A method for managing and controlling feeding a thread-containing feedstock selected from a thread or yarn or a plurality of threads at constant tension and/or speed to an operating machine selected from a textile machine, a knitting machine, a stocking machine, a loom or a machine for preparing the yarn, the method comprising:
- carrying out said feeding during:
- production of a product from the thread-containing feedstock or
- processing of the thread-containing feedstock,
- wherein such production or processing comprises a succession of operating steps or operating areas defining a complete production cycle of the operating machine with respect to production of the product or processing of the thread-containing feedstock, wherein every single operating step or single operating area produces a product macro-area from the thread-containing feedstock or performs a single complete treatment of a plurality of treatments of the thread-containing feedstock,
- wherein said feeding of each thread-containing feedstock to said operating machine is by a corresponding feeder device, wherein said feeding is performed with at least one feature selected from:
- the thread-containing feedstock being at constant tension,
- the thread-containing feedstock being at constant speed, and
- controlling the feeding by a sensor device which monitors the feeding or at least one characteristic of the thread-containing feedstock selected from thread tension, thread speed, thread diameter, fed thread quantity, thread color, and thread setting;
- detecting said single operating step of the production cycle or said operating area of the operating machine or progress status of the production of the product through a synchronization signal generated by the operating machine, wherein the synchronization signal uniquely identifies the single operating step or single operating area through generation of a unique synchronization signal by the operating machine at a start or at an end of production of the product macro-area or the single complete treatment of the thread-containing feedstock;
- associating particular set values of said at least one characteristic of the thread-containing feedstock fed by each feeder device to each of such operating steps or operating areas, said at least one characteristic being selected from the group consisting of thread tension, thread speed, thread diameter, fed thread quantity, and thread color, said set values being recorded in a table;
- memorizing said particular set values in a setting and control means to which the feeder device and/or the sensor device is connected;
- and
- said setting and control means intervening on operation of the feeder device and/or the sensor device to define operating values of said at least one characteristic being selected from the group consisting of thread tension, the thread speed, the thread diameter, the fed thread quantity, and the thread color of the thread-containing feedstock corresponding to the particular set values memorized for producing said product macro-area of the product or for implementing the single complete treatment of the plurality of treatments to be carried out during processing of the thread-containing feedstock,
- said unique synchronization signal being used by said setting and control means for said intervening on operation of the feeder device and/or the sensor device to control and/or feed the thread with the operating characteristics suitable to implement said single operating step or said single operating area to obtain, respectively, said product macro-area or to carry out said single complete treatment of the plurality of treatments to be carried out during processing of the thread-containing feedstock,
- said setting and control means uniquely identifying said single operating step or said single operating area according to the unique synchronization signal received from the operating machine,
- wherein the single operating step or the single operating area to obtain the product macro-area or the single treatment, respectively, is carried out according to the particular set values of said at least one characteristic of the thread for each of the single operating steps or the single operating areas.