Electrophotographic photosensitive member and image forming apparatus provided with the same

An electrophotographic photosensitive member rotatably supported in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical body;
• and
• a photosensitive layer with a latent image forming area formed on the body;
• wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
• a first end in an axial direction of the latent image forming area, and a second end opposite to the first end in the axial direction,
• the first end is pressed harder than the second end when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is incorporated in the image forming apparatus, and
• dynamic indentation hardness at the first end is larger than the dynamic indentation harness at the second end.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer formed on a substantially cylindrical body;
• and
• a pressing member for pressing a first end of the photosensitive layer at a first end harder than a second end at an opposite to the first end in an axial direction of the photosensitive layer;
• wherein in the photosensitive layer, a thickness of the photosensitive layer at the first end is larger than a thickness at the second end.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer formed on a substantially cylindrical body;
• and
• a pressing member for pressing the photosensitive layer at a first end harder than a second end at an opposite-side to the first end in an axial direction of the photosensitive layer;
• wherein in the photosensitive layer, a dynamic indentation hardness at the first end at one side of the latent image forming area of the body is larger than a dynamic indentation hardness at the second end at the opposite side to the first end in the axial direction of the latent image forming area.