1. An inspection apparatus for judging acceptability of an inspection object by matching a model pattern representing conforming object data against an image captured of an appearance of the inspection object, the apparatus comprising: a model pattern positioning means for positioning the model pattern in a position with a highest degree of agreement by matching the model pattern against the image captured; a model pattern dividing means for dividing the model pattern into a plurality of elements in such a manner as to have mutually overlapping regions; and a shape recognition means for recognizing a shape corresponding to the model pattern by positioning each of the elements divided by the model pattern dividing means in a position with a highest degree of agreement by performing pattern matching within a predetermined range with reference to the position where the model pattern has been positioned on the image.