An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material,
including a metallic sleeve, a heater contacting with the inner surface of the
sleeve, the heater being controlled so as to maintain a set temperature, a backup
member cooperating with the heater through the sleeve to form a nip for nipping
and transporting the recording material, and a metallic reinforcing member disposed
in the interior of the sleeve, wherein during a heating operation of heating the
recording material by the heater, the surface temperature of the reinforcing member
is 80% or less of the surface temperature of the sleeve.
