In a method for forming a layer of coating material (50), a conveyor (20) having a conveying part (22) which is pervious to the coating material is used. This coating material (50) is displaced on the conveying part (22) over a guide plate (36) into a coating zone. At the end of a coating zone, excess coating material is returned using a return part (26) of a conveyor. To form a layer (53) of coating material (50) on the conveying part (22), the coating material (50) is moved from the return part (26) through the conveying part (22) onto the conveying part (22). <;IMAGE>;