Crop cutting device, agricultural machine comprising such crop cutting device and knife removal method

A crop cutting device comprising:

• a crop guiding surface including a plurality of substantially parallel slots extending in a direction of travel of the crop over the guiding surface;
• a plurality of knives pivotally mounted below the guiding surface, wherein each knife is aligned with a respective slot and is pivotable about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the slots between a retracted inoperative position in which it is located below the guiding surface and an extended operative position, wherein at least a cutting edge of the each knife projects above the guiding surface;
• an actuating mechanism comprising a plurality of movable operating members, wherein each operating member is associated with a respective one of the plurality of knives and is movable from a first position in which the respective one of the plurality of knives is in its retracted inoperative position to a second position in which the respective one of the plurality of knives is in its extended operative position;
• and
• a lifting mechanism connected to the actuating mechanism for raising at least a part of each knife above the guiding surface while the operating members are in their first position.