METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ELECTRODEPOSITION COATING PROCESS

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process. An apparatus includes a frame and at least one air nozzle coupled to the frame for blowing a low pressure, high volume air on an object that has undergone electrodeposition coating. A first method includes the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object. A second method includes the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

Description

BACKGROUND

Electrodeposition coating, also referred to as electrophoretic deposition, electrocoating, or e-coating is a process, utilizing the principle of electrophoresis, by which particles suspended in a liquid medium are deposited on an electrode. This process can be used to apply various materials to an electrically conductive surface. For instance, electrodeposition coating has been used to apply coatings to metal fabricated products, including vehicle bodies and other objects.

The electrodeposition coating process comprises the step of at least partially submerging the object to be coated in a mixture comprising the liquid medium and the suspended particles. An electrical current is then applied through the mixture to electrically deposit the particles on the object. After deposition of the particles on the object, the electrically deposited material is cured to the coated object. The step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object includes heating or baking the coated object in an oven or other device to cure the electrically deposited material to the object.

Any undeposited mixture, including any liquid medium or any undeposited particles, as well as any other fluid not removed from the coated object prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object can, for example, create an imperfection in the electrically deposited material. This imperfection (referred to hereinafter as an “E-Coat drip”) can be undesirable for a variety of reasons.

For example, an E-Coat drip can negatively affect a characteristic of the electrically deposited material. Furthermore, an E-Coat drip can create a defect on a surface of the cured coated object. Such a defect may negatively affect the appearance of the vehicle's paint. Therefore, E-coat drips are typically removed, for example, by sanding, prior to application of a primer, a base coat, and/or a clear coat. Removing E-coat drips by sanding may negatively impact the corrosion prevention characteristics of the electrically deposited material, or E-Coat.

SUMMARY

Provided are a plurality of example embodiments, including, but not limited to, methods and apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process. In particular, the following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects described in the detailed description.

A first example method comprises the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

In one example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

In another example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

In still another example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object. In one example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of fluid from the inner cavity. In another example, the inner cavity comprises an interior surface of a vehicle body.

The first example method may be provided alone or in combination with one or any combination of the examples of the first example method discussed above.

A second example method comprises the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

In one example of the second example method, the step of blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

In another example of the second example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object. In one example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of fluid from the inner cavity.

In still another example of the second example method, the second example method further comprises the step of passing the object through a frame, wherein the step of passing the object through a frame is performed after the step of electrically depositing a material on an object. In one example, the frame comprises a plurality of air knives for blowing the high pressure, low volume air on the object, and a plurality of air nozzles for blowing the low pressure high volume air on the object.

In yet another example of the second example method, the material comprises a rust preventative material.

In yet another example of the second example method, the second example method further comprises the step of applying a second material on the object, wherein the step of applying a second material on the object is performed after the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

The second example method may be provided alone or in combination with one or any combination of the examples of the second example method discussed above.

In a first example aspect, an apparatus comprises a frame and at least one air nozzle coupled to the frame. The air nozzle is configured to blow a low pressure, high volume air on an object that has undergone electrodeposition coating.

In one example of the first example aspect, the air nozzle is further configured to blow the low pressure, high volume air on a predefined area of the object.

In still another example of the first example aspect, the object comprises a vehicle body that has undergone electrodeposition coating.

In yet another example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control the at least one air nozzle. In one example, the controller is configured to control when the at least one air nozzle blows the low pressure, high volume air. In another example, the controller is configured to control a position of the air nozzle to control where the low pressure, high volume air is blown.

The first example aspect may be provided alone or in combination with one or any combination of the examples of the first example aspect discussed above.

Also provided are additional example embodiments, some, but not all of which, are described hereinbelow in more detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the example embodiments described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates upon reading the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrodeposition coating process in accordance with examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process in accordance with examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a surface of a vehicle body in accordance with examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates particular areas of a vehicle body in accordance with examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a front view of the apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 schematically illustrate various example methods in accordance with examples of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Examples will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments are shown. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, aspects may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

A method and apparatus for reducing imperfections in the electrodeposition coating process are provided. The electrodeposition coating process can be used to apply various materials to an electrically conductive surface. In the vehicle manufacturing industry, for example, the electrodeposition coating process can be used to apply various materials, such as paint, to a surface of a vehicle body or other parts. The paint can provide, for example, rust prevention to the vehicle body.

The electrodeposition coating process comprises several steps, including preparing the object to be coated, coating the object, preparing the coated object to be cured, and curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object. Following the electrodeposition coating process, the object may be further processed. For example, following the electrodeposition coating process, a vehicle body may undergo painting or other treatments or further processing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the step of coating the object includes at least partially submerging an uncoated object 100 comprising an uncoated surface 101 in a mixture 103 comprising a liquid medium 105 and suspended particles 107. A first electrode is attached to the submerged object 110 and a second electrode is placed in contact with the mixture 103. An electrical current is then applied through the mixture 103 to electrically deposit the particles on the submerged object 110. After electrically depositing the particles on the submerged object 110, the object is removed from the mixture 103, wherein the object is a coated object 120 comprising a layer of electrically deposited material 121.

After electrical deposition of the particles 107 on the object, the step of preparing the coated object 120 to be cured is performed. The step of preparing the coated object 120 to be cured includes removing undeposited mixture from the coated object 120, including removing liquid medium 105 and undeposited particles, such as suspended particles 107 that were not electrically deposited on the submerged object 110 during the step of electrically depositing the particles on the submerged object 110. As further shown, in FIG. 1, the undeposited mixture can be removed by, for example, rinsing the coated object 120 with a fluid 123, such as water, with a rinsing device 124. In another example, the undeposited mixture can be removed by blowing a gaseous medium 125, such as air, onto the coated object 120 with a blower device 126. In still another example, as shown in FIG. 1, the undeposited mixture can be removed by rinsing the coated object 120 with a fluid 123 and then blowing a gaseous medium 125 onto the coated object 120 to remove the rinsing fluid from the coated object 120.

Following the step of preparing the coated object 120 to be cured, the electrically deposited material is cured to the coated object, wherein the coated object 120 is a cured coated object 130 comprising a layer of cured electrically deposited material 131. As further shown in FIG. 1, the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object includes heating or baking the coated object in an oven 135 or other heating device. It is during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object when an imperfection (E-Coat drip) can form in the material that was electrically deposited on the object.

For example, an E-Coat drip can occur when a fluid remains on the coated object 120 during the curing process. In one example, an E-Coat drip is created when the coated object 120 is heated in the oven 135 and a fluid thereon is likewise heated. The fluid may be a remnant of the rinsing liquid, or some other fluid that was transferred to the surface subsequent to the electrical deposition process. The fluid, when heated, reaches a boiling point and causes a defect which creates an E-Coat drip in the cured electrically deposited material 131. Any fluid that may be present on the object that is not removed during the step of preparing the coated object to be cured can create an E-Coat drip in the electrically deposited material during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object.

Methods and apparatus for reducing E-Coat drips are provided herein. The following example embodiments are described with respect to an electrodeposition coating process for a vehicle body; however, it is to be understood that the present approach is applicable to any object or objects subjected to an electrodeposition coating process and, therefore, susceptible to E-Coat drips.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, an example apparatus 200 for reducing E-Coat drips on vehicle bodies includes a frame 202, an air knife 210, and an air nozzle 220. The air knife 210 can be coupled to the frame 202 and is configured to blow a high pressure, low volume air onto a vehicle body 250 that has undergone the electrodeposition coating process. The air nozzle 220 can be coupled to the frame 202 and is configured to blow a low pressure, high volume air onto the vehicle body 250. In one example, the air nozzle 220 can blow a low pressure, high volume of non-heated air onto the vehicle body 250. In still other examples either or both the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220 can blow a pre-treated air, such as an air that has undergone a filtering or treatment process to, for example, remove dust particles or other contaminants and debris.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the example apparatus can also include an air handler 235 for providing air to either or both the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220. The air handler 235 can comprise supply ducts or piping (not shown) through which the air can be provided to either or both the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220. In one example, the air handler 235 is controlled by a computer 237 or controller (e.g. a programmable logic controller). The computer 237 or controller can be configured to control, such as periodically or continuously control, for example, the position of the air knife 210 or the air nozzle 220 to control where the high pressure, low volume air or the low pressure, high volume air is respectively blown. In another example, the computer 237 or controller can be configured to control, such as periodically or continuously control, for example, when the air knife 210 or the air nozzle 220 blow the high pressure, low volume air or the low pressure, high volume air, respectively. In still another example, the computer 237 can control the pressure and/or volume of air blow from either or both the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220. In still other examples, the computer 237 can receive feedback information from the apparatus 200. The computer 237 can use the feedback information to further control the features of the apparatus 200.

In another example, the air knife 210 can blow air at any desired rate, wherein the air is provided at a high pressure, and a low volume. For example, with respect to the high pressure, low volume air of the air knife 210, high pressure is to be understood to include any pressure greater than or equal to approximately 120 pounds per square inch (psia) for the example vehicle manufacturing application, and low volume is to be understood to include any volume less than or equal to approximately 500 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm) for the example vehicle manufacturing application. Other pressures and volumes can be provided for other applications, as desired. For example, with respect to the air knife 210, high pressure can include a pressure greater than the pressure at which air is blown from the air nozzle 220, and low volume can include a volume that is less than the volume at which air is blown from the air nozzle 220.

In still another example, the air nozzle 220 can blow air at any desired rate, wherein the air is provided at a low pressure, and a high volume. For example, with respect to the low pressure, high volume air of the air nozzle 220, low pressure is to be understood to include any pressure less than or equal to approximately 1.2 pounds per square inch (psia) for the example vehicle manufacturing application, and high volume is to be understood to include any volume with the range of approximately 2500-6000 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm), as well as any volume within the range of 6000-9000 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm), and also any value greater than or equal to approximately 9000 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm) for the example vehicle manufacturing application. Other pressures and volumes can be provided for other applications, as desired. For example, with respect to the air nozzle 220, low pressure can include a pressure less than the pressure at which air is blown from the air knife 210, and high volume can include a volume that is greater than the volume at which air is blown from the air knife 210.

The air knife 210 can, for example, blow a stream of air having a high pressure and a low volume from an outlet of the air knife 210. As shown in FIG. 2, the outlet of the air knife 210 can be configured to, for example, focus or control the stream of air such that the high pressure, low volume air comprises a profile having a substantially flat or concentrated shape. The air nozzle 220 can, for example, blow a stream of air having a low pressure and a high volume from an outlet of the air nozzle 220. As also shown in FIG. 2, the outlet of the air nozzle 220 can be configured to, for example, focus or control the stream of air such that the low pressure, high volume air comprises a profile having a substantially cylindrical or diffuse shape.

Turning to FIG. 5, as an example application, the air knife 210 may be used to initially blow an undesirable fluid off of the coated vehicle body 250 using a high pressure, low volume air 211. The air knife 210 may, for example, blow the undesirable fluid and cause at least a first amount of the fluid to physically blow off of the vehicle body 250 and/or to evaporate. The air knife 210 may cause a second amount of fluid to spider or spread and thereby remain on the vehicle body 250. That is, the high pressure, low volume air may remove at least a first amount of the fluid from the vehicle body 250, for example, a puddle of fluid that has accumulated on the vehicle body 250. A second amount of fluid, however, may still remain on the vehicle body 250 even after the vehicle body 250 has been blown with the high pressure, low volume air 211 of the air knife 210. The air nozzle 220, therefore, may be used to blow a low pressure, high volume air 221 on the vehicle body 250 to remove, such as to evaporate, the remaining second amount of fluid such that the vehicle body 250 is free or substantially free of any fluid when undergoing the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object. The air knife 210 and/or the air nozzle 220 may, therefore, blow air at any time prior to or during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the coated object to reduce E-Coat drips.

As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the frame 202 can be configured to hold the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220 in a substantially stationary position, such that the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220 can be arranged to blow air on the vehicle body 250. For example, the frame 202 can be configured to hold the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220 to blow on the vehicle body 250 that has undergone the electrodeposition coating process. Still further, the frame 202 can hold the air knife 210 and the air nozzle 220 such that the air blown therefrom can blow onto all surfaces and/or substantially all surfaces of the vehicle body 250. In another example, the air knife 210 and/or the air nozzle 220 can be manually or automatically adjustable, such that the air knife 210 and/or the air nozzle 220 can be positioned and repositioned to, for example, direct high pressure, low volume air and/or low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the vehicle body 250.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in one example, E-Coat drips may form in a particular area of the vehicle body 250. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, E-Coat drips may occur on a side panel 251 of vehicle body 250 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5), a door sash 301, a trunk gutter 303, a rear jamb 305, a side sill 307, a rear sash inner 309 (shown in FIG. 4), around a fuel tank 311, or at any other location where fluid tends to accumulate, such as a pocket, a ledge, hem, or an inner cavity of the vehicle body 250. In another example, shown in FIG. 4, E-Coat drips may form in a particular area or predetermined area of vehicle body 250, for example, in an inner cavity 400 of a vehicle door 252. The vehicle door 252 can include an inner panel 401 and an outer panel 402 (shown in FIG. 5) coupled together to define an inner cavity 400. Fluids may accumulate within the inner cavity 400 and cause E-coat drips at a bottom hem 405 that couples, for example, the inner panel 401 and the outer panel 402. In another example, if the vehicle door 252 is installed in side panel 251 when entering the oven 135 (shown in FIG. 1), the fluid escaping the inner cavity 400 may also cause an E-coat drip on a side sill 307 of the side panel 251.

Accordingly, the air knife 210 and/or the air nozzle 220 can be configured to blow air on the particular area or predetermined area where an E-coat drip is likely to occur to facilitate removal of fluid from the particular area or predetermined area. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the air knife 210 can be configured to blow the high pressure, low volume air 211 on an exterior surface and/or an interior surface of the vehicle body 250. In another example, the air nozzle 220 can be configured to blow the low pressure, high volume air 221 on an exterior surface and/or an interior surface of the vehicle body 250. In yet another example, the air knife 210 can be configured to blow the high pressure, low volume air 211 on an exterior surface of the vehicle body 250, and the air nozzle 220 can be configured to blow the low pressure, high volume air 221 on an interior surface, for example, interior cavity 400 of the vehicle door 252.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the apparatus can include a plurality of air knives 212 and/or a plurality of air nozzles 222 arranged at different locations on the frame 202. For example, the plurality of air knives 212 can be arranged in multiple rows comprising multiple outlets for directing, targeting, or otherwise blowing the high pressure, low volume air 211 on the vehicle body 250 at one or more locations. In another example, one or more air knives 210, 212 can be arranged at a first location 150 (shown in FIG. 1) outside the oven 135 for blowing the high pressure, low volume air 211 on the vehicle body 250, outside the oven 135, for example, prior to curing the coated vehicle body 250 in the oven 135. In yet another example, one or more air knives 210, 212 can be arranged at a second location 155 (shown in FIG. 1) inside the oven 135 for blowing the high pressure, low volume air 211 on the vehicle body 250 in the oven 135, for example, during the curing process.

Similarly, as further shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of air nozzles 222 can be arranged in multiple rows comprising multiple outlets for directing, targeting, or otherwise blowing the low pressure, high volume air 221 on the vehicle body 250 at multiple locations. In another example, one or more air nozzles 220, 222 can be arranged at the first location 150 (shown in FIG. 1) outside the oven 135 for blowing the low pressure, high volume air 221 on the vehicle body 250 outside the oven 135, for example, prior to curing the coated vehicle body 250 in the oven 135. In yet another example, one or more air nozzles 220, 222 can be arranged at the second location 155 (shown in FIG. 1) inside the oven 135 for blowing the low pressure, high volume air 221 on the vehicle body 250 in the oven 135, for example, during the curing process.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 schematically illustrate example methods for reducing E-Coat drips. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a first example method comprises the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object 500, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon 505, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510. In one example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 optionally comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object. In another example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 optionally comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of a fluid from the inner cavity. In still another example, the inner cavity comprises an interior surface of a vehicle body (e.g. inner cavity 400 of vehicle door 252 of vehicle body 250, as shown in FIG. 4). In yet another example, the low pressure, high volume air is optionally non-heated.

In one example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510. In another example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 is performed during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510. In still another example of the first example method, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 is performed prior to and during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the term “during,” as used to describe the time at which a particular method step is performed includes performing that particular step at any time while another step is performed. However, the term “during” should not be construed so as to require that particular step to be performed only while the other step is performed or entirely while the other step is performed. For example, the particular step can be performed singularly at a time, for example, before or after the other step, so long as the particular step is also performed at a time coinciding with the performance of the other step.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic of a second example method for reducing E-Coat drips. The second example method comprises the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object 500, blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon 503, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon 505, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510. In one example, the step of blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object 503 comprises optionally directing the high pressure, low volume air at a particular area of the object. In another example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 comprises optionally directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object. In still another example, the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of fluid from the inner cavity (e.g. inner cavity 400 of vehicle door 252 of vehicle body 250, as shown in FIG. 4). In yet another example, the material comprises a rust preventative material.

In another example of the second example method, shown in FIG. 7, the second example method further comprises the step of passing the object through a frame 501. In one example the step of passing the object through a frame is performed after the step of electrically depositing a material on an object. In another example, shown in FIG. 2, the frame 202 comprises a plurality of air knives 210 for blowing the high pressure, low volume air on the object, and a plurality of air nozzles 220 for blowing the low pressure, high volume air on the object.

In still another example of the second example method, the step of blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object 503 is performed prior to the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505, and the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object 505 is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510.

In yet another example of the second example method, shown in FIG. 7, the second example method further comprises the step of applying a second material on the object 511. The step of applying a second material on the object is performed after the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object 510.

Many other example embodiments can be provided through various combinations of the above described features. Although the embodiments described hereinabove use specific examples and alternatives, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional alternatives may be used and equivalents may be substituted for elements and/or steps described herein, without necessarily deviating from the intended scope of the application. Modifications may be necessary to adapt the embodiments to a particular situation or to particular needs without departing from the intended scope of the application. It is intended that the application not be limited to the particular example implementations and example embodiments described herein, but that the claims be given their broadest reasonable interpretation to cover all novel and non-obvious embodiments, literal or equivalent, disclosed or not, covered thereby.

Claims

1. A method for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process, comprising the steps of:

electrically depositing a material on an object;

blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon; and

curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed during the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of fluid from the inner cavity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the inner cavity comprises an interior surface of a vehicle body.

7. A method for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process, comprising the steps of:

electrically depositing a material on an object;

blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon;

blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object having the electrically deposited material thereon; and

curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object is performed prior to the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air at a particular area of the object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object comprises directing the low pressure, high volume air into an inner cavity of the object to facilitate removal of fluid from the inner cavity.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of passing the object through a frame, wherein the step of passing the object through a frame is performed after the step of electrically depositing a material on an object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of air knives for blowing the high pressure, low volume air on the object, and a plurality of air nozzles for blowing the low pressure, high volume air on the object.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the material comprises a rust preventative material.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of applying a second material on the object, wherein the step of applying a second material on the object is performed after the step of curing the electrically deposited material to the object.

15. An apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process, comprising

a frame and at least one air nozzle coupled to the frame, wherein the air nozzle is configured to blow a low pressure, high volume air on an object that has undergone electrodeposition coating.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the air nozzle is further configured to blow the low pressure, high volume air on a predefined area of the object.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a vehicle body that has undergone electrodeposition coating.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to control the at least one air nozzle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to control when the at least one air nozzle blows the low pressure, high volume air.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to control a position of the air nozzle to control where the low pressure, high volume air is blown.