Patent ID: 7184690

Claim:
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus comprising: a first supporting member having a first hole portion for supporting one lengthwise end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first inclined surface on one side of said first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum supported by said supporting apparatus and inclined with respect to said imaginary plane so as to contact the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and provided on an inner surface of said first hole portion, and a second inclined surface on the other side of said first supporting member relative to said imaginary plane and inclined with respect to said imaginary plane so as to contact the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and provided on the inner surface of said first hole portion; a second supporting member having a second hole portion for supporting the other lengthwise end of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a third inclined surface on one side of said second supporting member relative to said imaginary plane and inclined with respect to said imaginary plane so as to contact the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and provided on an inner surface of said second hole portion, and a fourth inclined surface on the other side of said second supporting member relative to said imaginary plane and inclined with respect to said imaginary plane so as to contact the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and provided on the inner surface of said second hole portion; and a plurality of process means provided in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein the direction of a resultant force of a force acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said plurality of process means is a direction in which the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is urged against said first inclined surface and said second inclined surface and against said third inclined surface and said fourth inclined surface, and wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive drum has a cylinder provided with a photosensitive layer, and shaft portions provided on one lengthwise end side and the other lengthwise end side of said cylinder configured and positioned to support said cylinder, said shaft portion provided on said one lengthwise end side being located in the interior of said first hole portion and urged against said first inclined surface and said second inclined surface provided on the inner surface of said first hole portion, and said shaft portion on said other lengthwise end side being located in the interior of said second hole portion and urged against said third inclined surface and said fourth inclined surface provided on the inner surface of said second hole portion.