afsm100

AFSM 100Automation Requirements : AFSM 100 Automation Requirements March 21, 2002


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Extension of automation flats rates. AFSM 100 specifications will replace FSM 881 standards. Singulation - key component. Mailing industry assistance was crucial. Mailers and the USPS recognize the need to prepare flats to best support current and future flats processing. Improve service Reduce costs Federal Register - Proposed Rule Introduction


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Baltimore pilot test - 2/26/01 to 3/13/01 Designed to screen a great number of variables Proved data collection methodology Provided some data for analysis Denver test to finalize recommendations - 7/9/01 to 8/1/01 Define physical characteristic limits Determine acceptable polywrap characteristics Palatine weight test - 2/25/02 to 3/12/02 Insufficient data on heavy products from Denver Determine maximum weight of mail piece that can be processed with reasonable efficiency. Federal Register - Proposed Rule Background


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : FSM 881 and AFSM 100 have different definitions for length relative to bound edge. FSM 881 AFSM 100 Bound Edge Height Max. = 12” Cut Edge Length Max. = 15” Cut Edge Height Max. = 12” Bound Edge Length Max. = 15” Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Length and Height


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Envelope Size in Inches Envelope Size in Inches Envelope Size in Inches Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Length


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Envelope Length in Inches Envelope Length in Inches Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Length


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Envelope Height in Inches Envelope Height in Inches Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Height


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Height Flat Mail Piece Physical Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Min. Max. Characteristics Test Results 6” 15” Envelopes longer than 15” had jam rates exceeding 20%. Newspapers 15” or longer reduced throughput.. Cards and envelopes less than 6” were difficult to process. 5” 12” Envelopes higher than 12” had jam rates exceeding 3% Cards and envelopes less than 5” were difficult to process. Length Height Min. 6” 5” Max. 15” 12” AFSM 100 Current 881


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Mail-piece Thickness in Inches Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Thickness


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Mail-piece Thickness in Inches Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Thickness


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Thickness Flat Mail Piece Physical Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Min. Max. Characteristics Test Results 6” 15” Envelopes longer than 15” had jam rates exceeding 20%. Newspapers 15” or longer reduced throughput.. Cards and envelopes less than 6” were difficult to process. 5” 12” Envelopes higher than 12” had jam rates exceeding 3% Cards and envelopes less than 5” were difficult to process. .009” .75” Jam rates for envelopes and bound pieces increase as thickness approaches .75”. Doubles for all pieces .03” or less exceeded 2%. Length Height Thickness Min. 6” 5” .009” Max. 15” 12” .75” AFSM 100 Current 881


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Weight test results Federal Register - Proposed Rule


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Weight test results Federal Register - Proposed Rule


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Weight Flat Mail Piece Physical Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Min. Max. Characteristics Test Results 6” 15” Envelopes longer than 15” had jam rates exceeding 20%. Newspapers 15” or longer reduced throughput.. Cards and envelopes less than 6” were difficult to process. 5” 12” Envelopes higher than 12” had jam rates exceeding 3% Cards and envelopes less than 5” were difficult to process. .009” .75” Jam rates for envelopes and bound pieces increase as thickness approaches .75”. Doubles for all pieces .03” or less exceeded 2%. None 16 oz. Length Height Thickness Weight Min. 6” 5” .009” None Jam rates on envelopes increased to unacceptable level above 20 ounces. Bound piece max. may increase after stress test & analysis.. Max. 15” 12” .75” 20 oz AFSM 100 Current 881


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Rigidity and Flexibility Flat Mail Piece Physical Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Min. Max. Characteristics Test Results 6” 15” Envelopes longer than 15” had jam rates exceeding 20%. Newspapers 15” or longer reduced throughput.. Cards and envelopes less than 6” were difficult to process. 5” 12” Envelopes higher than 12” had jam rates exceeding 3% Cards and envelopes less than 5” were difficult to process. .009” .75” Jam rates for envelopes and bound pieces increase as thickness approaches .75”. Doubles for all pieces .03” or less exceeded 2%. None 16 oz. 881 Curve Test Length Height Thickness Weight Rigidity Min. 6” 5” .009” None 881 Curve Test Bound piece max. may increase after stress test. Jam rates on envelopes increased to unacceptable level above 20 ounces. More analysis needed to refine “rigidity” for AFSM 100. Max. 15” 12” .75” 20 oz AFSM 100 Current 881 881 Droop Test Flexibility 881 Droop Test More analysis needed to refine “flexibility” for AFSM 100. Cover basis weight may be more important than “flexibility”


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Physical Characteristics - Summary Flat Mail Piece Physical Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Min. Max. Characteristics Test Results 6” 15” Envelopes longer than 15” had jam rates exceeding 20%. Newspapers 15” or longer reduced throughput.. Cards and envelopes less than 6” were difficult to process. 5” 12” Envelopes higher than 12” had jam rates exceeding 3% Cards and envelopes less than 5” were difficult to process. .009” .75” Jam rates for envelopes and bound pieces increase as thickness approaches .75”. Doubles for all pieces .03” or less exceeded 2%. None 16 oz. 881 Curve Test Length Height Thickness Weight Rigidity Min. 6” 5” .009” None 881 Curve Test Bound piece max. may increase after stress test. Jam rates on envelopes increased to unacceptable level above 20 ounces. More analysis needed to refine “rigidity” for AFSM 100. Max. 15” 12” .75” 20 oz AFSM 100 Current 881 881 Droop Test Flexibility 881 Droop Test More analysis needed to refine “flexibility” for AFSM 100. Cover basis weight may be more important than “flexibility”


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap Characteristics During the mail characteristics test, a total of 25 polywrap films were tested, either at Baltimore or at Denver. In Denver, 19 polywrap films with widely varying characteristics were used to wrap five bound mail pieces Standard size - thin, medium, and thick Digest size - thin and thick.


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Mean of Jam Frequencies for Mail Pieces Without Polywrap Mean of Doubles Frequencies for Mail Pieces Without Polywrap Both Graphs Ordered by Increasing Jam Frequencies Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap Characteristics - Overall Results


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Blocking factor - Grams Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap Characteristics - Blocking


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Blocking factor - Grams Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap Characteristics - Blocking


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Polywrap Characteristics Recommendations for AFSM 100 Characteristics Test Results < 0.28 Film to Metal CoF above .28 showed increase in no-reads. 0.20 - 0.40 Pilot test, CoF’s above.5 had significant jams and doubles rates. Final test, CoF’s above .4 for low blocking had higher doubles rate Kinetic CoF - Film to Metal Kinetic CoF - Film to Film Recmnd Current 1 < 0.28 0.20 - 0.40 < 70 Only affects readability, all poly’s tested met the spec. Haze 2 < 70 >40,000 TD secant modulus’ below 40,000 psi showed a marked increase in no-reads. >50,000 MD secant modulus’ below 50,000 psi showed a marked increase in no-reads. Secant Mod. - 1% TD, psi Secant Mod. - 1% MD, psi 3 >40,000 >50,000 >2,000 Test data showed films with highest tensile strength had lowest doubles rate, but the films also had the lowest blocking factors. Requires further testing of films with low blocking and varying tensile strength. >3,000 Tensile Str. TD, psi Tensile Str. MD, psi 4 >2,000 >3,000 .90 - .95 Normal density range - insufficient data to make a change. Density, g/cc 5 .90- .95 >.001” .001 to .002 gauges tested - no measurable performance change. Nom. Gauge 6 >.001” <2.0 kv All poly’s tested met this specification. Static Charge 7 <2.0 kv None Blocking factor not in 881 specification. Data showed significantly fewer doubles and fewer jams when blocking was below 15 grams. Blocking, g 8 <15 Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap Characteristics - Summary


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Selvage (overhang) requirements to remain the same as the FSM 881 requirements. The seam must be placed on the non-address side parallel to the long dimension. Federal Register - Proposed Rule Polywrap - Wrap and seam requirements


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Federal Register - Proposed Rule Newspaper Requirements Final folded edge on the bottom with intermediate fold to the right of the address on the address side.


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Broadsheet Tabloid Quarterfold Federal Register - Proposed Rule Newspaper Requirements


Federal Register - Proposed Rule : Questions? Federal Register - Proposed Rule