Abstract: A powder recovery container includes a reservoir chamber that stores a recovered powder; a recovery port that faces the reservoir chamber, a powder conveying unit that conveys and recovers the powder through the recovery port being removably inserted into the recovery port; a pair of door panels having rotating shafts arranged at two positions with the recovery port arranged therebetween, the door panels being rotated toward the reservoir chamber around the rotating shafts to open and close the recovery port; sealing members attached to the door panels, the sealing members overlapping one another between distal ends of the door panels to seal a gap between the distal ends of the door panels when the door panels are located at positions, at which the recovery port is closed; and urging members that urge the door panels in a direction, in which the recovery port is closed.

Abstract: A powder transporting device includes: a dropping path through which developer drops; a loosening member that is arranged in the dropping path, and loosens the developer applied on an inner wall of the dropping path; a supporting portion that is provided on the inner wall of the developing path, and supports the loosening member; a rotary member that includes: a rotary center; and a reciprocation applying portion that is located at a position eccentric from the rotary center, the rotary member being arranged within the dropping path and rotationally driven; and a reciprocation applied portion that is provided on the loosening member, and is brought into contact with the reciprocation applying member, wherein the loosening member is moved along the inner wall of the dropping path by contact between the reciprocation applying member and the reciprocation applied portion while the rotary member rotates.

Abstract: A reclaimed material container includes a container body that is removably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and that accommodates a reclaimed material existing after forming an image, a receiving portion that is provided at a bottom portion of the container body, and that is supported by a support of the mounting portion from therebelow, and a mounting member that mounts the container body to the mounting portion as a result of rotation of the container body with the receiving portion as a fulcrum while the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. In the container, the container body has a first recess that provides a field of view for the support when the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion for storing developer. The image forming apparatus further includes a developer supply portion for supplying developer through an opening portion of the developer storage portion. When a closing member is attached to the developer storage portion for closing the opening portion, the developer supply portion is separated from the developer storage portion.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a casing in which toner is accommodated, a toner inflow portion that is provided on a side of one of ends in a longitudinal direction of the casing, a first screw that conveys the toner accommodated in the casing from one end toward the other end, a second screw that conveys the toner accommodated in the casing from the other end toward one end, and a sensor in which a detection portion is disposed at a position facing a side face of the casing provided in the longitudinal direction in order to detect an amount of toner accommodated in the casing. The longitudinal direction of the detection portion is located closer to one end than the other end, and a position in a vertical direction of the detection portion partially overlaps at least a toner conveying region of the second screw.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a cleaning device, a waste toner bottle, a connecting unit, and a regulating unit. The cleaning device removes waste toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner bottle has an intake opening for collecting the waste toner therein. The connecting unit conveys the waste toner from the cleaning device to the waste toner bottle, and has a discharge opening that is configured to engage the intake opening to discharge the waste toner into the waste toner bottle through the intake opening. The regulating unit regulates the position of the waste toner bottle in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the waste toner bottle before the discharge opening comes in contact with the intake opening.

Abstract: A waste toner storage unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner container and an inner cover integrally attached to the waste toner container. The waste toner container stores waste toner recovered after an image forming process. The inner cover is located at a region of the waste toner storage unit that does not store waste toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing which comprises a housing side opening through which waste toner passes; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units comprising a first containing unit for containing the toner to be supplied to the toner carrier; wherein at least one of the toner cartridges comprises a second containing unit for containing the waste toner, the second containing unit comprises a cartridge side opening for receiving the waste toner having passed through the housing side opening, and wherein the housing side opening and the cartridge side opening are disposed to be opposite to each other along the substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A waste toner recovery unit includes a waste toner conveying screw, a coating member, and a waste toner storing portion. The waste toner conveying screw has a first end and a second end and conveys waste toner, the first end being linked with a driving portion and the second end being set as a free end. The coating member coats the free end of the waste toner conveying screw by being fitted in a processing unit, has an opening to which waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying screw falls down, and can rotate in such a way that the opening is positioned in a vertically lower part. The waste toner storing portion stores the waste toner which falls down from the opening.

Abstract: A powder material recovery container includes: a container main body that accommodates a powder material; a conveying member that is arranged with a part existing at least in an intermediate position of a dropping movement of the powder material and rotates to convey it, the conveying member having a conveying part that conveys the powder material around a central line of rotation; and a moving passage surface arranged in a lower part of the part existing at least in the intermediate position, and opposed to one part of the conveying member and move it by a conveying force, wherein the moving passage surface has upper end parts of side surfaces opposed to each other with respect to the central line that are formed with relatively different heights, and the relatively lower upper end part is formed with height not higher than a height of the central line.

Abstract: A waste powder recovery container is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, and further, is provided with a recovery port, through which waste powder discharged from a component part constituting a process unit is recovered, at one end in a longitudinal direction and an inclined surface on the container side, which is gradually inclined downward in a lateral direction and has the recovery port formed thereat. The inclined surface on the container side moves an opening/closing member disposed in a discharging portion formed at the component part constituting the process unit by pushing an inclined surface on a main body side formed at the opening/closing member, thereby opening a discharging port formed at the discharging portion, to discharge the waste powder and recover the waste powder through the recovery port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to check an amount of waste toner stored in a waste toner container in stages. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a waste toner container which is installed in the main body to store waste toner, a light emitting part which emits light to detect an amount of the waste toner stored in the waste toner container, a plurality of light receiving parts which receive the light emitted from the light emitting part, and a light distribution member which distributes the light emitted from the light emitting part to the plurality of light receiving parts. Waste toner detecting regions are respectively defined on light paths between the light distribution member and the plurality of light receiving parts. The waste toner detecting regions are located at different positions along an accumulated direction of the waste toner in the waste toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image to a visible image by use of toner, a fuser unit configured to fuse toner on a printing medium, a fuser driving unit configured to drive the fuser unit, and a waste toner storage unit configured to receive and store waste toner, which is generated from the developing unit, wherein the waste toner storage unit operates by receiving power from the fuser driving unit such that a separate driving unit for the waste toner storage unit is not required.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing housing having a developer accommodating chamber; a developer bearing member which is supported rotatably inside a developing housing, and which holds on a circumferential surface thereof a two-component developer composed of a magnetic carrier and toner; a toner bearing member which is supported rotatably with respect to the developer bearing member inside the developing housing, and to which the toner in the developer held on the developer bearing member adheres electrostatically; and a toner recovery tray which has an opening in an upper end thereof, and which is installed removably in the developing housing below the developer bearing member and the toner bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning device that collects a waste toner attached to the surface of the image carrier using a cleaning member, a waste container that is removable from an image forming apparatus body, a temporary storage unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus body to temporarily store a waste including the waste toner collected in the cleaning device before the waste is transported to the waste container, and a waste transport unit that transports the waste to the temporary storage unit, wherein a discharge speed of the waste from the temporary storage unit by the waste discharge unit is lower than a transport speed of the waste to the temporary storage unit by the waste transport unit.

Abstract: This is a novel xerographic marking system having a novel toner waste dispensing assembly. The assembly comprises a hermetically sealed outer box that houses a disposable waste toner container. The container is a biodegradable carton or bag that can be removed from the outer box when filled with waste toner. A feature of this invention is that the dispensing assembly can easily be retrofitted into existing marking systems. Also because the containers are inexpensive and biodegradable, the expensive prior art non-degradable waste containers and their adverse effect on the landfills can be avoided.

Abstract: A collection device includes: a collection container that collects output material; a storage box that is opened upward to store a lower part of the collection container; and a support member that is fixed to a housing and supports the storage box so that the collection container is stored in the storage box and is freely drawn to the outside of the housing. The collection container includes a handle located frontward in a pulling direction and at an upper part of the collection container. The storage box includes a notch formed in a rear surface in the pulling direction. When the handle of the collection container is pressed backward in the pulling direction, a part of the collection container, which part is located backward in the pulling direction, protrudes from the storage box through the notch, so that the collection container inclines backward in the pulling direction.

Abstract: This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate prevents pressure from entering the bag thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate has rotating blades tightly pushed against a sealing wall, such as rubber or the like. The wall must prevent pressure from reaching the bag and remaining only above the bag. The rotating blades convey waste toner from an upper collection to the collection bag.

Abstract: A processing method of waste toner which is collected from an image forming device generated when an electrophotography image is formed, including: adding citrus oil to the waste toner.

Abstract: In a toner conveyance device, a first agitator contacts a helical outer circumferential surface of a blade of a conveyance member for conveying toner, and swings in coordination with rotation of the conveyance member to agitate the toner. The first agitator includes a body for bending and swinging in a bending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the conveyance member, and a protrusion for protruding from the body in a protrusion direction opposite the bending direction of the body. The protrusion includes a basal portion adjacent to the body, a convex portion protruding from the basal portion, and a protrusion front edge surface having a distance from the body changing in a toner conveyance direction, and contacts the helical outer circumferential surface of the helical blade of the conveyance member.

Abstract: A used toner conveyance device includes a lateral conveyance member for conveying used toner substantially in the horizontal direction, and a vertical conveyance member for upwardly conveying the used toner transferred from the lateral conveyance member. The vertical conveyance member transfers the used toner to either a collection space or a next conveyance path. The vertical conveyance member stops its operation when a prescribed delay time has elapsed after the lateral conveyance member stops conveyance operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an improved photosensitive body unit capable of efficiently utilizing an inner space of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body unit having a photosensitive body housing and a photosensitive body mounted in the photosensitive body housing. The photosensitive body housing includes a first developer storage part to store a developer collected from the photosensitive body, a second developer storage part to store a developer conveyed from the first developer storage part, and a light window provided so that light can be scanned to the photosensitive body. The light window is positioned between the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part. Developer paths are provided on outer side portions of the light window to connect the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part.

Abstract: A storage container includes: a container body that is detachably disposed on a predetermined container receiver, wherein powder to be supplied or recovered powder is stored in the container body; and a powder driving transmitting mechanism that is disposed in the container body, and that transmits a transportable driving force to the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, and, when the container body is mounted on the container receiver, the powder driving transmitting mechanism couples a powder conveying mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that, outside the container body, conveys the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, with a driving mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that drives the powder conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A storage container for a developer, includes: a first storage unit in which a collected developer is stored; a second storage unit which is disposed at an end of the first storage unit, in which the developer conveyed from the first storage unit is stored; a detection member which detects the developer stored in the second storage unit; a full-state determining unit which determines whether the first storage unit is a full state or not, based on a detected result of the detection member; and a conveyance member which is disposed in the first storage unit, and is rotated to convey the developer stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit, and the conveyance member has: a first region as defined herein; a second region as defined herein; and a third region as defined herein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.

Abstract: A powder material cartridge includes a waste toner chamber that prevents the waste toner from spilling. A receiving section is provided in the chamber and includes a first opening therein through which the powder material is received into the chamber. A first shutter is rotatably received in the receiving section and includes a second opening formed therein. The first shutter is rotatable either to a first opening position where the second opening is in alignment with the first opening, or to a first closing position where the second opening is not in alignment with the first opening. A second shutter is received in the first shutter and is slidable straight in the first shutter. When the second shutter slides to a second closing position, the second shutter closes the second opening. When the second shutter slides to a second opening position, the second shutter opens the second opening.

Abstract: A photosensitive cartridge includes a housing comprising an opening; a photosensitive drum supported by the housing, an electrostatic latent image being formed on the photosensitive drum; a charger that is supported by the housing and charges the photosensitive drum; a cleaning member that is supported by the housing and catches foreign substances from the photosensitive drum; and a cover that is exposed through the opening so as to be flush with an outer surface of the housing at a periphery of the opening, and catches foreign substances from the cleaning member.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a high toner containing efficiency of a waste toner-collecting container is provided. Piled toner is broken by an vibrating imparting operation and at the same time, a toner feeding member such as a feeding screw disposed inside the toner-collecting container is rotated by changing a reciprocating operation by the vibrating impartment to a rotational operation in a direction. As a result, the piled toner which cannot be completely broken by the vibrating imparting operation is broken and fed, so that driving noise is reduced and the toner containing efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A method for collecting waste toner or developer in an electrophotographic printer includes collecting waste toner or developer in an electrophotographic module. An auger transports waste toner or developer from the collection tube through a transport tube to a waste container. A spring has a first end in the collection tube and a second end fixed within the transport tube of the auger. An elbow of the spring rides on the auger and the motion of the auger causes the spring to oscillate in the collection tube.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an electrophotographic image-forming section, a receptacle, a detecting unit, a shielding member, a drive mechanism. The electrophotographic image-forming section transfers developer onto a recording sheet to form developer image thereon. The receptacle collects developer not transferred onto the recording sheet. The receptacle includes a detection portion. The detecting unit detects light passing through the detection portion. The shielding member is movably disposed in the detection portion to move between a first position blocking the light to be detected by the detecting unit and a second position allowing the light to pass through the detection portion. The drive mechanism moves the shielding member between the first position and the second position in a direction different from a vertical direction.

Abstract: A toner conveyer device for use din an image forming apparatus includes a toner conveyer belt conveys waste toner, a screw member that receives the waste toner from the toner conveyer belt and conveys the waste toner to a housing unit, and a scraping member that scrapes waste toner that adheres to the screw member.

Abstract: A developer collection container includes a developer storing portion having first and second end portions in a longitudinal direction thereof. A developer supply opening is provided on the first end portion through which the developer is supplied into the developer storing portion. A rotation member is rotatably provided so as to extend substantially from the first end portion to the second end portion. The rotation member rotates so as to convey the developer in the longitudinal direction of the developer storing portion. In a first region closer to the first end portion, the rotation member conveys the developer in a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion with a conveying power which is larger than a conveying power with which the rotation member conveys the developer in a second region closer to the second end portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including first and second image forming parts each forming a toner image by using an image forming unit to be mounted, the first and the second image forming parts being inhibited from forming respective toner images if an image forming unit is not mounted to the first image forming part, the first image forming part being allowed to form a toner image if an image forming unit is mounted to the first image forming part while an image forming unit is not mounted to the second image forming part; and a transporting section including first and second receiving parts receiving waste powder discarded by the first and second image forming parts, respectively, and that transports the received waste powder. The second receiving part is provided downstream of the first receiving part in a transporting direction of the waste powder.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and corresponding method for maintaining a level of a marking material in a marking material waste sump of a printing apparatus to a desired level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing mechanism for opening a lid member when a toner collecting portion including a waste toner bottle and the lid member for the waste toner bottle is mounted into an apparatus main body while closing the lid member when the toner collecting portion is removed from the apparatus main body. The opening/closing mechanism includes a first contact portion provided in a toner discharging portion for discharging toner for rotating the lid member in a first direction by coming into contact with the lid member when the toner collecting portion is mounted into the apparatus main body, and a second contact portion mounted in the apparatus main body for rotating the lid member in a second direction by coming into contact with the lid member when the toner collecting portion is removed from the apparatus main body.

Abstract: The toner transporting section is provided with a plurality of toner discharge portions, selectively discharges a waste toner from any one of the plurality of toner discharge portions, and stores the waste toner in a waste toner container to which the waste toner discharged from the selected toner discharge portion is to be stored. Accordingly, it is possible to exchange the waste toner container corresponding to the toner discharge portion not used for discharging the waste toner. Therefore, it is possible to exchange the waste toner containers without stopping an image forming operation in an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning device.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to the first storing container; a second discharging part discharging the waste powder to the second storing container; a first transporting section transporting the waste powder to the first discharging part; a second transporting section transporting, toward the second discharging part, the waste powder transported to the first discharging part, when the first discharging part is shut off; and a controller shutting off the first discharging part and stopping the first transporting section or reducing an output of the first transporting section, when the first storing container is removed in a state where the first discharging part is opened.

Abstract: A development device includes a plurality of development units and a waste substance container or containers storing the waste substance removed by the cleaning member. Each of the plural development units includes an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer and a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance. A number of the waste substance containers disposed is smaller than a number of development units disposed, and the number of the waste substance containers is greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section; a first transporting section that transports, from the image forming section, the waste powder having been discarded in the image forming section; a transport path through which the waste powder having been transported by the first transporting section is caused to fall down and is transported; a second transporting section that transports, to the storage container, the waste powder having been transported through the transport path; and a controller that stops driving of the second transporting section if an operation set in advance is executed when the storage container is removed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image, a waste toner storage mechanism to store residual toner, and an intermediate transfer unit detachable from the image forming apparatus. The intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image is transferred, a cleaning device to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium, and a connecting mechanism to connect the cleaning device and the waste toner storage mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a movable connecting tube and a moving device to move the connecting tube between a first position at which the connecting tube engages the cleaning device and the waste toner storage mechanism, and the second position at which the connecting tube separates the cleaning device from the waste toner storage mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing; a partition wall which is provided in the housing along a substantially vertical direction, the partition wall partitioning an inner space of the housing into a first space and a second space; developing units which are disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the first space, each of the developing units comprising a first reception opening and a return opening; and developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the second space, each of developer cartridges comprising a supply opening and a second reception opening.

Abstract: A waste toner container used in an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner reservoir extending in a depth direction of the image forming apparatus for containing waste toner removed from an image bearer, an inlet portion provided above the waste toner reservoir, including a waste toner inlet to receive the waste toner flowing to the waste toner reservoir, a first agitator provided in the waste toner reservoir, to transport the waste toner therein in the depth direction, a rotary member provided in the inlet portion, including a rotary shaft extending in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction, and a drive transmission unit provided outside the waste toner reservoir, to transmit a drive force from the rotary member provided in the inlet portion to the first agitator provided in the waste toner reservoir and to drive the first agitator in conjunction with rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: A developer recovery device is provided with a recovery container that receives and accommodates a developer recovered from an image carrier, an agitator member that agitates the developer inside the recovery container, two shafts to which mutually engageable cams are respectively provided and that transmit rotational force to the agitator member, a spring that biases and causes to move one of the cams such that the two cams mutually engage and that causes a shaft connection between the two shafts to be joined, a torque limiter that carries out joining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to mutually engage to join the shaft connection, and disjoining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to move apart to disjoin the shaft connection, and a full-state determination portion that detects a disjoined state of the shaft connection and, based on the detected disjoined state, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image-forming device having a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a thin layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The thin layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The thin layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The image-carrying member has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The belt has an outer surface including a cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on the cleanable region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along the predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through a first opening and stores residual toner, a connector, a first feeding path, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet and includes a sheet guide to guide the recording sheet, and a second feed roller. The second feed roller is movable along with at least a part of the sheet guide. The waste toner container is movable through space, which is occupied by the second feed roller in an upper position, and the first opening when the second feed roller is in a lower position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning portion for collecting waste toner from various locations within the image forming apparatus. Waste toner collected by the cleaning portion is routed to a waste toner collecting container. The waste toner collecting container includes a waste toner receptacle for storing the waste toner, a waste toner collector for leading the waste toner collected by the cleaning portion into the waste toner receptacle, and a flexible joint that couples the waste toner collector and the waste toner receptacle. The waste toner collecting container is removably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The flexible joint has the function of extending and contracting itself to enable the waste toner receptacle to move relative to the waste toner collector. A detector may be provided to detect an amount of waste toner collected in the container.