Patent ID: 7522870

Claim:
An image heating apparatus comprising: a heating rotatable member for heating, in a nip, an image on a recording material; a belt cooperative with said heating rotatable member to form the nip, said belt being movable between a contact position in which said belt is in contact with said heating rotatable member and in which an image heating operation is capable, and a retracted position in which said belt is retracted from said heating rotatable member; swinging means for swinging said belt in a widthwise direction; and control means for controlling a rotational speed of said heating rotatable member, wherein said control means rotates said heating rotatable member at a relatively low speed when said belt is brought into contact to said heating rotatable member and while said swinging means is swinging said belt, and wherein said control means effects an increase of the rotational speed of said heating rotatable member before the heating operation is started.