Winding device

A winding device which a winding reel can be mounted on and removed from, comprising:

• a rotatable winding shaft having a through-hole along an axial direction of the winding shaft and having a tapered end, said through-hole having a first diameter at the tapered end and a second diameter at the other end, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter wherein a stepped-diameter portion is formed in said through-hole;
• bearing means for supporting said winding shaft such that said winding shaft is rotatable around its axis, said bearing means being adapted to be fitted into a device base;
• a collet sleeve adapted to receive the winding reel, said collet sleeve having an outer periphery adapted to be detachably fitted into the winding reel and having an inner periphery slidably fitted onto the tapered end of said winding shaft, said collet sleeve increasing in diameter when sliding along the tapered end toward the taper to engage the winding reel, wherein the rotation of said winding shaft is transmitted to the winding reel, said collet sleeve decreasing in diameter when sliding along the tapered end away from the taper to release the winding reel from said collet sleeve;
• a transmission member having two ends, one end equipped with a flange having a diameter larger than the second diameter of said through-hole, the other end being fixed to said collet sleeve, said transmission member passing through the through-hole of said winding shaft and being movable in the axial direction of said winding shaft, wherein the flange-equipped end protrudes from said winding shaft;
• clamping and urging means provided between said flange-equipped end of said transmission member and said stepped-diameter portion of said winding shaft, for urging said transmission member in a direction to move said collet sleeve along the tapered end of said winding shaft toward the taper to engage the winding reel;
• a pressing member provided to face the flange of said transmission member, for abutting and pressing said transmission member against said clamping and urging means to move said collet sleeve along the tapered end of said winding shaft away from the taper to release the winding reel from said collet sleeve;
• driving means for driving said pressing member;
• movement-allowing means provided on the device base, for allowing said driving means to move away from said winding shaft by reactive force received by said pressing member upon pressing said flange of said transmission member;
• and
• movement-preventing means provided with said driving means for preventing said driving means from moving away from said winding shaft by engaging with said winding shaft at an engaging portion of said winding shaft after said driving means is allowed to move away from said transmission member by said movement-allowing means.