Patent ID: 7107002

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting toner, comprising: a removing member for removing the toner from a toner carrier; a toner collector which is used for collecting the toner, the toner collector comprising a rigid portion and a supple portion which transforms corresponding to an amount of the toner accumulated in the toner collector; a moving part which contacts the supple portion and moves under the toner accumulated in the toner collector as the supple portion is transformed; and a movement detector detecting the displacement of the moving part; wherein the supple portion includes an upper portion, in contact with the moving part, on which the toner accumulates, and wherein, the upper portion carries at least a portion of the moving part downward under the weight of the toner; said apparatus also comprising a stirring member for stirring the toner, which is placed over the upper portion of said supple portion, and conveys the toner from a place over said upper portion of said supple portion to the inside of said toner collector.