JP2012242289A - X-ray inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inspect the number of contents in an inspected object with higher accuracy without requiring a worker for visual inspection.SOLUTION: An x-ray inspection device 1 radiates an X-ray on inspected bodies W sequentially conveyed and containing contents vertically arranged in a housing body to inspect the inspected body W on the basis of an X-ray transmission image comprising X-ray concentration data to be obtained by X-ray radiation. The X-ray inspection device includes: image processing means 13 for extracting a content area corresponding to the content from the X-ray transmission image to extract and count protruding areas of the content in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the content, from the extracted content area; and determination means 14 for determining the number of contents on the basis of the value of the protruding areas counted by the image processing means 13.

Description

  The present invention provides an X-ray transmission image formed of X-ray density data (X-ray transmission amount) associated with X-ray irradiation by irradiating X-rays on an object to be inspected that is provided in a part of a production line and sequentially conveyed. The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus that performs various inspections (for example, foreign matter contamination inspection, content number inspection, etc.) of an object to be inspected.

  As disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, the X-ray inspection apparatus is used in a production line inspection process, for example, foreign matter (for example, metal, Conventionally, it has been used to inspect the presence of contamination (glass, shell, bone, etc.). This type of X-ray inspection apparatus is incorporated in a part of a production line and employs a configuration in which an inspection object is inspected while being sequentially conveyed by a conveying means. Moreover, as a conveyance means, there exist a pipeline, a belt conveyor, etc., and the thing suitable for the kind of to-be-inspected object is selected.

  By the way, the contents of the same product type are closely packed in a container (a tray provided with a partition according to the number of contents, a bag-shaped package, or a combination of a package and a tray) and vertically aligned and accommodated. When the number of contents is to be inspected using the above-mentioned X-ray inspection apparatus as a test object, size information (surface area, volume) per content is set in advance, and X-ray The surface area (number of pixels) and the total volume (surface area x X-ray density data) of the content extracted image extracted from the X-ray transmission image consisting of density data (X-ray transmission amount) are calculated, and the surface area of the entire content is further calculated. Or the number of contents is calculated based on the total volume and preset size information.

  Also, when inspecting the number of packaged contents, if the state of the packaged contents can be confirmed from the outside, an operator is placed on the production line and the objects to be inspected are sequentially conveyed. An operator directly inspected the number of contents by visual inspection.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-024453

  However, in the inspection using the above-described conventional X-ray transmission image, if the contents are tilted within the container of the object to be inspected or the contents overlap each other, the contents cannot be recognized one by one, The number inspection of the contents could not be performed accurately. Further, in the visual inspection of the contents by the worker, it is necessary to place the worker on the production line for visual inspection. In addition, it is indispensable that the contents are packaged in a container in which the contents can be seen through, and the operator can confirm the contents in the container from outside.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and does not require a visual worker, and can accurately inspect the number of contents of an object to be inspected as compared with the conventional X-ray. The object is to provide an inspection device.

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention irradiates X-rays while sequentially transferring the inspected objects W in which the contents are vertically aligned and accommodated in the container. In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 for inspecting the inspection object based on an X-ray transmission image composed of X-ray density data accompanying the X-ray irradiation,
A content region corresponding to the content is extracted from the X-ray transmission image, and a convex region of the content in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content is extracted from the extracted content region and counted. Image processing means 13;
And a discriminating unit for discriminating the number of the contents based on the count value of the convex region by the image processing unit.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
The image processing means 13 reduces the image of the content area in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content, and separates the convex area from the difference image between the reduced image and the image of the content area. And extracting.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 3 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
The image processing means 13 extracts the convex region by comparing the image of the content area with a shape recognition pattern set in advance according to the shape of the convex portion in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content. It is characterized by doing.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 4 is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A display device 7 for displaying the number of the contents based on the determination result of the determination means 14 is provided.

  According to the present invention, the number of contents can be inspected without being affected by the overlapping of contents, and the number of contents can be inspected more stably than before. In addition, a visual operator for inspecting the number of contents is not necessary, and the number of workers arranged on the production line for visual inspection can be reduced. Moreover, the result of the number inspection of the contents can be easily confirmed visually by display.

It is a block block diagram of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A), (b) It is a figure which shows the example of the shape recognition pattern used with the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(f) It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the flow of the content number inspection process by the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(e) It is explanatory drawing which shows another example of the flow of the content number inspection process by the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and all other forms, examples, operation techniques, etc. that can be implemented by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are included in the scope of the present invention. .

  1 is a block diagram of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing examples of shape recognition patterns used in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIGS. 4A to 4F are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a flow of content number inspection processing by the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4A to 4E are contents by the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows another example of the flow of an object number inspection process.

  An X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention is provided in a part of a production line and irradiates an object to be inspected sequentially via a conveying means such as a belt conveyor, and with the X-ray irradiation. Various inspections (inspection of the number of contents, inspection for contamination) are performed on the inspected object using an X-ray transmission image composed of X-ray density data based on the X-ray transmission amount transmitted through the inspected object.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray foreign object detection device 1 of this example includes a transport unit 2, an X-ray generation unit 3, an X-ray detection unit 4, an operation unit 5, a signal processing unit 6, and a display device 7. Composed.

  In the following, an example in which the display device 7 is configured separately from the operation unit 5 will be described. However, the display device 7 may be integrated into the operation panel of the operation unit 5.

  The transport unit 2 sequentially transports the inspected objects W one by one at a predetermined interval, and is constituted by a belt conveyor disposed horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body, for example. The transport unit 2 transports the inspection object W carried from the carry-in port toward the carry-out port side at a constant carry speed set in advance by driving of the drive motor M shown in FIG. 1 (carrying direction X in FIG. 1). ). In addition, the conveyance part 2 is not limited to a belt conveyor, According to the kind of to-be-inspected object, it selects suitably.

  In the object W to be inspected, the contents of the same type are closely attached in the container (a tray provided with a partition according to the number of contents, a bag-like package, or a combination of a package and a tray). It is a product that is vertically aligned and accommodated. Specifically, for example, cookies, biscuits, chocolate, etc. are used as the contents, and a plurality of the same varieties are in close contact with each other and are vertically aligned and packed in a package. There is a product in which a plurality of contents of a variety are directly packed in a line in a package and vertically packed.

  The X-ray generation unit 3 is provided above the transport unit 2 at a predetermined height. The X-ray generator 3 is configured by immersing a cylindrical X-ray tube provided inside a metal box with insulating oil (not shown), and irradiating the anode target with an electron beam from the cathode of the X-ray tube. X-rays are generated. The X-ray tube is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is the conveyance direction (X direction) of the object W to be inspected. The X-rays generated by the X-ray tube are irradiated toward the lower X-ray detection unit 4 so as to cross the transport direction (X direction) in a substantially triangular screen shape by a slit (not shown). It has become.

  The X-ray detection unit 4 is provided below the transport unit 2 so as to face the X-ray generation unit 3, and is orthogonal to the transport direction X of the inspection subject W on the X-ray irradiation region plane to the inspection subject W. The line sensor includes a plurality of elements arranged in a straight line in the Y direction. The line sensor is composed of a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a line and a scintillator provided on the line photodiode. The line sensor is inspected along with the X-ray irradiation to the object W to be inspected. X-rays transmitted through the body W are received by a scintillator and converted into light, the converted light is received by a corresponding photodiode, the received light is converted into an electric signal, and the X-ray density for each line Output as data (X-ray transmission amount).

  That is, the X-ray detection unit 4 outputs an electric signal having a level corresponding to the intensity of the received X-ray, and a plurality of elements arranged linearly in the Y direction are taken as one line for each element. X-rays transmitted through the inspected object W are detected, and the X-ray transmission amount detected by each element is used as one line of X-ray density data, and output is sequentially repeated for each line as the inspected object W is conveyed. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a position detection unit 11 for detecting the passage of the inspected object W is provided on the carry-in entrance side of the carrying unit 2. The position detection means 11 is configured by a photosensor including a pair of projectors and receivers provided on the entrance side of the belt conveyor as the transport unit 2. The position detection means 11 outputs an ON signal only while the object to be inspected W passes in front of the photosensor. The ON signal is input to the signal processing unit 6 as a timing signal.

  The operation unit 5 includes an operation panel provided with a plurality of operation buttons and operation keys, for example. The operation unit 5 displays a setting input screen (not shown) on the display device 7 by the user's input operation, and the type of the object to be inspected W (tray, package, contents) conveyed on the conveyance unit 2, X Various conditions necessary for inspection such as a sampling period and a conveyance speed for acquiring X-ray density data from the line detection unit 4 are set.

  The signal processing unit 6 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like. The signal processing unit 6 uses an ON signal when the position detection unit 11 detects the object to be inspected W as a timing signal, and covers a period during which the position detection unit 11 outputs the ON signal. Contents to be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are determined to be the length of the test object W, and X-ray density data based on electrical signals from the X-ray detection unit 4 is taken in accordance with operation information from the operation unit 5. Various signal processing including number inspection processing is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the signal processing unit 6 includes an image storage unit (data memory) 12, an image processing unit 13, and a determination unit 14.

  The image storage unit 12 stores X-ray density data for each object W to be inspected according to the timing of the timing signal from the position detection unit 11. The X-ray density data is obtained by fetching data obtained by A / D converting the electrical signal from the X-ray detection unit 4 by an A / D converter (not shown) at the detection timing of the position detection means 11. More specifically, the image storage unit 12 stores, for example, 640 pieces of X-ray density data per line (Y direction in FIG. 1) of the X-ray detection unit 4 every time one inspection object W is inspected. A predetermined number of lines (480 lines) corresponding to at least the length of the object W to be inspected in the conveyance direction (corresponding to a detection period from the front end to the rear end) is stored.

  The image processing means 13 performs various types of image processing based on an X-ray transmission image made up of X-ray density data of one object W stored in the image storage means 12. A partial area extracting means 22 and a convex area counting means 23 are provided.

  The content area extracting means 21 is the X-ray transmission image based on the X-ray density data of one inspection object W stored in the image storage means 12, and the contents of the inspection object W according to a preset detection limit value. Only the image is binarized and extracted. When binarizing and extracting an image of only the contents, a detection limit value is set in the vicinity of a substantially intermediate level between the X-ray transmission amounts of the container and the contents from the operation unit 5 in advance. In general, the X-ray transmission amount of the contents is lower than that of the container. For this reason, the content area extraction unit 21 determines that an area lower than a preset detection limit value in the X-ray transmission image based on the X-ray density data of the image storage unit 12 is the content, and only the content The image is binarized and extracted.

  The convex region extraction unit 22 performs image processing on the content-only image extracted by binarization by the content region extraction unit 21 (hereinafter also referred to as a content extraction image), and determines the convex region for each content. Extracting. When extracting the convex region, the content extraction image binarized and extracted by the content region extraction means 21 is reduced in a direction orthogonal to the content alignment direction (conveyance direction of the object W). Then, the inverted image of the reduced reduced image and the original content extracted image are overlapped (a difference image between the reduced image and the original content extracted image is obtained). Then, convex regions that are upper and lower arrangement points in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the contents are extracted from the superimposed image, and a plurality of separation regions corresponding to the content areas one by one are extracted. To separate.

  Further, the convex region extraction means 22 can also extract a region that substantially matches the shape recognition pattern as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as a convex region in the content extraction image. The shape recognition pattern is set and stored for each object W to be inspected in advance in the protrusion area extraction means 14a before the inspection in accordance with the shape of the protrusion in the direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the contents of the object W to be inspected.

  The shape recognition pattern in FIG. 2A has a spindle shape as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A. Six circular contents are used to inspect the number of contents of the object W to be inspected that are vertically aligned on the tray. The shape recognition pattern in FIG. 2B has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 4A (see FIG. 4A) (see FIG. 4A). Are used for the inspection of the number of contents of the object W to be inspected.

  The convex area counting means 23 counts the number of convex areas (separation areas) extracted by the convex area extracting means 22. Further, the convex area counting means 23 may count not only the total number of convex areas, but also the number separately for the upper convex area and the lower convex area. Further, the convex area counting means 23 sets a reference length (the length in the alignment direction as a reference for each content) in advance for each content of the inspected object W, and aligns the convex areas. A value obtained by dividing the length by the reference length may be counted as the number of convex regions.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the determination unit 14 includes a number determination unit 14a, a foreign matter determination unit 14b, and a non-defective product determination unit 14c.

  The number discriminating means 14a discriminates the number of contents in the container of the object W to be inspected based on the count value of the convex area counted by the convex area counting means 23, and uses the discriminated number as a discrimination signal. 14c. More specifically, since the convex region counting unit 23 counts the convex regions corresponding to the upper and lower ends of one content, the number discriminating unit 14a calculates the value obtained by dividing the count value of the convex region by two. The number of contents is discriminated, and the number is used as a discrimination signal.

  In addition, when the count value of the convex area by the convex area counting means 23 is an odd number because the upper end or the lower end of the adjacent contents overlaps, (1) Divide the count value of the convex area by 2 and round off. (2) The value obtained by adding 1 to the count value of the convex region and then dividing by 2, (3) The larger count value at the upper and lower ends of the convex region is determined as the number of contents. Also good.

  The foreign matter discriminating means 14b judges a portion having a different density level as a foreign matter in the region of the container of the subject W to be inspected. More specifically, the foreign matter determination unit 14b generates a foreign matter emphasized image by performing processing for enhancing the foreign matter from the X-ray density data of the inspected object W stored in the storage unit 12, and determines the gray level of the foreign matter emphasized image. The foreign matter detection limit value set in advance by the operation unit 5 is compared, and when the gray level of the foreign matter emphasis image exceeds the foreign matter detection limit value, it is determined that the foreign matter is mixed in the inspection object W. ing. The discrimination result at this time is output as a discrimination signal (OK signal or NG signal) to the pass / fail discrimination means 14c. The foreign object detection limit value can be set as appropriate from the operation unit 5 for each object W to be inspected.

  The non-defective product discriminating means 14c externally outputs a selection signal indicating whether the object W is normal or defective based on the discrimination signal from the number discriminating means 14a and the discrimination signal from the foreign matter discriminating means 14b. That is, the quality determination unit 14c determines that there is no missing item and no foreign matter mixed in the inspected object W when a determination signal (OK signal) indicating normality is input from both the number determination unit 14a and the foreign matter determination unit 14b. The selection signal indicating normality is output to the outside. On the other hand, when a determination signal (NG signal) indicating a missing item is input from the number determination means 14a or a determination signal (NG signal) indicating foreign object contamination is input from the foreign matter determination means 14b, It is determined that a shortage and / or foreign matter is mixed, and a selection signal indicating a defect is output to the outside.

  The display device 7 displays a setting input screen (not shown) by a predetermined key operation from the operation unit 5 and also displays the object W to be inspected conveyed on the conveyance unit 2 based on the determination result of the determination unit 14. Displayed X-ray transmission image, number of contents in the container of one object W to be inspected, “OK” or “NG” pass / fail judgment result, total inspection number, non-defective product number, NG total number, etc. doing.

  Next, an example of content number inspection processing by the signal processing unit 6 when inspecting the number of contents of the inspected object W using the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  3 has a spindle shape in the longitudinal section of the central portion of the contents (see FIG. 3A), and the shape in plan view is circular, and includes six contents. Are aligned vertically on the tray. Moreover, FIG.3 (b)-(f) has shown the planar view image of the content. Further, in the example of FIG. 3, the alignment direction of the contents of the inspection object W is the same as the conveyance direction X of the inspection object W, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction X is Y.

  X-ray density data (see FIG. 3B) for each inspection object W sequentially conveyed by the conveyance unit 2 is stored in the image storage unit (data memory) 12 of the signal processing unit 6 at the detection timing of the position detection unit 11. Stored sequentially. Then, the content area extracting unit 21 uses the X-ray transmission image based on the X-ray density data stored in the image storage unit 12 to obtain two images of only the content of the object W to be inspected according to a preset detection limit value. It is converted into a value and extracted (see FIG. 3C). In FIG. 3B, the contents of the inspected object W are overlapped, and although not particularly shown, the X-ray transmission amount is smaller on the inner side of the contents than on the end in the direction orthogonal to the alignment direction ( X-ray transmission image with low density. Subsequently, the convex region extraction unit 22 performs image processing on the image of only the content that is binarized and extracted by the content region extraction unit 21 and extracts the convex region for each content. More specifically, the image extracted by the content region extraction means 21 is reduced in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content, and the inverted image of the reduced reduced image and the original image are superimposed (FIG. 3D). reference). Then, the convex regions that are the upper and lower arrangement points in the direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the contents are extracted from the superimposed image (see FIG. 3 (e)), and the superimposed images are extracted one by one. It isolate | separates into the some convex part area | region corresponding to an area | region (refer FIG.3 (f)). Subsequently, the convex area counting means 23 counts the number of convex areas extracted and separated by the convex area extracting means 22 and outputs the count value to the contents discriminating means 14a. The contents discriminating means 14a discriminates the number of contents in the container of the object W to be inspected based on the count value of the convex area counted by the convex area counting means 23, and uses the discriminated number as a discrimination signal. It outputs to the discrimination means 14c.

  In parallel with the above-described processing, the foreign matter discrimination means 14b discriminates, as a foreign matter, a portion having a different density level from the X-ray transmission image based on the X-ray density data stored in the image storage means (data memory) 12. Then, the discrimination signal is output to the good product discrimination means 14c. Then, the non-defective product discriminating unit 14c externally outputs a selection signal indicating that the inspected object W is normal or defective based on the discrimination signal from the number discriminating unit 14a and the discrimination signal from the foreign matter discriminating unit 14b. Further, the display device 7 includes an X-ray transmission image obtained by planarly viewing the object W to be inspected conveyed on the conveying unit 2 based on the determination results of the number determining means 14a and the foreign matter determining means 14b, and one object to be inspected. The number of contents in the W container, the OK / NG determination result, the total number of inspections, the number of non-defective products, the total number of NG, and other inspection results are displayed.

  Next, another example of the content number inspection process using the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  4 has a rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 4A), and the shape in plan view is square, and eight contents are on the tray. Are aligned vertically. Moreover, FIG.4 (b)-(e) has shown the planar view image of the content. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 4, the alignment direction of the contents of the inspection object W is the same as the conveyance direction X of the inspection object W, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction X is Y.

  The X-ray density data (see FIG. 4B) for each object W sequentially conveyed by the conveyance unit 2 is stored in the image storage unit (data memory) 12 of the signal processing unit 6 at the detection timing of the position detection unit 11. Stored sequentially. Then, the content area extracting unit 21 uses the X-ray transmission image based on the X-ray density data stored in the image storage unit 12 to obtain two images of only the content of the object W to be inspected according to a preset detection limit value. It is converted into a value and extracted (see FIG. 4C). In FIG. 4B, the contents of the inspected object W are overlapped, and although not particularly shown, the X-ray transmission amount is smaller in the direction perpendicular to the alignment direction than in the end portion in the contents (see FIG. 4B). X-ray transmission image with low density. Subsequently, the convex region extraction unit 22 performs image processing on the image binarized and extracted by the content region extraction unit 21 to extract a convex region for each content. More specifically, the image extracted by the content area extraction means 21 is reduced in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content, and the inverted image of the reduced image and the original image are overlaid (FIG. 4D). reference). And the convex part area | region which is the arrangement point of the upper and lower ends of the direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content is extracted from a superimposition image (refer FIG.4 (e)), and a superimposition image is displayed one by one of the content. It isolate | separates into the some convex part area | region corresponding to an area | region. The processing so far is the same as the processing of FIGS. Thereafter, the convex area counting means 23 counts the number of convex areas using the value obtained by dividing the length in the alignment direction of the convex areas by a preset reference length as the quantity of the convex areas, The counted value is output to the content discrimination means 14a. Thereby, even when the convex region cannot be separated from the adjacent convex region in the alignment direction, the number can be estimated and counted, which is particularly effective when the end portion is angular. Then, the contents discriminating means 14a discriminates the number of contents in the container of the object W to be inspected based on the count value of the convex area counted by the convex area counting means 23, and determines the discriminated number as a discrimination signal. Is output to the non-defective product discriminating means 14c.

  By the way, in extracting the convex region described above, the shape recognition pattern shown in FIGS. When this shape recognition pattern is used, the convex region extraction means 14a uses FIG. 2 (FIG. 2) with respect to a content extraction image obtained by binarizing and extracting only the content of the inspected object W using a preset detection limit value. Pattern matching processing with the shape recognition pattern of a) and FIG. 2B is performed, and a region similar to the shape recognition pattern is extracted as a convex region from the content extraction image. And if the convex part area | region extraction means 14a extracts a convex part area | region, the convex part area | region counting means 23 will count the number, and will output a count value to the content discrimination | determination means 14a. The contents discriminating means 14a discriminates the number of contents in the container of the object W to be inspected based on the count value of the convex area counted by the convex area counting means 23, and uses the discriminated number as a discrimination signal. It outputs to the discrimination means 14c.

  3 and 4, the case where the conveyance direction X of the inspection object W is the same as the alignment direction of the contents has been described as an example. However, the alignment direction of the contents of the inspection object W is the conveyance direction X. Even if they are orthogonal, the number of contents can be inspected by the same process. That is, the alignment direction of the contents of the inspected object W and the transport direction are irrelevant.

  As described above, the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of the present example uses the feature that the X-ray density data of the end portion of the contents accommodated in the container is not easily affected by the overlap, and is used for the foreign matter contamination inspection. By using the X-ray transmission image based on the density data, the number of contents can be inspected without being affected by the overlapping of the contents in the package. Thereby, the number inspection of the content stabilized compared with the past can be performed in parallel with the foreign substance mixing inspection. In addition, a visual operator for inspecting the number of contents is not necessary, and the number of personnel placed on the production line for visual inspection can be reduced, thereby reducing labor costs.

  Moreover, since the result of the content number inspection described above is displayed on the display device 7 together with the result of the foreign substance contamination inspection, the operator can easily confirm the inspection result visually from the display content of the display device 7.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray inspection apparatus 2 Conveyance part 3 X-ray generation part 4 X-ray detection part 5 Operation part 6 Signal processing part 7 Display apparatus 11 Position detection means 12 Image storage means 13 Image processing means 14 Discriminating means 14a Number discrimination means 14b Foreign matter discrimination Means 14c Non-defective product discriminating means 21 Contents area extracting means 22 Convex area extracting means 23 Convex area counting means 31 Shape recognition pattern W Inspected object

Claims (4)

Based on an X-ray transmission image composed of X-ray density data associated with irradiation of X-rays while X-rays are radiated while sequentially transporting inspected objects (W) in which the contents are vertically aligned in the container. In the X-ray inspection apparatus (1) for inspecting the inspection object,
A content region corresponding to the content is extracted from the X-ray transmission image, and a convex region of the content in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content is extracted from the extracted content region and counted. Image processing means (13);
An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: a discriminating unit (14) that discriminates the number of the contents based on a count value of the convex region by the image processing unit. The image processing means (13) reduces the image of the content region in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content, and calculates the convex region from a difference image between the reduced image and the image of the content region. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray inspection apparatus extracts and separates. The image processing means (13) collates the image of the content area with a shape recognition pattern set in advance according to the shape of the convex part in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the content, and the convex area The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a display device (7) for displaying the number of the contents based on the discrimination result of the discrimination means (14).

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