A pressure device for an image forming apparatus configured to apply pressure to a sheet medium on part of a surface of which an image bearer is formed, the pressure device comprising: a first pressing unit and a second pressing unit that are arranged to be able to approach to and separate from each other, and configured to send out the sheet medium while applying pressure to the sheet medium by at least one of the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit rotating in a state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit hold the sheet medium; a driving unit configured to change a distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit; a distance detection unit configured to detect the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit; a control unit configured to control the driving unit such that the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit becomes a set target value; and a target setting unit configured to set the target value, characterized in that the target setting unit sets the target value to a first distance that is larger than a thickness of the sheet medium when the sheet medium is not present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, and sets the target value to a second distance for applying a target pressure to the sheet medium so that control is performed such that the distance becomes the second distance based on the distance detected by the distance detection unit in a period during which the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, the pressure device further comprising an abnormality detection unit configured to detect abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit is smaller than the first distance at a timing when the leading end of the sheet medium enters between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit deviates from a specified range including the second distance when the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit. a first pressing unit and a second pressing unit that are arranged to be able to approach to and separate from each other, and configured to send out the sheet medium while applying pressure to the sheet medium by at least one of the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit rotating in a state in which the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit hold the sheet medium; a driving unit configured to change a distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit; a distance detection unit configured to detect the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit; a control unit configured to control the driving unit such that the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit becomes a set target value; and a target setting unit configured to set the target value, characterized in that the target setting unit sets the target value to a first distance that is larger than a thickness of the sheet medium when the sheet medium is not present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, and sets the target value to a second distance for applying a target pressure to the sheet medium so that control is performed such that the distance becomes the second distance based on the distance detected by the distance detection unit in a period during which the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, the pressure device further comprising an abnormality detection unit configured to detect abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit is smaller than the first distance at a timing when the leading end of the sheet medium enters between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit deviates from a specified range including the second distance when the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit. sets the target value to a first distance that is larger than a thickness of the sheet medium when the sheet medium is not present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, and sets the target value to a second distance for applying a target pressure to the sheet medium so that control is performed such that the distance becomes the second distance based on the distance detected by the distance detection unit in a period during which the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, the pressure device further comprising an abnormality detection unit configured to detect abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit is smaller than the first distance at a timing when the leading end of the sheet medium enters between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects abnormality when the distance between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit deviates from a specified range including the second distance when the sheet medium and the image bearer are present between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit.