Fixing device having thermally-conductive member connected to thermo-electric conversion element, image forming device, and induction heating device

An image forming device forming an unfixed image on a sheet, the image forming device having a fixing unit thermally fixing the unfixed image onto the sheet through heat of a heating body that is heated through electromagnetic induction, the fixing unit comprising:

• an excitation coil generating flux for heating the heating body;
• one or more core members disposed opposite the heating body with respect to the excitation coil;
• a thermo-electric conversion element disposed farther from the excitation coil than the core members;
• and
• a thermally conductive member connected to the excitation coil and to a heat-absorbing face of the thermo-electric conversion element, transferring heat from the excitation coil to the thermo-electric conversion element, wherein
• the core members are disposed in a row with separation from each other,
• the thermally conductive member is a bobbin around which the excitation coil is wound,
• the bobbin is provided with an extension extending toward a space between a neighbouring pair of the core members,
• the extension has a tip passing through the space so as to be arranged farther from the excitation coil than the core members, and
• the thermo-electric conversion element is affixed to a portion of the tip of the extension.

An induction heating device heating a heating body through electromagnetic induction, comprising:

• an excitation coil generating flux for heating the heating body;
• one or more core members disposed opposite the heating body with respect to the excitation coil;
• a thermo-electric conversion element disposed farther from the excitation coil than the core members;
• and
• a thermally conductive member connected to the excitation coil and to a heat-absorbing face of the thermo-electric conversion element, transferring heat from the excitation coil to the thermo-electric conversion element, wherein
• the core members are disposed in a row with separation from each other,
• the thermally conductive member is a bobbin around which the excitation coil is wound,
• the bobbin is provided with an extension extending toward a space between a neighbouring pair of the core members,
• the extension has a tip passing through the space so as to be arranged farther from the excitation coil than the core members, and
• the thermo-electric conversion element is affixed to a portion of the tip of the extension.