To provide a vacuum press apparatus and a vacuum press method which can perform the press of a workpiece under stable press conditions.

The vacuum press apparatus includes: a frame body which presses a release sheet having elasticity against a surface plate so that the workpiece arranged on the surface plate is covered with the release sheet, and which thereby brings the release sheet into close contact with the surface plate to form a closed first space between the surface plate and the release sheet; a vacuum pump for vacuuming the first space; a driving means relatively moving the frame body to the surface plate; and a release sheet conveying means conveying the release sheet into a region between the surface plate and the frame body and conveying the release sheet from this region after press forming of the workpiece.

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