Winding method and apparatus for wound balls

A method for making a wound core for a wound ball having a core with a rubber thread wound on a spherical center and a cover on the core, comprising the steps of:

• grasping the center with a plurality of grasping fingers,
• locating the center among a plurality of rotatable winding rollers at a predetermined spacing from the rollers,
• securing a leading end of said rubber thread to the surface of said center by means of a capture finger,
• rotating the center at least one revolution together with the grasping fingers and the capture finger, thereby winding the rubber thread at least one turn on the center and over the grasping fingers and the capture finger,
• bringing the winding rollers in pressure contact with the surface of the center through the rubber thread while said winding rollers avoid contact with the grasping fingers and the capture finger, thereby holding the center by the winding rollers and securing the rubber thread wound on the center by the winding rollers,
• withdrawing the grasping fingers and the capture finger from between the center and the rubber thread, and
• drivingly rotating at least one of said winding rollers for rotating the center, thereby further winding the rubber thread on the center.