Patent ID: 9513586
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image formed on a recording material while conveying the recording material at a nip portion, the image heating apparatus comprising: a film having a tubular shape; a backup member configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of the film to form the nip portion; a heater having an elongated shape, configured to be brought into contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate; a plurality of heat conductive members having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate, the plurality of heat conductive members configured to be brought into contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater that is brought into contact with the film, the plurality of heat conductive members arranged in a longitudinal direction of the heater with a gap formed therebetween; a support member configured to support the heater through the plurality of heat conductive members, the support member pinching the plurality of heat conductive members with the heater in a thickness direction of the heater, wherein a lubricant is applied in a region of the gap so as to be brought into contact with both of the heater and the support member.