Modular Vertical Helix Rack

A system comprising:

• a cabinet including a dispensing area;
• vertical transport means secured within the cabinet for supporting a plurality of pans in a vertically stacked arrangement and displacing the plurality of pans vertically to the dispensing area;
• and
• lateral transport means extending into the dispensing area for receiving a pan from the vertical transport means and displacing the pan laterally from a first location below the vertical transport means to a second location laterally offset from the first location.

A method comprising:

• supporting a plurality of pans on a vertical transport device within a cabinet;
• vertically advancing the plurality of pans on the vertical transport device to position a selected pan at a dispensing area of the cabinet;
• transferring the selected pan onto a lateral transport device extending into the dispensing area;
• and
• laterally displacing the selected pan via the lateral transport device from a first position beneath the vertical transport device to a second position laterally offset from the first position.