PURPOSE: To prevent the occurrence of ribbon winding, an end slip, and disturbance of a thread by operating the cutter of a slab catcher at each section of a winding unit divided into a plurality of sections and stopping a traverse drum after completion of ending operation.

CONSTITUTION: In a case of a winding unit being an automatic winder having, for example, sixty spindles, the winding unit is divided into five sections each having, for example, twelve spindles. When an automatic winder stop button is pressed, the solenoid of the cutter of a slab catcher is forcibly worked in a way that a time is staggered, in order, at intervals of a section. Control is performed such that, after ending is effected, the line shaft of a cam shaft and a traverse drum are stopped. Namely, when the automatic winder stop button is pressed and a switch (t) is closed, each of timers T1-T6 is operated. Each time a specified time elapses, a current is fed, in order, from the timers T1-T6 to close respective mating normally-closed type switches and open the respective mating normally-closed type switches, and this causes orderly operation of cutter solenoids C1-C5.