JP2005185491A - Air massage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air massage apparatus in which the effect of massage is varied and stimulation to a human body is relaxed by decelerating swelling and contraction of an air bag. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with; an air-feeding pump; at least one massaging air bag; at least one air feeding and exhausting valve connected to the inlet port of each air bag; and a control part for controlling operation of an air pump or the switching operation of each air feeding and exhausting valve so as to prolong a time for swelling or contracting each air bag. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air massage device, and more particularly, to an air massage device that slowly supplies or exhausts air to an air bag.

  In a conventional air massage device, air is supplied or exhausted at a constant speed determined by the rated specifications of the device. For this reason, the massage effect was monotonous. Also, receiving massage in the morning waking up or taking a bath sometimes burdened the heart.

  That is, in a conventional general air massage apparatus, a plurality of circuits in which an air supply / exhaust solenoid valve and an air bag are connected in series to an air pump are connected in parallel. Further, the pressing force of the air bag on the human body is adjusted by the output of the air pump, and which part of the air bag is operated is selected by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve. Moreover, opening and closing of the solenoid valve is performed by turning on and off the voltage applied to the winding of the solenoid valve coil. That is, the solenoid valve is set to the supply position by applying a voltage, and the solenoid valve is set to the exhaust position by removing the voltage.

In this case, the switching between supply and exhaust of the solenoid valve is performed by instantaneously turning on or off the voltage applied to the solenoid valve. This operation is monotonous, and a large load is applied to the heart and the like in order to give a sudden change to the human body. In addition to such problems, there are also secondary problems such as an increase in operating noise and an increase in air noise for instantaneous switching of the solenoid valve.
Further, the expansion and contraction of the air bag due to the switching of the supply / exhaust of the electromagnetic valve also expands and contracts at a stretch. In this respect, the operation is monotonous and there is a problem that the human body is greatly stimulated.
As an example of such a conventional airbag device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 can be listed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-315798 FIG.

  As described above, in the conventional airbag device, since the airbag is inflated and contracted at a speed determined by the rated specifications of the component devices, there is a problem that only a monotonous massage effect can be obtained, and there is a problem that stimulation to the human body is large. It was.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such problems in the prior art, and can reduce the massaging effect by reducing the speed of inflation or contraction of the airbag, and can also provide a human body. An object of the present invention is to provide an air massage device that reduces the irritation to the body.

  The present invention that achieves the above object includes an air supply pump, at least one massage air bag, at least one air supply / exhaust valve connected to the inlet of each air bag, and inflates or contracts each air bag. And a control unit for controlling the operation of the air pump or the switching operation of each air supply / exhaust valve so as to extend the time to be performed.

  In addition, the supply / exhaust valve is configured by a solenoid valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch the selected arbitrary solenoid valve to the supply position, and the selected arbitrary solenoid valve is configured to be the supply position. When switching to, the applied voltage to the solenoid valve is PWM controlled, and the PWM duty is controlled to gradually change to 100%, thereby extending the inflation time of any selected airbag It is good also as what is comprised so that it may make.

  The supply / exhaust valve is configured by an electromagnetic valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch the selected arbitrary solenoid valve to the supply position, and the selected arbitrary solenoid valve is set to the exhaust position. When the switching operation is performed, the applied voltage to the solenoid valve is subjected to PWM control, and the PWM duty is controlled to gradually change to 0%, thereby extending the contraction time of any selected airbag. It is good also as what is comprised in this way.

  The supply / exhaust valve is configured by an electromagnetic valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch an arbitrary selected electromagnetic valve to an air supply or exhaust position and supply the selected arbitrary electromagnetic valve. When switching to the air position, the voltage applied to the solenoid valve is PWM-controlled, and the PWM duty is controlled to gradually change to 100%, so that the inflation time of any selected airbag can be reduced. In the case where the selected solenoid valve is switched to the exhaust position, the voltage applied to the solenoid valve is PWM-controlled and the PWM duty is gradually changed to 0%. It is good also as what is comprised so that the contraction time of arbitrary selected airbags may be lengthened by controlling to.

  Further, in each of the above-described configurations, the control unit may be configured to increase the inflation time of the selected airbag by supplying air to the selected airbag in a plurality of stages. Good.

  In addition, as a specific means in this case, the selected air bag may be supplied in a plurality of stages by changing the discharge amount of the air pump in stages.

  As another specific means, the selected arbitrary air bag may be supplied in a plurality of stages by intermittently setting the selected arbitrary air supply / exhaust valve to the air supply position. .

  Further, the control unit may be configured to extend the contraction time of the selected arbitrary airbag by exhausting the selected arbitrary airbag in a plurality of stages. .

  In this case, the control unit is configured to exhaust the selected arbitrary airbag in a plurality of stages by intermittently setting the selected arbitrary supply / exhaust valve to the exhaust position. Also good.

  According to the air massage device according to the present invention, the air massage device includes a control unit that controls the operation of the air pump or the switching operation of each air supply / exhaust valve so as to extend the time of expansion or contraction of each air bag. It is possible to create a massaging effect, and to relax the human body by slowly expanding or contracting.

  In addition, when the air supply / exhaust valve at each air bag inlet is a solenoid valve, and the selected arbitrary solenoid valve is switched to the air supply position, the controller applies PWM control to the applied voltage to the solenoid valve, and PWM duty If the control is performed so that the air pressure is gradually changed to 100%, it is possible to easily increase the inflation time of any selected air bag, and further, the electromagnetic valve is set to the air supply position. It is possible to suppress operation sound and air sound when switching.

  Similarly, when switching any selected solenoid valve to the exhaust position, the controller applies PWM control to the applied voltage to the solenoid valve and controls the PWM duty to gradually change to 0%. By doing so, it is possible to easily extend the contraction time of any selected air bag, and to further suppress operation noise and air noise when switching the solenoid valve to the exhaust position. Can do.

  Moreover, if the switching method to the supply position and the exhaust position of the solenoid valve as described above is used in combination, the supply and exhaust of the solenoid valve can be extended for a long time. Both the operation sound and the air sound can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the above air massage device, if the selected airbag is inflated in multiple stages, the inflation time of the selected airbag can be further slowed down, preventing the monotonization of the massage, Can reduce irritation.

  As specific means in this case, if the discharge amount of the air pump is changed stepwise, the selected airbags can be inflated slowly and simultaneously.

  Moreover, if the selected arbitrary air supply / exhaust valve is intermittently set to the air supply position, the selected arbitrary air bag can be slowly inflated.

  In addition, regarding the contraction of the selected arbitrary airbag, the selected arbitrary airbag can be exhausted slowly as in the case of the above-mentioned expansion by exhausting the selected arbitrary airbag in a plurality of stages.

  As a specific example, if the air supply / exhaust valve is intermittently set to the exhaust position, any selected air bag can be exhausted slowly.

  Embodiments of an air massage apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the air massage apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air pipe according to this embodiment. As shown in this figure, a plurality of airbags 2 are connected in parallel to the discharge side of the air pump 1, and a two-way electromagnetic valve 3 as a supply / exhaust valve is connected to the inlet side of each airbag 2. And based on the operation command from the control part 4, the operation control of the air pump 1 and the switching control (opening / closing switching control) of the supply / exhaust of the electromagnetic valve 3 are performed.

  When supplying air to the selected arbitrary air bag 2, air is sent from the air pump 1 to the air bag 2 by setting the selected arbitrary electromagnetic valve 3 to the air supply position (open position). The bag 2 is inflated. When the selected arbitrary airbag 2 is exhausted, the air of the airbag 2 is exhausted from the solenoid valve 3 by setting the selected optional solenoid valve 3 to the exhaust position (closed position). . In this way, the air bag 2 is supplied and exhausted.

  When the solenoid valve 3 is controlled to be switched to the supply / exhaust position (when opening / closing is controlled), in the conventional general one, the voltage timing chart applied to the solenoid valve in FIG. 2 and the average application at the same voltage application in FIG. As shown in the voltage characteristic diagram, the applied voltage is simply turned on and off, whereas in this embodiment, the voltage timing chart applied to the solenoid valve 3 in FIG. 4 and the average application at the same voltage application in FIG. As shown in the voltage characteristic diagram, the applied voltage is subjected to PWM control, and the PWM duty is gradually changed. Thereby, the switching operation (opening / closing operation) of the electromagnetic valve 3 is performed slowly. That is, when the electromagnetic valve 3 is operated from the exhaust position to the supply position (from closed to open), the PWM duty is gradually changed from 0 percent to 100 percent. Further, when the electromagnetic valve 3 is operated from the supply position to the exhaust position (from open to closed), the PWM duty is gradually changed from 100 percent to 0 percent.

  Since the first embodiment is configured as described above, when the selected arbitrary airbag 2 is inflated from the contracted state, the switching operation (opening operation) of the selected arbitrary solenoid valve 3 to the air supply position is performed. ) Becomes longer than before, the inflation operation of the airbag 2 becomes slow. This can create a new sense of massage effect. Moreover, since the operation | movement at the time of the expansion | swelling start becomes slow rather than the airbag 2 inflating rapidly, the stimulus given to a human body is relieved. Further, since the opening operation of the electromagnetic valve 3 is performed slowly, the operation sound of the valve itself emitted from the electromagnetic valve 3 and the air flow sound emitted from the air circuit can be reduced.

  Further, when the selected arbitrary airbag 2 is exhausted from the inflated state, the switching operation (closing operation) of the selected arbitrary solenoid valve 3 to the exhaust position becomes longer than before, so that the air The contraction operation of the bag 2 becomes slow. This can create a new sense of massage effect. In addition, since the air bag 2 does not contract rapidly but the operation at the start of the contraction is particularly slow, the stimulation given to the human body is reduced. Further, since the closing operation of the solenoid valve 3 is performed slowly, the operation sound of the valve itself emitted from the solenoid valve 3 and the air flow sound emitted from the air circuit can be reduced.

  Further, by selecting an arbitrary electromagnetic valve 3 on the inlet side of the airbag 2, the expansion and contraction of the arbitrary airbag 2 can be slowly opened and closed as described above.

Next, Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Example 2 is an example of an air massage apparatus in which selected air bags 2 are inflated simultaneously in two stages by changing the discharge amount of the air pump 1 in stages.
This air massage device is provided, for example, in a well-known chair-type massage machine and massages the legs, and the schematic air circuit is the same as that in the case of FIG. In this embodiment, the air pump 1 can switch the discharge amount between a large output and a small output, and the solenoid valve 3 is a two-way solenoid valve as in the first embodiment.

  Moreover, the chair type massage machine provided with the air massage apparatus according to the second embodiment has an input / output configuration as shown in FIG. The main body control unit 21 includes functions as the control unit in FIG. 1 and includes various functions. That is, the main body control unit 21 includes an automatic massage operation key 22, a manual massage operation key 23, an air massage operation key 24, and the like as input devices. Further, based on the operation command from the main body control unit 21, the fir motor driving circuit 31, the tapping motor driving circuit 32, the lifting motor driving circuit 33, the acupressure motor driving circuit 34, the pump driving circuit 35, and the electromagnetic valve driving circuit 36 are controlled. It has a function. Here, the air massage operation 24 is related to a fumigation, tapping, and acupressure massage unit disposed in the backrest portion of the chair type massage machine except for the pump drive circuit 35 and the electromagnetic valve drive circuit 36, and includes an air massage device. Since this is not related to the above description, the description is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the air bag 2 is inflated by controlling the air pump 1 and the electromagnetic valve 3 as shown in the control flowchart when the air bag is inflated in FIG.

  When an operation start command is received from the operation key 24 (step S1), the selected electromagnetic valve 3 is opened, and the air pump 1 is operated with a small discharge amount output (step S2). As a result, the air pump 1 is operated at a small discharge amount output to supply air to the selected airbag 2. When the pressure received by the air bag 2 from the load and the pump pressure of the air pump 1 are balanced, the expansion of the selected air bag 2 stops. The operation of the air pump 1 is maintained in a small discharge amount output state for a predetermined time from the start of operation (step S3). Thereby, the airbag 2 is temporarily maintained in the state of an expansion stop. This expansion is of a level that gives a weak massage feeling. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the air pump 1 is operated with a large discharge amount (step S4). As a result, the selected airbag 2 starts to expand again. This operation state is performed for a predetermined time (step S5). In addition, during the predetermined time, the inflation of the airbag 2 stops when the pressure received by the airbag 2 from the load and the pump pressure of the air pump 1 are balanced. This expansion can give a strong massage feeling. Then, the air pump 1 is stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed, and the electromagnetic valve 3 is switched to the exhaust position (step S6). In this way, one cycle of expansion and contraction of the airbag 2 is completed.

  The second embodiment is configured to inflate the airbag 2 in two stages as described above, but it is needless to say that the second embodiment can be performed in more stages.

  Moreover, since Example 2 is configured as described above, the airbag 2 can be slowly inflated into a plurality of stages. In this way, a multi-stage massage feeling can be obtained, so that the conventional monotonous feeling can be eliminated. Moreover, the stimulation with respect to a human body can be relieved by expanding the selected airbag 2 slowly.

Next, Example 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Example 3 is an example of an air massage apparatus in which the inlet side solenoid valve 3 is intermittently placed in the air supply position and inflated in stages (in this case, in two stages) in the air supply process of the airbag 2. It is.
This air massage device is different from the second embodiment in the following points. First, the electromagnetic valve 3 is changed to a three-way valve, that is, an electromagnetic valve having three positions: an air supply position (open position), a stop position (stop position) for stopping supply and exhaust, and an exhaust position (closed position). The pump 1 is operated with a constant discharge capacity, and the method of supplying air to the airbag 2 is changed.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart when the airbag 2 is inflated in the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a pressure change diagram of the airbag 2 in the same embodiment.
Hereinafter, the method of supplying air to the airbag 2 in Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to these drawings.

  When an operation start command is received from the operation key 24 (step S11), the air pump 1 is operated and any selected electromagnetic valve 3 is set to the supply position (open position) (step S12). When a certain time T1 has passed (step S13), the air pump 1 is stopped and the solenoid valve 3 is stopped to stop the supply of air. The pressure state is maintained (step S14). The air pressure of an arbitrary airbag 2 selected at this time is set to an intermediate pressure P1 that is approximately ½ of the maximum pressure P2. Further, when the predetermined time T2 has passed (step S15), the operation of the air pump 1 is resumed and the solenoid valve 3 is again set to the air supply position (open position) (step S16). Thereafter, when a certain time T3 has elapsed (step S17), the air pump 1 is stopped and the electromagnetic valve 3 is set to a stop position (stop position) (step S18). At this time, the times T1 and T3 are set so that the pressure of the airbag 2 becomes the maximum pressure P2. Next, after a predetermined time T4 has elapsed with the air bag 2 held at the pressure P2 (step S19), the air bag 2 is contracted with the electromagnetic valve 3 set to the exhaust position (closed position).

  In the third embodiment, since the arbitrary air bag 2 selected in this way is inflated and shrunk, the electromagnetic valve 3 is supplied to the air bag 2 at once with the electromagnetic valve 3 as the air supply position (open position) as in the prior art. Compared with what is to be done, as can be seen from FIG. 9, the time T2 can be delayed for expansion.

  Moreover, since Example 3 is configured as described above, the airbag 2 can be slowly inflated in a plurality of stages. Therefore, since a multi-stage massage feeling can be obtained, the conventional monotonous feeling can be eliminated. Moreover, the irritation | stimulation with respect to a human body can be relieve | moderated by expanding the airbag 2 slowly.

The third embodiment is configured to inflate the airbag 2 in two stages as described above, but it is needless to say that the embodiment can be made in more stages.
(Modification)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied in practice with various modifications. One example is given below.
(1) In the third embodiment, when the selected arbitrary electromagnetic valve 3 is switched to the supply position, the voltage applied to the electromagnetic valve 3 is PWM controlled as in the first embodiment, and the PWM duty is gradually increased. By changing to, the switching operation (opening operation) of the solenoid valve 3 to the supply position may be performed slowly. In addition, the state of the pressure change of the airbag at this time is shown by the dotted line in FIG.
According to this modification, when the airbag 2 is in the contracted state, the rising time when switching the electromagnetic valve 3 to the supply position can be delayed by the predetermined time T10. Similarly, when supplying air to the airbag 2 in the state of the intermediate pressure P1, the rising time when switching the electromagnetic valve 3 to the supply position can be delayed by a predetermined time T10.
As described above, according to this modification, the airbag 2 can be further inflated more slowly.

(2) Moreover, although Example 3 exhausts the airbag 2 at a stretch, it can also be performed in steps. For example, in the case of exhausting an arbitrary selected air bag 2, when the pressure of the air bag 2 is reduced to P1, the electromagnetic valve 3 at the inlet of the air bag 2 is temporarily set to a stop position (stop position), If the electromagnetic valve 3 is set to the exhaust position (closed position) after a predetermined time has elapsed, the airbag 2 can be exhausted in two stages.
According to this modification, the selected airbag 2 can be slowly exhausted, a changing massage effect can be obtained, and stimulation to the human body can be reduced.

  The air massage device according to the present invention can be applied to air massage devices for home use and business use. Further, the air massage apparatus can be widely applied regardless of the form such as a chair type or a mat type.

It is a general | schematic air piping figure of the air massage apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a voltage timing chart applied to the solenoid valve in the conventional general air massage apparatus. It is an average applied voltage characteristic figure at the time of the same voltage application. It is a voltage timing chart applied to the solenoid valve in the air massage apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an average applied voltage characteristic figure at the time of the same voltage application. It is a general | schematic input-output structure apparatus figure with respect to the main body control part of the chair type massage machine which comprised the air massage apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a control flowchart at the time of the airbag expansion | swelling in the same air massage apparatus. It is a control flowchart at the time of the airbag expansion | swelling in the air massage apparatus which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a pressure change figure of the air bag in the air massage device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air pump 2 Air bag 3 Solenoid valve 4 Control part 21 Main body control part 35 Pump drive circuit 36 Solenoid valve drive circuit P1 Intermediate pressure P2 Maximum pressure

Claims (9)

  The air pump, at least one air bag for massage, at least one air supply / exhaust valve connected to the inlet of each air bag, and the time for inflating or contracting each air bag are extended. An air massage apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls operation of the air pump or switching operation of each air supply / exhaust valve.   The supply / exhaust valve is configured by an electromagnetic valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch an arbitrary selected electromagnetic valve to an air supply position, and to switch an arbitrary selected electromagnetic valve to an air supply position. In operation, the voltage applied to the solenoid valve is PWM-controlled, and the PWM duty is controlled to gradually change to 100%, thereby extending the inflation time of any selected airbag. 2. The air massage device according to claim 1, wherein the air massage device is configured as follows.   The supply / exhaust valve is configured by a solenoid valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch any selected solenoid valve to an air supply position, and to switch any selected solenoid valve to an exhaust position. In this case, the voltage applied to the solenoid valve is PWM-controlled, and the PWM duty is controlled to gradually change to 0% so that the contraction time of any selected airbag is prolonged. 2. The air massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air massage apparatus is configured.   The supply / exhaust valve is configured by an electromagnetic valve, and the control unit is configured to be able to switch an arbitrary selected electromagnetic valve to an air supply or exhaust position, and the selected arbitrary electromagnetic valve is set to an air supply position. In the switching operation, the applied voltage to the solenoid valve is PWM-controlled, and the PWM duty is gradually changed to 100%, so that the inflation time of any selected air bag is extended for a long time. In addition, when switching any selected solenoid valve to the exhaust position, the voltage applied to the solenoid valve is PWM controlled and the PWM duty is gradually changed to 0%. 2. The air masser according to claim 1, wherein the air masser is configured to increase a contraction time of an arbitrary selected air bag. Equipment.   The said control part is comprised so that the inflation time of the selected airbag may be lengthened by supplying air to the selected airbag in multiple steps. The air massage device according to any one of the preceding claims.   6. The air massage apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to supply the selected airbag in a plurality of stages by changing the discharge amount of the air pump in stages.   The control unit is configured to supply the selected arbitrary air bag in a plurality of stages by intermittently setting the selected arbitrary air supply / exhaust valve to an air supply position. The air massage device according to claim 5.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to extend a contraction time of the selected arbitrary airbag by exhausting the selected arbitrary airbag in a plurality of stages. The air massage device according to any one of? 7.   The control unit is configured to exhaust a selected arbitrary air bag in a plurality of stages by intermittently setting a selected arbitrary air supply / exhaust valve to an exhaust position. 8. The air massage device according to 8.

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