Support device and date management method

A support device for supporting a cylindrical member around which is wound an elongated body, the support device comprising:

• a support shaft, supported by a support body in a cantilevered state, for supporting the cylindrical member that is fitted to an external surface of the support shaft from an opening on one end in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member;
• an anchoring means, built into the support shaft, for anchoring the cylindrical member from an inner circumferential side of the cylindrical member;
• an operating means comprising a shaft part smaller in diameter than the support shaft, the shaft part protruding forward from a distal end of the support shaft where a side on which the support shaft is supported in the cantilevered state is defined as a proximal end and where an opposite side thereto is defined as the distal end, the shaft part being arranged to switch between anchoring of the cylindrical member by the anchoring means and releasing thereof;
• a protecting member which is attached to the distal end of the support shaft and through which is inserted the shaft part, the protecting member further comprising a reduced-diameter section smaller in diameter than the support shaft;
• and
• a data carrier member formed at a part of the cylindrical member which is located further forward from a proximal end of the reduced-diameter section on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member.