To control the operation of a ring spinner, after a cops (10) has been wound and before the spindle (20) drive is resumed or the drawing unit started up again, the spindle is rotated in the normal direction at a slow speed before it is given the rapid spindle (20) run to form a new winding (102) on a freshly inserted bobbin sleeve (201). The spindle (20) rotary speed and duration of the slow rotation phase are selected to bring the traveller (303) on the spinning ring (302) into position at the spindle (20) circumference behind the running-on point of the yarn (100) in the direction of spindle (20) rotation. The traveller is brought into the required angular setting for the next winding stage on a new sleeve (201) at the latest with the ending of the slow running action.
