A knifeback for mounting a plurality of sickle cutting sections along a length of the knifeback. The knifeback includes an elongated knifeback bar comprising a first bar surface and a second bar surface. A plurality of bar apertures extending through the first and second bar surfaces are arranged to facilitate side-by-side mounting of the sickle cutting sections. A plurality of annular mounts are along the first bar surface. Each of the annular mounts is offset from and in surrounding relation of a respective member of the plurality bar apertures.

A knifeback for mounting a plurality of sickle cutting sections along a length of the knifeback. The knifeback includes an elongated knifeback bar comprising a first bar surface and a second bar surface. A plurality of bar apertures extending through the first and second bar surfaces are arranged to facilitate side-by-side mounting of the sickle cutting sections. A plurality of annular mounts are along the first bar surface. Each of the annular mounts is offset from and in surrounding relation of a respective member of the plurality bar apertures.

The cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers. Each knife is pivotably connected to the platform portion of a support bracket having also a wall portion that is fixed to the belt-type carrier. The knife is furthermore coupled to the bracket by a reversible force coupling that maintains the knife in a forwardly oriented operational position when the knife is subjected to lateral forces which exert a torque on the knife that remains below a predefined limit, encountered when the knife is cutting stalks or meeting small obstructions. When the knife is subjected to lateral forces resulting in a torque above the predefined limit, the force coupling is configured to be disengaged in a reversible manner, enabling the knife to pivot about a rotation axis towards a non-operational position.

The cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers. Each knife is pivotably connected to the platform portion of a support bracket having also a wall portion that is fixed to the belt-type carrier. The knife is furthermore coupled to the bracket by a reversible force coupling that maintains the knife in a forwardly oriented operational position when the knife is subjected to lateral forces which exert a torque on the knife that remains below a predefined limit, encountered when the knife is cutting stalks or meeting small obstructions. When the knife is subjected to lateral forces resulting in a torque above the predefined limit, the force coupling is configured to be disengaged in a reversible manner, enabling the knife to pivot about a rotation axis towards a non-operational position.

An agricultural header comprises a first side draper belt, a second side draper belt, a first center draper belt, a second center draper belt, and a crop divider. The first and second center draper belts are positioned laterally between the first and second side draper belts which extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from the first and second center draper belts. Each of the first and second side draper belts are arranged to feed crop material laterally inwardly, and each of the first and second center draper belts are arranged to feed crop material rearwardly for processing by the agricultural harvester. The crop divider is positioned laterally between the first and second center draper belts to separate crop material fed laterally inwardly from the first and second side draper belts respectively to the first and second center draper belts.

A method of manufacturing a knife blade for a cutter knife of an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein a substantially disk-shaped blade blank is provided in a providing step, said blade blank having a bottom side extending in a first plane (YZ1) and a top side extending in a second plane (YZ2), wherein a hole connecting the first plane (YZ1) with the second plane (YZ2) is made in the blade blank, wherein in a reshaping step an area of the blade blank surrounding the hole is deformed in such a way that a top contact surface surrounding the hole is formed in a third plane (YZ3), wherein the third plane is more distant from the first plane than the second plane (YZ2) in a normal direction (X) perpendicular to the first plane (YZ1).

A method of manufacturing a knife blade for a cutter knife of an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein a substantially disk-shaped blade blank is provided in a providing step, said blade blank having a bottom side extending in a first plane (YZ1) and a top side extending in a second plane (YZ2), wherein a hole connecting the first plane (YZ1) with the second plane (YZ2) is made in the blade blank, wherein in a reshaping step an area of the blade blank surrounding the hole is deformed in such a way that a top contact surface surrounding the hole is formed in a third plane (YZ3), wherein the third plane is more distant from the first plane than the second plane (YZ2) in a normal direction (X) perpendicular to the first plane (YZ1).

A knifeback for a sickle bar assembly that supports individual sickle sections is provided. The knifeback includes a bar having a channel formed longitudinally therein. Mounting holes extend through the bar and into the channel to facilitate mounting of sickle sections. The channel may provide strength and rigidity, provide structure for engaging sickle fastening bolts to prevent rotation thereof, and/or may be used to increase support and rigidity of a splicing member.

A knifeback for a sickle bar assembly that supports individual sickle sections is provided. The knifeback includes a bar having a channel formed longitudinally therein. Mounting holes extend through the bar and into the channel to facilitate mounting of sickle sections. The channel may provide strength and rigidity, provide structure for engaging sickle fastening bolts to prevent rotation thereof, and/or may be used to increase support and rigidity of a splicing member.

A header for harvesting agricultural crops includes a cutter bar assembly coupled to a header frame, the cutter bar assembly flexible upwardly and downwardly relative to the header frame between opposite ends thereof for contouring to the field. The cutter bar assembly includes a guard bar extending across a front portion of the header frame between the opposite ends thereof, the guard bar split into at least a first lateral section and a second lateral section operatively coupled at a guard bar joint. A protruding element extending from the first lateral section is received by a receiving element on the second lateral section at the guard bar joint to horizontally align the first and second lateral sections of the guard bar between the opposite ends of the header frame while allowing relative lateral movement therebetween during upward and downward flexing of the cutter bar assembly.