Improved massage machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a massage machine, comprising: a substantially rectangular frame, which defines a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular thereto and a plane spanned by these directions and a centre point; and at least one roller conveyor element, in particular a belt, a chain, or a cable, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the frame and to which a plurality of massage rollers having a roller body and a roller axis are fastened so as to be rotatable about said roller axis; wherein the massage rollers can be transported by the roller conveyor element along a closed path, which runs in a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and a height direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and transverse direction. According to the invention, the massage machine is characterised in that the massage rollers extend over the entire width, measured in the transverse direction, of a free interior of the frame. The massage rollers can be covered by a massage mat, and / or be guided on a segmented weight-carrying rail in order to travel over a desired contour.

Description

[0001] Improved massage machine

[0002] The present invention relates to a massage machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Massages are used as a post-exercise treatment or to treat pathological changes in muscles and ligaments. This involves the repeated mechanical deformation of soft tissue. A fascia massage is a massage that specifically focuses on the body's fascia. Fascia refers to the soft tissue components of connective tissue that permeate the entire body as a network of tension that envelops and connects it. Fascia includes all collagen-fiber connective tissues, particularly joint and organ capsules, tendon plates, muscle septa, ligaments, tendons, retinacula (supporting ligaments), and the actual fascia in the form of connective tissue that envelops the muscles, which are formed as muscle fiber bundles, like stockings.

[0004] For an effective massage, especially of the fascia, so-called fascia rollers are known. These are roughly cylindrical rollers with a specially textured surface. They are currently used in such a way that the person being massaged lies down on the roller(s) and rolls on the fascia roller through their own body movement. This rhythmically kneads and massages the fascia tissue in the area of ​​contact with the massage roller.

[0005] The disadvantage of this method is that, on the one hand, during treatment, certain areas, for example of the back, buttocks, or leg muscles, require a high level of body tension to be built up and maintained for an extended period in order to massage these areas in the manner described above. However, the muscle tension required to maintain the pose reduces the effectiveness of the massage, as the deformation is more superficial than with relaxed muscles. A further problem arises that the maximum achievable massage pressure or overall pressure on the massage roller is limited by your own body weight or the weight of the body part bearing down on the roller. When massaging the lower leg or calf, for example, this is only the weight of the lower part of the leg. This means that the initial force is disadvantageously low and the massage is less effective than with a higher initial force.

[0006] In the area of ​​general massage, more precisely full-body massage, massage machines are known which provide a lying surface on which the person being massaged can lie on their stomach, side or back and where they are massaged by movable massage elements.

[0007] Such a device is shown, for example, in US patent 3,794,018. This discloses an automatic massager having a frame defining a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a frame center plane. Axles supporting deflection and drive wheels are attached to the frame at opposite ends, with each axle carrying two drive wheels arranged symmetrically to a mirror symmetry plane of the frame. A closed chain is placed around each pair of drive wheels arranged at opposite ends as a conveyor element for massage rollers attached to the chain so they can rotate about their respective axes. The drive wheels move the chain, and thus also the massage rollers attached to it, on an orbital path formed by two straight segments arranged symmetrically to the center plane of the frame and connected by two circular segments with the radius of the drive wheels.The massage rollers consist of pairs of discs arranged symmetrically to the frame's plane of symmetry, mounted on a roller axle. Guide rollers are located at opposite ends of the roller axles, which are guided in a guide rail of the frame. The rollers do not directly contact the person being massaged, but only the underside of the support surface, which deforms as a result and transfers the mechanical force of the rollers to the person being massaged.

[0008] The disadvantage of this design is that the massage rollers only have a relatively small contact area with the person being massaged. This means that in order to cover the entire width of the person being massaged, several massage rollers with discs mounted at different distances from the symmetry plane of the frame are required. This disadvantageously reduces the massage frequency, i.e. the number of mechanical deformations per unit of time for a given rotational speed of the rollers, which in practice cannot be increased indefinitely. Furthermore, the massage effect is reduced because the discs do not make direct contact with the person being massaged to avoid local overload; instead, a cover must be inserted between them. Even with the cover, the massage effect remains limited to a comparatively narrow area.

[0009] A similar massage machine, which, however, proposes a different arrangement of the massage discs relative to the symmetry of the frame and also a different guide for the massage discs at the ends, is presented in the published specification of Japanese patent application JP-H 09028746 A. This massage machine also has essentially the same disadvantages as the one in the US patent described above. It even completely dispenses with the attempt to massage the person being massaged across their entire width.

[0010] Against this background, the present invention aims to find an improved automatic massager that enables an effective massage of the person being massaged across the entire body and at a comparatively high massage frequency. Furthermore, a massage effect independent of body weight should be achieved.

[0011] This problem is solved by a massage machine with the features presented in claim 1.

[0012] A key feature of the automatic massage device according to the invention is that, unlike prior art solutions, no discs are used, but rather massage rollers extending essentially across the entire width of the interior. This allows the person being massaged to be acted upon across their entire body without the need to use several different massage roller units for a treatment or massage at different lateral points. This means, for example, that a desired massage frequency can be achieved using just a small number of massage rollers on the rotating roller conveyor element, even at a comparatively low rotation frequency. This is advantageous because a high rotation frequency or equivalent rotation (orbit) results in high energy consumption and high noise levels, as well as increased wear and tear on the automatic massage device.

[0013] Unlike conventional automatic massagers, the massage rollers, thanks to their characteristic design described above, can also come into direct contact with the person being massaged, without the risk of excessive pressure on the affected area of ​​the body. In the prior art solutions, the insertion of a pressure-distributing layer between the massage roller and the user is necessary due to potential local overload.

[0014] In special embodiments, the massage rollers can be so-called fascia rollers, similar to those used for self-massage in the manner described above using one's own body weight. More precisely, the term massage roller, as used here, describes a unit consisting of a roller body and a roller axle, although the latter does not necessarily have to be a separate part. Rather, the roller axle can also consist of a section that protrudes beyond the essentially circular end faces of the cylindrical roller body and is significantly tapered compared to the diameter of the roller body. In other embodiments, however, the roller axle is a separate part that is mounted therein so as to be rotatable relative to the roller body.

[0015] In the fascia-roller-like design of the massage rollers, the roller body is provided with a textured surface, which allows for the well-known improved massage effect. The roller body can be essentially cylindrical, but also allows for small local variations in the radius. Roller bodies with a barrel-shaped, bulging or concavely constricted shape are also conceivable. Furthermore, wave-shaped variations of the roller radius are also possible in longitudinal section. Only in contrast to the known automatic rollers, a reduction to one or two, or a small number of disc-shaped elements mounted on the roller axis, is excluded.

[0016] Instead of directly contacting the person being massaged, the massage rollers can, in alternative designs, be covered by a flexible cover placed over the front of the massage machine. This cover protects the user from getting caught between the moving massage rollers and thus provides important protection against accidents. The cover can be designed as a film, a net, or a (largely) open-hole-free mat. The cover can be used alone or in conjunction with other protective measures, such as the control measures and / or safety switches described below. The cover is easily removable to facilitate maintenance. For example, it can be clamped to one or both ends of the frame unit using a terminal block. Removing the cover then only requires opening the terminal block^).Alternatively, other common fastening methods can be used, such as snap fasteners distributed along the edge(s) of the cover. A removable cover allows the user to enjoy a more intensive massage without the cover if desired.

[0017] If a textile net is used as a protective cover, it should preferably have a sufficiently tight mesh to prevent at least the arms and / or legs from being reached through. The mesh size should therefore be less than approximately 5 cm. Furthermore, the protective cover net can have such fine mesh that even fingers or toes cannot be reached through. For this purpose, the mesh size is preferably less than approximately 1 cm, particularly preferably less than approximately 5 mm.

[0018] The cover is primarily attached at least to the frame end where the massage rollers are transported from the back to the front, for example, clamped between two bars as described above. However, it is preferably also attached to the opposite frame end, particularly in the same way. It can also be attached or capable of being attached to the lateral sides.

[0019] In preferred embodiments, the cover is a mat, i.e., a flat, flexible element made of a textile or other suitably tough material. A mat has the advantage of effectively preventing the hair of the person being massaged from getting caught. The mat preferably covers the massage rollers, particularly preferably the entire interior of the frame. It can also rest with its lateral edge on the longitudinal beam of the frame. To increase mobility, it can also be flush with the interior.

[0020] To increase and intensify the massage effect, the mat can have a textured surface, such as protruding nubs and / or ribs and / or differently shaped depressions, or a combination of the above structural features. In this form, it is also referred to as a massage mat. The massage rollers used in conjunction with a massage mat, however, do not require a textured surface, but are preferably more or less smooth.

[0021] The use of a cover in the form of a massage mat increases the safety of the massage machine according to the invention without significantly reducing the massage effect.

[0022] To drive the massage rollers along their closed path, the invention provides at least one roller conveyor element. This can be a belt, a band, a chain, or a rope, each of which is closed in itself. The roller conveyor element is stretched along the longitudinal direction of the frame. Its shape, corresponding to the path of the massage rollers, is achieved by two or more deflection pulleys. In particular, in some embodiments, the roller conveyor element is placed around (deflection) wheels rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the frame.

[0023] One or both of these wheels can be designed as drive wheels and driven by a motor, preferably an electric motor. The roller conveyor element, moved by the drive, takes the massage rollers rotatably attached to it and guides them to the side of the person being massaged, where they exert the desired massage effect by pressing against their body. The rollers can only roll on the person being massaged, which will happen if the static friction generated by the contact pressure with the body surface of the person being massaged is significantly greater than the bearing friction of the massage roller axle bearings on the roller conveyor element. If the contact pressure is reduced or the bearing friction increased, or if a braking force is exerted on the roller (axle), the rollers will eventually begin to glide over the body surface instead of rolling, which can exert its own positive massage effect.Directly at the transition point, i.e. at the critical contact pressure at a given bearing friction or the critical bearing friction at a given contact pressure, there is a change between sliding and rolling movement, in which the roller partly slides over the person and partly rolls off.

[0024] Since reducing the contact pressure would reduce the massage effect, increasing the bearing friction is preferable in this case. If the bearing friction is significantly greater than the surface friction, rolling no longer occurs; instead, the surface of the roller glides over the person being massaged.

[0025] In some embodiments of the invention, the bearing friction of the massage rollers is variable and can be changed between a low bearing friction regime, in which the massage rollers roll over the person being massaged, via a central region in which a combined or alternating rolling and sliding movement occurs, to a high friction regime in which the massage rollers glide essentially exclusively over the person being massaged. An increase in bearing friction can be achieved, for example, by means of brake shoes acting on the roller axis, in particular arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the roller axis.

[0026] The frame and the components attached to it, i.e., drive / deflection wheels, roller conveyor elements, attached massage rollers, and other elements, form a frame unit. In some embodiments of the invention, this frame unit can be supported in a rack.

[0027] This is possible by positioning the frame unit at a fixed angle to the horizontal along its length. The person being massaged then positions themselves so that they are contacted by the massage rollers at a certain point along their path. In these embodiments, the contact force, without any further increase in pressure, is proportional to the person's weight and the cosine of the angle between the frame and the horizontal.

[0028] To enable a massage of the entire back or front of the body, or even the lateral sides, it is suggested that the frame be equipped with a standing platform at one end, on which the person being massaged can stand and lean their back or stomach against the massage rollers moving past them. Alternatively, a lounger can be provided at one end of the frame unit.

[0029] Preferably, a device for increasing or decreasing the contact pressure during the massage is provided. A force can be exerted that pushes the person against the machine or pulls them away from it, for example, by a pressure arm attached to the frame or stand, which exerts a force toward the frame unit on the side of the person facing away from the frame unit.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, the massage machine includes a holding and support bar, which the person being massaged can hold on to with their hands and independently reduce or increase the contact pressure by pulling towards or pushing away from the bar.

[0031] The support bar can be part of a safety system that uses capacitive or resistance measurement to detect whether the person being massaged has their hands on the bars, or even just on one bar. Only in these cases is the drive of the roller conveyor element enabled or set in motion.

[0032] In addition, the massage machine can also incorporate additional control-related safety precautions. Firstly, the tensile force exerted by the roller conveyor can be limited. Alternatively or additionally, a hazardous condition detection system can be included. If the conveyor speed drops while the tensile force increases rapidly, it shuts down the conveyor element drive and, if necessary, slowly reverses the conveyor element until the tension returns to normal. This hazardous condition detection system can also be triggered before a potential tensile force limit is reached. Finally, a visually highlighted emergency stop switch can be included, allowing third parties to deactivate the system if other safety precautions fail.

[0033] Further advantageous developments, which can be implemented individually or in combination, provided they do not exclude each other, are claimed in the subclaims and will be presented individually below.

[0034] In some embodiments of the invention, only a single roller conveyor element is present. However, two or more roller conveyor elements can also be used, which are arranged, in particular, symmetrically to a center or mirror symmetry plane of the frame. The roller conveyor element(s) in the form of a closed belt, band, rope, or chain can be laid or tensioned over deflection wheels at the frame ends.

[0035] To drive the roller conveyor element, one of these wheels can be designed as a drive wheel and driven by a motor. Alternatively or additionally, a dedicated drive wheel is also possible, which is not positioned at the deflection points of the roller conveyor element.

[0036] The contour of the roller conveyor element, which simultaneously represents the path followed by the conveyed massage chambers, consists in the simplest case of two straight segments arranged on either side of the frame's center plane, each connected by two opposite semicircular segments. Deviating from this simple path, other shapes can also be provided, either by differently sized deflection rollers at the opposite ends of the frame or by the use of contouring rollers or contour rollers, which deflect the roller conveyor element in a direction deviating from the straight line.

[0037] If two roller conveyor elements are used, they are preferably arranged as close as possible to the long side of the free interior space of the rectangular frame, so that as much free space as possible remains for the roller body to pass through. The roller conveyor element(s) can also be arranged on the outside of the longitudinal beams of the frame if these are shorter than the contour described by the roller conveyor element(s), so that the roller axes can be transported past the longitudinal beam ends.

[0038] The frame unit, comprising the frame and the components attached to it, is preferably pivotably mounted so that an angle between the longitudinal direction of the frame and the horizontal can be varied. The pivoting range should be at least between +60 degrees and 0 degrees, but preferably between +90 degrees and -10 degrees. Positive angles mean that the head of the person being massaged is above the feet, and negative angles mean that the head is below the feet. In order to be able to assume a stable position relative to the massage machine at negative angles, appropriate holding devices such as holding straps or foot straps must be provided on the standing platform in addition to a standing platform.

[0039] At least one, preferably all, of the massage rollers have a means by which they can be set into vibration. More specifically, they include means by which the surface of their roller body can be set into transverse vibrations or oscillations. Such a vibration means could, for example, be a motor-driven, slightly eccentrically mounted flywheel mass inside the roller body.

[0040] In some embodiments, the automatic massage device according to the invention has a controller configured to cyclically and / or at irregular intervals, or upon input, reverse the conveying direction in which the roller conveyor element conveys the massage rollers along the track. The resulting oscillating movement of the massage rollers can achieve an improved massage effect.

[0041] In preferred embodiments, the massage rollers of the automatic massage device according to the invention comprise guide rollers mounted on the axle ends protruding beyond the roller body. In particular, a guide roller is provided on each side of the roller body. At least the guide rollers of the massage rollers located on the front of the automatic massage device run on or in rails that are fixed relative to the frame, preferably attached to the frame or even part of it. Depending on the design, the rails serve merely to absorb the load of the (counter) force exerted on the massage rollers by the person being massaged or additionally to laterally guide the guide rollers. The latter can be achieved, for example, by an L- or U-shaped profile of the (guide) rails (in conjunction with cylindrical or toroidal guide rollers). Mere load-bearing rails do not require such a profile and can be straight and flat on the top.

[0042] The rails can be arranged on the inside of the roller conveyor element, away from the longitudinal beam. This achieves better load bearing and less deformation of the massage roller axis.

[0043] The rails, especially when they are unprofiled load-bearing rails, are preferably segmented, i.e., divided into two or more, preferably three or four or more, segments, in particular between 10 and 50 cm long. In particularly preferred embodiments, the segment length corresponds to the distance between two massage rollers along the roller conveyor element.

[0044] The individual rail segments are adjustable using lifting columns and / or linear drives, which allows the contours of the massage rollers on the front to be varied, for example to adapt them to the shape of the spine or the side of the body of the person being massaged.

[0045] Depending on the design, each rail segment has one or two lifting columns or linear drives. In a first design with one lifting column per segment, each rail segment is divided into two sub-segments, the first of which is firmly connected to the end of the linear drive. The second sub-segment is connected at one end to the first sub-segment and to the opposite end of the adjacent rail segment in this direction, allowing relative pivoting and displacement to compensate for changes in contour length. Such a connection is possible, for example, using pins that protrude from the ends of one of the two sub-segments and are guided in an elongated slot in the complementary end of the connected sub-segment. Other types of sliding-pivoting connections can also be used.This design has the advantage that a simple static adjustment of the desired contour is sufficient, and the lifting columns only need to be operated when this contour changes. As long as the contour remains the same, virtually no energy is consumed. To approximate the desired, usually curved, contour as accurately as possible with the typically straight sub-segments, the shortest possible rail segment length or, conversely, the highest possible number of segments per frame length is advantageous.

[0046] In a second, preferred embodiment, two lifting columns / linear drives are provided per rail segment, whereby, in contrast to the first embodiment, the ends of the rail segments are not connected to one another. When traveling along a desired contour, the lifting columns are typically continuously extended and retracted in order to keep a massage roller loaded on them (via the guide rollers) on the desired contour, while at the same time ensuring that the rail segment ends are at the same height when the guide rollers pass them. To maintain a desired contour, in this embodiment the rail segments must not be longer than the distance between adjacent massage rollers along the roller conveyor element. However, it is also advantageous here to select rail segments shorter than the maximum length.In particular, it simplifies the handover of the guide rollers from one rail segment to the next if, for a rail segment, the handover of a massage roller and the takeover of the next do not take place at the same time. Therefore, the segment length is preferably shorter than the maximum length. In particular, the segment length is particularly preferably 2 / 3 of the maximum length. With this length, at the time of handover of a massage roller from a first to a subsequent rail segment, the subsequent massage roller is in the middle of the segment preceding the first segment. In other words, with consecutive numbering of the massage rollers, the handover of even-numbered massage rollers and odd-numbered massage rollers always takes place alternately, with the other type always being in the middle of its current rail segment, where it is less affected by the lifting movements required at the ends to bring about equality of height between the ends.Another sensible choice of rail segment length is half the distance between adjacent massage rollers, because in this case the transfers from one to an adjacent rail segment always take place alternately from even-numbered rail segments to odd-numbered ones and vice versa.

[0047] Even shorter lengths would also be possible, but the control system becomes increasingly complex with the increasing number of segments and thus also the number of lifting columns. Material costs also rise, without achieving any significant advantage.

[0048] The vertical adjustment range or stroke of the lifting columns / linear drives and thus of the rail segments is in particular between 1 - 10 cm, preferably between 2 - 8 cm.

[0049] Further advantages, properties, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These are intended merely to illustrate the invention and in no way limit its generality.

[0050] It shows:

[0051] Fig. 1A A side view of a schematically illustrated massage machine according to the invention according to a first embodiment.

[0052] Fig. 1B A plan view of the massage machine according to the first embodiment of Fig. 1A. Fig. 2A A side view of a schematically illustrated frame unit of a massage machine according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0053] Fig. 2B A plan view of the frame unit according to the second embodiment of Fig. 2A.

[0054] Fig. 2C A schematic cross-section along the line CC of Fig. 2A.

[0055] Fig. 2D An enlarged view of area D in Fig. 2A.

[0056] Fig. 2E A part of a conveyor chain with carrier plates, which is suitable for use in a massage machine according to the second embodiment.

[0057] Fig. 3 A schematic side view of another embodiment of a massage machine with a frame supporting a frame unit.

[0058] Fig. 4A A plan view of an embodiment of a massage machine according to the invention comprising a massage table with a shortened frame unit inserted into a recess.

[0059] Fig. 4B A schematic side view of the shortened frame unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 4A.

[0060] Fig. 4C A schematic plan view of the shortened frame unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 4A. Fig. 5A A schematic plan view of a massage machine according to a further preferred embodiment with internal load-bearing rails and a massage mat for covering the massage rollers.

[0061] Fig. 5B A section through the frame unit of the embodiment of Figure 5A along the line BB.

[0062] Fig. 5C A detailed view of section C shown in Figure 5A on the right side of the frame unit 2 of the massage machine.

[0063] Fig. 6 A schematic side view of a segmented

[0064] Load-bearing rail of a massage machine according to the invention in a preferred embodiment and the positions of massage rollers guided on a desired contour at two different times.

[0065] Fig. 7A: A schematic side view of another embodiment of a segmented load-bearing rail for guiding the massage rollers along a desired contour.

[0066] Fig. 7B A top view of the segmented load-bearing rail of Figure 7A.

[0067] Figures 1A and 1B show two schematic views of a massage machine according to the invention.

[0068] As can be seen in the figures, the automatic massage device 1 comprises a frame 2 with a conveyor 25 attached thereto, driven by drive means 24, with which the massage rollers 23 can be conveyed at a fixed or variable speed v on a closed track. The massage rollers 23 are cylindrical and have approximately the same diameter across the entire width W of the free interior space 20 of the frame 2. The massage rollers 23 can have a structured surface (not shown here) in the manner of known fascia rollers for an improved massage effect. Unlike known automatic massage devices, the massage rollers 23 here come into direct contact with the body surface of the person 9 being massaged and can effectively massage a person across the entire width of the body.

[0069] The person 9 being massaged can stand on a platform 29 that is stationary relative to the frame or a stand. As shown, the person 9 is massaged on the back of the body. By assuming other positions, the person 9 can also have other sides of the body or just specific body parts such as legs, buttocks, back, etc. massaged by the massage machine 1. To change the contact force, the angle A between the horizontal H and the longitudinal direction L of the machine 1 can preferably be varied, for example by pivoting the frame around its transverse axis.

[0070] Figures 2A - 2E show various schematic and detailed views of a frame unit of a massage machine according to a second embodiment.

[0071] As shown in the figures, the automatic massage device 1 comprises a frame unit 2 with two longitudinal beams 21 defining a rectangle, which are connected to form a frame by crossbars or beams 22a, 22b in the area of ​​the head and foot ends, respectively, but at a slight distance from these. By means of support points 221 on the sections of these crossbeams 22 projecting beyond the longitudinal beams 21 on the outside, the frame unit 21 can be mounted on a support, such as a rack or a swivel hydraulic system. The length of the frame unit 2 according to this embodiment can be approximately 2 m in preferred variants. Alternatively, it can also be shorter or longer. The shafts 26 also run in the transverse direction between the head and foot ends of the longitudinal beams 21. Each of the shafts 26 carries two deflection gears 24, which are arranged on the shaft such that they are at an inner distance W from one another and each close, i.e.leaving only a safety clearance of a few millimeters to several centimeters, for example, approximately 8 cm, on the inside of the longitudinal beams. One of the two conveyor chains 25 is placed around each pair of aligned idler gears 24, which can be set in motion by means of the idler gears 24, for example, by driving the head-end shaft 26 and thus the drive wheels 24a by the motor 28 indicated by dashed lines, as indicated in Fig. 2B.

[0072] The conveyor chain 25 conveys massage rollers 23 along a path defined by the outline of the chain 25, as best seen in the side view of Fig. 2A. Each of the massage rollers comprises, as shown, for example, in Fig. 2C, a roller body 235 and an axle 230 which traverses the roller body from one of the opposite circular end faces 234 to the other and which is mounted in roller bearings 232 in the end faces. For the sake of simplicity, the roller body 235 is shown in the figures as (hollow) cylindrical (or as a rectangular cylinder in longitudinal section), but can also have other shapes depending on the desired massage effect, for example convexly bulged in the middle or concavely tapered or with a wave-shaped profile.

[0073] The tension of the conveyor chain 25 is insufficient to build up sufficient contact pressure. To ensure that the massage rollers 23 can build up a sufficiently high contact pressure during the massage and do not deflect due to the counterforces exerted on the rollers by the person being massaged, guide rollers 236 are mounted on the axle ends 231 of the massage rollers 23, which extend beyond the end faces 234. These guide rollers are guided in the longitudinal beams 21, designed as guide rails, at least along part of their orbit, namely at least on the upper side facing the person being massaged.

[0074] In some embodiments, the longitudinal beams 21—shown in Fig. 2A—or at least the guide rails can have a shape adapted to the body contour. This shape is particularly preferably adjustable, for example, by dividing the rail into several segments that are adjustable relative to one another, i.e., movable and / or tiltable in the transverse direction to the longitudinal beam 21.

[0075] Where the roller axes 230 cross the conveyor chain 25, they are mechanically connected to it by means of carriers, such as simple outwardly facing tabs 251 as shown in Figure 2D or perforated plates 251a, as shown in the chain section of Figure 2E.

[0076] In order to enable the person being massaged to position themselves fixedly relative to the frame unit 2, a foot platform 29, schematically indicated in Fig. 2A, is fixed to the foot end of the frame unit, for example by being connected to the foot ends of the longitudinal beams 21.

[0077] In addition, the automatic massager preferably comprises a holding and support rod 27, which allows the person being massaged to independently increase the contact pressure on the massage rollers 23, and thus the massage effect, by pushing away from the holding rod 27, or to decrease it by pulling towards the rod 27. The holding rod 27 can be attached to the frame unit via one or more struts. The holding rod 27 or parts thereof are further preferably part of a safety circuit of the automatic massager according to the invention, which continuously checks, capacitively or by resistance measurement, whether the person being massaged is grasping both or at least one of the rods 27 with their hands and only activates the automatic massager, i.e., sets the massage rollers in motion, in this case. As soon as both rods 27 are released, the automatic massager 1 stops.In addition, a switch can also be integrated into the fastening of the support rods 27, which stops the movement of the massage rollers 23 in the event of a sudden increase in the load, for example if the person being massaged instinctively and abruptly pulls himself away from the frame unit 2 and towards the support rod 27 in the event of danger.

[0078] Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a massage machine according to the present invention in a schematic side view.

[0079] The massage machine comprises a frame unit 2 with a holding and supporting rod 27. The frame unit can be designed, for example, as illustrated in Figures 2A-2E. At the support points 221, frame rods 41, 43 supporting the frame unit 2 are connected to the frame unit via coupling pieces 410, 430. These rods, in turn, are anchored to the floor or a frame base 42. The support rods 41, 43 can have a fixed length, so that the longitudinal direction of the frame unit and the horizontal enclose a fixed angle of inclination. Alternatively, as indicated in the figure, the head-end rod 43 can have a variable length, for example, be designed to be pneumatically or hydraulically telescopic, allowing a variable angle of inclination to be achieved. With such a design, a safeguard against sudden pressure loss would have to be provided.

[0080] Figures 4A - 4C show a further preferred embodiment of a massage machine according to the invention.

[0081] The automatic massage machine 1 here comprises a massage table 6 with a recess 60 in which a frame unit 2 is inserted. The frame unit can be constructed in a manner already known from the second embodiment, as can be seen in the side view of Figures 4B and 4O, and can comprise longitudinal beams 21 and shafts 26 connecting them at the head and foot ends, which carry pairs of aligned deflection wheels 24, around each of which one of a total of two symmetrically arranged conveyor chains 25 is placed. However, the frame unit 2 is shorter than that shown in Figure 2, for example only 1 m - 1.5 m, in particular 1.2 m, long.

[0082] The recess 60 can be arranged centrally in the massage table 6. To ensure that the person being massaged can position themselves comfortably on the table depending on their preference and the body part to be massaged, the center point MA of the recess 60 is preferably offset relative to the center point MT of the table 6 by the offset V toward one side, preferably the narrower end, of the table 6. The person being massaged can sit or lie down on the massage table 6 for the massage.

[0083] In contrast to all known massage machines, massage rollers 23 are used in all embodiments of the massage machine 1, which extend over substantially the entire clear width W of the free space between the longitudinal beams 21, thereby enabling a more effective massage of the person to be massaged over their entire body width and eliminating the need for an intermediate contact layer.

[0084] The massage rollers 23 of the machine 1 can be designed identically in all embodiments. However, different massage rollers can also be used, for example, massage rollers that differ in profile, diameter, surface structure, or material.

[0085] Figures 5 show schematic representations of a massage machine according to a further preferred embodiment.

[0086] The massage machine 1 comprises the frame unit 2, at the lower end of which is a couch 8 for supporting the person being massaged. The person being massaged can, for example, position themselves at the transition from couch 8 to frame unit 2. Preferably, the massage rollers 23 move past the person being massaged from the back to the front of the frame and from bottom to top. This provides a particularly intensive and effective effect on the parts of the body of the person being massaged located above the frame unit 2.

[0087] Similar to the embodiments described above, the frame unit 2 consists of two parallel, spaced-apart longitudinal beams 21, in whose opposite ends axles 241 with deflection wheels 24 for chains 25 arranged symmetrically to a center plane of the frame unit 2 are mounted. The chains 25 have drivers for the axle ends 231 of the massage rollers 23, whereby the latter are transported along the circumferential path defined by the chains 25. On the axle ends 231, a guide roller 236 is located on each side of each of the roller bodies 235. The guide rollers 236 of the front-side massage rollers 23v roll on the upper sides of the internal load-bearing rails 7 (see in particular Fig. 5C).The load-bearing rails 7 serve to absorb the forces exerted by the person being massaged on the massage rollers 23v, which oppose the massage force and are too large to be absorbed by the chain 25 (which is easily deformable in the vertical direction). The load-bearing rails 7 are shown in Figure 5 as one-piece, straight and flat rails. However, the invention also contemplates the use of these segmented rails according to the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7.

[0088] Figure 5A also shows a massage mat 5, which is fastened to an upper crossbeam 22a of the frame unit by means of a fastening 52. The fastening 52 can, for example, be a clamping strip. The fastening location shown at the upper end of the frame unit 2 is merely an example or has been chosen for the sake of illustrative simplicity. Fastening at the lower end is also possible, or depending on the direction of movement of the massage rollers 23, is even preferred, as explained in more detail below. The massage mat 5, shown schematically partially rolled up in the figure, can be placed over the front of the frame unit 2, whereby its width completely covers the massage rollers 23v there. At the lower crossbeam 22b, the massage mat can be fastened to the frame 2 by means of a further fastening 53, such as a clamping strip, in order to prevent displacement due to the moving massage rollers 23.

[0089] It is particularly important for the proper functioning of the automatic massage device 1 that the massage mat 5 is always attached to the end of the frame where the massage rollers 23 transition from the rear to the front. With the transport direction of the massage rollers indicated in the figure, from bottom to top on the front, this is the lower end of the frame unit. Contrary to the illustration, the massage mat should therefore be placed starting at the attachment 53 and upwards over the front of the frame unit 2 and the massage rollers 23v located there. Attachment to the upper end and the attachment 52 is then optional, but preferred.

[0090] When the massage mat 5 is deployed and secured at least at the correct end of the frame unit, preferably at both ends, the massage rollers are transported past the underside of the massage mat by the drive (not shown), for example, in the direction indicated by the double arrows. Due to their mounting 232 on the axles 230, they roll along the underside of the massage mat 5, which only slightly increases the energy requirement of the drive due to the massage mat 5.

[0091] On the upper side facing the person being massaged, the massage mat has nubs 51, indicated by dots, or other structured features that increase the massage effect and intensity. The underside, however, is preferably smooth so as not to interfere with the massage rollers 23, which preferably also have unstructured outer surfaces. The massage mat 5 enormously increases the safety of the automatic massage device 1 according to the invention without significantly reducing the massage effect.

[0092] As shown in the sectional drawing of Figure 5B, the massage rollers are preferably hollow cylinders with circular disk-shaped end faces in which bearings 232, preferably ball or roller bearings, are located for the massage roller axes 230 extending from one chain 25 to the other.

[0093] Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a segmented load-bearing rail, which is compatible, for example, with the embodiment of the massage machine according to the invention according to Figure 5.

[0094] The rail 7 is divided into segments, with reference numeral 71 indicating segments in a first position at a first time, and reference numeral 7T indicating the same segments, shown in dashed lines, in a second position at a second time. Each segment 71 / 7T is moved by two lifting columns 72, one lifting column 72v at the front end and one lifting column 72h at the rear end of the segment. The lifting columns 72 can be hydraulically or pneumatically operated, but are preferably electric linear drives.

[0095] A control system (not shown) continuously controls the lifting columns so that, as the massage rollers 23, 23' or their guide rollers roll over the upper side of the rail segments 71 / 71', they follow a desired contour K, which can be the shape of the spine or a lateral side of the body of the person being massaged. The length of the rail segments 71 is selected such that exactly one massage roller rolls on each segment at any given time. This means that the segment length corresponds to the distance between adjacent massage rollers along the roller conveyor device (not shown here). Shorter segment lengths would also be possible, but longer ones are not; in any case, in this case the representable contours K would be limited.

[0096] The figure shows the positions of the rail segments at two points in time. At a first point in time (solid lines), the massage rollers 23 are in the middle of the rail segments 71; at a second point in time (dashed lines), the massage rollers 23' are transferring from one to a subsequent rail segment 7T. At all times, the rail segments 71, 71' are moved by the lifting columns 72 such that the roller axes 230 lie on the contour K. However, there is a restriction for the transfer times that the ends of adjacent rail segments 7T must be aligned, while at other points in time the rail segments 71 and the lifting columns can be moved freely. This means that to represent a contour K, the rail segments typically have to be moved continuously and periodically. The period is given by the segment length divided by the travel speed of the massage rollers.

[0097] This design has the advantage that a variety of contours can be created with a comparatively small number of rail segments. This is limited only by the maximum possible extension length and travel speed of the lifting columns, which, in conjunction with the speed of the massage rollers through the roller conveyor element, limit the shape of the contour.

[0098] Figures 7 show a detail of another embodiment of a segmented load-bearing rail for guiding the massage rollers along a desired contour.

[0099] The schematic side view of Figure 7A shows that this embodiment requires only one lifting column 72 per rail segment 71, although the rail segments 71 are each divided into two sub-segments 71a and 71b. The sub-segments 71a, which are H-shaped in plan view (cf. Figure 7B), are firmly attached to the upper ends of the plunger of the lifting columns 72. Pins 712 projecting laterally from the tongue-like ends 711 of the sub-segments 71b are guided in elongated slots 714 in the ends of the sub-segments 71a. The driven sub-segments 71a and the middle sections 713 of the driven sub-segments 71b have the same width.

[0100] The lifting columns 72 are mounted on a base rail 73 and can be moved by a controller to a fixed position, in which the guide rollers rolling on the upper side of the sub-segments 71 and the middle sections 713 force the massage rollers onto a path that approximates a desired contour as closely as possible. The shorter the length of the rail segments, the more accurately the contour can be statically approximated, which has the advantage that the lifting columns do not have to be operated continuously. This significantly reduces energy consumption in this embodiment compared to that shown in Figure 6. This is offset by the greater mechanical complexity.

[0101] In addition, dynamic control of the lifting columns is also possible, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 6. This allows any remaining small deviations between the desired contour and the static approximation to be compensated.

[0102] List of reference symbols

[0103] 1 massage machine

[0104] 2, 2' frame, frame unit

[0105] 20 free interior space

[0106] 21 Longitudinal and guide beams

[0107] 22a Foot end crossbeam

[0108] 22b Head end crossbeam

[0109] 221 support point

[0110] 23 Massage roller

[0111] 230 massage roller axis

[0112] 231 axle ends

[0113] 232 warehouses from 230 to 235

[0114] 234 front of 23

[0115] 235 roll bodies

[0116] 236 Leadership role

[0117] 24 Deflection wheel

[0118] 24a Drive wheel

[0119] 241 axis of 24

[0120] 25 conveyor chain

[0121] 251 Driving plate

[0122] 251a driver plate

[0123] 26 waves for 24

[0124] 27 Holding and support rod

[0125] 28 Drive motor

[0126] 29 Foot platform

[0127] 4 frame

[0128] 41 Frame rod, foot end

[0129] 410 coupling part

[0130] 42 Frame base plate / floor

[0131] 43 telescopic frame rod, head end

[0132] 430 Coupling part 5 massage mat

[0133] 51 studs

[0134] 52 Attachment of 5 to 22a

[0135] 53 Mounting for 5 on 22b

[0136] 6 massage tables

[0137] 60 recess in 6 for 2'

[0138] MA center of 60

[0139] MT center of 6

[0140] V Offset

[0141] 7 Load-bearing rail

[0142] 71 rail segment

[0143] 71 ' Rail segment at the transition point

[0144] 71a driven sub-segment of 71

[0145] 71b taken partial segment of 71

[0146] 711 tongue-like end of 71b

[0147] 712 pen

[0148] 713 Middle section of 71b

[0149] 714 Long slot

[0150] 72 lifting column

[0151] 73 Base rail

[0152] 8 loungers

[0153] 9 users

[0154] L Longitudinal axis of 2

[0155] H Horizontal direction

[0156] A Angle between L and H v Conveyor speed

[0157] W clear width

[0158] K Contour

Claims

Patent claims 1. Automatic massage device, in particular for carrying out a body weight-independent fascia massage on a massaged person, the automatic massage device comprising: a frame (2), in particular a substantially rectangular frame, which defines a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction perpendicular thereto and a central plane spanned by these directions and a frame center, and at least one roller conveyor element (25), in particular a closed belt, a closed chain (25), or a closed cable, which is fastened to the frame and runs along the longitudinal direction of the frame and to which - a plurality of massage rollers (23) with a roller body (235) which is fastened to the roller conveyor element so as to be rotatable about a roller axis, wherein the massage rollers (23) can be transported by the roller conveyor element (25) along a closed path which runs in a path plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and transverse direction, characterized in that the massage rollers (23) extend over substantially the entire width (W) of a free interior space (20) of the frame (2), measured in the transverse direction.

2. Automatic massage device according to claim 1, wherein the roller conveyor element (25): - is placed around two deflection wheels (24, 24a) rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the frame (2), and / or - in particular by at least one of the deflection wheels (24) acting as a drive wheel (24a), in particular a motor-driven one.

3. Automatic massage device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the roller body (235) is a hollow cylinder and / or has a barrel-shaped bulging or concavely tapered shape.

4. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage rollers (23) are covered, in particular completely, at least on a front side by a flexible cover (5), in particular one which is easy to remove.

5. Massage machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the cover is a film or a net, in particular a close-meshed net with a mesh size of 4 cm or less or a fine-meshed net with a mesh size of less than 1 cm, preferably less than 5 mm, or a film.

6. Massage machine according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the cover is a mat or a massage mat (5), characterized by a structured surface, in particular knobs, ribs or depressions or a combination thereof, on the upper side facing away from the massage rollers (23).

7. Massage machine according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the massage mat consists of an elastomer, in particular rubber.

8. Automatic massage device according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the roller body (235) of the massage rollers (23) has a surface structured in the manner of a fascia roller, wherein in particular at least one of the massage rollers (23) comprises means with which a surface of the roller body (235) can be set into vibration.

9. Massage machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of massage rollers (23), in particular three, four or more massage rollers (23) and / or by a massage roller density along the roller conveyor element (25) of one massage roller (23) per meter or more, in particular two massage rollers (23) per meter or more, preferably three massage rollers (23) per meter or more.

10. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in particular on the long sides of the free frame interior (20) or above or on the outside of longitudinal beams (21) running in the longitudinal direction (L) of the frame (2) and furthermore preferably arranged mirror-symmetrically to a plane of symmetry, two roller conveyor elements (25) are provided, and each of the massage rollers (23) is rotatably carried, in particular fastened, by a first of the roller conveyor elements (25) with a first roller axis end (231) projecting beyond a first end face (234) of its roller body (235) and by the second roller axis end (231) projecting beyond the opposite end face (234) of the roller body (235) on the second of the roller conveyor elements (25). 11 . Massage machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for supporting the massaged person (9) - the frame (2) has a base (29) at one end, or - there is a lounger attached to one of the lower ends of the frame (2).

12. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (2) is carried by a frame (4), in particular such that the longitudinal direction (L) forms an angle with the horizontal (H), which angle is preferably variable, the automatic massage device in particular has a foot-end frame rod (41) and a longer and in particular length-adjustable head-end frame rod (43).

13. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a massage table (6) which has a recess (60) into which the frame unit (2) is inserted, wherein in particular a center point (MA) of the recess (60) and a center point (MT) of the massage table (6) are offset from one another by a distance (V).

14. Massage machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein there is an increase in the contact pressure of the massage rollers (23) on the person being massaged (9) relative to the contact pressure that the roller conveyor element (25) can provide itself, in particular in the form of a holding rod (27) which is positioned relative to the frame unit (27) and is particularly preferably fixed to it in such a way that the person being massaged (9) can grasp it with their hands and push it away from the holding rod (27) to increase the contact pressure on the massage rollers (23) or pull it towards the holding rod (27) to reduce the contact pressure.

15. Massage machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a bearing friction of the massage rollers (23) in the bearing(s) (232) of the massage roller axles (230) - is variable and / or is so high that the massage rollers (23) only roll when a minimum contact pressure is exceeded, in particular on the person being massaged, and glide or slide over the person when the contact pressure is lower.

16. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control system which is prepared to effect an oscillating movement of the massage rollers (23). Conveying direction in which the roller conveyor element (25) conveys the massage rollers (23) along the closed path, cyclically and / or at irregular time intervals or upon input.

17. Automatic massage device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the massage rollers (23) comprise guide rollers (236) mounted on the axle ends (231) projecting beyond the roller body (235), in particular one on each side of the roller body (235).

18. Automatic massage device according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide rollers (236) of the massage rollers (23) located at a time on the front of the automatic massage device (1) run on load-bearing rails (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the frame.

19. Massage machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the load-bearing rails (7) are segmented and the individual rail segments (71) are adjustable by means of lifting columns and / or linear drives.

20. Automatic massage device according to the preceding claim, wherein each rail segment (71) has a sliding piece (72) at each end facing an adjacent rail segment, which is pivotally connected to the sliding piece (72) of the adjacent rail segment (71).

21. Automatic massage device according to the preceding claim, wherein a roller conveyor element (25) is arranged between each of the load-bearing rails (7) and the nearest longitudinal beam (21).

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