Abstract: A primary object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a massage machine and a massage element of a massage machine which can provide pressing and rubbing kneading to a person to be treated. A control method for a massage machine contains a controlling process for individually controlling operations of a kneading motor 331 for operating a pair of massage elements 321, 322, width adjustment motors 341, 342 for adjusting a width between the pair of massage elements 321, 322, a strength-and-weakness motor 351 for adjusting strength of the pair of massage elements 321, 322 and an up-and-down motor 361 for adjusting movement of the pair of massage elements 321, 322 in an up-and-down direction.

Abstract: A massage mechanism includes a portion, which, in a muscle hardness measurement mode, drives an advancing/retreating motor to rotate in a predetermined direction by constant-speed control to press a massage element into a body of a person to be treated, a portion monitoring a change rate of a motor current flowing through the advancing/retreating motor during driving of the advancing/retreating motor and stopping the driving of the advancing/retreating motor when the change rate of the motor current becomes not less than a predetermined threshold, a portion, which, after stoppage of the driving of the advancing/retreating motor, drives a tapping motor to rotate by constant-speed control to make the massage element perform a tapping operation, a current detection portion, detecting a motor current flowing through the tapping motor during driving of the tapping motor, and a portion measuring a muscle hardness of the person to be treated based on the motor current detected by the current detection portion.

Abstract: It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a massage unit and a massage machine which can increase a protruding amount of a massage ball. A massage unit 700 includes a pair of massage elements 350; a forward-backward axis 722 forming a swinging fulcrum point for moving the pair of massage elements 350 toward a body of a person to be treated; and an up-and-down axis 732 for moving the massage unit, wherein the forward-backward axis 722 is formed in parallel with the up-and-down axis 732 and provided nearer to the side of the body of the person to be treated than the up-and-down axis 732.

Abstract: A primary object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a massage machine and a massage element of a massage machine which can provide pressing and rubbing kneading to a person to be treated. A control method for a massage machine contains a controlling process for individually controlling operations of a kneading motor 331 for operating a pair of massage elements 321, 322, width adjustment motors 341, 342 for adjusting a width between the pair of massage elements 321, 322, a strength-and-weakness motor 351 for adjusting strength of the pair of massage elements 321, 322 and an up-and-down motor 361 for adjusting movement of the pair of massage elements 321, 322 in an up-and-down direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled working robot, including a first distance sensor 4a and a second distance sensor 4b (4c) for measuring the distance to an obstacle W in front of the robot. The robot includes first determination means for comparing a first measured distance Dc to the obstacle obtained by the first distance sensor 4a with a predetermined first threshold value to determine the proximity to the obstacle W, second determination means for comparing a second measured distance Dr (DL) to the obstacle W obtained by the second distance sensor 4b (4c) with a predetermined second threshold value to determine the proximity to the obstacle, and changing means for changing the first or second threshold value based on information regarding an inclination angle of the obstacle W obtained from the first and second measured distances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled working robot, including a first distance sensor 4a and a second distance sensor 4b (4c) for measuring the distance to an obstacle W in front of the robot. The robot includes first determination means for comparing a first measured distance Dc to the obstacle obtained by the first distance sensor 4a with a predetermined first threshold value to determine the proximity to the obstacle W, second determination means for comparing a second measured distance Dr (DL) to the obstacle W obtained by the second distance sensor 4b (4c) with a predetermined second threshold value to determine the proximity to the obstacle, and changing means for changing the first or second threshold value based on information regarding an inclination angle of the obstacle W obtained from the first and second measured distances.

Abstract: A self-propelled working robot according to the present invention comprises a traveling assembly (1) having a wheel (6) and first and second working assemblies (20, 50) that are detachable from the traveling assembly 81). One of the first and second working assemblies (20, 50) is selectively mounted on the traveling assembly (1). Each working assembly has a type identification means (33) that enables identification of a type of the working assembly. The traveling assembly (1) has a driving motor (5) that drives the wheel (6), a wheel controlling means (41) that controls rotation of the driving motor (5), a discriminating means (38) that discriminates which of the working assemblies is mounted and a work signal output means (39) that outputs a work signal for actuating the working assembly (20, 50) in response to a result of a discrimination.

Abstract: A moving robot first moves straight in a first forward path. When encountering an obstacle such as shelf, the robot makes a U-turn to move straight in a backward path located with a prescribed distance away from the first forward path. When encountering another obstacle, the robot again makes a U-turn to move straight in a second forward path extending in the same direction as that of the first forward path but located with a distance away from the backward path. When the robot exceeding the point of the U-turn in the first forward path is detected during running in the second forward path, presence of a region where the robot has not run yet is recognized, and running in that region is carried out thereafter.

Abstract: When an autonomous vehicle detects an interruption in a wall, a plurality of optical distance measurement sensors provided in a driving unit measures the distance to a plurality of points of an object of interest located ahead. The configuration of the object of interest located ahead is recognized from the obtained distance information and from the attached angle of each optical distance measurement sensor to determine the subsequent operation of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle which permits a work area to be set without requiring the operator to input a numerical value includes a body, a travel unit for moving said body, a distance measurement unit for measuring the distance from the body to a wall, and a travel control unit for determining a work area depending upon the distance output from the distance measurement unit at the start of operation and controlling the travel unit to travel the body within the determined work area. Note that a method of controlling the traveling of such an autonomous vehicle is claimed as well.

Abstract: In order to improve the quality of the work of a robot that applies wax, a user enters the ambient environment data (temperature, wax concentration, and the like) of the robot via a controller prior to initiation of the work by the robot. According to the input data, the maximum time (drying time) T before another coat of wax is to be applied without degradation in quality is identified. A travel path is generated according to the time T. The travel is actually carried out according to the calculated path.

Abstract: The system includes a mobile work robot and a separate station. The mobile robot is equipped to perform prescribed tasks, such as cleaning building floors. The station is equipped to remotely control the movement of the mobile work robot and to perform maintenance on the mobile work robot, such as the replacement of parts as well as replenishment of consumable goods necessary for the mobile work robot to move and work. In addition, the cleaning means equipped on the station performs the cleaning and disinfection of the mobile work robot.

Abstract: A vehicle has a sensor for detecting a first distance to a first object and a second distance to a second object located on the other side of the first object. The vehicle travels along a path between the first object and the second object based on the detected first and second distances.A vehicle has a sensor for detecting a distance to an object and a working unit which is movably connected with a main body. The working unit is moved based on the detected distance to the object.

Abstract: A sterilizer supplies liquid over an object and then irradiates far-infrared radiation to the object. The object is fully sterilized since the supplied liquid well absorb far-infrared radiation with sterilizing effect.

Abstract: An apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor includes four rectangular application rotating bodies partially overlapping each other, and four nozzles supplying the fluid provided in rotation areas of the respective application rotating bodies. The rotation position of the application rotating body is detected by a light shielding plate and a photosensor. A control portion controls each component so that the fluid is applied onto the floor from a tank through the nozzle by a pump when the application rotating body is not directly under the nozzle. As a result, the apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor capable of optimally controlling the quantity of the fluid to be applied according to the application condition can be provided.

Abstract: A running member is attached rotatably to a body member, and a working member is attached movably to the body member. Therefore, in a large area, a work can be carried out efficiently even in a corner portion, and a desired work can be implemented even in a narrowed portion by shifting the working member to a working area and directly operating the working member in the narrowed portion.

Abstract: A first light receiving portion and a second light receiving portion are provided on the upper surface of a moving body having driving wheels at an interval of a prescribed distance in a plane. The first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion rotate around the axis in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a first light emitting portion and a second light emitting portion are provided on the side face of a station serving as a reference station at an interval of a prescribed distance in a plane. The first and second light receiving portions carry out sampling while rotating, so that the quantity of light reception is changed according to the directivities of the first and second light receiving portions. When the peaks of the directivities of the first and second light receiving portions match the direction of the first light emitting portion or the second light emitting portion, the quantity of light reception is maximized.

Abstract: A sterilizer supplies liquid over an object and then irradiates far-infrared radiation to the object. The object is fully sterilized since the supplied liquid well absorb far-infrared radiation with sterilizing effect.

Abstract: An apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor includes four rectangular application rotating bodies partially overlapping each other, and four nozzles supplying the fluid provided in rotation areas of the respective application rotating bodies. The rotation position of the application rotating body is detected by a light shielding plate and a photosensor. A control portion controls each component so that the fluid is applied onto the floor from a tank through the nozzle by a pump when the application rotating body is not directly under the nozzle. As a result, the apparatus of spreading a fluid on the floor capable of optimally controlling the quantity of the fluid to be applied according to the application condition can be provided.

Abstract: A cleaner comprises a driving unit which moves the cleaner, a cleaner unit which cleans an object to be cleaned, a sensor by which a degree of dirt on the object is detected, and a driving controller which controls the driving unit on the basis of the detected degree of dirt. The cleaner unit further comprises a controller which compares the degrees of dirt detected by the sensor before and after a cleaning operation.