Patent ID: 7155136
Filing Date: 2006-12-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image formed on a recording material, comprising: a rotatable member; heating means for heating an outer peripheral surface of said rotatable member, said heating means including a heater for forming a heating nip portion in cooperation with said rotatable member; back-up means for forming a conveying nip portion in cooperation with said rotatable member, the conveying nip portion conveying the recording material; and control means for controlling a temperature of said heater and a rotation of said rotatable member; wherein said apparatus has a cleaning mode to remove toner from said heating means, and said control means rotates or reversely rotates said rotatable member in a condition that the heater dissipates heat at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting temperature of toner in the cleaning mode, wherein an amount of a rotation or a reverse rotation of said rotatable member in the cleaning mode corresponds to an amount to which a part which forms a heating nip portion in a peripheral direction of said rotatable member moves until the part reaches the conveying nip portion.