Abstract: A first guide roll, a second guide roll and a backing roll are mounted on a movable frame. A feed roll is disposed substantially perpendicularly below the second guide roll upstream of the second guide roll relative to a direction of movement of a base sheet. The distance between the feed roll and the second guide roll is ninety (90) to two hundred and ten (210) times as long as a distance of travel of the backing roll when the backing roll is moved away from a coating roll.

Abstract: The distance between a D-roll and a C-roll is switched at proper time intervals between two stages in which the distance is larger or smaller. A thicker coating layer on the C-roll with the thickness controlled by the larger distance between the D-roll and the C-roll is transferred onto a base sheet in a condition in which the C-roll and a B-roll are in contact with each other with the base sheet interposed therebetween. The distance between the C-roll and the B-roll is increased when a thinner coating layer on the C-roll with the thickness controlled by the smaller distance between the D-roll and the C-roll reaches a transfer position, so that the coating layer is not transferred onto the base sheet. A local increase of the amount of the coating material applied at the end of a coating area can be prevented, and the thickness of the coating material applied can be controlled to be constant with high accuracy over the entire coated area.