Ink container having a multiple function chassis

An ink container for an inkjet printing system, said inkjet printing system having a printhead for ejecting ink drops on media, said ink container comprising:

• a collapsible ink reservoir for providing ink to said inkjet printhead;
• and
• a chassis, said chassis including:
• a first projection that extends outward toward a first distal end from an external surface of said ink container, said first projection having a fluid outlet disposed on said distal end;
• a fluid inlet that fluidically couples said collapsible ink reservoir to said fluid outlet;
• and
• a second projection that extends outward toward a second distal end from said external surface of said ink container, said second projection having an air inlet disposed on said second distal end.

An ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printhead, said ink container comprising:

• a chassis, said chassis including:
• a projection that extends outward toward a distal end from an outside surface of said ink container, said projection having a fluid outlet disposed on said distal end, said fluid outlet for providing ink to said inkjet printhead;
• and
• an ink inlet in fluid communication with said ink outlet, said ink inlet having an outer surface that is adapted to be received through an opening of a collapsible reservoir.

An ink container for holding a supply of liquid ink for use in an inkjet printing system, the ink container comprising:

• a pressure vessel for defining an interior pressurized chamber, said vessel having a neck opening defined therein by a circumferential neck surface;
• a collapsible ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, said reservoir disposed within said pressurized chamber;
• electrical circuitry disposed within the chamber for providing electrical signals indicative of an amount of ink within the reservoir, said circuitry including conductive leads passing from a region which is inside the chamber and outside the ink reservoir through the neck opening for connection to a sensor controller;
• a multiple function chassis member disposed within the neck opening, said chassis member forming an ink path between the exterior of said pressure vessel and said ink reservoir, said chassis member further defining at least one electrical lead passageway through which said electrical leads are passed between the chamber and external electrical contacts, said chassis member further having a circumferential chassis surface generally conforming to said circumferential neck surface of said vessel so that said chassis fits into said vessel opening to close said opening;
• and
• sealing apparatus comprising a compressible material fitted between said circumferential chassis surface and said circumferential neck surface to provide a seal for maintaining pressure within said chamber.

A method for assembling an ink container to be installed in a printing system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a chassis including a leading surface, a trailing surface, the leading surface having a fluid outlet projection with a distal end, the trailing surface having a fluid inlet conduit, the distal end and the fluid inlet conduit are fluidically coupled;
• (b) fluidically coupling a collapsible reservoir to said chassis;
• (c) attaching a valve to said distal end of said fluid outlet projection, said valve is adapted to engage a needle to allow ink to flow from said valve to said needle when said ink container is installed in said printing system;
• (d) providing a pressure vessel having an opening for receiving said collapsible reservoir, said chassis is adapted to engage and seal said opening;
• (f) inserting said reservoir into said opening;
• and
• (g) positioning said chassis to seal said opening.

A method of assembling an ink container for an inkjet printing system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a chassis having a fluid conduit therethrough, said fluid conduit having an inlet and outlet, said outlet for providing ink to an inkjet printhead, said chassis having a leading surface;
• fluidically coupling a collapsible reservoir to said inlet;
• attaching a plurality of container contacts to said leading surface;
• and
• attaching a sensing circuit to said collapsible reservoir, said sensing circuit electrically coupled to said container contacts, said container contacts provide a signal to said printing system indicative of an amount of ink contained in said collapsible reservoir.