The present invention relates to a drive device and a method for reversibly linearly moving a clipping module of a clipping machine. The drive device comprises a piston/cylinder assembly including a first piston and a housing including a first cylinder portion in which the first piston is arranged, the housing is reversibly movable relative to the first piston, a second piston coaxially aligned to the first piston, and a third piston coaxially aligned to the first piston. The drive device further comprises four variable cylinder volumes, a first cylinder volume between the first piston and the first cylinder portion, a second cylinder volume, a third cylinder volume, and a fourth cylinder volume, wherein each cylinder volume is coupled to a pressure source for being varied in order to reversibly move the clipping module, between a release position and a discharge position of the clipping machine.

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