Dish stacking cart

A cart for transporting stacked dishes, the cart comprising:

• a base structure that defines a slot and a plurality of lobe openings, the slot and plurality of lobe openings configured to permit passage of a lift paddle of a dish drop station in which the lift paddle includes lobes at positions that correspond to positions of the lobe openings, and wherein the slot is configured to permit passage of a lift arm of the dish drop station past a first edge of the base structure;
• a frame connected to the base structure;
• a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure;
• and
• a push handle connected to the base structure;
• a plurality of spacers connected to the frame, each spacer extending inwardly to a center of the frame such that inward facing surfaces of the plurality of spacers define an area within the frame that is sized to receive stacked dishes;
• wherein the plurality of lobe openings extend out from the slot and wherein the slot and the plurality lobe openings define a contiguous opening in a horizontal support surface of the base structure;
• wherein the first edge of the base structure is a front edge of the base structure, wherein the push handle is connected at a back edge of the base structure, which is opposite the front edge of the base structure;
• and
• wherein the base structure includes an aperture configured to engage with a cart lock of the dish drop station.