Rotary cutter for mowing machine

A rotary cutter comprising:

• a cylindrical case body (1) including a central axis, an outer peripheral wall and an inner cylindrical bearing (4) which are coaxial with the central axis, the outer peripheral wall having a pair of guide through holes (26) for a cord (27) to be opposite to each other, and the inner cylindrical bearing (4) having a pair of elongated holes (3) extending along the central axis and opposing with each other;
• a cylindrical take-up member (6) having an outer peripheral surface, on which the cord is wound, and inner peripheral surface, in which said bearing (4) is coaxially and slidably inserted;
• a main shaft (20) coaxially and slidable inserted in the take-up member (6) and having a pair of through pin-holes (21) opposing with each other;
• first and second guide members formed in the inner peripheral surface of the take-up member and having a pair of groups of first and second pawls arranged to face with each other along the central axis with each other to define a circular space therebetween and a portion between the adjacent pawls, the first pawls and second pawls to be shifted in the circumferential direction;
• a stopper pin (22) inserted through the pin-holes (21) and elongated holes (3), and having opposite end portions positioned in the circular space;
• and
• means (25) for biasing the main shaft (20) to abut the end portions of the stopper pin onto the portion of the first guide member between the adjacent pawls, the first and second pawls holding the stopper pin therebetween when the main shaft is axially moved against the force of the biasing means, wherein said cylindrical take-up member (6) includes a through hole (12) having a pair of openings exposed in the outer peripheral surface of the take-up member, through which the intermediate portion of the cord passes so that the cord is held by the take-up member at the intermediate portion, a line passing the paired openings being shifted from a line of a diameter of the take-up member.