Patent ID: 7653323
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A fixing apparatus comprising: a heating roller which provides heat to a developer-holding medium holding a 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; a second thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements and formed along a curved surface of the pressurizing 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 pressurizing roller, the second thermoelectric converting section generating electric power being used for charging the auxiliary power supply; and a switching section which switches 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, wherein the switching section supplies electric power from the utility power to all the heating members in the first state, and supplies electric power from the auxiliary power supply to all the heating members in the second state.