PURPOSE: To exchange segments within a small area range and save an initial cost by running a trolley suspending segments on rails provided in the same longitudinal direction as the drawing direction of an ingot above the disposed segments.

CONSTITUTION: In the case of exchanging a segment 1, a carriage 5 is rup up to the position of a rail 3 of a strand requiring the exchanging, after which a trolley 9 is traversed up to above the prescribed segment 1. Said segment 1 is lifted from a segment support frame by hoisting devices 8 and 8', thence the trolly 9 is traversed to reset the carriage 5 and the carriage 5 is run to carry out the segment to a segment yard. After the end of this carry-out, another required segment 1 is hoisted by the devices 8 and 8', and is exchanged by the operating procedures reverse from the lifting operations of the segment 1. Here, 4 in the figure denotes a traveling rail, 7 an auxiliary rail, and (a)W(d) deonote strands respectively.