A surgical stapling instrument can comprise a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, a firing member configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge, and a system for supplying a continuous number of staple cartridges to the jaw. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a system for displacing the firing member into a position in which a staple cartridge can be slid relative to the firing member. In at least one such embodiment, the surgical stapling instrument can comprise a shaft and a plurality of staple cartridges 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.
