Sheet conveying device, image reading device incorporating the sheet conveying device, image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet conveying device, and image forming system incorporating the sheet conveying device

A sheet conveying device comprising:

• conveyance passage forming bodies to define a sheet conveyance passage;
• a nip forming body to form a conveying nip region in the sheet conveyance passage;
• and
• a flexible plate body having a support portion to be attached to one of the conveyance passage forming bodies and having a downstream-side end portion as a free end in a sheet conveying direction,
• the support portion of the flexible plate body being located on an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the conveying nip region, and
• the free end being located on a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the conveying nip region, wherein the flexible plate body has a bent portion, and wherein the bent portion is located on an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the conveying nip region, wherein the flexible plate body is configured to contact a sheet at a position upstream from the conveying nip region in the sheet conveying direction and guide the sheet toward the conveying nip region, the free end being configured to contact an outer rib of one of the conveyance passage forming bodies downstream from the nip forming body in the sheet conveyance direction.