Matching sensor output with PLC input
Now, I read some information online and from what I got on forums, NPN sensors are current sinking devices and PNP sensors are current sourcing devices. So that tells me that I have to go with a PNP output, since a sourcing sensor output must go with a sinking input.


You are correct.

In Figures 1 and 2, below, an external sensor is connected to a PLC input. Let's assume that the PLC input has an opto-coupler to the internal logic to isolate the sensitive logic circuitry from the outside world. The circuit, as far as external switches are concerned, is an LED with series resistor. If we short the input terminal to the common terminal we should expect about 5 to 15 mA to flow (determined by the internal series resistor).

In Figure 1. The opto-LED anode is connected to +24 V supply and the cathode is connected through the resistor to the input pin. When the input pin is connected to COMM- the LED will light giving a logic '1' to the PLC CPU. The sensors usually use an NPN transistor in this configuration. Either way, the PLC input provides or sources the current through the LED (red arrow) and is known as a "sourcing" input. Since NPN transistors can be very easily switched in this configuration they are generally used - hence "NPN" inputs - and the sensor "sinks" the current.



One major advantage of this arrangement is that the transistor can be powered from a supply of different voltage to the PLC - e.g., a 5 V micro-controller and once it shares the common negative it effectively becomes a level shifter between the two systems.

The main disadvantage is that the logic is somewhat inverted. A high voltage on the input is logic 0 and a low voltage is logic 1. This can be confusing.



Figure 2 shows the PNP / sinking circuit. Here current flows from the + supply, through the transistor and the PLC "sinks" it.

The logic is the right way up now and this style of input is preferred on most industrial equipment at present.

For outputs the situation is similar. A current sourcing output will supply the current from the + supply, through the load to the COMM-. For a current sinking output the current will flow from the + supply, through the load, into the PLC input where an NPN transistor will "sink" it to COMM-.

Note some PLCs use bi-directional opto-isolators - two LEDs connected in opposite directions. By connecting the input common terminal to + or - supply the inputs can be made sourcing or sinking.




  So, will that make my output in the sensor go to a high state when it is activated (it should detect boxes moving in front of it) ?


That depends on the sensor. Some provide a switch or teach mode to allow the user to configure it either way. Since it is being fed into a PLC you can inver the logic there anyway.

A more important consideration is what way you want the system to behave on loss of signal. i.e. If the sensor fails due to disconnection, etc., what will be the effect on the machine. If you are simply counting boxes then it won't matter. If you were filling boxes with stuff then you would want to make sure that the switch is configured to signal "box present" rather than box absent.

PLCs are great. Have fun.