5 steps of explanation that inform how does a bread toaster work
"Good Morning" from the toaster.
We use toaster every morning to make our breakfast. The toaster is an electric device, and it can convert a slice of bread into toast by heating both sides.
We know that the toaster runs on the electricity and complete its task but, how pop up bread toaster convert electric power in the form of heat? And which parts and procedure is working behind it? Let's talk about it in detail.
History:
In 1893, the first electric toaster was manufactured by Crompton and co. and it was invented by Alan Macmasters.
Step by step explanation of toaster working method
Step: 1 Power supply and controller
| No. | Part Name | Function | Material | Manufacturing Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plastic Shell | Separates the internal heating mechanism from the user | Polypropylene (PP) |
Injection Molded |
| 2 | Power Cord | Supply electricity | Rubber And Copper | Extrusion |
| 3 | Regulator Knob | Adjust time | Polypropylene (PP) |
Injection Molded |
| 4 | Start/Cancel button |
Start/Cancel process | Polypropylene (PP) |
Injection Molded |
| 5 | Circuit board | Control heating and other parts | Silicon and Electrical components | N/A |
Electricity is supplied to the toaster's circuit via the power cord and start/stop button. Subsequently pressing the start button, the electric circuit is ready to get input from the regulator knob. A regulator knob has used to set the desired time. After getting data from the regulator knob, the electrical circuit can proceed to work and control other components.
It consumes 800 to 1500 watts of energy, and average toaster uses around 1200 watts.
Step: 2 Bread loader
| No. | Part Name | Function | Material | Manufacturing Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Toaster Loader Top | Bread is loaded through slots | Stainless Steel | Stamping, Deep Drawing |
| 7 | Press handle | Easy surface to press, to move downwards into toaster | Polypropylene (PP) | Injection Molded |
| 8 | Toast Shelf | Holds toast in place | Aluminum | Bent |
| 9 | Bread Holder support wires | Supports the toast to be upright | Aluminum | Extrusion and Bent |
Slices of bread put in the toaster through the loader top, and it gets support by base plate inside the toaster. Also, the bread loader assembly connects with the press handle that helps to move bread up and down. Support wires and toaster shelf has used to hold the food at the desired location; also it provides, a guide to the slice of bread while moving outside and inside.
 |
| Toaster's parts and its position |
Step: 3 Locking mechanism
How the bread remains fixed inside the toaster? And the answer is the toaster's locking mechanism works behind it.
| No. | Part Name | Function | Material | Manufacturing Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ejection Assembly: Shaft | Guide rail for ejection assembly | Steel | Extrusion |
| 11 | Handle and Locking Part 1 | Assists in triggering toasting | Steel | Stamped and Bent |
| 12 | Handle and Locking Part 2 | Assists in triggering toasting | Steel | Stamped and Bent |
| 13 | Mystery Spring | Used as a spacer, preventing ejection assembly from moving beyond a certain distance | Steel | Extrusion |
| 14 | Restoring Spring | Restoring location of loading assembly | Steel | Extrusion |
| 15 | Magnetic Lock Piece | Attracts to magnet to lock the toasting shelf | Steel | Stamped and Bent |
| 16 | Shaft Spacer | Spacer | ABS | Extrusion |
| 17 | Electromagnet, Switch Release, Circuit Board #2 | Electromagnet releases shelf, releasing the switch. Also powers the heating | Silicon and Electrical components | N/A |
After loading bread, the handle has pressed to move downward direction. The locking mechanism has connected with press handle, so it goes down, too. In the locking assembly, a magnetic lock piece has placed to get in contact with an electromagnet when parts move at the downside. An electromagnet is the heart of this locking system. It produces a magnetic field to keep connected a lock piece with its magnetic plates. So, the whole parts of that assembly, as well as toaster shelf and press handle, stays at the bottom.
Step: 4 Time to convert electricity into heat
| No. | Part Name | Function | Material | Manufacturing Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Trigger Switch | Triggers switch that activates the heating coils | ABS | Injection Molding |
| 19 | Heating Coil | Heats up when current passes through it | Nichrome | Extrusion |
| 20 | Mica Insulating Sheet | Insulating sheet, also carries the heating coil | Mica | Pressed and chemically treated |
| 21 | Mica Aligning Strips | Used to keep heating coils in place | Mica | Pressed and chemically treated |
| 22 | Heater leads | Used to carry current to heater coils | Steel | Extruded and Bent |
| 23 | Radiation Shield | Prevents heat from radiating to the walls of the toaster | Steel | Stamped and Bent |
One tiny part called trigger switch, which situates in locking assembly, is activated and passes current from circuit to heating coil via heater leads. When current is rippling through the heating coil, then it becomes hotter. The heating coil manufactured from the nichrome wire, and it produces heat radiation because of its high resistivity Property toward electrons. Also, it has a high melting point around 1,400 °C (2,550 °F). The produced heat radiation is the reason for converting bread into toast. And toaster's inside walls are covered by radiation shield to prevent outside heat radiation.
Step: 5 Pop up
All parts that use to move out toast are the same as the locking mechanism's parts(mentioned in step 2).
After the timer switches off, electromagnet quits producing the magnetic field. So, the lock piece disconnect from the magnetic plate. Due to the restoring spring, the toaster's shelf, press handle, and locking assembly change their position the same as before. At the same time, the trigger switch disconnects from the circuit. So, the current stops flowing into the heating coil. And toast goes out like a popup. Now your breakfast is ready to eat.
