Patent ID: 8406656

Claim:
A coupling member dismounting method for dismounting, from a drum flange mounted to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the drum flange to rotate the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said method comprising: (i) an inclining step of inclining the coupling member relative to a rotational axis of the drum flange, wherein the coupling member includes a rear end portion, supported in the drum flange, that has a spherical portion and a pin penetrating the spherical portion, and a free end portion that has a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force; (ii) a pin urging step of pushing the pin from one end to the other end thereof, wherein the one end and the other end of the pin project outwardly of the spherical portion in a state in which the coupling member is inclined in said inclining step, wherein the drum flange has a preventing portion for preventing the spherical portion from disengaging from the drum flange and an outer portion provided outside of the preventing portion in a direction of the rotational axis of the flange; (iii) a pin riding step of causing a portion of the pin, which is further projected at the end by said pin urging step, to ride on the outer portion; and (iv) a coupling member dismounting step of dismounting the coupling member from the drum flange by applying a force to the free end portion of the coupling member toward a fulcrum, which is the portion of the pin riding on the outer portion.