Image heating apparatus and image forming apparatus

An image heating apparatus, comprising:

• a heater including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction that is perpendicular to a transport direction of a recording material;
• a plurality of temperature detecting members for detecting a temperature of a plurality of heated regions that are independently heated by each of the plurality of heating elements;
• and
• a control portion which individually controls power to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting members is maintained at a prescribed control target temperature,
• wherein the plurality of heating elements include a first heating element and a second heating element arranged adjacent to the first heating element on a side farther from a transport reference position of the recording material than the first heating element in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction,
• wherein the plurality of temperature detecting members include a first temperature detecting member provided in correspondence with the first heating element and a second temperature detecting member provided in correspondence with the second heating element,
• wherein the first temperature detecting member is arranged in the direction, that is perpendicular to the transport direction, at a position that is (i) in a vicinity of an end adjacent to the second heating element among ends in the direction, that is perpendicular to the transport direction, of the first heating element, and (ii) separated from a prescribed reference passing position with respect to a recording material end that passes near a boundary between the first heating element and the second heating element by at least 2.5 mm toward a side close to the transport reference position, and
• wherein the second temperature detecting member is arranged in the direction, that is perpendicular to the transport direction, at a position that is (iii) in a vicinity of an end adjacent to the first heating element among ends in the direction, that is perpendicular to the transport direction, of the second heating element, and (iv) separated from the reference passing position by at least 2.5 mm toward a far side from the transport reference position from the reference passing position.