Robot Link Access Cover for Motor Maintenance and Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robots lack effective maintainability, making maintenance and access to internal components difficult.

Innovation Solution

A robot design featuring a first link with an access cover and check cover, along with a sub-access cover, allowing access and visual inspection from multiple directions, enhancing maintainability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the motor is enclosed within the first link for structural integrity, then structural strength is improved, but accessibility for maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The first link is segmented into a link body and a removable cover portion. The cover can be detached to provide access to the motor, while the link body maintains structural integrity. This segmentation allows the motor to be accessed for maintenance without compromising the overall structural strength of the link.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover portion is extracted as a separate removable component from the link body. This extracted cover can be removed to access the motor, solving the accessibility problem while the link body remains intact to maintain structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If the motor is accessible from multiple directions, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover portion serves multiple functions: it provides access to the motor from one direction when removed, and allows visual inspection from another direction when transparent. This multi-functionality improves ease of maintenance without requiring multiple separate access mechanisms, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover portion can be made transparent or translucent, allowing visual inspection of the motor without removing the cover. This optical property change provides an additional maintenance capability without adding mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP4559636B1robot
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 YASKAWA DENKI KK
  • EP4559636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4559636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4559636B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A robot includes a first link, a second link aligned with the first link along a rotation axis and extending away from the rotation axis, an access cover configured to cover an access opening provided in the first link, and a check cover configured to cover a check opening provided in the first link. The access opening allows the motor to be taken in and out of the first link from a first direction along the rotation axis, and the check opening allows the motor to be visually recognized from a second direction crossing the rotation axis.