US Patent 8479483 Flexible draper head providing reduced crop residue accumulation

A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a draper assembly. The cutterbar assembly is mounted to the header frame and includes a plurality of skids. The draper assembly includes a draper belt with upper and lower runs, and a run support panel is provided below the lower run. The run support panel is spaced from the skids to define a residue opening therebetween through which any crop residue falling onto the skids is permitted to pass.