Automatic flip toaster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toasters are large, inefficient in electricity use, and inconvenient due to manual operation and limited space requirements, as they can only be used for baking flat bread and require more space for flipping backward.
Innovation Solution
An automatic flip toaster with a rotatably connected cover body, a control system, and a gearbox mechanism that includes a driving motor, reduction gearbox, and rotation limiting device for automatic opening and closing, reducing size and energy consumption while allowing for efficient baking of both bread surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover body is manually opened or closed, then the structure is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover body automatically opens and closes itself through the driving motor and transmission mechanism, eliminating the need for manual operation. The system serves itself by detecting when bread is toasted and automatically completing the opening/closing cycle, thus improving ease of operation without requiring continuous user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of opening/closing the cover is replaced by an automated electromechanical system comprising a driving motor, reduction gearbox, and steering gearbox. This substitution transforms the purely manual mechanical system into an automated system that improves operational convenience.
2Ease of operation
If the cover body flips backward, then the opening action is achieved, but the volume of stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover body employs a dynamic flipping mechanism that rotates between closed and open positions rather than requiring a fixed backward flip position. The steering gearbox enables controlled rotation to exactly 90 degrees, optimizing the opening position to minimize space occupation while maintaining full accessibility for bread insertion and removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation angle of the cover body is precisely controlled to change from 0 degrees (closed) to exactly 90 degrees (open), rather than allowing arbitrary backward flipping. This parameter control through the rotation limiting device optimizes the spatial footprint while achieving the opening function.
3Productivity
If heating tubes are provided both below the wire rack and on the lower side of the cover body, then the productivity is improved, but the use of energy by stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual heating tube arrangement enables continuous heating action from both the bottom (through the wire rack) and the top (through the cover body). This ensures that both surfaces of the bread are heated simultaneously and continuously, doubling the productive heating action compared to single-sided heating, thus improving productivity despite increased energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The automatic flip toaster is more compact, energy-efficient, and convenient to use, with automatic cover operation and reduced space requirements, enabling efficient baking and easy cleaning with features like crumb collection and adjustable heating.
Implementation Method 1
heating tubes are provided in the toaster body below the wire rack and on a lower side of the cover body
Implementation Method 2
a driving motor, a reduction gearbox connected to the driving motor and a steering gearbox connected to the reduction gearbox are internally provided in the rear portion of the toaster body
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic flip toaster comprises a toaster body, a cover body rotatably connected to a rear portion of the toaster body and a control system, wherein a wire rack is arranged in the toaster body. Heating tubes are arranged in the toaster body below the wire rack and on a lower side of the cover body. A driving motor, a reduction gearbox connected to the driving motor and a steering gearbox connected to the reduction gearbox are internally arranged in the rear portion of the toaster body. An output end of the steering gearbox is connected to a rotation shaft of the cover body. A rotation limiting device is arranged on an outer end cover. The heating tubes, the driving motor and the rotation limiting device are electrically connected to the control system. The toaster can realize the automatic opening or closing of the cover body of the toaster by means of a more compact structure, thus effectively reducing the size of the toaster. Moreover, due to the rotation limiting device, the flip angle of the cover body can be limited so that the cover body stops to a specified position, thereby saving space.