Automatic multichannel hair transplanter having detachable motorized module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multichannel hair transplanter having a plurality of needle channels. Disclosed in an embodiment is a multichannel hair transplanter comprising: a needle channel bundle (B) which includes a bundle center member and a plurality of needle channels coupled to the bundle center member to be slidable radially outward of the bundle center member; a hair transplanter body part (A) in which the needle channel bundle (B) is accommodated; and a motorized module (C) which is detachably coupled to the hair transplanter body part (A).

Description

Automatic multi-channel planter with detachable motorized module

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair transplant machine, and more specifically, to a multi-channel hair transplant machine equipped with a plurality of hair transplant needles (transplant needles) in a bundle shape.

[0002] A hair transplant device is a medical device used in a hair transplant procedure that extracts hair from the hair-growing area of ​​the scalp and transplants it into another hair-loss area of ​​the scalp.

[0003] As a conventional hair transplanter, for example, Korean Patent No. 10-2048492 (Title of the invention: Hair transplanter comprising a plurality of needle channels arranged radially) discloses a multi-channel hair transplanter equipped with a plurality of needle channels composed of a needle (transplant needle) and a shaft slidably inserted into the interior of the needle.

[0004] However, since these conventional multi-channel hair transplant machines are manual hair transplant machines, the user (the operator, such as a doctor) must hold the handle of the hair transplant machine and push the main body of the hair transplant machine downward each time he or she transplants hair follicles onto the scalp. This places a great physical burden on the user and causes a decrease in concentration during a typical hair transplant surgery that requires transplanting thousands of hair follicles over several hours, which can have a significant impact on the success or failure of the surgery.

[0005] In addition, in order to replace or clean internal consumables, the upper cap of the conventional hair planter had to be separated from the case and the internal parts had to be taken out. However, the internal structure of the multi-channel hair planter was complex, so there was the inconvenience of not being able to easily disassemble and reassemble the hair planter.

[0006] The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and aims to provide an automatic planter capable of automatically performing the raising and lowering operation of a needle channel in a multi-channel planter.

[0007] In addition, the present invention aims to provide a planter having a structure in which an electric module that enables automatic lifting and lowering of a needle channel can be easily detached from the planter body.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a multi-channel planter having a plurality of needle channels is disclosed, comprising: a needle channel bundle (B) having a bundle center member and a plurality of needle channels slidably coupled radially outwardly of the bundle center member; a planter main body (A) accommodating the needle channel bundle (B); and an electric module (C) detachably coupled to the planter main body (A).

[0009] In one embodiment, the main body (A) of the planter may include a cylindrical case (10) that accommodates the needle channel bundle (B); and an elevating gear holder that is interposed between the needle channel bundle (B) and the case and can be raised and lowered relative to the case.

[0010] In one embodiment, the electric power module (C) may include: a driving unit; a first rotating member connected to a rotational axis of the driving unit; a second rotating member installed spaced below the first rotating member; a power transmission member wound around the first and second rotating members to form a closed loop and transmit the rotational power of the first rotating member to the second rotating member; and a sliding member coupled to the power transmission member and capable of moving in an up-and-down direction by driving the driving unit.

[0011] In one embodiment, each of the first and second rotating members may be a pulley and the power transmission member may be implemented as a wire, and in an alternative embodiment, each of the first and second rotating members may be a sprocket and the power transmission member may be implemented as a chain.

[0012] In addition, in one embodiment, the electric power module (C) may include a driving unit; a screw shaft arranged in a vertical direction and rotated by driving of the driving unit; and a sliding member slidably coupled to the screw shaft and capable of moving in a vertical direction by driving of the driving unit.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an automatic multi-channel planter capable of automatically performing a lifting and lowering operation of a needle channel can be provided.

[0014] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric module can be easily detached from the main body of the planter, thereby improving the ease of assembly of the planter.

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multi-channel planter according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-channel planter according to one embodiment;

[0017] Figure 3 is a drawing for explaining a needle channel bundle (B) according to one embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a needle channel according to one embodiment;

[0019] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the main body (A) of the planter according to one embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 is a drawing explaining the case of the main body (A) of the planter according to one embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the coupling relationship between a case and an elevator gear holder according to one embodiment;

[0022] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of an electric power module (C) according to one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating the internal structure of an internal housing according to one embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating the external structure of an inner housing according to one embodiment;

[0025] Fig. 11 is a drawing explaining the operation of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0026] Fig. 12 is a drawing illustrating the configuration of a sliding member according to one embodiment;

[0027] Figure 13 is a drawing illustrating a drive button according to one embodiment;

[0028] Figure 14 is a drawing illustrating a housing detachment configuration according to one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 15 is a drawing illustrating the operation of a sliding member according to an alternative embodiment.

[0030] The above-described purposes, other purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood through the following preferred embodiments, illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. The embodiments described below are exemplary embodiments provided to sufficiently convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0031] In this specification, when a component is referred to as being "above" (or "below," "to the right," or "to the left") of another component, it means that it can be positioned directly above (or below, to the right, or to the left) of the other component, or a third component may be interposed between them. Also, the lengths and thicknesses of the components in the drawings are exaggerated for the purpose of effectively explaining the technical contents.

[0032] In addition, expressions such as 'upper', 'lower', 'left', 'right', 'front', and 'rear' used to describe the positional relationship between components in this specification do not mean a direction or position as an absolute reference, and may be relative expressions used for convenience of explanation based on the corresponding drawing when describing the present invention with reference to each drawing.

[0033] When terms such as first, second, etc. are used in this specification to describe components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0034] In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. The expressions "comprises," "consists of," and "consist of" used in this specification do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the components mentioned in the expression.

[0035] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing specific embodiments below, various specific details have been included to further explain the invention and facilitate understanding. However, readers with sufficient knowledge of the field to understand the present invention will recognize that the present invention can be used without these specific details. In some cases, it is noted in advance that commonly known but largely unrelated aspects of the invention have been omitted to avoid confusion in describing the present invention.

[0036] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multi-channel planter according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-channel planter.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multi-channel planter (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “planter”) according to one embodiment includes a planter body (A), a needle channel bundle (B), and an electric module (C). In one embodiment, the planter can be assembled by detachably connecting the planter body (A), the needle channel bundle (B), and the electric module (C).

[0038] The main body (A) of the planter is a module that accommodates a needle channel bundle (B), and includes a case (10), a nozzle part (20) attached to the tip of the case (10), and an elevation gear holder (1400 of FIG. 5) that is movably arranged inside the case (10).

[0039] The case (10) is a cylindrical member capable of accommodating a stylus channel bundle (B). The lifting gear holder (1400) disposed inside the case (10) is a cylindrical member and can be interposed and disposed between the case (10) and the stylus channel bundle (B) accommodated therein, and can be raised and lowered relative to the case (10).

[0040] A connecting member (1450) may be attached to at least one side of the lifting gear holder (1400). The connecting member (1450) is configured to protrude outside the case (10) and is detachably connected to the sliding member (530 of FIG. 8) of the electric power module (C). Therefore, as will be described below, as the sliding member (530) moves up and down by the driving unit (510 of FIG. 8), the lifting gear holder (1400) coupled to the sliding member (530) can also move up and down. The specific configuration of the main body (A) of the planter will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0041] Meanwhile, in this specification, each component such as the lifting gear holder (1400), sliding member (530), stylus channel (1200), needle (1220), and axle (1230) 'rising', 'retreating', or 'moving backward' means that the component moves away from the scalp, and each component 'descending' or 'moving forward' means that the component moves toward the scalp.

[0042] The needle channel bundle (B) includes a bundle core member (1100) and a plurality of needle channels (1200) that are slidably coupled to the outer surface of the bundle core member (1100) in the up-and-down direction. Each needle channel (1200) can be slidably coupled radially outwardly of the bundle core member (1100). Each needle channel (1200) has a needle (1220) protruding from its tip end. A shaft (1230 in FIG. 4) is slidably implanted inside the needle (1220) in the up-and-down direction, and a hair follicle can be fitted into the tip end of the shaft (1230), that is, the lower end of the shaft (1230) in the inner space of the needle (1220), and when the needle (1220) is inserted into the scalp of a patient, the shaft (1230) is relatively lowered to push the hair follicle into the scalp, thereby performing a hair transplantation operation. The specific configuration of the needle channel bundle (B) will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0043] The electric power module (C) is a member that descends from the upper part of the planter body (A) and is detachably connected to the planter body (A), and has a driving unit that automatically raises and lowers the lifting gear holder (1400). The electric power module (C) includes a cylindrical housing (30) and an upper cap (34) attached to the upper part of the housing. The upper cap (344) may be provided with a terminal (341) (e.g., a USB terminal) for communicating with the outside or receiving power from the outside, and a button (342) for turning the power of the electric power module (C) on / off.

[0044] In one embodiment, the motorization module (C) may include a drive button (525) that initiates the lifting operation of the lifting gear holder (1400). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the drive button (525) may be positioned at a location where a user (e.g., a doctor) can conveniently operate the hair transplant device while holding the device and performing a hair transplant procedure.

[0045] The drive button (525) can communicate with the control unit (310 in FIG. 8) inside the electric module (C) by wire or wirelessly, and when the user presses the drive button (525), the sliding member (530) and the lifting gear holder (1400) coupled thereto perform an upward and downward movement under the control of the control unit (310).

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, a motion sensor or a touch sensor may be installed instead of the drive button (525). When a user touches the motion sensor or the touch sensor with a finger, the sensor detects the finger and the control unit (310) can perform an upward and downward movement of the lifting gear holder (1400). In another alternative embodiment, the planter may include a gyro sensor instead of the drive button (525). The gyro sensor can detect the movement or state of the planter in real time (e.g., at what angle the planter is standing or lying down), and the control unit (310) can perform an upward and downward movement of the lifting gear holder (1400) based on a real-time detection signal of the gyro sensor.

[0047] In one embodiment, the motorized module (C) may further include a separation button (550 of FIG. 10), and the user may press the separation button (550) to disassemble the planter as shown in FIG. 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the motorized module (C) is separated from the main body (A) of the planter, and the bundle center member (1100) exposed on the upper part of the planter main body (A) is pulled upward to separate the needle channel bundle (B) from the planter main body (A), and thus the user can easily and quickly perform the replacement of the needle channel bundle (B).

[0048] Now, the needle channel bundle (B) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the needle channel bundle (B) according to one embodiment, and FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the needle channel (1200).

[0049] Referring to FIG. 3, the needle channel bundle (B) is composed of a bundle center member (1100) and a plurality of needle channels (1200) each slidably connected to the bundle center member (1100) in a vertical direction.

[0050] In one embodiment, the bundle core material (1100) may be composed of a cylindrical channel coupling portion (1110) and a head portion (1120) formed on top of the channel coupling portion (1110). The channel coupling portion (1110) and the head portion (1120) may be formed integrally or may be manufactured separately and then coupled. The channel coupling portion (1110) and the head portion (1120) may have vertical through holes formed therein.

[0051] On the outer surface of the channel joint (1110), a plurality of slide rails (1115) are formed at radial equal intervals based on the central axis of the channel joint (1110). In one embodiment, the slide rails (1115) are engraved in the vertical longitudinal direction, and each hour hand channel (1200) is fitted and connected to each slide rail (1115) so as to be able to slide vertically.

[0052] The head part (1120) acts as a stopper to prevent the needle channels (1200) fitted into the channel coupling part (1110) from rising any further. The upper diameter of the head part (1120) is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the central through-hole (71) of the spring cover (70 in FIG. 9) of the electric power module (C), and accordingly, when the electric power module (C) is coupled to the main body (A) of the planter, the head part (1120) is fitted into the through-hole (71) of the spring cover (70), and the spring cover (70) can elastically press and support the bundle central member (1100) downward.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the needle channel (1200) includes a body part (1210) having an internal space in the shape of a tube in the vertical direction, a hair root transplant needle (1220) coupled to the lower portion of the body part (1210), and a shaft (1230) slidably arranged in the internal space of the body part (1210) and the needle (1220).

[0054] The tubular internal space of the body portion (1210) may be formed by a first diameter portion (1210a) at the upper portion having a relatively large diameter and a second diameter portion (1210b) at the lower portion having a relatively small diameter. The second diameter portion (1210b) at the lower portion has a diameter sufficient to allow the mandrel (1230) to pass through, and the first diameter portion (1210a) at the upper portion has a diameter sufficient to accommodate a spring (1241) fitted around the mandrel (1230). The needle (1220) is inserted and coupled to the body portion (1210) through the open lower end of the second diameter portion (1210b) of the body portion (1210). The needle (1220) has a tubular shape with a hollow center, i.e., a through-hole formed along the longitudinal direction, and the through-hole of the needle (1220) is in communication with the internal space of the body portion (1210).

[0055] The body part (1210) includes a side protrusion (1213) formed in the vertical longitudinal direction along one side. The side protrusion (1213) protrudes in a direction toward the channel coupling part (1110), i.e., in a radially inward direction, and the shape of the protrusion of the side protrusion (1213) is configured to engage with the groove shape of the slide rail (1115) of the channel coupling part (1110). Therefore, the side protrusion (1213) of the body part (1210) is fitted into and engaged with the slide rail (1115) of the channel coupling part (1110), thereby allowing the hour hand channel (1200) to slide vertically along the slide rail (1115).

[0056] The stylus channel (1200) includes a catch projection (1211) formed to extend from the body (1210) in the opposite direction of the side projection (1213) of the body (1210), i.e., in the radially outward direction of the stylus channel bundle (B). The catch projection (1211) includes a slot (1215) formed in the vertical direction, a projection (1217) formed to extend further to protrude radially outward from the surface of the catch projection (1211), and a ratchet gear (1212) formed on the lower surface of the catch projection (1211) and having a serrated angle in one direction.

[0057] The slot (1215) is formed in the longitudinal direction (up-down direction) of the body portion (1210) and has a shape that is open toward one side of the body portion (1210). The slot (1215) is formed in the up-down direction on the radially outer surface of the catch projection (1211) and communicates with the tubular internal space of the body portion (1210) (i.e., the space of the first diameter portion (1210a)).

[0058] A shaft (1230) is arranged in the internal space of the body part (1210), and a lever (1231) is coupled to the upper end of the shaft (1230). The lever (1231) is guided by a slot (1215) and can slide up and down. A spring (1241) is fitted around the circumference of the shaft (1230). The upper end of the spring (1241) is supported by the lever (1231), and the lower end of the spring (1241) is supported by a step between the first diameter part (1210a) and the second diameter part (1210b) within the body part (1210).

[0059] The upper part of the slot (1215) is open, and an upper stopper (1250) can be fitted into and coupled to the open upper part. The upper stopper (1250) acts as a stopper to prevent the lever (1231) from rising any further. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface of the upper stopper (1250) may have a surface inclined in one direction so that the stylus channel bundle (B) can rotate smoothly. That is, the surface of the upper stopper (1250) is formed as an inclined surface inclined downward in the direction of rotation of the stylus channel bundle so that the rotation of the stylus channel bundle (B) is not hindered by the push bar (1530 of FIG. 9) in contact with the upper surface of the upper stopper (1250).

[0060] The body portion (1210) of the needle channel (1200) further includes a catch groove (1219). The catch groove (1219) is formed on the lower side of the catch projection (1211) on the radially outer surface of the body portion (1210). The catch groove (1219) can partially accommodate the catch (1910 of FIG. 7) of the needle channel catch portion (1900).

[0061] In one embodiment, the body portion (1210) may further include a rotor guide (1270) extending downwardly. The rotor guide (1270) is configured to extend downwardly from the lower end of the body portion (1210) and partially surround the perimeter of the outer surface of the needle (1220). For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the rotor guide (1270) may be configured to surround approximately half (e.g., 180 degrees) of the perimeter of the outer surface of the needle (1220) (i.e., 360 degrees). However, this is exemplary, and in alternative embodiments, for example, the rotor guide (1270) may be configured to surround the needle (1220) between 90 degrees and 270 degrees of the entire perimeter (360 degrees) of the needle (1220).

[0062] Now, an exemplary configuration of the planter main body (A) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the planter main body (A) according to one embodiment, FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a case of the planter main body (A), and FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a coupling relationship between the case and the lifting gear holder according to one embodiment.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 5, the main body (A) of the planter according to one embodiment may include a cylindrical case (10), a nozzle portion (20), a fastening ring (40), and an elevation gear holder (1400).

[0064] The case (10) is a cylindrical member that is open at the top and bottom and hollow inside so as to accommodate a needle channel bundle (B) and an elevation gear holder (1400). A shaft catch (1700) is attached to one side of the case (10). The shaft catch (1700) catches a needle (1230) that is slidably arranged inside a needle channel (1200) to temporarily prevent the needle from moving.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a pivot catch (1700) can be attached to approximately the middle height of the case (10), and a first slot (11) and a second slot (12) are formed longitudinally on the side of the case (10) below and above the position where the pivot catch (1700) is installed, respectively. The first slot (11) is formed so that the first connecting protrusion (1420) protruding radially outwardly of the lifting gear holder (1400) does not interfere with the case (10) when moving up and down, and the second slot (12) is formed so that the push bar (1530 of FIG. 9) is inserted therein and guides the push bar (1530) to move up and down, while at the same time preventing the push bar (1530) from interfering with the case (10).

[0066] A nozzle part (20) is fastened to the lower end of the case (10). For example, the nozzle part (20) can be attached to the case (10) by a fastening ring (40). In the illustrated embodiment, the inner screw thread of the fastening ring (40) and the outer screw thread (15) of the lower end of the case (10) are configured to interlock with each other, and the nozzle part (20) can be fastened to the case (10) by fastening the fastening ring (40) to the lower end of the case (10) while the annular frame of the nozzle part (20) is fitted to the inner side of the lower end of the case (10) to pressurize the nozzle part (20).

[0067] The nozzle hole of the nozzle part (20) is a through hole through which a needle (1220) of one needle channel (1200) can pass, and specifically, the nozzle hole can be formed so that the needle (1220) of the needle channel and the nozzle guide (1270) around the needle can pass through.

[0068] The nozzle hole of the nozzle part (20) is aligned in a straight line with the push bar (1530). Therefore, when the push bar (1530) pushes one needle channel (1200) downward, the needle (1220) of the pushed needle channel (1200) protrudes downward through the nozzle hole by a predetermined length.

[0069] The lifting gear holder (1400) is a member interposed between the tacking channel bundle (B) and the inner surface of the case (10) and configured to be raised and lowered relative to the case (10). The lifting gear holder (1400) has a cylindrical shape so as to surround the perimeter of the tacking channel bundle (B), and a wedge-shaped protrusion (1410) is formed on the upper edge.

[0070] The lifting gear holder (1400) has a first connecting projection (1420) and a second connecting projection (1430) that protrude radially from the outer lateral surface. The first connecting projection (1420) is formed to protrude for attaching the stylus channel engaging portion (1900), and the second connecting projection (1430) is formed for attaching the connecting member (1450). Through the connecting member (1450), the lifting gear holder (1400) is integrally connected to the sliding member (530 in FIG. 8) of the electric module (C). In addition, at this time, a first slot (11) and a third slot (14) are formed on the side of the case (10) so that the case (10) does not interfere with the up-and-down movements of the first connecting projection (1420) and the second connecting projection (1430).

[0071] The lifting gear holder (1400) is a member having a substantially cylindrical shape and is arranged to surround the outer circumference of the tacking channel bundle (B). The upper surface of the cylindrical lifting gear holder (1400) is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the engaging protrusion (1211) of the tacking channel (1200), i.e., the lower surface of the ratchet gear teeth (1212). That is, sharp wedge-shaped protrusions (1410) are continuously formed on the upper surface of the lifting gear holder (1400), and the wedge-shaped protrusions (1410) are formed in the same number as the number of ratchet gear teeth (1212) of the tacking channel bundle (B) so as to be able to mesh with a plurality of ratchet gear teeth (1212) of the tacking channel bundle (B).

[0072] Referring to FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 7, the case (10) may be provided with a ratchet support portion (1300) formed in relief on the inner surface. The ratchet support portion (1300) is formed to protrude inwardly on the inner surface of the case (10).

[0073] The ratchet support member (1300) is formed to protrude in a convex manner from the inner surface of the case (10) so as to wrap around the inner surface once. In order to prevent interference with the first and second connecting protrusions (1420, 1430) of the lifting gear holder (1400), the ratchet support member (1300) may not be formed at least partially at the positions of the first slot (11) and the third slot (14) formed in a predetermined side area of ​​the case (10).

[0074] The ratchet support member (1300) may be configured with a wedge-shaped, raised upper surface (1310) and a vertically raised, raised elevation guide (1350). The wedge-shaped upper surface (1310) is configured to be in contact with the lower surface of the ratchet gear teeth (1212) of the hour channel (1200). That is, the upper surface (1310) of the ratchet support member (1300) is formed in a sawtooth shape having a one-way inclination angle so as to engage with the ratchet gear teeth (1212). The elevation guide (1350) may guide the elevation gear holder (1400) to perform an elevation operation without shaking in the clearance space inside the case (10) during the elevation operation.

[0075] In one embodiment, a pivot catch (1700) is attached to one side of the case (10). The pivot catch (1700) is positioned on the radially outer side of the stylus channel (1200) that is pushed downward by the push bar (1530). The pivot catch (1700) serves to temporarily stop the stylus (1230) within the stylus channel (1200) from rising while the stylus channel (1200) is raised after being pushed downward by the push bar (1530).

[0076] Referring to FIG. 7, the pivot engaging portion (1700) may be composed of a latch (1710), a latch receiving portion (1720) for receiving the latch (1710), and an elastic member (1730) interposed between the latch (1710) and the latch receiving portion (1720). The latch receiving portion (1720) may be fixed by being bolted to the side of the case (10) through, for example, bolt grooves in the extended areas on both left and right sides. The latch receiving portion (1720) has a space in which the latch (1710) can be inserted, and an elastic member (1730), such as a spring, is interposed in this space. The latch (1710) may pass through the through hole (13) of the case (10) and engage the lever (1231) of the stylus channel (1200) within the case (10).

[0077] When no force is applied to the latch (1710), the latch (1710) protrudes from the latch receiving portion (1720) (in the radially inward direction of the stylus channel bundle (B)) so that it comes into contact with the lever (1231) when the lever (1231) slides up and down. When the lever (1231) descends downward from the top of the latch (1710), the lever (1231) can descend while pushing the latch (1710) toward the latch receiving portion (1720), but when the lever (1231) rises upward from the bottom of the latch (1710), the upper surface of the lever (1231) is caught by the latch (1710) so that the lever (1231) does not rise.

[0078] On the side of the slot (1215) of the stylus channel (1200), a protrusion (1217) is formed that protrudes radially outward from the stylus channel bundle (B). This protrusion (1217) protrudes radially outward in the same direction as the lever (1231) or slightly further outward than the lever (1231). In addition, the left-right width of the shackle (1710) is set so that it interferes with the up-and-down movement of not only the lever (1231) but also the protrusion (1217).

[0079] Accordingly, in either case where the hour hand channel (1200) rises upward from below the latch (1710) or descends downward from above, the hour hand channel (1200) can be raised and lowered by the protrusion (1217) pushing the latch (1710) toward the latch receiving portion (1720). Accordingly, when the upper surface of the lever (1231) is caught by the latch (1710) and the lever (1231) cannot be raised, and the body portion (1210) of the hour hand channel (1200) is raised, the protrusion (1217) pushes the latch (1710) toward the latch receiving portion (1720) and the latch rises, and at this time, the latch of the lever (1231) is released, so that the shaft (1230) can also be raised together with the body portion (1210).

[0080] The hour hand channel catch (1900) is a device that catches one hour hand channel (1200) that has been pushed down by a push bar (1530) and moves together with the upward and downward movement of the lifting gear holder (1400).

[0081] In one embodiment, the latching channel catch (1900) may be composed of a catch (1910), a catch receiving portion (1920) for receiving the catch (1910), and an elastic member (1930) interposed between the catch (1910) and the catch receiving portion (1920). The catch receiving portion (1920) is coupled to the first connecting protrusion (1420) of the lifting gear holder (1400) by a coupling method such as a fitting method or a bolt fastening method. The catch receiving portion (1920) has a space in which the catch (1910) can be inserted, and an elastic member (1930), such as a spring, is interposed in this space. The latch (1910) can be elastically moved in a radially inward direction and can temporarily restrict the rising of the stylus channel (1200) by engaging the stylus groove (1219) of the stylus channel (1200).

[0082] By this configuration, in the engaged state where the latch (1910) is inserted into the engaging groove (1219), the hour channel (1200) moves together with the up-and-down movement of the lifting gear holder (1400). However, in this engaged state, when the hour channel bundle (B) rotates counterclockwise, the latch (1910) retreats toward the latch receiving portion (1920) and the engagement is released, and when the hour channel bundle (B) rotates by one channel, the latch (1910) engages the engaging groove (1219) of another hour channel (1200).

[0083] In addition, by the above-described configuration, the lifting gear holder (1400) can rotate the needle channel bundle (B) by a predetermined angle by one channel each time it performs the rising and falling motions. The rotation of the needle channel bundle (B) and the raising and lowering of the needle channel (1200), and the raising and lowering of the needle shaft (1230) by the ratchet support (1300), the lifting gear holder (1400), the axle engaging portion (1700), and the axle channel engaging portion (1900) are known, for example, in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2048492 (Hair transplanter comprising a plurality of needle channels arranged radially), and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein.

[0084] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of an electric power module (C) according to one embodiment. Referring to Figure 8, the electric power module (C) is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the planter body (A) and has a driving unit for elevating and lowering the lifting gear holder (1400) of the planter body (A). In one embodiment, the electric power module (C) includes an outer housing (30), an inner housing (50), and an upper cap (34).

[0085] The outer housing (30) is a cylindrical member that surrounds the inner housing (50) and has an upper cap (34) attached to the upper end. The inner housing (50) is a cylindrical member with a closed upper end and has an internal space that can accommodate the main body (C) of the planter. A driving unit (510), a control unit (310), and a battery (311) can be arranged above the closed upper end of the inner housing (50).

[0086] The control unit (310) controls the operation of the driving unit (510) and may be implemented, for example, by a PCB board and a microprocessor mounted thereon. The battery (311) may be, for example, a coin cell type battery and supplies power to the control unit (310) and the driving unit (510). In an alternative embodiment, the battery (311) may be omitted and power may be supplied from an external source.

[0087] Between the inner housing (50) and the outer housing (30), there is a space in which some components of the power module (C) can be placed. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, components such as a sliding member (530) and a power transmission member for elevating the sliding member (530) are placed in this space. These components may be attached to the outer surface of the inner housing (50) or the inner surface of the outer housing (30).

[0088] In one embodiment, the driving unit (510) may be an electric motor, but is not limited thereto, and may be implemented with any other electrically driven driving source. In the illustrated embodiment, a first rotating member is installed directly or indirectly (via a gearbox, etc.) on the rotational axis of the driving unit (510), and a second rotating member is installed spaced below the first rotating member.

[0089] In order to transmit the rotational power of the first rotating member to the second rotating member, a power transmission member is further installed between the first and second rotating members. The power transmission member is wound around the first and second rotating members to form a closed loop, thereby transmitting the rotational power of the first rotating member to the second rotating member. In addition, a sliding member (530) is coupled to the power transmission member and can move up and down by the driving of the driving unit (510).

[0090] In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the first rotating member may be a first pulley (521), the second rotating member may be a second pulley (522), and the power transmission member may be implemented as a wire (523), respectively. However, the first and second rotating members and the power transmission member are not limited to the above components, and for example, in another alternative embodiment, the first rotating member and the second rotating member may each be a sprocket and the power transmission member may be a chain.

[0091] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the inner housing (50). Referring to the drawing, the inner housing (50) is a member in the shape of a cylinder with an open bottom and may be provided with a spring (1520), a spring cover (70), and a push bar (1530) on the inner upper part.

[0092] The push bar (1530) is guided by a guide portion (52) formed longitudinally on the inner surface of the inner housing (50) and can move up and down. The push bar (1530) serves to push one needle channel (1200) of the needle channel bundle (B) downward when the electric module (C) is coupled to the main body (A) of the planter.

[0093] The push bar (1530) has a spring fitting portion (1531) formed to extend upward, into which a spring (1540) can be fitted. A spring receiving portion (51), which is an internal space formed to extend upward further on the upper portion of the push bar (1530), can at least partially accommodate the spring (1540) and the spring fitting portion (1531) fitted thereto. That is, when the push bar (1530) is raised to the maximum, the spring fitting portion (1531) of the push bar (1530) can rise to the inside of the receiving portion (51) (i.e., the state shown in FIG. 9), and when the push bar (1530) is lowered by the elasticity of the spring (1540), it can be lowered to the catch projection (52a) at the bottom of the guide portion (52). The catch (52a) is a protrusion protruding toward the inside of the inner housing (50) and serves as a stopper for the downward movement of the push bar (1530) and also prevents the push bar (1530) from coming off the guide portion (52).

[0094] A spring (1520) is arranged at the center of the inner upper portion of the inner housing (50). A spring cover (70) is elastically attached to the inner housing (50) while covering the lower portion of the spring (1520). A through hole (71) may be formed at the center of the spring cover (70), and the through hole (71) has a diameter into which a bundle center member (1100) of a needle channel bundle (B) may be inserted. Accordingly, the spring cover (70) is in a state where the upper end of the bundle center material (1100) of the needle channel bundle (B) is fitted into the through hole (71) of the spring cover (70) while the electric module (C) is coupled to the main body (A) of the planter, and in this state, the spring cover (70) elastically presses the needle channel bundle (B) downward by the spring (1520), thereby allowing the needle channel bundle (B) to be firmly positioned without shaking inside the main body (A) of the planter.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, when replacing or sterilizing the needle channel bundle (B), the electric module (C) can be removed from the main body (A) of the planter, thereby separating the planter module by module, as illustrated in FIG. 2. That is, when the separation button (550 in FIG. 10) installed at the lower end of the electric module (C) is pressed by hand, the connection between the electric module (C) and the main body (A) of the planter is released, so that the electric module (C) can be separated from the main body (A) of the planter, and then the needle channel bundle (B) accommodated in the main body (A) of the planter can be taken out.

[0096] At this time, the push bar (1530) is fitted to the guide part (52) without falling down due to the catch (52a) of the guide part (32), and the spring cover (70) is also elastically attached to the inner housing (50), so that when the electric module (C) is separated from the planter body (A) as shown in Fig. 2, parts of the electric module (C), such as the push bar (1530) or the spring (1520), do not fall out of the electric module (C) and can be separated from the planter body (A).

[0097] Now, referring to FIGS. 10 to 14, the installation and operation structure of the sliding member (530) and the configuration for detaching the electric module (C) from the main body (A) of the planter will be described. The following examples assume that each of the first and second rotating members is a pulley (521, 522) and the power transmission member is a wire (523).

[0098] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates the appearance of the electric power module (C) with the external housing (30) removed according to one embodiment, i.e., the external configuration of the internal housing (50) of the electric power module (C). For convenience of explanation, components such as the control unit (310) and the battery (311) are omitted from the illustration. Fig. 11 schematically illustrates only the components necessary for driving the sliding member (530), and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the sliding member (530).

[0099] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a driving unit (510) is disposed on the upper portion of the inner housing (50), and a first pulley (521) is directly or indirectly connected to a driving shaft of the driving unit. A second pulley (522) is disposed on the lower portion of the inner housing (50), and a wire (523) is wound between the first and second pulleys (521, 522) as a power transmission member. A sliding member (530) is connected to one end of the wire (523), and accordingly, as the wire (523) moves by the driving unit (510), the sliding member (530) moves up and down.

[0100] Referring to Fig. 12, the sliding member (530) includes a main body (5310), a catch plate (5320), and a spring (5330) interposed therebetween. The main body (5310) has a wire fixing portion (5311) coupled to a wire (523), and for example, the main body (5310) can be fixed to the wire (523) by wrapping the wire (523) around the wire fixing portion (5311) one or more times.

[0101] A catch plate mounting portion (5313) is formed on the front surface of the main body (5311) on which a catch plate (5320) can be placed. The catch plate (5320) is a plate-shaped member having a through hole (5321) formed in the center, and can be joined to the main body (5310) in a state in which it can slide left and right by being inserted between the catch plate mounting portion (5313) and a guide piece (5316). The catch plate mounting portion (5313) has a spring support portion (5315) protruding from the surface toward the through hole (5321) of the catch plate (5320), and one end of the spring (5330) is supported by the spring support portion (5315) when the spring is inserted into the through hole (5321). At this time, the other end of the spring (5330) is fitted into the spring fitting (5322) protruding toward the inside of the through hole (5321) of the retaining plate (5320), thereby preventing the spring (5330) from coming off.

[0102] A catch groove (5321) is formed on one side of the catch plate (5320). As illustrated in Fig. 10, a catch projection (1451) of a connecting member (1450) coupled to an elevator gear holder (1400) can be fitted into the catch groove (5321). Accordingly, when the slide member (530) moves up and down while the catch projection (1451) is caught in the catch groove (5321), the elevator gear holder (1400) also moves up and down.

[0103] Fig. 13 schematically illustrates a driving button (525) and a stopper member (540) installed on the outside of the inner housing (50). Referring to Figs. 10 and 13, the inner housing (50) includes a stopper member (540) positioned adjacent to a vertical movement path of the sliding member (530) and a driving button (525) positioned near the lower end of the stopper member (540). In one embodiment, the stopper member (540) may have a long rod shape. The upper end (5401) of the stopper member (540) is coupled to the inner housing (50). A protrusion (5402) facing the sliding member (530) is formed at the lower end of the stopper member (540). Accordingly, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the protrusion (5402) is positioned to interfere with the upward path of the sliding member (530) when the sliding member (530) is lowered to the lowest position. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the protrusion (5402) is positioned above the catch plate (5320) of the sliding member (530) to prevent the sliding member (530) from rising.

[0104] As illustrated in Fig. 13, an inclined surface (5403) is formed at the lowest end of the stopper member (540), and an inclined surface (5251) facing the inclined surface (5403) may also be formed on the drive button (525). Accordingly, when the user presses the drive button (525), the drive button (525) moves in a direction closer to the stopper member (540) along the Y-axis of Fig. 13, and since the rod-shaped stopper member (540) structurally has some elasticity, the protrusion (5402) of the stopper member (540) moves in a direction away from the sliding member (530) along the X-axis.

[0105] In this way, when the user presses the drive button (525), the protrusion (5402) is released from the upper portion of the sliding member (530), so that the sliding member (530) can be configured to move upward without interference from the protrusion (5402). In the illustrated embodiment, this is implemented with inclined surfaces (5403, 5251) facing each other, but this is exemplary, and it is of course possible to implement the movement of the protrusion (5402) as described above in other ways.

[0106] Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, the drive button (525) and the control unit (310) are connected by wire or wirelessly to communicate electrically, so that when the drive button (525) is pressed, an electrical signal corresponding to the press can be transmitted to the control unit (310). Accordingly, when the user presses the drive button (525), the protrusion (5402) retracts from the sliding member (530), and at the same time, the drive unit (510) is driven by the control of the control unit (310) to raise the sliding member (530) upward.

[0107] FIG. 14 is a drawing explaining a configuration for detaching a housing according to one embodiment. For convenience of explanation, only a detachment button (550), a fastening rod (560), and a sliding member (530) installed in the inner housing (50) are illustrated.

[0108] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 14, the inner housing (50) includes a fastening rod (560) positioned adjacent to a vertical movement path of the sliding member (530) and a separation button (550) positioned below the fastening rod (560). In one embodiment, the fastening rod (560) may be in the shape of an elongated rod, with an upper end (5601) coupled to the inner housing (50) and a lower end formed with an inclined surface (5603) as an open end. In addition, a fastening piece (5602) is formed adjacent to the lower end of the fastening rod (560) and protruding to a length that penetrates the through hole (53) of the inner housing (50). The through hole (53) of the inner housing (50) is formed at a position aligned with the groove (17 of Fig. 6(a)) of the case (10) of the planter body (A), and thus the fastening piece (5602) is fitted into the groove (17) of the planter body (A), so that the electric module (C) is fastened to the planter body (A).

[0109] As illustrated in Fig. 14, an inclined surface (5603) is formed at the lower end of the fastening rod (560), and an inclined surface (551) facing the inclined surface (5603) is formed at the upper end of the separation button (550). Accordingly, when the user presses upward on the separation button (550), the fastening piece (5602) of the fastening rod (560) moves away from the groove (17) of the planter body (A) along the Y-axis, thereby releasing the fastening between the electric module (C) and the planter body (A).

[0110] Meanwhile, since the engaging projection (1451) of the connecting member (1450) is fitted into the engaging groove (5321) of the engaging plate (5320) of the sliding member (530) while the electric module (C) is fastened to the main body (A) of the planter, in order to separate the electric module (C) from the main body (A) of the planter, the connection between the engaging groove (5321) of the engaging plate (5320) and the engaging projection (1451) must also be released. As one embodiment for this, as illustrated in FIG. 14, an inclined surface (552) is formed on the upper portion of the separation button (550), and an inclined portion (5323) is formed in the area of ​​the engaging plate (5320) that interferes with the inclined surface (552). Therefore, when the separation button (550) rises, the engaging plate (5320) moves away from the engaging projection (1451) along the X-axis.

[0111] Accordingly, according to the above-described configuration, when the user presses upward on the separation button (550), the fastening piece (5602) of the fastening bar (560) is removed from the groove (17) of the main body (A) of the planter, and at the same time, the catch plate (5320) also slides away from the catch (1451), and at this time, the user can lift up the electric module (C) to separate the electric module (C) from the main body (A) of the planter.

[0112] Fig. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment for driving a sliding member (530), and similarly to Fig. 11, only the components necessary for driving the sliding member (530) are schematically illustrated.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 15, in this alternative embodiment, the inner housing (50) may include a gearbox (571) connected to a drive shaft of a drive unit (510), a screw shaft (580) extending downward from the gearbox (571), a support member (572) supporting a lower end of the screw shaft (580), and a sliding member (590) that moves up and down by the screw shaft (580). That is, in this alternative embodiment, the sliding member (590) is moved using a screw shaft rather than a pulley and a wire.

[0114] The sliding member (590) may include a main body (5910), a catch plate (5920), and a spring (5930). The catch plate (5920) and the spring (5930) have the same or similar configurations as the sliding member (530) of FIGS. 10 to 14, and therefore, their descriptions are omitted. The main body (5910) may have the same configuration as the main body (5310) of FIGS. 10 to 14, except that it is configured such that the screw shaft (580) passes through it and moves up and down by the rotation of the screw shaft (580).

[0115] Accordingly, according to the above configuration, the screw shaft (580) rotates by the driving of the driving unit (510), and accordingly, the sliding member (590) moves up and down, thereby allowing the lifting gear holder (1400) to be raised and lowered.

[0116] As described above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made based on the description contained herein. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims set forth below but also by equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A multi-channel planter equipped with multiple needle channels, A needle channel bundle (B) having a bundle core material (1100) and a plurality of needle channels slidably coupled radially outwardly of the bundle core material; A main body (A) of a hair transplanter that accommodates the above-mentioned needle channel bundle (B) and A multi-channel planter, characterized by including an electric module (C) detachably coupled to the planter main body (A).

2. In the first paragraph, the main body (A) of the planter, A tubular case (10) that accommodates the above-mentioned needle channel bundle (B); and A multi-channel planter characterized by including an elevating gear holder (1400) interposed between the above-mentioned needle channel bundle (B) and the case (10) and capable of moving up and down relative to the case (10).

3. In the second paragraph, the electric power module (C) drive unit; A first rotating member connected to the rotating shaft of the above driving unit; A second rotating member installed spaced downward from the first rotating member; A power transmission member that is wound around the first and second rotating members to form a closed loop and transmits the rotational power of the first rotating member to the second rotating member; and A multi-channel planter characterized by including a sliding member coupled to the power transmission member and capable of moving up and down by the driving of the driving unit.

4. A multi-channel planter according to claim 3, wherein each of the first rotating member and the second rotating member is a pulley and the power transmission member is a wire.

5. A multi-channel planter according to claim 3, wherein each of the first rotating member and the second rotating member is a sprocket and the power transmission member is a chain.

6. In the second paragraph, the electric power module (C) drive unit; A screw shaft arranged in a vertical direction and rotating by the driving of the driving unit; and A multi-channel planter characterized by including a sliding member that is slidably coupled to the screw shaft and can move up and down by driving the driving unit.

Images