Abstract: Process requirements, such as high speed operations, make it necessary that a multiplicity of devices be controlled such that they perform different operations at the same time which, however, have the same effect as if the same operation is performed by all of the multiplicity of devices simultaneously. In high speed operations, for example, the printing of identification numbers and corresponding check digits, the same material must be printed in many places on each document but with printers capable only of printing each identification number of a different document at the same time as the documents are fed at high speed through the imprinting machine. A control system is described which assembles digital data representing the operations to be performed by the devices (the printed material consisting of the digits corresponding to the identification numbers which are presented by numbering machines which are incremented as the imprinter executes its successive document feeding cycles).

Abstract: A control system is described which assembles digital data representing the operations to be performed by the devices (the printed material consisting of the digits corresponding to the identification numbers which are presented by numbering machines which are incremented as the imprinter executes its successive document feeding cycles). A channel is provided for each device, which is responsive to the data and through which the data is advanced so as to operate the device in accordance therewith. A check digit printing device is operated by way of its associated channels so as to present the check digit corresponding to the identification number to be printed and enable corresponding identification numbers and check digits to be printed simultaneously at different locations on a multiplicity of different documents.