Patent ID: 7062074

Claim:
A method of processing an X-ray image of articles contained in a transilluminated object and made visible for an observer on a monitor screen, comprising the following steps: (a) placing individual markings about the image of certain, previously determined articles; and (b) automatically and stepwise combining the individual markings into a final added marking if at least two individual markings mutually fit; and (c) storing said individual markings in a marking list of a memory; said combining step comprises the steps of (1) performing a coordinate comparison to identify mutually facing sides of two adjoining individual markings; (2) determining a ratio of an overlapping area of said two adjoining individual markings to the total area of at least one of said two adjoining individual markings; (3) forming an individual added marking from two individual markings resulting from said comparing and determining steps; (4) storing said individual added marking in said marking list; (5) storing said individual markings, from which said individual added marking has been formed, from said marking list in a sub-marking memory of a marking memory as sub-markings of said individual added marking; (6) comparing said individual added marking with a further individual marking called from said marking list for forming a final added marking; (7) adding said final added marking to said marking list; and (8) storing the individual added marking and the further marking, from which said final added marking has been formed, in said sub-marking memory as sub-markings of said final added marking, whereby structures of said sub-markings are preserved, wherein said coordinate comparison comprises determining a distance between a coordinate of the first adjoining marking and a coordinate of the second adjoining marking, and determining whether the distance exceeds a previously set, variable limit.