Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a flexiable cutterbar assembly and a draper assembly that flexes with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a side draper belt configured to receive severed crop materials from the cutterbar assembly. The draper belt includes an internal guide rib. Pivoting structure is positioned within the interior of the draper belt. The pivoting structure presents a groove that receives the guide rib therein.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

Abstract: Belt guards that overlie the interface between a flexible cutterbar assembly and a flexible draper assembly of a harvesting header define an underlying void region that is sealed against the entry of crop residue by an upright dam wall that bears against the underside of the overhanging belt guards forward of the front edge of the upper run of the belt of the draper assembly. The upright dam wall is on the front extremity of flexible support panels that underlie the upper belt run and may be essentially rigid or provided with a resilient trim seal strip.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The fore-and-aft draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the fore-and-aft draper about the pivot.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms that are attached to and cooperatively support the flexible cutterbar assembly. The header also includes a draper assembly with a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The side draper includes an endless flexible draper belt presenting laterally endmost margins, with upper and lower crop-conveying runs extending between the margins. The header further includes pivoting structure mounted relative to the header frame at a rear pivot location so that the pivoting structure projects forwardly from the rear pivot location.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The support arms are 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. The cutterbar drive includes a forward gearbox drivingly connected to the cutterbar assembly and supported on an outer support arm.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper with a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot where the draper frame projects forwardly from the pivot, such that the draper frame is operable to swing relative to the header frame. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. The draper assembly further includes at least one support panel to support the belt.

Abstract: Belt guards that overlie the interface between a flexible cutterbar assembly and a flexible draper assembly of a harvesting header define an underlying void region that is sealed against the entry of crop residue by an upright dam wall that bears against the underside of the overhanging belt guards forward of the front edge of the upper run of the belt of the draper assembly. The upright dam wall is on the front extremity of flexible support panels that underlie the upper belt run and may be essentially rigid or provided with a resilient trim seal strip.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame, a draper assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly for conveying severed crop materials received from the cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly, with each support arm being pivotal about a lateral axis. The header further includes stop structure associated with a respective one of the support arms, with the stop structure located forwardly of the lateral axis and defining a limited range of angular support arm movement.

Abstract: An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. The draper assembly further includes at least one support panel to support the belt.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine. The center draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The center draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the center draper about the pivot.

Abstract: The otherwise open end of the outboardmost belt guard over the interface between the flexible cutterbar assembly and flexible draper assembly of a harvesting header is closed by a deflector to prevent the ingress of crop residue into the void region defined beneath the overhanging belt guards. In this manner residue is prevented from migrating into the interior of the draper belt of the draper assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. The draper assembly further includes at least one support panel to support the belt.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

Abstract: A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine. The center draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The center draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the center draper about the pivot.

Abstract: An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly.