Opening and closing apparatus

An opening and closing apparatus for a fuel lid, comprising:

• a pushrod having a securing portion for securing the fuel lid, wherein the pushrod is rotatable about a center line so as to shift between a locking posture where the securing portion is brought into engagement with the fuel lid and an unlocking posture where the securing portion is disengaged from the fuel lid, and wherein the pushrod is also movable in axial directions so as to reciprocate between a pushed-in position where the fuel lid is closed and a pushed-out position where the fuel lid is opened;
• a follower assembled to the pushrod so as to rotate relatively to the pushrod about the center line and to move together with the pushrod in the axial directions;
• a biasing member configured to bias the pushrod in a direction in which the pushrod is pushed out;
• and
• a case configured to support the pushrod, the follower and the biasing member,
• wherein the case comprises:
• a rod cam portion configured to rotate the pushrod to the locking posture in response to a forward motion of the pushrod from the pushed-out position to the pushed-in position and to rotate the pushrod to the unlocking posture in response to a backward motion of the pushrod from the pushed-in position to the pushed-out position;
• and
• a follower cam portion configured to rotate the follower in a predetermined rotational direction about the center line in response to the forward motion and the backward motion of the pushrod, and
• wherein the follower cam portion comprises a plurality of follower securing portions configured to secure the follower so as to hold the pushrod in the pushed-in position against biasing force exerted by the biasing member, wherein the plurality of follower securing portions are provided at intervals of a rotational angle of the follower rotating about the center line in association with one reciprocating movement of the pushrod between the pushed-in position and the pushed-out position.