Patent ID: 9244397
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image borne on a recording material while conveying the recording material at a nip portion, the image heating apparatus comprising: a heater; a fixing member heated by the heater; a pressure member configured to form the nip portion with the fixing member; a first temperature detecting member configured to detect a sheet-passing area temperature of the fixing member or the heater; a second temperature detecting member configured to detect a non-sheet-passing area temperature of the fixing member or the heater; a control device configured to control the heater power supplied to the heater for maintaining the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting member at a target temperature; and an air supplying member supplying cooling air to the non-sheet-passing area for cooling the fixing member, the air supplying member being started to be driven when the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting member reaches a predetermined temperature, wherein while the recording material is being conveyed at the nip portion, the control device controls the cooling air quantity of the air supplying member in response to an electric current flowing in the heater for adjusting the cooling level of the air supplying member, a rate at which the temperature of the non-sheet-passing area detected by the second temperature detecting member increases reflecting the electric current flowing in the heater.