Charge removing light is guided by an optical path defining member (623) from a charge removing unit (6) toward a photosensitive drum (2). A distance between an end surface (623e) of the optical path defining member (623) and a surface on an axially central part of the photosensitive drum (2) is less than a distance between the end surface (623e) and the surface on the axially opposite ends of the photosensitive drum (2). Thus an irradiation width and an amount of the charge removing light projected onto the surface of the photosensitive drum (2) are increased on the opposite ends. With this arrangement, the amount of generated light carriers can be reduced on the axially central part, as compared with the axially opposite ends, and a surface potential distribution non-uniformity due to a difference in nip distance between the photosensitive drum (2) and a charging roller (31) can be eliminated.
