Abstract:
A rear discharge type mower apparatus includes a blade housing, a support shaft supported by the blade housing, a rotatable blade supported by the support shaft, and a front guide plate having a shape extending substantially along the rotation path of a corresponding blade. The front guide plate forms an opening for ejecting cut grass rearwardly and has a downstream plate portion located in a downstream position with respect to a rotating direction of the corresponding blade and having an end defining one end of the opening. The downstream plate portion extends rearwardly of the blade housing and a distance from a center of rotation to the downstream plate portion is progressively decreased toward a rear end of the blade housing. At least a part of the downstream plate portion is located radially inside of the rotation path of the corresponding blade.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/515,496, filed Sep. 1, 2006, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2005-284402 and 2006-004926 filed on Sep. 29, 2005 and Jan. 12, 2006, respectively. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a rear discharge type mower apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventional examples of the mower apparatus include a mower apparatus that is described in JP H01-25547A (third and forth sections,  FIG. 2 ). The unit disclosed herein is provided with a guide plate  22  for guiding mowed grass that has been mowed with a cutting blade member  7  (a rotating blade) so as to discharge the mowed grass to the rear. The guide plate  22  is constituted by a planer arc portion  23  that encloses the outer circumference portion of a rotational locus of the cutting blade member  7 , and a linear guide portion  24  that is circumscribed about the arc portion  23  on the same axis as that of the rotational locus of the cutting blade member  7 . The guide plate  22  is positioned outside a mowing process area of the cutting blade member  7  when viewed from above or below a mower deck  10  (a cutting blade housing) throughout the entire guide plate  22 . The linear guide portion  24  of the guide plate  22  is inclined with respect to the fore-and-aft direction of the mower deck  10  (a cutting blade housing). 
         [0006]    In the conventional mower apparatus described above, the guide plate is positioned outside a rotation area of the rotating blade. In order to precisely discharge mowed grass to the rear, it is necessary to include a rotating blade with a high wind-generating ability such that wind generated by rotation of the rotating blade is strong and thus easily flows along the guide plate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, a rear discharge type apparatus includes a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall. A support shaft supported by the blade housing extends vertically. A rotatable blade is supported by the support shaft and a tip end of the blade forms a rotation path. A front guide plate is located rearwardly of the front wall and has a shape extending substantially along the rotation path of a corresponding blade forming an opening for ejecting cut grass rearwardly. The front guide plate has a downstream plate portion located in a downstream position with respect to a rotating direction of the corresponding blade and has an end defining one end of the opening. The downstream plate portion extends rearwardly of the blade housing such that cut grass transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the corresponding blade is moved away from an adjacent blade. A distance from a center of rotation to the downstream plate portion is progressively decreased toward a rear end of the blade housing, and at least a part of the downstream plate portion is located radially inside of the rotation path of the corresponding blade. A lower edge of the downstream plate is closer to the top plate than the corresponding blade. 
         [0008]    In a further embodiment, a rear discharge type mower apparatus includes a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall. At least two support shafts are supported by the blade housing and extend vertically. A rotatable blade is supported by the support shaft and a tip end of the blade forms a rotation path. A first front guide plate and a second front guide plate are located rearwardly of the front wall and have a shape extending substantially along a rotation path of a corresponding blade. A first auxiliary plate extends straight from a rear end connecting the first front guide plate to the second front guide plate through a region radially inside the rotation path of the corresponding blade to a rear region of the blade housing. A second auxiliary plate extends from a forward region of the second front guide plate through a region radially inside the rotation path of the corresponding blade to a rear region of the blade housing. The second auxiliary plate includes a curved portion and a linear portion extending rearwardly of the curved portion. The linear portion and the first auxiliary plate extend parallel to each other and have openings formed by rearward ends thereof and opposed to a mowed grass discharge opening, respectively. Lower edges of the first and second auxiliary plates are closer to the top plate than the corresponding blade. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an entire riding type mower; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the entire riding type mower; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a mower apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an arrangement section of a center rotating blade of the mower apparatus; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mower apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the mower apparatus with rear guide plates are attached; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the mower apparatus in a second embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the mower apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view showing the ground contacting slider; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the mower apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view showing the mower apparatus in its erect position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12A  is a side view showing the rear roller in its locked position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12B  is a side view showing the roller in its unlocked position; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a plan view showing the roller. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described based on the drawings. 
         [0024]    While a number of embodiments are described below, it is to be understood that one or more features in one embodiment may be combined with one or more features in other embodiments without falling out of the scope of the present invention. Also, while terms such as a “guide plate” and a “partition plate” are used in the specification, they do not necessarily represent an independent component. For example, two guide plates (or one guide plate and one partition plate) may function as one guide plate and thus may be called a guide plate. 
         [0025]    In a first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a riding type mower is configured such that: a mower apparatus  10  is connected via a link mechanism  6  to a front transmission case  5  constituting the front portion of a frame of a self-propelled chassis, wherein the chassis is provided with a pair of left and right front wheels  1  that can be driven, a pair of left and right rear wheels  2  that can be steered, a drive portion that includes an engine  3  in the rear portion of the chassis, and a driving portion that includes a driving seat  4  in front of this drive portion; and drive force from the engine  3  is transmitted from a power take-off shaft  7  provided in the front transmission case  5  via a rotating shaft  8  to the mower apparatus  10 . 
         [0026]    This mower is for mowing lawn or grass. When an elevation cylinder (not shown) that is provided inside the front transmission case  5  is extended and contracted in conjunction with the link mechanism  6 , the link mechanism  6  is swung up and down with respect to the front transmission case  5 , and vertically moves the mower apparatus  10  between a lowered operation state in which contact gauge wheels  11  are in contact with the ground surface and an raised non-operation state in which the contact gauge wheels  1  have been raised off the ground surface. When the self-propelled chassis travels while the mower apparatus  10  is in the lowered operation state, the mower apparatus  10  mows lawn or grass with a plurality of rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that are driven to rotate inside a cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0027]    Describing the mower apparatus  10  in more detail, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , the mower apparatus  10  includes, for example: the cutting blade housing  12  that has brackets  17  to which rollers  16  for surmounting obstacles are rotatively attached, at the lateral-center portion on the front end side, and the lateral-end portions on the rear end side; rotating shafts  18  that extend downward in the cutting blade housing, from a plurality of locations that are arranged in the lateral direction in the cutting blade housing, on a top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 , toward the internal portion of the cutting blade housing  12 ; and the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that are supported by the lower end portions of the rotating shafts  18  so as to rotate together therewith. 
         [0028]    The cutting blade housing  12  includes: the top plate  12   a ; a front wall plate  12   b  that extends downward in the cutting blade housing from the mountain-shaped front edge portion of the top plate  12   a ; and side wall plates  12   c  that extend downward in the cutting blade housing from the left and right side edge portions of the top plate  12   a . The rear portion of the cutting blade housing  12  is provided with a mowed grass discharge port  19  that is defined by the rear edge portion of the top plate  12   a  and the rear end portions of rear guide plates  30  and  31  positioned at the lateral-end portions on the rear end side inside the cutting blade housing, substantially throughout the entire lateral width of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0029]    The rotating support shaft  18  that supports the center rotating blade  14  positioned at the center portion in the lateral width direction in the cutting blade housing among the plurality of rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  is moved in conjunction with an input gear mechanism  20  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is positioned on the upper face side on the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 . The rotating shafts  18  of all of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  are moved in conjunction with a transmission belt  21  (see  FIG. 2 ) at portions projecting toward the upper face of the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 . The drive force from the rotating shaft  8  is transmitted by the input gear mechanism  20  toward the upper end of the rotating support shaft  18  of the center rotating blade  14 . The drive force of the rotating support shaft  18  is transmitted via the transmission belt  21  toward the upper ends of the rotating shafts  18  of the side rotating blades  13  and  15  positioned on the laterally outer side in the cutting blade housing among the plurality of rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . Accordingly, the rotating shafts  18  are driven to rotate, and thus the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  are driven so as to rotate in rotation directions A shown in  FIG. 3  about axes P of the rotating shafts  18  that are vertical in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the internal portion of the cutting blade housing  12  is provided with: front guide plates  32  that are arranged in front of and close to rotation areas B (an area enclosed by the rotation path formed with the tip end of each of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 ) of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 ; a guide plate  33  (downstream plate portion) for the side blade that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side where the center rotating blade  14  is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the side rotating blade  13  that is one of the pair of side rotating blades  13  and  15 ; a curved partition plate  34  that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side where the guide plate  33  is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the center rotating blade  14 ; a linear guide plate  35  (auxiliary plate) that has one end connected to the rear end (first end)  34   c  of the curved partition plate  34 ; a guide plate  36  for the center blade that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side opposite to the side where the curved partition plate  34  is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the center rotating blade  14 ; a curved partition plate  37  that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side where the guide plate  36  (with a second end  36   b ) is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the side rotating blade  15  that is the other of the pair of side rotating blades  13  and  15 ; a linear guide plate  38  (auxiliary plate) that has one end connected to the rear end of the curved partition plate  37 ; a rear curved guide plate  39  that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side opposite to the side where the curved partition plate  37  is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the other side rotating blade  15 ; the rear guide plate  30  that is disposed outside, in the rear and lateral direction, the rotation area B of the one side rotating blade  13 ; and the rear guide plate  31  that is disposed outside, in the rear and lateral direction, the rotation area B of the other side rotating blade  15 . The first end  34   c  and the second end  36   b  define an opening OP that opens rearwardly for ejecting cut grass rearwardly. 
         [0031]    The front guide plates  32 , the guide plates  33 ,  35 ,  36 ,  38 , and the partition plates  34  and  37  are made of band plates, and supported on the lower face of the top plate  12   a  such that the lateral width direction of the band plates is vertical in the cutting blade housing and such that the lateral width of the band plates is projected downward in the cutting blade housing from the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the front guide plates  32  are formed in the shape of arcs along the outer circumferences of the rotation areas B of the side rotating blades  13  and  15  and the center rotating blade  14 , in front of and close to the rotation areas B when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The front guide plates  32  are configured such that: the end portions of the pair of adjacent front guide plates  32  and  32  are formed in a continuous line; and the lower ends of the front guide plates  32  are arranged at an above-ground height substantially equal to that of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    The guide plate  33  (downstream plate portion) corresponding to the one side rotating blade  13  is disposed at a higher position than the one side rotating blade  13  throughout the entire guide plate  33 . The guide plate  33  is formed in the shape of an arc when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. A front end portion  33   a , in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing, of the guide plate  33  is positioned outside and close to the rotation area B of the one side rotating blade  13 . A rear end portion  33   b , in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing, of the guide plate  33  is disposed so as to enter the rotation area B of the one side rotating blade  13  when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. Thus, the guide plate  33  guides discharged wind that has been generated by wind-generating vanes F positioned on the rear sides on blade portions C on both ends of the side rotating blade  13 , and mowed grass that is transported by this discharged wind such that they hardly leak toward the center rotating blade  14  and such that they flow toward the rear in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0034]    The guide plate  36  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14  is disposed at a higher position than the center rotating blade  14  throughout the entire guide plate  36 . The guide plate  36  is formed in the shape of an arc when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The entire guide plate  36  is along the outer circumference of the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  and is disposed outside and close to the rotation area B. Thus, the guide plate  36  guides discharged wind that has been generated by wind-generating vanes F positioned on the rear sides on blade portions C on both ends of the center rotating blade  14 , and mowed grass that is transported by this discharged wind such that they hardly leak toward the side rotating blade  15  and such that they flow toward the rear in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0035]    The curved partition plate  34  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14  includes a front end portion  34   a  that also serves as the front end portion  33   a  of the guide plate  33 , and a rear end portion  34   b  that has a front end connected to the front end portion  34   a  and that is formed in the shape of an arc when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The curved partition plate  34  is disposed at a higher position than the center rotating blade  14  throughout the entire portion thereof. Furthermore, the front end portion  34   a  of the curved partition plate  34  is disposed between the rotation area B of the one side rotating blade  13  and the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 . The rear end portion  34   b  of the curved partition plate  34  is along the outer circumference of the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  and is disposed outside and close to the rotation area B. Accordingly, the curved partition plate  34  partitions off the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  such that wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the center rotating blade  14  hardly leaks out of the rotation area B. 
         [0036]    The linear guide plate  35  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14  is formed in the shape of a straight line when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing, and is disposed at a higher position than the center rotating blade  14  in the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  substantially throughout the entire linear guide plate  35 . The linear guide plate  35  linearly extends toward the front in the cutting blade housing, from the rear end side of the curved partition plate  34  in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing, toward the inner portion of the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 , and is disposed so as to guide mowed grass such that it flows toward the rear in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0037]    The curved partition plate  37  corresponding to the other side rotating blade  15  includes a front end portion  37   a  that also serves as a front end portion  36   a  of the guide plate  36  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14 , and a rear end portion  37   b  that has a front end connected to the front end portion  37   a  and that is formed in the shape of an arc when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The curved partition plate  37  is disposed at a higher position than the side rotating blade  15  throughout the entire portion thereof. Furthermore, the front end portion  37   a  of the curved partition plate  37  is along the outer circumference of the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  and is disposed outside and close to the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 . The rear end portion  37   b  of the curved partition plate  37  is along the outer circumference of the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15  and is disposed outside and close to the rotation area B. Accordingly, the curved partition plate  37  partitions off the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15  from the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  such that wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the side rotating blade  15  hardly leaks out of the rotation area B. 
         [0038]    The linear guide plate  38  corresponding to the other side rotating blade  15  is formed in the shape of a straight line when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing, and is disposed at a higher position than the side rotating blade  15  in the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15  substantially throughout the entire the linear guide plate  38 . The linear guide plate  38  linearly extends toward the front in the cutting blade housing, from the rear end side of the curved partition plate  37  in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing, toward the inner portion of the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15 , and is disposed so as to guide mowed grass such that it flows toward the rear in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0039]    The rear curved guide plate  39  is formed in the shape of an arc when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The entire rear curved guide plate  39  is along the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15  and is disposed outside and close to the rotation area B, so as to guide mowed grass such that it flows toward the rear in the cutting blade housing. 
         [0040]    Briefly describing, the mower apparatus  10  is configured as a rear discharge type mower apparatus: that is provided with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that can be driven to rotate in the rotation directions A about the axes P that are vertical in the cutting blade housing, at a plurality of locations that are arranged in the lateral direction in the cutting blade housing, inside the cutting blade housing  12 ; that mows lawn or grass with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that rotate; and that discharges mowed lawn or grass (hereinafter, simply referred to as “mowed grass”) through the mowed grass discharge port  19  in the rear portion of the cutting blade housing to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12  with discharged wind that has been generated by rotation of the wind-generating vanes F of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
         [0041]    More specifically, the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  are driven to rotate in the rotation directions A about the axes P of the rotating shafts  18  that are vertical in the cutting blade housing, by the drive force of the rotating shafts  18 . Lawn or grass that has entered the rotation areas B of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  as the self-propelled chassis travels is mowed with the pair of blade portions C of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . The one side rotating blade  13  is driven to rotate so as to move from the front end side to the rear end side of the guide plate  33  with respect to the guide plate  33 . The center rotating blade  14  is driven to rotate so as to move from the rear end side to the front end side of the curved partition plate  34  with respect to the curved partition plate  34 . The other side rotating blade  15  is driven to rotate so as to move from the rear end side to the front end side of the curved partition plate  37  with respect to the curved partition plate  37 . At that time, the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  generate discharged wind with the wind-generating vanes F positioned on the rear sides on the blade portions C on both ends of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
         [0042]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the one side rotating blade  13  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the side rotating blade  13  in the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  13 , by being guided by the rear guide plate  30 , the front guide plate  32 , and the guide plate  33 , and being suppressed by the guide plate  33  from leaking toward the center rotating blade  14 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind flows from a portion between the rear guide plate  30  and the guide plate  33  toward the mowed grass discharge port  19 , and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the side rotating blade  13  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the side rotating blade  13 , guided by the guide plates  30 ,  32 , and  33 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0043]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the center rotating blade  14  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the center rotating blade  14  in the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 , by being guided by the curved partition plate  34 , the front guide plate  32 , and the guide plate  36 , being suppressed by the curved partition plate  34  from leaking toward the side rotating blade  13 , and being suppressed by the guide plate  36  from leaking toward the side rotating blade  15 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind flows from a portion between the rear ends of the linear guide plate  35  and the guide plate  36  toward the mowed grass discharge port  19  by being guided by the linear guide plate  35  and the guide plate  36  toward the rear in the cutting blade housing, and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the center rotating blade  14  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the center rotating blade  14 , guided by the guide plates  32 ,  35 , and  36 , and the partition plate  34 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0044]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the other side rotating blade  15  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the side rotating blade  15  in the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15 , by being guided by the curved partition plate  37 , the front guide plate  32 , and the rear curved guide plate  39 , and being suppressed by the curved partition plate  37  from leaking toward the center rotating blade  14 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind flows from a portion between the rear ends of the linear guide plate  38  and the rear curved guide plate  39  toward the mowed grass discharge port  19  by being guided by the linear guide plate  38  and the rear curved guide plate  39  toward the rear in the cutting blade housing, and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the side rotating blade  15  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the side rotating blade  15 , guided by the partition plate  37 , and the guide plates  32  and  39 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0045]    The cutting blade housing  12  is configured such that as shown in  FIG. 6 , rear guide plates  40  corresponding to the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  can be attached instead of the guide plates  33  and  36 , the curved partition plates  34  and  37 , and the linear guide plates  35  and  38 . 
         [0046]    The rear guide plates  40  are formed in the shape of arcs along the outer circumferences of the rotation areas B of their corresponding rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 , behind and close to the rotation areas B. The rear guide plates  40  are arranged at a higher position than the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  throughout the entire portion thereof, and thus mowed grass can pass below the rear guide plates  40  and flow out to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0047]    When the rear guide plates  40  are attached, the mower apparatus  10  serves as a mower apparatus for mulching in which mowed grass that has been mowed with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  is guided by the front guide plates  32  and the rear guide plates  40 , rotatively flows and retains in the rotation areas B of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 , is finely cut with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 , and then discharged out of the cutting blade housing. 
         [0048]    In a second embodiment,  FIG. 7  shows the mower apparatus  10  according to another embodiment. In this mower apparatus  10 , the cutting blade housing  12 , the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 , and the structure for supporting and driving the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  are the same as those in the mower apparatus  10  in the first embodiment, but the structure for discharging mowed grass is different from that in the mower apparatus  10  in the first embodiment. Thus, only the structure for discharging mowed grass is described. 
         [0049]    In this mower apparatus  10 , the internal portion of the cutting blade housing  12  is provided with: the front guide plates  32  that are arranged in front of and close to the rotation areas B of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 ; a guide plate  45  (auxiliary plate) for the side blade that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, the end portion of the front guide plate  32  on the side where the center rotating blade  14  is positioned, wherein this front guide plate  32  corresponds to the side rotating blade  13  that is one of the pair of side rotating blades  13  and  15 ; a guide plate  46  (auxiliary plate) for the center blade that is disposed behind, with respect to the cutting blade housing, an intermediate portion of the front guide plate  32  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14 ; the rear guide plate  30  that is disposed outside, in the rear and lateral direction, the rotation area B of the one side rotating blade  13 ; and the rear guide plate  31  that is disposed outside, in the rear and lateral direction, the rotation area B of the other side rotating blade  15 . 
         [0050]    The guide plates  32 ,  45 , and  46  are made of band plates, and supported on the lower face of the top plate  12   a  such that the lateral width direction of the band plates is vertical in the cutting blade housing and such that the lateral width of the band plates is projected downward in the cutting blade housing from the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0051]    The guide plate  45  corresponding to the one side rotating blade  13  is disposed at a higher position than the side rotating blade  13  throughout the entire guide plate  45 . The guide plate  45  is formed in the shape of a straight line in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing throughout the entire length of the guide plate  45 . The front end portion of the guide plate  45  and the front guide plate  32  are formed in a continuous line. A front end portion  45   a  of the guide plate  45  passes through the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  13  in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. A rear end portion  45   b  of the guide plate  45  projects to the rear from the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  13 . 
         [0052]    The guide plate  46  corresponding to the center rotating blade  14  is disposed at a higher position than the center rotating blade  14  throughout the entire guide plate  46 . The guide plate  46  is formed such that: a curved portion  46   a  that is curved when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing is provided on the front end of the guide plate  46 ; and a linear portion  46   b  in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing is provided on the rear end of the guide plate  46 . The entire curved portion  46   a  and the front portion of the linear portion  46   b  pass through the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14  in the fore-and-aft direction in the cutting blade housing when viewed from above or below the cutting blade housing. The rear portion of the linear portion  46   b  projects to the rear from the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 . 
         [0053]    The mower apparatus  10  is configured as a rear discharge type mower apparatus: that is provided with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that can be driven to rotate in the rotation directions A about the axes P that are vertical in the cutting blade housing, at a plurality of locations that are arranged in the lateral direction in the cutting blade housing, inside the cutting blade housing  12 ; that mows lawn or grass with the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  that rotate; and that discharges mowed grass through the mowed grass discharge port  19  in the rear portion of the cutting blade housing to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12  with discharged wind that has been generated by rotation of the wind-generating vanes F of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
         [0054]    More specifically, the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  are driven to rotate in the rotation directions A about the axes P of the rotating shafts  18  that are vertical in the cutting blade housing, by the drive force of the rotating shafts  18 . Lawn or grass that has entered the rotation areas B of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  as the self-propelled chassis travels is mowed with the pair of blade portions C of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . At that time, the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15  generate discharged wind with the wind-generating vanes F positioned on the rear sides on the blade portions C on both ends of the rotating blades  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
         [0055]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the one side rotating blade  13  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the side rotating blade  13  in the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  13 , by being guided by the rear guide plate  30 , the front guide plate  32 , and the guide plate  45 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind is guided by the guide plate  45  toward the rear in the cutting blade housing, and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the side rotating blade  13  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the side rotating blade  13 , guided by the front guide plate  32  and the guide plate  45 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0056]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the center rotating blade  14  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the center rotating blade  14  in the rotation area B of the center rotating blade  14 , by being guided by the front guide plate  32  and the guide plate  46 , and being suppressed by the guide plate  46  from leaking toward the side rotating blade  15 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind flows toward the mowed grass discharge port  19  by being guided by the guide plate  46  toward the rear in the cutting blade housing, and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the center rotating blade  14  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the center rotating blade  14 , guided by the front guide plate  32  and the guide plate  46 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0057]    Discharged wind that has been generated by the wind-generating vanes F of the other side rotating blade  15  flows so as to rotate in the rotation direction A of the side rotating blade  15  in the rotation area B of the side rotating blade  15 , by being guided by the front guide plate  32  and the rear guide plate  31 . In the rear portion of the rotation area B, the discharged wind flows toward the mowed grass discharge port  19  by being guided by the rear guide plate  31 , and then flows out through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . Mowed grass that has been mowed with the side rotating blade  15  is transported by discharged wind that has been generated by the side rotating blade  15 , guided by the front guide plate  32  and the rear guide plate  31 , and then discharged through the mowed grass discharge port  19  to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0058]    In a third embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a pair of right and left ground contacting sliders or sledges  50  and  51  in positions laterally inwardly of rearward lateral ends of the cutting blade housing  12 . 
         [0059]    More specifically the pair of right and left ground contacting sliders  50  and  51  are located in lateral intermediate positions of the cutting housing  12  so that they are located laterally inwardly of each of the rollers  16  and outside an area directly rearwardly of the opening OP. One of the sliders  50  is located rearwardly of the linear guide plate  35  and forwardly of the front wheel  1  of the vehicle. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , each of the slider  50  or  51  is formed with a metal plate which is bent so as to have a slider plate  52 , a front attachment plate  53  whose lower end is connected to the forward end of the slider plate  52 , a rear attachment plate  54  whose lower end is connected to the rearward end of the slider plate  52 , and a connecting plate  56  connecting an upper portions of the front attachment plate  53  and the rear attachment plate  54  so as to form a loop with a with a lateral through opening as seen in a side view. The lateral width of these plates are substantially the same. Each of the slider  50  or  51  is fixedly attached the cutting blade housing  12  by connecting the connecting plate  56  to the lower surface of the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12  by bolts  55  and nuts to support the rear of the mowing apparatus  10  by contact with the slider plate  53 . 
         [0061]    The cut grass ejected through the discharge port  19  toward the front wheel  1  located rearwardly of the slider  50  is deflected by the slider plate  52 , the front attachment plate  53  and the rear attachment plate  54  to be directed to either right or left of the front wheel  1 , making it less likely to hit and attach to the front wheel  1 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a sheet metal cover  60  spanning the entire lateral width of the ejecting port  19  of the cutting blade housing  12  on the upper surface in the rear of the top plate  12   a  of the cutting blade housing  12 . The cover plate  60  has a right outer cover  61  located laterally outwardly with respect to the right front wheel  1 , a left outer cover  61  located laterally outwardly with respect to the left front wheel  1  and a middle cover  62  located laterally inwardly with respect to the right and left front wheels  1 . 
         [0063]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the metal sheet plate cover  60  is pivotable about an axis X with respect to the cutting blade housing  12  by virtue of the fact that the cover side connecting brackets  63  attached to the cover  60  at a plurality of lateral locations and the corresponding housing side connecting brackets  64  are pivotably connected by laterally extending connecting shafts  65  with axis X. Thus the cover  60  is pivotable between a lower operative position wherein the cover  60  rests on and supported by the rear edge portion  12   d  of the housing  12  and extends rearwardly beyond the housing  12  to cover over the discharge port  19  and an upper attaching position wherein the cover  60  is pivoted upwardly from the lower operative position. The cover plate  60  is urged toward its lower operative position by a coil spring  66  provided around each of the pivot shafts  65 . 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the right and left rollers  16  are pivotably attached to the mounting brackets  68  fixed to the rear of the cutting blade housing  12  via the roller supports  67  with the right and left support arms  67   a  that are pivotable about the connecting shaft  69 . Thus each of the rollers  16  may be pivoted about the axis Y between the lower position wherein the support arm  67   a  extends from the bracket  68  and the roller  16  is in contact with the ground and an upper position elevated with respect to the lower position. Each of the rollers  16  may be locked in its lower position by means of the lock pin  71  slidably supported to the support arm  67   a  and the bracket  70  with the pin  71  urged in the locking position by the lock spring  72 . By inserting the free end of the lock pin  71  into the pin hole  68   a  of the bracket  68 , the roller  16  is locked in place. 
         [0065]    Therefore, when the mower apparatus  10  is in its lower operating position, the right and left outer covers  61  and the inner cover  62  are in the lower operating position because of the urging force of the coil spring  66 . This causes the cut grass flying off laterally outwardly of the right and left front wheels from the discharge port  19  to be deflected downwardly by the outer covers  61  and to hit the ground. Cut grass discharged between the right and left front wheels  1  from the discharge port  19  would be deflected by the inner cover  62  downwardly to hit the ground. Thus the covers  61  and  62  restrict the lateral spread of the cut grass flying off the apparatus  10  and prevent cut grass from sticking to underneath the vehicle such as the transmission case  5 . 
         [0066]    When cleaning or inspecting the underside of the cutting blade housing of the mover apparatus  10 , the underside of the housing  12  may be exposed by rotating it to face forward by releasing the connections between the right and left support arms  141  and the housing  12  by releasing the restriction member  145 , and by lifting the linkage mechanism  6 , which allows the upward rotation of the apparatus  10  with respect to the support arms  141  under its own weight. The housing  12  stands on the ground on its end. The right and left rollers  16  are placed in the lock release positions away from the lower operating positions by removing the lock pins  71  from the holes  68   a  of the mounting brackets  68  and placing the spring receiving member  73  of the lock pin  71  in the recess  70   a  ( FIG. 13 ) of the bracket  70 . The right and left rollers  16  are then rotated toward the positions upwardly with respect to the housing  12  about the pivot point Y due to contact against the ground as the mover apparatus  10  is rotated with respect to the support arms  141 . The outer covers  61  and the inner cover  62  are then rotated by contact against the ground about X with respect to the housing, thus allowing the housing  12  to stand on its end without the rollers  16 , outer covers  61 , or inner cover  62  impeding the rotation process.