Abstract:
A printing method for an ink jet printer to print first density information and second dot density information, including arranging a plurality of print heads including two or more first print heads to have a first angular orientation for printing the first information, and at least a second print head to have a second angular orientation, different from the first angular orientation for printing the second information; printing the first information by the first print heads to obtain the first dot density; and printing the second information by the second print head to obtain the second dot density.

Description:
This patent application claims priority from a Japanese patent application No. 2000-220154 filed on Jul. 21, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a printing method for a packaging, the packaging, and a printing system thereof. The present invention especially relates to the printing method for the packaging accommodating a product to be distributed through a distribution system, the packaging, and printing system for the packaging on which information about the product is printed and used in the distribution system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A system for color printing on a carton accommodating cassette tapes and so on is conventionally disclosed (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. Hei. 8-119239). According to the conventional system, a subject copy for color printing is read by a CCD scanner. The scanned subject image is transmitted to a printer unit. The printer unit has an ink jet print head and prints the image according to the transmitted information on the carton. The invention published in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. Hei. 8-119239 discloses the printing that is preferable for the large item small scale production which applies printing using the ink jet print head as described above. 
     Information printed on a packaging is various information about the accommodated product. Each part of information requires each different printing condition determined by the contents of information. When more than one of information having different printing conditions are printed on a package at the same time, in most cases, the entire information is printed with the strictest printing condition such that all the demanded printing conditions are satisfied. 
     Information printed on a packaging often includes a bar code symbol for the dispatch unit code system defined by JIS for distribution. The bar code symbol is recognized by an optical reading apparatus, and processed for distribution. JIS defines PCS (print contrast signal) value, which is a ratio of reflectivity between a printed part and the rest of white part, and printing accuracy of a printed bar code. Conventionally, the bar code symbol has been difficult to print by ink-jet printing apparatus. If dye ink is selected for printing, the printed bar code blots and does not satisfy the required printing accuracy. If thermo plastic ink is selected, a surface of the printed part is glare, so that the reflectivity of the printed part is relatively high; therefore it does not satisfy a certain level of reflectivity. Only pigment ink may satisfy both the reflectivity and printing accuracy required by the dispatch unit code system in a certain condition. 
     An ink jet print head has a plurality of nozzles, and each of the nozzles ejects an ink droplets. The ink dots strike the surface to be printed and prints dots on the surface. To print the bar code symbol satisfying the reflectivity with pigment ink, the plurality of nozzles have to be provided in such an arrangement that no space is generated between the adjacent ink dots ejected on the printed surface; i.e. dot density of a printed part must satisfy a predetermined value. Otherwise, there would occur white strikes where no ink reaches onto the printed part. The dot density depends on the number of dots in a unit area and the size of each printed dot. The dot size does not depend on a volume of ink at each injection, but rather a distance between the nozzles and the surface of material to be printed. When the distance is increased, the ink dot expands and a gap between dots is filled, however, printing accuracy is not satisfied. If the volume of ink is increased keeping a certain distance the printed bar code symbol is not blotting around, the gaps between nozzles are not filled; therefore the printed bar of the bar code symbol satisfying required conditions cannot be formed. 
     For printing the bar code symbol in the minimum standard magnification, 0.6 times the standard size defined by JIS, a height of the bar code symbol becomes 26 mm. The print head for ink jet printing using the pigment ink conventionally includes 32 nozzles, and prints a maximum height of 70 mm. If the conventional ink jet print head is tilted for printing information solid-print like style without the undesirable strikes, the print head may print a character or a mark having only a maximum height of 20 mm. Therefore the bar code symbol may not be printed by one print head. If the bar code symbol is divided into two or more parts and printed by more than one print head separately, because the bar code symbol requires high accuracy in alignment; it is difficult to satisfy the required printing accuracy and alignment. Therefore, it is conventionally difficult to print a bar code symbol by the ink jet printing. 
     Recently, a print head with both high dot density and a long printing length has been developed, therefore an ink jet print head may be used for printing the bar code; however, the print head with high dot density and the larger printing region is relatively expensive. 
     Moreover, when the entire information is printed in the strictest condition by the ink jet print head, ink consumption unnecessarily increases, therefore a problem such as a printing cost rise and process time increase occurs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method of a packaging, the packaging, and the printing apparatus, which is capable of overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the conventional art. The above and other objects can be achieved by combinations described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention. 
     According to the first aspect of the present invention, a printing method for an ink jet printer to print first dot density information and second dot density information, comprises: arranging a plurality of print heads including two or more first print heads to have a first angular orientation for printing the first information, and at least a second print head to have a second angular orientation, different from the first angular orientation for printing the second information; printing the first information by the first print heads to obtain the first dot density; and printing the second information by the second print head to obtain the second dot density. 
     The printing methods may further has moving material to be printed in a direction in which the material to be printed is conveyed for printing the material with the first and second information, wherein each of the first print heads has a first angle with respect to the moving direction and the second print head has a second angle with respect to the moving direction, and the first angle is less than the second angle. 
     The first dot density is finer than the second dot density. The first information may be information recognized by an optical reading apparatus for distribution, and information for the optical reading apparatus is printed by the first print heads in the first dot density that reflectivity in a printed part, which is printed by the first print heads, satisfies a predetermined value required by the optical reading apparatus. 
     A plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets included in the first print heads may be arranged in the first angle with respect to a direction in which a material to be printed is conveyed, and the first print heads print information for the optical reading apparatus at such reflectivity in a printed part printed by the first print heads that exceeds a predetermined value required by the optical reading apparatus. 
     The second information may be observed information, visually indicating type of a product accommodated in a package for a distribution on which the second and first information is printed, recognized by a person handling the packaging in the distribution, and the observed information is printed by the second print head, a plurality of nozzles included in the second print head is provided at the second angle for printing the observed information in a larger size than the first information. 
     Information for the optical reading apparatus may be divided into more than one regions in the direction perpendicular to a direction in which a material to be printed is conveyed, and each of the regions are printed by respective print head included in the first print heads. 
     Information for the optical reading apparatus may be a bar code symbol for a dispatch unit code system, the bar code symbol for the dispatch unit code system is divided into a bar code region including a bar code of the bar code symbol and a non-bar code region not including the bar code, and one of the first print heads prints the bar code region and another one of the first print heads prints the non-bar code region separately. 
     A bearer bar of a bar code symbol for a dispatch unit code may be previously solid-printed on a material the first information and the second information is printed on, information for the optical reading apparatus is a bar code included in the bar code symbol, and at least one of the first print heads prints, arranging the first print head is a position for printing the bar code, the bar code in the bearer bar. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, a printing method for an ink-jet printer, comprises: counting quantity of packaging being printed, acquiring a quantity symbol image corresponding to the quantity thus counted, acquiring a product information image providing information about the product accommodated in the packaging, super imposing the quantity symbol image and the product information image for generating an printing image to be printed on the packaging, and printing the printing image on the packaging using an ink jet print head. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, a printing method for an ink jet printer, printing a bar code symbol for a dispatch unit code of a product on a packaging for distribution of the product, comprises dividing the bar code symbol into a bar code region including a bar code of the bar code symbol and a non-bar code region not including the bar code of the bar code symbol, and printing the bar code region and the non-bar code region separately using respective print heads. 
     The printing method for an ink-jet printer may further has initially solid-printing a bearer bar of the bar code symbol on the packaging, and after the solid printing, printing a bar code of the bar code symbol in the bearer bar. 
     According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a packaging for accommodating for distribution of a product, comprises: information about the product for distribution printed on the packaging, information being divided into first information and second information, wherein the first information is printed in a first dot density by a plurality of first ink jet print heads, and the second information is printed in a second dot density by at least a second ink jet print head. 
     The first information may be information recognized by the optical reading apparatus for distribution, and information for the optical reading apparatus is printed in a predetermined dot density for satisfying reflectivity of a printed part, the reflectivity exceeding a predetermined value required by the optical reading apparatus. 
     According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a packaging for accommodating a product for distribution, comprises: a bar code symbol of a dispatch unit code printed on the packaging, the bar code symbol having a bar code region including a bar code of the bar code symbol and a non-bar code region including the rest of the bar code symbol other than the bar code region, wherein: the bar code region and the non-bar code region are separately printed by respective ink-jet print heads. The packaging for accommodating a product may further has a previously solid-printed bearer bar. 
     According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a printing system for ink jet printing, comprises: a plurality of first ink jet print heads for printing first information on material moved in a direction, each of the first print heads having a plurality of nozzles to have a first angle with respect to the moving direction for printing a predetermined dot density for being recognized by an optical reading apparatus for distribution; and a second ink jet print head for printing second information in a larger size than the first information, having a plurality of nozzles arranged to have a second angle with respect to the moving direction, different from the first angle. 
     At least one of the first angle and the second angle may be adjustable for adjusting positions of the first information and the second information on a material to be printed for adjusting a position on a material to be printed of a bar code symbol for a dispatch unit code. Each of the first ink jet print heads and the second ink jet print head may be structurally the same. Each of the first ink jet print heads and the second ink jet print head may include a same number of ink jet nozzles. The dot density may satisfy a condition that reflectivity in a printed part, which is printed by the first ink jet print heads, exceeds a predetermined value required by an optical reading apparatus for distribution. 
    
    
     The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the present invention. The present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above. The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective figure of an example of a corrugated fiberboard container with information printed in the present embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the function of the printing system applying the present embodiment for printing information. 
     FIG. 3A is an upper view of a printing system including a conveyer mechanism. FIG. 3B shows a side view of a printing system including a conveyer mechanism. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one of print heads. 
     FIG. 5 is an explanatory figure showing the positions of the print heads from the first print head through the fourth print head. 
     FIG. 6A shows examples of characters and a bar code printed on the corrugated fiberboard container by the first print head or the fourth print head. FIG. 6B shows examples of characters and a part of a bar code printed on the corrugated fiberboard container by the second print head or the third print head. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the process executed by the control section when the printing system executes printing. 
     FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the first controller when the printing system executes printing. 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the second controller when the printing system executes printing. 
     FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the third controller when the printing system executes printing. 
     FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the fourth controller when the printing system executes printing. 
     FIG. 12 shows a modification of the present embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but exemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective figure of an example of a corrugated fiberboard container with information printed in the present embodiment. The corrugated fiberboard container  100  is an example of a packaging accommodating a product distributed through a distribution system using a dispatch unit code. In the present embodiment, the corrugated fiberboard container  100  accommodates 35 mm negative films for a single lens reflex camera and so on. Information about the accommodated product for distribution is printed outside the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . In the description of the present embodiment, a case that printing on only one side of the corrugated fiberboard container is described for convenience of explanation. However, it does not intend to limit the position and the number of the sides to which the printing is applied. Therefore, any number of sides more than one may be applied using the same type of printing as described in the present embodiment. 
     The following information is printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . 
     (1) A symbol mark  102  and a name of the manufacturer  104  of the accommodated product. 
     The symbol mark  102  and the name of the manufacturer  104  are printed on all the corrugated fiberboard containers in common regardless of the kinds of accommodating products. In the present embodiment, information is previously solid-printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100  using the public known offset printing. Other than the symbol mark  102  and the name of the manufacturer  104 , for example, a term showing a type of the film such as “negative films” may also be previously solid-printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100 ; because the term “negative films” is, even number of prints and speed of the films differ so that the name of the products are different, printed on all the corrugated fiberboard containers  100  in common as long as the corrugated fiberboard containers  100  accommodate the negative film. 
     (2) A name of the product  106 , speed of the film  108 , and a number of prints  110 . 
     Information is information to specify the products accommodated in the corrugated fiberboard container (hereafter referred to as “product specifying information”). In the present embodiment, the product specifying information is printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100  using an ink jet print head. The product specifying information, i.e. observed information, is printed in a larger size character than the rest of information, so that the person handling the corrugated fiberboard container  100  in the distribution system may recognize information, for example, from afar in a warehouse. 
     (3) A bar code symbol for the dispatch unit code system (hereafter referred to as “the bar code symbol”)  112  defined by JIS X0502 1994. 
     In the present embodiment, the bar code symbol  112  is also printed by the ink jet print head. The bar code symbol  112  is printed 0.625 times the standard size defined by JIS and satisfying the optical characteristics defined by JIS. In the present embodiment, these information is printed by a plurality of print heads structurally the same as the print heads for printing information the name of the product  106 , speed of the film  108 , the number of prints  110 , the abbreviation of the name of the product  114 , the expiration date  116 , the emulsion number  118 , and the additional number  120 . 
     (4) An abbreviation of the name of the product  114 , an expiration date  116 , an emulsion number  118 , and an additional number  120 . 
     The abbreviation  114  is an abbreviated name assigned for each of the products to specify the product accommodated in the corrugated fiberboard container  100  defined by the manufacturer. The expiration date  116  is a due date informing when quality of the film accommodated in the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is assured to be above a predetermined level. The emulsion number  118  is a manufacturing lot number of the emulsion used for manufacturing the film accommodated in the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . The additional number  120 , i.e. a quantity, is a serial number allocated to the corrugated fiberboard containers which have the same emulsion number. In the present embodiment, the additional number  120  is printed using a hexadecimal symbol that the manufacturer especially designed for this purpose. In the present embodiment, the abbreviation  114 , the expiration date  116 , the emulsion number  118 , and the additional number  120  are also printed by the ink jet print head. 
     Information included in the bar code symbol  112  is the first information and is printed in first dot density. Information is recognized by an optical reading apparatus, and notified as information for the optical reading apparatus. Information included in the name of the product  106 , speed of the film  108 , the number of prints  110 , the abbreviation of the name of the product  114 , the expiration date  116 , the emulsion number  118 , and the additional number  120  is observed information and printed in second dot density. Information for the optical reading apparatus is finer in the dot density than the observed information. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the function of the printing system applying the present embodiment for printing the above described information such as the name of the product  106 , speed of the film  108 , the number of prints  110 , the abbreviation of the name of the product  114 , the expiration date  116 , the emulsion number  118 , and the additional number  120  on the corrugated fiberboard container. 
     The printing system  200  according to the present embodiment has a conveyer mechanism  300 , from a first printing apparatus  500   a  through a fourth printing apparatus  500   d , and a printing control computer  400 . 
     The conveyer mechanism  300  conveys the corrugated fiberboard container  100  using a public known belt conveyer. The conveyer mechanism  300  has an encoder  302  which detects distance moved by the belt conveyer. The detailed construction of the conveyer mechanism  300  will be described in following with referring FIG.  3 . 
     The printing control computer  400  has a control section  410  for controlling the plurality of printing apparatuses from  500   a  through  500   d , an input section  402  for inputting various information to the control section  410 , and a display section  404  for displaying information from the control section  410 . The printing control computer  400  further has a printing design database  408  and a product information database  406  storing information to be printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . 
     The product information database  406  stores following information which is related one another: 
     (1) a product code, a unique code number allocated for each products, 
     (2) an IPP code, a code number having an one-to-one correspondence to the product code, 
     (3) an abbreviation of the product, specified by the product code, 
     (4) a fiberboard container code, a unique code number for each type of corrugated fiberboard container accommodating the product specified by the product code, 
     (5) an abbreviation of the corrugated fiberboard container, specified by the fiberboard container code, and 
     (6) a dispatch unit Product Code of the product, specified by the product code. 
     The printing design database  408  stores following information which is related one another: 
     (1) the IPP code, 
     (2) a bit map data BMP1 indicating the image of information previously solid-printed on the corrugated fiberboard container such as the symbol mark and the name of the manufacturer, and 
     (3) a bit map data BMP2 indicating the image of the product specifying information to be printed on the corrugated fiberboard. 
     The printing apparatuses  500 , that is from the first printing apparatus  500   a  through the fourth printing apparatus  500   d , print information sent from the printing control computer  400  on the corrugated fiberboard container  100  conveyed by the conveyer mechanism  300 . Each of the printing apparatuses  500  has an ink jet print head  504  and a photoelectric sensor  506  optically detecting that the corrugated fiberboard container  100  conveyed by the conveyer mechanism  300  arrives a predetermined position to the print head  504 . Each of the printing apparatuses  500  further has a controller  502  for connecting with the print head  504  and the photoelectric sensor  506 , and the controller  502  controlling the print head  504  for printing. 
     The second controller  502   b  included in the second printing apparatus  500   b  is also connected to the encoder  302 . An output signal from the encoder  302  is inputted to the controller  502   b . Furthermore, the controller  502   b  in the second printing apparatus  500   b  is connected with the controller  502   c  in the third printing apparatus  500   c . An output signal outputted from the photoelectric sensor  506   b  is transmitted to the controller  502   c.    
     FIG. 3 is an upper view FIG. 3A and a side view FIG. 3B of the printing system including the conveyer mechanism. 
     The conveyer mechanism  300  includes a lead-in  320 , where the corrugated fiberboard container  100  to be printed is led in, and a belt conveyer  304  for conveying the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . The lead-in  320  includes a pusher  318  driven by an air cylinder  316  for pushing the corrugated fiberboard container  100  onto the belt conveyer  304 . A guide  306  is provided on each side of the belt conveyer  304 . The guide  306  sets up the position of the corrugated fiberboard container  100  for a crosswise direction on the belt conveyer  304 . The crosswise direction is defined such as a direction perpendicular to the movement of the belt conveyer  304  and is included in a horizontal plane. 
     On one side of the belt conveyer  304 , the print heads from the first print head  504   a  through the fourth print head  504   d  are provided. Under the belt conveyer  304 , the controllers from the first controller  502   a  through the fourth the controller  504   d  corresponding to each of the print heads from  504   a  through  504   d  are provided. 
     The belt conveyer  304  includes a motor  312  for a driving source. On a shaft of the motor  312 , the encoder  302 , already mentioned, is connected. 
     Applying the conveyer mechanism  300 , the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is inserted to the lead-in  320  in the direction of arrow A shown in the figure. The inserted corrugated fiberboard container  100  is moved to the belt conveyer entrance. When the inserted corrugated fiberboard container  100  arrives at a predetermined position and the pusher  318  is activated, the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is pushed onto the belt conveyer  304 . The belt conveyer  304  carries the corrugated fiberboard container  100  in the direction of arrow B shown in the figure. The direction of arrow B is a direction in which material to be printed is conveyed. Here, the guide  306  guides the corrugated fiberboard container  100  so that the distance between the print heads  504  and the surface of the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is kept in a predetermined distance appropriate for ink jet printing. When the corrugated fiberboard container  100  passes the side of the print heads from  504   a  through  504   d , information is printed on the side of the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing any one of the print heads  504 . The print head  504  has a plurality of ink ejecting nozzles  510  and a photoelectric sensor  506  on a side facing to the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . Applying the present invention, all the print heads are structurally the same; therefore each print head has a same number of nozzles. The nozzles  510  for ejecting ink droplets are provided such that the center of each of the nozzles is arranged along a predetermined straight line C (the direction parallel to the straight line C will be mentioned “the nozzle array direction” thereafter). The photoelectric sensor  506  includes a light emitting element for emitting light forward the print head  504  to the corrugated fiberboard container  100  and a light receiving element for detecting the reflection of the emitted light. The photoelectric sensor  506  detects, from the strength of the reflection detected by the light receiving element, that the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is conveyed in front of the print head  504 . Here, the nozzles are provided on line C; however, as long as intervals of the nozzles projected on the vertical plane are constant, the arrangement of the nozzles is not limited to the above described arrangement but such an arrangement may be arranged on more than one line and so on. 
     FIG. 5 is an explanatory figure showing the positions where the print heads from the first print head  504   a  through the fourth print head  504   d  are provided. Each of the four print heads from  504   a  through  504   d  is set tilted in the direction of arrow B as shown in the figure. Ejecting faces of the nozzles included in the four print heads from  504   a  through  504   d  are set on a plane perpendicular with respect to the surface of the belt conveyer  304  and including the moving direction of the belt conveyer (the direction of arrow B as shown in the figure). 
     An angle of each of the nozzle array direction of the print heads with respect to a moving direction of the corrugated cardboard container, which is described with doted lines in FIG. 5, is defined as from θ 1  through θ 4 . In the present embodiment, each of the angles is described with the relation such that 0°&lt;θ 2 &lt;θ 1 &lt;90°, and θ 1 =θ 4  and θ 2 =θ 3 . That is, the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  are set in the smaller angle than the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d  to the conveyer&#39;s moving direction. Therefore, the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  has high dot density than the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d , so that may print information in more solid-print like style. That is, a first angle of first print heads for printing first information, as information for an optical reading apparatus, is less than a second angle of at least a second print head for printing second information. On the other hand, the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d  may print larger size characters for the observed information than the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  for information for the optical reading apparatus. 
     Each of the print heads from the first print head  504   a  through the fourth print head  504   d  is positioned on the different height from the surface of the conveyer so that prints on the different region on the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . That is, the print head  504   a  is set in the highest position, the second print head  504   b , the third print head  504   c , and the fourth print head  504   d  are set in positions sequentially lowered. 
     FIG. 6 shows examples of characters and bar codes printed on the corrugated fiberboard container  100 . FIG. 6A shows an example of characters and a bar code printed by the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d  (a). FIG. 6B shows an example of characters and a bar code printed by the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  (b). 
     As shown in FIG. 6A, the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d  may print the larger size characters, which is for the observed information, than the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c . In the present embodiment, the print heads print the characters in maximum 30 mm height. The characters in 30 mm size are, because the characters in 30 mm size may be clearly recognized by a worker in the warehouse from a distance for the larger sized characters, preferable for the characters printed on, for example, the corrugated fiberboard container stacked in a warehouse. On the other hand, the dot density of the printed characters is low, and the white part where the ink is not printed is left as white strikes on the characters. Therefore, the printed part of the characters is printed in relatively high reflectance. As a result, for the bar code symbol printed by the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d , a PCS value defined by JIS X0502 1994 does not exceed 75%. That is, the first print head  504   a  and the fourth print head  504   d  are not able to print the bar code symbol satisfying the JIS. 
     On the contrary, the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  may execute, as shown in FIG. 6B, so-called solid-like printing with finer dot density. Therefore, the bar code symbol satisfying the optical characteristic defined by JIS (the PCS value is 75% or more) may be printed by the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c . The second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  are provided more tilted to the direction in which the material to be printed is conveyed such that the angle θ 2  and θ 3  becomes smaller, therefore may not print the characters in larger size which has the height. Information printed by the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c  may be recognized by an optical reading apparatus as the bar code symbol for a dispatch unit code system, because the dot density of the printed part satisfies a predetermined value required by the second print head  504   b  and the third print head  504   c.    
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the process executed by the control section  410  when the printing system  200  executes printing. 
     Applying the present embodiment, first, the product code of the product accommodated in the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is inputted to the control section  410  via the input section  402  (step  100 ). The control section  410  inputted the product code acquires from the product information database  406  the IPP code, the abbreviation of the product, the fiberboard container code, the abbreviation of the corrugated fiberboard container, and the dispatch unit code. The above listed information is corresponded to the inputted product code (step  102 ). The control section  410  also obtains from the printing design database  408  the bit map data BMP1 and BMP2 corresponded with the IPP code acquired in the step  102  (step  104 ). 
     The control section  410  generates the bar code symbol corresponding to the dispatch unit code acquired in step  102  (step  106 ). Then, the control section  410  superimposes images obtained from the bit map data BMP1 and BMP2 in step  104  and the image of the bar code symbol acquired in step  106 , and generates an virtual image of the corrugated fiberboard container after the printing is executed (step  108 ). Furthermore, the control section  410  displays on the display section  404  the virtual image of the corrugated fiberboard container after the printing is executed instep  108  (step  110 ). Thus, the operator of the printing control computer  400  may confirm the image of the printed corrugated fiberboard container before the printing is actually executed. The control section  410  also displays on the display section  404  the product code, the abbreviation of the product, the fiberboard container code, and the abbreviation of the corrugated fiberboard container (step  110 ). Watching information, the operator may ensure, by checking the product code displayed on the display section  404 , if information of the correct product is going to be printed on the correct corrugated fiberboard container. 
     Next, an order whether the processing is continued is inputted to the control section  410  via the input section  402  (step  112 ). The operator of the printing control computer  400  inputs to the input section  402  that the processing is not going to be continued, when the image to be printed and shown in the step  110  is not the desired image. In such case, the processing of the control section  410  goes back to the step  100 . On the other hand, the operator inputs, when the image to be printed shown in step  110  is the desired image, to the input section  402  that the processing is going to be continued, and the processing of the control section  410  proceeds to the step  114 . 
     In the step  114 , the control section  410  is assigned a beginning value of the additional number, the emulsion number, and the expiration date via the input section  402 . Next, the control section  410  transmits to the first controller  502   a  the bit map data BMP2, which is the image data of the product specifying information (step  116 ). The control section  410  also transmits to the second controller  502   b  an image data of a bar code region including a bar code in the bar code symbol generated in the step  106  (aforementioned “main bar code image data”) (step  118 ). For the main bar code image data, in the present embodiment, image data of the bar codes, an upper horizontal bearer bar, and vertical bearer bars is transmitted. The bar codes, the upper horizontal bearer bar, and the vertical bearer bars construct a bar code region of a bar code symbol. 
     The control section  410  also transmits to the third controller  502   c  an image data of the rest of the barcode symbol which is not included in the image data transmitted to the second controller (aforementioned“sub bar code image data”). The region including the rest of the bar code symbol is notified to as a non-bar code region (step  120 ). For the sub bar code image data, in the present embodiment, image data of a lower horizontal bearer bar and indices showing the number is transmitted. The lower horizontal bearer bar and indices, that is the rest of the bar code symbol other than the bar code region, construct a non-bar code region of the bar code symbol. 
     Furthermore, the control section  410  transmits to the fourth controller  502   d  the abbreviation of the product, the expiration date, the emulsion number, and the beginning value of the additional number (step  122 ). 
     The control section  410  supplies the data for printing to each of the controllers from  502   a  through  502   d  by executing the above described processing. 
     Next, the control section  410  prompts, according to the order of the operator via the input section  402 , each of the controllers to start printing (step  124 , step  126 ). The control section  410  prompts, according to the order of the operator via the input section  402 , each of the controllers to finish printing (step  124 , step  128 ), and finish the entire series of processing. 
     FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the first controller  502   a  when the printing system  200  executes printing. 
     The first controller  502   a  obtains, as described in FIG. 7, from the printing control computer  400  the bit map data BMP2which is the image data of the product specifying information (step  140 ). Next, the first controller  502   a  waits for an order of the start of printing transmitted from the printing control computer  400  (step  142 ). When the order is sent, the first controller  502   a  watches if the photoelectric sensor  506   a  detects the corrugated fiberboard container  100  (step  144 ). When an output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   a  showing the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is detected, the first controller  502   a  executes printing the bit map data BMP2. That is, the first controller  502   a  prompts, calculating the distance of the movement of the belt conveyer  304  using an internal clock, the first print head  504   a  to print the bit map data BMP2 (step  146 ). The first controller  502   a  continues the processing the step  144  and the step  146  until the notification of the end of printing from the printing control computer  400  is transmitted (step  148 ). 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the second controller  502   b  when the printing system  200  executes printing. 
     The second controller  502   b  receives, as described in FIG. 7, from the printing control computer  400  the main bar code data (step  160 ). Next, the second controller  502   b  waits for the order of the start of printing transmitted from the printing control computer  400  (step  162 ). When the order is sent, the second controller  502   b  watches if the photoelectric sensor  506   b  detects the corrugated fiberboard container (step  164 ). When an output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   b  showing the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is detected, the second controller  502   b  executes the printing of the main bar code data. Here, the second controller  502   b  prompts, calculating the distance of the movement of the belt conveyer  304  using an output signal from the encoder  302 , the second the print head  504   b  to print the main bar code data (step  166 ). The second controller  502   b  specifies the printing position using the output signal of the encoder  302  which directly reflects the moving distance of the belt conveyer  304 . Thus, even in such case, for example, that the movement of the belt conveyer  304  includes pulsation and so on therefore is not constant, the system may print the bar code high in accuracy. The second controller  502   b  continues the processing of step  164  and the step  166  until the notification of the end of printing is sent from the printing control computer  400  (step  168 ). 
     FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the third controller  502   c  when the printing system  200  executes printing. 
     The third controller  502   c  receives, as described in FIG. 7, from the printing control computer  400  the sub bar code data (step  180 ). Next, the third controller  502   c  waits for the order of the start of printing transmitted from the printing control computer  400  (step  182 ). When the order is sent, the third controller  502   c  watches an output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   b  inputted via the second controller  502   b  (step  184 ). When the photoelectric sensor  506   b  outputs the signal the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is detected, the third controller  502   c  prompts, calculating the distance of movement of the belt conveyer  304  using the internal clock, the third print head  504   c  to print the sub bar code data (step  186 ). The third controller  502   c  continues the processing of the step  184  and the step  186  until the notification of the end of printing is sent from the printing control computer  400  (step  188 ). 
     As described above, the second controller  502   b  and the third controller  502   c  detect that the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is conveyed to the predetermined position using the same output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   b . Thus, using the same signal, even the bar code symbol is divided into the two regions and each of the regions are printed by two distinct print heads, the two regions are able to be printed without displacement in the present embodiment. Therefore, the bar code symbol may be printed by ink jet print heads without using an expensive high dot density type print head. The bar code symbol divided into the bar code region and the non-bar code region is printed by respective print heads included in the first print heads. 
     FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing executed by the fourth controller  502   d  when the printing system  200  executes printing. 
     The fourth controller  502   d  receives, as described above, the abbreviation of the product, the expiration date, the emulsion number, and the beginning value to the additional number from the printing control computer  400  (step  200 ). The fourth controller  502   d  generates image data of the abbreviation of the product, the expiration date, and the emulsion number received from the printing control computer  400  (aforementioned “image data of the emulsion number and so on”) (step  202 ). Next, the fourth controller  502   d  stores the beginning value to the additional number into a memory (step  204 ). 
     Next, the fourth controller  502   d  waits for the order of start of printing transmitted from the printing control computer  400  (step  206 ). When the order is sent, the fourth controller  502   d  generates an image data corresponding to the additional member, i.e. quantity of the packaging, stored in the memory (aforementioned “additional number image data”) (step  208 ). On the other hand, the fourth controller  502   d  superimposes the image data of the emulsion number and so on and the additional number image data so that generates an image data to be printed by the fourth print head  504   d  (step  210 ). 
     Then, the fourth controller  502   d  watches an output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   d  (step  212 ). When the output signal from the photoelectric sensor  506   d  showing the corrugated fiberboard container  100  is detected, the fourth controller  502   d  executes printing of the image acquired in the step  210 . That is, the fourth controller  502   d  prompts, calculating the distance of the movement of the belt conveyer  304  using the internal clock, the fourth print head  504   d  to print the image acquired in the step  210  (step  214 ). After the step  214  is finished, the fourth controller  502   d  adds 1 to the additional number stored in the memory for counting the quantity of the packaging (step  216 ). 
     The fourth controller  502   d  continues the processing from the step  208  through the step  216  until the notification of the end of printing from the printing control computer  400  (step  218 ). 
     As described above, the system according to the present embodiment prints information divided into a plurality of parts onto the corrugated fiberboard container using a plurality of ink jet print heads at least one of which is provided in different angle. 
     Applying the present embodiment, the bar code symbol is especially printed using the print heads of which the angle of the arraying direction of the ink jet nozzles with respect to the moving direction of the corrugated fiberboard container is smaller. The above described print heads may print in finer dot density, so that the bar code symbol maybe printed in such a high dot density that a printed part of the bar code symbol satisfies the optical characteristics defined by JIS. 
     Furthermore, applying the present embodiment, the product specifying information as the observed information is printed using the print heads the angle of the ink jet nozzles with respect to the moving direction of the corrugated fiberboard container is larger. The above described print heads are provided such status that the angle to the moving direction of the corrugated fiberboard container is larger, so that the print heads may print the larger sized characters for the size of print head. Furthermore, the above described print head prints characters in lower dot density, so that does not consume excessive ink by printing the product specifying information recognized only by the human therefore need less printing quality than the bar code symbol. 
     As a modification, for example, the bearer bar of the bar code symbol for the dispatch unit code is previously printed onto the corrugated fiberboard container  100  using the solid-printing, and the second and the third printing apparatuses print only the bar code or the bar code and the numeric characters situated on the position of the above described bearer bar. 
     Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, the bar code symbol corresponded to the dispatch unit code is generated by the printing control computer; however, the bar code symbol may be generated by the second controller and/or the third controller. 
     In other case, the target to be printed is not limited to the corrugated fiberboard container already assembled. The target to be printed may be, for example, a wrap round case before the assembly and so on. Furthermore, the material of the target to be printed is not limited to the corrugated fiberboard, but may be any material the ink jet print head printing is applied such as a carton paper and plastics and so on. Moreover, the target to be printed is not limited to a packaging. 
     In the above described embodiment, each of the print heads  504  is controlled by the corresponding controllers  502  at printing, though in some cases, the print head may be directly controlled by the control section  410  without being relayed by the controller  502  and prints the target. 
     FIG. 12 shows another modification of the present embodiment of the present invention. For further modification of the present embodiment, at least one of the angles of the print heads is adjustable; so that the size and dot density of the printed region is selected each time an image to be printed is selected and set at the printing control computer corresponding to a demanded printing condition. Furthermore, a position of the bar code symbol on the material to be printed may be changed. 
     It is obvious from the description above, applying the present invention, a plurality of information of which printing conditions differ one another may be printed effectively and rapidly using the ink jet print heads. 
     Although the present invention has been described by way of exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that those skilled in the art might make many changes and substitutions without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention which is defined only by the appended claims.