X-ray inspection apparatus

An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising:

• an X-ray irradiation unit that irradiates a transported article with X-rays;
• an X-ray detection unit that detects the X-rays transmitted through the article using a photon-counting method;
• an image generation unit that generates an X-ray image corresponding to a detection result of the X-ray detection unit;
• and
• an inspection processing unit that inspects the article based on the X-ray image,
• wherein the X-ray irradiation unit includes an X-ray generation source that outputs white X-rays having a continuous spectrum, and a physical filter that removes a partial band of the white X-rays output by the X-ray generation source to irradiate the article with resulting X-rays from which a partial band of the white X-rays has been removed, the physical filter being provided between the X-ray generation source and the X-ray detection unit, and
• the X-ray detection unit detects, using the photon-counting method, the X-rays transmitted through the article, the X-rays being X-rays from which a band unnecessary for image generation in the image generation unit has been removed by the physical filter.