An image forming apparatus of the present invention has an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material; a heating member heating the image formed on the recording material in a nip portion; an endless belt conveying the recording material toward the nip portion formed between itself and the heating member; and a contacting and separating device for bringing the heating member and the belt into contact with each other and for separating the heating member and the belt from each other, wherein when images are continuously formed on a plurality of recording materials, a separating operation can be executed by the contacting and separating device during a time period after the immediately preceding recording material passes through the nip portion and before the subsequent recording material arrives at the nip portion.