Pivoting action low profile sickle drive

A low profile sickle drive comprising;

• commonly driven, disk shaped first and second input elements supported in generally parallel vertically coextensive relation, for rotation about a generally upstanding first rotational axis and a generally upstanding second rotational axis, respectively;
• a first pivot element disposed beside the first input element, the first pivot element comprising a first pivot shaft supported for rotation about a generally upstanding first pivotal axis through the first pivot shaft;
• a first drive arm having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end connected to the first input element for eccentric rotation along an epicyclical path about the first rotational axis, the first drive arm extending laterally relative to the first rotational axis to the second end, the second end pivotally connecting to the first pivot element within an outer circumference of the first input element, such that the eccentric rotation of the first end of the first drive arm causes the first drive arm to reciprocatingly pivot the first pivot element about the first pivotal axis;
• and
• a first knife arm mounted on the first pivot shaft and connected to a first sickle knife assembly in a manner such that pivotal movement of the first pivot element reciprocatingly moves the first sickle knife assembly along its longitudinal axis;
• a second pivot element disposed beside the second input element, the second pivot element comprising a second pivot shaft supported for rotation about a generally upstanding second pivotal axis through the second pivot shaft;
• a second drive arm having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the second drive arm connected to the second input element for eccentric rotation along an epicyclical path about the second rotational axis, the second drive arm extending laterally relative to the second rotational axis to the second end thereof, the second end of the second drive arm pivotally connecting to the second pivot element within an outer circumference of the second input element, such that the eccentric rotation of the first end of the second drive arm causes the second drive arm to reciprocatingly pivot the second pivot element about the second pivotal axis;
• and
• a second knife arm mounted on the second pivot shaft and connected to a second sickle knife assembly in a manner such that the pivotal movement of the second pivot element reciprocatingly moves the second sickle knife assembly along its longitudinal axis oppositely of the movement of the first sickle knife assembly,
• wherein the first pivot element further comprises a first pivot arm extending eccentrically from the first pivot shaft to the pivotal connection to the first drive arm, and
• wherein the second pivot element further comprises a second pivot arm extending eccentrically from the second pivot shaft to the pivotal connection to the second drive arm.