CA1293055C - On-machine sheet material property analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
ON-MACHINE SHEET MATERIAL PROPERTY ANALYSIS
A method and apparatus for determining on-machine, components of variances over an entire frequency range, of a property of a substantially continuous moving sheet material. At least two property-sensing detectors measure and each provide a signal Y(t) proportional to a sheet material property at a different location in the cross machine direction of a moving sheet material. Preferably a spectrum analyzer, determines the power spectral density function G(f) for each detector's signal, and the coherence function COH(f) between the two detectors' signals. On the basis of these results, the total variance, the machine direction variance, the residual variance and the contributions of the machine-directional cyclic and non-cyclic variances of the property of interest are determined, preferably by a computer. These contributions are generally indicative of process and/or machine upsets.

Description

lZ93C~S5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining on-machine, components of variances over an entire frequency range, of a property of a substantially continuous moving sheet material and more particularly to a method and apparatus for determining on-machine, total, machine direction, machine-directional cyclic, machine-directional non-cylic, and residual variances of a property of a moving sheet material.
BaCRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various materials are manufactured in the form of a sub-stantially continuous sheet material. For example, a web of sheet paper is manufactured by continuously depositing an aqueous suspension of fibers onto a traveling wire. Much water is drained from the wet sheet through the wire. The wet sheet is further dewatered by a press section, dried by driers and finished and smoothed by calenders. The sheet of paper produced is substantially continuous and relatively wide, generally 10 to 20 feet.
It is generally desirable to maintain certain proper-ties of the sheet material substantially constant in the direction of the traveling sheet (machine direction or MD) and perpendicular thereto (cross machine direction or CD).
However, during the manufacture of sheet material, numerous possible process and/or machine upsets may occur and it is most difficult to determine their sources. When pure machine direction variance over an entire frequency range is detected for a property of interest and decomposed into its cyclic and non-cyclic components, the sources of these components are more easily determined and corrected. How-~k iZ930SS
\

ever, a random variance is superposed on the pure machine direction variance, therefore the latter can not be clearly distinguished by a single detector.
Methods have been described wherein a property is obtained at a plurality of points by one or two sensors moving perpendicularly across the sheet material. Such method is taught in U.S.P. 3,610,899 as invented by E.
Dahlin and issued on October 5, 1971. The data is recorded and manipulated to obtain MD and CD profiles or varian-es in their time domain of the property of interest and then control for example, the slice adjustment of the paper machine, accordingly. However, since the sheet material is moving in the machine direction while the sensors move across the sheet, the plurality of points are diagonally taken on the sheet. Thus, points taken on a same machine-directional line are far apart, i.e. 60 feet, and cannot detect fluctuations shorter than 120 feet (as per Nyquist Theorem). The profiles and variances are obtained after exponential weighing or filtering of the data in the time domain, which is non-indicative of the frequency composition of these variances. Also, filtering results in the loss of the contributions at higher frequencies.
Furthermore, Dahlin does not distinguish between cyclic and non-cyclic MD variances.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for determining on-machine, components of variances over an entire frequency range, of a property of a substantially continuous moving sheet material.
It is also an object of this invention to determine on-machine, total, machine direction, machine-directional iZ930S5 cyclic and non-cyclic, and residual variances of a property of a moving sheet material.
It is a further object of this invention to determine residual variances at a plurality of zones across a moving sheet material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Broadly stated, the invention is directed to a method for automatically determining on-machine, components of variances over an entire frequency range (f), of a property of a substantially continuous sheet material comprising:
a) allowing said substantially continuous sheet material to travel in a machine direction (MD), b) scanning said property from at least two locations in a zone across said sheet material and automatically providing an output signal proportional to said property at each of said locations, c) transforming at least two of said output signals into their corresponding power spectral density functions, d) from a pair of said power spectral density functions, determining a coherence function, e) from said coherence function, computing a square root function of said coherence function, f) multiplying said square root function by a first power spectral density function of said pair in step d), thereby obtaining a machine direction output power, MDOPtf), g) from said machine direction output power, MDOP(f), determining a machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VMD, by VMD = ~ MDOP(fi) lZ9305S

where MDOP(fi) is the machine direction output power at a frequency fi~ and n is the number of frequencies in said entire freguency range.
The invention is also directed to an apparatus for automatically determining on-machine, components of variances over an entire frequency range f, of a property of a substantially continuous sheet material moving in a machine direction (MD), comprising:
a) at least two detectors, each for scanning said property in said machine direction and at a different location in a zone across said moving sheet material, b) at least two of said detectors each providing a detector output signal proportional to said property, c) means for detecting and transforming at least two of said detector output signals into their corresponding power spectral density functions, d) responsive to said means for detecting and trans-forming, a means for determining a coherence function corresponding to a pair of said power spectral density functions, e) responsive to said means for determining a coherence function, a means for determining a square root function of said coherence function, f) responsive to said means for determining a square root function, a means for multiplying said square root function by a first power spectral density function of said pair, thereby obtaining a machine direction output power, MDOP~f), g) responsive to said means for multiplying, a means for determining a machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VMD, by 1~93e~

VMD = MDOP(fi) ~1 where MDOP(fi) is the machine direction output power at a frequency fi, and n is the number of fre~uencies in said entire frequency range.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~1~ DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings which illustrate the invention.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a typical sheet material manufacture.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing the relation between in-put, output and noise signals.
Figure 3 is a diagram of a paper machine including a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a graph showing a time history record of basis weight, Yl, versus time t.
Figure 5 is a graph showing a time history record of basis weight, Y2, versus time t.
Figure 6 is a graph showing power spectral density function Gll versus inverse wavelength l/w.
Figure 7 is a graph showing power spectral density function G22 (which is equivalent to total output power TOTOP) versus inverse wavelength l/w.
Figure 8 is a graph showing coherence function COH12 versus inverse wavelength l/w.
Figure 9 is a graph showing machine direction output power MDOP versus inverse wavelength l/w.
Figure 10 is a graph showing the square root of coherence function,~ COHli versus inverse wavelength l/w, and also showing threshold value T.

1~93~?SS

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an overhead view of a typical means for producing substantially con-tinuous sheet material 10. Fluid for producing sheet material flows through conduit 12, into flow spreader 14 and usually onto a moviny wire (not shown). The fluid spread on-to the wire forms sheet material 10 which is traveling in the MD or machine direction. Perpendicular to the MD
direction and in the plane of sheet material 10 is the CD or cross-machine direction.
Assuming, for example and nok as a limitation, that the fluid flow in conduit 12 is unsteady. The fluctuations in the flow will first cause fluctuations in the properties of the sheet material at MDLl (machine direction line 1), then at MDL2 and finally at MDL3. Two or more property-sensing detectors A, B and C for example, are mounted above and/or below the machine direction lines MDLl, MDL2 and MDL3 respectively and measure a sheet material property of interest with respect to time (time history record). The detectors are preferably mounted side by side in a cross-machine direction either on a stationary frame or a removable frame, not shown. However, the detectors may not be mounted side by side, as long as none are aligned in the machine direction. Ideally, the detectors A, B and C will each provide a detector output signal proportional to the property of interest, each output signal having the same fluctuations in that property. However, the detector output signals will contain residual fluctuations (noise), and will be out of phase from each other, thereby hiding the --similarities between the detector output signals.
There is shown in Figure 2, a diagram demonstrating how 1~93~55 the above described fluctuations and signals can be inter-preted. For way of example only, the following will con-sider only two detector output signals. X(t), considered as the input signal, is the time history record of the property fluctuations common at all machine direction lines on a travelling sheet material. To this common X(t) signal is added, at each machine direction line, MDLl and MDL2, extraneous noise nl(t) and n2(t) respectively (for example, due to turbulence in the jet exiting the headbox or in the forming area of a paper machine), the results being detected at each machine direction line, by detectors A and B as detector output signals Yl(t) and Y2(t). There is a linear relationship between the signals Yl and Y2 which can be extracted through spectral density functions, thereby transforming the time history records into their frequency domains.
The time histories Yl(t) and Y2(t) are transformed into their power spectral density functions Gll(f) and G22(f) respectively, frequency f always representing all frequen-cies fl, f2, f3 -- fn- Their power cross-spectrum G12(f) is also computed. The mathematical techniques of obtaining power spectral density functions by Fourier transforms or analog filtering, appear in various texts, such as "Random Data: Analysis and Measurement Procedures"
by J.S. ~endat and A.G. Piersol, Wiley - Interscience, 1971.
Power spectral density function G22(f) is equivalent to total output power at frequency f, at position 2, TOTOP2(f). "Position 2" represents that this result is based upon detector output signal Y2(t). Accordingly, power spectral density function Gll(f) is equivalent to total lZ93(:~S5 _ 9 _ output power at frequency f, at position l, TOTOPl(f), as this result is based upon detector output signal Yl(t). For sake of consistency, "position 2" will be used throughout the following discussion. Total output power at frequency f, TOTOP2(f), summed over frequencies fl~ f2 .. fn is equivalent to total variance at position 2, VTOT 2 (and similarly for VToT~l) where:

VTOT 2 = TOTOP2(fi) The degree to which signal Y2 depends on signal Yl is expressed by the coherence function COHl2(f) where:

¦G12(f ) ¦
G11(f) G22(f) When COHl2(f) = O at a particular frequencyl Yl(t) and Y2(t) are incoherent or uncorrelated at that frequency.
If COHl2(f) = l for all frequencies, Yl(t) and Y2(t) are said to be fully coherent.
In Figure 2, the detector output signals Yl(t) and Y2(t) are out of phase and contain similar extraneous noise nl(t) and n2(t) respectively, which are uncorrelated and incoherent with each other and with noiseless signal X(t).
The extraneous noise nl(t) and n2(t), being similar, are considered substantially equal. Their power spectral density functiOnS Gnlnl(f) and Gn2n2(f) resp Y
are also substantially equal- Gn2n2(f) and Gnlnl(f)' are equivalent to residual output power at frequency f, at position 2, RESOP2(f), and residual output power at frequency f, at position l, RESOPl(f), respectively.

Residual output power at frequency f, RESOP2(f), summed over frequencies fl~ f2 ... fn is e~uated to residual variance at position 2, V~Es 2 (and similarly for VREs,l) where:

n VREs 2 = ~ RESP2(fi) GXx(f), the power spectral density function of X(t) is equivalent to the pure machine direction output power at frequency f, at position 2, MDOP2(f) and is obtained by GXX(f) = MDP2(f) = ~ COH12(f~ 2( = ~ CHl2(f) G22(f) CHl2(f) and G22(f), (or TOTOP2(f)), bei g (having previously been computed), GXX(f), equivalent to MDOP2(f), is determined. Machine direction output power at frequency f, MDOP2(f) summed over frequencies fl, f2 .... fn i8 equated to machine direction variance at position 2, VMD 2 where:

r~
VMD 2 = MDop2(fi) Thus, VREs 2 is equal to the difference between the total variance and the pure machine direction variance. If the RESOP2(f) is desired, it is obtained by RESOP2(f) =
TOTOP2(f) - MDOP2(f).
When a graph is made of the square root of the coherence function,~ COHl2(f), (or of the coherence function itself, versus frequency, it is often noticed that ~ COHl2(f), (or COHl2(f)), peaks at certain frequencies. These are considered to be frequencies at lZ93~5S

which the common fluctuations in the detector output signals are cyclic machine-directional. Thus, it is considered that the amount of MDOP2(f) corresponding with each of these peak frequencies, contributes to a cyclic machine-direction output power at frequency f, at position 2, CMDOP2(f).
The sum of CMDOP2(f) over all frequencies fl~ f2 fn is equal to cyclic machine direction variance, at position 2, VcMD 2. The individual peak frequencies fp, are usually indicative of and can be useful in determining the sources of cyclic fluctuations particularly due to machine and/or process upsets. The above mentioned peaks can be visually detected from the graph, however a more practical criterium for peak detection is the following. A
threshold value T is computed as T = m + 1.96s where m is the mean value of the function ~COHl2(f) over all the frequencies analyzed and s is its standard deviation. The factor 1.96 is arbitrary but was chosen from experience and it corresponds to a 97.5% confidence level for a one-sided significance test on a Gaussian Distribu-tion. The factor 1.96 may be altered to preferably remain in the range of 1 to 3.29 corresponding to a range of 84% to 99.95% confidence level respectively.
At each frequency, the value ~ COHl2(f) is compared to T and when ~ COHl2(f) is greater than or equal to T, the value of MDOP2(f) corresponding with that frequency contributes to CMDOP2(f). This comparison is repeated at each frequency to obtain the entire CMDOP2(f), the latter summed at frequenCies fl, f2 -- fn to obtain VCMD,2- Then VCMD,2 is subtracted from VMD 2 thereby `" lZ93~SS

obtaining the non-cyclic machine direction variance at position 2, VNCMD 2. If desired, CMDOP2(f) may be subtracted from MDOP2(f) to obtain the non-cyclic machine direction output power at frequency f, at position 2, NCMDOP2(f). The sum of NCMDOP2(f) at frequencies fl, f2 ... fn would also be equal to VNCMD,2 In order demonstrate which variances can be considered more important, and thereby assessed first in order to correct process and/or machine upsets which contributed to them, the following percentages are preferably computed.
l. The percentage of machine direction to total variances MD/TOT ~ = VMD,2/VTOT,2 x 100

2. The percentage of residual to total variances RES/TOT % = VRES,2/VTOT,2 x 100

3. The percentage of cyclic machine direction to total variances CMD/TOT ~ = VCMD,2/VTOT,2 x 100

4. The percentage of non-cyclic machine direction to total variances NcMD/ToT % = VNCMD,2/VTOT x 100

5. The percentage of cyclic machine direction to machine direction variances CMD/MD % = VCMD,2/VMD,2 x 100

6. The percentage of non-cyclic machine direction to machine direction variances D/MD % VNCMD,2/VMD,2 x 100 = 100 - CMD/MD %
Throughout the previous analysis, it was assumed that the residual variance is substantially equal at every location in the cross machine direction, whereby the two detectors may be located at any location in the cross lZ9305S

machine direction. However, the property analysis may be done for multiple zones of the moving sheet material and the residual variance for each zone compared with each other.
In order to enable multiple zone property analysis, two detectors may be movably mounted with the location of the detectors changed after the property analysis of each zone.
or, more than one detector can be used, their signals analyzed in pairs across the sheet material. This multiple zone comparison may detect significant changes in residual variance across the sheet material caused for example, by local turbulence, particularly near the edges of the sheet material.
Furthermore, the previous analysis is based on the dependency of time history Y2(t) on time history Yl(t). How-ever, substantially identical variances (TOT, MD, RES, CMD, NCMD) will be obtained when the analysis is based on the dependency of time history Yl(t) on time history Y2(t), and/or "position 1"~
The methods described above apply for numerous types of sheets or webs and numerous scalar properties of the sheet or web. For example, these methods are applicable to basis weight, moisture and temperature of paper moving on a paper machine; basis weight and moisture of roofing felts; density of roofing shingles; and density of extruded polymer films such as polyethylene.
EXAMPLE
The above described methods have been applied to a paper machine, analyzing its basis weight (weight per unit surface).
Referring now to Figure 3, in paper machine 110, an ~Z93(~55 aqueous suspension of fibers continuously flows from headbox 112 onto web 114, forming sheet of paper 116. Sheet 116 travels through press section 118, is dried by drier SeGtiOn 120 and is finished and smoothed by calenders 122. The finished sheet 116 is wound on roll 124. The above des-cribes only the general appearance of a paper machine as well known by one skilled in the art.
Two basis weight detectors 126 and 128 are mounted preferably side by side above sheet 116 between drier section 120 and calenders 122.
The detectors 126 and 128 are preferably sensitive and fast such as recent germanium detectors equipped with a cryostat. Other well known basis weight detectors such as light probes may be used, mounting them as necessary with respect to the wet end or dry end of paper machine 110 according to the manner the detectors must operate.
The detectors 126 and 128 scan sheet 116 to detect the basis weight of the moving sheet of paper for example at about every 3.91 milliseconds for a period of 20 minutes.
Simultaneously, the detectors 126 and 128 develop an analog signal Yl(t) and Y2(t) respectively, which represents the paper's basis weight as it is scanned. Optionally, the analog signals Yl(t) and Y2(t) are converted by a plotter into plots of Yl(t) and Y2(t) with respect to time, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively for a shortened period of 1 second.
A spectrum analyzer 130 using Fast Fourier Transforms, such as SD-375 by Spectral Dynamics Inc., receives the analog signals Yl(t) and Y2(t) and, at four second inter-vals, converts them into their power spectral density - 1~93(~5 functions Gll(f) and G22(f) and also computes their coherence function COH12(f) over a discrete frequency range. At every four seconds for a period of 20 minutes, new spectra of Gll(f), G22(f) and, C0H12(f) are computed. The newly computed Gll(f), G22(f) and COH12(f) are added to their corresponding averaging memories. After the 20 minute period, ensemble averages are obtained over the 300 spectra. With these averaged spectra, the digital computer 132 computes ~COH12(f), the threshold value T, and MDOP(f). Then computer 132 computes VTOT, VRES~ VMD~ VCMD~ VNcMD and the percentages of VcMD
and VNCMD to VMD and VTOT. (The "position 2" has been omitted for simplicity).
The computer optionally transfers the averaged Gll(f)~ G22(f)~ CH12(f), MDOP(f) and ~COH12(f) and T to plotter 134 which plots these values versus frequency or versus inverse wavelength l/w as shown in Figures 6 to 10 respectively. The relationship between frequency and wavelength will be described later. Printer 136 prints the frequencies fp at which there are contributions to the cyclic MD variance (which computer 132 inherently computed) and the various variances and their percentages. With these results, one skilled in the art can determine which type of variances are most prevalent and how to correct them.
The above mentioned preferred averaging of Gll(f), G22(f) and COH12(f) may be done according to different methods as one skilled in the art may choose. One method is to compute a linear average as outlined above. Another preferred method is to compute a sliding average of Gll(f)~ G22(f), and COH12(f), whereby with the use of 1~93055 commonly known time weighing or exponential weighing, updated averaged values are available at about every four seconds. Thus, if something upsets the analysis within the 20 minute period, such as a break in the paper web, all the variances may still be computed, using the last available averaged values, to help determine the cause of the upset.
From experience, it has been found that when RES/TOT%
is much greater than MD/TOT%, fluctuations originate in the forming zone and headbox of the paper machine. When MD/TOT%
is much greater than RES/TOT% fluctuations originate up-stream of the headbox, in the approach system. When CMD/MD%
is high, the fluctuations originate in pumps, screens, vibra-tions, etc.
The spectrum analyzer 130, digital computer 132, plot-ter 134 and printer 136 are preferably portable wherein they can be easily moved, along with the removably mounted detec-tors 126, 128, from one paper machine to another. Thereby, the complete variance analysis is entirely done on-machine.
The graphs shown in Figures 4 to 10 are optional, either being drawn by plotters or displayed on screens, and they were presented here for illustrative purposes.
However, the results that one would usually desire are given in Table 1, as printer 136 would supply (and/or an optional screen could display) at 20 minute intervals. In this case, computer 132 performed the additional calculation of transforming the minimum frequency and the maximum frequency of the discrete range of frequencies, including the peak frequencies fp into their equivalent wavelengths w according to (in the imperial system):

1~93~5~

w = (speed of paper~
5 x f where wavelength w is in inches, speed of paper in feet per minute, and frequency f in Hertz. In the case of metric measurements, w = ~speed of paper) where w is in metres, speed of paper in metres per second, and frequency f in Hertz.

T = 0.261 VTOT = 0.856 (g/m2) VREs = 0.644 (g/m2) RES/TOT % = 75.2 VMD = 0.212 (g/m2)2 MD/TOT % = 24.8 VcMD = 0.081 (g/m ) CMD/MD % = 38.2 VNCMD= 0.131 (g/m2)2 NCMD/MD % = 61.8 w(inches) CH12 17.22 0.28~
15.11 0.558 14.95 0.487 12.36 0.277 6.90 0.271 6.80 0.310 5.74 0.821 5.71 0.773 wMIN = 3.40 inches wMAx = 1360.0 inches The above example demonstrated a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the analysis was performed with a `` lZ93~55 Fast Fourier Transform Spectrum Analyzer, digital computer and a printer. However, one skilled in the art may perform the analysis by a less preferred analog system. Also, one may prefer to obtain the square root of the variances, wherein the results would be in a more common unit, g/m2 instead of (g/m2)2.
Furthermore, the above analysis may be repeated, whereby fluctuations in the residual variance may be detected over time, such as may be caused by fluctuations in stock consistency or fluctuations in the amount of retention aid added to the pulp.
Having described the invention, modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

The embodiments for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. A method for automatically determining on-machine, components of the variance over an entire frequency range (f), of a property of a substantially continuous sheet material comprising:a)allowing said substantially continuous sheet material to travel in a machine direction (MD), b)scanning said sheet material along at least two longitudinally exten-ding locations in a zone across said sheet material and automatically generating an output signal proportional to said property of said sheet material at each of said location, c)transforming at least two of said output signals into their corresponding power spectral density functions, d)from a pair of said power spectral density functions,determining a coherence function,e)from said coherence function, computing a square root function of said coherence function, f)multip-lying said square root function by a first power spectral density function of said pair in step d),thereby obtaining a machine direction output power,MDPO(f),g)from said machine direction output power,MDPO(f),determining and generating data for the displaying of a machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VMD ,by (fj) where MDOP(fj) is the machine direction output power at a frequency fj, and n is the the number of frequencies in said entire frequency range, with the proviso that said machine direction variance is substantially pure and thereby does not include a residual variance.

2. The method as defined in claim 1,including h) determining a residual variance over said entire frequency range, VRES.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 including determining a total variance over said entire frequency range, VTOT, by VTOT = where GFF(fi) is said first power spectral density function at a frequency fi, and n is said number of frequencies in said entire frequency range.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said residual variance over said entire frequency range, VREs, is determined by VRES = where GFF(fi) is said first power spectral density function at a frequency fi, MDOP(fi) is said machine direction output power at a frequency fi, and n is said number of frequencies in said entire frequency range.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 including determining a residual variance over said entire frequency range, VREs, by:
VREs = VTOT - VMD

6. The method as defined in claim 1 including determining a cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VCMD, and a non-cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VNCMD.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein said cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VCMD, and said non-cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VNCMD, are determined by:
computing a threshold value, T, as T = m + (R.s), where m is the mean value of said square root function, R is a factor in the range of 1 to 3.29,and s is the standard deviation of said square root function, at each frequency fj in said entire frequency range,for n number of frequencies, comparing said machine direction output power at said frequency fj, MDOP (fj) to said threshold value T, thereby obtaining contributions to said cyclic and non-cyclic machine direction variances over said entire frequency range,VCMD and VNCMD respectively.

8. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein steps b to h are repeated at least once, whereby said sheet material is scanned in at least one different zone across said sheet material, thereby obtaining said residual variance over said entire frequency range,VRES, at a plurality of zones across said sheet material.

9. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein steps b to h are substantially simultaneously duplicated in at least one other zone across said sheet material, thereby substantially simultaneously obtaining said residual variance over said entire frequency range,VRES,at a plurality of zones across said sheet material.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said property is chosen from the group comprising basis weight, density, temperature and moisture.

11. An apparatus for automatically determining on-machine, components of the variance over an entire frequency range f, of a property of a substantially continuous sheet material, moving in a machine direction (MD), comprising: a) at least two detectors, each for scanning said sheet material in said machine direction and at a different longitudinally extending location in a zone across said moving sheet material,b)at least two of said detectors each generating a detector output signal proportional to said property of said sheet material at said location,c)means operatively connected to said detectors for receiving at least two of said detector output signals, converting them and generating converted signals corresponding to their coherence function and at least a first power spectral density function,d)means,operatively connected to said means for receiving,converting and generating,for receiving and processing said converted signals and generating a processed signal indicative of machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VMD , of the property, e)means, operatively connected to said means for receiving, processing and generating,for receiving and displaying said processed signal indicative of machine direction variance,with the proviso that said machine direction variance is substan-tially pure and thereby does not include a residual variance.

12. The apparatus as defined in 11,wherein said means for receiving,processing and generating further computes a residual variance over said entire frequency range,VRES.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for receiving,processing and generating further computes a total variance over said entire frequency range, VTOT,whereby VTOT = (fj ),where GFF (fj)is said first power spectral density function at a frequency fj ,and n is is said number of frequencies in said entire frequency range.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for receiving,processing and generating, further computes a residual variance over said entire frequency range,VRES, whereby VRES =VTOT -VMD .

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for receiving,processing and generating further computes a cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VCMD , and a non-cyclic machine direction variance over said entire frequency range, VNCMD .

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said detectors are chosen to detect a property of the group comprising basis weight and moisture,and wherein said sheet material is chosen from the group comprising paper and roofing felt.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for receiving,converting and generating is a spectrum analy-zer.