Patent ID: 7971419
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A harvesting header comprising: a flexible cutterbar assembly extending transversely across a front portion of the header with respect to the normal direction of travel of the header, said cutterbar assembly being operable to flex up and down along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced; and a flexible draper assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly in a manner to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly, said draper assembly including a pair of laterally spaced apart, fore-and-aft extending rollers, a plurality of fore-and-aft extending, laterally spaced apart arms disposed between said rollers, an endless flexible belt entrained around said rollers in such a manner that the plurality of arms are disposed within the interior of the belt between upper and lower runs of the belt, and a plurality of support panels on the arms underlying and supporting said upper run of the belt, said arms being swingable up and down independently of one another with corresponding portions of the cutterbar assembly about rearwardly disposed pivots, said plurality of support panels including rear support panels adjacent the rear of said arms, said belt having an internal guide rib adjacent a rear edge of the belt, said rollers and said rear support panels having grooves therein for the guide rib of the belt.