System and process for determining properties of a moving sheet of

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. Upper and lower gauging head assemblies disposed on opposite sides of the sheet and coupled respectively to the upper and lower carriages are adapted to measure characteristics of the sheet. The upper wheels have hard, smooth peripheries while the lower wheels have elastomeric tires. Brushes mounted on each carriage outboard of the upper wheels clear debris from the upper surface of the track.