To facilitate opening/closing operation of a cover in a cover opening/ closing apparatus where the cover is automatically opened and closed with a motor driven part by setting opening setting time in response to the time from full close to full open measured by a controller, and interrupting the motor driven part when the open time of the cover exceeds the open setting time.

A burning apparatus 1 for burning an article 2 to be burned such as wet refuse includes a container 5 to which burners 3, 4 are fixed, and a smokeless chamber 7 for making waste gas smokeless with a smokeless burner 6. An upper opening 9 in the container 5 is closed with a cover 13, and the cover 13 is opened and closed by a winch motor 33. In this case, an open detection switch 37 and a close detection switch 38 are provided, and output signals therefrom are inputted into a controller. Open setting time is set in response to the time from full close to full open of the cover measured by the controller, and the motor 33 is interrupted when the open operation time exceeds the open setting time in the state when the open operation switch is on and the open detection switch 37 is off.