Locking arrangements for detachable shaft assemblies with articulatable surgical end effectors

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a proximal shaft portion defining a shaft axis;
• a surgical end effector operably coupled to said proximal shaft portion for selective articulation relative to said proximal shaft portion;
• and
• an articulation system comprising:
• at least one axially movable articulation driver operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto;
• and
• an articulation lock member corresponding to each said axially movable articulation driver, wherein axial movement of each said axially movable articulation driver causes said axially movable driver to move laterally relative to said shaft axis to unlockingly disengage said corresponding articulation lock member, and wherein when said axial movement of each said axially movable articulation driver is stopped, each said axially movable articulation driver lockingly engages said corresponding articulation lock member.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a proximal elongate shaft portion defining a shaft axis;
• a surgical end effector operably coupled to said proximal elongate shaft portion for selective articulation relative to said proximal elongate shaft portion;
• and
• an articulation system comprising:
• at least one axially movable articulation driver operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto;
• and
• an articulation lock system comprising:
• a lock member corresponding to each said axially movable articulation driver, and wherein said lock member is configured to lockingly engage said axially movable articulation driver corresponding thereto;
• and
• an articulation drive configured to apply articulation drive motions to each said axially movable articulation driver and to selectively laterally move each said axially movable articulation driver out of locking engagement with said lock member corresponding thereto.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a surgical end effector;
• and
• an elongate shaft assembly operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to permit selective articulation of said surgical end effector relative to said elongate shaft assembly, wherein said elongate shaft assembly comprises:
• an articulation lock;
• a first articulation member coupled to said surgical end effector and being movable between a first engaged position with said articulation lock and a first disengaged position with said articulation lock wherein said first articulation member is axially movable;
• a second articulation member coupled to said surgical end effector and being movable between a second engaged position with said articulation lock and a second disengaged position with said articulation lock wherein said second articulation member is axially movable;
• and
• an articulation actuator configured to selectively move said first articulation member and said second articulation member into and out of engagement with said articulation lock, wherein said articulation actuator is further configured to apply axial articulation motions thereto.