Patent ID: 8971744
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G03G,H05B

Abstract:
1. An image heating apparatus for conveying a recording material which bears a toner image by a nip portion and heating the toner image, comprising: a tubular belt including a heat generating layer extending along the entire circumference of the tubular belt; a nip portion forming member that contacts an inner surface of said belt; and a pressure roller that forms said nip portion together with said nip portion forming member via the belt, said pressure roller being driven by a driving source and driving the belt to rotate in the nip portion, wherein the heat generating layer is configured to generate heat along the entire circumference of the tubular belt in response to the flow of current along the entire circumference of the heat generating layer regardless of a rotation of the tubular belt, and wherein in the image heating apparatus for a predetermined period from the start of warming up the image heating apparatus, a contact area between said belt and the pressure roller is smaller than a contact area for a period to heat a toner image, or said belt does not contact said pressure roller, and said belt stops rotating.