Abstract: Coating apparatus and method of operation where the rotatable transfer cylinder and the rotatable metering roller of the coating device do not have internal cooling, but the heated coating liquid which is discharged from the nip between these rollers is itself cooled before being recirculated to a liquid holding pan beneath the transfer cylinder. A liquid catch tray is positioned below the metering roller for receiving coating liquid dripping from the metering roller, the catch tray having a downward incline toward the liquid holding pan, and the catch tray being spaced vertically and laterally away from the nip between the transfer cylinder and the metering roller to thereby provide an open space between the holding pan and the catch tray. A reservoir is positioned below the open space and below the nip for receiving coating liquid from the catch tray and the nip, and for receiving coating liquid overflowing from the holding pan.