A method and apparatus are disclosed for use with a paper coater located on a backing roll of, for example, a papermaking machine. In the method, apparatus in the form of a hinged bridge is used to collect excess coating liquid from a remote doctor blade or a first coater having such blade and supply the same to a second coater. The bridge may be mounted to the doctor blade or the first coater so that it can be placed in a bridging position accommodating various angles of the doctor blade, or in a second stored position wherein it will not interfere with the operation of either coater or the doctor blade.