Multi-axis photoelectric sensor

A multi-axis photoelectric sensor comprising;

• a projector and an optical receiver disposed opposed to each other, between which a detection area is formed by a plurality of optical axes;
• detection means that sequentially detects a non-shielded state/a shielded state of the optical axes to determines the non-shielded state/shielded state of the detection area as a whole;
• signal output means that outputs a high-level signal while the detection means determines that the detection area is in the non-shielded state and stops the signal output when the detection means determines that the detection area is shielded;
• and
• muting processing means that temporarily disables the signal output stop function of the signal output means on a condition that the determination results from the detection means and a detection signal input from an external muting device change according to a prescribed sequence, wherein
• the muting processing means includes abnormality detection means that divides the sequence of a change in the determination results from the detection means and the detection signal from the muting device for monitoring to detect an abnormality in the sequence in the stage being monitored;
• output control means that prevents the signal output stop function from being disabled in response to detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detection means;
• and notification means that outputs, in response to detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detection means, information indicating a type of the stage in which the abnormality has been detected.