12 is maintained at the constant s010 when application of coating fluid to the surface of substrate 1 is completed s011 applicator roll 12 is moved upward to the above described standby position s012 the control of the horizontal movement of substrate 1 and the vertical movement of applicator roll 12 can be carried out by roll coater 10 as set forth in the following controlling motor 24 and the motor not shown of the driving mechanism of stage 46 the moving speed of applicator roll 12 in the vertical direction and the moving speed of stage 46 in the horizontal direction are adjusted interactively the positions of applicator roll 12 and stage 46 are detected by a signal from an encoder not shown from each motor the timing between applicator roll 12 and stage 46 is established on the basis of the detected positions of applicator roll 12 and stage 46 similarly by controlling the motor with the encoder output the speed is changed when stage 46 reaches a predetermined position on the horizontal transportation path by providing in advance the length of substrate 1 to the control device the speed of stage 46 is changed when applicator roll 12 comes into contact with substrate 1 at a position 5 mm from the rear edge applicator roll 12 is retracted by a vertical driving mechanism when the rear edge of substrate 1 passes right below applicator roll 12 as described above the transportation speed of substrate 1 is increased in comparison with the former state when the circumferential cylindrical surface of applicator roll 12 comes into contact in the proximity of the rear edge of the.