Calculator-printer interface with numerical string segmentation

In a printer control system for controlling the printing of a set of numerals and a decimal point in response to a sequence of multibit data words including a decimal point position word indicating the position of a decimal point followed by a plurality of numeral words indicating respective numerals of the set of numerals, the combination comprising:

• (a) an input means for receiving the sequence of data words;
• (b) a first clock pulse generating means for generating a first series of clock pulses at a first predetermined rate;
• (c) a shift register connected to said first clock pulse generator having a plurality of sections equal in number to the number of bits in the multibit data words, each section including a predetermined number of sequentially connected elements, said predetermined number being at least as great as the number of data words in the sequence of data words, said shift register for storing data words in a set of corresponding elements in each of said plurality of sections and for shifting said stored data words along said sequence of elements at said first predetermined rate of said first series clock pulses;
• and
• (d) a logic gate means, connected to said input means and said shift register, for entering numeral words received by said input means into said shift register one at a time in the order in which they are received and for entering a data word indicative of a decimal point into said shift register in a position within the sequence of numeral words indicated by the decimal point position word.