COMPUTER RESPONSIVE SUPPLEMENTAL PRINTER

A supplemental printer is mounted piggy-back fashion atop a conventional high speed chain printer or other form of computer output printing equipment; and prints, upon the same print-out sheet as the high speed printer, information generated by the same electronic digital computer to which the high speed printer responds. The supplemental printer is capable of printing postage or other special indicia not easily incorporated into the print symbol repertoire of the high speed printer. In order to make the supplemental printer operate rapidly enough to be compatible with electronic data processing equipment, its print impression is divided into parts printed by individual type segments, each actuated by its own individual print solenoid. In order to improve print quality and to minimize the reaction of the piggy-back mounted printer due to the simultaneous firing of the print solenoids, the solenoids are fired sequentially by means of a time spread circuit including a shift register and clock oscillator. Some of the segments are equipped with solenoid-actuated variable numerical print modules for the purpose of printing postage or other variable numerical information. After printing, the segments return to positions at unequal levels in order to deter "wiping off" unauthorized postage or other valuable print impressions.