Rotary drive systems for surgical instruments

A stapling system, comprising:

• a housing, comprising:
• a first rotatable member configured to transmit a first operative motion;
• and
• a second rotatable member configured to transmit a second operative motion;
• an end effector configurable in a closed configuration in response to a closing motion, wherein said end effector comprises:
• a jaw configured to support a staple cartridge;
• and
• an anvil;
• an elongate shaft rotatably coupled to said housing and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein said elongate shaft is rotatable about said longitudinal axis in response to a rotational motion;
• a drive system responsive to said first operative motion from said first rotatable member to perform said closing motion and responsive to said second operative motion from said second rotatable member to perform a firing stroke;
• and
• a control system configured to assure that said closing motion and said firing stroke are separate and distinct, wherein said control system prevents said firing stroke from occurring prior to the completion of said closing motion, and wherein said control system comprises a mode controller to transition the stapling system between:
• a closure mode in which said first rotatable member is rotatable to perform said closing motion;
• and
• a firing mode in which said second rotatable member is rotatable to perform said firing stroke;
• wherein said mode controller shifts from said closure mode to said firing mode absent user input upon completion of said closing motion.

A surgical system, comprising:

• a housing, comprising:
• a first rotatable driver;
• a second rotatable driver;
• and
• an end effector configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:
• a first jaw to support a staple cartridge comprising staples;
• and
• a second jaw;
• a closure driver movable between a first position and a second position based on rotation of said first rotatable driver, wherein said closure driver is configured to transition said end effector toward said closed configuration based on said closure driver moving toward said second position;
• a firing driver configured to transmit a firing motion to said end effector to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge, wherein said firing driver is driveable based on rotation of said second rotatable driver;
• and
• a state controller to transition the surgical system between:
• a closure state in which said first rotatable driver is rotatable to move said closure driver toward said second position;
• and
• a firing state in which said second rotatable driver is rotatable to drive said firing driver;
• wherein said state controller automatically transitions from said closure state to said firing state based on said closure driver placing said end effector into said closed configuration.