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Omron / Sentech E3Z-B (transparent bottle detection) machine vision sensor
Omron / SentechPhotoelectric sensors
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Omron / Sentech E3Z-B Photoelectric Sensor (Transparent/PET Bottle Detection)

E3Z-B

The Omron E3Z-B is a compact retroreflective photoelectric sensor (without MSR function, using an E39-R1S reflector) that employs Omron's "Inner View" optical system with a 680 nm red LED to detect a wide range of transparent round PET bottles (from 500 ml to 2 l). It is offered in 500 mm and 2 m sensing-distance variants with selectable NPN or PNP open-collector output (100 mA max., L-ON/D-ON selectable) and a 1 ms max. response time. The sensor runs on 12-24 VDC with 30 mA max. consumption, is housed in a PBT case with a methacrylate-resin lens rated IP67, and ships in pre-wired (2 m / 0.5 m cable) or M8 connector versions. It includes reverse-polarity, output short-circuit and mutual-interference protection as standard.

Brand
Omron / Sentech
Sensor type
Photoelectric (with built-in amplifier)
Sensing method
Retroreflective (without MSR function, uses E39-R1S reflector)
Light source
Red LED (680 nm)
Range / distance
500 mm (80 mm min.) or 2 m (100 mm min.) depending on model, with E39-R1S reflector
Response time
1 ms max. (operate or reset)
Output type
npn_or_pnp (model-dependent: NPN = E3Z-B6x, PNP = E3Z-B8x)
Communication
Discrete switching output (open-collector NPN/PNP)
Supply voltage
12 to 24 VDC ±10% including 10% (p-p) max. ripple
Connection
Pre-wired cable (2 m or 0.5 m) or M8 connector, depending on model
Housing material
Case: PBT (polybutylene terephthalate); Lens: methacrylate resin
Dimensions
Compact rectangular housing (approx. 10.8 W x 31 H x 20 D mm body)
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Technical overview

The Omron E3Z-B is a retroreflective photoelectric sensor built around a specific, hard problem: catching clear and PET bottles that conventional through-beam or diffuse sensors tend to see straight through. Its 680 nm red LED works in concert with Omron's "Inner View" optical system and an E39-R1S reflector mounted opposite the sensor head, so the emitter and receiver share one side of the line. In practice that means light leaves the sensor, bounces off the reflector, and returns; a transparent bottle entering the gap perturbs that return enough to trip the output even though the container is largely translucent. The unit ships in 500 mm and 2 m sensing-distance variants (80 mm and 100 mm minimums respectively), which sets the practical width of the detection window across a conveyor or filler infeed.

For the installer, the electrical interface is deliberately simple and PLC-friendly. The sensor carries a built-in amplifier and presents a discrete open-collector switching output rated 100 mA max, available as NPN on the E3Z-B6x models or PNP on the E3Z-B8x models, with selectable L-ON / D-ON (light-on / dark-on) operation so you can configure it to assert on either the presence or the absence of a bottle. The 1 ms maximum response time (both operate and reset) is fast enough to gate individual containers on a moving line and to feed a reject solenoid or counter without lag. It runs on 12-24 VDC at 30 mA max, and reverse-polarity, output short-circuit, and mutual-interference protection are all standard, which lets you place several heads near one another on adjacent lanes without cross-talk derailing the count.

Mechanically it is designed for wet, tight, food-and-beverage environments. The compact rectangular body (about 10.8 x 31 x 20 mm) drops into crowded guarding, the PBT case and methacrylate-resin lens carry an IP67 rating, and the operating range spans -25 to 55 C, suiting it to washdown packaging areas and chilled fill rooms. Connection is by pre-wired cable (2 m or 0.5 m) on the lighter-duty models or by M8 connector for quick service swaps; the connector versions weigh only about 20 g versus roughly 65 g for the cabled ones. This is a trigger-and-detect device, not a measurement instrument: it tells you a bottle is or is not in the beam, and is best designed in as a presence/position trigger feeding a PLC, counter, or downstream vision station rather than as a source of dimensional data.

Best for

  • Detecting transparent and PET bottles (roughly 500 ml to 2 L) on a filler infeed or conveyor where through-beam and diffuse sensors see straight through the clear container
  • Presence and gap detection on beverage and food packaging lines, gating fillers, cappers, labelers, or reject gates with a 1 ms response
  • Washdown packaging areas needing an IP67-rated, compact head that survives -25 to 55 C and frequent cleaning
  • Bottle counting and position triggering that hands a clean discrete signal to a PLC or a downstream vision inspection station
  • Multi-lane sortation infeeds where several adjacent heads must run close together without mutual interference

Selection notes

  • Pick the sensing-distance variant to match your gap: the 500 mm model (80 mm min.) suits tight single-lane stations, while the 2 m model (100 mm min.) covers wider conveyors. Both require the E39-R1S reflector mounted opposite the head, so budget mounting space and alignment access on the far rail.
  • Choose output polarity by your controller's input card: NPN (E3Z-B6x) or PNP (E3Z-B8x) is fixed per model and not field-switchable, though L-ON / D-ON light/dark operation is selectable.
  • The 100 mA max open-collector output is a logic-level trigger; drive relays, solenoids, or larger loads through an interposing relay or the PLC rather than directly.
  • Decide cable vs connector up front: pre-wired 2 m / 0.5 m cable models are heavier (about 65 g) and permanent, while M8 connector models (about 20 g) ease service swaps but need a separate cordset.
  • Confirm the 12-24 VDC supply with its 10% ripple tolerance and 30 mA draw fits your sensor rail, and rely on the built-in reverse-polarity and short-circuit protection rather than external fusing for the head itself.
  • This sensor is a binary detector, not a gauge; if you need bottle dimensions, fill level, or surface inspection, pair it as a trigger for a camera or a laser displacement sensor instead.

Specifications: General
BrandOmron / Sentech
Sensor typePhotoelectric (with built-in amplifier)

Specifications: Performance
Range / distance500 mm (80 mm min.) or 2 m (100 mm min.) depending on model, with E39-R1S reflector
Response time1 ms max. (operate or reset)

Specifications: Interface
CommunicationDiscrete switching output (open-collector NPN/PNP)
ConnectionPre-wired cable (2 m or 0.5 m) or M8 connector, depending on model

Specifications: Electrical
Supply voltage12 to 24 VDC ±10% including 10% (p-p) max. ripple

Specifications: Environment
Operating temperatureOperating: -25 to 55 °C; Storage: -40 to 70 °C (no icing or condensation)
IP ratingIP67 (IEC 60529)

Specifications: Sensing
Sensing methodRetroreflective (without MSR function, uses E39-R1S reflector)
Light sourceRed LED (680 nm)

Specifications: Output
Output typenpn_or_pnp (model-dependent: NPN = E3Z-B6x, PNP = E3Z-B8x)

Specifications: Mechanical
Housing materialCase: PBT (polybutylene terephthalate); Lens: methacrylate resin
DimensionsCompact rectangular housing (approx. 10.8 W x 31 H x 20 D mm body)
WeightApprox. 65 g (pre-wired models) / approx. 20 g (connector models), packed state

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