A programming apparatus supports a user to program a visual inspection program
used in a visual inspection apparatus. A plurality of standard inspection flows
corresponding to kinds of products to be inspected, a plurality of image processing
algorithms and a plurality of inspection parameters used in the visual inspection
of the product are previously memorized. The user prepares a plurality of image
data of defective units and non-defective units of the product which he wishes
to inspect, and programs a provisional visual inspection program configured by
the standard inspection flow corresponding to the kind of the product which is
selected by the user, the image processing algorithms and the inspection parameters
selected by following a guidance of the standard inspection flow. The provisional
visual inspection program is evaluated by using the sample image data whether it
is proper or improper for inspecting the product.
