Abstract: An inlet/outlet pipe extending downward from a bottom face of a body for a ladle is bent at its tip end into an S-shape in an intermediate portion of the pipe, and its tip end is located at a level higher than that of the bent portion. When a negative pressure in the ladle body is increased, a height of range of a molten metal is increased before and after an occurrence of disturbance in the ladle body, so that the negative pressure in the ladle body is made balance with a weight of the molten metal. Thereby, the molten metal is measured and held at a constant volume in the ladle body.