A system and method for tearing off and rolling up a strip of absorbent fiber sheet for a tampon are discussed. An endless absorbent fiber sheet is propagated with a first linear speed by a first pair of rolls, and with at least the first linear speed by a second pair of rolls. A pulling means is provided to induce a second linear speed in the sheet larger than the first linear speed for tearing off a strip from the sheet. The first pair of rolls is configured to maintain the first linear speed of the absorbent fiber sheet, while the second pair of rolls is configured to rotate in a freewheel-type manner when the absorbent fiber sheet is pulled through the second pair of rolls at linear speeds larger than the first linear speed. Preferably, the pulling means is a rotatable clamping means for rolling up the strip.
