Patent ID: 7813675

Claim:
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support, a charging unit, a developing unit, a transferring unit, and a cleaning unit for removing transfer residual toner by bringing an elastic member into contact with the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein each of at least both edge portions of a surface layer of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member has a region where depressed portions independent of each other are formed at a density of ten or more portions per 100-μm square; the regions where the depressed portions are formed, are arranged to be present outside a largest region where a toner image is formed, when an average depth representing a distance between a deepest portion and an opening of each of the depressed portions is represented by Rdv-A, an average short axis diameter of the depressed portions is represented by Lpc-A, and an average long axis diameter of the depressed portions is represented by Rpc-A, the average depth Rdv-A falls within a range of 0.3 μm or more and 4.0 μm or less, the Lpc-A falls within a range of 2.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less, and the Rpc-A is twice or more as long as the Lpc-A and 50 μm or less; and when an angle formed between a rotational movement direction of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member and a long axis of each of the depressed portions is represented by θ, the depressed portions are formed so that the angle θ satisfies a relationship of 90°<θ<180°.