Abstract: The coating construction has flexibility corresponding to the number of layers of multiple coating layers, by which a multilayer coating film can be produced with small film thickness without adherence of dust to a film surface, a drying fault such as unevenness induced by drying-wind on the film surface, or a coating fault such as a level variation and a streak. The multilayer coating film has a coating surface state of high quality with coating thickness deviation of 3% or less. A coating device is constructed in which at least a feed roller, a coater and a dryer are integrally incorporated in a casing, and the coating device is given a function as an independent device, whereby the production apparatus of the multilayer coating film can be constructed by only appropriately placing as many coating devices as the number corresponding to the number of layers of the multiple coating layers formed on a web between a delivery device and a winder.

Abstract: In a coating method and apparatus for applying coating liquid onto a web, the coating apparatus includes a rotating member rotatable and contacting with the web; and a support member supporting rotatably the rotating member and including a liquid reservoir formed between the rotating member and the support member, a fluid supply pipe, a cavity filled with the coating liquid and connecting to the fluid supply pipe, and a slit communicating the cavity with the liquid reservoir. The rotating member is supported by a fluid pressure of the liquid reservoir and the coating liquid supplied from the liquid reservoir forms a bead of the coating liquid by the rotating member between the web and the rotating member. The rotating member is floated uniformly in the widthwise direction by the fluid pressure so as to keep a predetermined clearance away from the support member to provide a stable coating. The bead is made uniform in the widthwise direction under any conditions.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for coating a predetermined amount of a coating liquid uniformly onto a continuously running web, said coating apparatus being formed of a ceramic material obtained by sintering at a temperature of not less than 1,000.degree. C., said ceramic material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of not more than 11.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. at temperatures of 25.degree. to 500.degree. C., and said ceramic material having a Vickers hardness of not less than 700 kg/mm.sup.2.