Image heating apparatus

An image heating apparatus comprising:

• a supporting member;
• a moving member slidable with said supporting member;
• and
• a backup member forming a nip for nipping and conveying a recording material with said supporting member via said moving member;
• wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and at said nip, an image on the recording material is heated by heat from said moving member, and
• wherein a plurality of dimples are distributed on a surface on the side of the nip of said supporting member, and any point on the recording material passes through said dimples.

An image heating apparatus comprising:

• a supporting member;
• and
• a moving member slidable with said supporting member;
• wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and an image on a recording material is heated by the heat from said moving member, and
• wherein said supporting member includes a groove in a surface thereof adjacent to said moving member, and an angle of said groove with respect to a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of said moving member is less than 45°.

An image heating apparatus comprising:

• a supporting member;
• and
• a moving member slidable with said supporting member;
• wherein a lubricant is provided between said supporting member and said moving member, and an image on a recording material is heated by heat from said moving member, and
• wherein said supporting member includes a first groove and a second groove in a surface thereof adjacent to said moving member, and said first groove and said second groove intersect with each other.