Patent ID: 8272199

Claim:
A harvesting header operable to harvest crop, said harvesting header comprising: a header frame; a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame to extend lengthwise in a lateral direction relative to the normal direction of travel of the header; a plurality of laterally spaced apart support aims being attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly, each of said support arms being pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced; a draper assembly including a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly, said side draper including an endless flexible draper belt configured to receive severed crop materials from the cutterbar assembly and convey the materials laterally, said draper belt presenting laterally endmost margins, with upper and lower runs extending between the margins, said draper belt including an internal guide rib; and pivoting structure mounted relative to the header frame at a rear pivot location to project forwardly therefrom, said pivoting structure being positioned intermediate the endmost margins of the draper belt and between the upper and lower runs so as to pivot as the side draper flexes with the cutterbar assembly, said pivoting structure presenting a groove that receives the guide rib therein, with the belt and guide rib moving with the pivoting structure as the side draper flexes with the cutterbar assembly.