# US 2013/0152300 A1 · Automatic head care apparatus and automatic head care method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152300 A1 - Document ID: US20130152300A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/819,387 - Filed: 2012-04-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-25 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Inventors: Osamu Mizuno; Soichiro Fujioka; Tohru Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152300A1 ## CPC - A45D 19/10: Backward lavabos - A61H 7/004: {power-driven, e.g. electrical} - A61H 7/006: {Helmets for head-massage (baths for the head A61H35/008; washing, rinsing, drying A45D)} - A61H 23/006: {Percussion or tapping massage (hand percussion A61H23/06)} - A61H 23/0254: {with rotary motor} - A61H 7/007: {Kneading} - A61H 23/0245: {with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric} - A61H 35/008: {for the head (A61H35/02 and A61H35/04 takes precedence)} - A61H 2201/1215: Rotary drive - A61H 2201/5028: Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated - A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors - A61H 2201/5092: Optical sensor - A61H 2205/021: Scalp - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract An object of the present invention is to care for the occipital region supported with an occipital region supporter, without leaving an uncared-for part thereof, at time of automatic care of the person's head. In order to achieve the object, an automatic head washing apparatus 11 according to the present invention, is an automatic head care apparatus that cares for a person's head automatically, which has a first end effector 13 and a second end effector 16, and which is controlled by a plurality of modes including: a first mode for rubbing a second region 24 of the occipital region 22 by moving the second end effector 16 in a state in which the first end effector 13 contacts a first region 23 of the occipital region 22 of the person with the first end effector 13 being fixed at a first position; and a second mode for rubbing a first region 23 of the occipital region 22 by moving the first end effector 13 in a state in which the second end effector 16 contacts a second region 24 of the occipital region 22 with the second end effector 16 being fixed at a second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic head care apparatus for caring a person's head automatically, which comprises: a first contact unit; a second contact unit; a first driving unit for driving the first contact unit; a second driving unit for driving the second contact unit; and a control unit for controlling the first driving unit and the second driving unit, wherein the control unit controls the first driving unit and the second driving unit in a plurality of modes, including: a first mode for rubbing a second region of an occipital region by moving the second contact unit in a state in which the first contact unit contacts a first region of the occipital region of the person with the first contact unit being fixed at a first position; and a second mode for rubbing the first region of the occipital region by moving the first contact unit in a state in which the second contact unit contacts the second region of the occipital region with the second contact unit being fixed at a second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes include a third mode for fixing the first contact unit at the first position, and for fixing the second contact unit at the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the first driving unit and the second driving unit so that height of the first contact unit fixed at the first position is equal to height of the second contact unit fixed at the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first contact unit is provided on both sides of the second contact unit so as to sandwich the second contact unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the first driving unit and the second driving unit so that a first contact region of the occipital region which is rubbed by the first contact unit in the second mode, partially overlaps a second contact region of the occipital region which is rubbed by the second contact unit in the first mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second contact unit is rotated by the second driving unit which is controlled by the control unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises: a nozzle for jetting liquid of at least one of water and washing solution toward the person's head; and a liquid supply unit for supplying the liquid to the nozzle, wherein the control unit makes the nozzle jet the liquid toward the occipital region and makes at least one of the first contact unit and the second contact unit move, so as to wash the person's head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the first contact unit and the second contact unit comprises: a plurality of contacts; a support piece to which the plurality of contacts are connected through elastic pieces; and a load-receiving piece which is provided below the plurality of contacts at a distance therefrom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls at least one of the first driving unit and the second driving unit so that one of the first contact unit and the second contact unit vibrates in a direction of getting near and away with respect to the occipital region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The automatic head care apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises a swing arm that can swing around in a direction of front-and-back of the person's head, that can push-rotate in a direction of moving closer to and away from the head, and that has a contact able to contact the head, wherein the control unit controls the first driving unit and the second driving unit in the third mode, in a state in which the swing arm is moving. ### Claim 11 An automatic head care method for caring a person's head automatically, which cares the person's head in a plurality of modes, including: a first mode for rubbing a second region of an occipital region by moving a second contact unit in a state in which a first contact unit contacts a first region of the occipital region of the person with the first contact unit being fixed at a first position; and a second mode for rubbing the first region of the occipital region by moving the first contact unit in a state in which the second contact unit contacts the second region of the occipital region with the second contact unit being fixed at a second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automatic head care method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of modes include a third mode for fixing the first contact unit at the first position, and for fixing the second contact unit at the second position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The automatic head care method according to claim 11, which makes height of the first contact unit fixed at the first position equal to height of the second contact unit fixed at the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The automatic head care method according to claim 11, wherein a first contact region of the occipital region which is rubbed by the first contact unit in the second mode, partially overlaps a second contact region of the occipital region which is rubbed by the second contact unit in the first mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The automatic head care method according to claim 11, which washes the person's head, by making a nozzle for jetting liquid of at least one of water and washing solution toward the person's head, jet the liquid toward the occipital region, and by moving at least one of the first contact unit and the second contact unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The automatic head care method according to claim 11, which vibrates one of the first contact unit and the second contact unit in a direction of getting near and away with respect to the occipital region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The automatic head care method according to claim 12, wherein an apparatus which comprises the first contact unit and the second contact unit, further comprises a swing arm that can swing around in a direction of front-and-back of the person's head, that can push-rotate in a direction of moving closer to and away from the head, and that has a contact able to contact the head, wherein an operational mode of the first contact unit and the second contact unit is set to be the third mode, in a state in which the swing arm is moving.