Patent ID: 8457512

Claim:
A fusing unit, comprising: a fusing device configured to be rotationally driven by a driving motor and to apply heat and pressure so as to fix an image on a printing medium; a pressing force adjuster configured to vary a pressing force applied by the fusing device; and a controller configured to control the pressing force adjuster so as to selectively adjust the pressing force applied by the fusing device in consideration of a driving torque of the driving motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the pressing force adjuster so that a first pressing force is applied by the fusing device during an initial driving stage of the fusing device and a second pressing force is applied at a later time than the initial driving stage, the first pressing force being less than the second pressing force that is applied by the fusing device during a normal driving stage of the fusing device, and wherein the controller is configured to control the pressing force adjuster so that a rate of increase in the pressing force varies during a duration of time.