Abstract: An automatic linking method is carried out by an automatic linking apparatus having a simple construction. In the automatic linking apparatus, a plurality of needling positions are set in a needle moving mechanism having point needles that move along a path, and a fabric guide mechanism guides a first linking portion of a first knitted fabric and a linking portion of a second knitted fabric to the first needling position. The point needles are thrust in the first linking portion of the first knitted fabric and the linking portion of the second knitted fabric, the point needles are moved to move the first and the second fabric hooked thereon to the second needling position below the first needling position with respect to a direction in which the point needles are moved.

Abstract: An automatic sandwich linking machine is provided with first, second and third point needles, guides a first and a second edge portion of a first knitted fabric, such as an accessory part of a garment, to a first and a second needling position, respectively, hooks the first and second edge portions of the first knitted fabric over the first and the second point needles at the first and the second needling position, respectively, guides an edge portion of a second knitted fabric, such as a body part of the garment, to a third needling position, hooks the edge portion of the second knitted fabric over the third point needles, transfers the edge portion of the second knitted fabric from the third point needles to the first point needles, transfers the first edge portion of the first knitted fabric and the edge portion of the second knitted fabric from the first point needles to the second point needles or transfers the second edge portion of the first knitted fabric from the second point needles to the first poi