Abstract: A sewing method allows firm seaming to be performed without inserting point needles through linking loops that are formed near the ends of the course direction, and the other linking loops can be automatically linked with efficiency. The sewing method seams knitted fabrics having linking loops on their top courses, the knitted fabrics being stretched in the course direction with point needles inserted through some successive ones of the linking loops, wherein the point needles are pulled out with the knitted fabrics sandwiched and held in the vicinity of the linking loops across the course direction. Then, linking loops not having been pierced with the point needles are seamed at intervals smaller than the intervals of arrangement of the linking loops not having been pierced with the point needles. The linking loops pierced with the point needles are seamed by linking.

Abstract: A sewing method allows firm seaming to be performed without inserting point needles through linking loops that are formed near the ends of the course direction, and the other linking loops can be automatically linked with efficiency. The sewing method seams knitted fabrics having linking loops on their top courses, the knitted fabrics being stretched in the course direction with point needles inserted through some successive ones of the linking loops, wherein the point needles are pulled out with the knitted fabrics sandwiched and held in the vicinity of the linking loops across the course direction. Then, linking loops not having been pierced with the point needles are seamed at intervals smaller than the intervals of arrangement of the linking loops not having been pierced with the point needles. The linking loops pierced with the point needles are seamed by linking.

Abstract: A method for linking plain knitted fabrics includes the steps of fixing a first plain knitted fabric in a stretched state, obtaining an image including an image of a darning stitch, calculating a location of the darning stitch, repeating the above steps with a second plain knitted fabric, calculating a location of the darning stitch of the second plain knitted fabric from the obtained image, moving the first plain knitted fabric and the second plain knitted fabric relative to each other to align the darning stitches of the first and second plain knitted fabrics, moving a sewing machine needle of a sewing machine to the location of the darning stitch of the first plain knitted fabric, and linking together the darning stitches.

Abstract: A linking method including the steps of opposing knitted fabrics to be linked to each other, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a course direction, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a wale direction, picking up an image of linking loops of each of the stretched knitted fabrics, detecting the positions of the linking loops based on a multiple gray-scale image, inserting a point needle through each of the linking loops, sewing a linking loop in the vicinity of an edge of each of the knitted fabrics, and linking together the linking loops other than the sewn linking loop by using the point needle; and an apparatus for linking knitted fabrics.

Abstract: A linking method including the steps of opposing knitted fabrics to be linked to each other, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a course direction, stretching the opposed knitted fabrics in a wale direction, picking up an image of linking loops of each of the stretched knitted fabrics, detecting the positions of the linking loops based on a multiple gray-scale image, inserting a point needle through each of the linking loops, sewing a linking loop in the vicinity of an edge of each of the knitted fabrics, and linking together the linking loops other than the sewn linking loop by using the point needle; and an apparatus for linking knitted fabrics.

Abstract: A method for linking plain knitted fabrics includes the steps of fixing a first plain knitted fabric in a stretched state, obtaining an image including an image of a darning stitch of the first plain knitted fabric in the stretched state, calculating a location of the darning stitch of the first plain knitted fabric from the obtained image, holding a second plain knitted fabric in a stretched state, obtaining an image including an image of a darning stitch of the second plain knitted fabric in the stretched state, calculating a location of the darning stitch of the second plain knitted fabric from the obtained image, moving the first plain knitted fabric and the second plain knitted fabric relative to each other to align the darning stitch of the second plain knitted fabric with the darning stitch of the first plain knitted fabric, moving a sewing machine needle of a sewing machine mechanism to the location of the darning stitch of the first plain knitted fabric, and linking together the darning stitch of the

Abstract: There are provided a process and an apparatus for detecting loop stitches of a tubular knitted fabric and an apparatus for linking the tubular knitted fabric, which can automatically detect each of loop stitches formed in the tubular knitted fabric. According to the process for detecting the loop stitches, the tubular knitted fabric is extended by inserting a penetration element through the interior of the fabric having the loop stitches, and a multi-gradation image including an image of the loop stitches of the tubular knitted fabric extended by the penetration element is picked up. The locations of the loop stitches are detected by processing the multi-gradation image. The apparatus for detecting the loop stitches includes the penetration element, an image pickup device for picking up the multi-gradation image, and a loop stitch detecting section for detecting the locations of the loop stitches by processing the multi-gradation image.

Abstract: A rental control system for controlling the rent and return of cassettes is disclosed. Each cassette internally contains an article such as a recorded information medium, with an IC circuit for storing commodity information concerning the article, and a signal output unit for transferring the commodity information of the IC circuit to outside. For controlling the cassettes, the rent control system further comprises a plurality of shelves and a controller. The plurality of shelves respectively accommodate the cassettes to be controlled. The controller is provided in connection with the plurality of shelves, and includes a plurality of signal input unit for receiving signals from the signal output units of the cassettes, and a memory coupled with the control circuit so as to store signals from the plurality of signal input units.