Massage mechanism

Abstract

The objective is to make the massage mechanism more compact and to provide a massage mechanism that can simultaneously perform both tapping and vibrating motions by making the direction of the reciprocating motion of the treatment element the same as the axial direction of the motor's drive shaft. [Solution] The device comprises a motor having a drive shaft, a treatment element, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into reciprocating motion of the treatment element, wherein the direction of the reciprocating motion is the same as the axial direction of the drive shaft.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a massage device has been proposed that uses a motor and a cam to vibrate a treatment element in the front-rear direction to perform a tapping operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the massage device described in Patent Document 1 above, although the strength of the amplitude (the strength of the tapping operation by the treatment element) can be changed according to the direction of the torque (one or the other in the circumferential direction), the massage mechanism tends to become large by incorporating a mechanism for changing the strength of the amplitude, and there is also a problem that only a monotonous massage operation by the tapping operation can be performed. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a compact massage mechanism and a massage mechanism capable of simultaneously exhibiting a tapping operation and a vibrating operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention includes a motor having a drive shaft, a treatment element, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into a reciprocating motion of the treatment element, and the operating direction of the reciprocating motion is the same as the axial direction of the drive shaft. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to make the massage mechanism compact.

[0006] Furthermore, it is preferable that the conversion mechanism has a vibrating part that applies vibration to the treatment element through the rotational motion. This configuration allows for simultaneous execution of both striking and vibrating actions.

[0007] Furthermore, the conversion mechanism preferably includes a conversion shaft extending in the same direction as the drive shaft and a connecting member connecting the conversion shaft and the drive shaft, and transmits the rotational motion of the motor to the conversion shaft. This configuration allows for the efficient conversion and transmission of the motor's rotational motion into the reciprocating motion of the treatment device.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable that the vibrating part is attached to the conversion shaft. This configuration allows for a more compact design of the vibrating section.

[0009] Furthermore, the conversion mechanism preferably includes a cam and an auxiliary shaft that is driven by the cam, and the treatment element is preferably attached to the auxiliary shaft. This configuration allows for the implementation of a conversion mechanism with a simple design.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cam is a cylindrical cam, the auxiliary shaft has a roller at its end, and the roller is fitted into the cylindrical cam. This configuration allows for a smaller volume to be occupied in space compared to a planar cam. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the massage mechanism can be made more compact, and both tapping and vibrating actions can be performed simultaneously. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a massage machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of a massage machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows a massage mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view of the massage mechanism and (b) is a view of the massage mechanism from the left. [Figure 4] The following are cross-sectional views of a massage mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention: (a) is a front view of the massage mechanism with the section between the imaginary lines V1 in Figure 3(a) cut vertically, and (b) is a left view of the massage mechanism with the section between the imaginary lines V2 in Figure 3(a) cut vertically. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing an exploded view of the frame of a massage mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure shows the state in which the treatment element has been removed from the massage mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from the bottom. [Figure 7] This figure shows a treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from above. [Figure 8] This figure shows a conversion mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a view from the left. [Figure 9] This figure shows a conversion mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from the front. [Figure 10] This figure shows a conversion mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a figure showing the state in which the first rotating body has been removed from the rotating body. [Figure 11] This figure shows a conversion mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view of the second rotating body, (b) is a view of the second rotating body from the left, and (c) is a perspective view of the rotating body itself. [Figure 12]It is a diagram showing a state where a motor of a massage mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is driven to reciprocate a treatment element. (a) is a diagram showing a state before rotating the drive shaft of the motor (0 degrees), (b) is a diagram showing a state where the drive shaft of the motor is rotated 90 degrees, (c) is a diagram showing a state where the drive shaft of the motor is rotated 180 degrees, and (d) is a diagram showing a state where the drive shaft of the motor is rotated 270 degrees. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing a speed reduction mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a perspective view showing a state where the speed reduction mechanism is attached to a connection member, (b) is a diagram showing the speed reduction mechanism viewed obliquely in a state removed from the connection member, and (c) is a diagram showing the speed reduction mechanism viewed obliquely in a state removed from the connection member.

[0013] [Overall Configuration of Massage Machine] Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the arrangement and the number of attachments of each massage part M (3a, 5a, 10) are examples and are not limited thereto. It can be appropriately changed according to the embodiment.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a massage machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a seat part 3 on which a user sits, a backrest part 4 provided at the rear part of the seat part 3 on which the user leans, a footrest part 5 provided at the front part of the seat part 3, and an armrest part 2 attached to the side part of the seat part 3. The armrest part 2, the seat part 3, the backrest part 4, and the footrest part 5 function as a body support part for supporting the user's body. At various locations of the massage machine 1, there are provided a massage part M (massage mechanism 10, hip massage part 3a, leg massage part 5a) for performing massage on the user, a control part 7 for controlling the functions of the massage machine 1, an operation part 8 for performing various operations of the massage machine 1, and an air supply / exhaust device 9 for supplying and exhausting air to / from the air cell. Each configuration will be described later.

[0015] [Seat structure] As shown in Figure 1, the seat 3 is composed of a rectangular member that is elongated horizontally in the left-right direction. The seat 3 is attached to a base (not shown) which serves as the base of the massage machine 1. The seat 3 is provided with a pair of buttock massage sections 3a (massage sections M) on the left and right sides for massaging the buttocks of the user seated on the seat 3. The buttock massage sections 3a are composed of air cells that expand and contract with the supply and exhaust of air. Alternatively, a massage mechanism 10 may be attached to the seat 3 instead of the buttock massager 3a.

[0016] [Structure of the backrest] As shown in Figure 1, the backrest 4 is made up of a rectangular member that is long in the direction of the user's height. An opening 4a is provided in the backrest 4. A guide rail 16 is provided inside the backrest 4. A massage mechanism 10 (massage section M) is provided via the guide rail 16. The massage mechanism 10 moves up and down along the guide rail 16, thereby massaging the back of the user's torso (for example, the shoulders and waist) when the user is seated on the seat 3.

[0017] More specifically, there are a total of three guide rails 16: one on each side of the backrest 4 and one in the center. In this embodiment, the massage mechanism 10 consists of a massage mechanism 10L located on the left side and a massage mechanism 10R located on the right side. The massage mechanism 10L is supported by the guide rails 16 located on the left and center of the backrest 4, and the massage mechanism 10R is supported by the guide rails 16 located on the right and center of the backrest 4. The massage mechanisms 10L and 10R will be described later.

[0018] In this embodiment, the massage mechanism 10 is described as being composed of two massage mechanisms 10L and 10R, but this is just one example and is not limited to this. For example, the massage mechanisms 10L and 10R may be provided as a single massage mechanism 10 inside the backrest 4, rather than as separate massage mechanisms. Alternatively, the massage mechanism 10 may be attached to the front surface of the backrest 4 (the surface that comes into contact with the user) and to the left and right outer side of the opening 4a.

[0019] [Footrest structure] As shown in Figure 1, the footrest section 5 is provided with a pair of recesses 5b on the left and right sides into which the user's legs can be inserted. On the inner walls of both the left and right recesses 5b, there are leg massage sections 5a (massage section M) for massaging the user's legs. The leg massage section 5a is composed of air cells that expand and contract with the supply and exhaust of air. More specifically, the leg massage sections 5a are provided one on each of the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the right recess 5b, and one on each of the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the left recess 5b. Preferably, each leg massage section 5a is configured to be able to expand and contract independently. In addition, a foot massage section (not shown) for massaging the soles of the user's feet may be provided on the bottom surface of the recess 5b. Alternatively, instead of the leg massage section 5a or the sole of the foot massage section (not shown), a massage mechanism 10 may be attached to various parts of the footrest section 5.

[0020] [Structure of the armrest] As shown in Figure 1, the armrests 2 are attached in pairs to both the left and right sides of the seat 3. An arm massage section (not shown) for massaging the user's arms may be provided on the upper surface of the armrests 2. In this way, the user's arms can be massaged while seated in the massage machine 1 with their arms resting on the arm massage section (not shown). Preferably, the arm massage sections (not shown) are configured to be driven independently on the left and right sides.

[0021] [Configuration of the control unit] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a massage machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the massage machine 1 is equipped with a control unit 7 consisting of a microcomputer and the like for controlling the drive of the massage mechanisms 10L and 10R, and the air supply and exhaust system 9 consisting of a pump 9a and a valve 9b. The control unit 7 is located below the seat 3. The control unit 7 is connected to an operation unit 8 for the user to operate the massage machine 1 and a storage unit 12 that stores massage programs. The user can operate the operation unit 8 to drive each massage unit M and execute various massage operations (including massage programs).

[0022] Figure 3 shows a massage mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view of the massage mechanism 10 and (b) is a view of the massage mechanism 10 from the left. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a massage mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view of the massage mechanism 10 from the front with the section between the dotted lines V1 in Figure 3(a) cut vertically, and (b) is a view of the massage mechanism 10 from the left with the section between the dotted lines V2 in Figure 3(a) cut vertically. Figure 5 is an exploded view of the frame of the massage mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows the state in which the treatment element 30 has been removed from the massage mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from the bottom. Figure 6 shows the treatment element 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from above.

[0023] [Massage mechanism configuration] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the massage mechanism 10 consists of a massage mechanism 10L located on the left side and a massage mechanism 10R located on the right side. Since the configurations of massage mechanisms 10L and 10R are the same, we will explain using massage mechanism 10L (hereinafter simply referred to as "massage mechanism 10") as an example, and will omit the explanation of the configuration of massage mechanism 10R.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the massage mechanism 10L is composed of multiple components combined together. The massage mechanism 10 is composed of a motor 20 having a drive shaft 20b, a conversion mechanism 40 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 20 into the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30, the treatment element 30 for providing a massage action to the user, and a frame to which these are attached. More specifically, these multiple components are combined so that the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30 is in the same direction as the axial direction X of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20. This makes the massage mechanism more compact. Each component will be described later.

[0025] [Frame structure] As shown in Figure 5, the frame is constructed by combining multiple members. The frame consists of a U-shaped metal frame F1 and a pair of metal plate-shaped frames F2. The upper end of frame F1 is bent upward, and the lower end of frame F1 is bent downward. Frame F2 is fixed to this bent portion with screws. A hole H1 is provided in the center of the surface of frame F1 opposite the U-shaped opening. The drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is inserted through this hole H1, and the motor 20 is fixed to frame F1. More specifically, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is inserted into the hole H1 of the frame F1, from the outside (rear) to the inside (front). Since the motor 20 is integrated with the circuit board 20a, with the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 inserted into the hole H1, the four corners of the circuit board 20a are screwed to the four corners of the frame F1. In this way, the motor 20 can be fixed to the frame F1.

[0026] Frame F2 consists of two parts, each made of a metal plate-like component. Frame F2 is composed of frame F2a located at the front, frame F2b located at the rear, and an elastic member F3 located between frame F2a and frame F2b. By positioning the elastic member F3 between frame F2a and frame F2b, a space is formed. The vibrating part 41 attached to the conversion shaft 42 is positioned in this space (see Figure 3(b)). Further details will be described later.

[0027] Frame F2a has a roughly cross shape with cutouts at all four corners, and a hole H4 is provided in the center. Smaller diameter holes H5 are provided on both the left and right sides of hole H4. Hole H4 is for inserting the conversion shaft 42, and hole H5 is for inserting the auxiliary shaft 44. A bearing B is attached to the front of frame F2a. By inserting the conversion shaft 42 through bearing B attached to the front of frame F2a (the conversion shaft 42 is inserted across hole H4 and bearing B), bearing B supports the rotation of the conversion shaft 42.

[0028] Frame F2b has a roughly rectangular shape with elastic members F3 attached to its four corners, and a hole H2 is provided in the center. Smaller diameter holes H3 are provided on both the left and right sides of hole H2. Hole H2 is for inserting the conversion shaft 42, and hole H3 is for inserting the auxiliary shaft 44. A bearing B is attached to the rear surface of frame F2b. By inserting the conversion shaft 42 through bearing B attached to the rear surface of frame F2b (the conversion shaft 42 is inserted across hole H2 and bearing B), bearing B supports the rotation of the conversion shaft 42.

[0029] When frame F2a and frame F2b are combined, the positions of holes H2 and H4 perfectly overlap, and the positions of holes H3 and H5 also perfectly overlap. Furthermore, the diameters of holes H2 and H4 are the same, and the diameters of holes H3 and H5 are also the same. When frame F1 and frame F2 are combined, the positions of holes H1, H2, and H4 perfectly overlap. In other words, when frame F1 and frame F2 are combined, holes H1, H2, and H4 pass through in a straight line.

[0030] [Composition of the treatment device] Figure 7 shows a treatment device 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from above. As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, a treatment element 30 for providing a massage to the user is attached to the tip of the massage mechanism 10. The treatment element 30 is made of a flexible synthetic resin. The treatment element 30 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the front-to-back direction, and its interior is hollowed out. By hollowing out the interior of the treatment element 30, it can be fitted into the cylindrical cam 32 (see Figure 4(b)).

[0031] The front end of the treatment element 30 is provided with a raised portion 31, which is convex in the center and protrudes forward. This raised portion 31 allows for pinpoint massage action to be applied to the user. Extension portions 30c are provided on both the left and right sides of the treatment element 30. When viewed from the front, the extension portions 30c are formed in a roughly trapezoidal shape, with the vertical dimension gradually narrowing from the inside to the outside in the left-right direction. In other words, when viewed from the front, the treatment element 30 has a roughly elliptical shape.

[0032] A groove 30b extending in the front-rear direction is formed at the end (outer portion in the left-right direction) of the extension portion 30c. The groove 30b is provided with a hole 30a for attaching the roller 43 and a hole 30d for attaching the auxiliary shaft 44 to the treatment element 30 (see Figures 7(a) and 7(b) in particular). The holes 30d are provided in pairs, front and back, at a predetermined distance apart, flanking the hole 30a. The groove 30b is curved in an arc shape, and the auxiliary shaft 44 can be fitted into this curved portion. The auxiliary shaft 44 and the treatment element 30 can be fixed by screwing in the fitted auxiliary shaft 44. In other words, the treatment element 30 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44.

[0033] The auxiliary shaft 44 consists of an auxiliary shaft 44L attached to the left side of the treatment element 30 (more specifically, the extension portion 30c located on the left side) and an auxiliary shaft 44R attached to the right side of the treatment element 30 (more specifically, the extension portion 30c located on the right side). The auxiliary shaft 44 is part of the conversion mechanism 40 and is driven by the cam. By configuring the auxiliary shaft 44 to be driven by the cam (in this embodiment, the cylindrical cam 32), the conversion mechanism 40 can be realized with a simple configuration. The front ends of the auxiliary shafts 44L and 44R are provided with a hole 44a and a pair of holes 44b that are spaced a predetermined distance from hole 44a in the front-rear direction. Hole 44a is for inserting the roller 43 (more specifically, the pin 43a attached to the roller 43), and hole 44b is for attaching the auxiliary shafts 44L and 44R to the treatment element 30.

[0034] In this embodiment, the case where the roller 43 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44L is described as an example, but this is just one example and is not limited to this. The roller 43 may also be attached to the auxiliary shaft 44R. It is sufficient for the roller 43 to be attached to either the auxiliary shaft 44L or the auxiliary shaft 44R.

[0035] A hole approximately the same diameter as the roller 43 is drilled in the extension portion 30c located on the left side in the left-right direction, and the roller 43 is mounted inside the treatment element 30. A pin 43a is attached to the center of the roller 43 mounted inside the treatment element 30. This pin 43a is exposed to the outside of the extension portion 30c through the hole 30a, and the tip of the exposed pin 43a is inserted into the hole 44a of the auxiliary shaft 44. In other words, the roller 43 is attached to the end of the auxiliary shaft 44. In this way, the roller 43 can be fixed to the treatment element 30 (more specifically, inside the treatment element 30).

[0036] The rear ends of the auxiliary shafts 44L and 44R are inserted through holes H3 and H5 in the frame F2. Therefore, when the motor 20 is rotated, its rotation is transmitted to the treatment element 30 via the connecting member 60, the conversion shaft 42, and the cylindrical cam 32. Since auxiliary shafts 44L and 44R, whose rear ends are inserted through holes H3 and H5 in the frame F2, are attached to both the left and right sides of the treatment element 30, the rotational motion of the treatment element 30 is restricted (the treatment element 30 does not rotate together with the motor 20), and is converted into reciprocating motion in the front-rear direction.

[0037] More specifically, the roller 43 attached to the inside of the treatment element 30 is fitted into the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32. Therefore, when the cylindrical cam 32 rotates, the roller 43 rotates in accordance with its rotation (along the groove 32b provided on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32). Since the rotational movement of the treatment element 30 is restricted by the auxiliary shafts 44L and 44R, the treatment element 30 moves in the front-back direction along the groove 32b provided on the cylindrical cam 32. In other words, the rotational motion of the motor 20 is converted into the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30 via the conversion mechanism 40. Further details will be described later.

[0038] Figure 8 shows a conversion mechanism 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a view from the left. Figure 9 shows a conversion mechanism 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) is a view from the front. More specifically, Figure 8 shows a cylindrical cam 32 that constitutes part of the conversion mechanism 40, and Figure 9 shows a conversion shaft 42 that constitutes part of the conversion mechanism 40.

[0039] [Configuration of the conversion mechanism] As shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, 8 to 11, the conversion mechanism 40 is composed of multiple components. The conversion mechanism 40 converts the rotational motion of the motor 20 into the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30. The conversion mechanism 40 consists of a connecting member 60, a conversion shaft 42, and a cam (in this embodiment, a cylindrical cam 32). The connecting member 60 connects the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 to the conversion shaft 42. The conversion shaft 42 extends in the same direction as the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20. This makes the massage mechanism 10, which performs the tapping motion, more compact.

[0040] Furthermore, the conversion shaft 42 (conversion mechanism 40) has a vibrating part 41 that applies vibration to the treatment element 30 by the rotational motion of the motor 20. A connecting member 60 is attached to one end of the conversion shaft 42, and a cylindrical cam 32 is attached to the other end. The treatment element 30 is attached to the cylindrical cam 32.

[0041] In this embodiment, the case where a cylindrical cam 32 is used will be described as an example, but any cam that can convert the rotational motion of the motor 20 into reciprocating motion in the forward and backward direction of the treatment element 30 may be used. For example, an end-face cam with a groove on the outer circumference of the end face of a cylinder may be used, or a swash plate cam with a disc attached to the rotating shaft at a certain angle may be used.

[0042] [Cylindrical cam configuration] The cylindrical cam 32 is part of a conversion mechanism 40 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 20 into the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30. As shown in Figure 8, a hole 32a for attaching the end of the conversion shaft 42 is provided through the center of the cylindrical cam 32 in the front-to-back direction. A groove 32b is provided on the outer circumference of the cylinder. A roller 43, which is mounted inside the treatment element 30, is fitted into the groove 32b (see Figures 4 and 6 in particular). By fitting the roller 43 of the auxiliary shaft 44 into the cylindrical cam 32 (more specifically, the groove 32b provided on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32), the volume occupied by the space can be reduced compared to when a flat cam is used.

[0043] The groove 32b is provided at a slight incline with respect to the outer circumference of the cylinder. More specifically, when the cylindrical cam 32 is viewed from the left, the length of the upper side and the length of the lower side differ between the front and rear parts, with the groove 32b as the boundary. The front part is inclined such that the length of the lower side is shorter than the length of the upper side. The rear part is inclined such that the length of the lower side is longer than the length of the upper side (see Figure 8(b)). By inclining the groove 32b in this way, the roller 43 rotates along the groove 32b in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical cam 32, causing the treatment element 30 to reciprocate in the forward and backward direction. The reciprocating movement of the treatment element 30 provides a massage (tapping) action to the user.

[0044] Furthermore, the stroke of the reciprocating motion in the forward and backward direction can be changed by changing the inclination angle of the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32. For example, by making the inclination angle of the groove 32b relative to the cylindrical cam 32 steeper, the stroke in the forward and backward direction can be increased. By making the inclination angle of the groove 32b relative to the cylindrical cam 32 gentler, the stroke in the forward and backward direction can be decreased.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclination angle of the groove 32b is kept constant so that the treatment element 30 reciprocates once in the forward and backward direction when the cylindrical cam 32 is rotated once, but this is just an example and is not limited to this. For example, the inclination angle of the groove 32b may be set so that it is symmetrical when viewed with the center of the cylindrical cam 32 as the axial direction. In other words, mountain-fold grooves 32b and valley-fold grooves 32b may alternate (for example, two mountain-fold grooves 32b and two valley-fold grooves 32b). By doing so, the treatment element 30 can reciprocate twice in the forward and backward direction while the cylindrical cam 32 is rotated once. In other words, the speed of the treatment element 30's reciprocating motion in the forward and backward direction can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the number of mountain-fold and valley-fold grooves 32b.

[0046] [Configuration of the conversion axis] The conversion shaft 42 is made of a metal rod-shaped member. The conversion shaft 42 is mounted to frames F1 and F2 so as to extend in the same direction as the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20. A connecting member 60 is attached to one end (rear end) of the conversion shaft 42. A cylindrical cam 32 is attached to the other end (front end). In this way, the rotational motion of the motor 20 can be efficiently converted and transmitted to the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30 in the forward and backward direction.

[0047] Furthermore, the conversion shaft 42 has different diameters at its front and rear ends, with the rear end having a smaller diameter than the front end. By reducing the diameter at the rear end, the size of the hole 45a provided in the connecting member 60 can be reduced, making the connecting member 60 more compact.

[0048] A vibrating unit 41 is mounted slightly behind the center of the conversion shaft 42 (towards the motor 20). By mounting the vibrating unit 41 on the conversion shaft 42, the vibrating unit 41 can be made more compact. More specifically, the vibrating unit 41 is mounted eccentrically with respect to the conversion shaft 42. Therefore, when the conversion shaft 42 rotates, the vibrating unit 41 rotates integrally with the conversion shaft 42. Because the vibrating unit 41 is mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of the conversion shaft 42, centrifugal force acts on the vibrating unit 41 when the conversion shaft 42 rotates. This centrifugal force generates vibration. Since a treatment element 30 is attached to the end of the conversion shaft 42 via a cylindrical cam 32, the generated vibration is transmitted to the treatment element 30 as a vibrating motion. In other words, both a tapping motion and a vibrating motion can be performed simultaneously.

[0049] Figure 10 shows a conversion mechanism 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view from the left, and (c) shows the state in which the first rotating body 45 has been removed from the rotating body 60. Figure 11 shows a conversion mechanism 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view of the second rotating body 47, (b) is a view of the second rotating body 47 from the left, and (c) is a perspective view of the rotating body main body 46. More specifically, Figure 10 shows a connecting member 60 that constitutes a part of the conversion mechanism 40, and Figure 11 shows the second rotating body 47 and the rotating body main body 46 of the connecting member 60.

[0050] [Configuration of connecting components] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the connecting member 60 is composed of multiple members combined together. More specifically, it is a so-called coupling composed of a first rotating body 45, a second rotating body 47, and a rotating body main body 46. In this embodiment, a jaw type is adopted. The connecting member 60 is formed by sandwiching the rotating body main body 46 between the first rotating body 45 and the second rotating body 47. The connecting member 60 is for connecting the drive shaft 20b and the conversion shaft 42 of the motor 20. By interposing the connecting member 60 (first rotating body 45, rotating body main body 46, second rotating body 47) between the drive shaft 20b and the conversion shaft 42 of the motor 20, slight misalignment or tilt between the drive shaft 20b and the conversion shaft 42 of the motor 20 is absorbed, leading to improved durability of the motor 20 and suppression of vibration.

[0051] Furthermore, the configuration of the connecting member 60 is merely an example and is not limited to this. Any configuration that can connect the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 to the conversion shaft 42 is acceptable. For example, in this embodiment, a jaw type is used, but other types (universal joint type, vibration-damping rubber integrated type, rigid type, bellows type, slit type, etc.) may also be used.

[0052] [Structure of the first and second rotating bodies] The shape of the first rotating body 45 and the shape of the second rotating body 47 are the same. Therefore, the explanation will use the second rotating body 47 as an example, and the explanation of the first rotating body 45 will be omitted. In the case of the first rotating body 45, the second rotating body 47 will be replaced with the first rotating body 45, and the parts 47a to 4c of the second rotating body 47 will be replaced with the parts 45a to 45c of the first rotating body 45.

[0053] As shown in Figure 11, the second rotating body 47 has a cylindrical shape. A hole 47a is provided in the center of the cylinder, into which the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is attached. A roughly fan-shaped projection 47c is provided on the front surface of the cylinder (see Figure 11(a) in particular). The projection 47c is for fixing the rotating body body 46 and is provided opposite to each other in pairs, either vertically or horizontally (there are two projections 47c on the front surface of the cylinder). The two projections 47c form a space 47b on the front surface of the cylinder. By fitting the rotating body body 46 into this space 47b and then fitting the first rotating body 45, the first rotating body 45 and the second rotating body 47 are fixed together and constitute a connecting member 60 (see Figure 10).

[0054] [Configuration of the rotating body] As shown in Figures 10(c) and 11(c), the rotating body 46 has a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction. The outer circumference of the rotating body 46 is arc-shaped, similar to the first rotating body 45 and the second rotating body 47. The outer circumference of the rotating body 46 has four roughly fan-shaped notches 46a, which form a roughly X shape when viewed from the front. The connecting member 60 is formed by engaging the protrusions 45c and 47c with these notches 46a.

[0055] More specifically, the notches 46a of the rotating body 46 are fitted along the projections 47c of the second rotating body 47. In this way, the two notches 46a of the rotating body 46 and the two projections 47c provided on the second rotating body 47 engage with each other. Since the rotating body 46 has four notches 46a, two notches 46a remain that do not engage with the projections 47c. The projections 45c of the first rotating body 45 are then fitted into these two remaining notches 46a. In other words, by rotating the angle of the first rotating body 45 relative to the second rotating body 47 by 90 degrees, the first rotating body 45 is fitted into the second rotating body 47 (by fitting the projections 45c of the first rotating body 45 into the remaining two notches 46a), thereby connecting the first rotating body 45 and the second rotating body 47 and forming the connecting member 60.

[0056] Figure 12 shows the state in which the motor 20 of the massage mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is driven to move the treatment element 30 back and forth, (a) is a diagram showing the state before the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is rotated (0 degrees), (b) is a diagram showing the state after the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 has been rotated 90 degrees, (c) is a diagram showing the state after the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 has been rotated 180 degrees, and (d) is a diagram showing the state after the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 has been rotated 270 degrees. In Figure 12, the treatment element 30 is shown detached from the cylindrical cam 32 to make the reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30 easier to understand.

[0057] As shown in Figures 12(a) to (d), by rotating the motor 20 (rotation in the forward direction when viewed from the rear to the front of the motor 20), the treatment element 30 repeatedly moves back and forth. At this time, a vibrating part 41 for applying vibration to the treatment element 30 is attached to the conversion shaft 42 of the conversion mechanism 40, so the treatment element 30 is subjected not only to reciprocating motion in the back and forth direction but also to vibration. In other words, the massage mechanism 10 can perform both tapping and vibrating actions simultaneously.

[0058] As shown in Figure 12(a), when the motor 20 is in its initial state (0 degrees), the auxiliary shaft 44L is in its most retracted position. A treatment element 30 (not shown) is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44L. Therefore, when the auxiliary shaft 44L is in its most retracted position, the treatment element 30 is also in its most retracted position. The drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 and the cylindrical cam 32 are connected via the connecting member 60 and the conversion shaft 42. In this state, when the motor 20 is rotated, the cylindrical cam 32 rotates together with the rotation of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20.

[0059] The movement of the cylindrical cam 32 (movement of the treatment element 30) when the motor 20 is rotated once will be explained in more detail. When the motor 20 is rotated 90 degrees, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is also rotated 90 degrees (from the state in Figure 12(a) to the state in Figure 12(b)). Since the cylindrical cam 32 is connected to the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 via the conversion shaft 42 and the connecting member 60, the cylindrical cam 32 is also rotated 90 degrees, just like the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20.

[0060] At this time, the rotation of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is transmitted directly to the conversion shaft 42 via the connecting member 60. The rotation transmitted to the conversion shaft 42 is then transmitted to the cylindrical cam 32. When the cylindrical cam 32 rotates, the roller 45 rotates along the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical cam 32. Since the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 is slightly inclined and located on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32, the auxiliary shaft 44 to which the roller 45 is attached moves forward as the roller 45 rotates.

[0061] Since the treatment element 30 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44, the treatment element 30 moves forward in accordance with the forward movement of the auxiliary shaft 44. The direction of forward movement of the treatment element 30 is the same as the axial direction (X direction) of the drive shaft 20c of the motor 20. In other words, the rotational motion of the cylindrical cam 32 is converted into forward movement of the treatment element 30.

[0062] If the motor 20 is then rotated 90 degrees, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 will be rotated 180 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated. (From the state in Figure 12(b) to the state in Figure 12(c)). Since the cylindrical cam 32 is connected to the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 via the conversion shaft 42 and the connecting member 60, the cylindrical cam 32 will also be rotated 180 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated, just like the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20.

[0063] At this time, the rotation of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is transmitted directly to the conversion shaft 42 via the connecting member 60. The rotation transmitted to the conversion shaft 42 is then transmitted to the cylindrical cam 32. When the cylindrical cam 32 rotates, the roller 45 rotates along the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical cam 32. Since the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 is slightly inclined and located on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32, the auxiliary shaft 44 to which the roller 45 is attached moves further forward as the roller 45 rotates. Since the treatment element 30 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44, the treatment element 30 moves forward in accordance with the forward movement of the auxiliary shaft 44. At this point, the auxiliary shaft 44 (and the treatment element 30) are in their furthest forward position.

[0064] If the motor 20 is then rotated 90 degrees, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 will be rotated 270 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated. (From the state in Figure 12(c) to the state in Figure 12(d)). Since the cylindrical cam 32 is connected to the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 via the conversion shaft 42 and the connecting member 60, the cylindrical cam 32 will also be rotated 270 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated, just like the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20.

[0065] At this time, the rotation of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is transmitted directly to the conversion shaft 42 via the connecting member 60. The rotation transmitted to the conversion shaft 42 is then transmitted to the cylindrical cam 32. When the cylindrical cam 32 rotates, the roller 45 rotates along the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical cam 32. Since the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 is slightly inclined and located on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32, as the roller 45 rotates, the auxiliary shaft 44 to which the roller 45 is attached moves backward from its furthest forward position. Since the treatment device 30 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44, the treatment device 30 will move backward in accordance with the backward movement of the auxiliary shaft 44.

[0066] If the motor 20 is then rotated 90 degrees, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 will be rotated 360 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated, that is, it will return to its state before the motor 20 was rotated. (From the state in Figure 12(d) to the state in Figure 12(a)). Since the cylindrical cam 32 is connected to the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 via the conversion shaft 42 and the connecting member 60, the cylindrical cam 32 will also be rotated 360 degrees from its state before the motor 20 was rotated, just like the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 (the state before the motor 20 was rotated).

[0067] At this time, the rotation of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 is transmitted directly to the conversion shaft 42 via the connecting member 60. The rotation transmitted to the conversion shaft 42 is then transmitted to the cylindrical cam 32. When the cylindrical cam 32 rotates, the roller 45 rotates along the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical cam 32. Since the groove 32b of the cylindrical cam 32 is slightly inclined and located on the outer circumference of the cylindrical cam 32, as the roller 45 rotates, the auxiliary shaft 44 to which the roller 45 is attached moves to its furthest retracted position. Since the treatment device 30 is attached to the auxiliary shaft 44, the treatment device 30 will move backward in accordance with the backward movement of the auxiliary shaft 44.

[0068] In other words, the rotational motion of the motor 20 is converted into reciprocating motion of the treatment element 30 in the forward and backward direction via the conversion mechanism 40, providing a massage action (tapping motion) to the user. At the same time, the vibrating part 41 also vibrates in accordance with the rotational motion of the motor 20, providing a massage action (vibration motion) to the user. Therefore, the massage mechanism 10 can simultaneously perform both a tapping motion and a vibrating motion, providing the user with both a tapping motion and a massage action at the same time.

[0069] More specifically, the vibrating part 41 is mounted eccentrically to the conversion shaft 42. Therefore, when the conversion shaft 42 rotates once, the vibrating part 41 is subjected to centrifugal force. This centrifugal force causes the vibrating part 41 to vibrate.

[0070] Figure 13 shows a reduction mechanism K according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view showing the reduction mechanism K attached to the connecting member 60, (b) is a view of the reduction mechanism K removed from the connecting member 60 from an oblique angle, and (c) is a view of the reduction mechanism K removed from the connecting member 60 from an oblique angle. More specifically, (b) is a diagram showing the reduction gear K with the connecting part 73 (including the connecting plate 74) attached, with the upper side being the side attached to the connecting member 60 and the lower side being the side attached to the motor 20 (the drive shaft 20b). (c) is a diagram showing the reduction gear K with the connecting part 73 (including the connecting plate 74) removed from the state in (b), with the upper side being the side attached to the connecting member 60 and the lower side being the side attached to the motor 20 (the drive shaft 20b).

[0071] [Configuration of the reduction mechanism] As shown in Figure 13, the reduction mechanism K is integrally attached to the conversion mechanism 40. More specifically, it is attached to the rear surface of the second rotating body 47 that constitutes the connecting member 60. The reduction mechanism K is a planetary gear mechanism. The planetary gear mechanism used in the reduction mechanism K of this embodiment is the same as a general planetary gear mechanism. Specifically, it consists of a sun gear 72 (including the rotation center 72a) located in the center, four planetary gears 71 (including the rotation centers 71a) located around the sun gear 72, a connecting part 73 (including the connecting plate 74) that acts as a planetary carrier to pick up the orbital motion of the planetary gears 71, and an internal gear 70 located on the outermost circumference. The sun gear 72 is attached to the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20. The rotation center 72a of the sun gear 72 is also the rotation center of the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20.

[0072] When the motor 20 is driven, the rotational motion of the motor 20 (including its drive shaft 20b) is transmitted to the sun gear 72 (including its rotation center 72a), causing the sun gear 72 to rotate. The sun gear 72 meshes with the planetary gear 71, which in turn meshes with the internal gear 70. Therefore, the planetary gear 71 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the sun gear 72, and the planetary gear 71 rotates along the inner circumference of the internal gear 70. This reduces the rotational motion of the motor 20.

[0073] A planetary carrier (connecting part 73) is attached to the upper surface of the planetary gear 71. More specifically, the planetary carrier (connecting part 73) consists of an output shaft extending in the vertical direction and plate-shaped members extending in four directions around the output shaft. The output shaft extending in the vertical direction is attached to the rear surface of the connecting member 60 (second rotating body 47). The planetary gear 71 is connected to the tip side of the plate-shaped members extending in four directions. Specifically, the shafts of each planetary gear 71 (four planetary gears 71 in this embodiment) are connected to the tip side of the plate-shaped members extending in four directions.

[0074] When the motor 20 is rotated, the drive shaft 20b of the motor 20 rotates, causing the sun gear 72 attached to the drive shaft 20b to rotate. The planetary gear 71 rotates around the sun gear 72 while meshing with the internal gear 70. In other words, the rotational motion of the motor 20 is reduced by the action of the reduction mechanism K consisting of the sun gear 72 and the planetary gear 71, and the reduced rotational motion of the motor 20 is transmitted to the connecting member 60 in a reduced state.

[0075] In this embodiment, a planetary gear mechanism is provided as a reduction mechanism K in the conversion mechanism 40, so that the conversion mechanism 40 can function as a reduction mechanism K that slows down the rotational motion of the motor 20. However, the configuration of the reduction mechanism K is just one example and is not limited to this. A reduction mechanism K may be provided separately from the conversion mechanism 40. For example, the reduction mechanism K may be incorporated into the motor 20. Alternatively, the motor 20 may be replaced with a geared motor (a motor and a reduction gear integrated into one unit). By using a geared motor instead of a simple motor, it becomes unnecessary to provide a separate reduction mechanism K in the massage mechanism 10. Therefore, the rotational motion of the motor can be reduced with a simple configuration. [Industrial applicability]

[0076] This invention can be applied to massage mechanisms that are more compact and that can simultaneously perform tapping and vibrating actions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] Drive shaft 21 Motor 20 Treatment child 30 Conversion mechanism 40

Claims

1. A motor having a drive shaft, Therapist, It has a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into the reciprocating motion of the treatment device, A massage mechanism characterized in that the direction of the reciprocating motion is the same as the axial direction of the drive shaft.

2. The massage mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the conversion mechanism has a vibrating part that applies vibration to the treatment element by the rotational motion.

3. The massage mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conversion mechanism comprises a conversion shaft extending in the same direction as the drive shaft and a connecting member connecting the conversion shaft and the drive shaft, and transmits the rotational motion of the motor to the conversion shaft.

4. The massage mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the vibrating part is attached to the conversion shaft.

5. The conversion mechanism includes a cam and an auxiliary shaft that is driven by the cam. The massage mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the treatment element is attached to the auxiliary shaft.

6. The conversion mechanism includes a cam and an auxiliary shaft that is driven by the cam. The massage mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the treatment element is attached to the auxiliary shaft.

7. The aforementioned cam is a cylindrical cam, The auxiliary shaft has a roller at its end, The massage mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the roller is fitted into the cylindrical cam.

8. The aforementioned cam is a cylindrical cam, The auxiliary shaft has a roller at its end, The massage mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the roller is fitted into the cylindrical cam.

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