An overhead assembly (20) has carrier assemblies (22) for picking up cartons (13), opening the cartons, and lowering the cartons onto groups of articles (15). Each carrier assembly has a pair of opening members (30) with protruding fingers (32) for insertion within cut-outs formed in the cartons. After a carrier assembly has engaged a carton in an inverted-T configuration, one of the opening members in the carrier assembly (22) is moved away from the other opening member, thereby opening the carton. Each carrier assembly has cam followers which travel within three cam plates (60, 62, 66). One cam follower (38) is for controlling an orientation of the carrier assembly, one cam follower (41) is for supporting the carrier assembly, and one cam follower (56) is for opening and closing the opening members. The overhead assembly (20) is substantially located on only one side of the path of the articles (15) and of the cartons and thus provides easy access.