Abstract: A chub packaging machine, or the like, incorporates a double-knife cut-off or severing device of the invention. Chub packages are elongate tubular packages which are gathered at their opposed ends and have metal clips clinched therearound to close those ends. The double-knife cut-off device is mounted on the closure head assembly of a conventional chub packaging machine, with appropriate modification, and produces a shorter and cleaner stub end on a chub package than heretofore available. The appreciable amounts of product trapped in the stub ends of chub packages formed on conventional chub machines are substantially eliminated by shortening the stub ends to approximately one-third the usual length. The double knife cut-off device severs a short gathered portion of the tubing between two packages at two spaced apart positions rather than in the center of the portion as heretofore known.

Abstract: A packaging machine is provided in which wire is fed for cutting into predetermined lengths for subsequent formation into U-shaped clips for clinching about a constricted product filled tube. It includes means for varying the length of the cut off portion by adjusting the position of a wire receiving member or cut off round and a cut off knife along the wire. Also the wire is fed intermittently to be cut off through an extent corresponding to the length to be cut off. The cut off length is variably formed according to the desired length of the U-shaped clip with the legs thereof in various angular relations.