An apparatus and method are provided whereby two superposed strips (26, 28) of documents are conveyed in a direction of conveyance (30) toward a downstream workstation. The strips (26, 28) are conveyed over one another in a direction of superposition whereby leading edges of documents of one strip alternate in sequence in the direction of conveyance (30) with the leading edges of documents in the other strip. A determination and control circuit (190) is provided to determine whether the leading edges of documents in one strip are tending to creep up on the leading edges of documents in the other strip due to differing speeds of motion of the two superposed strips. If a creeping condition is determined by the circuit (190), the circuit (190) energizes braking means (400) whereby the motion of at least one of the strips is at least temporarily retarded for rectifying the creeping condition. The determination and control circuit (190) periodically permits the deenergization of the braking means (400), even when a creep condition is determined. In an embodiment wherein the braking means comprises rollers (102, 122), the circuit (190) periodically permits the rotational incrementation of the rollers (102, 122), thereby precluding uneven wear of the rollers (102, 122) which might otherwise result if the brake were continuously applied.