Patent ID: 8353190

Claim:
A method of winding a metal strip onto a mandrel of a coiler, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the metal strip past a strip-tension sensor roller engageable from below with the metal strip by a feeder having upper and lower feed rollers in a feeder frame with a lower guide plate provided below the metal strip and an upper guide plate and a pivoting guide flap above the metal strip extending from the upper guide plate to near the mandrel between the feed rollers and the mandrel; determining longitudinal tension applied by the feeder to the metal strip to control the strip travel through the feeder by pivoting the strip-tension sensor roller mounted on the feeder frame about an axis just downstream of the lower feed roller from below upward into engagement with the metal strip; and pivoting a counter-pressure roller into engagement with the metal strip from above adjacent the strip-tension sensor roller and maintaining both the strip-tension sensor roller and the counter-pressure roller in contact with the strip during determination of the longitudinal tension.