<p>A coating apparatus (10) includes a supply unit (22) containing liquid coating material and a reservoir (34) receiving liquid coating material dispensed from the supply unit (22). A coater (24) dispenses liquid coating material onto a moving strip of material (12). A liquid meter unit (28) includes a flow passage (88) and a flow regulator (90) associated with the flow passage (88). A flow rate manager (16) cooperates with the reservoir (34) to determine the flow rate of liquid coating material passing through the flow passage (88) in the liquid meter unit (28) and operates the flow regulator (90) to regulate the flow rate of liquid coating material discharged to the coater (24).</p>
