Automatic hair transplantation device

Abstract

To provide an automatic hair implantation device capable of stably taking out hair materials from a stocker to implant hair.SOLUTION: An automatic hair implantation device includes a stocker 40 which has a take-out port 42 at the bottom part 41 thereof and on the bottom part 41 of which hair materials are disposed so as to straddle the take-out port 42. The upper surface of the bottom part 41 where hair materials 100a are disposed has a cave-in part 411 concave on a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction which is a direction where the hair materials 100a straddle the take-out port 42. The take-out port 42 is formed at the lower edge which is the bottom of the cave-in part 411.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 33

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic hair implantation device for implanting hair materials into a hair implantation net. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes an automatic hair implantation device that connects hair materials to a hair implantation net and implants them. This automatic hair implantation device is equipped with a stocker that stores hair material bundles consisting of multiple hair materials and has an outlet at the bottom. By inserting a hook into the outlet and pulling it out, the hair material captured by the hook is removed and tied to the hair implantation net. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6533350 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the automatic hair implantation device proposed in Patent Document 1, when the hooks are inserted into the outlet, the hair material is pushed up by the hooks at the outlet. At this time, not only the hair material that comes into direct contact with the hooks and is pushed up, but also the surrounding hair material is pushed up together due to friction. Furthermore, when the hair material captured by the hooks in the stocker is pulled out through the outlet, the surrounding hair material is also pulled downward by friction. Furthermore, the hair material is subjected to forces not only in the vertical direction but also in directions within the horizontal plane.

[0005] In this way, the hair material near the outlet in the stocker is dense enough to be captured by a hook when it is first placed in the stocker, but as the hair material is removed from the stocker, it gradually bends and loosens, causing the density to decrease. Eventually, it becomes difficult for the hook inserted into the outlet to capture and remove the hair material, and it becomes impossible to implant the hair material into the hair implantation net.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an automatic hair implantation device that can stably take out hair materials from a stocker and implant them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the automatic hair implantation device disclosed below comprises a stocker having an outlet at the bottom and on which hair material is placed across the outlet, and the upper surface of the bottom on which the hair material is placed has a recessed portion that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the hair material crosses the outlet, and the outlet is formed at the bottom, or lower end, of the recessed portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the automatic hair implantation device, the recess restricts the movement range of the hair material to the vicinity of the outlet, which improves the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker. Therefore, the hair material can be stably captured by the pull-out hook at the outlet, making it possible to implant the hair stably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as viewed from the depth direction. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as seen from the rear. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first to fourth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120, and is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as viewed from the depth direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first to fourth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120, and is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as seen from behind. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the fifth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the sixth and seventh operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the eighth and ninth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. As shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the tenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the eleventh operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. As shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the twelfth and thirteenth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. As shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the fourteenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the fifteenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the 16th to 18th operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. [Figure 21A] FIG. 21A is a diagram showing the knot 100c as seen from the pull-out hook 30 side. [Figure 21B] FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the knot 100c as viewed from the side of the hair implantation hook 20. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the first embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the first embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the second embodiment. [Figure 33] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section of FIG. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second example of the second embodiment. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the first and second examples of the second embodiment are combined. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the second example of the second embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the second example of the second embodiment. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the second embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first example of the second embodiment. [Figure 40] FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the third embodiment. [Figure 41] FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section BB of FIG. [Figure 42] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second example of the third embodiment. [Figure 43] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a third example of the third embodiment. [Figure 44] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the third embodiment. [Figure 45] FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 46] FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 47] FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 48] FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and appropriate design modifications can be made within the scope of the configuration of the present invention. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used in different drawings for identical parts or parts having similar functions, and repeated description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the respective configurations described in the embodiments and modifications may be combined or modified as appropriate. In addition, to make the description easier to understand, the drawings referred to below show simplified or schematic configurations, or omit some of the configurations.

[0011] <<Configuration and operation example of automatic hair transplantation device>> First, the basic configuration and operation of an automatic hair implantation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, as a prerequisite for explaining the essential parts of the present invention, only one example of the basic configuration and operation of the automatic hair implantation device will be described. Naturally, it is possible to adopt a configuration and operation different from the configuration and operation of the automatic hair implantation device described here, as long as there is no contradiction with the configuration and operation of the essential parts of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view showing the structure and initial position of the automatic hair implantation device. Fig. 2 is a front view of the automatic hair implantation device in the state shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the rear toward the front. As shown in Fig. 1, the automatic hair implantation device 120 includes an eccentric 10, a hair implantation hook 20, a pull-out hook 30, a stocker 40, a thread positioning bar 50, a thread drop bar 60, a thread retraction bar 70, a reversing roller 80, a magnet 90 shown in Fig. 11, a drive mechanism (not shown), a control device, etc. Under the control of the drive mechanism by the control device, the eccentric 10, the hair implantation hook 20, the pull-out hook 30, the thread drop bar 60, and the thread retraction bar 70 each perform the first to eighteenth operations shown in Figs. 2 to 11, thereby capturing hair material 100a one by one from the stocker 40 and tying it to the weft yarn 202 of the hair implantation net 200 for implantation. In the side views and front views shown in FIGS. 1 to 21, the left-right direction in the drawings is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

[0013] The hair material 100a includes artificial hair (fiber, synthetic fiber), human hair (hair taken from humans), animal hair (hair taken from animals other than humans), or a mixture of these, and includes all hair or hair-like materials that can be implanted by the automatic hair implantation device 120. The hair implantation net 200 is formed in a mesh shape consisting of a plurality of warp threads 201 and a plurality of weft threads 202, and each of the warp threads 201 and the weft threads 202 may be a single thread made by twisting together a plurality of raw threads, or may be a single raw thread.

[0014] First, the configuration of the automatic hair implantation device 120 and the initial position when the automatic hair implantation device 120 operates will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a hair material bundle 100b consisting of a plurality of pre-cut hair materials 100a is placed in a stocker 40 located above the eccentric 10. A pull-out hook 30 is located below an outlet 42 of the stocker 40, and the eccentric 10 is located between the hair implantation hook 20 and the pull-out hook 30. Hereinafter, the direction in the horizontal plane toward the pull-out hook 30 as viewed from the eccentric 10 will be referred to as the rear, and the opposite direction as the front, and these directions will be collectively referred to as the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction in the horizontal plane will be referred to as the depth direction, and the direction to the left when looking back will be referred to as the back side (the back side of the paper in FIG. 1), and the direction to the right side will be referred to as the front side (the front side of the paper in FIG. 1).

[0015] The flocked net 200 is set so as to cover the net hooking portion 11 of the eccentric 10 from above, and its position is also regulated by contact with a reversing roller 80 below the pull-out hook 30. The tip of the flocked net 20 faces backward and is located at approximately the same height as the rotation axis of the eccentric 10. The tip of the pull-out hook 30 faces upward and is located below the central axis of the eccentric 10. The thread positioning bar 50 is located below and forward of the take-out opening 42 provided in the center of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 in the front-to-rear direction. The thread drop bar 60 and the thread pull-in bar 70 are located below the thread positioning bar 50 and above the eccentric 10, and forward of the thread positioning bar 50.

[0016] The stocker 40 has a flat bottom 41 that is rectangular in plan view, and a pair of opposing side plates 43 that are provided along each of the two front-to-rear sides of the bottom 41. The bottom 41 and side plates 43 are perpendicular, and the cross section in the front-to-rear direction is U-shaped. The hair material 100a is cut to a length, for example, approximately twice the length of the hair of the completed wig, and placed on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 so that it intersects with the depth direction (for example, most of the hair material 100a that make up the hair material bundle 100b is generally perpendicular to the depth direction). Note that the length of the hair material 100a may be longer than the length of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 in the front-to-rear direction, so that a portion of the hair material 100a protrudes outward from the stocker 40. However, it is preferable that the portion of the hair material 100a protruding from the stocker 40 does not hang down below the bottom 41, because this prevents the portion of the hair material 100a protruding from the stocker 40 from rubbing against the front-to-rear ends of the bottom 41 and becoming damaged when the withdrawal hook 30 captures the hair material 100a from the stocker 40 and pulls it out downward, and also prevents the hair material 100a from getting caught in other operating mechanisms.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, only one stocker 40 may be provided, or multiple stockers may be provided. While FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which multiple pull-out hooks 30 pull out hair materials 100a from one stocker 40, multiple stockers may be configured so that one pull-out hook 30 pulls out hair materials 100a from each stocker. Different types of hair materials 100a, such as hair materials 100a of different colors, hair materials 100a of the same color but different thicknesses, and hair materials 100a of the same color or thickness but different hardness (elasticity), may be mixed and supplied to the stocker 40, and the color, thickness, or texture of the hair materials 100a in the completed wig may be adjusted in advance. A single type of hair material 100a may be supplied to the stocker 40.

[0018] The eccentric 10 is a member that ensures the implantation area of ​​the flocked net 200, and comprises a cylindrical net hanging portion 11 having a center line extending in the depth direction, a relief portion 12 that is recessed inward from the side peripheral surface of the net hanging portion 11 and has an opening that overlaps with the side peripheral surface, and a shaft portion 13 that is provided at both ends of the net hanging portion 11 and has a center line extending in the depth direction. The center line of the shaft portion 13 does not coincide with the center line of the net hanging portion 11, but is offset radially outward from the net hanging portion 11, and is located on the side peripheral surface of the net hanging portion 11 in the portion where the relief portion 12 is provided (and further in the circumferential center of that portion).

[0019] The shaft 13 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the device body, with the center line serving as the axis of rotation, and as the shaft 13 rotates, the net hanging part 11 connected to the shaft 13 revolves around the center line of the shaft 13. In the initial position, the opening of the relief part 12 faces forward as shown in Figure 1. The center line of the shaft 13 may overlap with one weft thread 202-1 located at the circumferential center of the opening of the relief part 12.

[0020] The opening width (circumferential length) of the relief portion 12 may be determined based on the spacing between the weft threads 202 that form the mesh of the hair-implanted net 200, for example, when the flocked net 200 is wrapped around the outer surface of the net hanging portion 11 and one weft thread 202-1 is located at the circumferential center of the opening of the relief portion 12, so that one weft thread 202-2 of two weft threads 202-2 and 202-3 that are circumferentially adjacent to the centrally located weft thread 202-1 is located near the lower end of the opening of the relief portion 12, and the other weft thread 202-3 is located near the upper end of the opening of the relief portion 12. Note that while Fig. 1 illustrates a case where the opening width of the relief portion 12 is narrower than the width of the weft threads 202-2 and 202-3, the opening width of the relief portion 12 may be equal to or greater than the width of the weft threads 202-2 and 202-3.

[0021] The hair implant hook 20 is a component for implanting the hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200, and includes a hook 21 at its tip and a latch 22 for opening and closing the needle opening of the hook 21. One end of the latch 22 is rotatably connected to the hair implant hook 20 by a shaft (not shown), and by rotating around the shaft, the latch 22 switches between a state in which the other end of the latch 22 is in contact with the hook 21 and the needle opening is closed, and a state in which the other end of the latch 22 is separated from the hook 21 and the needle opening is open. In the initial position, as shown in Figure 1, the hair implant hook 20 is located in front of the eccentric 10 and in a position facing the opening of the relief portion 12, and the latch 22 is in a state in which the needle opening is open.

[0022] The hair implantation hooks 20 are driven by a drive mechanism controlled by the control device, and connect the hair material 100a to the hair implant net 200 for implantation. The hair implantation hooks 20 are aligned in the depth direction so as to correspond one-to-one with the pull-out hooks 30 shown in Figure 2. A group of the hair implantation hooks 20 are operated together by a drive mechanism controlled by the control device to implant the hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200. Note that there may be only one hair implantation hook 20 and one pull-out hook 30.

[0023] The pull-out hook 30 is a member that captures the hair material 100a from the stocker 40, and is provided with a hook 31 at its tip that can capture one hair material 100a. In its initial position, as shown in FIG. 1, the pull-out hook 30 is located below the eccentric 10 and above the reversing roller 80, with the needle port 32 of the hook 31 facing forward. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of pull-out hooks 30 are provided and aligned in the depth direction. A group of the plurality of pull-out hooks 30 operates together by a drive mechanism controlled by a control device to capture the hair material 100a. The hook 31 may be capable of capturing two or more hair materials 100a, and may be of any size or shape as long as it can capture the hair material 100a.

[0024] The thread positioning bar 50 is a member that guides the hair material 100a pulled out from the stocker 40 by the pulling hook 30 to a predetermined position. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the thread positioning bar 50 is generally cylindrical with a centerline extending in the depth direction, and multiple thread guides 51 recessed from the outer periphery toward the centerline are provided around the outer periphery. The thread positioning bar 50 may be provided with both ends in the depth direction fixed to the device body, but if it is rotatably supported by the device body, the thread positioning bar 50 will be rotated by the hair material 100a pulled out from the stocker 40 by the pulling hook 30, preventing the hair material 100a from rubbing against the thread guides 51 and being damaged. The number of thread guides 51 is the same as the number of pulling hooks 30.

[0025] The thread drop bar 60 is vibrated vertically by a drive mechanism controlled by the control device and removes the hair material 100a pulled in by the thread retraction bar 70. The thread retraction bar 70 is moved back and forth by a drive mechanism controlled by the control device and hooks the hair material 100a implanted in the hair implant net 200, pulling it forward. The magnet 90 magnetically attracts and opens the latch 22 that is closed during the process of implanting the hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200 with the hair implantation hook 20. The magnet 90 can be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. However, if the magnet 90 is an electromagnet, the magnetic force only needs to be generated when the electromagnet is controlled by the control device to open the closed latch 22. This eliminates the need to change the relative positions of the hair implantation hook 20 and the magnet 90. Therefore, the drive mechanism can be simplified by driving the hair implantation hook 20 and the magnet 90 with a common drive mechanism. The reversing roller 80 is rotatably attached to the device body.

[0026] Next, the operation of the automatic hair implantation device will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 21. First, as shown in Figure 2, the thread retraction bar 70 moves rearward and stops at a position beyond the outlet 42 of the stocker 40 and the retraction hook 30 on the right side in Figure 3 (first operation).

[0027] Next, the pulling hook 30 rises, and the tip including the hook 31 enters the stocker 40 through the outlet 42, and after being inserted into the hair material bundle 100b, it descends and stops (second operation). At this time, after the tip of the pulling hook 30 is inserted into the outlet 42, it moves slightly toward the front (toward the side where the needle port 32 of the hook 31 is open). As a result, the hair material 100a is hooked on the hook 31 of the pulling hook 30, and the hair material 100a is pulled out in a doubled state from the outlet 42 of the stocker 40. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, both ends of the hair material 100a remain in the stocker 40, and as shown in FIG. 5, the multiple hair materials 100a pulled out in a doubled state are accommodated one by one in the multiple thread guides 51 of the thread positioning bar 50. This restricts each of the pulled out hair materials 100a to a predetermined position, so that the hair implantation hook 20 can properly catch the hair material 100a in the subsequent operation.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the hair implantation hook 20 moves backward (third operation). At this time, the hook 21 passes under the weft yarn 202-1, and the needle opening of the hook 21 is housed in the escape portion 12 and reaches the position shown by the dashed line. Next, the hair implantation hook 20 moves back from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line, and the hook 21 hooks the weft yarn 202-1 (fourth operation).

[0029] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the shaft 13 of the eccentric 10 rotates 90 degrees so that the opening of the relief portion 12 faces upward, and the net hooking portion 11 rotates downward about the center line of the shaft 13 from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line and stops (fifth operation). This causes the eccentric 10 to move below the hair implantation hook 20 and the weft 202-1. This movement of the eccentric 10 from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line enables the hair implantation hook 20 to pass above the eccentric 10 and reach the hair material 100a that has been folded in half between the stocker 40 and the pull-out hook 30. Note that the eccentric 10 may not have a shaft 13 and may rotate about the center line of the net hooking portion 11. In this case, if the hair implant hook 20 is configured to move parallel upward and backward in accordance with the rotation of the net hooking part 11 while keeping the weft thread 202-1 hooked, the hair implant hook 20 will be positioned above the eccentric 10 as described above.

[0030] 7 and 8, as the hair implantation hook 20 moves backward, the hook 21 approaches the hair material 100a folded in half between the stocker 40 and the pull-out hook 30 (sixth operation). At this time, the weft yarn 202-1 passes above the open latch 22 and eventually passes through the entire latch 22. Next, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle opening of the hook 21 changes from facing upward to facing sideways (toward the back) (seventh operation). As a result, the needle opening of the hook 21 faces the hair material 100a pulled out by the pull-out hook 30.

[0031] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the hair implantation hook 20 moves further backward while keeping the needle port of the hook 21 facing sideways, and stops when the needle port of the hook 21 faces the front part of the folded hair material 100a pulled out by the pull-out hook 30 (hereinafter referred to as the "front part" of the hair material 100a) (eighth operation). Next, the pull-out hook 30 moves forward (ninth operation). As a result, the front part of the hair material 100a approaches the hair implantation hook 20 and is introduced into the needle port of the hook 21.

[0032] 10, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle mouth of the hook 21 faces upward from a state in which it faces sideways, and moves forward as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, causing the latch 22 to come into contact with the weft yarn 202-1 and closing the needle mouth of the hook 21. When the hair implantation hook 20 moves further from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dashed line, the latch 22 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 90, and the needle mouth of the hair implantation hook 20 opens (tenth operation). At this time, the hair implantation hook 20 moves away from the hair implantation net 200, and the front portion of the hair material 100a is pulled out slightly from the stocker 40. In addition, the hair material 100a passes from the front side of the outlet 42 through the thread positioning bar 50, passes between the weft threads 202-1 and 202-2, is folded back at the hook 21, and is unfolded so that it passes from the hook 21 between the weft threads 202-1 and 202-2, passes between the weft threads 202-1 and 202-3, and reaches the withdrawal hook 30.

[0033] Next, as shown in Figure 13, the hair implantation hook 20 moves backward from the position indicated by the dashed line in Figure 11 and rises, and rotates to tie the hair material 100a to the weft 202-1 (11th operation). As a result, the two portions of the hair material 100a between the hook 21 and the weft 202-1 are twisted together to form a loop portion 45. Note that in this 11th operation, the raising of the hair implantation hook can be omitted, but by raising it, the hook 21 can be sure to pass through the portion of the hair material 100a between the thread positioning bar 50 and the weft 202-1 in the 12th operation described below.

[0034] Next, as shown in Figure 14, the hair implantation hook 20 moves toward the front while facing upward, then moves backward, stopping when the needle point of the hook 21 is aligned in the depth direction with the rear portion of the folded hair material 100a pulled out by the pull-out hook 30 (hereinafter referred to as the "rear portion" of the hair material 100a), and rotates so that the needle point of the hook 21 faces sideways (facing the back side) from the upward position (twelfth operation). At this time, as shown in Figure 15, the hook 21 of the hair implantation hook 20 passes through the portion of the hair material 100a between the thread positioning bar 50 and the weft thread 202-1, and the loop portion 45 passes above the latch 22 of the hair implantation hook 20. Furthermore, as a result of the rotation of the hair implantation hook 20, the needle point of the hook 21 faces the rear portion of the hair material 100a. The number of rotations of the hair implantation hook 20 may be any number of rotations, such as one, two, or three or more rotations, as long as it is one or more rotations. The direction of rotation may be clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0035] Next, the pull-out hook 30 moves forward (13th operation). As a result, the rear portion of the hair material 100a approaches the hair implantation hook 20 and is introduced into the needle opening of the hook 21. The hair implantation hook 20 may move toward the rear, or both the pull-out hook 30 and the hair implantation hook 20 may move toward each other.

[0036] Next, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle mouth of the hook 21 faces upward from a state in which it faces sideways, and moves forward, causing the latch 22 to come into contact with the loop portion 45 and close the needle mouth of the hook 21 (14th operation). This completes the tying of the hair material 100a to the weft yarn 202-1, i.e., the hair implantation. Note that when the hook 21 of the hair implantation hook 20 moves back and passes through the loop portion 45, the withdrawal hook 30 may move up and down in small movements to release the hair material 100a from the hook 31. This prevents peeling, which is frizz caused by friction of the hair material 100a.

[0037] Next, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the thread retracting bar 70 moves forward, retracting the front portion of the hair material 100a forward and stopping at the initial position (fifteenth operation).

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 20, operations 16 to 18 are performed. First, while the hair implantation hook 20 returns to its initial position and stops, the latch 22 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 90, opening the needle mouth of the hair implantation hook 20 (operation 16). The eccentric 10 rotates around the center line of the shaft 13 from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6 back to the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 6 (operation 17). This returns the opening of the escape portion 12 to its initial position facing left. The thread drop bar 60 moves downward and then upward and stops at its initial position (operation 18). This allows the hair material 100a, which has been completely implanted on the weft yarn 202-1, to be styled downward. Note that any of operations 16 to 18 may be performed first, or operations 16 to 18 may be performed simultaneously.

[0039] The above operations complete one cycle of the operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120 to implant the hair material 100a to the weft thread 202-1, and the knot shown in Figure 21 is created. Note that Figure 21 illustrates the state in the eleventh operation where the hair implantation hook 20 rotates three times and the hair implantation thread 100 is twisted three times and tied to the hair implantation net 200.

[0040] In the above-described example of the operation, the hook 21 of the hair implant hook 20 grabs the front portion of the hair material 100a in the eighth and ninth operations, and grabs the rear portion of the hair material 100a in the twelfth and thirteenth operations, but whether the front or rear portion is grabbed in each operation, the hair material 100a can be tied to the weft by rotating the hair implant hook 20 one or more times in the twelfth operation. Also, even if the hair implant hook 20 only rotates half a turn in the twelfth operation, the hair material 100a can be tied to the weft by using the hook 21 of the hair implant hook 20 to grab the lower portion of the hair material 100a that has been rotated half a turn in the twelfth and thirteenth operations.

[0041] <<Configuration and operation for preventing poor hair material removal>> A specific configuration for preventing failure in taking out the hair material 100a from the stocker 40 will be described below.

[0042] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first embodiment is provided with a biasing unit that applies a force to the hair material 100a that includes a component in a direction away from the outlet 42, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. As explained above, the hair material 100a is placed on the bottom 41, straddling the outlet 42.

[0043] First, a first example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 22 to 25 are perspective views showing the configuration of the first example of the first embodiment. Figures 22 to 25 show the movement of protrusion 401, which is the biasing portion, in chronological order, with protrusion 401 moving in the order of Figures 22, 23, 24, and 25.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 22, in this example, protrusions 401 are provided as the biasing portion. The protrusions 401 illustrated in Fig. 22 are shaped like the teeth of a comb, and multiple protrusions 401 (three in this example) are connected together. The protrusions 401 are inclined so that the farther they are from the bottom 41, the farther they are from the outlet 42. In this example, the protrusions 401 are provided so as to face each other across the outlet 42.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 23, the protrusion 401 moves straight along the inclined direction, and its tip is inserted into the hair material bundle. At this time, the protrusion 401 moves straight by being driven by a first reciprocating motion mechanism 401a, such as an air cylinder. Furthermore, since the protrusion 401 moves straight along the inclined direction, the inclination does not change before and after the straight movement. The operation of the first reciprocating motion mechanism 401a is controlled by, for example, the control device described above.

[0046] Next, as shown in Fig. 24, the protrusion 401 advances in a direction away from the outlet 42 while maintaining the same inclination as in Figs. 22 and 23. As a result, the tip of the protrusion 401 advances along the hair material 100a, and a force in a direction away from the outlet 42 (a force that relieves bending or slackness of the hair material 100a) can be applied to the hair material 100a. At this time, the protrusion 401 advances in a direction away from the outlet 42 by being driven by a second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b such as a rack and pinion. The second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b drives not only the protrusion 401 but also the first reciprocating motion mechanism 401a. The operation of the second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b is controlled by, for example, the above-mentioned control device.

[0047] Next, as shown in Figure 25, the protrusion 401, while maintaining the same inclination as in Figures 22 to 24, retreats along the inclination direction and is removed from the hair material bundle 100b. At this time, the protrusion 401 retreats by being driven by the first reciprocating mechanism 401a.

[0048] A second example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 26 and 27 are perspective views showing the configuration of the second example of the first embodiment. In Figure 26, the direction of rotation of the roller 402, which is the urging part, is shown by a broken line, and in Figure 27, the hair material 100a is also shown in addition to the roller 402.

[0049] 26 and 27, in this example, a roller 402 is provided as the biasing section. The roller 402 rotates in a conveying direction away from the outlet 42. This allows the rotation of the roller 402 to apply a force to the hair material 100a in a direction away from the outlet 42 (a force that reduces bending or slackness of the hair material 100a).

[0050] The rollers 402 are driven by, for example, a motor, and the operation of the motor is controlled by a control device. In this example, the rollers 402 are provided so as to face each other across the outlet 42, and these rollers 402 rotate simultaneously. Although Figures 26 and 27 illustrate the case where the rollers 402 are provided on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40, the rollers 402 may be provided on the side plate 43, or may be provided at a position facing the bottom 41 (above the hair material 100a).

[0051] As described above, when the biasing portion (projection portion 401, roller 402) that applies a force to the hair material 100a including a component in the direction away from the outlet is provided, the hair material 100a is pulled in the direction away from the outlet. As a result, the hair material 100a is stretched, and bending and slackness are alleviated. This improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40, and the pulling hook 30 can stably capture the hair material at the outlet 42, thereby enabling stable hair implantation.

[0052] In the above example, the protrusions 401 and the rollers 402 are provided to face each other across the outlet 42, but they may be provided on only one side of the outlet 42. In this case, the entire hair material bundle 100b may move, but it is possible to alleviate bending and slack in the hair material 100a. Furthermore, bending and slack in the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 is moved to a position shifted from the outlet 42 by the movement of the entire hair material bundle 100b, which also improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Even when the protrusions 401 and the rollers 402 are provided to face each other across the outlet 42, driving only one side can achieve the same effect as when they are provided on only one side. Alternately driving one side and the other side will cause the hair material bundle 100b to move back and forth across the outlet 42, thereby preventing the position of the hair material bundle 100b from fluctuating significantly.

[0053] On the other hand, as in the above example, when the protrusions 401 and the rollers 402 are provided so as to face each other across the outlet 42 and are driven simultaneously, the hair material 100a is pulled toward both ends, thereby effectively reducing the bending and slack of the hair material 100a. It is not necessary to always drive the protrusions 401 and the rollers 402 in synchronization, and this effect can be obtained as long as there is a timing for driving them simultaneously.

[0054] Furthermore, the mechanisms provided to face each other across the outlet 42 may be different. For example, a protrusion 401 and a roller 402 may be provided to face each other across the outlet 42. For example, as shown in Figs. 28 to 31, a protrusion 401 may be provided on one side of the outlet 42, and a stopper 403 may be provided on the other side to press the hair material bundle 100b against the bottom 41 and restrict its movement. Figs. 28 to 31 correspond to Figs. 22 to 25 showing the first example described above. As shown in Figs. 28 to 31, when the tip of the protrusion 401 is inserted into the hair material bundle 100b (the state of Figs. 29 and 30), that is, when the protrusion 401 is able to apply a force to the hair material bundle 100b that includes a component in a direction away from the outlet 42, the stopper 403 presses the hair material bundle 100b against the bottom 41 and restricts its movement. The stopping portion 403 is driven by a reciprocating mechanism 403a such as an air cylinder, and the operation of the reciprocating mechanism 403a is controlled by the above-mentioned control device, for example. 28 to 31 show an example in which the protrusion 401 and the stopping portion 403 are combined, but it is also possible to combine the roller 402 and the stopping portion 403.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first example, the protrusions 401 may not be inclined, but may be perpendicular to the bottom 41. However, if the protrusions 401 are inclined as described above, the protrusions 401 can apply a force to the hair material 100a that has not only a component in the direction away from the outlet 42 but also a component in the downward direction. This presses the hair material 100a in the stocker 40 toward the bottom 41 where the outlet 42 is located, thereby effectively improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Furthermore, if the inclination of the protrusions 401 is configured to remain unchanged during a series of operations, the protrusions 401 can be made to perform the operations shown in Figures 22 to 25 using a simple mechanism including, for example, only the first reciprocating mechanism 401a and the second reciprocating mechanism 401b.

[0056] Furthermore, in the first example, when the tip of the protrusion 401 is inserted into the hair material bundle 100b, then the protrusion 401 moves in a direction away from the outlet 42, and then the tip of the protrusion 401 is removed from the hair material bundle 100b, it is possible to apply only a force to relieve bending or slack to the hair material 100a without applying a force that promotes bending or slack (a force having a component in a direction toward the outlet 42).

[0057] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 has a recessed portion that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the hair material 100a straddles the outlet 42 (hereinafter referred to as the "longitudinal direction"), thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. The longitudinal direction is the direction parallel to the direction away from the outlet 42 described in the first embodiment.

[0058] First, a first example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 32 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the second embodiment. Fig. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section of Fig. 32 (a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and passing through the outlet 42). In Fig. 32, the hair material 100a is omitted to make it easier to see the configuration of the bottom 41. In addition, in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 33, the left-right direction is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

[0059] 32 and 33, in the second embodiment, the top surface of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 on which the hair material 100a is placed is not flat, but has a recessed portion 411 that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The recessed portion 411 has an outlet 42 formed at the bottom, i.e., the lower end.

[0060] 33, the horizontal width of the recessed portion 411 in the cross section of the first example narrows toward the bottom end, forming a linear slope. While FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate the case where the recessed portion 411 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom portion 41, the recessed portion 411 may be formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom portion 41 where the recessed portion 411 is not provided may be flat.

[0061] A second example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second example of the second embodiment. Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 33 showing the first example of the second embodiment.

[0062] 34, similar to depressed portion 411 of the first example, depressed portion 412 of the second example is concave in the cross section shown in the figure, and has outlet 42 formed at the bottom, i.e., the lower end. On the other hand, depressed portion 412 of the second example has a constant horizontal width in the cross section shown in the figure all the way to the lower end, and has wall surfaces parallel to the vertical direction.

[0063] As described above, when the bottom 41 has the recesses 411, 412 that are concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the recesses 411, 412 restrict the movement range of the hair material 100a to the vicinity of the outlet 42. This improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40, and the pulling hook 30 can stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, thereby enabling stable implantation.

[0064] 33, if the horizontal width of the depression 411 gradually narrows toward the lower end, a force due to the weight of the hair material 100a can be applied to the hair material 100a on the depression 411 along the slope of the depression 411, i.e., a force in the direction toward the outlet 42. Furthermore, if the depression 411 has a linear slope in the cross section shown in FIG. 33, a force can be applied uniformly to the hair material 100a on the depression 411 in the direction toward the outlet 42, and the entire hair material 100a on the depression 411 can be directed toward the outlet 42.

[0065] On the other hand, as in the second example, if the horizontal width of the depression 412 is uniform toward the lower end in the cross section shown in Figure 34, the hair material 100a on the depression 412 can be strongly restricted from moving outside the depression 412.

[0066] It should be noted that the above first and second examples can be combined. Fig. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the first and second examples of the second embodiment are combined. Fig. 35 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 33 showing the first example of the second embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 35, a depression 412 similar to that of the second example is formed near the lower end of a depression 411 similar to that of the first example. In this case, a force is applied to the hair material 100a on the depression 411 in a direction toward the outlet 42, and the hair material 100a on the depression 412 is strongly restricted from moving outward.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above example, a case where one stocker 40 is provided with one depressed portion 411, 412 and outlet 42 has been illustrated, but a plurality of depressed portions 411, 412 and outlet 42 may be provided for a single stocker 40. Fig. 36 is a cross-sectional view of a case where a plurality of depressed portions 411 of the first example are provided in the stocker 40. Fig. 36 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 33 showing the first example of the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 36, when the stocker 40 is provided with a plurality of depressed portions 411, it is possible to improve the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 of each depressed portion 411 even when a plurality of hair materials 100a are simultaneously taken out.

[0068] Furthermore, in addition to providing the depressions 411 and 412, a pressing portion may be provided to press the hair material 100a and the hair material bundle 100b downward. Figs. 37 and 38 are cross-sectional views showing a configuration in which a pressing portion 413 is further provided in the configuration of the second example of the second embodiment. Figs. 37 and 38 are cross-sectional views showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 33 showing the first example of the second embodiment. As shown in Figs. 37 and 38, the pressing portion 413 is shaped to fit into the depression 412, and is pushed downward as shown in Fig. 38 to press the hair material 100a (hair material bundle 100b) downward. This allows the pressing portion 413 to apply a force to the hair material 100a on the depression 412 in a direction toward the outlet 42. The pressing portion 413 is driven by a reciprocating mechanism 413a such as an air cylinder, and the operation of the reciprocating mechanism 413a is controlled by, for example, the control device described above.

[0069] 32 to 38 illustrate a case where the outlet 42 is provided in only a portion of the bottom 41 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, but the outlet 42 may be formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43, as in the bottom 41 illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 31. FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing a case where the outlet 42 is formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43 in the configuration of the first example of the second embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 39, the outlet 42 is formed not only at the lower end of the depression 411 but also on the linear slope. However, even with this configuration, as in the above example, the depression 411 restricts the movement range of the hair material 100a to the vicinity of the outlet 42, thereby improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

[0070] In the above example, as shown in Figures 32 and 39, the case where the depression 411 is formed from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the bottom part 41 is exemplified. In this case, the movement range of the hair material 100a can be restricted to the vicinity of the outlet 42 over the entire longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the depressions 411, 412 may be formed only in a part of the longitudinal direction of the bottom part 41. However, in this case, the depressions 411, 412 are formed so that at least the outlet 42 is included in the depressions 411, 412.

[0071] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 has a protruding portion that is convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

[0072] First, a first example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 40 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the third embodiment. Fig. 41 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB cross section (a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction) of Fig. 40. Note that in Fig. 40, the hair material 100a is omitted from illustration to make it easier to see the configuration of the bottom part 41. In addition, in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 41, the left-right direction is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

[0073] 40 and 41, in the third embodiment, the top surface of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 on which the hair material 100a is placed is not flat, but has a protruding portion 421 that is convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction of the hair material 100a. The protruding portion 421 has an outlet 42 formed at its top end.

[0074] 41, the raised portion 421 of the first example has a shape in which the inclination with respect to the horizontal direction increases with increasing distance from the outlet 42 in the cross section shown. Note that although Fig. 40 and Fig. 41 illustrate an example in which the raised portion 421 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom 41, the raised portion 421 may be formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom 41 where the raised portion 421 is not provided may be flat.

[0075] A second example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second example of the third embodiment. Fig. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 41 showing the first example of the third embodiment.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 42, the raised portion 422 of the second example, like the raised portion 421 of the first example, has a shape that is convex upward in the cross section shown in the figure, with the outlet 42 as the upper end. On the other hand, the raised portion 422 of the second example has a constant inclination with respect to the horizontal direction in the cross section shown in the figure, and has a linear shape. Note that Fig. 42 illustrates an example in which the raised portion 422 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom 41, but the raised portion 422 may be formed only on the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom 41 where the raised portion 422 is not provided may be flat.

[0077] A third example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the third example of the third embodiment. Fig. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 41 showing the first example of the third embodiment.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 43, the raised portion 423 of the third example is convex in the cross section shown, similar to the raised portions 421 and 422 of the first and second examples. On the other hand, the raised portion 423 of the third example is formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area, and is provided on the outside with an inclined portion 424 that slopes upward as it moves away from the outlet 42. Note that Fig. 43 illustrates an example in which the outside of the inclined portion 424 slopes downward as it moves away from the outlet 42, similar to the raised portion 423, but the outside of the inclined portion 424 may be flat, or the inclined portion 424 may continue to the longitudinal end of the bottom 41.

[0079] As described above, when the bottom 41 has the raised portions 421-423 that are convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, the hair material 100a is supported in a convex shape along the raised portions 421-423, and the hair material 100a is pulled in the longitudinal direction by its own weight, thereby suppressing bending and slackening of the hair material 100a and improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. This allows the pulling hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to stably implant the hair.

[0080] Furthermore, as in the first example, if the raised portion 421 is shaped so that its inclination with respect to the horizontal direction increases with increasing distance from the outlet 42 in the cross section shown in Fig. 41, the hair material 100a will bend along the raised portion 421 and become less likely to float, and the friction between the hair material 100a and the raised portion 421 will increase, thereby restricting the movement of the hair material 100a. Therefore, the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40 can be effectively improved.

[0081] On the other hand, when the protrusion 422 is shaped so that the inclination with respect to the horizontal direction is constant (i.e., linear) in the cross section shown in Fig. 42 as in the second example, the hair material 100a is pulled linearly by its own weight, and bending and slackening of the hair material 100a are effectively suppressed. Therefore, the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40 can be effectively improved.

[0082] Furthermore, as in the third example, if an inclined portion is provided on the outside of the raised portion 423 in the cross section shown in Figure 43, which is inclined upward as it moves away from the outlet 42, the hair material 100a is supported by being curved multiple times, thereby making it possible to shorten the longitudinal length of the stocker 40 that stores it.

[0083] It should be noted that the bottom 41 and the raised portion do not have to be continuous surfaces as long as the hair material 100a is only supported in a convex shape. Fig. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the third embodiment. Fig. 44 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Fig. 41 showing the first example of the third embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 44, the raised portion 425 is made up of a plurality of rod-shaped members that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and extend horizontally, with gaps between adjacent rod-shaped members. Even in the case shown in Fig. 44, the hair material 100a is supported in a convex shape by the raised portion 425.

[0084] On the other hand, as in the first to third examples described above, if the bottom 41 and the raised portions 421-423 form a continuous surface from the outlet 42 to one end in the longitudinal direction in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to prevent the hair material 100a from slipping out downward from a portion other than the outlet 42 and becoming entangled in the drive mechanism of the automatic hair implantation device 120. Here, a continuous surface means a surface that continues without gaps, and also includes a surface that includes a sharply bent point (a non-differentiable point).

[0085] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a force may be applied to the hair material 100a to pull both ends of the hair material 100a in the longitudinal direction. For example, when using the stocker 40 having the protruding portions 421, 422 of the first or second example, both ends of the hair material bundle 100b may be bound with an elastic body such as a rubber band, and a weight may be added to the elastic body. This allows a force to be applied to the hair material 100a in the longitudinal direction that is greater than its own weight, thereby more effectively suppressing bending and slackening of the hair material 100a.

[0086] In the third embodiment, the raised portion may have a wall surface parallel to the vertical direction, but in this case, the hair material 100a is less likely to come into contact with the wall surface, and the friction between the hair material 100a and the raised portion is reduced.

[0087] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment is provided with a hooking position changing unit that changes the position at which the pulling hook 30 hooks the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, thereby alleviating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

[0088] First, a first example of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 45 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 45, in the first example of the fourth embodiment, a stocker 40 has a plurality of outlets 42 (two in the illustrated example) at a bottom 41. The outlets 42 are aligned along the longitudinal direction, and the hair material 100a is arranged on the bottom 41 so as to straddle the plurality of outlets 42.

[0089] 45, the first example of the fourth embodiment includes a stocker driver 431 that drives the stocker in the longitudinal direction as the hooking position changer. The stocker driver 431 is configured with a reciprocating mechanism such as a rack and pinion, and its operation is controlled by, for example, the control device described above. When the stocker driver 431 drives the stocker 40 in the longitudinal direction, the outlet 42 into which the pull-out hook 30 is next inserted is changed. Note that the pull-out hook 30 does not need to be driven in the longitudinal direction; it only needs to be driven vertically as described above.

[0090] A second example of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 46 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second example of the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 46, the rotation direction of the roller is indicated by a broken line and the hair material 100a is not shown, but if the hair material 100a were shown, it would be the same as Fig. 27 showing the first embodiment.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 46, the second example of the fourth embodiment includes a hair material driving unit 432 (more specifically, rollers that transport the hair material 100a and hair material bundle 100b) that moves the hair material 100a arranged in the stocker 40 in the longitudinal direction as a hooking position changing unit. Two rollers, which are the hair material driving unit 432, are provided along the longitudinal direction, similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 26, but unlike FIG. 26, the rollers rotate in the same direction (transport direction). The rollers are driven by, for example, a motor, and the operation of the motor is controlled by, for example, the control device described above. These rollers rotate simultaneously, and the entire hair material 100a and hair material bundle 100b move relative to the outlet 42 of the stocker 40. Although FIG. 46 illustrates a case where two rollers are provided, only one roller or three or more rollers may be provided.

[0092] As described above, by providing the hooking position changing units 431, 432 for changing the hooking position of the withdrawal hook 30 on the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, even if the hair material 100a is bent or loosened when it is removed by the withdrawal hook 30, the hair material 100a can be removed by hooking the withdrawal hook 30 at another position where the bent or loosened position is not present. This allows the withdrawal hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the removal opening 42, making it possible to stably implant the hair.

[0093] Furthermore, as in the first and second examples, by providing a stocker driving unit 431 and a hair material driving unit 432 as hooking position changing units, it is possible to change the hooking position of the pull-out hook 30 on the hair material 100a without needing to drive the pull-out hook 30 related to the hair implantation operation. Also, when the stocker driving unit 431 is provided as in the first example, the entire stocker 40 can be driven to loosen the hair material 100a and reduce its bending and slack. On the other hand, when the hair material driving unit 432 is provided as in the second example, the hair material 100a can be driven to loosen the hair material 100a and reduce its bending and slack. Furthermore, in the second example, by controlling the rotation amount of the roller, it is possible to select multiple parts of the hair material 100a located at one outlet 42, so that the pull-out hook 30 can be hooked on many parts that are not bent or slack.

[0094] In the configuration of the second example shown in Figure 46, a plurality of outlets 42 may be provided on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40, as in the first example. Also, the first and second examples can be combined, and the stocker driving unit 431 and the hair material driving unit 432 may be provided at the same time.

[0095] The hooking position changing unit may also change the hooking position of the pull-out hook 30 on the hair material 100a by driving the pull-out hook 30. In this case, however, two-stage driving is required, for example, by driving the pull-out hook 30 vertically to bring it close to the bottom of the stocker 40, and then driving it longitudinally.

[0096] 46 showing the second example illustrates the case where the roller rotates in one direction, but it may rotate in the opposite direction. In this case, if the roller is rotated in one direction to remove the hair material 100a with the pull-out hook 30, and then rotated in the opposite direction with a different rotation amount, the position at which the pull-out hook 30 hooks the hair material 100a will be different. Also, even if the rotation amount of the roller is the same, the hair material 100a is loosened by being transported by the roller, and the pull-out hook 30 hooks a part of the hair material 100a different from the part where the bend or slack occurred, thereby relaxing the bend or slack, and the pull-out hook 30 can be hooked on the part of the hair material 100a where the bend or slack has been relaxed.

[0097] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the portion of the stocker 40 that comes into contact with the hair material 100a is provided with a non-slip portion that prevents the hair material 100a from slipping more than the smooth surface of the material that constitutes the stocker 40, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Note that the smooth surface of the material that constitutes the stocker 40 typically refers to a portion of the stocker 40 where no non-slip portion is formed. However, if the entire surface of the stocker 40 has been processed to have a uniform surface, for example, this corresponds to the surface of the unprocessed plate material used to manufacture the stocker 40 or the surface from which the non-slip portion has been removed.

[0098] First, a first example of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 47 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 47, the hair material 100a is omitted from the illustration to make it easier to see the configuration inside the stocker 40.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 47, in a first example of the fifth embodiment, an adhesive material 441 is provided as an anti-slip portion on the upper surface of the bottom portion 41 on which the hair material 100a is placed. Well-known adhesive materials such as rubber-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, and urethane-based adhesive materials can be used for the adhesive material 441. Note that Fig. 47 illustrates an example in which the adhesive material 441 is provided in two locations on both sides in the longitudinal direction centered on the outlet 42, but the adhesive material 441 may be provided on the entire upper surface of the bottom portion 41, or the adhesive material 441 may be provided on the side plate 43.

[0100] A second example of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 48 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second example of the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 48, the hair material 100a is omitted from the illustration in order to make the configuration inside the stocker 40 easier to see.

[0101] As shown in Fig. 48, in a second example of the fifth embodiment, exhaust holes 442a are provided on the upper surface of the bottom 41 on which the hair material 100a is placed, as a non-slip portion, to adsorb the hair material 100a by exhausting air. An exhaust portion 442b is provided below the bottom 41, which exhausts air from the exhaust holes 442a. An exhaust fan or compressor is provided at the end of the exhaust portion 442b, and the operation of a valve provided in the exhaust fan or compressor or exhaust portion 442b to switch on and off exhaust is controlled by, for example, the control device described above. While Fig. 48 illustrates an example in which exhaust holes 442a are provided on the entire upper surface of the bottom 41, exhaust holes 442a may be provided only on a portion of the upper surface of the bottom 41, or exhaust holes 442a may be provided on the side plate 43.

[0102] As described above, by providing the anti-slip portions 441, 442a at the portions of the stocker 40 that come into contact with the hair material 100a, the movement of the hair material 100a is suppressed by the anti-slip portions 441, 442a, and this improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. This allows the withdrawal hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to stably implant the hair.

[0103] Furthermore, as in the first and second examples, when the anti-slip portions 441, 442a are provided on at least a portion of the upper surface of the bottom 41 on which the hair material 100a is placed, the movement of the hair material 100a is suppressed on the upper surface on which the outlet 42 is provided, thereby effectively improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

[0104] Furthermore, when an adhesive material 441 is used as an anti-slip portion as in the first example, the simple configuration of placing the adhesive material 441 inside the stocker 40 can improve the low density of the hair material near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40, and since the hair material 100a does not rub against any object, its movement can be suppressed without damaging the hair material 100a.

[0105] On the other hand, when the exhaust hole 442a is provided as the anti-slip portion as in the first example, it is possible to semi-permanently improve the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40, and since the suction of the hair material 100a can be released by stopping the exhaust, it becomes easier to put the hair material 100a in and take it out of the stocker 40. Note that the exhaust hole 442a is preferably smaller than the outlet 42, for example, to prevent the hair material 100a from being sucked in.

[0106] It is possible to combine the first and second examples. For example, adhesive material 441 may be provided on a portion of the upper surface of bottom 41, and exhaust holes 442a may be provided on the remaining portion. Furthermore, anti-slip portions may be provided on bottom 41 or side plate 43 by forming irregularities, for example, by blasting.

[0107] Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The sixth embodiment is provided with a vibrating unit that applies vibration to the stocker 40, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

[0108] The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 49 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the sixth embodiment. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 49, a vibrating unit 451 that applies vibration to stocker 40 is provided on bottom 41. Vibrating unit 451 is formed, for example, by an eccentric motor, a solenoid, a piezoelectric element, or the like, and its operation is controlled, for example, by the above-mentioned control device.

[0109] 49, when the vibrating section 451 generates vibrations, the stocker 40 vibrates, and the vibrations are propagated to the hair material 100a. The vibrating section 451 also applies vibrations to the stocker 40 at a frequency of, for example, 1 Hz or higher.

[0110] As described above, the hair material 100a is loosened by the vibrations given to the stocker 40 by the vibrating unit 451, which reduces the bending and loosening of the hair material 100a and improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. This allows the pulling hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to stably implant the hair.

[0111] In particular, the vibrating section 451 applies continuous vibration to the stocker 40 instead of a pulsed impact, thereby effectively loosening the hair material 100a and effectively reducing bending and loosening of the hair material 100a.

[0112] The vibrating unit 451 may be attached at any position as long as it can impart vibration to the stocker 40. However, it is preferable to attach it to the outer surface of the wall of the stocker 40 that comes into contact with the hair material 100a (in the example of FIG. 49, the bottom 41 and the side plate 43), because vibration can be imparted to the hair material 100a in the stocker 40 from outside the stocker 40 without interfering with the hair material 100a. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 49, when it is attached to the underside of the bottom 41, vibration can be effectively imparted to the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, and therefore the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40 can be effectively improved.

[0113] <<Deformation, etc.>> The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined as long as there is no contradiction.

[0114] For example, the first embodiment may be combined with the second and / or third embodiments. In this case, for example, when the protrusion 401 of the first embodiment is used, the shape of the protrusion 401 is matched to the shape of the bottom 41 on which the depressions 411 and 412 and the protrusions 421 to 423 and 425 are formed, and the first reciprocating mechanism 401a drives the protrusion 401 so that the tip of the protrusion 401 does not collide with the bottom 41.

[0115] Furthermore, for example, it is possible to combine the second embodiment with the third embodiment. Since the depressed portions 411 and 412 have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the raised portions 421 to 423 and 425 have a cross-sectional shape parallel to the longitudinal direction, the two can be combined without any contradiction, although the bottom 41 has a complex shape.

[0116] Furthermore, each of the fourth to sixth embodiments can be combined with the other embodiments without any particular contradiction. Furthermore, the vibration section 451 of the sixth embodiment may vibrate parts that come into contact with the hair material 100a other than the stocker 40, such as the protrusions 401, rollers 402, and stopping sections 403 of the first embodiment, the pressing section 413 of the second embodiment, and the hair material driving section (roller) 432 of the fourth embodiment. Even in this case, the hair material 100a can be loosened and any bending or slackness of the hair material 100a can be alleviated.

[0117] Furthermore, the components that reduce the bending or slack of the hair material 100a by performing predetermined operations, such as the protrusion 401 and roller 402 in the first embodiment, the stocker drive unit 431 and hair material drive unit (roller) 432 in the fourth embodiment, the exhaust hole 442a in the fifth embodiment, and the vibration unit 451 in the sixth embodiment, may operate every time the extraction hook 30 extracts the hair material 100a, or may operate each time the hair material 100a is extracted multiple times. Furthermore, these components may stop operating while the extraction hook 30 is inserted into the stocker 40 through the extraction port 42 in order to prevent impediment to extraction of the hair material 100a by the extraction hook 30 and peeling.

[0118] Furthermore, in addition to the bottom 41 and side plate 43 of the stocker 40, parts that come into contact with the hair material 100a, such as the protrusion 401, roller 402, and stopper 403 of the first embodiment, the pressing part 413 of the second embodiment, and the hair material driving part (roller) 432 of the fourth embodiment, may be grounded and made of a conductor. In this case, by removing static electricity from the hair material 100a, it is possible to prevent surrounding hair materials 100a from moving when one hair material 100a is taken out, thereby reducing bending and slackness of the hair material 100a.

[0119] 22 to 31 and 40 to 49 showing the first and third to sixth embodiments illustrate the case where the outlet 42 is formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43, but the outlet 42 may be formed only in a portion of the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (for example, the position where the withdrawal hook 30 is inserted and its surrounding area, as in FIGS. 32 to 38 showing the second embodiment).

[0120] The above-mentioned automatic hair transplantation device can be explained as follows.

[0121] The automatic hair implantation device includes a stocker having an outlet at its bottom, on which hair materials are placed across the outlet. The top surface of the bottom, on which the hair materials are placed, has a recessed portion that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the hair materials cross the outlet, and the outlet is formed at the bottom, or lower end, of the recessed portion (first configuration). With this configuration, the recessed portion restricts the movement range of the hair materials to the vicinity of the outlet, thereby improving the low density of hair materials near the outlet in the stocker. This allows the extraction hook to stably capture the hair materials at the outlet, enabling stable hair implantation.

[0122] In the first configuration, the depression may have a portion in which the horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction gradually narrows toward the bottom end (second configuration). With this configuration, the hair material on the depression can be subjected to a force along the slope of the depression due to the weight of the hair material, i.e., a force in the direction toward the outlet. This can improve the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker.

[0123] In the second configuration, the portion of the depression where the horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction gradually narrows toward the lower end may be a linear slope (third configuration). With this configuration, a force toward the outlet can be uniformly applied to the hair material on the depression. Therefore, the entire hair material on the depression can be directed toward the outlet, effectively improving the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the storage container.

[0124] In any one of the first to third configurations, the depression may have a portion with a uniform horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (fourth configuration). With this configuration, the depression has wall surfaces parallel to the vertical direction, so that the hair material on the depression can be strongly prevented from moving out of the depression. Therefore, the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker can be effectively improved.

[0125] In any one of the first to fourth configurations, the stocker may have a plurality of the recesses (fifth configuration). With this configuration, even when a plurality of hair materials are taken out at the same time, it is possible to improve the low density of the hair materials near the outlet of each recess.

[0126] In any one of the first to fifth configurations, the recessed portion may be formed from one end to the other end of the bottom in the longitudinal direction (sixth configuration). With this configuration, the movement range of the hair material can be restricted to the vicinity of the outlet throughout its entire longitudinal direction, thereby effectively improving the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker.

[0127] Any one of the first to sixth configurations may further comprise a pressing section that presses the hair material placed on the depression downward (seventh configuration). With this configuration, the pressing section can apply a force to the hair material on the depression in a direction toward the outlet. This can improve the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 120...automatic hair implantation device, 40...stocker, 41...bottom, 42...outlet, 43...side plate, 100a...hair material, 100b...hair material bundle, 401...projection, 402...roller, 403...restraint part, 411, 412...depression part, 413...pressure part, 421-423, 425...raised part, 424...inclined part, 431...stocker driving part, 432...hair material driving part (roller), 441...adhesive material, 442a...exhaust hole, 442b...exhaust part, 451...vibration part

Claims

1. A stocker comprising a pair of opposing side plates and a bottom portion provided between the side plates and connected to the side plates, the bottom portion having an outlet, and a hair material disposed on the bottom portion across the outlet, An automatic hair implantation device in which the upper surface of the bottom on which the hair material is placed has a recessed portion that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the hair material straddles the outlet, and the outlet is formed at the bottom, or lower end, of the recessed portion.

2. The automatic hair implantation device according to claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion has a portion in which the horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction gradually narrows toward the lower end.

3. 3. The automatic hair implantation device according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the depression in which the horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction gradually narrows toward the lower end is a linear slope.

4. The automatic hair implantation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recessed portion has a portion having a uniform horizontal width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

5. 5. The automatic hair implantation device according to claim 1, wherein the stocker has a plurality of the recesses.

6. The automatic hair implantation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recessed portion is formed from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion.

7. The automatic hair implantation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a pressing unit that presses downward the hair material placed on the depression.

Images