Patent ID: 8630562

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer member that retains developer; a housing provided with a removing member that removes the developer, the housing having an intake opening that is opposed to the transfer member, the developer removed by the removing member being taken into the housing through the intake opening; a guiding pipe connected to the housing and having a suction hole through which the developer that has been taken into the housing is sucked and an outlet through which the developer that has been sucked is discharged; and a suction member that applies a suction force to an inner space of the housing through the guiding pipe, wherein the guiding pipe comprises: a capturing area configured to capture the developer that has been sucked by the suction member and that flows through a flow channel from the suction hole to the outlet of the guiding pipe and provided at an intermediate position of the flow channel, a cross section of the capturing area being larger than a cross section of other areas of the guiding pipe, and a portion of the guiding pipe that turns a horizontal direction and is provide upstream position from the capturing area in the flow channel.