Patent ID: 7505711

Claim:
A waste developer collecting device for ejecting and collecting a waste developer used in a developing unit employing a two-component developing system in which a developer that contains toner and carrier is used, said waste developer collecting device comprising: opening and closing means for opening and closing a developer ejection opening formed on a bottom portion of the developing unit; opening operation prohibiting means for prohibiting the opening operation of the opening and closing means; a collecting container for collecting the developer ejected through the developer ejection opening; and collecting container fixing means, having a fixing-side coupling portion, for fixing the collecting container at a position where the developer ejected from the developing unit is collected, the opening operation prohibiting means allowing the opening operation of the opening and closing means when the collecting container is fixed by the collecting container fixing means, wherein the opening operation prohibiting means includes: fixing means for fixing the opening and closing means with the developer ejection opening closed; and fixing releasing/non-releasing means for preventing the fixing means from being released when the collecting container is not fixed by the collecting container fixing means, and for allowing the fixing means to be released when the collecting container is fixed by the collecting container fixing means, wherein the collecting container has a container-side coupling portion, projecting in shape, for coupling to the collecting container fixing means, wherein the fixing means is a screw for fixing the opening and closing means of the collecting container fixing means, and wherein the fixing releasing/non-releasing means is a flexible member, provided behind the fixing-side coupling portion at which the container-side coupling portion is coupled to the collecting container fixing means, for blocking a head portion of the screw when the container-side coupling portion is not coupled to the fixing-side coupling portion, and for exposing the head portion of the screw by being pushed and deformed by the container-side coupling portion when the container-side coupling portion is coupled to the fixing-side coupling portion.