Abstract:
A winding apparatus for and method of manufacturing helically wound structures (116) includes: a rotating faceplate (74) upon which are mounted a forming station for forming a supply of strip material before it is wound into a desired structure; a plurality of inner supports in the form of rollers (110) mounted for radial displacement and rotation about an axis; an outer faceplate (118) having a plurality of outer support rollers (92) mounted for radial displacement and rotation about an axis. In operation, the inner rollers act to support an inner portion S1 of strip material wound thereon whilst allowing it to be supplied from an inner diameter thereof to said forming station and the outer rollers (92) act to support an outer portion S2 of said strip. The inner rollers (110) are moved radially to maintain support of said strip material as it is consumed.