Abstract: Under the control of a controller, a drive mechanism portion moves a massaging member and an ascent-descent mechanism moves up and down the massaging member together with the entire drive mechanism portion. During an ordinary kneading massage, the massaging member performs a relative motion to describe a reference locus in the shape of a closed curve. The controller controls to make the massaging member perform a relative reciprocating movement within a partial movement range corresponding to a partial segment of the reference locus and simultaneously controls to make the ascent-descent mechanism move the drive mechanism portion up and down. The relative reciprocating movement of the massaging member along the partial segment of the reference locus and the up-down movement of the entire drive mechanism portion are combined together to produce a new motion of the massaging member describing a locus different from the reference locus.

Abstract: Under the control of a controller, a drive mechanism portion moves a massaging member and an ascent-descent mechanism moves up and down the massaging member together with the entire drive mechanism portion. During an ordinary kneading massage, the massaging member performs a relative motion to describe a reference locus in the shape of a closed curve. The controller controls to make the massaging member perform a relative reciprocating movement within a partial movement range corresponding to a partial segment of the reference locus and simultaneously controls to make the ascent-descent mechanism move the drive mechanism portion up and down. The relative reciprocating movement of the massaging member along the partial segment of the reference locus and the up-down movement of the entire drive mechanism portion are combined together to produce a new motion of the massaging member describing a locus different from the reference locus.