Massage machine

Abstract

Massage therapy is performed using a massage machine in a manner that is appropriate to the physical condition of the person receiving treatment. [Solution] A massage machine comprising: a treatment unit 2 that has a side contact body X that is movable in the width direction and can come into contact with the side of the body of the person being treated P, and that treats the side of the body of the person being treated P; a detection unit that detects contact with the body of the person being treated P by the movement of the side contact body X; and a control unit that determines the treatment intensity based on the detection result of the detection unit and operates the treatment unit 2 at the treatment intensity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a massage machine.

Background Art

[0002] There are massage machines such as massage chairs that include a seat portion and a backrest portion. Among these, there are some that estimate the body type of the recipient (user) (for example, Patent Document 1). In the massage machine described in Patent Document 1, a mat-shaped pressure measurement unit is provided on the backrest portion. When the user leans on the backrest portion, the pressure measurement unit is deformed according to the body type of the user. The control unit estimates the body type of the user based on the pressure applied to the pressure measurement unit.

[0003] However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 aims to quickly start the treatment by quickly estimating the body type before the start of the treatment, that is, to shorten the waiting time of the user. For this reason, Patent Document 1 does not disclose specific control contents based on the estimated body type, and there is room for improvement in the invention described in Patent Document 1 from the viewpoint of utilizing the estimation result of the body type for the treatment content. In addition, depending on the posture of the recipient, appropriate treatment may be difficult to continue, or treatment in a predetermined order (treatment course) may not be possible. The invention described in Patent Document 1 does not sufficiently consider these points.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a massage machine capable of performing treatment in accordance with the condition of the body of the recipient for the massage machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The massage machine according to the first configuration of the present invention is A treatment unit having a side contact body that is movable in the width direction and can come into contact with the side of the body of the person being treated, and which treats the side of the body of the person being treated, A detection unit that detects contact with the body of the person being treated by the movement of the side contact body, The device is characterized by comprising: a control unit that determines the treatment intensity based on the detection result of the detection unit and operates the treatment unit at the said treatment intensity.

[0007] This configuration allows for treatment with an intensity that corresponds to the width dimension of the person being treated.

[0008] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the first configuration, as a second configuration, the control unit estimates the body shape of the person being treated from the detection result of the detection unit, sets a treatment intensity reference value according to the estimated body shape, and operates the treatment unit at a treatment intensity based on the treatment intensity reference value.

[0009] This configuration allows for treatment to be administered at an appropriate intensity according to the patient's body type.

[0010] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the first configuration, as a third configuration, the control unit can change the treatment intensity and operate the treatment unit based on the detection result of the detection unit after the start of treatment.

[0011] With this configuration, the contact detection of the detection unit changes when the posture of the person being treated changes, making it possible to perform treatment with an intensity that matches the posture of the person being treated.

[0012] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the first configuration, as a fourth configuration, the control unit may not operate the treatment unit if the detection unit fails to detect that the side contact body is in contact with the body of the person being treated.

[0013] This configuration allows for shorter overall treatment times by avoiding treatment of areas not detected by the detection unit, and also improves treatment efficiency by allowing the patient to concentrate on other areas.

[0014] Furthermore, in a massage machine relating to any of the first to fourth configurations, the fifth configuration includes an airbag that inflates or deflates based on the amount of air inside the treatment unit. The detection unit can detect changes in internal pressure when the airbag comes into contact with the side of the person receiving treatment.

[0015] This configuration allows for detection for body shape estimation using airbags.

[0016] Furthermore, the massage machine according to the second configuration further includes a display unit that displays images as a sixth configuration. The control unit can estimate the body shape of the person receiving treatment from the detection result of the detection unit and display an image corresponding to the estimated body shape on the display unit.

[0017] With this configuration, the estimated body shape is displayed using images, making it easy for the person receiving treatment to understand.

[0018] Furthermore, in the massage machine relating to the fourth configuration, the treatment sequence of the multiple treatment units is predetermined as the seventh configuration. The control unit, When performing treatment in the aforementioned treatment order, the treatment scheduled to follow the treatment performed by the non-detecting treatment unit is performed without operating the non-detecting treatment unit, or The treatment unit corresponding to the undetected area is not operated, and instead, another treatment that was not included in the treatment sequence is performed.

[0019] This configuration allows for a reduction in overall treatment time by skipping treatments, and also enhances the effectiveness of treatment even if there are areas that are not detected by performing other treatments.

[0020] Also, in the massage machine according to the fifth configuration, as the eighth configuration, the airbag can be arranged on the side of the shoulder or arm of the subject.

[0021] According to this configuration, the treatment range can be changed according to the body type of the subject (specifically, based on the width of the body).

[0022] The massage machine according to the ninth configuration of the present invention includes a dorsal treatment unit having a treatment element for treating the back of the subject's body, a side treatment unit having a side contact body that is movable in the width direction and can contact the side of the subject's body, a detection unit that detects contact of the side contact body with the side of the subject due to the movement of the side contact body, and a control unit that operates the dorsal treatment unit and the side treatment unit, and the dorsal treatment unit can change the treatment range in which the treatment element operates, and the control unit changes the treatment range of the dorsal treatment unit at least in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit characterized by this.

[0023] According to this configuration, the treatment range can be changed according to the body type of the subject (specifically, based on the width of the body).

[0024] Also, in the massage machine according to the ninth configuration, as the tenth configuration, the dorsal treatment unit has at least a pair of the treatment elements in the width direction, and the distance in the width direction between the pair of the treatment elements can be changed, and the control unit changes the distance in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit which can be done.

[0025] According to this configuration, the distance in the width direction between the pair of treatment elements can be changed according to the body type of the subject (specifically, based on the width of the body).

[0026] Furthermore, in the massage machine relating to the fifth configuration, the eleventh configuration includes a supply unit that supplies air to the airbag, It has a discharge section that releases air from the airbag, The control unit operates the release unit when the airbag is deflated. It is possible.

[0027] This configuration allows the detected pressure value at the start of detection to be kept constant.

[0028] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the fifth configuration, as the twelfth configuration, the control unit supplies air to the airbag with a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate. The supply of air to the airbag can be performed at the first flow rate until a predetermined pressure value is reached, and then at the second flow rate after the predetermined pressure value is reached.

[0029] With this configuration, the control unit can detect body shape using the time it is supplying air to the airbag 4 at a second flow rate.

[0030] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the first configuration, as a thirteenth configuration, the control unit can adjust the treatment intensity based on the detection result.

[0031] This configuration allows for adjusting the treatment intensity to an appropriate level for the patient.

[0032] Furthermore, in the massage machine according to the 13th configuration, as a 14th configuration, the detection result can be set as the median value of the treatment intensity, and the treatment intensity can be adjusted based on the median value.

[0033] This configuration makes it easier to adjust the treatment intensity by setting a median value for the treatment intensity that serves as the basis for adjustment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0034] According to the present invention, since the treatment range can be changed according to the body shape of the person being treated (specifically, based on the width of the body), treatment can be performed on the massage machine in a manner that is appropriate to the physical condition of the person being treated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0035] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a massage machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of multiple airbags for the person being treated in the massage machine, and the movement of the dorsal treatment section (especially the treatment element). [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing an example of the internal mechanism of the dorsal treatment section of the massage machine. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the configuration related to the airbag in the aforementioned massage machine. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart illustrating the body shape detection process for the aforementioned massage machine. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating the control of the airbags in the aforementioned massage machine according to the body shape detection results. [Figure 7] The above-mentioned massage machine has a schematic diagram showing how to change the treatment range of the dorsal treatment area, where (A) shows the case where the treatment range is wide in the width direction, and (B) shows the case where the treatment range is narrow in the width direction. [Figure 8] The graph above shows an example of how pressure changes over time for different body types of the person being treated in the aforementioned massage machine (specific numerical values ​​are omitted). The graph shows different line types for cases where the person being treated is not seated ("no body") and for cases where the body width is relatively "small," "medium," or "large." [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Next, we will describe a massage machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the expression of direction refers to the direction in the massage machine (chair-type massage machine) 1 shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, "width direction" refers to the left-right direction in a front view or rear view, and moreover, it is the direction that coincides with the direction along the body width of the person being treated P when seated in the massage machine 1. The width direction may also be described as "lateral."

[0037] -Massage machine configuration- The massage machine 1 of this embodiment is a chair-type massage machine as schematically shown in Figure 1 (however, it is not limited to the illustrated form), and comprises a seat 11, a backrest 12, armrests 13, and an ottoman 14. Since the configuration of each part is basically the same as in the conventional, a detailed explanation will not be given. The massage machine 1 also comprises a treatment unit 2 for performing treatment. In this embodiment, the treatment unit 2 is provided with airbags 4 that constitute a dorsal treatment unit 3 for performing treatment on the back of the body of the person being treated P, and a lateral treatment unit for performing treatment on the sides of the body of the person being treated P. The airbags 4 are inflated and deflated by an air supply mechanism 5. The airbags 4 inflate when air is supplied to the inside and deflate when air is released from the inside. The massage machine 1 further comprises a detection unit 6 for detecting for treatment and a control unit 7 for controlling each part of the massage machine 1. In particular, the control unit 7 controls the operation of the dorsal treatment unit 3 and the lateral treatment units (multiple airbags 4...4).

[0038] The back treatment unit 3 is located inside the backrest 12, which is positioned behind the seat 11. The back treatment unit 3 is a part that moves while performing treatment on the body of the person being treated P, who is seated on the seat 11 and leaning their back against the backrest 12. As shown in Figure 2, the back treatment unit 3 is an integrated unit. In this embodiment, the back treatment unit 3 performs treatment on the body facing the backrest 12 by moving with pressure from the outside of the body of the person being treated P. The range of movement of the back treatment unit 3 may also extend to the seat 11, allowing treatment to be performed on the buttocks or thighs of the person being treated P. The back treatment unit 3 performs "kneading" and "tapping" on the body by pressing, and "stroking," "kneading," and "tapping" on the body by pressing with movement. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, a backrest sheet (made of cloth or leather) of the backrest 12 is present between the back treatment area 3 and the body of the person being treated P, so the pressure is applied through the sheet. In addition to the pressure, the treatment may also include heating or cooling of the body, vibration (pressure, where the strength of the pressure is varied in a short period of time), electromagnetic waves applied to the body, or irradiation with light.

[0039] The dorsal treatment unit 3 is a part that performs treatment by a mechanical configuration and has a treatment element 31, a support part 32 that physically supports the treatment element 31, and a width adjustment mechanism 33 that moves the support part 32 in the width direction. As shown in Figure 3, the dorsal treatment unit 3 has a pair of treatment elements 31, 31 in the width direction. In this embodiment, two (a pair) of treatment elements 31 are provided in one dorsal treatment unit 3, but it is not limited to this, and three or more treatment elements 31...31 may be provided in one dorsal treatment unit 3. The treatment element 31 is a roughly disc-shaped part that is sometimes called a "massage ball" and is the part that performs treatment by pressing on the body of the person being treated P.

[0040] The support section 32 is configured as shown in Figure 3 to physically support the treatment element 31. The support section 32 is equipped with an elongated plate-shaped arm 321, and the treatment element 31 is provided at the tip of the arm 321. As schematically shown in Figure 2, the treatment element 31 protrudes toward the back of the neck and back of the person being treated P in the dorsal treatment section 3. In this embodiment, there is one treatment element 31 provided on one support section 32, but it is not limited to this, and multiple treatment elements 31...31 may be provided. The base end of the arm 321 is provided in the dorsal treatment section 3 and is connected to a kneading mechanism and a tapping mechanism which are operated by a motor and a power transmission means, and the driving force generated by the kneading mechanism and the tapping mechanism, respectively, is transmitted to the tip side (to the treatment element 31).

[0041] The width adjustment mechanism 33 is a mechanism that changes the distance between a pair of treatment elements 31, 31 arranged in the width direction via a support part 32. The width adjustment mechanism 33 comprises a screw shaft 331 extending in the width direction and a pair of guide members 332, 332 that are screwed into the screw shaft 331. The screw shaft 331 rotates under the power of a width adjustment motor (not shown) provided in the dorsal treatment unit 3. When the screw shaft 331 rotates, it is supported at its width-direction end on the main body side of the dorsal treatment unit 3 so that it does not move in the axial direction. Each guide member 332 is connected to the base end of the arm 321. Furthermore, each guide member 332 is arranged to be screwed into the screw shaft 331, and moves in the width direction as the screw shaft 331 rotates. Here, the threads (more specifically, screw threads) formed on the screw shaft 331 have a "reverse thread" relationship between the region corresponding to one side of the pair of guide members 332 and the region corresponding to the other side. Therefore, in response to the rotation of the screw shaft 331 in one direction, the pair of guide members 332, 332 move in opposite directions in the axial direction. As a result, the distance between the pair of guide members 332, 332 in the width direction can be widened or narrowed. The rotation of the screw shaft 331 is detected by a rotary encoder (not shown), and the rotation is controlled by the detection result. In the dorsal treatment section 3 configured in this way, the width adjustment mechanism 33 makes it possible to change the treatment range 31W in which each treatment element 31 operates, on a unit of a pair of treatment elements 31, 31. The treatment range 31W when the distance between the pair of guide members 332, 332 in the width direction is widened is shown by the dotted rectangle in Figure 7(A), and the treatment range 31W when it is narrowed is similarly shown in Figure 7(B). Note that each dotted rectangle roughly represents the range in which one treatment element 31 can move. Incidentally, each treatment element 31 can be moved in a trajectory such as a circle or a wave-like trajectory, and the treatment range 31W is the range formed by the trajectory.

[0042] As mentioned above, the dorsal treatment unit 3 may change the treatment range 31W based on the width of the person being treated P. In other words, the width adjustment mechanism 33 may adjust and move the treatment range 31W using the screw shaft 331 based on the width of the person being treated P. In this case, in addition to the adjustment movement, for example, as shown in Figure 7(B), if the width of the person being treated P is small, the dorsal treatment unit 3 can reduce the movement of the width adjustment mechanism 33 along the width direction of the treatment element 31 unit and combine it with the operation of the kneading mechanism to perform a "kneading" operation so that the kneading width becomes narrower (the length of the shorter side of the rectangle shown becomes smaller). Also, for example, as shown in Figure 7(A), if the width of the person being treated P is large, the dorsal treatment unit 3 can increase the movement of the width adjustment mechanism 33 along the width direction of the treatment element 31 unit and combine it with the operation of the kneading mechanism to perform a "kneading" operation so that the kneading width becomes wider (the length of the shorter side of the rectangle shown becomes larger). The control of this "kneading" motion is performed by the control unit 7. In this way, the massage machine 1 determines the travel distance in the width direction (left-right direction) based on the width of the body (specifically the back) of the person being treated P, making it possible to perform a massage at a location suitable for the width of the body, and adjusting the treatment range 31W to match the width of the body. In conventional massage machines, the travel distance in the width direction of the "kneading" motion is fixed, whereas in the massage machine 1 of this embodiment, as described above, it becomes possible to perform treatment at a location that appropriately corresponds to the body part to be treated.

[0043] Multiple airbags 4…4 are arranged in the positions shown in Figure 2. An air supply mechanism 5 is provided to supply air to each airbag 4. The air supply mechanism 5 consists of a pump 51, a supply valve 521 as a supply unit, and a discharge valve 522 as a discharge unit connected to an atmospheric discharge port 53, which are controlled by a control unit 7. The operation of the discharge valve 522 will be described later. The supply unit and the discharge unit are not limited to the valves of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, each airbag 4 is connected to the supply valve 521 in units of target areas on the body of the person receiving treatment P. A pump 51 for inflating and deflating each airbag 4 is connected to a valve group 52G consisting of multiple valves 521…521, 522, and a pressure sensor as a detection unit 6 is connected between the pump 51 and the valve group 52G. An airbag 4 combined with the detection unit (pressure sensor) 6 in this way can function as a side contact body X, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the pressure sensor 6 is not provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each airbag 4, but rather a single sensor is provided at the central base where the air supply to multiple airbags 4...4 is consolidated. This configuration reduces the cost of the components. Even with only one pressure sensor 6, the first to third functions described below can be performed without any problems regarding the detection of pressure changes. The fourth function differs and will be explained later.

[0044] The control unit 7 is a microcomputer or the like built into the massage machine 1, and controls the various parts of the massage machine 1 to operate, etc. Note that a part of the control unit 7 (for example, a memory unit) may be provided outside the massage machine 1, capable of communicating with the main body of the control unit 7 via wired or wireless (including an internet connection).

[0045] -Explanation by function- The following describes five main functions of the massage machine 1 of this embodiment. Note that in the following description, there may be some overlap in the descriptions of each function, and although the names are the same, there may be slight differences in the configuration and functions used to perform each function. Furthermore, a single massage machine 1 may perform operations related to all five functions, or it may perform operations related to only some of the functions. And, of course, the massage machine 1 may perform operations related to functions other than these five.

[0046] -First Function- In this embodiment, a first function is described in which the side contact body X, the detection unit 6, and the control unit 7 operate in coordination with each other in the massage machine 1. The purpose of this function is to provide a massage machine 1 that can perform treatment in a manner that is appropriate to the body shape of the person being treated P, based on the physical condition of the person being treated P. The "body shape" refers to the body shape of the person being treated P at the time they sit on the massage machine 1, and changes over time are not considered in the first function.

[0047] The side contact body X is configured to be movable in the width direction and to be able to contact the side of the body of the person being treated P. The physical quantity of the side contact body X changes as it moves in the width direction. Specifically, the side contact body X in this embodiment is composed of an airbag 4 that inflates and deflates based on the amount of air inside it. In this case, the internal pressure that changes with the change in the amount of air inside the airbag 4 (the relationship is that the internal pressure is high when there is a lot of air and low when there is a little air) corresponds to the physical quantity mentioned above. That is, the side contact body X in this embodiment is a part of the multiple airbags 4...4. More specifically, the side contact body X in this embodiment is one of the multiple airbags 4...4 provided as described above, located on the side of the body of the person being treated P. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, it is a shoulder airbag 41 located on the side of the shoulder and / or arm of the person being treated P. The shoulder airbag 41 has its base end fixed (held) to a shoulder airbag retaining frame (not shown) provided on the backrest 12, and as it inflates and deflates, the surface (contact surface) of the shoulder airbag 41 moves at least in the width direction. The shoulder airbag 41 then contacts the shoulder and / or arm of the person being treated P while under internal pressure. When detecting the body width of the person being treated P in the height direction from top to bottom, in addition to the shoulder airbag 41, arm airbags 42, waist airbags 43, etc. can be used as side contact bodies X. In this case, by sequentially operating multiple side contact bodies X...X, which are composed of multiple airbags 4...4, for example from top to bottom, the detection unit 6 can detect the body of the person being treated P. Furthermore, the foregoing does not preclude the possibility that two or more of the shoulder airbags 41, arm airbags 42, and waist airbags 43 may inflate simultaneously and detect a body.

[0048] Regarding the first function, the detection unit 6 is positioned to detect changes in physical quantities that occur based on movement in the width direction of the side contact body X. That is, the detection unit 6 detects changes in physical quantities corresponding to the amount of movement of the side contact body X (degree of inflation of the airbag 4) relative to the body of the person being treated P. Then, it detects contact with the side of the person being treated P due to the movement of the airbag 4 (shoulder airbag 41 in this embodiment), which is the side contact body X. The detection unit 6 is positioned so that the timing of detection of contact with the side of the person being treated P differs depending on the width of the person being treated P's body. For example, if the width of the person being treated P's body is large (wide), the time until contact is shorter than if it is small (narrow). That is, if the width of the person being treated P's body is large (wide), the timing of detection due to contact is earlier than if it is small. The detection unit 6 is, for example, the pressure sensor mentioned above. The detection unit (pressure sensor) 6 can be installed, for example, in the middle of the piping on the "root side," close to the pump 51 that supplies air to each of the multiple airbags 4...4, as shown in Figure 4. The detection unit 6 detects the change in internal pressure in the airbag 4 as a change in the physical quantity when the airbag 4 comes into contact with the side of the person receiving treatment P (shoulder and / or side of the arm). For example, if the internal pressure was increasing at a constant rate, but then the rate of increase becomes larger from a certain point in time, this corresponds to the airbag 4 coming into contact with the body of the person receiving treatment P at that point, and the free inflation of the airbag 4 (in a load-free state) is prevented. By detecting the change in internal pressure, it is possible to detect contact with the body of the person receiving treatment P. Here, the pressure sensor 6 is not provided individually for each airbag 4, but detects the change in internal pressure of multiple airbags 4...4 collectively. Even with this configuration where the pressure sensor 6 is provided collectively, the control unit 7 controls each supply valve 521 which is provided in a one-to-one relationship with each airbag 4, so it is possible to reliably detect changes in the internal pressure of the airbag 4, which is the side contact body X.

[0049] The control unit 7 changes the treatment range 31W of the dorsal treatment unit 3 in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit 6. Specifically, by operating the width adjustment mechanism 33, the static width distance of a pair of treatment elements 31, 31 is changed. Furthermore, the operating range in the width direction for each of the pair of treatment elements 31, 31 (per treatment element 31 unit) is also changed, and as a result, the treatment range 31W of each of the pair of treatment elements 31, 31 is changed, as shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B).

[0050] Next, an example of the body shape detection procedure in the first function is shown along with the flowchart in Figure 5. (S11) Preparatory operations for body shape detection at the measurement site are performed. Specifically, the part whose internal pressure is changed for detection (shoulder airbag 41 in this embodiment) is depressurized by releasing air or the like to make the detection start conditions constant. (S12) Body shape detection is performed by detecting changes in internal pressure. Specifically, the control unit 7 opens the supply valve 521 at the measurement point and then operates the pump 51. The control unit 7 then monitors the detected value of the detection unit (pressure sensor) 6. When the detected value changes to a predetermined level, the control unit 7 calculates the body shape detection result from the detected value and other information. (S13) Save the body shape detection results for each measurement point. (S14) If the setting is to measure multiple locations and there are still measurement locations remaining, repeat steps S11 to S13. (S15) Based on the calculated body shape detection results, the control unit 7 activates the width adjustment mechanism 33 of the dorsal treatment unit 3 to automatically adjust the treatment range 31W of the dorsal treatment unit 3. (S16) Based on the body shape detection results, the treatment intensity of the dorsal treatment unit 3 is automatically set for each body part. (S17) The body shape detection results are comprehensively evaluated to determine the body shape. The determined body shape is displayed (this will be explained in the fifth function below).

[0051] Here, when airbag 4 is deflated, air may not be completely released from airbag 4, and some air may remain inside. If air remains inside airbag 4 when it is deflated, the control unit 7 will start detecting changes in internal pressure using the detection unit (pressure sensor) 6 from the state in which air remains inside airbag 4. However, the amount of air remaining inside airbag 4 varies for each of airbags 41 to 44, and is not necessarily constant even for the same airbag 4 from time to time, so the initial state when the detection unit 6 detects pressure may vary (see the graph lines showing pressure at the left end of Figure 8 (time 0)). Therefore, as mentioned above, by providing a release valve 522 in the valve group 52G, the air remaining inside airbag 4 can be released into the atmosphere through the release port 53. With the release valve 522, the massage machine 1 of this embodiment can efficiently release the air remaining inside airbag 4. The control unit 7, in combination with the detection unit 6, can set the initial state to a state where no air remains in the airbag 4, thereby keeping the detected pressure value constant at the start of detection (see Figure 8, where each line of the pressure graph goes from the aforementioned fluctuating state to 0). When the detected value from the detection unit 6 reaches a predetermined value, the control unit 7 detects that the airbag 4 has come into contact with the body of the person receiving treatment P. More specifically, the control unit 7 performs control according to the body shape of the person receiving treatment based on the time it takes for the detected value to reach the predetermined value (see Figure 8, where each line of the pressure graph is sloping upwards). Therefore, by suppressing the variability in the initial state of pressure detection, the accuracy of pressure detection by the detection unit 6 (i.e., detecting that the airbag 4 has come into contact with the body of the person receiving treatment P) is improved.

[0052] According to this first function, the treatment range 31W can be changed by changing the distance in the width direction of a pair of treatment elements 31, 31 according to the body shape of the person being treated P (specifically, based on the width of the body). In addition, the body shape of the person being treated P can be estimated by the airbag 4 acting as a side contact body X in order to change the treatment range 31W.

[0053] -Second Function- Next, a second function of the massage machine 1 of this embodiment, in which the treatment unit 2, the detection unit 6, and the control unit 7 operate in coordination, will be described.

[0054] As described above, the treatment unit 2 is the part that performs treatment on the body of the person being treated P, and is configured to be movable and in contact with the body of the person being treated P. In the second function, the treatment unit 2 has an airbag 4 that inflates and deflates based on the amount of air inside. The airbag 4 that operates in the second function is one of the airbags 4...4 provided in the massage machine 1 that belongs to the side treatment unit and is located on the side of the body of the person being treated P. Specifically, it is the arm airbag 42 provided along the arm of the person being treated P (this is a different airbag from the shoulder airbag 41 located on the side of the shoulder related to the first function). However, it is also possible to use any of the shoulder airbag 41, waist airbag 43, or leg airbag 44 in the second function. It is also possible to use a combination of two or more of the shoulder airbag 41, arm airbag 42, waist airbag 43, or leg airbag 44.

[0055] The detection unit 6 is positioned relative to the treatment unit 2 to detect changes in physical quantities (in this embodiment, changes in the internal pressure of the airbag 4) that occur in response to the movement of the patient P's body, and detects contact with the patient P's body. The detection unit 6 is configured so that the timing of contact detection differs depending on the patient P's body shape. When using the arm airbag 42, the detection unit 6 will detect the thickness of the arm.

[0056] The control unit 7 can utilize data for multiple (e.g., 7 levels) of standard treatment intensity values ​​for different body types regarding the treatment intensity of the treatment unit 2. The location where the data for standard treatment intensity values ​​is stored is not particularly limited and may be in the control unit 7 itself, or in a memory unit provided outside the control unit 7 and connected to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 may also be configured to acquire data for standard treatment intensity values ​​from outside the massage machine 1. Before the start of treatment, the control unit 7 estimates the body type of the person being treated P from the detection results of the detection unit 6. The control unit 7 sets one standard treatment intensity value according to the estimated body type from the data of multiple available standard treatment intensity values. The control unit 7 makes the treatment intensity selectable based on this standard treatment intensity value (for example, making the intensity adjustable based on the 3rd level out of 7 levels). Adjustment of the treatment intensity after selection (increasing or decreasing the intensity from the standard treatment intensity value) is done, for example, by the person being treated P operating the control unit of the massage machine 1. The control unit operates the treatment unit 2 at a treatment intensity standard value or an adjusted treatment intensity. While this example illustrates setting the treatment intensity standard value in seven steps, it is also possible to set the treatment intensity standard value in a stepless manner.

[0057] Next, we will show an example of the body shape detection procedure in the second function, along with the flowchart in Figure 6. (S21) Preparatory operations for body shape detection at the measurement site are performed. Specifically, the part whose internal pressure is changed for detection (in this embodiment, the arm airbag 42) is depressurized by releasing air or the like to make the detection start conditions constant. (S22) Body shape detection is performed by detecting changes in internal pressure. Specifically, the control unit 7 opens the supply valve 521 at the measurement point and then operates the pump 51. The control unit 7 then monitors the detected value of the detection unit (pressure sensor) 6. When the detected value changes to a predetermined level, the control unit 7 calculates the body shape detection result from the detected value and other information. (S23) Based on the detection results, a standard value for treatment intensity is set. (S24) Airbag 4 is inflated and deflated based on the set treatment intensity standard value. (S25) If any other airbags 4 that have not been inflated or deflated in S24 require further inflation or deflation, S24 is repeated for those airbags 4.

[0058] This second function allows for treatment to be performed with an appropriate intensity according to the patient P's body type (in this case, the thickness of their arms).

[0059] -Third Function- Next, a third function of the massage machine 1 of this embodiment, in which the treatment unit 2, detection unit 6, and control unit 7 operate in coordination, will be described. The actions performed by the third function include actions common to the second function in terms of adjusting the treatment intensity. However, changing the treatment intensity reference value based on the detection result is not essential for the third function. In the third function, the treatment intensity set at the start of treatment (or the treatment intensity if it was adjusted (raised or lowered) relative to the treatment intensity reference value in the second function) is changed according to the posture of the person being treated P. This third function differs from the second function in that detection is performed at a stage after the start of treatment, in terms of the timing of when the function is performed and the start of treatment. In addition, while the control unit 7 estimated the body shape of the person being treated P in the second function, in the third function it estimates the posture of the person being treated P (specifically, the distance between the airbag 4 used for treatment and the body). The procedure for posture detection is basically the same as the content of the flowchart in Figure 6 (body shape detection).

[0060] In the third function, the control unit 7 operates the treatment unit 2 after the start of treatment, adjusting the treatment intensity according to the detection result of the detection unit 6 and the detected posture of the person being treated P. In other words, in the third function, the treatment intensity can be changed at any time during treatment. For example, if the person being treated P is in a position further away from the airbag 4 used in treatment than at the start of treatment, the treatment intensity is increased because the inflated airbag 4 is less likely to reach the body. On the other hand, if the person being treated P is in a position closer to the airbag 4 than at the start of treatment, the treatment intensity is decreased because the inflated airbag 4 is more likely to reach the body.

[0061] Furthermore, the third function can be performed immediately following the second function. In this case, for example, body shape detection is performed before the start of treatment, and body shape detection is also performed after the start of treatment (more precisely, posture detection of the patient P (the same person) whose body shape was detected before the start of treatment), and the detection results before and after the start of treatment are compared. If there is a change as a result of comparing the detection results, the control unit 7 changes the treatment intensity (in this case, as with the second function, the treatment intensity standard value itself may also be changed based on the detection results).

[0062] This third function allows the contact detection of the detection unit 6 to change as the posture of the person being treated P changes, making it possible to provide treatment at an intensity that is constantly adjusted to the change in the posture of the person being treated P. Furthermore, as mentioned above, it is not limited to being performed immediately after the second function, but even if the posture of the person being treated P changes, the massage machine 1 of this embodiment can provide treatment at an intensity that is adjusted according to the changed posture, based on the treatment intensity that the person being treated P adjusted (manually adjusted) before the start of treatment.

[0063] -Fourth Function- Next, a fourth function of the massage machine 1 of this embodiment, in which the treatment unit 2, detection unit 6, and control unit 7 operate in coordination, will be described. Regarding the fourth function, a prerequisite for the configuration is that the airbag 4, which is the treatment unit 2, is provided with multiple airbags 4...4 corresponding to multiple parts of the body of the person being treated P. In this embodiment, the multiple airbags 4...4 include the shoulder airbag 41, arm airbag 42, waist airbag 43, and leg airbag 44 shown in Figure 4, as well as other airbags 4 for other parts of the body shown in Figure 2 (buttock airbag 45, thigh airbag 46, etc.).

[0064] And as for the fourth function, the detection unit 6 detects the pressure of multiple treatment units 2...2 (airbags 4...4) in a time-division manner in sequence.

[0065] The control unit 7 will not operate the treatment unit 2 corresponding to the undetected area for any detection unit 6 that failed to detect a change in physical quantity (in this embodiment, a change in the internal pressure of the airbag 4) among the multiple detection units 6. For example, if the undetected area is the arm, the treatment unit 2 corresponding to the arm (arm airbag 42) will not operate, and only the treatment units 2 (airbags 4 other than the arm airbag 42) corresponding to the legs, waist, and shoulders (which are detection units that detected a change in physical quantity among the multiple detection units 6) will operate. The reason for the occurrence of undetected areas is that the person being treated P is in a different sitting position than that assumed in the design, and a part of the person being treated P's body is located away from the treatment unit 2 (airbag 4), making detection impossible for the detection unit 6. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the undetected area to consist of only one treatment unit 2 (one airbag 4); it may consist of multiple treatment units 2 (multiple airbags 4).

[0066] Furthermore, if, for example, a "treatment course" is set in advance, specifying the treatment order of multiple treatment units 2 (which may include cases where two or more treatment units 2 operate simultaneously), the control unit 7 will skip treatment to undetected areas from the predetermined treatment order (set as a treatment course) and perform the treatment that was scheduled to follow the treatment to the undetected areas. Alternatively, it may not perform treatment to the undetected areas at all, and instead perform another treatment (a treatment outside the treatment course setting) that was not included in the predetermined treatment order. The other treatment is pre-set in a memory unit accessible to the control unit 7, and the treatment menu will be swapped when treatment to undetected areas is not performed. In this case, the treatment that was scheduled to follow the treatment to the undetected areas will be performed after the swapped other treatment.

[0067] In this embodiment, the massage machine 1 can perform stretching using, for example, a combination of a shoulder airbag 41 and a leg airbag 44. In this case, even if only one of the shoulders or legs is not detected, stretching cannot be performed by the operation of the airbag 4 corresponding to the other shoulder or leg alone. Therefore, if one of the predetermined combinations (for example, the shoulder) is a non-detected area, the airbag 4 corresponding to the other part of the combination (for example, the leg) can also be treated as the aforementioned "treatment unit 2 provided to correspond to the non-detected area," regardless of the detection result of the detection unit 6. As a result, the aforementioned "skip" is performed in units of the combination. Other examples of predetermined combinations include the combination of the arm and waist, and the shoulder and arm.

[0068] This fourth function allows for the avoidance of treatment on areas not detected by the detection unit 6. For example, it prevents the treatment unit 2 (airbag 4) that is not in contact with the patient's body from operating for a certain period of time, thus shortening the overall treatment time from the start to the end of the "treatment course." Furthermore, it allows for greater focus on treating other areas, improving treatment efficiency and enhancing the quality of the treatment.

[0069] -Fifth Function- Next, a fifth function in which the control unit 7 and the display unit 8 operate in coordination in the massage machine 1 of this embodiment will be described. This fifth function is positioned as an additional function to the first to fourth functions described above. The display unit 8 is, for example, a part having a liquid crystal screen.

[0070] First, particularly related to the first and second functions described above, the display unit 8 displays images. The body image on the display unit 8 changes depending on the body type of the person being treated P, such as a body type with a wide body width (see Figure 7(A)) or a body type with a narrow body width (see Figure 7(B)). The display of body type may also be further subdivided into classifications. In relation to the display unit 8, the control unit 7 estimates the body type of the person being treated P from the detection result of the detection unit 6 and displays an image on the display unit 8 corresponding to the estimated body type. Multiple image patterns may be stored in advance in a memory unit or the like and recalled by the control unit 7 when displaying, or the control unit 7 may draw a new image each time it is displayed.

[0071] Furthermore, particularly related to the fourth function, the control unit 7 causes the display unit 8 to display a message related to the undetected area. In this case, unlike the first and second functions, the display unit 8 does not need to display an image; it may be configured to display only characters or symbols. The message related to the undetected area is, for example, a message prompting the patient P to place the undetected area in the correct position. Of course, in addition to the message, it is also possible to display the correct position as an image on the display unit 8.

[0072] This fifth function allows the patient P to easily understand the relationship between the estimated body shape (as seen in the image) and the automatic adjustment of the treatment range (31W) of the dorsal treatment area (3). In the latter case, the patient P can be prompted to take action to make the undetected area treatable (such as changing the posture of the body part corresponding to the undetected area).

[0073] -Summary of explanations by function- As explained above, in this embodiment, by performing an operation related to one or more of the five functions, the massage machine 1 can be used to provide treatment that is appropriate to the physical condition of the person being treated P. The "condition" refers to a condition related to the body shape of the person being treated P in the first and second functions, and a condition related to the posture of the person being treated P in the third and fourth functions.

[0074] -Possibility of changing form- Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0075] For example, although the massage machine 1 in the above embodiment was a chair-type massage machine, it is not limited to this, and may be a massage machine of various forms and configurations. For example, it may be a bed-type massage machine used while the person receiving treatment lies down.

[0076] Furthermore, regarding the dorsal treatment section 3, in the above embodiment it had a pair of treatment elements 31, 31 in the width direction, but it is not limited to this and may have multiple pairs of treatment elements 31...31. Also, the number of treatment elements 31 constituting one of the pairs (one in the above embodiment) is not limited.

[0077] Furthermore, regarding the lateral treatment area, although the above embodiment had airbags 4 (a plurality of airbags 4...4), it is not limited to this, and may have parts that are separate from the airbags. For example, it may have a plate-like body or the like equipped with a cushion (something other than an airbag, such as a sponge).

[0078] Furthermore, the side contact body X in the above embodiment was composed of an airbag 4 that inflates and deflates based on the amount of air inside. However, the side contact body X does not necessarily have to be an airbag; for example, it may be any object that is movable against the side of the body of the person receiving treatment P.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the side contact body X was an airbag 4 in the treatment unit 2. However, the side contact body X may be separated from the treatment function, and the detection unit 6 may be configured to detect contact with the side of the person being treated. In this case, the side contact body X is configured not to be required to perform a treatment operation.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, detection by the detection unit 6 was conditional on contact between one airbag 4 (shoulder airbag 41 in the above embodiment) and the body. However, it is not limited to this, and contact between two or more airbags 4...4 may also be a condition.

[0081] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the dorsal treatment unit 3 of the above embodiment changes the range of movement of the width adjustment mechanism 33 along the width direction of the treatment element 31 unit to match the width of the body of the person being treated P, and by combining this with the operation of the kneading mechanism, it performs a "kneading" operation so that the kneading width becomes narrower or wider (so that the length of the shorter side of the rectangle shown changes). However, it is not limited to this, and the range of movement of the width adjustment mechanism 33 along the width direction of the treatment element 31 unit may remain unchanged.

[0082] Furthermore, the air supply mechanism 5 in the above embodiment was equipped with a release valve 522. However, the air supply mechanism 5 may not be equipped with a release valve 522. In this case, in order to release the air remaining in each airbag 4, each supply valve 521 may be opened for a predetermined time before the pressure detection described later, thereby providing time for the air remaining in the airbag 4 to be released through each supply valve 521.

[0083] Furthermore, although the detection unit 6 in the above embodiment was a pressure sensor, it is not limited to this, and piezoelectric elements, stress sensors, etc., can also be used. Depending on the type of detection unit 6, it can also be installed, for example, on a part that comes into contact with the body of the person receiving treatment P (for example, the surface of the airbag 4, etc.), or on a part that is displaced as it comes into contact with the body.

[0084] Furthermore, with respect to the second function, the control unit 7 may determine the treatment intensity of the treatment unit 2 based on the detected value of the detection unit 6. The control unit 7 associates the detected value with a treatment intensity of 1 to 7, for example. More specifically, the control unit 7 assigns (associates) the detected value to each of the seven stages from stage A to stage G based on the magnitude of the numerical value. The control unit 7 also distinguishes the treatment intensity of the area to be treated into seven stages from 1 to 7. For example, treatment intensity 1 is the weakest and treatment intensity 7 is the strongest. The control unit 7 can set the treatment intensity to 7 when the assigned (associated) detection value is stage A. In this case, the control unit 7 can adjust the treatment intensity of the treatment unit 2 based on the detection result of the detection unit 6. This makes it possible to set the treatment intensity to an appropriate level for the person being treated P.

[0085] However, the settings are not limited to these. For example, the control unit 7 can set the detected value, which is the detection result of the detection unit 6, as a treatment intensity of 4, for example, which is the median value, and set the treatment intensity to a total of 7 levels (odd number) by setting 3 levels below and 3 levels above the median value. Incidentally, it is also possible to set the treatment intensity to an even number of levels, in which case the median value should be set to coincide with the boundary between two levels (for example, if setting the treatment intensity to 4 and setting it to 8 levels, then 4 levels below and 4 levels above the median value). In this way, by setting a median value of the treatment intensity that serves as the basis for adjustment, it becomes easier to adjust the treatment intensity.

[0086] Furthermore, in the case of the aforementioned seven-level setting, the control unit 7 can display the treatment intensity on a screen, for example, a remote control or a mobile terminal, so that the person receiving treatment P can set the strength of the treatment based on the treatment intensity 4. In this case, the control unit 7 stores the median value in a memory unit, for example, provided by the massage machine 1. The control unit 7 may store the median value in association with specific information that identifies the person receiving treatment, for example. When the median value stored in the memory unit is recalled by the person receiving treatment P, the control unit 7 sets the treatment intensity based on the median value. That is, the control unit 7 may store the determined treatment intensity in the memory unit so that the stored treatment intensity can be used later.

[0087] Furthermore, with respect to the fourth function, multiple detection units 6 can be provided in positions capable of detecting changes in physical quantities that occur in accordance with the movement of the body of the person being treated P, corresponding to multiple parts of the body of the person being treated P. For example, each of the multiple treatment units 2...2 (airbags 4...4) can be provided with a detection unit 6 for each unit for which non-operational control is desired with respect to the fourth function.

[0088] Furthermore, when the control unit 7 performs control based on the detection of internal pressure changes by the pressure sensor 6, as a first step, it can supply air to the airbag 4 at a first flow rate until the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 6 reaches a predetermined pressure value (first pressure value). Then, as a second step, the control unit 7 can supply air to the airbag 4 at a second flow rate, which is less than the first flow rate. Then, as a result of supplying air to the airbag 4 at the second flow rate, when the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 6 reaches a predetermined pressure value (second pressure value), the control unit 7 estimates the body shape based on the time the air was supplied. In this case, the time to reach the first pressure value when supplying at the first flow rate is set to a constant (same time) regardless of the body shape of the person being treated P. Therefore, the control unit 7 can estimate the body shape using the time the air is supplied to the airbag 4 at the second flow rate (specifically, the time from the first pressure value to the second pressure value). In addition, the control unit 7 may estimate body shape by detecting the total time spent supplying air to the airbag 4 at a first flow rate and the total time spent supplying air to the airbag 4 at a second flow rate. The control unit 7 may also stop supplying air to the airbag 4 after a predetermined time has elapsed following the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 6 reaching a predetermined value.

[0089] Furthermore, if the detection unit 6 is a pressure sensor, the detected value of the pressure sensor contains noise and measurement errors. To address this, the control unit 7 can reduce measurement errors due to noise by, for example, using a low-pass filter. In addition, the control unit 7 can measure an offset voltage via a voltage detection means when the air from the airbag 4 is released (airbag 4 is opened). By performing a process to remove the offset voltage when pressure is detected, measurement errors can be reduced. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0090] 1 Massage machine 11 Seat area 12 Backrest 13. Armrest 14 Ottoman 2 Treatment Department 3. Dorsal treatment area 31 Treatment child 31W Treatment area 32 Support part 321 Arm 33 Width adjustment mechanism 331 Screw shaft 332 Guide member 4 airbags 41 Shoulder airbags 42 Arm airbags 43. Lumbar airbag 44 Leg airbags 45. Buttock airbag 46 Thigh airbags 5. Air supply mechanism 51 Pump 52G valve group 521 Supply unit, supply valve 522 Discharge section, discharge valve 53 Outlet 6. Detection unit, pressure sensor 7 Control Unit 8 Display X Side contact body P treatment recipient

Claims

1. A treatment unit having a side contact body that is movable in the width direction and can come into contact with the side of the body of the person being treated, and which treats the side of the body of the person being treated, A detection unit that detects contact with the body of the person being treated by the movement of the side contact body, The system includes a control unit that determines the treatment intensity based on the detection result of the detection unit and operates the treatment unit at that treatment intensity. A massage machine characterized by the following features.

2. The control unit estimates the body shape of the person being treated from the detection result of the detection unit, sets a treatment intensity reference value corresponding to the estimated body shape, and operates the treatment unit at a treatment intensity based on the treatment intensity reference value. The massage machine according to feature 1.

3. The control unit, after the start of treatment, changes the treatment intensity based on the detection result of the detection unit and operates the treatment unit. The massage machine according to feature 1.

4. The control unit will not operate the treatment unit if the detection unit does not detect contact between the side contact body and the body of the person being treated. The massage machine according to feature 1.

5. The treatment unit has an airbag that inflates or deflates based on the amount of air inside, The detection unit detects changes in internal pressure when the airbag comes into contact with the side of the person receiving treatment. A massage machine according to any one of features 1 to 4.

6. It further includes a display unit that displays images, The control unit estimates the body shape of the person being treated based on the detection result of the detection unit, and displays an image corresponding to the estimated body shape on the display unit. The massage machine according to feature 2.

7. The treatment sequence for multiple treatment areas is predetermined. The control unit, When performing treatment in the aforementioned treatment order, the treatment that was scheduled to follow the treatment performed by the non-detected treatment unit is not operated from the aforementioned treatment order, or, The treatment unit that did not detect anything is not operated, and instead, another treatment that was not included in the treatment sequence is performed. The massage machine according to feature 4.

8. The airbag is positioned to the side of the patient's shoulder or arm. The massage machine according to feature 5.

9. A dorsal treatment section having a treatment device for treating the back of the patient's body, A side treatment unit having a side contact body that is movable in the width direction and can contact the side of the body of the person being treated, A detection unit that detects contact with the side of the person being treated by the movement of the side contact body, The system includes a control unit for operating the dorsal treatment unit and the lateral treatment unit, The dorsal treatment section is capable of changing the treatment range in which the treatment element operates. The control unit changes the treatment range of the dorsal treatment unit at least in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit. A massage machine characterized by the following features.

10. The dorsal treatment section has at least a pair of treatment elements in the width direction, and the distance between the pair of treatment elements in the width direction can be changed. The control unit changes the distance in the width direction based on the detection result of the detection unit. The massage machine according to feature 9.

11. A supply unit that supplies air to the airbag, It has a discharge section that releases air from the airbag, The control unit operates the release unit when the airbag is deflated. The massage machine according to feature 5.

12. The control unit supplies air to the airbag at a first flow rate and a second flow rate less than the first flow rate. The massage machine according to claim 5, wherein the supply of air to the airbag is performed at the first flow rate until a predetermined pressure value is reached, and thereafter at the second flow rate.

13. The massage machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of adjusting the treatment intensity based on the detection result.

14. The massage machine according to claim 13, wherein the control unit sets the detection result as the median value of the treatment intensity and makes the treatment intensity adjustable based on the median value.

Images