Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus which includes:

• a print portion that prints an image on a sheet;
• multi-stage paper feed devices that hold the sheet and feeds the sheet held to the print portion;
• a sheet size detection portion that detects a sheet size of the sheet held is each of the multi-stage paper reed devices;
• and a storage portion that stores paper feed frequency data indicating a paper feed frequency to the print portion per sheet size, the method comprising:
• a step of determining whether or not the paper feed device holding the sheet of a sheet size whose paper feed frequency reaches a predetermined threshold value is the paper feed device, among the multi-stage paper feed devices, that is closer to the print portion than the paper feed device holding the sheet of a sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value;
• and
• a step in which, when the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency reaches the predetermined threshold value is the paper feed device, among the multi-stage paper feed devices, that is closer to the print portion than the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value, among the multi-stage paper feed devices, normal power supply is performed on the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency reaches the predetermined threshold value, and power supply to the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value is limited, as compared with the normal power supply, so as to bring, into a power saving state, the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value whereas, when the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency reaches the predetermined threshold value is not the paper feed device, among the multi-stage paper feed devices, that is closer to the print portion than the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value, a notification is provided that the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency reaches the threshold value is encouraged to be the paper feed device, among the multi-stage paper feed devices, that is closer to the print portion than the paper feed device holding the sheet of the sheet size whose paper feed frequency does not reach the threshold value.