Patent ID: 9429889
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image heating apparatus comprising: a heater; a supporting member configured to support said heater; and a high heat conductive sheet sandwiched between said heater and said supporting member, wherein a recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from said heater, wherein said supporting member includes a bearing surface contacting said sheet and an opposing surface opposing a part of said heater not opposing said sheet, the bearing surface and the opposing surface forming a stepped portion in which the opposing surface is positioned closer to said heater than the bearing surface in a thickness direction of said heater, wherein the thickness of said sheet under a non-pressure state is larger than the height of the stepped portion between the bearing surface and the opposing surface, and wherein in a state in which pressure is applied between said heater and said supporting member, said sheet is compressed between said heater and the bearing surface of said supporting member such that said heater contacts the opposing surface of said supporting member.