A lever unit is provided with a start lever rotatably provided on a securing shaft, a ratchet mechanism that restricts a movement direction of the start lever to one direction, and a reset mechanism that releases the restriction on the movement direction by the ratchet mechanism, wherein the ratchet mechanism is provided with a rotation plate that rotates integrally with the start lever and on which multiple teeth are formed on an outer edge thereof, and multiple latch pieces having engaging portions that mesh with tooth depression portions between the teeth of the rotation plate, wherein the multiple latch pieces are set in an array along an outer edge of the rotation plate so that each time the rotation plate moves a single pitch portion of the teeth, the engaging portions of all of the latch pieces mesh alternately with one of the tooth depression portions.