Surgical end effectors with dual cam actuated jaw closing features

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation between an unarticulated position and articulated positions about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;

first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions, said first jaw comprising a first point and said second jaw comprising a second point wherein said first and second points lie along a common axis that is perpendicular to said shaft axis and wherein said first point is a first distance from said shaft axis when said first jaw is in said open position and wherein said second point is a second distance from said shaft axis when said second jaw is in said open position and wherein said second distance is different from said first distance at least when said end effector is in said unarticulated position;

means for biasing said first and second jaws away from each other to said open position; and

means for applying closure motions to said first and second jaws to move said first and second jaws toward each other to said closed positions, said means for applying closure motions comprising an axially movable end effector closure sleeve configured to simultaneously engage portions of said first and second jaws when said end effector closure sleeve is axially moved in a first direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second jaws comprises an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the other one of said first and second jaws comprises an anvil.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first jaw comprises a surgical staple cartridge and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , further comprising a firing member that is supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said end effector mounting assembly comprises a pair of lateral sides, each said lateral side comprising a laterally protruding trunnion pin defining said pivot axis and wherein each of said first and second jaws are pivotally supported on each of said laterally protruding trunnion pins.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said means for biasing comprises a spring located between said first and second jaws.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising an axially movable firing member supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting surface.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;

first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis between an open position and closed positions such that upon application of a closing motion to said first and second jaws causes one of said first and second jaws to move to one of said closed positions at a closure rate that differs from another closure rate at which the other of said first and second jaws moves to said one of said closed positions; and

means for selectively applying said closing motion to said first and second jaws and an opening motion to said first and second jaws to selectively move said first and second jaws from said closed positions to said open position.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , further comprising an axially movable firing member supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first cam slot on said end effector mounting assembly, said first cam slot defining a first closure wedge portion and a first opening wedge portion; and

a second cam slot on said end effector mounting assembly, said second cam slot defining a second closure wedge portion and a second opening wedge portion, and wherein said first jaw comprises a pair of first opening members and a pair of first closing members wherein one of said first opening members and one of said first closing members are movably received within said first cam slot and wherein another one of said first opening members and another one of said first closing members are received within said second cam slot and wherein said second jaw comprises a pair of second opening members and a pair of second closing members wherein one of said second opening members and one of said second closing members are movably received in said first cam slot and wherein another one of said second opening members and another one of said second closing members are movably received within said second cam slot and wherein said means for selectively applying is configured to move said first and second jaws in a first direction so as to cause said one of said first closing members and said one of said second closing members to movably enter said first closure wedge portion and said another one of said first closing members and said another one of said second closing members to movably enter said second closure wedge portion to thereby cause said first and second jaws to move toward each other to one of said closed positions, said means for selectively applying being further configured to move said first and second jaws in a second direction so as to cause said one of said first opening members and said one of said second opening members to move into said first opening wedge portion and said another one of said first opening members and said another one of said second opening members to move into said second opening wedge portion to thereby cause said first and second jaws to move away from each other to said open position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein said first cam slot is formed in a first cam plate that is coupled to said end effector mounting assembly and wherein said second cam slot is formed in a second cam plate that is coupled to said end effector mounting assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein said means for selectively applying comprises an end effector closure sleeve that is axially movable in response to applications of said closing and opening motions thereto, said end effector closure sleeve comprising:

a first opening tab corresponding to said one of said first opening members and said one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction; and

a second opening tab corresponding to said another one of said first opening members and said another one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein one of said first and second jaws comprises an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the other one of said first and second jaws comprises an anvil.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , further comprising a firing member that is supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;

first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions, said first jaw comprising a first point and said second jaw comprising a second point wherein said first and second points lie along a common axis that is perpendicular to said shaft axis and wherein said first point is a first distance from said shaft axis when said first jaw is in said open position and wherein said second point is a second distance from said shaft axis when said second jaw is in said open position and wherein said second distance is different from said first distance;

means for biasing said first and second jaws away from each other to said open position; and

means for applying closure motions to said first and second jaws to move said first and second jaws toward each other to said closed positions, said means for applying comprising an axially movable end effector closure sleeve configured to simultaneously engage portions of said first and second jaws when said end effector closure sleeve is axially moved in a first direction.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein one of said first and second jaws comprises an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the other one of said first and second jaws comprises an anvil.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein said first jaw comprises a surgical staple cartridge and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , further comprising a firing member that is supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein said end effector mounting assembly comprises a pair of lateral sides, each said lateral side comprising a laterally protruding trunnion pin defining said pivot axis and wherein each of said first and second jaws are pivotally supported on each of said laterally protruding trunnion pins.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein said means for biasing comprises a spring located between said first and second jaws.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , further comprising an axially movable firing member supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting surface.

24. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;

first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis between an open position and closed positions such that upon application of a closing motion to said first and second jaws causes one of said first and second jaws to move to one of said closed positions at a closure rate that differs from another closure rate at which the other of said first and second jaws moves to said one of said closed positions;

means for selectively applying said closing motion to said first and second jaws and an opening motion to said first and second jaws to selectively move said first and second jaws from said closed positions to said open position;

a first cam slot on said end effector mounting assembly, said first cam slot defining a first closure wedge portion and a first opening wedge portion; and

a second cam slot on said end effector mounting assembly, said second cam slot defining a second closure wedge portion and a second opening wedge portion, and wherein said first jaw comprises a pair of first opening members and a pair of first closing members wherein one of said first opening members and one of said first closing members are movably received within said first cam slot and wherein another one of said first opening members and another one of said first closing members are received within said second cam slot and wherein said second jaw comprises a pair of second opening members and a pair of second closing members wherein one of said second opening members and one of said second closing members are movably received in said first cam slot and wherein another one of said second opening members and another one of said second closing members are movably received within said second cam slot and wherein said means for selectively applying is configured to move said first and second jaws in a first direction so as to cause said one of said first closing members and said one of said second closing members to movably enter said first closure wedge portion and said another one of said first closing members and said another one of said second closing members to movably enter said second closure wedge portion to thereby cause said first and second jaws to move toward each other to one of said closed positions, said means for selectively applying being further configured to move said first and second jaws in a second direction so as to cause said one of said first opening members and said one of said second opening members to move into said first opening wedge portion and said another one of said first opening members and said another one of said second opening members to move into said second opening wedge portion to thereby cause said first and second jaws to move away from each other to said open position.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 24 , further comprising an axially movable firing member supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 24 , wherein said first cam slot is formed in a first cam plate that is coupled to said end effector mounting assembly and wherein said second cam slot is formed in a second cam plate that is coupled to said end effector mounting assembly.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 24 , wherein said means for selectively applying comprises an end effector closure sleeve that is axially movable in response to applications of said closing and opening motions thereto, said end effector closure sleeve comprising:

a first opening tab corresponding to said one of said first opening members and said one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction; and

a second opening tab corresponding to said another one of said first opening members and said another one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 24 , wherein one of said first and second jaws comprises an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the other one of said first and second jaws comprises an anvil.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 28 , further comprising a firing member that is supported for axial travel between said first and second jaws when said first and second jaws are in one of said closed positions.

30. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;

first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis between an open position and closed positions such that upon application of a closing motion to said first and second jaws causes one of said first and second jaws to move to one of said closed positions at a closure rate that differs from another closure rate at which the other of said first and second jaws moves to said one of said closed positions, said first jaw comprising a pair of first opening members and said second jaw comprising a pair of second opening members; and

means for selectively applying said closing motion to said first and second jaws and an opening motion to said first and second jaws to selectively move said first and second jaws from said closed positions to said open position, said means for selectively applying comprising an end effector closure sleeve that is axially movable in first and second directions in response to applications of said closing and opening motions thereto, said end effector closure sleeve comprising:

a first opening tab corresponding to one of said first opening members and one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction; and

a second opening tab corresponding to another one of said first opening members and another one of said second opening members for operable contact therewith when said end effector closure sleeve is moved in said second direction.