housing 62 that forms an air chamber connected to the suction nozzle 61, a gripping member 63 that grips the implanted hair M suctioned by the air chamber 621 of the suction nozzle housing 62 from the suction nozzle 61, and a first gripping cylinder 64 as an actuator that imparts a gripping pressure to the gripping member 63.

[0157] The suction nozzle 61 is a tubular body that allows the implanted hair M to be inserted with a certain degree of excess amount of inner diameter. The opening portion on the front end side can be a shape in which the outer diameter slightly expands as it goes forward.

[0158] The suction nozzle housing 62 is formed with an air chamber 621 composed of an upper opening, a circular bottom hole with a constant inner diameter, a mounting hole 622 of the suction nozzle 61 that penetrates from the front end outside to the air chamber 621, and a suction hole 623 that penetrates from the rear end outside to the air chamber 621 and is connected to a negative pressure source composed of an ejector, a pump, or the like. The suction hole 623 is connected to an unillustrated suction path having a solenoid valve 61a (see Figure 3 ) that switches between a suction state and a suction stop state with respect to the negative pressure source.

[0159] Inside the air chamber 621, the gripping member 63 in the shape of a cylinder or a circular plate that can reciprocate in the air chamber 621 in the up-down direction is housed.

[0160] The gripping member 63 is linked to the plunger of the first gripping cylinder 64 provided on the upper portion of the suction nozzle housing 62.

[0161] The first gripping cylinder 64 is fixedly equipped on the upper portion of the suction nozzle housing 62 with the plunger directed downward. Between the first gripping cylinder 64 and the suction nozzle housing 62, an unillustrated sealing material having air tightness is interposed to prevent the inflow of external air from the upper opening portion to the air chamber 621.

[0162] The first gripping cylinder 64 is in the air chamber 621, and can be switched to a state in which the gripping member 63 is retracted upward (A) and a state in which it is pressed against the bottom of the air chamber 621 (B). Figure 14 Figure 14 (C). Figure 14

[0163] Thus, the bristle hair M drawn into the air chamber 621 from the suction nozzle 61 can be gripped by the gripping member 63.

[0164] Further, between the air chamber 621 and the suction source, a flow meter 625 as a flow detection unit is provided (see FIG. 6) to detect the suction flow when the bristle hair M is drawn by the suction nozzle 61. The control device 100 can determine whether one bristle hair M is drawn, no bristle hair is drawn, or two or more bristle hairs are drawn in the suction nozzle 61 based on the detected flow of the flow meter 625. Figure 3

[0165] [Transport mechanism]

[0166] Figure 15 is an oblique view of the transport mechanism 70 viewed from a different direction from Figure 13 . As shown in Figure 13 and Figure 15 , the transport mechanism 70 has an X-axis transport unit 71 that transports the head 60 in the X-axis direction, a Z-axis transport unit 72 that transports the head 60 in the Z-axis direction via the X-axis transport unit 71, and a Y-axis transport unit 73 that transports the head 60 in the Y-axis direction via the X-axis transport unit 71 and the Z-axis transport unit 72.

[0167] The X-axis transport unit 71 has, for example, a ball screw mechanism and an X-axis transport motor 711 that is a drive source thereof (see FIG. 6). Further, by driving the X-axis transport motor 711, a carriage 712 that supports the head 60 moves in the X-axis direction, and the head 60 can be moved and positioned at an arbitrary position in the X-axis direction. Figure 3

[0168] Similarly, the Z-axis transport unit 72 has, for example, a ball screw mechanism and a Z-axis transport motor 721 that is a drive source thereof (see FIG. 6). Further, by driving the Z-axis transport motor 721, a carriage 722 that supports the X-axis transport unit 71 moves in the Z-axis direction, and the head 60 can be moved and positioned at an arbitrary position in the Z-axis direction. Figure 3

[0169] Further, the Y-axis transport unit 73 has, for example, a ball screw mechanism and a Y-axis transport motor 731 that is a drive source thereof (see FIG. 6). Further, by driving the Y-axis transport motor 731, a carriage 732 that supports the Z-axis transport unit 72 moves in the Y-axis direction, and the head 60 can be moved and positioned at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.​​​​​Figure 3 ). Moreover, by driving the Y-axis conveyance motor 731, the carriage 732 that supports the Z-axis conveyance unit 72 moves in the Y-axis direction, and the head 60 can be moved to be positioned at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.

[0170] Furthermore, the X-axis conveyance unit 71 and the Z-axis conveyance unit 72 are exclusively used for positioning for suction of the tips of the hair M for implantation by the head 60. In contrast to this, the Y-axis conveyance unit 73 is used not only for positioning for suction of the tips of the hair M for implantation by the head 60 but also for a pulling-out operation for pulling out the hair M for implantation from the bundle B rearward when the hair M for implantation is gripped by the head 60, and therefore the movable range thereof is set to be wider than those of the X-axis conveyance unit 71 and the Z-axis conveyance unit 72.

[0171] In addition, the above-described X-axis conveyance unit 71, the Z-axis conveyance unit 72, and the Y-axis conveyance unit 73 can use a known direct-acting mechanism other than a ball screw mechanism, as long as they can move the head 60 to be positioned at an arbitrary position in three dimensions.

[0172] [Grabbing device]

[0173] Figure 16 is a perspective view of the grabbing device 80. The grabbing device 80 is disposed behind the supply section 20 and the detection section 50, and in the movable range of the head 60 in the Y-axis direction involved by the conveyance mechanism 70, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 8

[0174] The grabbing device 80 grips the end portion of the hair M for implantation opposite the tips, which is captured by the head 60. The grabbing device 80 has an upper grabbing member 81 and a lower grabbing member 82 that grip the hair M for implantation, a second grabbing cylinder 83 that raises and lowers the upper grabbing member 81, a grabbing member support carriage 84 that supports the second grabbing cylinder 83 and the upper and lower grabbing members 81 and 82, a retreat cylinder 85 that moves the upper and lower grabbing members 81 and 82 in the X-axis direction via the grabbing member support carriage 84, and a base 86 that supports the entire structure of the grabbing device 80.

[0175] The lower grabbing member 82 is fixedly supported to the grabbing member support carriage 84, and the upper grabbing member 81 is supported to perform a raising and lowering operation with respect to the grabbing member support carriage 84 via the second grabbing cylinder 83.

[0176] The lower grabbing member 82 protrudes leftward from the vicinity of the upper end portion of the grabbing member support carriage 84, and the left end portion upper surface thereof becomes a grabbing surface that grips the hair M for implantation.​

[0177] The upper gripping member 81 extends to the left at a position near the upper end of the gripping member support bracket 84 and directly above the lower gripping member 82, with the lower surface of the left end thereof serving as a gripping surface for gripping the hair M.

[0178] If the upper gripping member 81 is given a lowering action by the second gripping cylinder 83, the gripping surface thereof is pressed against the gripping surface of the lower gripping member 82, enabling the hair M to be gripped between the gripping surfaces thereof.

[0179] In addition, the gripping surface of the upper gripping member 81 is elastically supported in the Z-axis direction or the gripping surface itself is formed of an elastic material. Therefore, if the hair M is pulled by a certain degree of tension in a state in which the hair M is gripped by the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82, the hair M can be caused to move while sliding.

[0180] The position at which the head 60 is to be exchanged with the gripping device 80 is a position in which the center of the suction nozzle 61 is on the Y-axis line passing through the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33, and a position in which the front end of the suction nozzle 61 is slightly behind the gripping positions in the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 of the gripping device 80.

[0181] Thus, in a state in which the head 60 grips the rear end of the hair M and the gripping device 80 grips the hair M at a position on the front side of the position gripped by the head 60, the conveying mechanism 70 moves the head 60 rearward to the mounting position, whereby the hair M can be caused to slide on the gripping surfaces of the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 and be stretched by a certain degree of tension over substantially the entire length thereof.

[0182] The second gripping cylinder 83 supports a plunger directed upward in the gripping member support bracket 84, with the plunger being coupled to the upper gripping member 81.

[0183] The base 86 is disposed on the upper surface of the support plate 121 to the rear and right of the detection portion 50.

[0184] The retraction cylinder 85 has its plunger directed to the left and disposed on the upper portion of the base 86, with the gripping member support bracket 84 coupled to the plunger being supported on the left end upper side thereof.

[0185] Furthermore, the retraction cylinder 85 can move the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 in the X-axis direction between a retraction position which is the right end of the movable region and a gripping position which is the left end, via the gripping member support bracket 84.

[0186] At the retreat position, the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 are outside the movable area of the head 60 to the right, and are in a state of retreating to a position where interference with the head 60 conveyed by the conveying mechanism 70 does not occur.

[0187] At the gripping position, the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 are in a position where the implanted hair M in the Y-axis direction that is stretched from the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33 of the hair bundle holding portion 30 toward the rear can be gripped.

[0188] [Control system of hair supply device]

[0189] The control device 100 of the hair supply device 10 has, as shown in Figure 3 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 that stores a program for performing the following operation control, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 that becomes a work area for arithmetic processing, a rewritable nonvolatile data storage 104 that stores various kinds of setting data and the like as a storage unit, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that executes the program in the ROM 102.

[0190] In addition, the CPU 101 controls the driving of the sensor conveying motor 53, the X-axis conveying motor 711, the Z-axis conveying motor 721, and the Y-axis conveying motor 731 via the motor driving circuits 53a, 711a, 721a, and 731a.

[0191] Further, the CPU 101 is connected to the driving circuits 36b, 44b, 48b, 64b, 83b, and 85b for controlling the solenoid valves 36a, 44a, 48a, 64a, 83a, and 85a, respectively, which operate the holding cylinder 36, the entry cylinder 44, the rotation cylinder 48, the first gripping cylinder 64, the second gripping cylinder 83, and the retreat cylinder 85.

[0192] In addition, the CPU 101 is connected to the driving circuits 49b and 61b for controlling the solenoid valve 49a that performs the ejection of air from the air nozzle 49 and the solenoid valve 61a that switches between the suction state and the suction stop state of the head 60.

[0193] In addition, the CPU 101 is connected to the light source 511 and the light receiving element 512 of the displacement sensor 51 and the flowmeter 625 via the interfaces 51a and 625a.

[0194] And, the CPU 101 is connected with the pedal 14 which starts the supplying operation of the hair for implanting M via the interface 14a.

[0195] In addition, the CPU 101 is connected with the operation panel 15 which has a function as a display portion which displays various information and a function as an input portion which is used for various inputs via the interface 15a.

[0196] [Supplying operation control of hair for implanting]

[0197] Figure 17 is a flowchart of the operation control which supplies the hair for implanting M to the unillustrated hair implanting device automatically by taking out the hair for implanting M one by one from the bundle B of the hair for implanting M. Hereinafter, the supplying operation control of the hair for implanting M will be explained in detail.

[0198] Further, in the supplying portion 20, it is premised that the bundle B of the hair for implanting M is clamped between the abutting surface 331 of the support plate 33 and the cutout portion 341 of the pressurizing plate 34 in a state by the work of the holding cylinder 36.

[0199] In this state, if the CPU 101 detects the input of the start of the supplying operation by the pedal 14 (step S1), it executes the operation which sorts the tips of the plurality of the hair for implanting M in a state of facing the rear by the separating plate 41 (minority separation) and the measuring operation of the position of the tips of the sorted hair for implanting M (step S3).

[0200] That is, from the state shown in Figure 5 the separating plate 41 is moved to the right by the entry cylinder 44, sorts the plurality of the hair for implanting M by pressing the bundle B of the hair for implanting M to the narrow portion 333. And, as shown in Figure 6 the separating plate 41 is rotated 90° by the rotating cylinder 48 to topple the tips of the sorted plurality of the hair for implanting M so as to face the rear, and air is blown from below by the air nozzle 49, thereby dispersing the toppled plurality of the hair for implanting M without overlapping.

[0201] Further, the displacement sensor 51 is set to the light emitting state, and the advancing movement of the displacement sensor 51 is performed from the waiting position which is sufficiently to the rear of the extent that the tip of the hair for implanting M facing the rear does not reach the detection area D to the stop position where the detection area D is in the vicinity of the narrow portion 333 by the sensor feed motor 53. The distance from the waiting position to the stop position is set to be less than or equal to the distance from the stop position where the detection area D reaches the narrow portion 333.

[0202] Thus, as shown inFigure 10 As shown, the detection region D of the displacement sensor 51 in the X-Z plane is moved forward, and the position of the tip of the plurality of hair M in the X-Z plane is detected. At this time, the displacement sensor 51 is being moved forward, and thus the position in the X-Z plane is continuously detected at a sampling interval of a small time, and thus the position of the tip of the plurality of hair M in three dimensions can be obtained.

[0203] Further, if the position of the tip of the plurality of hair M in three dimensions is detected, only one of the plurality of hair M is selected. For example, the CPU 101 selects the hair M whose tip extends to the farthest rear (the head 60 side).

[0204] Further, the selection of the hair M is not limited to the above-described method, and all methods of selecting one from the plurality of hair M can be selected. For example, the hair M having the smallest inclination with respect to the Y-axis direction can be selected from the plurality of hair M.

[0205] Further, the number of hair M whose position in three dimensions is detected is sometimes only one, and in this case, the selection process can not be performed.

[0206] Further, the position of the tip of the hair M in three dimensions can not be detected at times, and in this case, the CPU 101 can perform error processing such as notification. Alternatively, the retry of the sorting operation performed by the entry and rotation of the separation plate 41 can be performed.

[0207] If the hair M is selected, the CPU 101 controls the electromagnetic valve 61a and starts the suction in the suction nozzle 61 of the head 60 (step S5).

[0208] Further, the CPU 101 controls the X-axis conveying motor 711, the Z-axis conveying motor 721, and the Y-axis conveying motor 731, and conveys the head 60 in the waiting position so that the tip position of the suction nozzle 61 is positioned at the detection position of the tip of the selected one hair M (step S7).

[0209] Further, the waiting position of the head 60 is a position where the tip position of the suction nozzle 61 is normally sufficiently far to the rear of the tip of the hair M toward the rear, and here, is further provided to be a position on the Y-axis line passing through the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33 from the center of the suction nozzle 61.

[0210] Further, if the head 60 reaches the tip of the selected one of the hair for implantation M, the CPU 101 performs confirmation control for determining whether or not the one hair for implantation M is sucked in the suction nozzle 61, based on the detected flow rate of the flowmeter 625 (Step S9).

[0211] As for the flow rate in the suction nozzle 61, based on the measured value or the like, a lower limit threshold value and an upper limit threshold value of the flow rate which can be obtained when the one hair for implantation M is sucked in the suction nozzle 61 are determined in advance, and the above determination is made depending on whether or not the detected flow rate is within the range from the lower limit threshold value to the upper limit threshold value. These threshold values can be recorded in the data storage 104 in advance, or can be arbitrarily set from the operation panel 15.

[0212] Further, in a case where the detected flow rate is outside the range from the lower limit threshold value to the upper limit threshold value (Step S9: NO), the CPU 101 performs the following movement control, that is, the suction is stopped and the head 60 and the displacement sensor 51 are returned to the respective standby positions (Step S27), and the separation plate 41 is returned to the standby state (Step S29).

[0213] Further, the process returns to Step S3, and the sorting movement (the few-separation) of the hair for implantation M, the measurement movement of the tip position of the hair for implantation M, and the retry of the suction movement of the one hair for implantation M by the head 60 are performed.

[0214] On the other hand, in a case where the detected flow rate is within the range from the lower limit threshold value to the upper limit threshold value (Step S9: YES), the CPU 101 controls the transport mechanism 70 so that the head 60 is moved forward to the suction position (Step Sll).

[0215] The suction position of the head 60 is a position where the center of the suction nozzle 61 is on the Y-axis line passing through the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33, and is a position after the forward movement by a prescribed distance from the tip position of the hair for implantation M. The prescribed distance is set to a distance by which the tip of the hair for implantation M sucked by the suction nozzle 61 is inserted into the air chamber 621 to a position where it can be gripped by the gripping member 63.

[0216] Further, the CPU 101 performs the same confirmation control as Step S9 again at the suction position of the head 60 (Step S13).

[0217] In this case, in a case where the detected flow rate is outside the range from the lower limit threshold value to the upper limit threshold value (Step S13: NO), the process proceeds to Step S27, and the retry of the separation of the hair for implantation M from the hair bundle B, the tip detection, and the suction of the hair for implantation M is performed.

[0218] Further, in a case where it is detected that the flow rate is in a range from the lower threshold value to the upper threshold value (step S13: YES), the CPU 101 controls the first gripping cylinder 64 to lower the gripping member 63, grips the tips of the hair M for implantation in the air chamber 621 (step S15), and controls the electromagnetic valve 61a to end the suction in the suction nozzle 61 of the head 60 (step S17).

[0219] Then, the CPU 101 returns the displacement sensor 51 to the waiting position, moves the head 60 to the handover position with respect to the gripping device 80 (step S19).

[0220] The handover position of the head 60 with respect to the gripping device 80 is a position where the center of the suction nozzle 61 passes through the Y-axis line at the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33, and is a position where the front end of the suction nozzle 61 is slightly behind the gripping positions in the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 of the gripping device 80.

[0221] If the head 60 is moved to the handover position with respect to the gripping device 80, the hair M for implantation that is gripped becomes a state where it is pulled out straight in the Y-axis direction from the upper end of the narrow portion 333 of the support plate 33, and thus the configuration in which the hair M for implantation passes through the detection region D of the displacement sensor 51 until the handover position is reached and at the handover position can be maintained.

[0222] Therefore, the CPU 101 performs detection by the displacement sensor 51 with respect to the hair M for implantation that has passed through the detection region D, and determines whether the pulling-out operation of the hair M for implantation is appropriate or not (step S21).

[0223] That is, whether a cross section of an amount of the hair M for implantation is detected at an appropriate position or not is determined by the detection of the displacement sensor 51.

[0224] For example, it is determined that it is not appropriate in a case where the hair M for implantation in the gripped state is shifted and the hair M for implantation is not detected in the detection region D, the hair M for implantation is detected at a position that is significantly deviated from the grip, or a plurality of the hair M for implantation is gripped and a cross section of an amount of the hair M for implantation is detected.

[0225] Further, in a case where it is determined that the pulling-out operation is not appropriate (step S21: NO), the gripped state is released, and the process proceeds to step S27, and retry of separation of the hair M for implantation from the bundle B, tip detection, and suction of the hair M for implantation is performed.

[0226] Further, in a case where it is determined that the pulling-out operation is appropriate (step S21: YES), the CPU 101 controls the retreat cylinder 85 of the gripping device 80 to move the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 from the retreat position to the gripping position, and controls the second gripping cylinder 83 to perform gripping of the hair M for implantation by the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 (step S23).

[0227] Further, the CPU 101 controls the conveying mechanism 70 to move the head 60 rearward to the mounting position (step S25), and ends the supply operation control of the hair M for implantation.

[0228] Further, the mounting position of the head 60 is a position moved rearward by a distance slightly shorter than the length obtained by subtracting the gripping amount of the gripping device 80 and the gripping amount of the head 60 from the length of the hair M for implantation from the aforementioned handover position. As for the length of the hair M for implantation, the gripping amount of the gripping device 80, and the gripping amount of the head 60, they can be recorded in advance in the data storage 104, or can be set in advance as setting data from the operation panel 15.

[0229] By conveying the head 60 to the mounting position, the hair M for implantation is mounted in a state where it is mounted in substantially the entire length between the gripping device 80 and the head 60, and it is possible to hand over the hair M for implantation to a hair implantation device not shown.

[0230] Further, as for the supply operation control of the hair M for implantation, an additional process can be added, and the process of moving the head 60 rearward to the mounting position in step S25 can not be ended.

[0231] For example, in the mounting state in step S25, the solenoid valve 61a is controlled to set the suction nozzle 61 to the suction state, and the first gripping cylinder 64 is controlled to release the gripping state of the gripping member 63.

[0232] Further, the hair M for implantation in the mounting state is picked up by the hair implantation device not shown, and the hair M for implantation in the suction nozzle 61 of the head 60 is pulled out, by the flowmeter 625.

[0233] By this detection, the suction of the suction nozzle 61 can be stopped, and the gripping state of the gripping device 80 can be released, and after the upper gripping member 81 and the lower gripping member 82 and the head 60 are returned to the respective standby positions, the supply operation control of the hair M for implantation is ended.

[0234] Thus, in a case where the next hair M for implantation needs to be supplied, the supply operation of the next hair M for implantation can be started promptly, and the supply of the hair M for implantation can be performed continuously.

[0235] [Technical Effects of Embodiments]

[0236] In the hair supply device 10 described above, the tips of the plurality of implantation hairs M are sorted by the supply portion 20 from the bundle B of the implantation hairs M so that the tips face the rear, and the CPU 101 of the control device 100 controls the conveying mechanism 70 so that the position in three dimensions of the tip of one of the plurality of implantation hairs M detected by the detection portion 50 is captured by the head portion 60.

[0237] Therefore, one implantation hair M can be automatically extracted from the bundle B of the implantation hairs M, and the implantation hairs M can be stably supplied one by one to the implantation device.

[0238] Further, in the hair supply device 10, the detection portion 50 scans the displacement sensor 51 that detects the position in two dimensions in the direction in which the tips of the plurality of implantation hairs M face, and detects the position in three dimensions of the tips of the plurality of implantation hairs M.

[0239] Therefore, a three-dimensional detection with high precision can be achieved by a comparatively easy structure.

[0240] Further, the CPU 101 of the control device 100 controls the conveying mechanism 70 so that the implantation hair M captured by the head portion 60 is pulled out from the bundle B through the detection region D of the displacement sensor 51.

[0241] Therefore, after the implantation hair M is pulled out by the head portion 60, it is possible to determine whether one implantation hair is properly pulled out by the detection of the detection portion 50, and it is possible to reduce the occurrence of conveyance failure and to stably supply the implantation hairs M.

[0242] Further, the CPU 101 of the control device 100 controls the conveying mechanism 70 so that the implantation hair M that extends the longest toward the head portion 60 among the plurality of implantation hairs M in a state in which the tips face different directions from the bundle B is selected and held.

[0243] Therefore, one implantation hair M can be properly selected from the plurality of sorted implantation hairs M.

[0244] Further, if the implantation hair M that extends the longest toward the head portion 60 is selected, the capture by the head portion 60 becomes easy, and therefore it is possible to inhibit the capture of more than or equal to two implantation hairs M and to stably perform the supply operation of the implantation hairs M.

[0245] Further, the supply part 20 of the hair supply device 10 has a bundle holding part 30 that holds the bundle B of the hair for implantation M, and a separating part 40 that separates a plurality of the hair for implantation M from the bundle B of the hair for implantation M in a state where the tips of the hair for implantation M are directed in different directions from the bundle B.

[0246] Thus, at the time of supply of the hair for implantation M, it is sufficient to take out one hair for implantation M from the plurality of the hair for implantation M, and thus the supply of the hair for implantation M one by one can be performed more easily than the operation of directly taking out one hair for implantation M from the bundle B of the hair for implantation M.

[0247] Further, the bundle holding part 30 has a support plate 33 that holds the bundle B of the hair for implantation M by pressing and contacting the bundle B of the hair for implantation M to the two abutting surfaces 331, and the separating part 40 has a separating plate 41 that separates the plurality of the hair for implantation M by being inserted to the portion of the bundle B of the hair for implantation M that becomes the abutting surface 331 side (rear side).

[0248] Thus, the plurality of the hair for implantation M that is pressed into the narrow region between the two abutting surfaces 331 can be easily separated regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the bundle B of the hair for implantation M.

[0249] Further, the separating plate 41 performs the operation of rotating the flat surface 411 in the state of being inserted to the bundle B of the hair for implantation M at the time of separation of the hair for implantation M, and thus the plurality of the hair for implantation M can be easily directed in different directions from the bundle B. Thus, the tips of the plurality of the hair for implantation M can be separated from the bundle B, and one hair for implantation M can be easily taken out from the plurality of the hair for implantation M.

[0250] Further, the direction of the tips of the plurality of the hair for implantation M can be easily adjusted by the rotation angle of the separating plate 41.

[0251] Further, the separating plate 41 has a groove 412 in the flat surface 411 that allows the state where the tips of the separated plurality of the hair for implantation M are spread. Thus, at the time of directing the plurality of the hair for implantation M in different directions from the bundle B, when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the flat surface 411, the plurality of the hair for implantation M can be inhibited from overlapping and be caused to spread, and thus one hair for implantation M can be easily and stably taken out from the plurality of the hair for implantation M.

[0252] In addition, the head 60 of the hair supply device 10 has: a gripping member 63 that grips the hair M for hair implantation attracted by the suction nozzle 61; and a first gripping cylinder 64 that applies gripping pressure to the gripping member 63, so that only one hair M for hair implantation can be easily captured from multiple hairs by the suction nozzle 61 and firmly gripped, and the hair M for hair implantation can be pulled out from the hair bundle B more reliably.

[0253] Therefore, it is possible to supply a single hair M for hair transplantation in a good and stable manner.

[0254] In addition, the hair supply device 10 determines whether a hair M for hair implantation has been attracted by the suction nozzle 61 based on the detection flow rate of the external gas attracted from the suction nozzle 61 detected by the flow meter 625 via the CPU 101 of the control device 100. If no hair is attracted, a confirmation control is executed to perform a re-suction operation.

[0255] Therefore, when capturing the hair M for hair implantation through the head 60, it is possible to determine whether a hair for hair implantation has been properly pulled out, thereby reducing the occurrence of poor delivery and providing a more stable supply of hair M for hair implantation.

[0256] In addition, the CPU 101 of the control device 100 performs the following control: when the suction nozzle 61 is positioned at the three-dimensional position of the tip of the hair M for hair implantation detected by the detection unit 50 and the tip of the hair M for hair implantation is attracted by the suction nozzle 61, the head 60 is moved forward toward the supply unit 20 by the conveying mechanism 70 to a position where the attracted hair M for hair implantation can be grasped by the gripping member 63. Therefore, the hair M for hair implantation can be attracted sufficiently, and a hair M for hair implantation can be pulled out more reliably from the hair bundle B of the hair M for hair implantation, and a more stable supply of hair M for hair implantation can be achieved.

[0257] Furthermore, the aforementioned confirmation control is performed on both the forward and backward movements of the head 60 during the suction of the hair tip M via the suction nozzle 61. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether a hair has been properly pulled out at the beginning and end of the suction of the hair M, thereby more effectively reducing the occurrence of delivery defects and providing a more stable supply of hair M.

[0258] In addition, the hair supply device 10 has an air nozzle 49, which blows air toward the flat plate surface 411 after the separation plate 41 rotates. Therefore, when multiple hairs M for hair implantation are viewed from a direction orthogonal to the flat plate surface 411, the overlapping of each hair M is suppressed and it can be promoted to spread out. Thus, a single hair M for hair implantation can be stably taken out from multiple hairs M.

Claims

1. A hair supplying apparatus that performs a supplying operation for pulling out a plurality of hairs of a hair implantation use hair one by one from a hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair, The hair supplying apparatus is characterized by comprising: a supplying section that performs a sorting of a plurality of hair tips of the hair implantation use hair in a direction different from a hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair; a head section that holds the hair tips of the hair implantation use hair; a conveying mechanism that conveys the head section; and a control device that performs an operation control of the supplying operation, The supplying section comprises: a hair bundle holding section that holds the hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair; and a separating section that sorts a plurality of the hair implantation use hairs from the hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair held by the hair bundle holding section in a state of directing the hair tips in a direction different from the hair bundle.

2. The hair supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The hair bundle holding section has an abutting member that holds the hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair by pressing the hair bundle in contact with two abutting surfaces whose intervals are gradually reduced and intersect each other, The separating section has a separating plate that is inserted from an outer periphery of the hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair and sorts a plurality of the hair implantation use hairs.

3. The hair supplying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The separating plate directs a plurality of the hair implantation use hairs in a direction different from the hair bundle by an operation of rotating a flat surface in a state of being inserted into the hair bundle of the hair implantation use hair.

4. The hair supplying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein The separating plate has a recess in the flat surface, the recess allowing a state in which the hair tips of the sorted plurality of the hair implantation use hairs are expanded.

5. The hair supplying apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein An air nozzle that blows air to the flat surface in contact with a plurality of the hair implantation use hairs after the separating plate is rotated. ​

Images