Patent ID: 8831492

Claim:
An image heating apparatus, comprising: a first heating rotary member and a second heating rotary member configured to form a nip portion for heating a toner image on a recording material; a rubbing rotary member configured to rub the first heating rotary member; a separation plate configured to separate the recording material from the first heating rotary member; and a first gap keeping member and a second gap keeping member configured to keep a gap between the separation plate and the first heating rotary member, wherein the first gap keeping member is disposed at a first position so as (i) to contact one end portion of the first heating rotary member in a width direction of the first heating rotary member and (ii) not to contact with a rubbing area of which the first heating rotary member is rubbed by the rubbing rotary member in the width direction; and wherein the second gap keeping member is disposed at a second position so as (i) to contact the other end portion of the first heating rotary member in the width direction and (ii) not to contact with the rubbing area of the first heating rotary member in the width direction.