Patent ID: 8550229

Claim:
A food plate carrier which is to be carried on a conveyor line of a conveying system so as to transport food to tables and seats in a restaurant, the food plate carrier comprising: a mounting platform having a plate resting portion for putting thereon a plate on which food is put; a cap member which is attached to the mounting platform in such a manner as to open and close with respect to the plate resting portion, to cover the plate resting portion of the mounting platform; and an open and close mechanism for allowing the cap member to close when the plate is rested on the plate resting portion and open when the plate is removed therefrom, wherein the open and close mechanism comprises an actuator which when the plate is rested onto the plate resting portion, is brought into abutment with the plate and thereby is put into action to move relative to the plate resting portion, connecting means to connect the actuator with the cap member so that the movement of the actuator is transmitted to the cap member to actuate the cap member to close, and biasing means for biasing the cap member toward its opened position.