An unwinding assisting device for an automatic winder. The automatic winder has a winding position at which a cop of yarn is unwound from a take-up tube supported on a tray. A lifting mechanism raises the tray at the winding position as the cop of yarn is unwound from the take-up tube. A tubular member receives the take-up tube therein. The tubular member has an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter of the cop and larger than the outside diameter of the take-up tube.
