Abstract: In coating apparatus of the kind in which a roll dips into a bath of liquid coating material and applies the material to a transfer roll which in turn transfers the material to an applicator arranged to apply the material to a web passing between the applicator roll and a backing roll the applicator roll is independently rotated in the same direction as the transfer roll and the backing roll is rotated in the same direction as the applicator roll.

Abstract: Sheet coating means for a printing press including a back-up cylinder and form cylinder having an associated fountain, the fountain having a fountain roller rotating adjacent the form cylinder. Also rotating adjacent the form cylinder is a first form roller which is coupled to the fountain roller via a dosing roller. The fountain and its associated rollers are mounted upon a subframe having provision for (a) shifting the fountain roller into liquid transmitting contact with the form cylinder and (b) shifting the first form roller into liquid transmitting contact with the form cylinder thereby, selectively, to change the length of the liquid transference path from the fountain to a sheet carried by the back-up cylinder in accordance with the drying speed of the coating material.