Abstract: Inspection apparatus are used to inspect a substrate as solder is printed, components are mounted and the substrate is heated for a soldering process. Images of the substrate are taken both before and after a production process such as the component mounting process and the soldering process and their differences are extracted. Each component on the substrate may be identified by differentiation and binarization processes and setting conditions for windows are determined corresponding to identified components. Windows are set according to determined setting conditions for inspecting the conditions of the substrate by using image data in the set windows and standard inspection data corresponding to component identification data.

Abstract: A color image as a combination of color data corresponding to a plural n-number of different hues is processed by extracting a target object from the image and carrying out a specified image processing. A reference image is obtained in the absence of the target object. Color data corresponding to specified less than n of the different hues are considered and difference in the degree of intensity of the considered color data relative to the combination of color data corresponding to n different hues between each pixel of the target image containing the target object and a corresponding pixel on the reference image are extracted. Pixels for which the extracted difference is greater than a specified threshold value and is in a specified direction are extracted. An image area formed by the extracted pixels are recognized as the target object.

Abstract: A target object has its surface condition inspected by having its image taken from above while being irradiated by red, green and blue light beams at different elevation angles. An inspection area is set on the image and a direction is extracted on the image in which a change appears in the color phase according to the arrangement of the light sources and this extracted direction is compared with a preliminarily registered standard direction to judge the surface condition from the result of this comparison.

Abstract: For generating an image for inspection of a substrate, a camera is provided above this substrate with an optical axis orienting downward and a plurality of multi-colored light emitting members are set around the optical axis of the camera so as to be within a specified angular range with respect to a target area on the substrate. The camera is operated to generate an image of the target area for inspection while switched-on conditions of these light emitting members are being controlled such that the colors and angles of light illuminating this target area are varied according to a specified kind of the purpose of this inspection.

Abstract: On a production line for component mounting substrate, mutually communicating inspection apparatus are each provided to a different one of production processes that are carried out sequentially such as the solder printing, component mounting and soldering processes. Each inspection apparatus can generate an X-ray transmission image of the substrate. Each inspection apparatus on the downstream side inputs an image from another inspection apparatus on the upstream side and generates a differential image of the inputted image and an X-ray transmission image of the same substrate generated by itself after the production process associated with itself is carried out. The differential image thus generated is used for inspecting the substrate such that the effect of the associated production process can be more accurately inspected.

Abstract: A method for correcting a color captured by a detector using a light source includes determining target reference color values corresponding to a plurality of groups each of which includes at least three reference colors; determining detected reference color values corresponding to the plurality of groups by capturing the emitted reference colors using the detector; calculating a plurality of sets of correction factors; and correcting the detected color value or the target color value to generate a corrected color value based on one of the sets of the correction factors.

Abstract: A color image as a combination of color data corresponding to a plural n-number of different hues is processed by extracting a target object from the image and carrying out a specified image processing. A reference image is obtained in the absence of the target object. Color data corresponding to specified less than n of the different hues are considered and difference in the degree of intensity of the considered color data relative to the combination of color data corresponding to n different hues between each pixel of the target image containing the target object and a corresponding pixel on the reference image are extracted. Pixels for which the extracted difference is greater than a specified threshold value and is in a specified direction are extracted. An image area formed by the extracted pixels are recognized as the target object.

Abstract: Inspection apparatus are used to inspect a substrate as solder is printed, components are mounted and the substrate is heated for a soldering process. Images of the substrate are taken both before and after a production process such as the component mounting process and the soldering process and their differences are extracted. Each component on the substrate may be identified by differentiation and binarization processes and setting conditions for windows are determined corresponding to identified components. Windows are set according to determined setting conditions for inspecting the conditions of the substrate by using image data in the set windows and standard inspection data corresponding to component identification data.

Abstract: For generating an image for inspection of a substrate, a camera is provided above this substrate with an optical axis orienting downward and a plurality of multi-colored light emitting members are set around the optical axis of the camera so as to be within a specified angular range with respect to a target area on the substrate. The camera is operated to generate an image of the target area for inspection while switched-on conditions of these light emitting members are being controlled such that the colors and angles of light illuminating this target area are varied according to a specified kind of the purpose of this inspection.

Abstract: On a production line for component mounting substrate, mutually communicating inspection apparatus are each provided to a different one of production processes that are carried out sequentially such as the solder printing, component mounting and soldering processes. Each inspection apparatus can generate an X-ray transmission image of the substrate. Each inspection apparatus on the downstream side inputs an image from another inspection apparatus on the upstream side and generates a differential image of the inputted image and an X-ray transmission image of the same substrate generated by itself after the production process associated with itself is carried out. The differential image thus generated is used for inspecting the substrate such that the effect of the associated production process can be more accurately inspected.

Abstract: Substrates with components mounted thereon are produced by a plurality of sequentially performed production steps. Inspection apparatus are provided, each associated with different one of these production steps including the last step. These inspection apparatus communicate among themselves and each use an image of a target substrate to be inspected taken after or data obtained in an earlier executed production step.

Abstract: A target object has its surface condition inspected by having its image taken from above while being irradiated by red, green and blue light beams at different elevation angles. An inspection area is set on the image and a direction is extracted on the image in which a change appears in the color phase according to the arrangement of the light sources and this extracted direction is compared with a preliminarily registered standard direction to judge the surface condition from the result of this comparison.

Abstract: A tapered liquid container which is nestable with other like empty containers and a collector for receiving empty containers in nested relationship. The container has a tapered side wall, a large bottom end, and a small top dispensing end. A closable large bottom opening and a closable small top opening is formed in the bottom and top ends, respectively. A bottom closure seals the bottom opening and is removable when dispensing the liquid. A top closure is provided for sealing the top opening and is removable to permit liquid to be emptied. The collector includes an upper portion having a tapered socket for receiving an inverted empty container body with the top and bottom closures removed to permit draining of residual liquid. The tapered socket holds the container securely to permit successive containers to be inserted into the open bottom end when the bottom closure is removed of a preceding container. The containers are thus nested for consolidation and draining of residual liquid.