A developer collecting apparatus for collecting waste developer which is
generated by cleaning residual developer remained on a photoreceptor and
an intermediate transfer body, includes: a waste developer container for
accommodating the waste developer; a stirring member rotatably provided
in the waste developer container, for stirring the waste developer; and a
driving section for giving a rotary driving force to the stirring member.
The driving section of the stirring member has: a driving source; a first
driving force transmitting path and a second driving force transmitting
path which are coupled on the driving source, for transmitting the rotary
driving force to the stirring member, and when a rotational load on the
first driving force transmitting path reaches a predetermined level or
more, a switch-over of transmitting path can be performed from the first
driving force transmitting path to the second driving force transmitting
path.