Coating machine having a timer for continuously forming a coating of uniform thickness on a substrate

A coating apparatus which comprises a feeding means to feed a coating liquid, a coating liquid applicator having a discharge slot extending in one direction to discharge the coating liquid fed by the feeding means, and a conveying means to move at least either the coating liquid applicator or a substrate to be coated with the coating liquid relative one to the other, and said apparatus further comprising:

• (a) a first control means which comprises,
• (a-1) a position detecting means to detect position of the coating liquid applicator or the substrate either of which is moved by the conveying means and
• (a-2) a controller capable of stopping the coating liquid applicator or the substrate which is moved by the conveying means at a position that is detected by the position detecting means, such that a start-of-coating line of the substrate is registered by the position detecting means upon alignment of the start-of-coating line with the slot of the coating liquid applicator, and which controller is capable of starting movement of either the coating liquid applicator or the substrate that is stopped at said position and maintaining the clearance between the exit aperture of the slot of the coating liquid applicator and the substrate at the start-of-coating line;
• and
• (b) a second control means which comprises a timer controller capable of transmitting a signal to the controller of the first control means for movement of the coating liquid applicator or the substrate which is stopped at said position, after a predetermined period which begins with commencement of feeding the coating liquid and is needed for forming a coating liquid bead which is in contact with both the exit aperture of the slot of the coating liquid applicator and the substrate at the start-of-coating line and by the second control means said predetermined period and the volume of the coating liquid bead formed at the start-of-coating line are controlled to regulate a profile of the thickness of the coating liquid coated at the starting portion of coating on the substrate.