Chewing simulator, method for reproducing chewing movements

Abstract

To provide a mastication simulator that regenerates a mastication operation that a person does to put food in his / her mouth and forms a bolus of food regardless of the type of food.SOLUTION: A mastication simulator 1 includes: a tray 20 on which a food F is put; an upper teeth part 6 facing the tray 20, for pressing the food F; and movable wall parts 16A to 16C surrounding the tray 20. A robot arm 3 performs a pressing operation and a separation operation of the upper teeth part 6 and the servo motor 9 operates the movable wall parts 16A to 16C so that the width of a surrounding region R surrounded by the movable wall parts 16A to 16C is changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mastication simulator that reproduces a human mastication movement and a method for reproducing the mastication movement. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a device consisting of a pressing mechanism and a pressure sensor has been known as a device for evaluating the texture of food. This device has a process of crushing food using the pressing mechanism, reproducing human mastication. In reality, a food bolus is formed by repeatedly biting and gathering food in the mouth, so a prototype device specialized for bolus formation has also been developed.

[0003] For example, the food bolus forming device in Patent Document 1 is composed of a pair of artificial teeth that press against food, a peripheral wall that prevents food fragments from scattering, a pair of rollers that control the size of the closed space formed by the peripheral wall, and a drive unit that drives the artificial teeth and the pair of rollers. The artificial teeth are arranged opposite each other, and the drive unit moves them toward and away from each other to crush the food.

[0004] In this device, the peripheral wall is made of a flexible material. Therefore, when the drive unit operates the pair of rollers to squeeze the closed space formed by the peripheral wall, the broken pieces of food are gathered together to form a bolus, which is then pressed by the artificial teeth. This device forms a bolus by repeating the above process, reproducing the human chewing motion (Patent Document 1, paragraphs 0031-0033, Figure 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 157387 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with the device of Patent Document 1, depending on the type of food, some of the food may leak out through gaps in the peripheral wall when the bolus is gathered, making it difficult to accurately reproduce the chewing motion.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a mastication simulator that can accurately reproduce human mastication movements regardless of the type of food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The chewing simulator of the first invention is characterized by comprising a placing section on which food is placed, a pressing section arranged opposite the placing section and pressing the food, a first driving section that performs pressing and pulling operations of the pressing section, a plurality of movable wall sections arranged to surround the placing section, and a second driving section that operates the plurality of movable wall sections to change the size of the area surrounded by the movable wall sections.

[0009] In the present invention, with food placed on the placing section, the first driving unit operates the pressing unit to press the food. The first driving unit also operates to move the pressing unit away from the food. Multiple movable wall units are provided to surround the placing section, and the second driving unit operates the movable wall units to change the size of the area surrounded by the movable wall units. Food crushed by the pressing unit is reliably collected in the center of the placing section by the movable wall units. This allows the chewing simulator to accurately reproduce the chewing action of a person putting food in their mouth and forming a bolus.

[0010] The second invention is a method for reproducing chewing movements using a chewing simulator, characterized by repeating the steps of expanding the area surrounded by the movable wall portion, operating the pressing portion toward the placement portion on which the food is placed, and pressing the food, and operating the pressing portion to move it away from the placement portion, reducing the area surrounded by the movable wall portion, and gathering the scattered food.

[0011] In the method for replicating a chewing motion of the present invention, the area surrounded by the movable wall portion is expanded, and the pressing portion presses the food placed on the placing portion, crushing the food. Furthermore, the pressing portion is pulled away from the placing portion to reduce the area surrounded by the movable wall portion, thereby consolidating the scattered food. This method repeats these steps, allowing for accurate reproduction of a human chewing motion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a bolus can be formed efficiently regardless of the type of food, and human chewing movements can be accurately reproduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall view of a chewing simulator according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating details of a surrounding compression mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an upper tooth portion and a surrounding region. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the food contact surface of the upper teeth. [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a side view of the food contact surface of the upper teeth. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a movable wall portion. [Figure 5B] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the movable wall portion. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a view of the enclosed area as seen from above (before the movable wall portion is operated). [Figure 6B] FIG. 10 is a view of the enclosed area as seen from above (after the movable wall portion has been operated). [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of a mastication simulator. [Figure 8] (a) An image of the enclosed area viewed from the top (initial state). (b) An image of the enclosed area viewed from the bottom (initial state). [Figure 9] (a) An image of the encircled area viewed from above (biting and grinding motions). (b) An image of the encircled area viewed from below (biting and grinding motions). [Figure 10] (a) An image of the surrounding area viewed from the top (intermediate state). (b) An image of the surrounding area viewed from the bottom (intermediate state). [Figure 11] (a) An image of the enclosing region viewed from the top (enclosing compression operation). (b) An image of the enclosing region viewed from the bottom (enclosing compression operation). [Figure 12] (a) An image of the enclosed region viewed from the top (bolus formation state). (b) An image of the enclosed region viewed from the bottom (bolus formation state). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the chewing simulator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] 1 is an overall view of a chewing simulator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The chewing simulator 1 is mainly composed of a robot arm 3, an upper teeth unit 6 attached to the robot arm 3, and an encircling compression mechanism 10 having an area where the upper teeth unit 6 presses food.

[0016] The robot arm 3 (the "first drive unit" of the present invention) has multiple movable axes, making it possible to adjust the position and height of the upper teeth portion 6. In the robot arm 3 of this embodiment, an axial rod 5 is inserted into the tip of the arm, and the upper teeth portion 6 (the "pressure unit" of the present invention) is attached to the other end of the axial rod 5. The robot arm 3 maintains an attitude in which the axial rod 5 faces vertically.

[0017] The robot arm 3 can move the upper teeth portion 6 in the vertical direction (movement distance: 50 [mm], speed: 1000 [mm / s]), and can also rotate the upper teeth portion 6 clockwise and counterclockwise via the shaft 5. The robot arm 3 can be substituted with a device having a mechanism that allows at least the shaft 5 and upper teeth portion 6 to move vertically (up and down) and rotate.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the enveloping and compressing mechanism 10 of the chewing simulator 1 .

[0019] The surrounding compression mechanism 10 has an surrounding area R in the center where food is stored. Six gears 11A to 11F are provided on the upper surface of the surrounding area R so as to surround the surrounding area R. The gears 11A to 11F constitute a mechanism for operating movable wall portions 16A to 16C, which will be described later. The shaft 13C in the figure is the shaft for operating the movable wall portion 16B.

[0020] Gears 11A, 11C, and 11E have larger diameters than gears 11B, 11D, and 11F. Note that in Fig. 2, illustration of plates on which gears 11A to 11F are placed is omitted.

[0021] As shown in the figure, gear 11A rotates while meshing with gears 11B and 11F, gear 11B rotates while meshing with gears 11A and 11C, and gear 11C rotates while meshing with gears 11B and 11D.

[0022] Furthermore, gear 11D rotates in mesh with gears 11C and 11E, gear 11E rotates in mesh with gears 11D and 11F, and gear 11F rotates in mesh with gears 11E and 11A. Gears 11A to 11F have rotating shafts 12A to 12F, respectively, and rotating shaft 12A is connected to servo motor 9 (the "second driving unit" of the present invention) (see FIG. 1). Therefore, when gear 11A rotates via rotating shaft 12A, the remaining gears 11B to 11F also rotate.

[0023] One end of each of the rotating shafts 12A to 12F is inserted into a shaft hole in the bottom plate 18 and is rotatably supported. The bottom plate 18 is also provided with an opening into which a tray 20 (the "mounting portion" of the present invention) is fitted. The tray 20 is slightly smaller than the opening, so it can be fitted into the opening.

[0024] Furthermore, a roughly triangular lower teeth section 22 is provided on the tray 20. The lower teeth section 22 has a diameter of 20 mm and a surface with 2 mm of unevenness. By placing food on the lower teeth section 22 and pressing it with the upper teeth section 6, it is possible to reproduce the biting action of a person biting food with their teeth.

[0025] It is preferable that the tray 20 be made of a transparent acrylic plate or the like so that the state of the enclosed area R can be captured by a camera 30 disposed below the tray 20. In addition, a camera 31 may be disposed to capture images of the enclosed area R from above. It is preferable that the tray 20 be equipped with a force sensor 40 (the "mounting section load measuring section" of the present invention, see FIG. 7) that measures the load applied when the food is pressed.

[0026] Next, FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship between the upper teeth portion 6 and the surrounding compression mechanism 10.

[0027] The upper teeth portion 6 is screwed to the tip of the shaft rod 5 and is attached in a position facing the lower teeth portion 22 of the tray 20. The diameter of the upper teeth portion 6 is 33 mm, which is smaller than the diameter (40 mm) of the enclosed area R. Movable wall portions 16A to 16C are provided around the enclosed area R. As will be described in detail later, the movable wall portions 16A to 16C are connected to gears 11B, 11D, and 11F, and are each operated by driving the servo motor 9.

[0028] The upper teeth portion 6 may be provided with a force sensor 41 (the "pressing portion load measuring portion" of the present invention, see FIG. 7) that measures the load applied to the upper teeth portion 6 during the pressing operation, and a force sensor 42 (the "pressing portion rotation load measuring portion" of the present invention, see FIG. 7) that measures the load applied to the upper teeth portion 6 when the upper teeth portion 6 is rotated during the grinding operation and the stirring operation described below.

[0029] Next, the detailed shape and structure of the upper teeth portion 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0030] 4A shows a plan view of the surface of the upper teeth 6 that comes into contact with food. The upper teeth 6 has a central irregularity 7 and two blades 8 that extend from the irregularity 7 toward the outer periphery of the upper teeth 6.

[0031] The uneven portion 7 has an uneven shape like human teeth. The uneven portion 7 promotes the biting action of food when the upper teeth portion 6 is pressed, and promotes the grinding action of food when the upper teeth portion 6 is rotated.

[0032] The blade portion 8 promotes the stirring of food when the upper teeth portion 6 is rotated. The diameter of the upper teeth portion 6 is 33.0 mm, while the diameter of the uneven portion 7 is 20.0 mm.

[0033] 4B shows a side view of the contact surface of upper tooth portion 6. Concave-convex portion 7 is cylindrical with a height of approximately 10.0 mm, and the height of the concave-convex portion of the contact surface is 2.0 mm. Furthermore, the length of vane portion 8 in the height direction is 12.0 mm.

[0034] Next, the structure and operation of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0035] 5A shows a perspective view of the movable wall portion 16A. The movable wall portion 16A is composed of a plate portion 16p bent in an arc shape and a pair of connecting portions 16q, 16r protruding from the convex side of the plate portion 16p. The inner peripheral side of one end of the plate portion 16p protrudes in the circumferential direction like a thin plate, and is shaped to fit inside the adjacent movable wall portion. Note that if the plate portion 16p is a sufficiently thin plate, the one end does not need to protrude in the circumferential direction; it is sufficient that the movable wall portions do not interfere with each other during the operation of reducing the enclosed area R.

[0036] A rubber sheet 17A is attached to the one end of the plate portion 16p. The rubber sheet 17A prevents food from leaking out of the enclosed area when the movable wall portions 16A to 16C move to reduce the enclosed area.

[0037] In this embodiment, one end of each of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C is close to the arc on the recess side of the adjacent movable wall portion, and the enclosed area R can be reduced while maintaining a substantially closed state of the enclosed area R. If the distortion of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C during operation is small and the closed state can be maintained with precision, the rubber sheets 17A to 17C may not be attached to the movable wall portions 16A to 16C.

[0038] As shown in the figure, plate portion 16p is arc-shaped with a radius of 20.0 mm and a central angle of 120°, and has a height of 50.0 mm. Connection portions 16q and 16r have shaft holes formed at their ends and are connected to the respective shaft portions via links described below. Movable wall portion 16A is operated by driving servo motor 9 (see FIG. 2).

[0039] It is preferable to attach felt to the bottom side of movable wall portion 16A to ensure smooth movement. The load applied when movable wall portions 16A to 16C perform pressing movements may be measured by attaching a torque measuring device to servo motor 9, or by measuring the current that controls servo motor 9. It may also be measured by load cell 43 (the "movable wall portion load measuring unit" of the present invention, see FIG. 7). In this case, it is preferable to connect load cell 43 to any one of gears 11A to 11F via a linear gear.

[0040] 5B shows the operation of movable wall portion 16A. Movable wall portion 16A shown by solid lines is in its initial position (rotation angle θ of rotation shaft 12B=0°), and movable wall portion 16A shown by dashed lines is in its state after movement (rotation angle θ of rotation shaft 12B=120°). As shown in the figure, connecting portion 16q is connected to shaft portion 13A via link 19A, and connecting portion 16r is connected to rotation shaft 12B via link 19B.

[0041] When the rotation shaft 12B is rotated by the drive of the servo motor 9, the links 19A and 19B rotate while maintaining a parallel relationship with each other. As a result, the movable wall portion 16A performs translational motion along a circle. Although not shown, the movable wall portions 16B and 16C have the same structure and size as the movable wall portion 16A, and therefore perform the same translational motion as the movable wall portion 16A.

[0042] This allows the movable wall portions 16A to 16C to shrink the enclosed area R while maintaining the enclosed area R in a closed state, while keeping one end of each of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C close to the recessed side of the adjacent movable wall portion.

[0043] The mechanism using the movable wall portions 16A to 16C and parallel links described above is merely one example of the surrounding compression mechanism 10. For example, a mechanism in which n rail-like gaps are cut into a single parallel cam, as used in the iris mechanism of a camera lens, may be employed. When the upper teeth portion 6 rotates, the closer the surrounding area R is to a circle, the smaller the area that the upper teeth portion 6 does not touch, thereby reducing the variation between measurements.

[0044] Next, the operation of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[0045] 6A is a view of the enclosed area R as seen from above. As shown in the figure, movable wall portions 16A to 16C are provided to surround the enclosed area R. In FIG. 6A, the enclosed area R surrounded by the movable wall portions 16A to 16C is in its most expanded state. The lower teeth portion 22 of the tray 20 is located in the center of the enclosed area R.

[0046] Rubber sheets 17A to 17C are attached to one end of the movable wall portions 16A to 16C, respectively. For example, the rubber sheet 17A of the movable wall portion 16A protrudes toward the other end of the movable wall portion 16C.

[0047] 6B shows a state in which the servo motor 9 is driven to operate the movable wall portions 16A-16C (rotation angle θ of the rotation axes 12B, 12D, 12F = 70°). As shown in the figure, the movable wall portions 16A-16C move in an arc-like translational motion, causing one end of each to move to the center, causing the movable wall portions to partially overlap each other and reducing the enclosed area R. At this time, the enclosed area R reduces to the size of the lower tooth portion 22, so that food scattered within the enclosed area R is gathered in the center.

[0048] Here, the rubber sheets 17A, 17B, 17C move in a sliding manner while making contact with the adjacent movable wall portions 16C, 16A, 16B, respectively, so that the food does not leak out of the enclosed area R.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the system configuration of the mastication simulator 1.

[0050] The chewing simulator 1 has a controller 2 that transmits control signals to a robot arm 3 and a servo motor 9. As described above, the robot arm 3 is connected to the upper teeth portion 6 via a shaft 5, and performs a pressing (pull-away) and rotating motion of the upper teeth portion 6. In addition, the servo motor 9 is connected to a gear 11A via a rotation shaft 12A, and rotates the gear 11A.

[0051] When gears 11B to 11F rotate in accordance with the rotation of gear 11A (see FIG. 2), movable wall portions 16A to 16C perform translational motion via rotation shafts 12B, 12D, and 12F that move in conjunction with gears 11A to 11F. As will be described in detail later, controller 2 alternately operates robot arm 3 and servo motor 9 so that movable wall portions 16A to 16C perform translational motion after upper tooth portion 6 finishes moving.

[0052] The chewing simulator 1 also has a temperature adjustment unit 50 such as a heater that adjusts the temperature of the internal space of the enclosed region R, and a moisture supply unit 51 that supplies moisture equivalent to saliva to the internal space of the enclosed region R. The temperature adjustment unit 50 and the moisture supply unit 51 execute processes at appropriate timings in response to control signals from the controller 2. By appropriately executing the processes of the temperature adjustment unit 50 and the moisture supply unit 51, the internal space of the enclosed region R becomes similar to the state inside an actual mouth, thereby improving the reproducibility of chewing.

[0053] Cameras 30 and 31 are imaging devices that capture images of the internal space of enclosed area R without relying on control signals from controller 2. Cameras 30 and 31 are preferably capable of capturing video, but they are also required to be capable of capturing at least still images. Alternatively, a device that detects the shape of food in the internal space using electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays may be used, or an imaging means capable of component analysis, such as a multispectral camera, may be used.

[0054] Both cameras 30 and 31 are connected to a monitor 35, allowing the experimenter to observe the state and changes in the food in real time. Cameras 30 and 31 can also be connected to a controller 2 to take pictures in synchronization with the operation of the robot arm 3 and servo motor 9 using control signals.

[0055] The force sensors 40-42 and load cell 43 can also measure each pressure without relying on a control signal from the controller 2. The pressure results can be used to evaluate the texture of food. Furthermore, the force sensors 40-42 and load cell 43 can be connected to the controller 2 to perform measurements synchronized with the operation of the robot arm 3 and servo motor 9 using a control signal.

[0056] 8 to 12, we will explain the method and experimental results when reproducing human chewing movements using the chewing simulator 1. This time, a commercially available donut (approximately 8 g) was used as the test food (hereinafter referred to as food F).

[0057] Fig. 8 shows the initial state in which food F has been placed in the enclosing area R. Fig. 8(a) shows the enclosing area R as viewed from above, and is an image captured by camera 31 disposed above the enclosing area R. Fig. 8(b) shows the enclosing area R as viewed from below, and is an image captured by camera 30 (see Fig. 2). In this state, the upper teeth portion 6 and the movable wall portions 16A to 16C are both waiting in their initial positions.

[0058] Next, Fig. 9 shows the biting action (pressing action) in which the upper teeth 6 crush the food F. Fig. 9(a) is an image of the enclosed area R viewed from above, and Fig. 9(b) is an image of the enclosed area R viewed from below.

[0059] Here, by driving the robot arm 3, the upper teeth portion 6 performs a vertical linear motion (speed: 1000 [mm / s]) and presses the food F. Furthermore, in a state where the upper teeth portion 6 is lowered until the upper teeth portion 6 (concave-convex portion 7) and the lower teeth portion 22 come into contact, the upper teeth portion 6 is rotated clockwise and then counterclockwise by 60 [deg] each (speed: 180 [deg / s]). This is a grinding operation in which the upper teeth portion 6 grinds the food F.

[0060] Next, Figure 10 shows an intermediate state in which the upper teeth 6 have been pulled away and are now completely separated from the food F. Figure 10(a) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from above, and Figure 10(b) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from below. Thus, after the upper teeth 6 have bitten and ground the food F, it is placed in a pulverized state on the lower teeth 22 of the tray 20.

[0061] Thereafter, the robot arm 3 is driven again, and the upper teeth portion 6 presses against the food F (biting operation). Furthermore, with the upper teeth portion 6 and the lower teeth portion 22 in contact, the upper teeth portion 6 is rotated 360 degrees (speed: 180 degrees / s). This is a stirring operation in which the blades 8 of the upper teeth portion 6 stir the food F.

[0062] Next, Fig. 11 shows the surrounding compression operation in which the movable wall portions 16A-16C compress the food F. Fig. 11(a) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from above, and Fig. 11(b) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from below. Here, the rotation axes 12B, 12D, and 12F are moved to θ = 70 [deg] (speed: 140 [deg / s]). As a result, the pulverized food F is collected on the upper surface of the lower teeth portion 22 of the tray 20 with almost no leakage outside the surrounding area R, and a bolus of food is formed.

[0063] Finally, Fig. 12 shows a state in which the movable wall portions 16A to 16C have returned to their initial positions after the formation of the bolus of food. Fig. 12(a) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from above, and Fig. 12(b) is an image of the surrounding area R viewed from below. As shown, a bolus of food F is placed on the tray 20.

[0064] As described above, in the chewing simulator 1, the food F is subjected to a cycle of (1) biting action, (2) grinding action, (3) surrounding and compressing action, (4) biting action, (5) stirring action, and (6) surrounding and compressing action.

[0065] In this experiment, the above cycle was repeated five times. Although a certain amount of bolus formation occurred after the first cycle, after the fifth cycle, bolus formation had progressed significantly, and the fragments of Food F had become smaller. Food F had turned into a smooth paste containing oil, but this did not affect the other steps of the cycle.

[0066] This is because the process of assembling the fragments into a single bolus and moving it to the center by (3) the surrounding compression action during one cycle is a preparatory action for effectively performing (1), (4) the biting action, (2) the grinding action, and (5) the stirring action each time. The operation of assembling food F into a bolus by (3) the surrounding compression action is an important element in accurately reproducing the bolus formation process.

[0067] The above describes an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and modified forms, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0068] For example, various configurations are possible for the upper teeth portion 6 and the lower teeth portion 22, such as an arc-shaped arrangement of concave and convex shapes that mimic human teeth. Furthermore, when a soft solid food such as pudding is used as a sample, a food bolus can be formed even without the concave and convex portions 7 of the upper teeth portion 6 and the lower teeth portion 22.

[0069] In this embodiment, the movable wall portions 16A to 16C are driven by one servo motor 9, but the number of drive units is not limited to one. If n movable wall portions are driven by n drive units (motors, solenoid coils, etc.), respectively, there is no need to fabricate a special mechanism using multiple gears. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...Mastication simulator, 2...Controller, 3...Robot arm, 5...Axis rod, 6...Upper teeth portion, 7...Concave and convex portion, 8...Blade portion, 9...Servo motor, 10...Encircling compression mechanism, 11A-11F...Gears, 12A-12F...Rotating shaft, 13A, 13C, 13E...Axis portion, 16A-16C...Movable wall portion, 17A-17C...Rubber sheet, 18...Bottom plate, 19A, 19B...Link, 20...Tray, 22...Lower teeth portion, 30, 31...Camera, 35...Monitor, 40-42...Force sensor, 43...Load cell, 50...Temperature adjustment unit, 51...Moisture supply unit.

Claims

1. a placement section on which food is placed; a pressing portion disposed opposite the placing portion and pressing the food; a first drive unit that performs a pressing operation and a separating operation of the pressing unit; a plurality of movable wall portions provided so as to surround the placement portion; a second driving unit that operates the plurality of movable wall units to change the size of the area surrounded by the movable wall units, When the second driving unit expands the area surrounded by the movable wall unit, the first driving unit performs a pressing operation on the pressing unit toward the placement unit, When the first driving unit moves the pressing unit away from the placement unit, the second driving unit reduces the area surrounded by the movable wall unit. A chewing simulator characterized by:

2. the movable wall portion has a plate portion curved in an arc shape so that the area surrounded by the movable wall portion has a circular shape when it is expanded to its maximum; Each of the movable wall portions has an inner circumferential side at one end thereof protruding in a circumferential direction in the form of a thin plate and extending into the inside of an adjacent movable wall portion. The chewing simulator according to claim 1 .

3. the second driving unit operates the movable wall portions so that the movable wall portions partially overlap each other when reducing the area surrounded by the movable wall portions; The chewing simulator according to claim 2 .

4. the movable wall portion has a pair of connecting portions on the convex side of the curved plate portion, Each of the connecting portions is connected to each of the shaft portions via links that are parallel to each other and have the same length; The second drive unit causes the movable wall unit to translate via the link. The chewing simulator according to claim 3 .

5. The pressing portion has an uneven portion on the surface that comes into contact with the food, The first drive unit rotates the pressing unit around a support shaft for the pressing operation. The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The thin plate-shaped protruding portion of the movable wall portion is made of a rubber sheet. The chewing simulator according to claim 2 .

7. a movable wall portion load measuring unit that measures a load applied to the movable wall portion when the area surrounded by the movable wall portion is reduced; The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. a pressing portion load measuring portion for measuring a load applied to the pressing portion when the pressing portion is pressed toward the placement portion; The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. a placement unit load measuring unit for measuring a load acting on the placement unit when the pressing unit is pressed toward the placement unit; The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. a pressing portion rotation load measuring unit that measures a load applied to the pressing portion when the pressing portion is rotated, The chewing simulator according to claim 5 .

11. the mounting portion is a transparent plate-like portion, An imaging unit that images the food from below the placement unit is provided. The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. a temperature adjusting unit that adjusts the temperature of the area surrounded by the movable wall unit; The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. a moisture supply unit that supplies moisture to the area surrounded by the movable wall unit; The chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method for reproducing a chewing movement using the chewing simulator according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising: expanding an area surrounded by the movable wall portion and moving the pressing portion toward the food placement portion on which the food is placed, thereby pressing the food; a step of moving the pressing portion away from the placing portion to reduce the area surrounded by the movable wall portion and gather the spread food; A method for reproducing chewing movements, characterized by repeating the above steps.

Images