WO2019049057A1

WO2019049057A1 - Device for closing and opening hatches, in particular hatches of domestic appliances such as washing machines or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2019049057A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/056799
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano ROCCHITELLI
Original assignee: Elettrotecnica Rold S.R.L.
Priority date: 2017-09-06
Filing date: 2018-09-06
Publication date: 2019-03-14
Also published as: CN111386374A; EP3679212A1; IT201700099948A1

Abstract

A closing and opening device (1000) for doors and/or hatches and/or similar components, in particular of domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, said device comprising a closing and opening assembly (100) including a closing and opening element (110) adapted to be alternatively engaged and disengaged by a feedback bolt (200) adapted to be rigidly fixed to said hatch, where said closing and opening element (110) is switchable by rotation around a first rotation axis (A) between a first position and a second position, where the mutual engagement arising from the thrust of said feedback bolt (200) against said closing and opening element (110) results in a first switching by rotation of said closing and opening element (110) from said first position to said second position, where said closing and opening assembly (100) comprises a locking lever (112) switchable by rotation around a second rotation axis (B), and where the switching by rotation of said closing and opening element (110) from said first position to said second position results in said locking lever (112) being rotated between a first position and a second position in which it engages and locks said closing and opening element (110) in said second closing position.

Description

"DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND OPENING HATCHES, IN PARTICULAR HATCHES OF DOMESTIC APPLIANCES SUCH AS WASHING MACHINES OR THE LIKE"

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TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and/or similar domestic appliances. In particular, the present invention relates to a closing and opening device, in particular for hatches, doors or the like, for example domestic appliances of the aforesaid type. In detail, the present invention relates to a device of the aforesaid type adapted to allow the opening of the hatch in emergency situations and/or automatically, for example, but not only, regardless of the electric feedback of closed hatch and at the end of the wash cycle, respectively. Moreover, the present invention relates to a closing and opening system including a closing and opening device of the aforesaid type, and also to a domestic appliance (for example, a washing machine or similar domestic appliance) equipped with a device and/or system of the aforesaid type. BACKGROUND ART

The most widespread closing and opening devices and/or systems used for domestic appliances such as for example, washing machines and/or similar domestic appliances, essentially comprise an actual closing (and opening) assembly, usually applied to the body of the domestic appliance, and a feedback element (bolt or hook) usually fastened to the hatch of the domestic appliances itself. According to the more common embodiments, the closing and opening assembly further comprises a closing element adapted to be switched by rotation between a first opening position and a second closing position, and vice versa, wherein in the closing position, the closing element engages the corresponding feedback element of the hatch, thus ensuring the closing of the hatch itself, while contrarily, in the opening position, it allows the disengagement of the feedback element and therefore the opening of the hatch.

Automatic switching devices and/or systems are known, in which the switching of the closing and opening element occurs automatically under the thrust of the bolt or hook, and therefore as a result of the thrust exerted on the hatch by the user. Systems of this type also provide feedback solutions and/or devices for verifying the actual closing of the hatch, and also locking systems to lock the hatch in closing position.

Although figures 1 to 3 relate to a device and/or system according to one embodiment of the present invention, a description is given below, with reference to figures 1 to 3, of the operating methods of the closing and opening device which are common with those of the devices of known type, in particular made and sold by the Applicant.

Numeral 1000 in figures 1 to 3 identifies a closing system including a closing assembly 100 (as anticipated, adapted to be applied to the body of the domestic appliance) and a feedback element 200 (bolt or hook) usually fastened to the hatch of the domestic appliance itself. The closing assembly further comprises a closing and opening element 1 10 (also called closing cam) adapted to be switched by rotation (see the following description), a locking and control lever (1 12), a release spring 1 13, a safety spring 1 14, a solenoid 1 15, a switching slide 1 16, a switching lever 1 17, an opening lever 1 18, a safety slide 120 and an opening spring 124.

Moreover, assembly 100 comprises a locking slider 121 , a safety slider 122 and an actuator 123.

The closing and opening element 1 10 is rotatable around a first rotation axis A, defined by a rotation pin 125 on which the spiral portion of the release spring 1 13 is engaged, wherein the lever 1 12 is rotatable around a second rotation axis B defined by a rotation pin 126, which opposite ends are each accommodated in a corresponding seat 127 defined by the safety slide 120.

Moreover, an engagement and locking pin 128 which extends in the direction of extension opposite to that of the rotation pin 125 protrudes from cam 1 10, wherein shaping elements comprising a first protrusion 131 and a second protrusion 132 - both with half-circle conformation - are obtained on the free end of lever 1 12 opposite to the rotation pin 127, thus wherein the convexity of protrusion 131 faces towards the free end of lever 1 12, while the convexity of the protrusion faces substantially towards the engagement pin 128. In open hatch condition, the safety slider 122 is thrust in engagement against the element or cam 1 10 (from left to right in figure 1 ) by a compression spring positioned so as to act by pushing on the end portion of slider 122 opposite to cam 1 10. Moreover, in the position in figure 1 in which the safety slider 122 locks cam 1 10, thus avoiding possible switching operations by rotation, it also locks actuator 123, thus avoiding possible switching operations also of actuator 123. With regard to actuator 123, it is worth noting that the same is responsible for the alternating activation and deactivation of the electric module, wherein when activated, the electric module generates the electric consent necessary for operating the domestic appliance, while contrarily when it is deactivated, it denies the aforesaid electric consent and the domestic appliance may not be started and/or operated. During the closing of the hatch (not depicted for reasons of clarity), the progressive nearing of the hatch to the main body of the domestic appliance (equipped with device 100) first results in the engagement of the safety slider 122 (of an inclined end surface of slider 122) by the bolt or hook 200 (figure 2b) and then in the translation of the safety slider 122 away from element 1 10, with resulting release of element 1 10.

The retraction of slider 122 under the thrust of hook 200 thus results in both the slider 122 and cam 1 10 being released, wherein the rotation of cam 1 10 results in the translation (from right to left with respect to figure 2b) of the locking slider 121 due to a shaped profile of cam 1 10 and also in this case against the elastic resistance of a compression spring positioned so as to act by thrusting on the end portion of slider 121 opposite to cam 1 10. Moreover, the retraction of slider 121 results in the switching by roto-translation of actuator 123 (at this point no longer locked or restrained by the safety slider 122) by slider 121 itself, wherein the result of switching actuator 123 as mentioned, is that of activating the electric module which therefore generates the necessary electric consent for operating the domestic appliance.

Moreover, the end of the bolt hook 200 engages the fork portion of element 1 10, wherein the mutual progressive engagement of bolt 200 in the fork of element 1 10 results in element 1 10 being switched by rotation in anticlockwise direction (with respect to the drawings) from the opening position of figures 1 and 2A in which the hook may come out of the fork of element 1 12, to the intermediate positions of figures 2B to 2D, and then to the closing position of figures 2E to 2F, in which the hook may not come out of the fork of element 1 12. Moreover, when it reaches the closing position, element 1 10 is locked by lever 1 12 in said closing position according to the following methods.

The rotation of element 1 10 from the opening position towards the closing position, with resulting loading of spring 1 13, results in the lever 1 12 being engaged by pin 128, wherein the lower part of protrusion 131 is engaged by pin 128, and thus wherein the lever 1 12 is rotated in anticlockwise direction (the free end of lever 1 12 opposite to the rotation pin 126 is raised with respect to the starting position, figure 2D), thus compressing the safety spring 1 14. Continuing with the rotation of element 1 10, with resulting further loading of spring 1 13, protrusion 131 is disengaged from pin 128, thus wherein the lever 1 12 is rotated in opposite direction (clockwise with respect to the drawings) due to the elastic reaction of spring 1 14, and wherein in the same way element 1 10 is also rotated backwards (towards the opening position) due to the action of spring 1 13, the aforesaid opposite rotations of lever 1 12 and of cam 1 10 moreover ceasing when the engagement pin 128 engages the convexity of protrusion 131 , thereby cam 1 10 being locked in the closing position. Indeed, any further rotation of cam 1 10 towards the opening position, with subsequent release of hook 100 from the fork of element 1 10, may only occur by releasing lever 1 12 from pin 128 beforehand, the mutual releasing of lever 1 12 from pin 128 occurring according to the following methods.

Starting from the closing position in figure 2F, with reference to the following figures 3A and 3B, it is apparent how a further rotation of cam 1 10 in clockwise direction, and therefore with further compression of spring 1 13, results first in a sliding of pin 128 in the convexity of protrusion 131 , and then in pin 128 coming out of convexity 132. At this point, cam 1 10 is free again to rotate in anticlockwise direction due to the elastic reaction of spring 1 13, wherein pin 128 engages said inclined surface 133 of protrusion 131 during the rotation in anticlockwise direction of cam 1 10 due to the conformation of protrusion 132, which as depicted has variable thickness and therefore defines an inclined surface 133, and thus wherein the rotation of cam 1 10 in anticlockwise direction results in a thrust being exerted on lever 1 12 by pin 128. Thereby, the lever is rotated around a third rotation axis C away from cam 1 10, with subsequent mutual release of lever 1 12 and cam 1 10 which, under the thrust of spring 1 13, may rotate again in anticlockwise direction up to reaching the opening position again, with subsequent automatic release of hook 200 from the fork of cam 1 10, and therefore with automatic opening of the hatch.

Although they may be appreciated from various viewpoints (construction and operating simplicity, good reliability, affordable manufacturing and/or installation costs, all things considered), the closing devices and/or systems of known type - even those according to the most recent prior art - have however certain drawbacks which are addressed by the present invention.

A first drawback relates to the fact that the opening of the hatch by means of a thrust on the hatch itself according to the methods described above may only be obtained by a user who in any case is outside the domestic appliance, wherein contrarily, in the rare but not impossible case of a child trapped in the domestic appliance, any thrust on the hatch by the child (and therefore an outwards thrust) would have no effect other than further engaging cam 1 10 and lever 1 12 in the locking position.

A further drawback or unsatisfactory factor relates to the fact that opening the hatch according to the methods summarized above necessarily requires the intervention by the user who in any case is called to act by thrusting on the hatch itself; indeed, the electric components in devices of known type are only adapted to "allow" the opening of the hatch, which in any case remains closed without the necessary intervention by the user. Obviously, for example in the case of a washing machine, but also a dishwasher, the wash cycle may be completed without users and/or operators, wherein the prolonged closing of the hatch after the completion of the wash cycle prevents or in any case delays the drying of the laundry and may result in the occurrence of bad smells in the laundry itself. Moreover, the condition of closed hatch does not allow "seeing" if the wash cycle is actually complete or not, with the risk of opening the hatch in conditions of incomplete washing. It is therefore apparent that it would be highly advantageous to have a solution allowing the opening of the hatch also by thrusting on the hatch itself from the inside of the domestic appliance, and/or allowing the spontaneous and automatic opening of the hatch when the wash cycle is complete.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to overcome or at least minimize the drawbacks summarized above and affecting the closing devices and/or systems according to the prior art.

In particular, it is a first object of the present invention to make available a closing and opening device which allows the opening of the hatch also by thrusting on the hatch itself from the inside of the domestic appliance.

It is a further object of the present invention to make available a solution which allows the spontaneous and automatic opening of the hatch, for example when the wash cycle is complete, or in any case by means of a program which may be set by the user.

Finally, the closing and opening device and/or system according to the present invention is to be characterised by contained sizes and volume, and also be applicable to domestic appliances of known type according to equally simple methods with equally affordable costs, and also without requiring substantial modifications of said domestic appliances.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is based on the general consideration according to which the above pre-set objects may be achieved and in particular, the functional and reliability needs may be dealt with in compliance with safety regulations, by means of a device which provides a locking lever which not only is rotatable around one or more rotation axes, but is also translatable along a predefined translation direction, wherein the translation of the locking lever in at least one translation direction results in the mutual release of the locking lever and the opening and closing element or cam.

Based on the above considerations, and also taking into consideration the problems and/or drawbacks affecting the closing and opening devices and/or systems according to the prior art, the object of the present invention according to a first embodiment is a closing and opening device for doors and/or hatches and/or similar components, in particular domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, said device comprising a closing and opening assembly including a closing and opening element adapted to be alternatively engaged and disengaged by a feedback bolt adapted to be rigidly fixed to said hatch, wherein said closing and opening element is switchable by rotation around a first rotation axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the mutual engagement arising from thrust of said feedback bolt against said closing and opening element results in a first switching by rotation of said closing and opening element from said first position to said second position, wherein said closing and opening assembly comprises a locking lever adapted to beswitched by rotation around a second rotation axis, and wherein the switching by rotation of said closing and opening element from said first position to said second position results in said locking lever being rotated between a first position and a second position in which said locking lever engages and locks said closing and opening element in said second closing position, wherein said locking lever is further adapted to be switched by translation, and wherein, with said closing and opening element engaged and locked in said second position by said locking lever, the rotation of said closing and opening element towards said first position results in said locking lever being translated in a first translation direction and in the mutual disengagement of said closing and opening element and said locking lever, thus being possible for said closing and opening element to switch by rotation until reaching said first position.

According to one embodiment, the translation of said locking lever in said first translation direction results in said locking lever being rotated around a third rotation axis other than both said first rotation axis and said second rotation axis. According to one embodiment, said locking lever comprises a switching protrusion, wherein said closing and opening assembly comprises fixed switching means, and wherein the translation of said locking lever in said first translation direction results in said protrusion and said fixed switching means being progressively mutually engaged, thus in the rotation of said locking lever around said third rotation axis, and thus in said closing and opening element and said locking lever being mutually disengaged. According to one embodiment, said protrusion of said locking lever comprises an inclined and tapered engagement surface, wherein the progressive engagement of said protrusion and said fixed switching means arising from the translation of said locking lever in said first translation direction results in said locking lever being progressively rotated around said third rotation axis.

According to one embodiment, said device comprises second rotatable switching means, wherein the rotation of said second switching means in a first rotation direction results in said second rotatable switching means and said locking lever being mutually engaged, and wherein during the rotation of said second switching means in said first rotation direction, said locking lever is dragged into rotation around said third rotation axis and is therefore released from said closing and opening element.

According to one embodiment, said second switching means are rotatable around a fourth rotation axis substantially parallel to said third rotation axis.

According to one embodiment, said second rotatable switching means comprise a torsion spring including a spiral portion and two substantially linear portions which respectively extend from the opposite ends of said spiral portion, wherein the rotation of said compression spring in said first rotation direction results in a thrust being exerted on said locking lever by one of said substantially linear portions of said spring, and therefore in said locking lever being rotated around said third rotation axis.

According to one embodiment, said device comprises a switching lever adapted to be rotated around a fifth rotation axis substantially parallel to said fourth rotation axis, wherein the rotation of said switching lever in a second rotation direction opposite to said first rotation direction of said second rotation means, results in said second switching means being rotated in said first rotation direction.

According to one embodiment, said device comprises a translatable switching slide, wherein the translation of said switching slide in a first own translation direction results in said switching lever being rotated in said second rotation direction, and therefore in said second switching means being rotated in said first rotation direction. According to one embodiment, said device comprises electrical means for switching by translation said switching slide.

According to one embodiment, said electrical means comprise a solenoid.

The object of the present invention is also a closing and opening system for doors and/or hatches and/or similar components, in particular of domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, said system comprising a feedback bolt or hook adapted to be rigidly fixed to said hatch, said system comprising a closing and opening device according to one of the embodiments summarized above.

Finally, the object of the present invention is a domestic appliance such as for example, a washing machine including at least one hatch, said domestic appliance comprising a device according to one of the embodiments summarized above and a feedback element rigidly fixed to said hatch.

Further possible embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further clarified below by the following detailed description of possible embodiments depicted in the drawings in which corresponding or equivalent features and/or components of the present invention are identified by the same reference numerals. It is however to be noted that the present invention in any case is not limited to the embodiments described below and depicted in the drawings; contrarily, all those variants and/or modifications of the embodiments described below and depicted in the accompanying drawings, which are clear and obvious to those skilled in the art, fall within the scope of the present invention. In the drawings:

- Figures 1 and 2A show perspective views of a device and a closing and opening system according to one embodiment of the present invention; - Figures 2B to 2F show a perspective view of the device and the system according to one embodiment of the present invention, during the respective closing steps;

- Figures 3A to 3D show perspective views of the device and the system according to one embodiment of the present invention, during the respective opening steps; Figures 4A to 4C show perspective views of the device and the system according to one embodiment of the present invention, during the opening steps and according to innovative methods;

- Figures 5A to 5D show perspective views of the device and the system according to one embodiment of the present invention, during the opening steps and according to further innovative methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is particularly adapted to be applied in the field of domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, this being the reason why the present invention is described below with particular reference to the applications thereof in the field of domestic appliances, in particular in a washing machine.

It is in any case worth noting that the possible applications of the present invention are not limited to those described below. Contrarily, the present invention can be conveniently applied in all those cases in which reliable, simple, safe closing and opening operations in compliance with the safety regulations of a hatch, are required.

The opening and closing methods by simply thrusting on the hatch from the outside were clarified previously and therefore a further description herein is omitted for reasons of brevity. Later therefore, with reference to figures 4A to 4C, the description is given of the methods of opening the hatch by means of thrusting on the hatch from the inside of the domestic appliance (or also, alternatively, by means of pulling on the hatch from the outside) offered by the peculiarities of the closing and opening device according to the embodiment of the present invention as depicted therein.

A first peculiarity relates to the locking lever 1 1 2 which, as depicted in the drawings, comprises a protrusion 140 arranged along lever 1 12 halfway between the rotation pin 126 and the free end of lever 1 12, wherein protrusion 140 has decreasing thickness substantially up to having null thickness towards pin 126 and therefore defines an inclined thrusting surface 141 .

A second peculiarity relates to the fact that the slots 142 in which the opposite end portions of pin 127 are accommodated, are oblong in shape and therefore define a secondary axis of length substantially equal to the diameter of pin 127, and a main axis of length greater than the outer diameter of pin 127, the translation in two opposite translation directions of pin 127 (and therefore of lever 1 12) therefore being possible along a direction substantially parallel to said main axis of each of the slots 142. Finally, a third peculiarity relates to the fact that device 100 comprises a fixed switching lock 143, for example fixed to the cover of the device (not depicted for reasons of clarity).

From the above, it is therefore clearly apparent that starting from the closing position (for example in figure 2F), any thrust on the hatch from inside or pulling from the outside results in cam 1 10 tbeing rotated owards the opening position (and therefore in anticlockwise direction with respect to the drawings), wherein rotating cam 1 10 in said anticlockwise rotation direction results in a thrust being exerted on protrusion 131 by pin 128, and therefore in setting lever 1 12 in translation against the resistance exerted by the safety spring 1 14 (from right to left with respect to the drawings). Obviously, during the aforesaid translation of lever 1 12, the tapered or inclined end 141 of protrusion 140 encounters the fixed switching lock 143, wherein the mutual and progressive engagement or contrast of protrusion 140 and of lock 143 results in a thrust being exerted on lever 1 12, and therefore in lever 1 12 being rotated around the rotation axis C (which rotation is allowed by the above shape of the slots 142) away from cam 1 10 and up to the release of pin 128 from protrusion 131 .

With pin 128 released from protrusion 131 (and therefore with cam 1 10 released from lever 1 12), the cam is free to rotate due to the elastic reaction of the release spring 1 13 towards the opening position and up to reaching the opening position in which hook 200 may come out of the fork of cam 1 10 and the hatch may therefore be opened.

In the following, with reference to figures 5A to 5D, the description is given of further peculiarities of the device according to the embodiment therein depicted, and also of the related automatic release methods of hook 200 from cam 1 10, and therefore of the automatic opening of the hatch.

Supposing for clarity of illustration, to begin from the closing circumstance in figure 2F, and moreover supposing that the completion of the wash cycle results in an electric impulse to solenoid 1 15, the solenoid itself would retract, thus dragging in translation the switching slide 1 16 which therefore is moved close to solenoid 1 15 (it is translated from right to left with respect to the drawings).

The end of arm 1 17 of a switching lever rotatable around a rotation axis D is accommodated in an accommodating seat of slide 1 16, wherein said arm 1 17 is integral with a second arm 1 18 of the switching lever, and wherein therefore the translation of slide 1 16 close to and away from solenoid 1 15 results in the rotation of the arms 1 17 and 1 18 being rotated in anticlockwise direction and in clockwise direction (with respect to the drawings), respectively. Moreover, during the rotation of the switching lever in anticlockwise direction (and therefore generated by the translation of slide 1 16 close to solenoid 1 15), the free end of arm 1 18 (opposite to the rotation axis D) engages and therefore rotates (in a rotation direction opposite to that of arm 18 and therefore in clockwise direction with respect to the drawings) the linear portion of spring 150, with subsequent elastic loading of the spiral portion 151 of spring 124. The free end of the linear portion 150 of spring 124 is also positioned with respect to the free end of lever 1 12 so that the linear portion 150 of spring 124 - during the aforesaid rotation thereof induced by the rotation of the switching lever - engages and drags in rotation (around axis C) lever 1 12, which therefore is released from cam 1 10.

At this point, under the thrust of spring 1 13, cam 1 10 is automatically switched in the opening position, hook 200 is automatically expelled from the fork of cam 100, the hatch therefore being automatically opened.

It has therefore been shown by the detailed description above of the embodiments of the present invention depicted in the drawings, that the present invention allows the results desired to be obtained and the drawbacks encountered in the prior art to be overcome or at least limited.

In particular, the present invention makes available a closing and opening devi ce which allows to release bolt 200 from cam 1 10 and therefore open the hatch by simply thrusting or pulling on the hatch from the inside and from the outside of the domestic appliance, respectively. The device according to one embodiment of the present invention also allows the automatic release of hook 200 from cam 1 10 and therefore the automatic opening of the hatch, for example at the end of the wash cycle.

Finally, the closing and opening device and/or system according to the present invention is characterised by contained sizes and volume, and is also applicable to domestic appliances of known type according to equally simple methods with equally affordable costs, and also without requiring substantial modifications of said domestic appliances.

Although the present invention has been clarified above by means of the detailed description of the embodiments depicted in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and depicted in the drawings; contrarily, all those variants and/or modifications of the embodiments described and depicted in the accompanying drawings, which are clear and obvious to those skilled in the art, fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, according to variants, the device according to the present invention may implement only the peculiarities adapted to allow the opening arising from thrusting or pulling on the hatch or only those adapted to allow the automatic opening of the hatch.

The scope of protection of the present invention is therefore defined by the claims.

Claims

1 . A closing and opening device (1000) for doors and/or hatches and/or similar components, in particular of domestic appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, said device comprising a closing and opening assembly (100) including a closing and opening element (1 10) adapted to be alternatively engaged and disengaged by and respectively from a feedback bolt (200) adapted to be rigidly fixed to said door or hatch, wherein said closing and opening element (1 10) is adapted to be switched by rotation around a first rotation axis (A) between a first position and a second position, wherein the mutual engagement arising from the thrust exerted by said feedback bolt (200) against said closing and opening element (1 10) results in said closing and opening element (1 10) being switched by rotation from said first position to said second position, wherein said closing and opening assembly (100) comprises a locking lever (1 12) adapted to be switched by rotation around a second rotation axis (B), and wherein the switching by rotation of said closing and opening element (1 10) from said first position to said second position results in said locking lever (1 12) being rotated between a first position and a second position in which said locking lever (1 12) engages and locks said closing and opening element (1 10) in said second closing position; characterised in that said locking lever (1 12) is further adapted to be switched by translation, and in that, with said closing and opening element (1 10) engaged and locked in said second position by said locking lever (1 12), the rotation of said closing and opening element (1 10) towards said first position results in said locking lever (1 12) being translated in a first translation direction and in the mutual disengagement of said closing and opening element (1 10) and said locking lever (1 12), so that it is possible, for said closing and opening element to switch by rotation until reaching said first position.

2. The device (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the translation of said locking lever (1 12) in said first translation direction results in said locking lever (1 12) being rotated around a third rotation axis (C) other than both said first rotation axis (A) and said second rotation axis (B).

3. The device (100) according to claim 2, characterised in that said locking lever (1 12) comprises a switching protrusion, in that said closing and opening assembly (100) comprises fixed switching means, and in that the translation of said locking lever (1 12) in said first translation direction results in said protrusion and said fixed switching means being progressively mutually engaged, thus in the rotation of said locking lever (1 12) around said third rotation axis (C), and thus in said closing and opening element (1 10) and said locking lever (1 12) being mutually disengaged.

4. The device (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that said protrusion of said locking lever (1 12) comprises an inclined and tapered engagement surface, and in that the progressive engagement of said protrusion and said fixed switching means arising from the translation of said locking lever into said first translation direction results in said locking lever (1 12) being progressively rotated around said third rotation axis (C).

5. The device (100) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises second rotatable switching means, and in that the rotation of said second rotatable switching means in a first rotation direction results in said second rotatable switching means and said locking lever (1 12) being mutually engaged, and in that during the rotation of said second switching means in said first rotation direction said locking lever (1 12) is dragged in rotation around said third rotation axis (C) and is therefore released from said closing and opening element (1 10).

6. The device (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that said second switching means are rotatable around a fourth rotation axis (D) substantially parallel to said third rotation axis (C).

7. The device (100) according to one of the claims 5 to 6, characterised in that said second rotatable switching means comprise a torsion spring including a spiral portion and two substantially linear portions which respectively extend from the opposite ends of said spiral portion, and in that the rotation of said compression spring in said first rotation direction results in a thrust being exerted on said locking lever from one of said substantially linear portions of said spring, and therefore in said locking lever (1 12) being put in rotation around said third rotation axis.

8. The device (100) according to one of the claims from 5 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a switching lever rotatable around a fifth rotation axis (E) substantially parallel to said fourth rotation axis (D), and in that the rotation of said switching lever in a second rotation direction opposite to said first rotation direction of said second rotation means, results in said second switching means being rotated in said first rotation direction.

9. The device (100) according to the previous claim 8, characterised in that it comprises a translatable switching slide, and in that the translation of said switching slide in a first own translation direction results in said switching lever being put in rotation in said second rotation direction and therefore in said second switching means being put in rotation in said first rotation direction.

10. The device (100) according to the previous claim 9, characterised in that it comprises electrical means for switching by translation said switching slide.

1 1 . The device according to claim 10, characterised in that said electrical means comprise a solenoid.

12. Closing and opening system for doors and/or hatches and/or similar components, in particular domestic of appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and similar domestic appliances, said system comprising a feedback bolt (200) adapted to be rigidly fixed to said door or hatch, characterised in that said system comprises a closing and opening device (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 1 1 .

13. A domestic appliance such as, for example, a washing machine including at least one door or hatch, characterised in that said domestic appliance comprises a device (100) according to one of the claims from 1 to 1 1 and a feedback element (200) rigidly fixed to said door.