Cutting Mechanism with Leaf Spring Assembly as a Cutting Element Support

The invention relates to a cutting mechanism (4) for installing on a harvesting machine (2). The aim of the invention is to provide a cutting mechanism which comprises a mounting for the cutting elements and which adapts easily to the soil contour without thereby tilting into an uncontrolled swing. This is achieved in that multiple or all of the rocker arms (16) are designed as a respective leaf spring assembly (20) composed of multiple leaf springs (22), multiple or all of the leaf springs (22) lying flatly one on top of the other as a leaf spring assembly (20) are held together on the frame (6) between clamping elements (24) at the frame-side leaf spring ends, and only one or multiple leaf springs (22) arranged in the upper region of the leaf spring assembly (20) are connected to the cutting elements (18). One or more of the leaf springs (22) which are held on the frame (6) between the clamping elements (24) and are arranged in the lower region of the leave spring assembly (20) terminate, when viewed in the working direction, in front of the connection zone (26) of the leave springs (22) which are arranged in the upper region of the leaf spring assembly (20) and comprise the cutting elements (18).