Patent ID: 8011315

Claim:
A thin film forming apparatus to form a thin film on each of a plurality of substrates held on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical substrate holder that is rotatable about a rotating shaft, while the cylindrical substrate holder is being rotated in an evacuatable chamber, the thin film forming apparatus comprising: a transferring device that transfers one of a substrate itself or a substrate fixing jig fixedly holding a substrate or a plurality of substrates that is removeably securable onto the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical substrate holder to/from the cylindrical substrate holder in the evacuatable chamber; and means for releasably securing the substrate itself or the substrate fixing jig transferred by the transferring device onto the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical substrate holder, wherein the cylindrical substrate holder is rotatable around the rotating shaft which is provided in a horizontal direction; wherein the transferring device is provided outside the evacuatable chamber and includes an arm insertable into a gap between the cylindrical substrate holder and the substrate fixing jig or the substrate itself; wherein the arm, when holding the substrate fixing jig or the substrate itself, is transferred along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical substrate holder in a direction parallel with the rotating shaft, wherein an end of one of the substrate fixing jig or the substrate itself, which is transferable by the transferring device, is fixable to the cylindrical substrate holder by the means for releasably securing; wherein the substrate fixing jig comprises outwardly bent end parts, the outwardly bent end parts defining the middle substrate fixing portion for receiving the substrate and defining the gap between the substrate holder and the substrate fixing jig when the substrate fixing jig is mounted to the cylindrical substrate holder.