This converter may help if just the serial port on a personal computer is free, whereas the printer needs a parallel (Centronics) port. It converts a serial 2400 baud signal into a parallel signal.

This application note presents the process of converting a serial output into parallel output using common serial-to-parallel register integrated circuits. The document also discussed the CS556x/7x/8x ...

Using a simple cable instead of a ~100$ converter would be preferable. Or is there a way to do the parallel to serial conversion in software? For example, capture the input on the computer's parallel ...