Image heating apparatus

An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, said apparatus comprising:

• a nip forming unit providing a nip configured to nip and feed the recording material;
• a first heat generating element configured to heat said nip;
• a second heat generating element configured to heat said nip;
• a thyristor configured to control electric power supplied to said first heat generating element and said second heat generating element;
• a relay configured to switch a supply destination of the electric power supply between said first heat generating element and said second heat generating element;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein when said controller switches the supply destination from said first heat generating element to said second heat generating element during heating the images on continuously supplied recording materials, said controller switches said thyristor from on-state to off-state, and then actuates said relay to switch the supply destination from said first heat generating element to said second heat generating element, and thereafter switches said thyristor from the off-state to the on-state, and
• wherein said controller sets timing of a period for switching the supply destination such that the image on the recording material is not influenced by a temperature drop in the period.