Actuator unit and door latch device provided with actuator unit

1. An actuator unit comprising a drive gear, which is rotatable by 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 either side of the drive gear, and a second projecting portion, which is formed on a second rotational surface that is the other rotational surface of the rotational surfaces on either side of the drive gear,

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 pressing surfaces, a first one of which is brought into abutment with the first engagement arm in a first rotational direction of the drive gear, and locking surfaces, a first one of 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 surfaces and the locking surfaces being provided so as to be aligned alternately at intervals along a circumferential direction of the drive gear,

wherein the second projecting portion has pressing surfaces, a first one of which is brought into abutment with the second engagement arm in the second rotational direction of the drive gear, and locking surfaces, a first one of which is brought into abutment with a rotational end face of the second engagement arm in the first rotational direction, the pressing surfaces and the locking surfaces of the second projecting portion being provided so as to be aligned alternately at intervals along the circumferential direction of the drive gear, each of the pressing surfaces of the second projecting portion being provided in back-to-back relation to a corresponding one of the locking surfaces of the first projecting portion, and each of the locking surfaces of the second projecting portion being provided in back-to-back relation to a corresponding one of the pressing surfaces 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 first pressing surface of the second projecting portion is brought into abutment with the second engagement arm, whereby the lock lever rotates to the unlocking position, and subsequently, the first 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 first pressing surface of the first projecting portion is brought into abutment with the first engagement arm, whereby the lock lever rotates to the locking position, and subsequently, the first 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 first 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 first locking surface of the second projecting portion, which is provided in back-to-back relation to the first 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 first 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 first locking surface of the first projecting portion, which is provided in back-to-back relation to the first pressing surface of the second projecting portion which follows the first locking surface of the second projecting portion in the second rotational direction, is situated along the first rotational locus.

2. The actuator unit according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the case where the drive gear is in the first stop position, the first pressing surface of the first projecting portion, which follows in the first rotational direction the first locking surface of the first projecting portion which is in abutment with the rotational end face of the first engagement arm, intersects an extension of the first rotational locus, and

wherein in the case where the drive gear is in the second stop position, the first pressing surface of the second projecting portion, which follows in the second rotational direction the first locking surface of the second projecting portion which is in abutment with the rotational end face of the second engagement arm, intersects an extension of the second rotational locus.

3. The actuator unit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first projecting portion has three first tooth portions which are disposed at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the drive gear, and each of the pressing surfaces is provided on an end face of each of the first tooth portions so as to be oriented towards the first rotational direction, while each of the locking surfaces is provided on an end face of each of the first tooth portions so as to be oriented towards the second rotational direction, and

wherein the second projecting portion has three second tooth portions which are disposed at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the drive gear, and each of the pressing surfaces is provided on an end face of each of the second tooth portions so as to be oriented towards the second rotational direction, while each of the locking surfaces is provided on an end face of each of the second tooth portions so as to be is oriented towards the first rotational direction.

4. The actuator unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion are disposed back-to-back into a symmetrical configuration on either side of the drive gear.

5. A door latch device, characterized by comprising the actuator unit according to claim 1 .