PURPOSE: To provide an automatic positive holding and efficient winding of a thick strip by a method wherein a gripper device is reciprocated along a direction showing a specified angle with respect to a normal line at a strip holding point in a winding drum.

CONSTITUTION: A gripper segment 6 formed as a part of an outer circumference of a winding drum has a gripper guide 7 and a gripper bar 8 which are oppositely formed. Initial end 9 of the winding strip is guided and held by a holding clearance H between the grippers 8 with an angle α with respect to a normal line along a a guide surface of a radius of curavture P formed in the outer circumference of the segment at the gripper bar. The gripper bar 8 is engaged with a wedge 5, moved by a wedging action when the wedge 5 is axially moved to form a holding clearance between the gripper guides 7.