Abstract: An apparatus for winding a web of material has first and second supporting rolls each driven by a motor and has a gap therebetween wherein the spool of the web of goods being rolled is pressure biased by a pressure roll disposed thereabove. A control mechanism for the motors controls same so that as the coil diameter increases, the torque of the motor associated with the first supporting roll increases in the direction of movement of the web and the torque of the motor associated with the second supporting roll decreases in the direction of the movement of the web. The drives of the two supporting rolls are coupled by a brake of speed proportional braking torque for damping accelerations of the supporting rolls due to the displacement of the web from at least one thereof.