Fixing apparatus and image processing apparatus

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier which forms an electrostatic latent image;
• a developing device which provides a developer to the image carrier and thereby changes the electrostatic latent image into a developer image;
• a transfer device which transfers the developer formed on the image carrier to a developer-holding medium;
• a fixing apparatus including:
• a heating roller which provides heat to the developer-holding medium holding the developer image;
• a pressurizing roller which is in contact with the heating roller;
• a heating device having a plurality of heating members which heat the heating roller;
• a first thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements and formed along a curved surface of the heating roller, each of the thermoelectric converting elements having a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generating electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, the heat-absorbing surface being disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller;
• an auxiliary power supply charged with electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting section;
• and
• a switching section which switches the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and a second state in which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the heating members, based on a predetermined signal;
• and
• a control section which outputs the predetermined signal to the switching section, and thereby instructs switching between the first state and the second state.

A fixing apparatus comprising:

• heat application means for providing heat to a developer-holding medium holding a developer image;
• pressurizing means contacting the heat application means;
• heating means having a plurality of heating members which heat the heat application means;
• first thermoelectric converting means having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements and formed along a curved surface of the heat application means, each of the thermoelectric converting elements having a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generating electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, the heat-absorbing surface being disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heated member;
• charging means for charging electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting means;
• and
• switching means for switching the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and a second state in which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the heating members, based on a predetermined signal.