To enable the accurate aligning/positioning of a mold, to make removal from a vulcanizer smooth and simple, to curtail time for transfer and removal, and to improve mold replacement efficiency by a method in which the transfer of the mold in the vulcanizer to the outside. with the transfer height of the mold is adjusted, is positioned to the vulcanizer.

A replacement apparatus is stopped by positioning a mold main body mounted on the plate 20 of a transfer apparatus 2 to the lower part holder 7 of a vulcanizer in front of the vulcanizer, and the second conveyer 12 is adjusted at the contact position of the lower part holder 7 at a position higher by a prescribed quantity. The conveyer 12 is moved to an advance position crossing/straddling the holder 7, and the height is decreased by a prescribed quantity to contact the holder 7. The plate 20 on which the mold main body is mounted is advanced/moved, a pair of notches 35 is engaged with a pair of pins 40, and the positioning of the mold main body is done. In this way, the accurate positioning of a mold and a smooth, simple short time action are made possible, and the reliable transfer and replacement of the mold are made possible.