An actuator unit comprising a drive gear, which is rotatable by driving a motor, and a lock lever, which is rotatable on a predetermined shaft center, the actuator unit being configured to shift a door latch device between a locking state and an unlocking state by rotating the lock lever between a locking position and an unlocking position either by driving the motor or by operating manual control means provided on a door,
- wherein the drive gear has a first projecting portion, which is formed on a first rotational surface that is one of rotational surfaces on both sides thereof, and a second projecting portion, which is formed on a second rotational surface that is the other rotational surface,
- wherein the lock lever has a first engagement arm, which is opposed to the first rotational surface of the drive gear so as to be brought into abutment with the first projecting portion, and a second engagement arm, which is opposed to the second rotational surface so as to be brought into abutment with the second projecting portion,
- wherein the first projecting portion has a pressing surface, which is brought into abutment with the first engagement arm in a first rotational direction of the drive gear, and a locking surface, which is brought into abutment with a rotational end face of the first engagement arm in a second rotational direction which is opposite to the first rotational direction, the pressing surface and the locking surface being provided in a plural number so as to be aligned alternately at intervals along a circumferential direction of the drive gear,
- wherein the second projecting portion has a pressing surface, which is brought into abutment with the second engagement arm in the second rotational direction of the drive gear, and a locking surface, which is brought into abutment with a rotational end face of the second engagement arm in the first rotational direction, the pressing surface and the locking surface of the second projecting portion being provided in a plural number so as to be aligned alternately at intervals along the circumferential direction of the drive gear, the pressing surface of the second projecting portion being provided back-to-back in relation to the locking surface of the first projecting portion, and the locking surface of the second projecting portion being provided back-to-back in relation to the pressing surface of the first projecting portion,
- wherein in a case where the lock lever is in the locking position, when the drive gear is rotated in the second rotational direction by the motor, the pressing surface of the second projecting portion is brought into abutment with the second engagement arm in a rotational direction thereof, whereby the lock lever rotates to the unlocking position, and subsequently, the locking surface of the first projecting portion is brought into abutment with the rotational end face of the first engagement arm, whereby the drive gear stops in a first stop position,
- wherein in a case where the lock lever is in the unlocking position, when the drive gear is rotated in the first rotational direction by the motor, the pressing surface of the first projecting portion is brought into abutment with the first engagement arm in a rotational direction thereof, whereby the lock lever rotates to the locking position, and subsequently, when the locking surface of the second projecting portion is brought into abutment with the rotational end face of the second engagement arm, whereby the drive gear stops in a second stop position,
- wherein in a case where the drive gear is in the first stop position, the locking surface of the first projecting portion which is in abutment with the rotational end face of the first engagement arm is situated along an arc-shaped first rotational locus of the rotational end face of the first engagement arm, and the locking surface of the second projecting portion, which is provided back-to-back in relation to the pressing surface of the first projecting portion which follows the locking surface thereof in the first rotational direction, is situated along an arc-shaped second rotational locus of the rotational end face of the second engagement arm which is concentric with the first rotational locus, and
- wherein in a case where the drive gear is in the second stop position, the locking surface of the second projecting portion which is in abutment with the rotational end face of the second engagement arm is situated along the second rotational locus, and the locking surface of the first projecting portion, which is provided back-to-back in relation to the pressing surface of the second projecting portion which follows the locking surface thereof in the second rotational direction, is situated along the first rotational locus.