Patent ID: 7272342

Claim:
An image bearing mechanism comprising: an image bearing member having a hollow cylindrical shape and first and second open end portions; a first flange including a first opening at a center portion thereof and fixed at the first open end portion of the image bearing member; a second flange including a second opening at a center portion thereof and fixed at the second open end portion of the image bearing member; and a through shaft extending through the first opening of the first flange and the second opening of the second flange to rotatably support the image bearing member, wherein the through shaft is configured to be fixedly engaged with the image bearing member, wherein the through shaft includes first and second end portions that are accommodated in the first opening of the first flange and the second opening of the second flange, respectively, and wherein outer radial diameters of the first and second end portions of the through shaft are greater than other portions of the through shaft between the first and second end portions.