Slip controller for side conveyors of a draper harvesting head

In a draper harvesting head having a frame, a left side conveyor supported on the frame, a right side conveyor supported on the frame, a central conveyor supported on the frame and disposed between the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor, and a reciprocating knife fixed to the front of the frame and extending laterally across the frame, a method of controlling slippage between an endless conveyor belt of one of the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor and a crop mat carried on the endless conveyor belt, the method comprising the steps of:

• electronically determining a speed of the endless conveyor belt;
• electronically determining a speed of the crop mat;
• electronically comparing a difference in the speed of the endless conveyor belt and the speed of the crop mat with a first threshold speed difference;
• and
• electronically changing the speed of the endless conveyor belt based upon the step of comparing.