Printer having recycling ink and pressure-equalized upstream and downstream ink lines

A printer comprising:

• a printhead having an ink inlet and an ink outlet;
• a pressure-regulating chamber containing ink at a predetermined first level relative to said printhead, said chamber comprising:
• an inlet port;
• an outlet port;
• a return port positioned in a base of the chamber;
• a float valve comprising:
• (i) an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot;
• (ii) a float mounted at one end of said arm;
• and
• (iii) a valve stem attached to said arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, wherein said valve seat is positioned at the inlet port of said pressure-regulating chamber,
• a snorkel extending from said return port and terminating at a snorkel outlet positioned above said first level of ink;
• an air vent open to atmosphere, said air vent communicating with a headspace above said ink;
• an upstream ink line interconnecting said outlet port and said ink inlet;
• and
• a downstream ink line interconnecting said return port and said ink outlet,
• said downstream ink line having a section looping below said first level of ink, wherein, in a printing configuration, a second level of ink in said snorkel is equal to said first level of ink in said chamber.