US Patent 7937920 Combine harvester draper header having flexible cutterbar

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. The header includes laterally spaced support arms attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced.