On the uncured‑rubber conveyor of a tire‑building machine, the photoelectric sensor is mounted across the belt just before the compaction roll. It watches the moving web of fabric‑reinforced rubber and generates a signal every time a gap or a marked target passes. This signal is used to synchronize the indexing of the drum that shapes the tread, to control the timing of the cutting knife that trims excess material, and to verify that each ply is correctly positioned before it is pressed together. By providing a non‑contact reference point, the sensor enables the controller to adjust belt speed, avoid material pile‑up, and stop the line instantly if a sheet drifts off its path, protecting both the product and the equipment. The same principle is applied in other plant areas where bulk conveyors need precise object detection, such as in the feed line of a coating station. In a tire plant, the light barrier is therefore a key element for continuous, error‑free production.