Header with side sections formed with pivotably disposed supporting arms

1. A header ( 1 ), comprising:

a middle section ( 3 ) disposed on a main frame ( 2 ) and at least two side sections ( 4 ) disposed adjacent to the middle section ( 3 ), a flexible knife bar ( 6 ) extending across the width of the header, and

a conveying device ( 5 ) disposed behind the knife bar ( 6 ) and designed at the particular side sections ( 4 ) as an endless belt ( 7 ), disposed adjacent to the middle section ( 3 ) for transporting crop cut by the knife bar ( 6 ) laterally in the direction of the middle section ( 3 ),

wherein the side sections ( 4 ) comprise a plurality of supporting arms ( 15 ) pivotably disposed on the main frame ( 2 ) that support the knife bar ( 6 ) of the particular side section ( 4 ) and are rigidly connected to the knife bar ( 6 ), and

wherein each supporting arm ( 15 ) is mounted on a profiled element ( 13 , 14 ) of the main frame ( 2 ) by a support ( 16 ),

wherein a pivot joint ( 20 a ) is mounted on the support ( 16 ), which forms a first rotational axis ( 20 ) that extends axially parallel to the profiled element ( 13 , 14 ), about which the supporting arms ( 15 ) can pivot in the vertical direction, and

wherein a pivot bearing ( 21 a ) is mounted on the pivot joint ( 20 a ) to form a second rotational axis ( 21 ) extending perpendicularly to the first rotational axis ( 20 ), about which the support arms ( 15 ) can pivot transversely to the direction of movement of the header ( 1 ).

2. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotational axis ( 20 ) extends parallel to the main frame ( 2 ) and the second rotational axis ( 21 ) is pivotably connected at the first rotational axis ( 20 ).

3. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein supports ( 16 ) for connecting the supporting arms ( 15 ) to the main frame ( 2 ) are disposed on the main frame ( 2 ).

4. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the support ( 16 ) accommodates the first rotational axis ( 20 ) and the second rotational axis ( 21 ).

5. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein two guide elements ( 19 ) are disposed opposite one another on the support ( 16 ), axially parallel to the first rotational axis ( 20 ) and wherein each guide element is engaged with a slot link ( 18 ) in the supporting arm ( 15 ).

6. The header according to claim 5 , wherein the guide elements ( 19 ) are end sections of a pivot axis ( 25 ) supported in the support ( 16 ).

7. The header according to claim 5 , wherein the slot links ( 18 ) form end stops for the pivot motion about the first rotational axis ( 20 ), the second rotational axis ( 21 ) or both.

8. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the slot link ( 18 ) is substantially diamond-shaped.

9. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the support ( 16 ) is formed of two plate-shaped attaching elements ( 22 , 23 ) disposed parallel to one another.

10. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the attaching elements ( 22 , 23 ) are designed so that a distance therebetween is smaller in a region accommodating the first rotational axis ( 20 ) than in a region accommodating the pivot axis ( 25 ).

11. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein at least one shaft ( 17 ) extending parallel to the main frame ( 2 ) of each side section ( 4 ) is rotatably supported in the supports ( 16 ).

12. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the shaft ( 17 ) is connected to a particular supporting are ( 15 ) via a lever arrangement ( 26 ).

13. The header ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein a lifting cylinder ( 27 ), arranged to swivel about the pivot axis, is pivotably connected to the support ( 16 ) and is operatively connected to the supporting arm ( 15 ).

14. The header according to claim 13 , wherein the lifting cylinder ( 27 ) operates to rigidly position the supporting arms ( 15 ).