Patent ID: 8855541

Claim:
A heating device comprising: a magnetic-field generating unit configured to generate an alternating-current magnetic field; an endless belt comprising a first region in which heat is generated by electromagnetic induction caused by an effect of the alternating-current magnetic field, the endless belt configured to heat and transport a medium that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt; and a heat transfer unit configured to transmit heat to the belt by contacting and sliding along an inner peripheral surface of the belt, wherein the heat transfer unit comprises: a heat storage layer configured to store heat, a thermosensitive layer positioned closer to the belt than the heat storage layer is and extending so as to separate the magnetic-field generating unit and the heat storage layer from each other, the thermosensitive layer configured to provide a magnetic path that allows a magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to pass through the thermosensitive layer in a direction in which the thermosensitive layer extends at a temperature below a Curie temperature and configured to provide a magnetic path that allows the magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to extend through the thermosensitive layer and reach the heat storage layer at a temperature higher than or equal to the Curie temperature, and a diffusion layer having a higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of the thermosensitive layer and the heat storage layer, the diffusion layer configured to diffuse heat of the belt along an axial direction of the belt.