PURPOSE: To effect a completely automatic reading of an article control number in order to make article control easy by a method wherein the bar code representing the number and symbol of a container is formed all around its periphery.

CONSTITUTION: A container 10 suitable for storage and transportation of material, intermediate, product, etc., is coated with a bar code 12 representing the number and symbol (container number) of the container all around its periphery. This bar code 12 is formed on the container 10 by applying a coat to the rotatably retained container 10 with a bar code forming bar 14. The bar code 12 is scanned by a fixed bar code scanner in the axial direction of the container 10, whereby the container number can be exactly read at all times, regardless of the direction of the container 10, to realize a completely automatic reading of the bar code.