JP7782782B2 - Automatic hair transplantation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic hair implantation device that implants hair materials into a hair implantation net.

Patent Document 1 proposes an automatic hair implantation device that ties hair materials to a hair implantation net and implants them. This automatic hair implantation device is equipped with a stocker that stores hair material bundles consisting of multiple hair materials and has an outlet at the bottom. When a hook is inserted into the outlet and pulled out, the hair material captured by the hook is removed and tied to the hair implantation net.

Patent No. 6533350

In the automatic hair implantation device proposed in Patent Document 1, when the hooks are inserted into the outlet, the hair material is pushed up by the hooks at the outlet. At this time, not only the hair material that comes into direct contact with the hooks and is pushed up, but the surrounding hair material is also pushed up due to friction. Furthermore, when the hair material captured by the hooks in the stocker is pulled out through the outlet, the surrounding hair material is also pulled downward due to friction. Furthermore, the hair material is subjected to forces not only in the vertical direction but also in directions within the horizontal plane.

In this way, the hair material near the outlet inside the stocker is dense enough to be captured by a hook when it is first placed in the stocker, but as the hair material is removed from the stocker, it gradually bends and loosens, causing its density to decrease. Eventually, it becomes difficult for the hook inserted into the outlet to capture and remove the hair material, and it becomes impossible to implant the hair material into the hair implant net.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides an automatic hair implantation device that can stably remove hair material from a stocker and implant it.

To achieve the above objective, the automatic hair implantation device disclosed below comprises a stocker with an outlet at the bottom, on which hair materials are placed across the outlet, and an anti-slip portion provided on the part of the stocker that comes into contact with the hair materials, which prevents the hair materials from slipping relative to the smooth surface of the material that makes up the stocker.

With the automatic hair implantation device described above, the anti-slip portion prevents the hair material from moving, improving the density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker. Therefore, the extraction hook can stably capture the hair material at the outlet, allowing for stable implantation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as viewed from the depth direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as seen from the rear. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first to fourth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120, and is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as viewed from the depth direction. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first to fourth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120, and is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the automatic hair implantation device 120 as seen from the rear. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fifth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the sixth and seventh operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing eighth and ninth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. In FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the tenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an eleventh operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the twelfth and thirteenth operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the fourteenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the fifteenth operation of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the 16th to 18th operations of the automatic hair implantation device 120. FIG. 21A is a diagram showing the knot 100c as seen from the pull-out hook 30 side. FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the knot 100c as viewed from the hair implantation hook 20 side. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the second embodiment. FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section of FIG. FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second example of the second embodiment. FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the first and second examples of the second embodiment are combined. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the second example of the second embodiment. FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the second example of the second embodiment. FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the second embodiment. FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the second embodiment. FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the third embodiment. 41 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section BB of FIG. FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second example of the third embodiment. FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a third example of the third embodiment. FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the third embodiment. FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first example of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second example of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 49 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the sixth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and appropriate design modifications can be made within the scope of the configuration of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description, the same parts or parts having similar functions will be designated by the same reference numerals in different drawings, and repeated description will be omitted. Furthermore, the various configurations described in the embodiments and variations may be combined or modified as appropriate. Furthermore, to make the description easier to understand, the configurations in the drawings referenced below are shown simplified or schematic, and some of the configurations may be omitted.

<<Configuration and operation example of automatic hair transplantation device>>
First, the basic configuration and operation of an automatic hair implantation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, as a prerequisite for explaining the essential parts of the present invention, only one example of the basic configuration and operation of the automatic hair implantation device will be described. Naturally, it is possible to adopt a configuration and operation different from the configuration and operation of the automatic hair implantation device described here, as long as there is no contradiction with the configuration and operation of the essential parts of the present invention.

1 is a side view showing the structure and initial position of the automatic hair implantation device. FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic hair implantation device in the state shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the rear toward the front. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic hair implantation device 120 includes an eccentric 10, hair implantation hooks 20, pull-out hooks 30, a stocker 40, a thread positioning bar 50, a thread drop bar 60, a thread retraction bar 70, a reversing roller 80, a magnet 90 shown in FIG. 11, a drive mechanism (not shown), a control device, etc. The control device controls the drive mechanism, causing the eccentric 10, hair implantation hooks 20, pull-out hooks 30, thread drop bar 60, and thread retraction bar 70 to perform operations 1 through 18 shown in FIGS. 2 through 11, thereby capturing hair material 100a one by one from the stocker 40 and tying it to the weft thread 202 of the hair implantation net 200 for implantation. In the side views and front views shown in Figures 1 to 21, the left-right direction in the figure is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

Hair material 100a includes artificial hair (fiber, synthetic fiber), human hair (hair taken from humans), animal hair (hair taken from animals other than humans), or a mixture of these, as well as any hair or hair-like material that can be implanted by the automatic hair implantation device 120. The hair implantation net 200 is formed in a mesh shape consisting of multiple warp threads 201 and multiple weft threads 202, and each of the warp threads 201 and weft threads 202 may be a single thread made by twisting together multiple raw threads, or may be a single raw thread.

First, we will explain the configuration of the automatic hair implantation device 120 and the initial position when the automatic hair implantation device 120 operates. As shown in Figure 1, a hair material bundle 100b consisting of multiple pre-cut hair materials 100a is placed in a stocker 40 located above the eccentric 10. A pull-out hook 30 is located below the outlet 42 of the stocker 40, and the eccentric 10 is located between the hair implantation hook 20 and the pull-out hook 30. Hereinafter, the direction in the horizontal plane toward the pull-out hook 30 as viewed from the eccentric 10 will be referred to as the rear, and the opposite direction as the front; these will collectively be referred to as the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction in the horizontal plane will be referred to as the depth direction, and the direction to the left when looking rearward will be referred to as the back side (the back side of the paper in Figure 1), and the direction to the right side will be referred to as the front side (the front side of the paper in Figure 1).

The flocked net 200 is set so that it covers the net hooking portion 11 of the eccentric 10 from above, and its position is also regulated by contact with the reversing roller 80 below the pull-out hook 30. The tip of the flocked hook 20 faces backward and is located at approximately the same height as the rotation axis of the eccentric 10. The tip of the pull-out hook 30 faces upward and is located below the central axis of the eccentric 10. The thread positioning bar 50 is located below and forward of the outlet 42 located in the center of the front-to-rear direction on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40. The thread drop bar 60 and thread pull-in bar 70 are located below the thread positioning bar 50 and above the eccentric 10, and forward of the thread positioning bar 50.

The stocker 40 has a flat bottom 41 that is rectangular in plan view, and a pair of opposing side panels 43 that are provided along each of the two front-to-rear sides of the bottom 41. The bottom 41 and side panels 43 are perpendicular, creating a U-shaped cross section in the front-to-rear direction. The hair material 100a is trimmed to a length, for example, approximately twice the length of the hair of the finished wig, and placed on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 so that it intersects the depth direction (for example, most of the hair material 100a that make up the hair material bundle 100b is roughly perpendicular to the depth direction). Note that the length of the hair material 100a may be longer than the front-to-rear length of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40, so that a portion of it protrudes outward from the stocker 40. However, if the portion of the hair material 100a protruding from the stocker 40 does not hang down below the bottom 41, this is preferable because it prevents the portion of the hair material 100a protruding from the stocker 40 from rubbing against the front-to-rear edges of the bottom 41 and becoming damaged when the pulling hook 30 captures the hair material 100a from the stocker 40 and pulls it downward, and it also prevents the hair material 100a from becoming entangled in other operating mechanisms.

As shown in Figure 2, there may be only one stocker 40, or multiple stockers. While Figure 2 illustrates an example in which multiple pull-out hooks 30 pull out hair material 100a from one stocker 40, multiple stockers may be configured so that one pull-out hook 30 corresponding to each stocker pulls out hair material 100a. The stocker 40 may be supplied with a mixture of different types of hair material 100a, such as hair materials 100a of different colors, hair materials 100a of the same color but different thicknesses, and hair materials 100a of the same color or thickness but different hardness (elasticity), and the color, thickness, or texture of the hair material 100a in the completed wig may be adjusted in advance. A single type of hair material 100a may also be supplied to the stocker 40.

The eccentric 10 is a component that ensures the implantation area of the flocked net 200, and comprises a cylindrical net hanging portion 11 with a centerline extending in the depth direction, a recess 12 recessed inward from the side surface of the net hanging portion 11 and having an opening that overlaps with the side surface, and shaft portions 13 provided at both ends of the net hanging portion 11 and having a centerline extending in the depth direction. The center line of the shaft portions 13 does not coincide with the center line of the net hanging portion 11, but is offset radially outward from the net hanging portion 11, and is located on the side surface of the net hanging portion 11 in the portion where the recess 12 is provided (and further in the circumferential center of that portion).

The shaft 13 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the device body, with its center line serving as the axis of rotation. As the shaft 13 rotates, the net hanging part 11 connected to the shaft 13 revolves around the center line of the shaft 13. In the initial position, the opening of the relief part 12 faces forward as shown in Figure 1. The center line of the shaft 13 may overlap with one weft thread 202-1 located at the circumferential center of the opening of the relief part 12.

The opening width (circumferential length) of the escape portion 12 may be determined based on the spacing between the weft threads 202 that make up the mesh of the flocked net 200, for example, when the flocked net 200 is wrapped around the outer surface of the net hanging portion 11 and one weft thread 202-1 is located at the circumferential center of the opening of the escape portion 12. Of the two weft threads 202-2 and 202-3 circumferentially adjacent to the central weft thread 202-1, one weft thread 202-2 is located near the lower end of the opening of the escape portion 12, and the other weft thread 202-3 is located near the upper end of the opening of the escape portion 12. Note that while Figure 1 illustrates a case where the opening width of the escape portion 12 is narrower than the width of the weft threads 202-2 and 202-3, the opening width of the escape portion 12 may be equal to or greater than the width of the weft threads 202-2 and 202-3.

The hair implant hook 20 is a component for implanting hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200, and includes a hook 21 at its tip and a latch 22 for opening and closing the needle opening of the hook 21. One end of the latch 22 is rotatably connected to the hair implant hook 20 via a shaft (not shown), and by rotating around this shaft, the latch 22 switches between a state in which the other end of the latch 22 is in contact with the hook 21, thereby closing the needle opening, and a state in which the other end of the latch 22 is separated from the hook 21, thereby opening the needle opening. In the initial position, as shown in Figure 1, the hair implant hook 20 is located forward of the eccentric 10 and facing the opening of the relief portion 12, and the latch 22 is in a state in which the needle opening is open.

The hair implant hooks 20 are driven by a drive mechanism controlled by the control device, and connect the hair material 100a to the hair implant net 200 for implantation. Furthermore, multiple hair implant hooks 20 are aligned in the depth direction so as to correspond one-to-one with the multiple pull-out hooks 30 shown in Figure 2. A group of multiple hair implant hooks 20 operate together with a drive mechanism controlled by the control device to implant the hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200. Note that there may be only one hair implant hook 20 and one pull-out hook 30.

The pull-out hook 30 is a component that captures hair material 100a from the stocker 40, and is provided with a hook 31 at its tip that can capture a single hair material 100a. In its initial position, as shown in Figure 1, the pull-out hook 30 is located below the eccentric 10 and above the reversing roller 80, with the needle port 32 of the hook 31 facing forward. As shown in Figure 2, multiple pull-out hooks 30 are provided and aligned in the depth direction. A group of multiple pull-out hooks 30 operate together by a drive mechanism controlled by a control device to capture the hair material 100a. The hook 31 may be capable of capturing two, three, or more hair materials 100a, and may be of any size or shape as long as it is capable of capturing the hair material 100a.

The thread positioning bar 50 is a component that guides the hair material 100a pulled out of the stocker 40 by the pulling hook 30 to a predetermined position. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the thread positioning bar 50 is generally cylindrical with a centerline extending in the depth direction, and multiple thread guides 51 are recessed from the outer surface toward the centerline and arranged around the outer surface. Note that the thread positioning bar 50 may be fixed at both ends in the depth direction to the device body, but if it is rotatably supported by the device body, the thread positioning bar 50 will be rotated by the hair material 100a pulled out of the stocker 40 by the pulling hook 30, preventing the hair material 100a from rubbing against the thread guides 51 and being damaged. The number of thread guides 51 is the same as the number of pulling hooks 30.

The thread drop bar 60 vibrates vertically using a drive mechanism controlled by the control device, and removes the hair material 100a pulled in by the thread retraction bar 70. The thread retraction bar 70 moves back and forth using a drive mechanism controlled by the control device, hooking the hair material 100a implanted in the hair implant net 200 and pulling it forward. The magnet 90 magnetically attracts and opens the closed latch 22 during the process of implanting the hair material 100a into the hair implant net 200 with the hair implant hook 20. Note that the magnet 90 can be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. However, if it is an electromagnet, the electromagnet only needs to generate magnetic force when controlled by the control device to open the closed latch 22, and there is no need to change the relative positions of the hair implant hook 20 and the magnet 90. Therefore, the drive mechanism can be simplified by driving the hair implant hook 20 and the magnet 90 with a common drive mechanism. The reversing roller 80 is rotatably attached to the device body.

Next, the operation of the automatic hair implantation device will be explained using Figures 2 to 21. First, as shown in Figure 2, the thread retraction bar 70 moves rearward and stops at a position beyond the outlet 42 of the stocker 40 and the retraction hook 30 to the right as shown in Figure 3 (first operation).

Next, the pull-out hook 30 rises, and its tip, including the hook 31, enters the stocker 40 through the outlet 42. After being inserted into the hair material bundle 100b, it descends and stops (second operation). At this time, after its tip is inserted into the outlet 42, the pull-out hook 30 moves slightly toward the front (toward the opening of the needle port 32 of the hook 31). This causes the hair material 100a to be hooked onto the hook 31 of the pull-out hook 30, and the hair material 100a is pulled out of the outlet 42 of the stocker 40 in a doubled state. At this time, as shown in Figure 3, both ends of the hair material 100a remain in the stocker 40, and as shown in Figure 5, the multiple hair materials 100a pulled out in a doubled state are accommodated one by one in each of the multiple thread guides 51 of the thread positioning bar 50. This restricts each of the pulled hair materials 100a to a predetermined position, allowing the hair implant hook 20 to properly capture the hair material 100a in subsequent operations.

Next, as shown in Figure 4, the hair implant hook 20 moves backward (third operation). At this time, the hook 21 passes under the weft thread 202-1, and the needle mouth of the hook 21 is housed within the escape section 12, reaching the position shown by the dashed line. Next, the hair implant hook 20 moves back from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line, and the hook 21 hooks the weft thread 202-1 (fourth operation).

Next, as shown in Figure 6, the shaft 13 of the eccentric 10 rotates 90 degrees so that the opening of the relief portion 12 faces upward, and the net hooking portion 11 rotates downward around the center line of the shaft 13 from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line and stops (fifth operation). This causes the eccentric 10 to move below the hair implantation hook 20 and weft 202-1. This movement of the eccentric 10 from the position shown by the dashed line to the position shown by the solid line allows the hair implantation hook 20 to pass above the eccentric 10 and reach the hair material 100a that has been folded in half between the stocker 40 and the pull-out hook 30. Note that the eccentric 10 may not have a shaft 13 and may rotate around the center line of the net hooking portion 11. In this case, if the hair implant hook 20 is configured to move upward and backward in parallel in response to the rotation of the net hooking part 11 while the weft thread 202-1 is still hooked, the hair implant hook 20 will be positioned above the eccentric 10, as described above.

Next, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, as the hair implantation hook 20 moves backward, the hook 21 approaches the hair material 100a that has been folded in half between the stocker 40 and the pull-out hook 30 (sixth operation). At this time, the weft thread 202-1 passes above the open latch 22 and eventually passes through the entire latch 22. Next, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle tip of the hook 21 changes from facing upward to facing sideways (toward the back) (seventh operation). As a result, the needle tip of the hook 21 now faces the hair material 100a that has been pulled out by the pull-out hook 30.

Next, as shown in Figure 9, the hair implantation hook 20 continues to move rearward while the needle opening of the hook 21 is facing sideways, and stops when the needle opening of the hook 21 faces the front portion of the folded hair material 100a (hereinafter referred to as the "front portion" of the hair material 100a) pulled out by the pull-out hook 30 (8th action). Next, the pull-out hook 30 moves forward (9th action). As a result, the front portion of the hair material 100a approaches the hair implantation hook 20 and is introduced into the needle opening of the hook 21.

Next, as shown in Figure 10, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle mouth of the hook 21 faces upward from a sideways position, and as shown in Figures 11 and 12, it moves forward, causing the latch 22 to come into contact with the weft yarn 202-1 and closing the needle mouth of the hook 21. As the hair implantation hook 20 moves further from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dashed line, the latch 22 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 90, opening the needle mouth of the hair implantation hook 20 (operation 10). At this time, the hair implantation hook 20 moves away from the hair implantation net 200, causing the front portion of the hair material 100a to be pulled out slightly from the stocker 40. Additionally, the hair material 100a passes from the front side of the outlet 42 through the thread positioning bar 50, passes between weft threads 202-1 and 202-2, is folded back by the hook 21, passes from the hook 21 between weft threads 202-1 and 202-2, passes between weft threads 202-1 and 202-3, and is unfolded to reach the pull-out hook 30.

Next, as shown in Figure 13, the hair implant hook 20 moves backward from the position indicated by the dashed line in Figure 11 and then rises, rotating to tie the hair material 100a to the weft thread 202-1 (11th operation). As a result, the two portions of the hair material 100a between the hook 21 and the weft thread 202-1 are twisted together to form a loop portion 45. Note that in this 11th operation, the raising of the hair implant hook can be omitted, but by doing so, the hook 21 will be able to pass through the portion of the hair material 100a between the thread positioning bar 50 and the weft thread 202-1 reliably during the 12th operation described below.

Next, as shown in Figure 14, the hair implantation hook 20 moves toward the front while facing upward, then moves backward, stopping when the needle tip of the hook 21 is aligned in the depth direction with the rear portion of the folded hair material 100a pulled out by the pull-out hook 30 (hereinafter referred to as the "rear portion" of the hair material 100a). The hook 21 then rotates from facing upward to facing sideways (toward the rear) (12th operation). At this time, as shown in Figure 15, the hook 21 of the hair implantation hook 20 passes through the portion of the hair material 100a between the thread positioning bar 50 and the weft thread 202-1, and the loop portion 45 passes above the latch 22 of the hair implantation hook 20. Furthermore, as a result of the rotation of the hair implantation hook 20, the needle tip of the hook 21 is now facing the rear portion of the hair material 100a. The number of rotations of the hair implant hook 20 may be any number of rotations greater than or equal to one, such as one, two, or three or more rotations. The direction of rotation may be clockwise or counterclockwise.

Next, the pull-out hook 30 moves toward the front (operation 13). This brings the rear portion of the hair material 100a closer to the hair implant hook 20 and introduces it into the needle opening of the hook 21. Note that the hair implant hook 20 may move toward the rear, or both the pull-out hook 30 and the hair implant hook 20 may move toward each other.

Next, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the hair implantation hook 20 rotates so that the needle mouth of the hook 21 faces upward from a sideways position and moves forward, causing the latch 22 to come into contact with the loop portion 45 and close the needle mouth of the hook 21 (14th action). This completes the tying of the hair material 100a to the weft yarn 202-1, i.e., the hair implantation. Note that as the hook 21 of the hair implantation hook 20 retracts and passes through the loop portion 45, the withdrawal hook 30 may move up and down in small movements to release the hair material 100a from the hook 31. This prevents peeling, which is when the hair material 100a becomes frizzy due to friction.

Next, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the thread retraction bar 70 moves forward, retracting the front portion of the hair material 100a forward and stopping at the initial position (15th operation).

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 20, operations 16 to 18 are performed. First, while the hair implantation hook 20 returns to its initial position and stops, the latch 22 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 90, opening the needle mouth of the hair implantation hook 20 (operation 16). The eccentric 10 rotates around the center line of the shaft 13 from the position shown by the solid line in Figure 6 back to the position shown by the dashed line in Figure 6 (operation 17). This returns the opening of the escape portion 12 to its initial position facing left. The thread drop bar 60 moves downward, then upward, and stops at its initial position (operation 18). This causes the hair material 100a, which has been completely implanted onto the weft thread 202-1, to be styled downward. Note that any of operations 16 to 18 may be performed first, or operations 16 to 18 may be performed simultaneously.

The above operation completes one cycle of the automatic hair implantation device 120 implanting the hair material 100a onto the weft thread 202-1, creating the knot shown in Figure 21. Note that Figure 21 illustrates the state in the 11th operation, in which the hair implantation hook 20 rotates three times and the hair implantation thread 100 is twisted three times and tied to the hair implantation net 200.

In the above-mentioned example of operations, the hook 21 of the hair implant hook 20 grabs the front portion of the hair material 100a in the eighth and ninth operations, and grabs the rear portion of the hair material 100a in the twelfth and thirteenth operations. However, regardless of whether the front or rear portion is grabbed in each operation, the hair material 100a can be tied to the weft by rotating the hair implant hook 20 one or more times in the twelfth operation. Also, even if the hair implant hook 20 only rotates half a turn in the twelfth operation, the hair material 100a can be tied to the weft by using the hook 21 of the hair implant hook 20 to grab the lower portion of the hair material 100a that results from this half turn in the twelfth and thirteenth operations.

<<Configuration and operation for preventing poor removal of hair material>>
A specific configuration for preventing failure in removing the hair material 100a from the stocker 40 will be described below.

First Embodiment
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first embodiment is provided with a biasing unit that applies a force to the hair material 100a that includes a component in a direction away from the outlet 42, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. As described above, the hair material 100a is placed on the bottom 41, straddling the outlet 42.

First, a first example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 22 to 25 are perspective views showing the configuration of the first example of the first embodiment. Note that Figures 22 to 25 show the movement of the protrusion 401, which is the biasing portion, in chronological order, with the protrusion 401 moving in the order of Figures 22, 23, 24, and 25.

As shown in Figure 22, in this example, protrusions 401 are provided as the biasing portion. The protrusions 401 illustrated in Figure 22 are shaped like the teeth of a comb, with multiple protrusions 401 (three in this example) connected together. The protrusions 401 are inclined so that the further they are from the bottom 41, the further they are from the outlet 42. In this example, the protrusions 401 are provided so as to face each other across the outlet 42.

Next, as shown in Figure 23, the protrusion 401 moves straight along the inclined direction, and its tip is inserted into the hair material bundle. At this time, the protrusion 401 moves straight by being driven by a first reciprocating mechanism 401a, such as an air cylinder. Furthermore, because the protrusion 401 moves straight along the inclined direction, the inclination does not change before and after moving straight. The operation of the first reciprocating mechanism 401a is controlled, for example, by the control device described above.

Next, as shown in Figure 24, the protrusion 401 advances in a direction away from the outlet 42 while maintaining the same inclination as in Figures 22 and 23. As a result, the tip of the protrusion 401 advances along the hair material 100a, and a force (a force that relieves bending or slack in the hair material 100a) can be applied to the hair material 100a in a direction away from the outlet 42. At this time, the protrusion 401 advances in a direction away from the outlet 42 by being driven by a second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b, such as a rack and pinion. The second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b drives not only the protrusion 401 but also the first reciprocating motion mechanism 401a. The operation of the second reciprocating motion mechanism 401b is controlled, for example, by the control device described above.

Next, as shown in Figure 25, the protrusion 401, while maintaining the same inclination as in Figures 22 to 24, retracts along the inclined direction and is removed from the hair material bundle 100b. At this time, the protrusion 401 is driven by the first reciprocating mechanism 401a to retract.

A second example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 26 and 27 are perspective views showing the configuration of the second example of the first embodiment. Note that in Figure 26, the direction of rotation of the roller 402, which is the urging unit, is indicated by a dashed line, and in Figure 27, the hair material 100a is also shown in addition to the roller 402.

As shown in Figures 26 and 27, in this example, a roller 402 is provided as the biasing section. The roller 402 rotates in a direction away from the outlet 42, so that the rotation of the roller 402 applies a force to the hair material 100a in a direction away from the outlet 42 (a force that reduces bending or slack in the hair material 100a).

The rollers 402 are driven by, for example, a motor, and the operation of the motor is controlled by a control device. In this example, the rollers 402 are arranged opposite each other across the outlet 42, and these rollers 402 rotate simultaneously. Note that while Figures 26 and 27 illustrate an example in which the rollers 402 are arranged on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40, the rollers 402 may also be arranged on the side plate 43, or in a position opposite the bottom 41 (above the hair material 100a).

As described above, by providing a biasing section (projection 401, roller 402) that applies a force to the hair material 100a that includes a component in the direction away from the outlet, the hair material 100a is pulled in the direction away from the outlet. This stretches the hair material 100a, reducing bending and slack. This improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40, and allows the extraction hook 30 to stably capture the hair material at the outlet 42, enabling stable hair implantation.

In the above example, the protrusions 401 and rollers 402 are arranged to face each other across the outlet 42, but they may also be arranged on only one side of the outlet 42. In this case, the entire hair material bundle 100b may move, but it is possible to alleviate any bending or slack in the hair material 100a. Furthermore, any bending or slack in the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 will be moved to a position offset from the outlet 42 by the entire hair material bundle 100b moving, which also improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Even when the protrusions 401 and rollers 402 are arranged to face each other across the outlet 42, driving only one side will achieve the same effect as when they are arranged on only one side. Alternately driving one side and the other will cause the hair material bundle 100b to move back and forth across the outlet 42, thereby preventing the position of the hair material bundle 100b from fluctuating significantly.

On the other hand, as in the above example, if the protrusions 401 and rollers 402 are arranged facing each other across the outlet 42 and are driven simultaneously, the hair material 100a is pulled toward both ends, effectively reducing any bending or slack in the hair material 100a. It is not necessary to always drive the protrusions 401 and rollers 402 in sync; this effect can be achieved as long as there is a timing for driving them simultaneously.

The mechanisms arranged to face each other across the outlet 42 may be different. For example, a protrusion 401 and a roller 402 may be arranged to face each other across the outlet 42. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 28 to 31, a protrusion 401 may be provided on one side of the outlet 42, and a stopper 403 may be provided on the other side to press the hair material bundle 100b against the bottom 41 and restrict its movement. Figures 28 to 31 correspond to Figures 22 to 25, which show the first example described above. As shown in Figures 28 to 31, the stopper 403 presses the hair material bundle 100b against the bottom 41 and restricts its movement when the tip of the protrusion 401 is inserted into the hair material bundle 100b (the state shown in Figures 29 and 30), that is, when the protrusion 401 is able to apply a force to the hair material bundle 100b that includes a component in a direction away from the outlet 42. The stopping portion 403 is driven by a reciprocating mechanism 403a such as an air cylinder, and the operation of the reciprocating mechanism 403a is controlled by, for example, the control device described above. Also, while Figures 28 to 31 show an example in which the protrusion 401 and the stopping portion 403 are combined, it is also possible to combine the roller 402 and the stopping portion 403.

Also, in the first example, the protrusions 401 may not be inclined, but may be perpendicular to the bottom 41. However, if the protrusions 401 are inclined as described above, the protrusions 401 can apply a force to the hair material 100a that has not only a component in a direction away from the outlet 42 but also a component in a downward direction. This presses the hair material 100a in the stocker 40 toward the bottom 41 where the outlet 42 is located, effectively improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Furthermore, if the inclination of the protrusions 401 does not change during a series of operations, the protrusions 401 can be made to perform the operations shown in Figures 22 to 25 using a simple mechanism that includes only the first reciprocating mechanism 401a and the second reciprocating mechanism 401b, for example.

Furthermore, in the first example, when the tip of the protrusion 401 is inserted into the hair material bundle 100b, then the protrusion 401 moves in a direction away from the outlet 42, and then the tip of the protrusion 401 is removed from the hair material bundle 100b, it is possible to apply only a force that relieves bending or slack to the hair material 100a, without applying a force that promotes bending or slack (a force that has a component in the direction toward the outlet 42).

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the bottom 41 of the storage container 40 has a recessed portion that is concave in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the hair material 100a straddles the outlet 42 (hereinafter referred to as the "longitudinal direction"), thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the storage container 40. The longitudinal direction is the direction parallel to the direction away from the outlet 42 described in the first embodiment.

First, a first example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 32 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the second embodiment. Figure 33 is a cross-sectional view showing the A-A cross section of Figure 32 (a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and passing through the outlet 42). Note that in Figure 32, the hair material 100a is omitted from the illustration to make it easier to see the configuration of the bottom 41. In addition, in the cross-sectional view of Figure 33, the left-right direction is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

As shown in Figures 32 and 33, in the second embodiment, the top surface of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 on which the hair material 100a is placed is not flat, but has a recessed portion 411 that is concave in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the recessed portion 411 has an outlet 42 formed at its bottom, i.e., its lower end.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 33, the horizontal width of the recessed portion 411 in the cross section of the first example narrows toward the bottom end, forming a linear slope. Note that Figures 32 and 33 illustrate a case where the recessed portion 411 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom portion 41, but the recessed portion 411 may be formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom portion 41 where the recessed portion 411 is not provided may be flat.

A second example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 34 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second example of the second embodiment. Note that Figure 34 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Figure 33, which shows the first example of the second embodiment.

As shown in Figure 34, the recessed portion 412 of the second example, like the recessed portion 411 of the first example, is concave in the cross section shown, and has an outlet 42 formed at the bottom, or lower end. On the other hand, the recessed portion 412 of the second example has a constant horizontal width in the cross section shown all the way to the lower end, and has wall surfaces that are parallel to the vertical direction.

As described above, when the bottom 41 has recesses 411, 412 that are concave in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the recesses 411, 412 restrict the movement range of the hair material 100a to the vicinity of the outlet 42. This improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40, and allows the extraction hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, enabling stable hair implantation.

Furthermore, as in the first example, if the horizontal width of the depressed portion 411 in the cross section shown in Figure 33 gradually narrows towards the lower end, a force due to the weight of the hair material 100a can be applied to the hair material 100a above the depressed portion 411 along the slope of the depressed portion 411, i.e., a force in the direction towards the outlet 42. Furthermore, as in the first example, if the depressed portion 411 has a linear slope in the cross section shown in Figure 33, a force can be applied uniformly to the hair material 100a above the depressed portion 411 in the direction towards the outlet 42, and the entire hair material 100a above the depressed portion 411 can be directed towards the outlet 42.

On the other hand, as in the second example, if the horizontal width of the depression 412 is uniform toward the lower end in the cross section shown in Figure 34, the hair material 100a above the depression 412 can be strongly restricted from moving outside the depression 412.

The above first and second examples can be combined. Figure 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the first and second examples of the second embodiment are combined. Figure 35 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Figure 33, which shows the first example of the second embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 35, a depression 412 similar to that of the second example is formed near the lower end of a depression 411 similar to that of the first example. In this case, a force is applied to the hair material 100a above the depression 411 in a direction toward the outlet 42, and the outward movement of the hair material 100a above the depression 412 is strongly restricted.

In addition, while the above example illustrates a case where one recess 411, 412 and outlet 42 are formed for one stocker 40, multiple recesses 411, 412 and outlet 42 may be formed for one stocker 40. Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of a stocker 40 provided with multiple recesses 411 of the first example. Figure 36 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Figure 33, which shows the first example of the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 36, when the stocker 40 is provided with multiple recesses 411, it is possible to improve the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 of each recess 411, even when multiple hair materials 100a are being taken out at the same time.

In addition to providing the recesses 411 and 412, a pressing portion may be provided that presses the hair material 100a and hair material bundle 100b downward. Figures 37 and 38 are cross-sectional views showing a configuration in which the pressing portion 413 is further provided in the configuration of the second example of the second embodiment. Figures 37 and 38 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figure 33, which shows the first example of the second embodiment. As shown in Figures 37 and 38, the pressing portion 413 is shaped to fit into the recess 412, and is pushed downward as shown in Figure 38, pressing the hair material 100a (hair material bundle 100b) downward. This allows the pressing portion 413 to apply a force toward the outlet 42 to the hair material 100a above the recess 412. The pressing portion 413 is driven by a reciprocating mechanism 413a, such as an air cylinder, and the operation of the reciprocating mechanism 413a is controlled, for example, by the control device described above.

In addition, Figures 32 to 38 illustrate a case where the outlet 42 is provided only in a portion of the bottom 41 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, but as with the bottom 41 illustrated in Figures 22 to 31, the outlet 42 may be formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43. Figure 39 is a perspective view showing a case where the outlet 42 is formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43 in the configuration of the first example of the second embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 39, the outlet 42 is formed not only at the lower end of the recessed portion 411 but also on the linear slope. However, even with this configuration, as with the above example, the recessed portion 411 restricts the movement range of the hair material 100a to the vicinity of the outlet 42, thereby improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

In the above example, as shown in Figures 32 and 39, the depression 411 is formed from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the bottom 41. In this case, the movement range of the hair material 100a can be restricted to the vicinity of the outlet 42 over the entire longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the depressions 411, 412 may be formed only in a portion of the longitudinal direction of the bottom 41. In this case, however, the depressions 411, 412 are formed so that at least the outlet 42 is included in the depressions 411, 412.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the bottom 41 of the storage container 40 has a protruding portion that is convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the storage container 40.

First, a first example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 40 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the third embodiment. Figure 41 is a cross-sectional view showing the B-B cross section of Figure 40 (a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction). Note that in Figure 40, the hair material 100a is omitted from the illustration to make it easier to see the configuration of the bottom 41. In addition, in the cross-sectional view of Figure 41, the left-right direction is the horizontal direction, and the up-down direction is the vertical direction.

As shown in Figures 40 and 41, in the third embodiment, the top surface of the bottom 41 of the stocker 40 on which the hair material 100a is placed is not flat, but has a protruding portion 421 that is convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction of the hair material 100a. Furthermore, the protruding portion 421 has an outlet 42 formed at its top end.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 41, the raised portion 421 in the first example has a shape in which the inclination with respect to the horizontal direction increases with increasing distance from the outlet 42 in the cross section shown. Note that Figures 40 and 41 illustrate a case in which the raised portion 421 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom 41, but the raised portion 421 may be formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom 41 where the raised portion 421 is not provided may be flat.

A second example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second example of the third embodiment. Note that Figure 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Figure 41, which shows the first example of the third embodiment.

As shown in Figure 42, the raised portion 422 of the second example, like the raised portion 421 of the first example, has an upwardly convex shape in the cross section shown, with the outlet 42 as its upper end. On the other hand, the raised portion 422 of the second example has a constant inclination relative to the horizontal direction in the cross section shown, and is linear in shape. Note that Figure 42 illustrates an example in which the raised portion 422 is formed over the entire surface of the bottom 41, but the raised portion 422 may be formed only around the outlet 42 and its surrounding area. In this case, the portion of the bottom 41 where the raised portion 422 is not provided may be flat.

A third example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the third example of the third embodiment. Note that Figure 43 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to Figure 41, which shows the first example of the third embodiment.

As shown in Figure 43, the raised portion 423 of the third example is convex in the cross section shown, similar to the raised portions 421 and 422 of the first and second examples. On the other hand, the raised portion 423 of the third example is formed only at the outlet 42 and its surrounding area, and on the outside of the raised portion 423 is provided an inclined portion 424 that slopes upward as it moves away from the outlet 42. Note that Figure 43 illustrates an example in which the outside of the inclined portion 424 slopes downward as it moves away from the outlet 42, similar to the raised portion 423, but the outside of the inclined portion 424 may be flat, or the inclined portion 424 may continue to the longitudinal end of the bottom 41.

As described above, when the bottom 41 has raised portions 421-423 that are convex in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, the hair material 100a is supported in a convex shape along the raised portions 421-423, and the hair material 100a is pulled in the longitudinal direction by its own weight, thereby suppressing bending and slackening of the hair material 100a and improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. This allows the withdrawal hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to implant the hair stably.

Furthermore, as in the first example, if the raised portion 421 is shaped so that its inclination with respect to the horizontal direction increases as it moves away from the outlet 42 in the cross section shown in Figure 41, the hair material 100a will bend along the raised portion 421 and become less likely to float, and the friction between the hair material 100a and the raised portion 421 will increase, thereby restricting the movement of the hair material 100a. Therefore, the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40 can be effectively improved.

On the other hand, if the raised portion 422 is shaped so that its inclination relative to the horizontal direction is constant in the cross section shown in Figure 42 (i.e., linear), as in the second example, the hair material 100a is pulled linearly by its own weight, effectively suppressing bending and slackening of the hair material 100a. Therefore, the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40 can be effectively improved.

Furthermore, as in the third example, if an inclined portion is provided on the outside of the raised portion 423 in the cross section shown in Figure 43, which is inclined upward as it moves away from the outlet 42, the hair material 100a will be supported by being curved multiple times, thereby shortening the longitudinal length of the stocker 40 that stores it.

Note that the bottom 41 and the raised portion do not have to be continuous surfaces as long as the hair material 100a is simply supported in a convex shape. Figure 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the first example of the third embodiment. Figure 44 is also a cross-sectional view showing a cross section equivalent to Figure 41, which shows the first example of the third embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 44, the raised portion 425 is made up of multiple rod-shaped members that extend horizontally and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with gaps between adjacent rod-shaped members. Even in the case shown in Figure 44, the hair material 100a is supported in a convex shape by the raised portion 425.

On the other hand, as in the first to third examples described above, if the bottom 41 and the raised portions 421-423 form a continuous surface from the outlet 42 to one end in the longitudinal direction in a vertical cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to prevent the hair material 100a from slipping out downward from parts other than the outlet 42 and becoming entangled in the drive mechanism of the automatic hair implantation device 120. Here, a continuous surface means a surface that continues without gaps, and also includes surfaces that include sharp bends (non-differentiable points).

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a force may be applied to the hair material 100a so as to pull both ends of the hair material 100a in the longitudinal direction. For example, when using a stocker 40 having the raised portions 421, 422 of the first or second example, both ends of the hair material bundle 100b may be bound with an elastic body such as a rubber band, and a weight may then be added to the elastic body. This allows a force to be applied to the hair material 100a in the longitudinal direction that is greater than its own weight, thereby more effectively suppressing bending and sagging of the hair material 100a.

In addition, in the third embodiment, the raised portion may have a wall surface parallel to the vertical direction. However, in this case, the hair material 100a is less likely to come into contact with the wall surface, and friction between the hair material 100a and the raised portion is reduced.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment is provided with a hook position changing unit that changes the hook position of the pull-out hook 30 on the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, thereby alleviating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

First, a first example of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 45 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the fourth embodiment. As shown in Figure 45, in the first example of the fourth embodiment, the stocker 40 has multiple outlets 42 (two in the illustrated example) on the bottom 41. These outlets 42 are aligned along the longitudinal direction, and the hair material 100a is placed on the bottom 41 so as to straddle the multiple outlets 42.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 45, the first example of the fourth embodiment includes a stocker driver 431 that drives the stocker in the longitudinal direction as the hook position changer. The stocker driver 431 is configured with a reciprocating mechanism such as a rack and pinion, and its operation is controlled, for example, by the control device described above. When the stocker driver 431 drives the stocker 40 in the longitudinal direction, the outlet 42 into which the pull-out hook 30 is next inserted is changed. Note that the pull-out hook 30 does not need to be driven in the longitudinal direction; it only needs to be driven vertically as described above.

A second example of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 46 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second example of the fourth embodiment. Note that in Figure 46, the direction of rotation of the roller is indicated by a dashed line and the hair material 100a is not shown, but if the hair material 100a were shown, it would be the same as Figure 27 showing the first embodiment.

As shown in Figure 46, the second example of the fourth embodiment includes a hair material driving unit 432 (more specifically, rollers that transport the hair material 100a and hair material bundle 100b) that moves the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40 in the longitudinal direction as a hooking position changing unit. Similar to the first embodiment shown in Figure 26, two rollers that make up the hair material driving unit 432 are provided along the longitudinal direction, but unlike Figure 26, the rollers rotate in the same direction (transport direction). The rollers are driven by, for example, a motor, and the operation of the motor is controlled by, for example, the control device described above. These rollers rotate simultaneously, and the entire hair material 100a and hair material bundle 100b moves toward the outlet 42 of the stocker 40. While Figure 46 illustrates the case where two rollers are provided, only one roller or three or more rollers may be provided.

As described above, by providing the hook position changing units 431, 432 that change the hook position of the pull-out hook 30 on the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, even if the hair material 100a becomes bent or loose when it is removed with the pull-out hook 30, the hair material 100a can be removed by hooking the pull-out hook 30 at a different location where the bent or loosened hair material does not occur. This allows the pull-out hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the removal opening 42, making it possible to implant the hair stably.

Furthermore, as in the first and second examples, by providing a stocker drive unit 431 and a hair material drive unit 432 as hooking position change units, it is possible to change the hooking position of the pull-out hook 30 on the hair material 100a without having to drive the pull-out hook 30 related to the hair implantation operation. Also, by providing a stocker drive unit 431 as in the first example, the entire stocker 40 can be driven to loosen the hair material 100a and reduce any bending or slack. On the other hand, by providing a hair material drive unit 432 as in the second example, the hair material 100a can be driven to loosen the hair material 100a and reduce any bending or slack. Furthermore, in the second example, by controlling the amount of rotation of the roller, multiple portions of the hair material 100a located at one outlet 42 can be selected, allowing the pull-out hook 30 to hook on many portions that are not bent or slack.

In the configuration of the second example shown in Figure 46, multiple outlets 42 may be provided on the bottom 41 of the stocker 40, as in the first example. The first and second examples can also be combined, and a stocker drive unit 431 and a hair material drive unit 432 may be provided simultaneously.

The hook position changing unit may also drive the pull-out hook 30 to change the position at which the pull-out hook 30 hooks the hair material 100a. In this case, however, a two-stage drive is required; for example, the pull-out hook 30 is driven vertically to approach the bottom of the stocker 40, and then driven longitudinally.

In addition, while Figure 46, which shows the second example, illustrates a case in which the roller rotates in one direction, it may also rotate in the opposite direction. In this case, if the roller is rotated in one direction to remove the hair material 100a with the extraction hook 30, and then rotated in the opposite direction with a different rotation amount, the position at which the extraction hook 30 hooks the hair material 100a will be different. Also, even if the rotation amount of the roller is the same, the hair material 100a is loosened by being transported by the roller, and the extraction hook 30 hooks a part of the hair material 100a different from the part where the bending or slack occurred, thereby relaxing the bending or slack, and the extraction hook 30 can be hooked on the part of the hair material 100a where the bending or slack has been relaxed.

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the portion of the stocker 40 that comes into contact with the hair material 100a is provided with a non-slip portion that prevents the hair material 100a from slipping more than the smooth surface of the material constituting the stocker 40, thereby mitigating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. Note that the smooth surface of the material constituting the stocker 40 typically refers to a portion of the stocker 40 where no non-slip portion is formed. However, if the entire surface of the stocker 40 has been processed to have a uniform surface, for example, this corresponds to the surface of the unprocessed plate material used to manufacture the stocker 40 or the surface from which the non-slip portion has been removed.

First, a first example of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 47 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first example of the fifth embodiment. Note that in Figure 47, the hair material 100a is not shown to make it easier to see the configuration inside the stocker 40.

As shown in Figure 47, in the first example of the fifth embodiment, an adhesive material 441 is provided as an anti-slip portion on the upper surface of the bottom 41 where the hair material 100a is placed. Well-known adhesive materials such as rubber-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, and urethane-based adhesives can be used for the adhesive material 441. Note that Figure 47 illustrates an example in which adhesive materials 441 are provided in two locations on both sides of the outlet 42 in the longitudinal direction, but adhesive material 441 may also be provided on the entire upper surface of the bottom 41, or adhesive material 441 may also be provided on the side panel 43.

A second example of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 48 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second example of the fifth embodiment. Note that in Figure 48, the hair material 100a is not shown to make it easier to see the configuration inside the stocker 40.

As shown in Figure 48, in the second example of the fifth embodiment, exhaust holes 442a are provided on the upper surface of the bottom 41 where the hair material 100a is placed, as a non-slip portion that adsorbs the hair material 100a by exhausting air. An exhaust section 442b that exhausts air from the exhaust holes 442a is provided below the bottom 41, and an exhaust fan or compressor is provided at the end of the exhaust section 442b. The operation of the valve provided on the fan or compressor or exhaust section 442b that switches between exhaust and non-exhaust is controlled, for example, by the control device described above. While Figure 48 illustrates an example in which exhaust holes 442a are provided on the entire upper surface of the bottom 41, exhaust holes 442a may be provided only on a portion of the upper surface of the bottom 41, or exhaust holes 442a may be provided on the side plate 43.

As described above, by providing anti-slip portions 441, 442a at the portions of the stocker 40 that come into contact with the hair material 100a, the anti-slip portions 441, 442a prevent the hair material 100a from moving, improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40. This allows the withdrawal hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to implant the hair stably.

Furthermore, as in the first and second examples, by providing the anti-slip portions 441, 442a on at least a portion of the upper surface of the bottom 41 where the hair material 100a is placed, movement of the hair material 100a is suppressed on the upper surface where the outlet 42 is provided, thereby effectively improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40.

Furthermore, when the adhesive material 441 is used as an anti-slip portion, as in the first example, the simple configuration of installing the adhesive material 441 inside the stocker 40 can improve the low density of the hair material near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40, and since the hair material 100a does not rub against any object, movement of the hair material 100a can be suppressed without damaging it.

On the other hand, if an exhaust hole 442a is provided as an anti-slip portion, as in the first example, the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 inside the stocker 40 can be improved semi-permanently, and since the suction of the hair material 100a can be released by stopping the exhaust, it becomes easier to put the hair material 100a in and take it out of the stocker 40. Note that the exhaust hole 442a is preferably smaller than the outlet 42, for example, to prevent the hair material 100a from being sucked in.

The first and second examples can be combined. For example, adhesive material 441 can be provided on part of the top surface of the bottom 41, with exhaust holes 442a provided in other parts. Furthermore, anti-slip sections can be provided by forming irregularities on the bottom 41 or side panels 43, for example, by blasting.

Sixth Embodiment
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The sixth embodiment is provided with a vibrating unit that applies vibration to the stocker 40, thereby alleviating the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 49 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the sixth embodiment. In the example configuration shown in Figure 49, a vibrating unit 451 that applies vibrations to the stocker 40 is provided on the bottom 41. The vibrating unit 451 is composed of, for example, an eccentric motor, a solenoid, or a piezoelectric element, and its operation is controlled, for example, by the control device described above.

In the configuration example shown in Figure 49, when the vibrating unit 451 generates vibrations, the stocker 40 vibrates, and the vibrations are propagated to the hair material 100a. Furthermore, the vibrating unit 451 applies vibrations to the stocker 40 at a frequency of, for example, 1 Hz or higher.

As described above, the hair material 100a is loosened by the vibrations applied to the stocker 40 by the vibrating unit 451, which reduces bending and slack in the hair material 100a and improves the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40. This allows the withdrawal hook 30 to stably capture the hair material 100a at the outlet 42, making it possible to implant the hair stably.

In particular, by applying continuous vibrations to the stocker 40 rather than pulsed impacts, the vibrating unit 451 can effectively loosen the hair material 100a and effectively reduce any bending or slack in the hair material 100a.

The vibrating unit 451 may be attached anywhere as long as it can impart vibrations to the stocker 40. However, it is preferable to attach it to the outer surface of the wall of the stocker 40 that comes into contact with the hair material 100a (in the example of Figure 49, the bottom 41 and side panel 43), as this allows vibrations to be imparted to the hair material 100a in the stocker 40 from outside the stocker 40 without interfering with the hair material 100a. In particular, as shown in Figure 49, if it is attached to the underside of the bottom 41, it can effectively impart vibrations to the hair material 100a placed in the stocker 40, effectively improving the low density of the hair material 100a near the outlet 42 in the stocker 40.

<<Deformations, etc.>>
The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined as long as there is no contradiction.

For example, the first embodiment may be combined with the second and/or third embodiments. In this case, for example, when using the protrusion 401 of the first embodiment, the shape of the protrusion 401 is adjusted to match the shape of the bottom 41 on which the recesses 411, 412 and the raised portions 421-423, 425 are formed, and the first reciprocating mechanism 401a drives the protrusion 401 so that the tip of the protrusion 401 does not collide with the bottom 41.

For example, it is also possible to combine the second and third embodiments. The depressions 411 and 412 have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, while the protrusions 421-423 and 425 have a cross-sectional shape parallel to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, although the bottom 41 has a complex shape, the two can be combined without any contradictions.

Furthermore, each of the fourth to sixth embodiments can be combined with the other embodiments without any particular contradiction. Furthermore, the vibration unit 451 of the sixth embodiment may impart vibration to parts that come into contact with the hair material 100a other than the stocker 40, such as the protrusion 401, roller 402, and restraining unit 403 of the first embodiment, the pressing unit 413 of the second embodiment, and the hair material driving unit (roller) 432 of the fourth embodiment. Even in this case, the hair material 100a can be loosened and any bending or slackness of the hair material 100a can be alleviated.

Furthermore, components that reduce the bending or slack of the hair material 100a by performing predetermined operations, such as the protrusion 401 and roller 402 in the first embodiment, the stocker drive unit 431 and hair material drive unit (roller) 432 in the fourth embodiment, the exhaust hole 442a in the fifth embodiment, and the vibration unit 451 in the sixth embodiment, may operate every time the extraction hook 30 extracts the hair material 100a, or may operate each time the hair material 100a is extracted multiple times. Furthermore, these components may stop operating while the extraction hook 30 is inserted into the stocker 40 through the extraction opening 42 to prevent impediment to the extraction of the hair material 100a by the extraction hook 30 or peeling.

Furthermore, the parts that come into contact with the hair material 100a, such as the bottom 41 and side plate 43 of the stocker 40, as well as the protrusion 401, roller 402, and restraining portion 403 of the first embodiment, the pressing portion 413 of the second embodiment, and the hair material driving portion (roller) 432 of the fourth embodiment, may be grounded and configured as conductors. In this case, by removing static electricity from the hair material 100a, it is possible to prevent surrounding hair materials 100a from moving when one hair material 100a is removed, thereby reducing bending and slackness of the hair material 100a.

In addition, while Figures 22 to 31 and 40 to 49, which show the first and third to sixth embodiments, illustrate cases in which the outlet 42 is formed from one side plate 43 of the bottom 41 to the other side plate 43, the outlet 42 may be formed only in a portion of the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (for example, in the position where the withdrawal hook 30 is inserted and its surrounding area, as in Figures 32 to 38 shown in the second embodiment).

The automatic hair transplantation device described above can be explained as follows:

The automatic hair implantation device comprises a stocker with an outlet at its bottom, on which hair materials are placed across the outlet, and a non-slip portion provided in the portion of the stocker that comes into contact with the hair material, which prevents the hair material from sliding more than the smooth surface of the material that makes up the stocker (first configuration). With this configuration, the non-slip portion prevents the hair material from moving, improving the low density of the hair material near the outlet in the stocker. This allows the extraction hook to stably capture the hair material at the outlet, enabling stable implantation.

In the first configuration, the anti-slip portion may be provided on at least a portion of the upper surface of the bottom where the hair material is placed (second configuration). With this configuration, the removal opening is provided and movement of the hair material is suppressed on the upper surface of the bottom where the hair material is placed, thereby effectively improving the low density of hair material near the removal opening inside the stocker.

In the first or second configuration, the anti-slip portion may have an adhesive material (third configuration). With this configuration, the low density of the hair material near the outlet of the stocker can be improved with the simple configuration of installing an adhesive material as an anti-slip portion inside the stocker, and since the hair material 1 does not rub against any object, movement of the hair material can be suppressed without damaging it.

In any one of the first to third configurations, the anti-slip portion may have an exhaust hole that adsorbs the hair material by exhausting air (fourth configuration). This configuration semi-permanently improves the low density of hair material near the outlet of the stocker, and by stopping the exhaust, the adsorption of the hair material can be released, making it easier to put hair material in and take it out of the stocker.

In the fourth configuration, the exhaust hole may be smaller than the outlet (fifth configuration). This configuration prevents the hair material from being sucked into the exhaust hole.

120...Automatic hair implantation device, 40...Storage container, 41...Bottom, 42...Outlet, 43...Side plate, 100a...Hair material, 100b...Hair material bundle, 401...Protrusion, 402...Roller, 403...Restraint, 411, 412...Depression, 413...Pressing section, 421-423, 425...Protuber, 424...Inclined section, 431...Storage container drive unit, 432...Hair material drive unit (roller), 441...Adhesive, 442a...Exhaust hole, 442b...Exhaust section, 451...Vibration section

Claims (4)

a stocker having an outlet at its bottom, and a hair material placed on the bottom across the outlet;
a non-slip portion provided at a portion of the stocker that comes into contact with the hair material, the non-slip portion preventing the hair material from slipping more than a smooth surface of a material that constitutes the stocker ;
The automatic hair implantation device , wherein the anti-slip portion has an adhesive material . a stocker having an outlet at its bottom, and a hair material placed on the bottom across the outlet;
a non-slip portion provided at a portion of the stocker that comes into contact with the hair material, the non-slip portion preventing the hair material from slipping more than a smooth surface of a material that constitutes the stocker;
The automatic hair implantation device, wherein the anti-slip portion has an exhaust hole that adsorbs the hair material by exhausting air. 3. The automatic hair implantation device according to claim 2 , wherein the exhaust hole is smaller than the outlet. The automatic hair implantation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the anti-slip portion is provided on at least a part of the upper surface of the bottom portion on which the hair material is placed.