JP3461128B2 - Appearance inspection method and device for stamped tablets - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inspecting the appearance of a stamp tablet for inspecting the appearance of the stamp tablet, and more particularly to a method performed in a blister sheet packaging machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when inspecting the appearance of foreign matter and chips on the surface of a tablet, image data obtained by imaging the tablet with a camera is binarized into a bright portion and a dark portion, and corresponds to a tablet. It was judged whether the area of the part was larger than the standard value. However, with respect to the imprinted tablet, the area value changes depending on the bleeding of the imprint and the lightness and darkness, and it is necessary to widen the allowable value of the area value, so that it is not possible to detect small foreign matters and chips. Therefore, it has been proposed to process the imprinted tablet by capturing the imprint and the foreign substance as a connected region in the image of the binarized imprinted tablet. Japanese Patent Application No. 9-233500 discloses a foreign substance inspection device for a marking tablet which grasps a marking and a foreign substance as a connecting region, obtains a circumscribed rectangle including the connecting region of the marking and the foreign substance, and judges the presence or absence of the foreign substance from the size. Have been described.

[0003]

However, the conventional PTP
The seal inspection device has the following problems. With the device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-233500, foreign matter inside the tablet can be grasped as a connecting region, but foreign matter at the outer edge of the tablet cannot be grasped because it is not recognized as a connecting region inside the tablet. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and foreign matter and chips on the outer edge portion of the imprint tablet filled in the pocket portion of the blister sheet during conveyance are affected by the imprint portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide an appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet and an appearance inspection device for a stamped tablet that can be inspected in a blister sheet packaging machine without any need.

[0005]

A method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet according to claim 1, which was made to achieve this object, comprises:
Image data of the entire surface of the stamped tablet was binarized for each pixel, a tablet region that was a connected region corresponding to the stamped tablet was specified, and filling processing was performed on at least the connected region corresponding to the stamped mark inside the tablet region. After that, the appearance of the imprinted tablet is inspected by determining whether or not the filled-in tablet area, which is the filled-in tablet area, is within a reference range.

Further, the appearance inspection method for a stamp tablet according to a second aspect is the appearance inspection method for a seal tablet according to the first aspect, wherein in the hole filling processing, the value of the connecting region corresponding to the seal is set to the surrounding value. It is characterized by performing by.

The appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 3 is the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data in the outer peripheral portion of the tablet from the hole-filled tablet area is not detected. It is characterized in that after the stable region is removed, it is judged whether or not it is within the reference range.

Further, in the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 4, in the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 3, the removal of the unstable region is similar to the contour of a non-defective tablet. It is characterized in that the mask area is removed by setting it as a filling tablet area.

The appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 5 is the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 4, wherein the mask area and the center or center of gravity of the tablet are set to coincide with each other. And

The appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 6 is the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the mask area is set by template matching.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for inspecting a stamped tablet according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the plurality of stamped tablets are imaged at one time. However, each stamp tablet is inspected independently.

The appearance inspection method for a stamp tablet according to claim 8 is the method for inspecting a stamp tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pocket portion of the blister sheet being conveyed is filled. The appearance of the stamped tablets is inspected in a blister sheet packaging machine.

The appearance inspection device for a stamped tablet according to a ninth aspect is characterized by performing the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

In the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet and the appearance inspection apparatus for a stamped tablet according to the present invention having such a configuration, the entire image surface of the stamped tablet is binarized by binarizing the image data of the entire surface of the stamped tablet. Is identified by the binarized pixel. Here, the surface of the tablet is grasped by one value, and the marking and the foreign matter are grasped by the other value. Further, by performing the connected component processing, the tablet is recognized from the connected area of one value, the marking and the foreign matter are recognized from the connected area of the other value inside the tablet, and at least the connected area corresponding to the connected area of the marking is recognized. On the other hand, the filling process is performed.
The filling processing is performed by replacing the other value of the connection area corresponding to the seal with the one value corresponding to the surface of the tablet. The connection area that has been subjected to the padding processing is hereinafter referred to as a padding tablet area. Then, the number of pixels in the filling tablet area is calculated.

On the other hand, with respect to the stamped tablet having no defective appearance, the filling tablet area is similarly grasped, and the number of pixels thereof is calculated, and used as the judgment reference value which is the standard of the visual inspection of the stamped tablet. However, considering the tolerance of the shape of the stamped tablet and the instability of the pixel data corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the tablet, the judgment reference value is a value slightly smaller than the total number of pixels. I am trying. Here, the reason why the data around the outer periphery of the tablet is unstable is that the image of the tablet formed on the CCD at the edge of the tablet does not cover the entire surface of one pixel of the CCD, or Depending on the shape
This is because, for example, in the case of a tablet having an elliptical cross section, the vicinity of the end is a surface close to the vertical to the camera, and the amount of light tends to be insufficient. Then, if it is determined that the number of pixels in the filled tablet area is larger than the determination reference value, it is determined that there is no foreign matter or chipping on the outer edge of the tablet, and it is determined that the stamp tablet to be inspected has no defective appearance. Further, if it is determined that the number of pixels in the filled tablet area is smaller than the determination reference value, it is determined that there is a foreign substance or a chip on the outer edge portion of the tablet, and it is determined that the stamp tablet to be inspected has a poor appearance.

Therefore, since the tablet area is removed from the tablet area calculation by performing the filling processing on the connected area corresponding to the connected area of the seal in the tablet, the seal is not affected by blurring or blurring of the seal. It is possible to detect a foreign substance or a chip on the outer edge of the tablet.

Further, since the data in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is unstable, a more stable inspection can be performed by excluding the unstable region in the outer peripheral portion of the tablet from the previously filled tablet area. In this case, the determination reference value can be set to a value closer to a value obtained by removing the unstable region at the outer peripheral portion from the hole-filled connection region of the imprint tablet having no appearance defect.

The unstable area may be removed by setting a mask area having a shape similar to the contour of a non-defective tablet and setting only the inside thereof as a filling tablet area.
Since the pocket of the PTP sheet is large enough for the tablet and the position of the tablet is not fixed in the pocket, this mask area may be set with the center or the center of gravity of the tablet aligned. Furthermore, by setting the mask area by template matching, it is possible to set the mask area more accurately without being affected by an unstable area on the outer peripheral portion of the tablet, chipping of the tablet, foreign matter, or the like.

Since the appearance inspection of the imprinted tablet and the appearance inspection device of the imprinted tablet of the present invention are performed after the imprinting of the imprint on the surface of the tablet is performed, the type of imprinting on the surface of the tablet,
It is not affected by color, size, presence or absence, and since complicated processing is not required, inspection efficiency is good, and a plurality of tablets can be inspected independently at the same time. Therefore, the appearance of the imprinted tablet filled in the pocket portion of the blister sheet being conveyed can be inspected in the blister sheet packaging machine by the appearance inspection method of the imprinted tablet of the present invention.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an appearance inspection device 10 which is an appearance inspection device for a stamped tablet.
By equipping the blister sheet packaging machine 30 with
The appearance inspection method of the imprinted tablet is carried out in the blister sheet packaging machine 30.

First, the blister sheet packaging machine 30 for carrying out the appearance inspection method of the stamped tablet will be briefly described. The blister sheet packaging machine 30 automatically wraps tablets and the like in a blister sheet. Specifically, first, the container film 40 such as PP or PVC is fed into the heating plate 50 and the molding plate 51 by the film feed roll 33 and the tension rolls 31 and 32, and the pocket portion 44 (where the tablets and the like are filled) 3) is formed into a container film 40. Then, the pocket portion 44 is formed on the container film 40.
When the molded product 41 (see FIG. 3) is sent under the tablet loading shutter 52, the tablet loading shutter 52 automatically fills the pockets 44 (see FIG. 3) with tablets and the like. . Here, the stamp tablet 1 shown in FIG.
Are filled in each pocket portion 44 (see FIG. 3).

Further, the lid film 42 made of aluminum is fed through the tension rolls 34 and 35 onto the container film 41 in which each of the pockets 44 (see FIG. 3) is filled with the imprint tablet 1, and a pair of seal rolls are provided. Fix at 36. As a result, the film-shaped blister sheet 43 in which the stamp tablet 1 (see FIG. 5) is filled in each pocket portion 44 (see FIG. 3) is manufactured. The film-shaped blister sheet 43 is cut into a sheet shape and then sequentially sent to a defective sheet discharging mechanism, a blister sheet accumulating mechanism, or the like (not shown).

Next, the appearance inspection apparatus 10 for carrying out the appearance inspection method of the stamped tablet will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The appearance inspection apparatus 10 includes an A / D converter 13, a comparator 14, an image memory 16, a shading correction table 18, a CPU 20, a judgment memory 22, an input / output interface 23, an appearance inspection result and statistical data memory 24, and a camera timing control means. 26 and the like.

The A / D converter 13 converts the one-dimensional image data picked up by the CCD camera 11 from an analog signal to a digital signal. Here, the CCD camera 11 will be described. As shown in FIG.
The blister sheet 43 is illuminated with two lights 13, and the blister sheet 43 is one-dimensionally imaged in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously image the plurality of pocket portions 44 formed in a line in the width direction of the blister sheet 43 and the stamp tablet 1 filled in each pocket portion 44. At this time, since the image of the blister sheet 43 that is in close contact with the fixed roll 37 is captured, the film-shaped blister sheet 43 does not sway and adversely affect the image capturing. Incidentally, C
Although the CD camera 11 and the illumination 12 are drawn in the blister sheet packaging machine 30 in FIGS. 2 and 3, they are one of the constituents of the visual inspection apparatus 10.

Returning to FIG. 4, the comparator 14 binarizes the one-dimensional image data replaced by the digital signal with a specific threshold value. Since the one-dimensional image data is captured by the CCD camera 11, each pixel of the CCD camera 11 is binarized. Also,
The threshold value used in the comparator 14 can be changed according to the inspection condition. The image memory 16 stores the one-dimensional image data binarized by the comparator 14. Shading correction table 18
Stores the threshold value used when the one-dimensional image data is binarized by the comparator 14.
Since there is a technical limit to uniformly illuminating the entire blister sheet 43 with the light 13 of the illumination 12, the threshold value is shading-corrected.

The CPU 20 executes the flow chart of FIG. 1 which will be described later, and executes it by using the judgment memory 22 and the like. The input / output interface 23 is for transmitting or receiving a control signal to the blister sheet packaging machine 30. Thereby, for example, the defective sheet discharging mechanism of the blister sheet packaging machine 30 can be controlled. It is also for transmitting display data to the monitor 25, and can display one-dimensional image data, appearance inspection results, etc. on the monitor 25. Although the monitor 25 is illustrated outside the visual inspection apparatus 10 in FIG. 4, it is one of the constituents of the visual inspection apparatus 10.

[0027]
Appearance inspection result and statistical data memory 24
Stores the appearance inspection result data and statistical data obtained by probabilistically processing the appearance inspection result data. The visual inspection result data and the statistical data can be displayed on the monitor 25. Further, a control signal can be transmitted to the blister sheet packaging machine 30 based on these appearance inspection result data and statistical data.

The camera timing control means 26 is a CCD
The one-dimensional image data captured by the camera 11 is converted into A / D
It controls the timing of loading into the converter 13. Such timing is performed based on a signal from an encoder (not shown) provided in the blister sheet packaging machine 30.

Next, the procedure of the appearance inspection method of the imprinted tablet will be described.
Description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG. Take the
The appearance inspection of the stamped tablet is performed on the binary image on the image memory 16. First, the steps (hereinafter,
The labeling process is performed on the binary image in the image memory 16 by the abbreviation "S". The data table created by labeling is stored in the determination memory 22. Further, the connection area of the tablet is specified from the connection area subjected to the labeling process. If the binary image data corresponding to the surface of the tablet is one value and the binary image data of the foreign substance, the seal and the background of the tablet surface is the other value, the connected area of the tablet is the connected area of one value. Of these, a tablet that is determined as a tablet based on the number of pixels (size), coordinates (position), shape, etc. is specified as a tablet. For example, a tablet may be a connected area having a size equal to or larger than a certain number of pixels. Here, for the sake of convenience of description, one predetermined imprinted tablet (predetermined tablet 1) is processed, but the other tablets on the sheet simultaneously imaged simultaneously or sequentially are processed in the same manner. ing. FIG. 8 shows the table 80 for the connected area A which is the other value in the area of the predetermined tablet 1 which has been subjected to the labeling process.
Shown in. This table 80 is a part of the table created by labeling, and for each of a total of n numbered connected areas A, the minimum value XMIN of the X coordinate,
Maximum value of X coordinate XMAX, minimum value of Y coordinate YMIN, Y
The maximum coordinate value YMAX and the area B are obtained and stored. Here, the predetermined tablet 1 is stored in the image memory 16
It is assumed that it is displayed in the upper left corner of the above binary image. Also,
It is assumed that there are a total of n connected areas A in the area of the tablet 1.

Next, in S2, a foreign substance is discriminated from the connected region which is the other value in the region of the labeled predetermined tablet 1. As a method of recognizing foreign matter, there is a method of recognizing the marking by pattern matching or comparing with the reference data based on the center of gravity and the area of the connected area, and recognizing the foreign material in the connected area other than the marking. If it is possible to grasp the existence of a certain connection area, it is not always necessary to distinguish between the marking and the foreign matter. Therefore, in this embodiment, as a simpler method for increasing the processing speed, as shown in FIG. A circumscribing rectangle is provided for the region (connecting region of the other value), the short side length BS is equal to or more than the short side reference value LMIN, and the length of the long side BL of the circumscribing rectangle is equal to or less than the long side reference value LMAX. By deciding whether or not it is, the existence of the foreign substance connection region is recognized. It should be noted that a connected area having a size smaller than a certain value is excluded from the objects of the appearance inspection, so that a more reliable appearance inspection without error factors such as noise can be performed.

Then, in S3, when the connection area of the foreign matter is not recognized in S2, it is judged as a non-defective product, and the process proceeds to S4.
When the connected region of the foreign matter is recognized, it is determined to be defective and the process proceeds to S10 to store the appearance inspection result and the determination result in the statistical data memory 24.

Next, in S4, the connection area of the other value in the area of the predetermined tablet 1 is filled. The tablet region in which the holes are filled will be referred to as a hole filling tablet region hereinafter. The filling may be performed at least in the connecting region of the stamped portion, and may be performed not only in the stamped portion but also in the coupled region within all the predetermined tablets 1 containing foreign matters. In this embodiment, in order to increase the processing speed, the marking and the foreign matter are processed without distinction. The filling is performed by replacing the connected area (the other value) to be filled such as the stamped portion with the surrounding value (the one value). For example, in the image data obtained by binarizing the imprinted tablet of FIG. 5, the values of the imprinted portions 3, 4, 5, 6 and the foreign substance 7 (the other value) are the surrounding values, that is, the tablet surface without the imprinted substance or the foreign substance. It is performed by replacing the value with 2 (one value).
FIG. 6 shows a diagram in which the connection region inside the tablet is filled with holes. Since the foreign matter 8 does not correspond to the connecting region inside the tablet, it remains without being filled. Further, when only the stamped portion is filled with holes, a more reliable appearance inspection is performed by also filling the connection area of the other value which is determined as noise or the like in S2 and excluded from the appearance inspection. You can also

Then, in S5, the center of the predetermined tablet 1 is obtained. This center becomes the center of the mask area when the mask area is set in the next step. As the center, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, an X-axis Y-axis rectangle circumscribing the predetermined tablet 1 is provided, center lines of two parallel sides are respectively obtained, and their intersections are centered (T in FIG. 9 and coordinates (X3, Y3 )), Or the center of gravity of the filling tablet region created in S4 may be used as the center.

Next, in S6, the mask area 9 is set as shown in FIG. 10 with the center obtained in S5 as the center. The padding tablet area may be processed as it is, but since the data in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is unstable, the reliability of the following processing may be improved by removing it. The data near the outer periphery of the tablet is unstable because the image of the tablet formed on the CCD at the edge of the tablet does not cover the entire surface of one pixel of the CCD, or depending on the shape of the tablet, for example, the cross-section is different. This is because, in the case of an elliptical tablet, the vicinity of the end is a surface that is almost vertical to the camera and the amount of light tends to be insufficient. The mask area has a shape similar to the tablet of the subject and is reduced by about 1 pixel (2 pixels in diameter). If an unstable area due to the shape of the tablet is at the end, the area to be inspected is further reduced. To do. In FIG. 10, a circular mask area 9 is set for the circular tablet 1. A circular tablet is suitable for speeding up the process because it is not necessary to consider the inclination when setting the mask area.

Then, in S7, the area Q of the filling tablet region is obtained. In the present embodiment, the area of the filling tablet area in the mask area is set as the area Q of the filling tablet area in order to remove the unstable area in the tablet circumference. Further, in obtaining the area Q of the padding tablet area, the mask area is template-matched with the stamp tablet here. In the template matching, after the area Q1 of the filling tablet area in the mask area is obtained by the mask area set at the center in S6, the mask area is moved one pixel to the right and the area Q of the filling tablet area in the mask area is similarly set.
Ask for 2. Furthermore, one pixel to the left of the center, or above, below, diagonally upper right, diagonally upper left, diagonally lower right, diagonally lower left,
The mask area is set at a position moved by one pixel, and the areas Q3 to Q9 of the filling tablet area in the mask area are obtained. Of these, the area closest to the area of the mask area itself (the area having the largest area) is the area Q of the filling tablet area.
When increasing the speed of the device, the pattern matching process may be omitted. In that case, the area Q1 of the filling tablet area in the mask area when the mask area is set by matching the centers or the centers of gravity is set as the area Q of the filling tablet area. Also, the removal of unstable data near the outer peripheral portion can be omitted. In that case, the area of the filling tablet region is directly the area Q of the filling tablet region.

Next, in S8, the theoretical value Q of the filling tablet area
When the difference between s and the area Q of the filling tablet region is smaller than the judgment reference value P, it is judged as a non-defective product, the process proceeds to S9, and the appearance inspection result and the judgment result are stored in the statistical data memory 24. on the other hand,
When it is larger than the judgment reference value P, it is judged as a defective product, and the process proceeds to S10 to store the judgment result in the appearance inspection result and the statistical data memory 24. Here, the theoretical value Qs of the filling tablet area is
The area of the mask area. When the mask area is not used, the theoretical value Qs is the area of the fill-in tablet region of the most standard tablet among non-defective tablets. In that case,
The area Q of the filling tablet area is the theoretical value Q of the filling tablet area.
Since it may be larger than s, the absolute value of the difference between the theoretical value Qs of the filling tablet area and the area Q of the filling tablet area is compared with one judgment reference value P, or a positive value (Ppl
It is necessary to set two judgment reference values, s) and negative (Pminus), and judge whether or not it is within the range.

As described in detail above, in the stamp tablet inspection apparatus of the present invention, the image data of the entire surface of the stamp tablet is binarized for each pixel, and the tablet area which is the connection area corresponding to the stamp tablet is specified. Then, after performing a filling process on the connection region corresponding to at least the seal present in the inside, by determining whether the filling tablet region is the tablet region that is the filling is within the reference range, Since the appearance of the imprinted tablet is inspected, it is possible to detect foreign matters and chips at the outer edge without being affected by the imprinting.

Further, since the unstable region of the data on the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is removed from the padded tablet region and the calculation is performed, stable inspection is possible. Furthermore, in the removal of the unstable area, a mask area having a similar shape to the contour of the tablet which is a good product is set, and only the inside thereof is the tablet area or the filling tablet area, so that the unstable area can be easily removed. You can

Since the mask area is set by template matching, the mask area can be set accurately. Therefore, the unstable area can be removed with high accuracy, and the inspection area is not made unnecessarily narrow.

Further, since the marking is treated as a connected area and the processing is performed by filling in the holes, the processing is simple and high-speed processing is possible. Therefore, a plurality of marking tablets are imaged at one time, and each marking tablet is independently processed. The appearance of the imprinted tablet filled in the pocket of the blister sheet during transportation can be inspected in the blister sheet packaging machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a procedure of an appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a stamp tablet appearance inspection method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the blister sheet packaging machine, and is a view showing a portion for imaging the appearance of the imprinted tablet filled in the pocket portion of the blister sheet being conveyed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a stamp tablet appearance inspection method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing image data obtained by binarizing a stamp tablet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing image data of a stamped tablet after being filled.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an appearance of a stamped tablet and a circumscribed rectangle.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a table created in a judgment memory.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a filled tablet area and a circumscribed rectangle for obtaining the center.

FIG. 10 is a diagram in which a mask area is provided in the filling tablet area.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tablet 10 Tablet visual inspection device 12 Fluorescent lamp 30 blister sheet packing machine 43 Blister sheet 44 Blister sheet pocket B circumscribed rectangle BL long side of circumscribed rectangle Short side of BS circumscribed rectangle A connection area B area XMIN Minimum value of X coordinate of connected area XMAX Maximum value of X coordinate of connected area YMIN Minimum value of Y coordinate of connected area YMAX Maximum value of Y coordinate of connected area

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 62-229050 (JP, A) JP 7-209195 (JP, A) JP 4-102050 (JP, A) JP 5- 203584 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 21/84-21/958

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. The image data of the entire surface of the stamped tablet is binarized for each pixel, the tablet region which is the connected region corresponding to the stamped tablet is specified, and the connected region corresponding to at least the stamped region existing inside thereof is specified. After performing a hole filling process, by checking whether the hole filling tablet area that is the tablet area that has been filled is within a reference range, the appearance of the stamped tablet is inspected. Appearance inspection method. 2. The method for inspecting the appearance of a stamp tablet according to claim 1, wherein the hole filling process is performed by setting a value of a connecting region corresponding to the stamp to a peripheral value. Appearance inspection method. 3. The method for inspecting a stamped tablet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an unstable area of data in the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is removed from the hole-filling tablet area, and then the value is within a reference range. A method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet, which comprises inspecting the appearance of the stamped tablet by determining whether or not the appearance. 4. The appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to claim 3, wherein the unstable area is removed by setting a mask area similar to the contour of a non-defective tablet to the hole-filling tablet area. A method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet, which is characterized in that 5. The method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet according to claim 4, wherein the mask area is set such that the center or the center of gravity of the tablet coincides with that of the tablet. 6. The method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet according to claim 4, wherein the mask area is set by template matching. 7. The method for inspecting the appearance of a marking tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of marking tablets are imaged at one time and each marking tablet is independently photographed. A visual inspection method for a stamped tablet, which is characterized by inspecting. 8. The method for inspecting a stamp tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the appearance of the stamp tablet filled in the pocket portion of the blister sheet being conveyed is inspected in a blister sheet packaging machine. A method for inspecting the appearance of a stamped tablet, which comprises: 9. An appearance inspection apparatus for a stamped tablet, which carries out the appearance inspection method for a stamped tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 8.