Rotor winder

A method of operating a rotor winder having two rotors supported in a rotatable rotor with two winders, the winders being driven independently from one another and provided for successive continuous winding of hot strip, each winder having a winder mandrel comprised of several moveable segments for expanding the winder mandrel, the segments being supported on axially moveable wedge-shaped gliding surfaces, wherein the winders are moveable in cycles from an initial position into a coil transfer position by rotation of the rotor, and a device for guiding an incoming hot strip onto the winder mandrel of the winder positioned in the initial position and for holding the strip on the winder mandrel until a slip-free engagement of the strip is effected, wherein the device for guiding and placing the incoming strip is arranged on a power-driven frame mounted so as to be moveable in a direction extending parallel to an axis of the winder, the method comprising, for receiving a hot strip to be wound, moving a free winder mandrel into the initial position and, after reaching this position, moving the frame under the winder mandrel and securing the frame in its position, pivoting the device for guiding and placing the hot strip into an active position, and, after a leading end of the strip has been detected on the winding mandrel, lifting off the device for guiding and placing the hot strip into a rest position and subsequently moving the frame into an extreme position opposite an end face of the winder mandrel, releasing the winder mandrel in the extreme position, and moving the winder mandrel into a coil transfer position during further winding by a rotation of the rotor.