Patent ID: 7373092

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrying member configured to rotate and carry a toner image thereon; a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image to a recording medium; a first cleaning device configured to collect toner remaining on the image carrying member as waste toner after a primary transfer operation of the toner image from the image carrying member to the transfer device; a second cleaning device configured to collect toner remaining in the transfer device as waste toner after a secondary transfer operation of the toner image from the transfer device to the recording medium; and a waste toner collecting unit configured to store the waste toner, comprising: a container configured to store the waste toner collected by and conveyed from the first and second cleaning devices; a conveying device provided in the container, and configured to horizontally convey the waste toner in the container, and to press and up-thrust the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value; and a detection unit provided above a position where the waste toner is pressed and up-thrust by the conveying device, and configured to be pressed and displaced by the pressed and up-thrust waste toner, and to be detected by a sensor.