How Toasters Work

The fundamentals of any Toaster application are simple. Toasters use infrared radiation to heat bread slices (for information on infrared radiation, see how hot water bottles work) . You put the bread in, and when you see the coil turn red, that's the coil producing infrared radiation, which gradually dries the surface of the bread and causes it to zoom. Most pop-up toasters use the same mechanism. First, place slices of bread, frozen waffles, toaster tarts, or similar items in a tray through a slot in the top of the toaster. Next, use the lever on the side of the Toaster to lower the tray into the chassis. When the bracket reaches the bottom, the bracket lock plate closes and the internal switch is activated to begin the heating process. In this process, the thermostat will determine the length of time from the power line to the heating element to transmit current. When setting the thermostat, the toaster operator can use a control knob or lever to adjust the baking cycle. Once the temperature is reached, the heating process is terminated, and the solenoid turns off the power and releases the latch, allowing the bracket to eject and return to its original position. At this point, the Toaster operator can easily remove the baked goods.