A surgical stapling instrument can comprise a jaw (122) configured to receive a staple cartridge (130) a firing member (170)configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge and a system (140) for supplying a continuous number of staple cartridges to the jaw. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a system (109 118) for displacing the firing member into a position in which a staple cartridge (130) can be slid relative to the firing member (170). In at least one such embodiment the surgical stapling instrument can comprise a shaft (110) and a plurality of staple cartridges (130) positioned within the shaft wherein the firing member can be dropped downwardly within the shaft such that one or more staple cartridges can be slid by the firing member.
