Using Allen-Bradley light sensors as beam detectors

[Joel Braun]

Hi all,

Our team (1388) needs a way of counting basketballs into and out of our feeder system similar to how beam detectors work, such as the devices that make sounds when you walk into or out of a building.

After some brief searching over Andymark and the general internet, we've been unable to find anything that would be usable in this purpose. With that in mind, the idea of using Allen Bradley 42ef-d1mnak-a2 light sensors came into play. Could we use these to count basketballs as they entered our robot, or is that too far outside of their intended design? If it is, what sensors would be recommended for this purpose?