Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for continuously winding a high speed running yarn onto bobbins which are serially delivered to a winding position, and wherein the rotating full bobbins are laterally moved from the winding position to a doffing position. An automatic yarn change-over mechanism is provided for transferring the running yarn from the full bobbin onto an empty bobbin which is brought to the winding position, and as part of the change-over procedure, the yarn is severed so that a free end remains on the rotating full bobbin. In order to prevent this severed yarn end from contacting and becoming entangled in the closely adjacent empty bobbin then being wound at the winding position, there is provided a plate which is pivoted into contact with the rotating full bobbin along a contact line which is located at or immediately upstream of the most narrow gap between the surface of the rotating full bobbin and that of the empty bobbin.