Web measurement device

1. A sensor for monitoring the attributes of a moving web, the sensor comprising:

a sensor head positioned adjacent a moving web;

an optical sensor probe, positioned in said first sensor head, and including an objective lens having an axial chromatism;

a spectrograph in communication with the objective lens to receive a reflected signal from the moving web, said spectrograph being adapted to measure the spectral width of said reflected signal and determine a web surface characteristic therefrom.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is surface roughness.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is gloss.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is porosity.

5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is the thickness of transparent films deposited on the moving web.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is surface smoothness.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the distance from said sensor head a first side of the moving web is determined by said spectrograph using confocal chromatic aberration.

8. The sensor of claim 7 further including:

a second sensor head positioned on a second side of the moving web, opposed to said first side;

an annular inductor positioned in said first or second sensor head and including a ferrite core and a winding;

a contacting plate secured to said second sensor head, and adapted to contact the second side of the moving web; and

a target plate secured to said first or said second sensor head opposed from said inductor, wherein said inductor is adapted to measure the distance to said target plate.

9. A sensor for monitoring a moving web, the sensor comprising:

a first sensor head positioned on a first side of the moving web;

a second sensor head positioned on a second side of the moving web, opposed to said first side;

a first optical sensor probe positioned in said first sensor head including an first objective lens having an axial chromatism;

a second optical sensor probe positioned in said second sensor head and including a second objective lens having an axial chromatism;

a spectrograph in communication with said first and second objective lens to receive a reflected signal from the moving web, said spectrograph being adapted to measure the spectral width of said reflected signals and determine a surface characteristic of said first surface and said second surface.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein said characteristic is surface roughness.

11. The sensor of claim 9 wherein said characteristic is gloss.

12. The sensor of claim 9 wherein said characteristic is the thickness of transparent films deposited on the moving web.

13. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the distance from said sensor head a first side of the moving web is determined by said spectrograph using confocal chromatic aberration.

14. The sensor of claim 9 wherein said characteristic is surface smoothness.

15. A method of measuring a moving web, the method comprising:

positioning an optical sensor probe adjacent to the moving web, said optical sensor probe having an objective lens having an axial chromatism;

transmitting light through the objective lens toward the moving web;

receiving a reflected signal through the objective lens;

determining a spectral width of the reflected signal;

determining a web surface characteristic based on the spectral width; and

displaying the web surface characteristic.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic is surface roughness.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic is gloss.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic is the thickness of transparent films deposited on the moving web.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic is surface smoothness.