Door opening and closing system

A door state changing apparatus assists a user to move a door between a closed state where the door is positioned adjacent a door frame and an open state. The door state changing apparatus includes a permanent magnet provided on the door and having a permanent magnetic field. An electromagnet is located on the door frame adjacent the permanent magnet with the door in a closed state and is energisable to provide a magnetic field which reinforces the permanent magnetic field of the permanent magnet or to provide a magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field of the permanent magnet. A door position detector detects the open or closed state of the door and a user interface detects the presence of a user attempting to alter that state. A controller receives input from the door position detector and the user interface and energises the electromagnet to provide a reinforcing magnetic field if a user is attempting to move the door from an open state to a closed state and provides an opposing magnetic field to the permanent magnetic field of the permanent magnet if the door is closed and the user interface indicates that a user is attempting to open the door. The invention is particularly adapted for use in a domestic refrigerator.