Abstract: A method for operating an automatic cheese winder, having multiple winding stations (A, B, etc.) and a transportation system (21) for supplying the winding stations with spinning cops (39) and discharging them of empty tubes (40). The spinning cops are furnished by a preceding textile machine (30) having a spinning cop and empty tube transport device (31) communicating with the transportation system (21). The delivery of spinning cops to the winder (25) is continuously monitored by a sensor. A control device (46) of a tube monitor (24) assures that empty tube-equipped transport trays are kept on hand in the transportation system, and the tube monitor via the central control unit (27) initiates a controlled slow-down of the winder (25) into an energy-saving mode. Upon resumption of delivery of the spinning cops, the winder is accelerated from the energy-saving mode to an operating mode.