Diaper application care equipment and diaper unit usable therewith

Abstract

This provides a compact and simple device that can automatically change diapers without the need for a humanoid robot with multi-jointed hands. [Solution] The diaper fitting mechanism includes a diaper support 36 on which a diaper unit 26 with a folded diaper 16 can be set, and arm devices 34 and 35 attached to the diaper support 36. The arm device 34 moves, for example, in an arc-shaped trajectory and is equipped with a picker 46 at its tip. When the picker 46 grasps the edge of the diaper 16 and the arm device 34 is moved, the diaper 16 is pulled so as to cover the person being cared for M. Because the arm device 34 has a simple movement, the mechanism can be simplified and the realization of automatic diaper replacement can be greatly advanced. Since the arm device 34 is attached to a liftable diaper support 36, it does not get in the way of washing, etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to care facilities for dressing a caregiver with an open-type diaper, and a diaper unit that can be suitably used for this care facility. The diaper unit can also be called a diaper cassette.

Background Art

[0002] Aging is progressing in many countries including Japan, and accordingly the number of care recipients is increasing. Although there are levels of care needs, in care work, the most difficult part for both the caregiver and the care recipient is changing the diaper when the care recipient is bedridden or nearly so.

[0003] As a diaper for a bedridden person, an open type fixed with left and right tapes is generally used. The caregiver sequentially changes the posture of the care recipient from lying on the back, lying on the right side, and lying on the left side, and then removes the old diaper, puts on a new diaper, and washes the genitals and the like in a series.

[0004] Changing the diaper of a bedridden person relies on manual labor because it is a continuous series of delicate operations. However, in changing the diaper, the care recipient exposes the genitals and entrusts the work to the caregiver, which is not only heavy labor for the caregiver, but also causes the shame of the care recipient and the mental distress of the caregiver, etc., and there is also a problem of feeling a psychological burden for both the care recipient and the caregiver. In Japan, most of the care for bedridden people is provided by family caregivers. However, since family care has a side where a specific person is strongly sacrificed, it is a problem that should be addressed particularly in welfare policies.

[0005] Therefore, it can be said that there is a demand for a technology that can reduce the physical and psychological burdens of both the caregiver and the care recipient regarding diaper changes. In response to such a demand, the applicant of the present application disclosed a robot system that enables changing the diaper of a bedridden care recipient in Patent Document 1. Also, Patent Document 2 discloses the idea of using a robot to change the diaper. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7349038 [Patent Document 2] WO2016 / 086960 publication [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] If the robot described in Patent Document 1 is realized, it is expected that diaper changing will become possible with reduced physical and psychological burden on both caregivers and those receiving care, significantly improving the difficult situation surrounding caregiving. However, currently, it will take time to popularize robots that have the same movements and judgment abilities as humans due to technological and cost issues. Therefore, there is a need for simple diaper changing equipment that can be manufactured at low cost and is highly practical.

[0008] The present invention was made to meet this requirement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention includes many components, the typical ones of which are specified in each claim. Of these, the invention of claim 1 constitutes a broader concept. "A care device that allows for the attachment of an open-type diaper to a person receiving care, in which two front panels for the waist area and one front panel for the crotch area are connected as a single unit to a base that overlaps the waist area of ​​the person receiving care." It is targeted at

[0010] And the care facilities are, "A physical support that can hold the person being cared for in a position where there is space below their buttocks, A diaper support that allows the diaper to be set in an unfolded or folded state at a height lower than the person being cared for, It has a diaper attachment mechanism that allows the diaper to be removed from the diaper support and attached to the person being cared for, The diaper attachment mechanism comprises a waist-side arm device that moves the front waist portion of the diaper, which is set on the diaper support, toward the abdomen of the person being cared for, and a crotch-side arm device that moves the front crotch portion of the diaper, which is set on the diaper support, toward the abdomen of the person being cared for. The aforementioned lumbar arm device and groin arm device are positioned to move along the outer surface of the care recipient's body to attach the diaper to the care recipient." This is the structure.

[0011] The invention of claim 2 is an extension of claim 1, "The waist-side arm device and the crotch-side arm device are provided with gripping portions at their tips for grasping the edges of the diaper." This is the structure.

[0012] The invention of claim 3 is an extension of claim 1 or 2, "The lumbar arm device and the hip arm device are configured to move in a way that covers the person being cared for, starting from a waiting position lower than the person being cared for." This is the structure.

[0013] The invention of claim 4 is an extension of claim 3, "Either the lumbar arm device or the groin arm device, or both, are set to extend toward the abdominal side of the person being cared for." This is the structure.

[0014] The invention of claim 5 is also an extension of claim 3, "Either the lumbar arm device or the groin arm device, or both, are formed in a bag shape from a flexible material, and are designed to deform into a shape that covers the abdomen of the person being cared for when air is injected from a flat state." This is the structure.

[0015] The invention of claim 6 is also a developed example of claim 3, "Either one or both of the waist-side arm device and the thigh-side arm device are a multi-link rod-shaped body in which a large number of unit members arranged in a row are joined to each other, and the degree of connection between adjacent body members is different on the side closer to the care recipient and the side farther from the care recipient, so that it has a shape bent toward the side of the care recipient's abdomen in a use state." It has such a configuration.

[0016] The invention of claim 7 is a developed example of claim 6, "The multi-link rod-shaped body has a part stored in the case in a standby state, and the multi-link rod-shaped body is set to change its shape so as to bend toward the care recipient when it is drawn out from the case." It has such a configuration.

[0017] The invention of claim 8 is a developed example of claim 1 or 2, "Either one or both of the waist-side arm device and the thigh-side arm device are in an arc shape bent so as to cover the care recipient, and the arm device is mounted on an arc-shaped guide member so as to move along an arc trajectory." It has such a configuration.

[0018] The invention of claim 9 is a developed example of claim 3, "Either one or both of the waist-side arm device and the thigh-side arm device are an elastic deformable rod-shaped or plate-shaped flexible member, The flexible member has a part stored in the case in a straight posture in a standby state, and the flexible member is set to change its posture to a shape covering the care recipient while bending when it is drawn out from the case." It has such a configuration.

[0019] The invention of claim 10 is a developed example of claim 3, "Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the hip arm device are bellows structures with alternating inward-facing and outward-facing annular grooves, and are designed to bend and deform as they extend, with the strength of one side and the other on either side of the axis differing, so that they face the abdomen of the person being cared for." This is the structure.

[0020] The invention of claim 11 is an extension of claim 3, Either one or both of the aforementioned waist-side arm device and hip-side arm device are, This sandwich structure consists of two members with different longitudinal tensile strengths stacked on top of each other, having a curved shape due to the difference in tensile strength, and being able to be stored in a case in a straight state against elasticity, and is set to be unfolded from the case in its curved shape. This is the structure.

[0021] The invention of claim 12 is an extension of claim 1 or 2, "Either the lumbar arm device or the hip arm device, or both, are designed to move along a guide body that surrounds the person being cared for." This is the structure.

[0022] The invention of claim 13 is an extension of claim 3, "The waist-side arm device and the crotch-side arm device are controlled such that the crotch-side arm device is driven first to roll up the front crotch portion of the diaper so that it overlaps the person being cared for, and then the waist-side arm device is driven to straddle the crotch-side arm device." The front of the crotch area, held by the aforementioned crotch-side arm device, is then fixed to the front of the waist-side body by the aforementioned waist-side arm device, and after that, each arm device is controlled to retract. This is the structure.

[0023] The invention of claim 14 is an extension of claim 3, "The diaper support is adjustable in height toward the person being cared for, and the diaper attachment mechanism is set to operate when the person being cared for is supported by the diaper support via the base of the diaper." This is the structure.

[0024] The invention of claim 15 is an extension of claim 1 or 2, "The aforementioned body support is a reclining structure in which a number of mattresses whose posture changes when viewed from the side are supported by the aircraft frame." The diaper attachment mechanism is positioned in the space below the group of mats, within the body support. This is the structure.

[0025] The invention of claim 16 is an extension of claim 15, "It is equipped with a housing that can enclose the aforementioned body support, The housing has an opening through which the person being cared for can put their head out, and a door that can be closed while allowing the body support to be inserted and removed. The aforementioned body support is equipped with casters for pushing and pulling to move it." This is the structure.

[0026] The invention of claim 17 is an extension of claim 16, "The diaper support is movable in the front-to-back direction so as to be able to move up and down and backward when in the lowered position, and can be moved back to a position where the diaper unit, which is held in a folded state, can be easily attached from behind." This is the structure.

[0027] The invention of claim 18 is an extension of claim 17, "The aforementioned diaper support is interchangeable with a collection unit that stores used diapers removed from the person being cared for." The aforementioned collection unit is equipped with a bag into which used diapers fall." This is the structure.

[0028] The invention of claim 19 relates to a diaper unit. That is, A diaper unit usable in the diaper attachment mechanism described in claim 1 or 2, It is folded with the tab exposed on the outside and held on the backing card." This is the structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] The invention of claim 1 allows for a simpler structure compared to multi-jointed hand-type robots, thus significantly advancing the process of changing diapers without human intervention. Therefore, it is good news for both those receiving care and caregivers. It is also possible to reduce costs compared to robots, making it highly practical from a cost perspective.

[0030] When a robotic doll changes a diaper, the robot is visible to the person being cared for, which may cause discomfort. However, the arm device of the present invention can be made invisible to the person being cared for, thus providing them with a sense of security. Furthermore, the movement of the arm device closely resembles the actions of a mother putting a diaper on an infant, which can help the person being cared for feel more dignified.

[0031] The tip of the arm device needs to be equipped with an element for securing the diaper. In this regard, for example, a suction device can be used, but providing a gripping part as in claim 2 has the advantage of being highly versatile as it can accommodate existing diapers.

[0032] In the configuration of claim 3, the arm device can be brought as close as possible to the person being cared for, thus making the diaper attachment mechanism more compact. In particular, since the area in which the arm device moves is smaller compared to a hand-type robot, it becomes easier to arrange other equipment even when the housing is enclosed and washable. If the arm device is configured to be retractable as in claim 3, it can be compactly folded when not in use, further promoting the compactness of the diaper attachment mechanism.

[0033] While the arm device can employ a rigid structure made of metal or hard resin, adopting an air bladder system as described in claim 3 offers superior safety because it does not cause pain even if it comes into contact with the person being cared for. It also has the advantage of a simple structure and reduced costs. Furthermore, because the air bladder is elastic and easily deforms away from the body, it offers excellent adaptability to differences in body size.

[0034] In an air bladder type arm device, the gripping part can be motor-driven, but if the gripping part is configured to be air-driven, the power source can be only air, simplifying the structure and ensuring high safety as it does not cause pain when touched by a person. It is also possible to fix the front panel on the waist side to the front panel on the crotch side using only the bending deformation of the air bladder, in which case the structure becomes very simple.

[0035] As described in claim 6, configuring the arm device in a multi-jointed manner allows for easy adjustment of the arm's length. Furthermore, adopting the configuration of claim 7 allows the diaper attachment mechanism to be stored in the case in a straight line when in standby mode, further promoting miniaturization of the diaper attachment mechanism. Additionally, extending the arm device makes it easy to pull the edge of the diaper, thus improving the effectiveness of fitting the diaper to the care recipient's body.

[0036] As described in claim 8, forming the arm device in an arc shape allows it to be easily extended and retracted by attaching it to an arc-shaped guide member, thus simplifying the structure and offering excellent practicality.

[0037] Claim 9 allows for a more compact design, as the arm device is straight inside the case and curves to surround the person being cared for when extended from the case. The arm device is elastic and can deform to escape contact with the person being cared for, thus ensuring high safety. The arm device can also be pre-bent and stored in the case in an extended state against its elasticity, or it can be bent by forming numerous grooved hinges on one side of the flexible member and using a leaf spring to brace the opposite side of the grooves.

[0038] As described in claim 10, configuring the arm device with a bellows structure makes it easy to realize an extendable arm device. In this case, the mechanism for extending and retracting can be one in which the arm is extended by blowing in air and retracted by sucking in air, or by extending or retracting a leaf spring or spring rod that bends and deforms.

[0039] The arm device of claim 11 has a bimetallic structure and can be extended while bending and deforming, thus allowing the diaper attachment mechanism to be made more compact. It has a plate-like appearance and there are no grooves or protrusions on the outer surface, so the problem of dirt easily adhering to it does not occur. In addition, if the person being cared for accidentally touches it, the arm device deforms to move away, so it is also highly safe.

[0040] Claim 11 describes an arm device that is designed to bend, and when extended from the case, it returns to its original bent shape, allowing the picker at the tip to move along the surface of the person being cared for. However, by using a core material that can be bent and deformed to extend elastic members with different elongation rates in the longitudinal direction, it is also possible to extend the arm from the case while it is bent and deformed.

[0041] Alternatively, it is possible to bend and deform the core material and members by providing flexible pressurizing members on one or both sides of an elastically bending core material, pressing in a direction transverse to the core material, and making the pressing force by the pressurizing members or the elastic strength of the core material different in the longitudinal direction (for example, by forming the core material so that its strength decreases towards the tip and applying uniform pressure with an air bag or the like, an arm device that bends and deforms can be obtained. In short, as a higher concept, by making the arm device a composite structure and making the materials and elastic strengths of the two parts different, an arm device that bends and deforms through some operation can be obtained.

[0042] Claim 12 allows the arm device to move along a guide body positioned to surround the body of the person being cared for, thus enabling the arm device to be short in length. Consequently, the arm device can be driven with high precision and is highly reliable. Furthermore, because the arm device is short, it is less likely to deform or be damaged even if touched by the person being cared for, resulting in excellent robustness and durability. Therefore, it can be said to be particularly practical. In addition, since the movement trajectory of the arm device can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to make the arm device move in the best way possible to easily wrap a diaper around it.

[0043] In open-type diapers, the front panel on the waist side generally overlaps the front panel on the crotch side, and the waist side front panel is then secured to the front panel on the crotch side with hook-and-loop fasteners or the like. Therefore, it is preferable to hold the front panel on the crotch side taut before overlapping and securing the waist side front panel to the front panel on the crotch side. However, in claim 13, the diaper is held taut by the crotch side arm device, so the diaper can be fitted to the person being cared for.

[0044] In the invention of claim 14, the base of the diaper is held in place so that it cannot come off during the diaper application process, allowing for accurate application. In addition, it has the advantage of providing stable support to the care recipient's waist, thereby reducing the physical burden on the care recipient.

[0045] In the invention of claim 15, the diaper attachment mechanism is built into the body support, preventing the diaper attachment mechanism from being exposed to the outside, and allowing the entire diaper attachment care equipment to be compactly assembled.

[0046] Claim 16, because it is equipped with a housing, allows the care recipient's body to be washed (showered) without being seen by others. Therefore, the care recipient's comfort can be improved. Furthermore, since the body support has casters and can be easily moved in and out of the housing, the care recipient can transfer from the bed to the body support and, while remaining on the body support, perform a series of refreshing actions such as removing the used diaper, washing their body, and putting on a new diaper, thus providing comfort without imposing a physical burden on the care recipient.

[0047] In the configuration of claim 17, the diaper unit can be easily set on the diaper support. On the other hand, in claim 18, used diapers can be automatically stored in the bag of the collection unit. Therefore, the burden on caregivers can be reduced. In this case, it is preferable to configure the neck of the bag to close automatically with an elastic band or the like, as this can greatly suppress the diffusion of the odor of excrement.

[0048] By adopting the diaper unit (which can also be called a diaper cassette) of claim 19, attachment by an arm device can be easily realized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0049] [Figure 1] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is a perspective view of the housing and (B) is a perspective view of the body support (stretcher). [Figure 2] This is the back view of a diaper. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a diaper unit (diaper cassette). [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the separation between the person receiving care and the diaper changing unit. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the process of rolling up the front panel at the crotch area. [Figure 6] (A) is a perspective view showing the wrapping process of the front panel at the waist, and (B) is an example diagram of a fastening method. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view after the diaper has been put on. [Figure 8](A) is a reverse view of the garment with the front crotch area folded inward, and (B) is a top view of the garment with the front crotch area unfolded and rolled up. [Figure 9] The diagram shows the fitting process with the front panel on the crotch side folded inward. (A) is a plan view of the front panel on the crotch side rolled up, (B) is a plan view of the front panel on one side of the waist rolled up, and (C) is a plan view of the finished fitting state with the other front panel on the waist rolled up. [Figure 10] The diagram shows the fitting process with the front crotch panel spread out. (A) is a plan view of the front crotch panel rolled up, (B) is a plan view of one of the front waist panels rolled up and fixed to the front crotch panel, and (C) is a plan view of the other front waist panel rolled up and fixed to the front crotch panel, completing the fitting process. [Figure 11] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the body support for the person receiving care in a supine position, stored in the housing. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the preparation stage for putting on a diaper. [Figure 13] (A) is a side cross-sectional view showing the winding process of the front panel on the crotch side, (B) is a partially broken and enlarged cross-sectional view of (A), and (C) is a perspective view of the tip of the arm device on the crotch side. [Figure 14] (A) is a cross-sectional view from XIV-XIV in Figure 12, and (B) is a perspective view of the tip of the lumbar arm device. [Figure 15] (A) is a longitudinal section view of the second embodiment, which is a cross-sectional view of (B) from the perspective of AA, and (B) is a plan view of (A). [Figure 16] This is a side cross-sectional view of the diaper attachment mechanism in the second embodiment, with the diaper attachment mechanism retracted. [Figure 17] The figure shows the third embodiment, where (A) is a perspective view showing the diaper being attached, and (B) is a plan view showing the diaper set in the air bag. [Figure 18] (A) is a partial cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment, (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment, (C) is a partial cross-sectional view of the sixth embodiment, (D) is a partial front view of the seventh embodiment, (E) is a partial straight cross-sectional view of the eighth embodiment, and (F) is a partial straight cross-sectional view of the ninth embodiment. [Figure 19](A) is a perspective view of the 10th embodiment, (B) is a cross-sectional view of (A) from a BB perspective, (C) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate stage of the diaper collection process, (D) is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the diapers have been collected, and (E) is a cross-sectional view showing the diaper collection process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0050] Next, embodiments of the present invention and related technologies will be described. In the following, the terms up, down, left, and right will be used, where up and down is defined as the head side of the person being cared for being up and the feet side being down. Left and right are left and right relative to the person being cared for. In relation to diapers, the terms inner surface and outer surface will be used, where the inner surface is the side that overlaps with the person being cared for, and the outer surface is the side that is exposed to the outside of the person being cared for.

[0051] (1) Overview of diaper-wearing care equipment The diaper-wearing care equipment of this embodiment comprises a housing 1 shown in Figure 1(A) and a stretcher-like body support 2 shown in Figure 1(B). The housing 1 is box-shaped with left and right side plates 3, a front plate 4, a top plate 5, and a bottom plate 6 (see Figure 11), and has double-hinged doors 7 on the rear. When the doors 7 are opened, the body support 2 can be stored inside. The housing 1 is equipped with wheels 8. Although not shown in the figures, the body support 2 is equipped with detachable or flip-up and rotatable handrails.

[0052] Body support 2 has a structure in which multiple mats 10a to 10i are supported by a frame 9. Adjacent mats 10a to 10i are connected via links (not shown) in a reclining structure so that their relative posture in a side view can change, and the person being cared for can be held in any posture, from lying supine in a horizontal position to sitting with the upper body upright. Body support 2 is equipped with casters 11 on the front, back, left, and right sides, and can be pushed and pulled in and out of the housing 1.

[0053] Furthermore, by positioning the mats 10a to 10i horizontally and aligning them with the height of the bed, the person being cared for can be transferred between the bed and the body support 2. Although the bottom plate 6 of the housing 1 is higher than the floor surface, the body support 2 can be easily inserted into and removed from the housing 1 by arranging the inclined footboard 12 as shown in Figure 11.

[0054] The body support 2 is stored inside the housing 1, allowing the person being cared for to be concealed within the housing 1 while the existing diaper is removed, the genital area is cleaned, and a new diaper is put on. Since the diaper removal and cleaning of the genital area are performed automatically while the person being cared for is concealed within the housing 1, this is good news for both the person being cared for and the caregiver.

[0055] The interior of housing 1 contains a shower system for washing, a water tank, a drying device, a pump for collecting water that has fallen to the bottom, and a water distribution tank, but these are not shown in the illustration. Furthermore, housing 1 is equipped with a group of sensors, such as infrared and optical sensors, to ensure accurate operation of tasks such as diaper changes and washing. It is also possible to install CCD cameras to monitor the posture of the person being cared for (M) and the posture of the arm devices 34 and 35.

[0056] Diaper changes are performed with the person being cared for in a nearly horizontal or supine position. In this embodiment, when changing a diaper, the door 7 of the housing 1 is opened to expose the head of the person being cared for (M) to the back of the housing 1. This is a measure to shorten the length of the housing 1 as much as possible to make it easier to use in homes and facilities. Even though the head of the person being cared for (M) is exposed, the abdomen and genitals are not visible from the outside, so the privacy of the person being cared for is ensured.

[0057] The cleaning operation is naturally performed with the door 7 closed. Therefore, when the door 7 is closed, the space between the door 7 and the bottom plate 6 is sealed with sealant. The cleaning operation is performed with the person being cared for in an upright position. For this reason, the top plate 4 of the housing 1 has a notch 13 cut out backward to expose the head (or shoulders) of the person being cared for, and the notch 13 can be closed with the lid 14.

[0058] In this case, the notch 13 is set to remain partially open even when the lid 14 is closed. This is to prevent the person being cared for from feeling constricted while lying on their back. It is also possible to leave the entire notch 13 open without the lid 14, but it is preferable to provide the lid 14 so that the lower body can be hidden when changing diapers.

[0059] (2) Diaper structure and basic diaper fitting procedure As shown in Figure 2, the diaper 16 used in this embodiment is of the open type. Specifically, the diaper 16 comprises a base portion 17 that overlaps the back of the care recipient's waist and buttocks (pelvis), a waist-side front panel 18 that is integrally connected to the left and right side edges of the base portion 17 and overlaps the care recipient M's abdomen from the left and right directions, and a crotch-side front panel 19 that is integrally connected to the lower end edge of the base portion 17 and overlaps the care recipient M's abdomen from below. The crotch-side front panel 19 is integrally provided with left and right crotch-side flaps 19a.

[0060] As shown by the parallel diagonal lines in Figure 2, an absorbent material 20, made of a cotton-like material impregnated with a water-absorbing polymer, is indestructibly held to the inner surface of the base portion 17 and the inner surface of the front crotch portion 19. Gathers 21 are arranged on the left and right outer portions of the absorbent material 20 (in reality, the gathers 21 are double-layered, extending vertically, but in this embodiment they are shown as a single piece).

[0061] Two connecting tapes 22 are attached to the left and right side edges (free ends) of the front waist panel 18. The connecting tapes 22 have a connecting portion 24 made of hook-and-loop fastener or adhesive layer that is positioned inward, and have a tab 25 that protrudes to the outside of the connecting portion 24. The base 17 shares a base sheet that extends in a continuous manner between the front waist panel 18 and the front crotch panel 19. The front waist panel 18 and the crotch flap 19a are formed as an extension of the base sheet, while the absorbent body 20 and gathers 21 are made as separate components from the base sheet and are attached to the base sheet afterward.

[0062] Figure 3 shows the diaper unit 26. The diaper unit 26 holds the diaper 16 in a folded state, and its main components are a rectangular cardboard base 27 and the folded diaper 16. The diaper 16 is held in a folded state on the cardboard base 27 by a retaining mechanism (not shown).

[0063] Specifically, first, the front waist portion 18 of the diaper 16 is folded inward by a first fold 28 at its base, and then the portion outside the left and right middle sections is folded outward by a second fold 29. Consequently, the connecting tape 22 is exposed on the left and right sides outward with the connecting portion 24 facing upward.

[0064] On the other hand, with respect to the front crotch panel 19, first, the crotch flap 19a is folded inward around the third fold 30 at its base. The combined body of the front crotch panel 19 and the inwardly folded crotch flap 19a is then folded upward (inward) at the fourth fold 31 at the base 1 / 3 of the way up, and then the remaining 1 / 3 of the free end is folded downward (outward) at the fifth fold 32. Therefore, the front crotch panel 19 is folded in a three-layered manner, excluding the crotch flap 19a.

[0065] As a means of holding the diaper 16 in its folded state, for example, paper tape that can be torn with very little force can be used. Alternatively, adhesive tape that can be peeled off with very little force can be used. Alternatively, a resin or paper clip can be fixed to the backing 27 and the diaper can be held in place by the clip. In any case, the temporary hold is released when the edge is pulled.

[0066] As will be explained in more detail later, the diaper unit 26 is positioned below the area centered on the buttocks of the person being cared for who is lying supine on the body support 2. The base 17 of the diaper unit 26 is pressed against the buttocks of the person being cared for. In this position, first, as shown in Figure 5, the front waist panel 18 is pulled upward using the crotch arm device 34, so that the front waist panel 19 is firmly placed over the groin of the person being cared for. Next, as shown in Figure 6(A), the left and right front waist panels 18 are wrapped around the abdomen of the person being cared for M using the crotch arm device 35, and the connecting parts 24 of the connecting tapes 22 are pressed and secured to the front waist panels 19. As a result, the open-type diaper 16 is fitted to the person being cared for M, as shown in Figure 7.

[0067] Figures 8-10 show examples of the procedure for putting on the diaper 16. Figures 8(A) and 9 are the same embodiment, in which first, as in Figure 8(A), the crotch flap 19a of the crotch front panel 19 is folded inward, as in Figure 9(A), the crotch front panel 19 is rolled up toward the person being cared for, then as in Figure 9(B), one waist front panel 18 is overlapped with the crotch front panel 19 and secured with connecting tape 22, and then as in Figure 9(C), the other waist front panel 18 is secured to the one waist front panel 18 with connecting tape 22.

[0068] In the embodiments shown in Figures 8(B) and 10, first, as shown in Figure 8(B), the front crotch section 19 is rolled up and placed over the abdomen of the person being cared for, and then, as shown in Figures 10(A) and 10(B), the left and right front waist sections 18 are placed over the front crotch section 19 and secured with connecting tape 22.

[0069] In either configuration, it is necessary to pull up the front waist panel 18 and bring its sides into close contact with the groin area of ​​the person being cared for. For this reason, it is preferable to pull the front crotch panel 19 upwards at points that are as far apart as possible on the left and right. Furthermore, the process of fixing the front waist panel 18 to the front crotch panel 19 should be performed while maintaining the position of the front crotch panel 19 being pulled upwards.

[0070] (3) Basic structure of the diaper attachment mechanism Next, the diaper attachment mechanism will be described, primarily with reference to Figures 11-14. As shown in Figure 12, the diaper attachment mechanism includes a diaper support (diaper placement platform) 36 on which a diaper unit 26, positioned below the person being cared for M, is set, and a rail device 37 on which the diaper support 36 is mounted to slide freely back and forth. The rail device 37 is retractable and can be exposed behind the housing 1 when the door 7 is open.

[0071] The rail device 37 is fixed to the frame 9 of the body support 2 in an inclined position so that its rear end is higher. The diaper support 36 is driven to move back and forth while resting on the rail device 37 by a forward / backward actuator (not shown), and when it has moved all the way forward, it is raised and lowered by a lifting actuator (not shown). The diaper support 36 is guided to move up and down by a guide body, as shown by the dashed line link 38 in Figure 13(A).

[0072] As shown in Figure 12, among the mats 10a to 10i, the fourth mat 10d, located below the waist of the person being cared for M, can be opened and rotated downwards using its upper end as a pivot point, and the fifth mat 10e, located below the thigh of the person being cared for M, can be opened and rotated downwards using its front end as a pivot point. When both mats 10d and 10e are opened and rotated, a space can be created below the person being cared for M to raise and lower the diaper support 36 and the diaper unit 26. As shown in Figure 13(A), when the diaper unit 26 is fully raised, the base 17 of the diaper 16 is set to make firm contact with the buttocks of the person being cared for M. Therefore, the base 17 of the diaper 16 is held in a position where it cannot shift.

[0073] (4) Hip side arm device As shown in Figure 13(A), a pair of left and right crotch-side arm devices 34 are attached to the diaper support 36 via an arc-shaped guide body 39. The crotch-side arm devices 34 have the shape of an arc forming part of a perfect circle when viewed from the side, while the arc-shaped guide body 39 is a hollow arc shape on which the crotch-side arm devices 34 can slide back and forth, and is fixed to the lower surface of the diaper support 36 via a bracket 40.

[0074] As shown in Figure 13(B), the arc-shaped guide body 39 is equipped with multiple intermediate guide bodies 41, and as the intermediate guide bodies 41 move back and forth on the arc-shaped guide body 39, the front crotch panel 19 is held in a stable state even when it moves forward significantly. A rack 42 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the front crotch panel 19.

[0075] On the other hand, a hip-side actuator 44, which has a pinion gear 43 that meshes with a rack 42 of the hip-side arm device 34, is fixed to the starting end of the arc-shaped guide body 39. The hip-side actuator 44 is, for example, an electric motor, and by driving the hip-side actuator 44, the front end of the hip-side arm device 34 moves in an arc from a retracted position located in front of the diaper unit 26 to a forward position where its tip is located above the abdomen of the person being cared for M.

[0076] An auxiliary arm 45 is attached to the front of the crotch-side front panel 19 so as to rotate around its left and right longitudinal pivot axis, and a clamp-type picker 46 is attached to the tip of the auxiliary arm 45. The auxiliary arm 45 can be held at any angle by an auxiliary actuator 47. On the other hand, the picker 46 consists of a pair of upper and lower clamping bodies and can be opened and closed by a picking actuator 48. The picker 46 can also be made to swivel relative to the auxiliary arm 45, and the angle relative to the auxiliary arm 45 can be changed arbitrarily by a swivel actuator 49. The picker 46 is provided with an anti-slip surface 46a.

[0077] The actuators 47, 48, and 49 located at the tip of the crotch-side arm device 34 are electrically operated, and the power cable is embedded within the thickened portion of the crotch-side arm device 34. As shown in Figure 13(A), with the crotch-side arm device 34 retracted, the rotation of the auxiliary arm 45 and the opening and closing of the picker 46 are controlled to grasp the lower edge of the crotch-side front panel 19 of the diaper 16. Then, by advancing the crotch-side arm device 34, the crotch-side front panel 19 is pulled up and held in a position that covers the abdomen of the person being cared for M.

[0078] With the hip-side arm device 34 fully extended, the auxiliary arm 45 is in a downward position, and the picker 46 is facing backward. Differences in the physique of the person being cared for (M) can be accommodated by adjusting the travel distance of the hip-side arm device 34 and the rotation angle of the auxiliary arm 45.

[0079] The groin-side arm devices 34 exist in pairs, one on the left and one on the right. Since both start from the groin area of ​​the person being cared for M, care must be taken to ensure that the groin-side arm devices 34 do not come into contact with the thighs of the person being cared for M. On the other hand, in order to firmly apply the groin-side front panel 19 to the groin area of ​​the person being cared for M, it is necessary to widen the left-right distance between the gripping positions at the ends of the groin-side front panel 19 as much as possible and pull it upward.

[0080] As can be seen from Figure 14, the left and right arc-shaped guide bodies 39 are arranged in a V-shape so that the distance between them narrows as they move backward, thereby setting the left and right crotch-side arm devices 34 to move forward while widening the distance between them. Accordingly, the diaper 16 is formed as a diaper unit 26 with the edges of the crotch-side front panel 19 moved towards the left and right middle sections so that the picker 46 can grasp the edges of the crotch-side front panel 19 as far as possible when the crotch-side arm devices 34 are retracted.

[0081] (5) Waist-side arm device The lumbar arm device 35 has basically the same structure as the crotch arm device 34. The lumbar arm device 35 is mounted so as to be able to move back and forth on a hollow arc-shaped guide body 52 fixed to the diaper support 36 via a bracket 51, and is driven by a lumbar actuator 53 equipped with a pinion (not shown).

[0082] In the waist-side arm device 35, a picker 55 is attached to its tip. However, since there are two connecting tapes 22, one above and one below, a front-to-back longitudinal branching bar 54 is fixed to the tip of the waist-side arm device 35, and the pickers 55 are attached to both ends of the branching bar 54. The picker 55 is a clamp type having a pair of clamping bodies and is equipped with an actuator 56 for opening and closing drive and an actuator 57 for maintaining the swivel angle. The picker 55 is provided with an anti-slip surface 55a and a retaining piece 55b.

[0083] The waist-side arm device 35, in its retracted state, grasps the gripping piece 25 of the connecting tape 22 with the picker 55, then moves the waist-side arm device 35 forward, then pivots the picker 55 to press and fix the connecting portion 24 of the connecting tape 22 to the front crotch panel 19 with the pressing piece 55b, then releases the clamp of the picker 55 and moves the waist-side arm device 35 backward.

[0084] The front panel 19 on the crotch side is held in an upward position by the crotch side arm device 34. However, because the crotch side arm device 34 is located higher than the forward-moving waist side arm device 35 due to the presence of the auxiliary arm 45, the connecting tape 22 can be fixed to the front panel 19 on the crotch side while it is pulled upward. In other words, in this embodiment, by creating a three-dimensional crossing between the crotch side arm device 34 and the front panel 19 on the crotch side, it is possible to fix the waist side arm device 35 while the front panel 19 on the crotch side is pulled.

[0085] Differences in the physical size of the person being cared for (M) can be addressed by adjusting the travel distance of the lumbar arm device 35 or by adjusting the swivel angle of the picker 55. It is also possible to install a tension sensor on the picker 55 and stop its forward movement when a predetermined tension is applied. It is also possible to stop the driving of the arm devices 34 and 35 when the resistance acting on the actuators 44 and 53 that drive the arm devices 34 and 35 reaches a predetermined magnitude (a torque limiter can also be installed). This control can be applied to other embodiments as well.

[0086] In this embodiment, two pickers 55 are provided on one lumbar arm device 35, but it is also possible to provide a lumbar arm device 35 that corresponds to one connecting tape 22. In this case, by changing the amount of tension on the upper and lower connecting tapes 22, it is possible to shift the fixing position of the upper and lower connecting tapes 22 to the front crotch panel 19 to the left or right, thereby improving the fit of the front lumbar panel 18 to the person being cared for M.

[0087] (6) Summary of the first embodiment In the above configuration, the diaper 16 can be attached by driving the arc-shaped arm devices 34 and 35. Since the arm devices 34 and 35 can be stored inside the body support 2, the entire diaper attachment mechanism can be made more compact compared to a hand-type robot. The movement is also simple, making it highly practical. The space above the body support 2 is open, allowing for greater flexibility in the layout of other components such as showers and dryers. This aspect also contributes to its high practicality.

[0088] By employing clamp-type pickers 46 and 55 as means of fixing the diaper 16 using arm devices 34 and 35, it is possible to easily apply this to existing diapers 16 that are fixed with connecting tapes 22, making it suitable. Other means of fixing can also be used, such as suction cups and hook-and-loop fasteners. Figure 6(B) shows an example where hook-and-loop fasteners are used as the fixing means.

[0089] In other words, when fixing the front waist panel 18 to the front crotch panel 19 with a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 22a, a receiving fastener 18a is provided on the outer surface of the front waist panel 18, while a pressing fastener 35a is provided at the tip of the waist arm device 35, and the receiving fastener 18a is engaged with the pressing fastener 35a to move the waist arm device 35.

[0090] In this case, it is necessary to fix the front waist panel 18 to the front crotch panel 19 and then disengage the retaining fastener 35a from the receiving fastener 18a. However, this can be addressed, for example, by forming the base material 35b to which the retaining fastener 35a is fixed into a hollow shape, and inflating the base material 35b by injecting air into it via the waist arm device 35 or a tube, thereby detaching the retaining fastener 35a from the receiving fastener 18a.

[0091] As in the embodiment, by adopting a configuration in which the diaper unit 26 is set on a sliding diaper support 36 attached to a rail device 37, the diaper unit 26 can be easily set up, reducing the burden on the caregiver. By providing arm devices 34 and 35 on the diaper support 36, the diaper support 36 can be lowered and retracted during washing, preventing components such as the arm devices 34 and 35 from getting wet with water. It is also possible to provide a movable cover that covers the diaper attachment mechanism during the washing process.

[0092] In this embodiment, the diaper 16 is changed with the care recipient M in a slightly forward-leaning supine position, but it is also possible to change the diaper while the care recipient M is lying supine in a horizontal position. Furthermore, when changing the diaper 16, the care recipient M's legs and chest can be gently held down with an air bag type restraint device 59, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 12. With these precautions, even if the care recipient M moves unexpectedly during the diaper change, their body will not come into contact with the arm devices 34 and 35, thus ensuring safety.

[0093] (7) Second Embodiment Figures 15 and 16 show a second embodiment, which is a specific example of claim 12. In this embodiment, the diaper attachment mechanism includes a dome-shaped guide shell 61. The guide shell 61 has left and right longitudinal waist guides 62 on which the waist-side arm device 35 moves, and up and down longitudinal crotch guides 63 on which the crotch-side arm device 34 moves.

[0094] A waist-side slider 65 is movably mounted on a guide rail 64 provided on the inner surface of a waist-side guide 62, and a waist-side arm device 35 is attached to the waist-side slider 65 via an actuator 66. The waist-side arm device 35 is equipped with a picker 55 similar to that of the first embodiment. The operation of the waist-side arm device 35 and the picker 55 is the same as in the first embodiment. There is a pair of waist-side arm devices 35 on each side. The waist-side slider 65 is self-propelled and is equipped with an electric motor-type actuator.

[0095] The crotch guide section 63 and the crotch-side arm device 34 are similar, with a slider 68 movably mounted on a guide rail 67 of the dovetail type or the like, and the crotch-side arm device 34 attached to the slider 68. The left and right crotch-side arm devices 34 are arranged so that the distance between them increases towards the upper end.

[0096] As shown in Figure 16, the guide shell 61 is movable and can be moved by an actuator (not shown) from a storage position located at the top of the housing 1 to a usage position that covers the person being cared for M. The housing 1 has an upward bulge 69 for housing the guide shell 61, but the upward bulge 69 is not necessarily required if it does not interfere with other components such as a shower head or hair dryer.

[0097] While it is possible to use a rail structure having left and right longitudinal guide rails for the waist and front and rear longitudinal guide rails for the crotch instead of the dome-shaped guide shell 61, using the dome-shaped guide shell 61 as in the embodiment is preferable because the guide shell 61 has a cover function that protects the person being cared for M, and as described above, it prevents external forces from being applied to the arm devices 34 and 35.

[0098] As shown in Figure 16, a configuration in which the feet of the person being cared for (M) protrude in front of the housing 1 when the diaper 16 is being changed is also possible. In this case, a window opening for the feet can be made in the front panel of the housing 1 and closed with a door when showering. This point is the same for other embodiments.

[0099] In this embodiment, the short length of the arm devices 34 and 35 ensures high rigidity. Furthermore, the overall structure is extremely compact. Additionally, since the diaper support 36 only needs to be movably positioned inside the body support 2, it becomes easy to use the retrieval unit described later.

[0100] In this embodiment, the movement trajectory of the sliders 65 and 68 does not need to be arc-shaped, and any movement trajectory can be set. This is one of the advantages of this embodiment. In addition, since the arm devices 34 and 35 are hidden in the guide shell 61 and cannot be touched by the person being cared for M, there is also the advantage of superior safety and deformation prevention function.

[0101] (7) Third to ninth embodiments In the third embodiment shown in Figure 17, an air bag 71 is used as the diaper attachment mechanism. Specifically, by varying the strength of the front and back sides of the air bag 71, for example, when air is blown in from the inlet 72, the crotch portion 71b and the waist portion 71a deform into a shape that covers (wraps around) the body of the person being cared for M. In this case, it is preferable that both the crotch portion 71b and the waist portion 71a have an expandable and contractible structure.

[0102] Pickers can be provided at the ends of the crotch portion 71b and the waist portion 71a, but the pressing action of the waist portion 71a can also be used to fix fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners 22a to the front crotch portion 19. The diaper 16 is temporarily fixed in several places to the air bag 71 with very weak, dot-like adhesive. When the air is released from the air bag 71 and returned to its original position, the air bag 71 detaches from the diaper 16. It is also possible to incorporate a reinforcing cylindrical portion 74 inside the air bag 71, in which case the shape retention in the inflated state can be improved.

[0103] In the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 18(A), the arm devices 34 and 35 are configured as telescopic extension structures. Although the arm devices 34 and 35 are shown straight in the drawing, they are actually curved in an arc (therefore, a rectangular cross-section is preferred).

[0104] The fifth embodiment shown in Figure 18(B) employs a bellows system. That is, in a configuration in which fillers 76a and 76b are filled into the valleys on one side and the other side of the bellows 75, the compressive strengths of the fillers 76a and 76b are made different so that the bellows 75 bends and extends in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the core material 77 (in the figure, the bellows 75 is shown in a straight position, but this is for convenience only, and in reality the part from which the case 80 is unfurled is bent upward or downward). Although not shown in the figure, a picker is attached to the tip of the bellows 75. Instead of changing the elongation strength (or compressive strength) of the fillers 76a and 76b to cause bending deformation, the bellows 75 can also be bent and deformed as it unfurls from the case 80 by changing the deformation strength of one side and the other side of the bellows 75.

[0105] The sixth embodiment shown in Figure 18(C) employs an air bag 71 as an arm device, with a retractable balloon section 78 at its tip. The air bag 71 bends and deforms, and then the balloon section 78 extends to pull the edge of the diaper 16. Accordingly, a picker is attached to the tip of the balloon section 78.

[0106] The seventh embodiment shown in Figure 18(D) is a specific example of claim 6, in which the arm devices 34 and 35 are composed of a number of unit members 79 connected to each other. Adjacent unit members 79 interlock on one side and the lower side in the longitudinal direction, and as a result, the arm devices 34 and 35 are extended out of the case 80 while bending.

[0107] In the eighth embodiment shown in Figure 18(E), the arm devices 34 and 35 are made of leaf springs and are pre-formed in a bent state. They are then stored in the case 80 in a straightened position against elasticity. Therefore, when the arm devices 34 and 35 are extended from the case 80, they return to their original bent shape. In other words, they are extended from the case 80 while bent. The ninth embodiment shown in Figure 18(F) is similar, and in this embodiment, the arm devices 34 and 35 are set in a pre-bent shape by forming a bimetallic structure by bonding together two metal plates 81 and 82 with different elastic moduli.

[0108] (8) Tenth Embodiment Figure 19 shows a means for collecting used diapers 16. In this embodiment, when removing the diapers 16, a collection unit (cassette) 85 is used, which consists of a frame 83 with openings at the top and bottom and a bag (deodorizing bag) 84 set in it. The opening of the frame 83 is formed in a tunnel shape, and a ring-shaped elastic cord 86 is inserted through it. The elastic cord 86 then embraces the small-diameter stepped portion 83a on the outer circumference of the frame 83.

[0109] The retrieval unit 85 is positioned below the person being cared for M. When the front panel 18 on the waist side is released and the diaper 16 is dropped downwards, the diaper 16 falls into the bag 84. At this point, the elastic cord 86 detaches from the frame 83, and the opening of the bag 84 is automatically tightened. Since the elastic cord 86 alone does not provide sufficient tying force, a string 87 is fixed to the part of the bag 84 closer to the opening. By tying it securely with the string 87, odor leakage can be prevented. It is preferable that the bag 84 is deodorizing and antibacterial. It is also beneficial to place a deodorizer in advance.

[0110] As shown in Figure 16, the rail device 37 can be interchanged to accommodate a diaper support 36 to which the diaper unit 26 is attached, and a receiving box 90 to which the collection unit 85 is attached. After the person being cared for, M, is brought to the housing 1 with the old diaper unit 26 attached, the mats 10d and 10e are opened and rotated to create space below the diaper 16. Then, the diaper unit 26 is raised, and the fixing part 88 (hook fastener or adhesive tape) located at the bottom of the bag body 84 is pushed up with the rod 89 to fix the fixing part 88 to the base 17 of the diaper 16. Then, by lowering the rod 89, the used diaper 16 can be stored in the bag body 84 and collected in the receiving box 90. After that, the receiving box 90 is retracted and removed from the rail device 37.

[0111] In this case, the engagement of the diaper 16 may be released using the waist-side arm device 35 provided on the guide shell 61, but it is preferable for the caregiver to release it manually (even if the engagement of the waist-side front panel 18 is released, the diaper 16 will not come off).

[0112] In the first embodiment, the front crotch panel 19 is rolled up by a crotch-side arm device 34 that moves from below to above. However, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 6(A), it can also be rolled up by a crotch-side arm device 34 that moves from diagonally above toward the crotch.

[0113] In other words, by moving the crotch-side arm device 34 forward toward the crotch, grasping the edge of the crotch-side front panel 19, and then moving the crotch-side arm device 34 backward upward, the crotch-side front panel 19 can be pulled up toward the abdomen of the person being cared for M. In previous embodiments, the arm devices 34 and 35 are arranged in a three-dimensional crossing manner, but the method shown by the dashed line in Figure 6 is a non-three-dimensional crossing method with different directions of movement. In this case, the waist-side arm device 35 does not interfere with the crotch-side arm device 34, so the waist-side front panel 18 can be securely fixed.

[0114] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various other ways. For example, the guide portion of the arm device can be provided on the inner surface of the housing. In the diaper unit, the folding pattern of the diaper can be appropriately set in accordance with the movement of the arm device.

[0115] In the embodiment of the diaper, the waist-side arm device was fixed to the front crotch area from above, but a method in which the crotch-side arm device is pressed down and fixed to the waist-side arm device can also be adopted. That is, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-186248 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-59478, for example, the waist-side front is made into a left and right long band system, and the waist-side front is first fixed with hook-and-loop fasteners, and then the crotch-side arm device is placed on top of the waist-side front and fixed. Furthermore, the present invention can also be used for changing diapers to which a urine absorption pad can be attached.

[0116] Diaper support can also be integrated into body support devices such as body supports. Body supports are not limited to stretcher-like or bed-like structures; chair-like structures can also be used.

[0117] The arm device can also be used to perform diaper wrapping tasks by combining rotation around one end as a pivot point with movements that move closer to or further away from the person being cared for. [Industrial applicability]

[0118] The present invention can be embodied in diaper-wearing care equipment and diaper units. Therefore, it can be used industrially. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0119] M Care recipient 1 Housing 2. Physical support 7 doors 9 machine frame 10a~10i Mat 11 Caster 16 diapers 17 Base 18 Front panel at the waist 19 Front panel at the crotch 19a Crotch flap 20 absorbent material 22 Tapes 24 Connection part 25 pieces 26 Diaper Unit 27 Mounting board 34. Hip-side arm device 35. Lumbar side arm device 36 Diaper support 37 Rail device 39 Arc-shaped guide body of the hip-side arm device 44. Hip side actuator 45 Auxiliary Arm 46. ​​Picker for the hip-side arm device 52. Arc-shaped guide body of the lumbar arm device 53 Lumbar actuator 54 Branch Bar 55 Pickers 61 Guide shell (dome-shaped guide body) 75 bellows 77, 81, 82 Core material 83 Frame 84 bags (deodorizing bags) 85 Used diaper collection unit 80 cases

Claims

1. A care device that allows for the attachment of an open-type diaper to a person receiving care, in which two front panels for the waist and one front panel for the crotch are integrally connected to a base that overlaps the waist of the person receiving care, A physical support that can hold the person being cared for with space below their buttocks, A diaper support that allows the diaper to be set in an unfolded or folded state at a height lower than the person being cared for, It has a diaper attachment mechanism that allows the diaper to be removed from the diaper support and attached to the person being cared for, The diaper attachment mechanism comprises a waist-side arm device that moves the front waist portion of the diaper, which is set on the diaper support, toward the abdomen of the person being cared for, and a crotch-side arm device that moves the front crotch portion of the diaper, which is set on the diaper support, toward the abdomen of the person being cared for. The lumbar arm device and the groin arm device are positioned to move along the outer surface of the care recipient's body to attach the diaper to the care recipient. Diaper application aids.

2. The waist-side arm device and the crotch-side arm device are provided with gripping portions at their tips for grasping the edge of the diaper. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 1.

3. The lumbar arm device and the hip arm device are configured to move in a way that covers the person being cared for, starting from a waiting position lower than the person being cared for. A diaper-wearing care device as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the groin arm device are set to extend toward the abdominal side of the person being cared for. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

5. Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the groin arm device are formed in a bag shape from a flexible material and are designed to inflate and deform into a shape that covers the abdomen of the person being cared for when air is injected from a flat state. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

6. Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the groin arm device are multi-section rod-shaped bodies in which numerous unit members are connected to each other in a row, and the degree of connection between adjacent body members differs between the side closer to the person being cared for and the side further away from the person being cared for, so that when in use they are curved towards the abdomen of the person being cared for. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

7. The multi-section rod-shaped body has a portion that is stored in a case in a standby state, and the multi-section rod-shaped body is configured to change shape so that it bends toward the person being cared for when it is extended from the case. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 6.

8. Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the hip arm device are curved in an arc shape to cover the person being cared for, and the arm device is mounted on an arc-shaped guide member so as to move along an arc trajectory. A diaper-wearing care device as described in claim 1 or 2.

9. Either one or both of the aforementioned waist-side arm device and groin-side arm device are elastically deformable rod-shaped or plate-shaped flexible members. The flexible member has a portion that is stored in the case in a straight position when in standby mode, and is set to change its posture so that it bends and covers the person being cared for when it is extended from the case. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

10. Either one or both of the lumbar arm device and the hip arm device are bellows structures with alternating inward-facing and outward-facing annular grooves, and are designed to bend and deform as they extend, toward the abdomen of the person being cared for, due to differences in strength between one side and the other on either side of the axis. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

11. Either one or both of the aforementioned waist-side arm device and hip-side arm device are sandwich structures formed by stacking two members with different longitudinal tensile strengths, having a curved shape due to the difference in tensile strength, and being able to be stored in a case in a straight state against elasticity, and are set to be unfolded from the case in a curved shape. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

12. Either one or both of the aforementioned lumbar arm device and hip arm device are designed to move along a guide body that surrounds the person being cared for. A diaper-wearing care device as described in claim 1 or 2.

13. The waist-side arm device and the crotch-side arm device are controlled such that the crotch-side arm device is driven first to roll up the front crotch portion of the diaper so that it overlaps the person being cared for, and then the waist-side arm device is driven to straddle the crotch-side arm device. The front of the crotch area is held by the crotch-side arm device, and the front of the waist area is fixed to it by the waist-side arm device, after which each arm device is controlled to retract. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

14. The diaper support is adjustable in height toward the person being cared for, and the diaper attachment mechanism is set to operate when the person being cared for is supported by the diaper support via the base of the diaper. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 3.

15. The aforementioned body support is a reclining structure in which a number of mattresses whose posture changes when viewed from the side are supported by the aircraft frame. The diaper attachment mechanism is positioned in the space below the group of mat bodies and is located on the body support. A diaper-wearing care device as described in claim 1 or 2.

16. It is equipped with a housing that can enclose the aforementioned body support, The housing has an opening through which the person being cared for can put their head out, and a door that can be closed while allowing the body support to be inserted and removed. The aforementioned body support is equipped with casters for pushing and pulling to move it. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 15.

17. The aforementioned diaper support is movable in the front-to-back direction so as to be able to move up and down and backward when in the lowered position, and can be moved back to a position where the diaper unit held in a folded state can be easily attached from behind. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 16.

18. The aforementioned diaper support is interchangeable with a collection unit that stores used diapers removed from the person being cared for. The aforementioned collection unit is equipped with a bag into which used diapers fall. The diaper-wearing care equipment described in claim 17.

19. A diaper unit usable in the diaper attachment mechanism described in claim 1 or 2, It is held on the cardboard backing in a folded state with the tab exposed on the outside. Diaper unit.

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