Patent ID: 7515838

Claim:
A developer collecting device which collects residual developer cleaned away through a transfer body, on which the residual developer remains without being transferred when a developer image formed in an image forming unit is transferred on the transfer body, by a cleaning section, comprising: a positioning frame arranged to determine a mounting position of the image bearing member onto an image forming apparatus main body; a waste developer container detachably mounted on the positioning frame and arranged to accommodate the waste developer removed by the cleaning section; and an integrated container detection section including a mechanical sensor portion arranged to detect whether or not the waste developer container is mounted on the positioning frame and arranged to detect whether or not the waste developer container is filled up with the waste developer, the mechanical sensor portion including a sensor arm portion arranged to be in one of three positions, a first position indicating that the waste developer container is not mounted, a second position indicating that the waste developer container is mounted and not filled with the waste developer, and a third position indicating that the waste developer container is mounted and filled with the waste developer, wherein the waste developer container includes a waste developer stirring shaft rotatably provided therein arranged to stir the waste developer accommodated therein, and wherein the integrated container detection section is provided on a prolonged part of the waste developer stirring shaft which part is located on an outer side portion of the waste developer container mounted on the positioning frame.