Tyre building plant and method for supplying an elongated element to a forming drum in a tyre building plant

A method for supplying by means of a supply device, including at least one conveyor belt, an elongated element to a forming drum in a tyre building plant, comprising:

• fixedly associating at least one first detection element with a first portion of said at least one conveyor belt;
• positioning, at a loading region of said supply device, a front end of said elongated element at a predefined reference distance from said first portion;
• detecting a position of said first portion with respect to said supply device by means of mutual interaction between said at least one first detection element and a sensor which is positioned on said supply device fixedly and independently with respect to said conveyor belt;
• calculating, in accordance with the detected position of said first portion, the movement of said at least one conveyor belt which is necessary to bring said first portion to said reference distance from said loading region;
• advancing said at least one conveyor belt toward an unloading region of said supply device until said elongated element is deposited at said forming drum;
• bringing, in accordance with the calculated movement, said first portion of said at least one conveyor belt to said reference distance from said loading region;
• and
• positioning a front end of a successive elongated element on said conveyor belt.