40 and the needle bar 6 are supported on the needle bar support 34 in parallel a releasing lever 41 is supported by the support shaft 40 so that the releasing lever 41 can be moved rotationally a flared portion 411 formed at one end of the releasing lever 41 can contact an overhang portion 311 of the needle bar pawl body 31 see fig4 further a pin like cam follower 412 that protrudes downward from the other end of the releasing lever 41 can contact the needle bar releasing cam portion 372 of the cam body 37 see fig4 a coil portion of a torsion coil spring 42 is supported around the support shaft 40 a fixing end extending from the coil portion of the torsion coil spring 42 is fixed to the flared portion 411 of the releasing lever 41 to urge the releasing lever 41 in a direction in which the cam follower 412 can contact with the needle bar releasing cam portion 372 therefore when the cam body 37 is rotated by the pulse motor 43 the needle bar releasing cam portion 372 contacts the cam follower 412 so that the releasing lever 41 may be moved clockwise around the support shaft 40 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 42 see fig4 and 5 therefore the flared portion 411 presses the overhang portion 311 of the needle bar pawl body 31 in the right hand direction in fig4 and 5 consequently the needle bar pawl body 31 is pivotally moved in a direction in which the engagement pawl portion 312 is disengaged from the locking portion 321 of the needle bar guide bracket 32 see fig6 and 7 as such the needle bar pawl support 30 and.