Won't recognise ink cartridges - shows as empty.

Yes and No. Non branded ink cartridges need to be properly programed to work correctly. If you are going to buy non branded, make sure you can trust the seller. Research the seller and you should be ok. Branded is always the best but also always more expensive and non branded always comes with a degree of risk.

Are you using compatible ink cartridges? When a compatible cartridge is empty in an Epson printer the printer reports "Cartridge not recognised". This is Epson's way of scaring you into using Epson branded cartridges. Just change the cartridge and it should be OK.

If it's not that issue then maybe the chip on the cartridge is faulty. Again, just change the cartridge.

1. New original ink tank will dried for several times of head cleaning procedure.

. ....ran a nozzle check and cleaned print heads because it wasn't printing any ink on the paper.... ???
Nothing at all? If yes, problem is in the printer main board. Lost electricity to the head.

Did you remove the ink cartridge when you did the head cleaning and nozzle check, if so, did you touch the copper circuit chip on the cartridge? . . The chip is normally what tells the printer how much ink is remaining in the cartridge and if it cannot read this, it may not recognise that the cartridge is genuine and still has ink remaining inside. . . .You can try cleaning the chip with a soft dry cloth otherwise you may have to install a replacement cartridge. . . See http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=Doc&oid=106004&prodoid=63075469 for the User Guide showing how to replace ink cartridges for this printer.

I'm assuming that you are probably using Non-Epson Ink Cartridges, because those are what normally cause that problem, with a printer not recognizing an installed ink cartridge. Unfortunately, there is no way to make your Epson Printer use or accept that Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, if it cannot actually recognize it. Its even possible that some Generic or Third-Party brands, may not always be recognized by the newer models of Epson Printers, because of the inexpensive [cheap] and or incompatable Electrical Chips that are mounted on the actual ink cartridge. Sometimes you will even get Error Messages up on your Monitors screen, telling you that you are actually using a Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, or that your printer cannot recognize the cartridge that you installed. Sometimes the Ink Level Indicator, on your Status Monitor, will not show an actual ink level, but may indicate a cartridge error or problem instead. Not all Generic or Third-Party ink & ink cartridges are made the same and none of them actually contain the right formulation of ink, for the Epson Printers [formula is patented by Epson Company]. Some are probably close and seem to be better than others, but some simply can clog-up or even damage the Printhead Assemblies on Epson Printers, or simply won't be accepted at all. Epson Ink Jet Printers are one of the few printers on the market that seem to have so many problems with non-manufactors inks, especially the newer models made in the last couple of years. Its because the Epson Printers use a completely different printhead inking system than most other brands of printers. Most, if not all of the other manufactors, use thermal or bubble jetprint heads and because the other brands use a totally different system, they don't seem to have as many problems using refilled inks or non-manufactor's ink cartridges. Printer manufacters do not make available their ink formulation and in most cases, the formulation is patented. Any difference in the ink formulation can actually cause clogging in the small printhead nozzles or damage other critical components. One individual printhead nozzle is so tiny, that it will not accept a human hair, so you can see why they can get clogged so easily, or even why the nozzles can be so easily damaged...Even if you were actually using a New-Epson Ink Cartridge, its always possible that you got a bad cartridge. At this point, the only thing I can suggest is that you try a different New-Epson Ink Cartridge, or at the very least, a different brand of Non-Epson Ink Cartridges and see if that helps.

Here's a tutorial on how to do it:
Solved Epson printer doesnt recognize Ink Cartridge

they are proper mardy machines only happy when using original epson cartridges

on the ink cartridges there should be a little gold chip on them if they dont have that then your printer will not recognise the ink my best bet for you is to buy cheep and reliable placement epson ink or you can buy these ink cartriges which have tubes which feed ink into these replacement cartridges and i have got one of these my self and i would recomend these to anyone

Since you are using sublmation ink, the cartridges are probably aftermarket and may not meet Epson standards. Aftermarket chipped cartridges are notorious for failing to 'communicate' with Epson printers, even when the cartridge is brand new. Before taking the printer to a service center, you might try purchasing new cartridges of your ink from your reseller. If that fixes the problem then your fight is with the ink reseller, not Epson. If it doesn't fix the problem and your printer is still under warranty, take it to an authorized service center, and remember, using non-Epson ink does NOT void the waranty.

Two ways round this one. 1. Download this software www.ssclg.com install it and learn to use it- it carries out many functions for Epson printers. 2. Prize off the chip on an emptied of original Epson cartridges ans replace the compat chips with the Epson ones. Set the above utility to reset the cartridge chips 0r Purchase from most the the ink supplier a Zip-It chip re-setter. Also take a look at www.fixyourownprinter.com