Image forming apparatus and control method therefor

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a recording unit to record an image on a recording medium at a transfer portion;
• a registration device to convey the recording medium to the transfer portion, the registration device is located at shortest distance upstream side from the transfer portion;
• a feeding device to supply the recording medium to the registration device;
• a recording medium conveying pathway along which the recording medium travels and having a first partial length thereof extending from the feeding device to the transfer portion shorter than a conveyance direction length of a maximum usable size recording medium;
• a recording medium detection device provided between the registration device and the feeding device, and to detect the recording medium;
• and
• a control device to control the driving of the registration device and the feeding device, wherein
• the control device starts driving the registration device to convey the recording medium to the transfer portion after detection of the recording medium by the recording medium detection device, and stops the feeding device before a leading end of the recording medium reaches the transfer portion and after the registration device is driven.