Flexible cutterbar assembly for a harvesting platform

An agricultural platform (100) used to harvest crops, said platform operable to be supported at an open end that is configured to receive severed crop materials, said platform comprising:

• a main frame (101) operable to be mounted to the open end (102), said main frame comprising a central section (160) located adjacent to said open end, and comprising right and left lateral sections (162) at the sides of said central section extending transversely with respect to the normal direction of travel (V) of the platform;
• a cutterbar assembly (201) to extend lengthwise through said lateral and central regions;
• said cutterbar assembly being operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced;
• a plurality of laterally spaced apart belt support arms (501) having at a first portion a first pivoting sections (510) and at a second portion a second rigid section (520), wherein each of said plurality of arms extends in a forward direction,
• said first pivoting sections (510) being pivotally coupled to the second rigid sections (520) at its rear end such that each first pivoting section is constrained to pivot up and down at its front end with respect to the main frame (101),
• said second rigid sections (520) being coupled to the main frame (101) at its rear end and projects substantially forward such that a pivotal joint with the pivoting sections (510) is displaced forwardly with respect to the main frame (101),
• the front ends of the first pivoting sections (510) of said belt support arms (501) being attached to and cooperatively supporting the cutterbar assembly (201);
• and
• a draper conveyor assembly (400) comprising lateral belt conveyors disposed behind the cutterbar assembly on the lateral sections (162) to convey cut crop material laterally inwardly toward the central section (160).