Patent ID: 7437097

Claim:
An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising: a cylindrical support; a photosensitive layer provided on the outer-periphery side of the cylindrical support; and an insert member inserted into the cylindrical support on its inner-periphery side, wherein: the insert member has a first surface on which the insert is to be fitted in the cylindrical support and a second surface which is provided at least at one endmost portion of the insert member; the first surface and the second surface have a difference in level between them; the distance D 2 between the second surface and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support is larger than distance D 1 between the first surface and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support; the line of intersection of a cross section S 2 including points on the second surface and a rotating shaft of the cylindrical support and the line of intersection of the cross section S 2 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support are substantially parallel to each other; the insert member is fastened to the cylindrical support on its inner periphery side, with an adhesive provided between the second surface and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support; the difference D 2 −D 1 between the distance D 2 , between the second surface and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support, and the distance D 1 , between the first surface and the inner periphery of the cylindrical support, is in the range of from 30 μm to 150 μm; wherein a maximum length of the first surface of the insert member in the direction of the rotating shaft of the cylindrical support is from 80% to 98% with respect to the whole length of the insert member in the direction of the rotating shaft of the cylindrical support; and wherein the second surface extends over 95% or more of its whole periphery.