Double-knife cut-off for chub machine

In a vertically reciprocating head assembly for a chub packaging machine, or the like, having left and right opposed horizontally reciprocating heads, each head including a plurality of horizontally disposed plate members positioned in vertical spaced registration and the respective plates of one head each being received in corresponding spaces between adjacent plates in the opposing head as said heads move horizontally toward each other to a closed position;

• each of said plates including a V-shape opening at the leading edge thereof, and the opening in opposing plates defining a variable size aperture therebetween as said heads move;
• said heads including a pair of closure clip applying mechanisms mounted thereon in vertical spaced registration between adjacent plates thereof and in communication with said variable size aperture, each of said clip applying mechanisms including two mating clip applying members with one such member mounted in each said head so as to be in opposed horizontal registration with the mating member;
• the other of said heads including the other half of each of said pair of closure clip mechanisms mounted thereon so as to be in aligned relation with each of said one-half thereof;
• and an improvement comprising:
• a dual-knife severing mechanism mounted on one of said heads in communication with said variable size aperture and including a pair of knives horizontally mounted in vertical spaced relation between said pair of clip applying mechanisms, each of said knives being slidably retained on an elongate recess centrally positioned on one of said plate members;
• and scrap removing means slidably mounted on said one head between said pair of knives, said scrap removing means having a bifurcated distal portion for receiving and temporarily retaining therein a piece of scrap packaging material.