Abstract: A slide coating apparatus includes at least one slide surface disposed along a top portion of a front plate supported by a platform. A fluid supply cavity for supplying a coating fluid to the slide surface is formed at the juncture of a side surface of the front plate with a side surface of a back plate contiguous with the front plate and moveably supported by the platform. A biasing plate applies force to the back plate to maintain the back plate contiguous to the front plate. The invention includes apparatus for moving the back plate away from the front plate to a first cleaning position along a direction substantially parallel to the slide surface. The moving apparatus comprises at least one actuator assembly connected between the back plate and the platform for effecting linear movement along a direction substantially parallel to the slide surface.