Patent ID: 7317881
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image heating apparatus comprising: a first pair of rotating members for heating an image on a recording material at a first nip portion formed therebetween; a first contacting and separating device for contacting said first pair of rotating members with each other and separating said first pair of rotating members from each other; a second pair of rotating members, provided downstream relative to said first pair of rotating members in a conveying direction of the recording material, for heating the image on the recording material, heated by said first pair of rotating members, at a second nip portion formed therebetween; and a second contacting and separating device for contacting with said second pair of rotating members each other and separating said second pair of rotating members each other; a controller for starting a contacting operation of said first pair of rotating members earlier than a contacting operation of said second pair of rotating members at a start of an image heating process using said first pair of rotating members and said second pair of rotating members.