Abstract: A device is proposed for opening and closing an opening in a wall by use of a sliding door, in particular for vehicles. The sliding door is arranged so as to be slidable essentially parallel to the wall by a guide device and drivable by a linear drive which comprises a linearly constructed element and a driving element engaged therewith. The linearly constructed element of the linear drive and a slide rail belonging to the guide device on the one hand are attached to the wall, and the driving element of the linear drive and a slider belonging to the guide device and engaged with the slide rail on the other hand are attached to the sliding door. The slider is attached to the sliding door by a joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device provided with a driving unit (1) which performs the shift and has a linear drive (8,12) provided with an electric motor (5), and a guide device (9,11). The driven member, formed to be linear, of the linear drive (12) and a member of the guide device (9) are fastened on one hand to the door (3), and the driving member of the linear drive (5,7,8) and the other member of the guide device (11) are fastened on the other hand to a mounting (6) which is supported by way of a support arrangement (22, 23, 24, 25, 26) connected to the wall(4). Said support arrangement converts a movement of the mounting substantially perpendicular to the wall into a swinging movement. A locking unit driven by an electric motor is also provided which locks and unlocks the sliding door by performing a movement perpendicular to the wall when it is positioned to close the opening. Control means which has position switches controls the driving and locking unit.