Abstract: A sheet-gauging apparatus for determining properties of a moving sheet of material includes a frame having parallel upper and lower horizontal supports extending above and below the sheet in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the sheet. Upper and lower tracks are carried by the upper and lower supports, respectively, each of the tracks including a flat upper surface and a lower surface having tapered end portions. Upper and lower carriages are mounted on the upper and lower tracks, respectively, for bidirectional travel along the tracks, each of the carriages including upper wheels in rolling contact with the upper surface of the track and lower wheels in rolling contact with the tapered end portions of the lower surface of the track. Displacement of the carriages in the directions orthogonal to the direction of carriage travel is thereby minimized.

Abstract: Apparatus utilized in the continuous manufacture of sheet material, such as paper, includes a frame having at least one hollow beam for carrying means such as sheet-gauging heads operatively associated with the sheet material being fabricated. Thermal stability of the at least one hollow beam is enhanced by circulating fluid within the beam. Fluid displacement means which may be in the form of a series of inserts disposed end-to-end within the hollow beam define with the interior wall of the beam a fluid conduction channel. The fluid displacement means may also include generally helically oriented guides projecting into the fluid conduction channel for inducing turbulence in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: A running blade is adapted to move at the same speed as a continuously running sheet and to generate a burst perforation through the sheet. The force exerted by the blade against the sheet is measured and used to calibrate a non-destructive sheet strength sensor.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a quality of a sheet, such as a paper sheet, related to elastic modulus and bending stiffness as it is being made including a sheet support in the form of a ring and a free running wheel, which depresses the paper into the center of the ring as the paper passes over it. A force transducer mounted to the wheel senses the force of the deflected paper on the wheel and provides a measure of a characteristic of the paper related to its elastic modulus and being stiffness. Alternatively, or in addition, a displacement sensor may be used to sense the distance that the sheet is displaced by the wheel into the ring. These factors, together with basis weight, thickness and paper velocity may be used to determine the strength of the paper on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed for sensing a physical property of a sheet material. The sensor includes a mechanism for supporting one side of the sheet along the periphery of a defined region and a mechanism for forcibly deflecting the sheet into the unsupported center of the defined region. A transducer may also be incorporated to sense the force required to deflect the sheet into the unsupported region and/or the distance that the sheet is deflected into the unsupported region. The sensor may be operatively coupled to a computer programmed to determine a physical property of the sheet based upon the sensed force and/or distance, such as the sheet failure strength.

Abstract: A running blade is adapted to move at the same speed as a continuously running sheet and to generate a burst perforation through the sheet. The force exerted by the blade against the sheet is measured and used to calibrate a non-destructive sheet strength sensor.

Abstract: A sensor for continuous sensing of a quantity of paper related to its elastic modulus and stiffness including a paper support in the form of a segmented ring, and a free running wheel which depresses the paper in the center of the ring as the paper passes over it. Force transducers mounted to sense force exerted on the segments provides a measure of a characteristic of the paper related to its elastic modulus and bending stiffness. The segments are aligned so that separate determinations of machine direction and cross-direction characteristics are made. The outputs of this sensor, together with basis weight, thickness and paper velocity are used to determine the strength of the paper on a continuous basis. Separate values of machine direction and cross-direction strength can be determined, as can a burst pressure strength.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a quality of paper related to elastic modulus and bending stiffness as it is being made including a paper support in the form of a ring and a free running wheel, which depresses the paper in the center of the ring as the paper passes over it. A force transducer mounted to the wheel senses the force of the deflected paper on the wheel and provides a measure of a characteristics of the paper related to its elastic modulus and bending stiffness. This factor, together with basis weight, thickness and paper velocity are used to determine the strength of the paper on a continuous basis.