To improve the cleaning effect when the pressure in a coating chamber increases by arranging a doctor element movably in a direction where the element extends nearly parallel to the extension direction of its longitudinal direction.

The coating applicator 1 is provided with a corresponding roller 2 and a cleaning doctor 7 is arranged apart a spacing from a coating doctor 6 in a direction opposite to the rotating direction P of the roller 2. The cleaning doctor 7 partitions the coating chamber 5 for the liquid or pasty medium together with the coating doctor 6. Further, the cleaning doctor 7 is extended across the width of the material web and the doctor element 12 is arranged at a doctor base 13. The doctor element 12 is arranged movably in the direction extending nearly parallel to the extension direction of its longitudinal direction. As a result, the cleaning effect when the pressure in the coating chamber 5 increases is improved.