The invention provides a
vacuum evaporation apparatus and a method for replacing crucibles in a
vacuum evaporation apparatus. When a second
crucible (12B) is replaced, a second
brake valve (35B) is used to close a second delivery
pipe (14B), and a
crucible accommodating member (31B) of a second
evaporation device (13B) is taken down from the second delivery
pipe (14B), so that the second
crucible (12B) is replaced. At this time, air flows into the second
evaporation device (13B) and the second delivery
pipe (14B). However, after the crucible accommodating member (31B) is mounted on the second delivery pipe (14B), a second deaeration valve (33B) is opened to perform deaerating to realize specified vacuum conditions, so that when the second
brake valve (35B) is opened and
evaporation is started, air does not enter into a
vacuum evaporation container (10), deaeration for the vacuum evaporation container (10) is not needed as air enters. Thus, first and second evaporation devices (13A, 13B) can be simple in structure, and replacement of first and second crucibles (12A, 12B) can be carried out in the air, thereby improving
operability.