Patent ID: 8234818

Claim:
An appliance containing at least one of a refrigerator or freezer and comprising an appliance body ( 2 ), at least one door ( 3 ) pivotally mounted on a swivel axis ( 4 ) on the appliance body ( 2 ), and a powered door operating device coupled to the door ( 3 ) for automatically operating the door ( 3 ), wherein the door operating device has an electric motor ( 6 ), first and second drive trains extending from opposite ends of the electric motor ( 6 ), a first gear transmission ( 7 ) coupled to the first drive train and the swivel axis ( 4 ) to swivel the door ( 3 ) open and closed, a sliding clutch ( 8 ) incorporated in the first drive train from the electric motor ( 6 ) to the first gear transmission ( 7 ) and arranged to stop the door ( 3 ) when striking an obstacle with the electric motor ( 6 ) running or allow the door ( 3 ) to be opened from within the appliance body ( 2 ) when the electric motor ( 6 ) is off, a gear wheel ( 9 ) mounted on the second drive train extending from the opposite end of the electric motor ( 6 ), and a rack ( 10 ) mounted on an inner side of the door ( 3 ) and arranged to interact with the gear wheel ( 9 ) to open the door ( 3 ) only when the door ( 3 ) is in closed or slightly open position.