Patent ID: 9235167
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image heating apparatus comprising: a rotatable heating member configured to heat a toner image on a recording material; a belt unit including an endless belt configured and positioned to contact said rotatable heating member to heat said rotatable heating member, and first and second supporting members rotatably supporting an inner surface of said belt and configured to urge said belt to said rotatable heating member; a detector configured and positioned to detect that said belt is deviated from a predetermined zone with respect to a widthwise direction said belt; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate said belt unit in a direction for returning said belt into the predetermined zone on a basis of an output of said detector; a displacing mechanism configured to permit said first supporting member to be displaced, with rotation of said belt unit by said rotating mechanism, in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from said first supporting member, urging said belt toward said rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of said first supporting member with respect to the widthwise direction and to permit said second supporting member to be displaced, with the rotation of said belt unit by said rotating mechanism, in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from said second supporting member, urging said belt toward said rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of said second supporting member with respect to the widthwise direction; and a restricting mechanism configured to restrict displacement of said first supporting member beyond a first predetermined position and to restrict displacement of said second supporting member beyond a second predetermined position, wherein the first predetermined position is outside an area in which said first supporting member is displaceable with the rotation of said belt unit by said rotating mechanism, and the second predetermined position is outside an area in which said second supporting member is displaceable with the rotation of said belt unit by said rotating mechanism.