It appears John Deere Engineers were working on Rotary Combine design around the time of the "New Generation" tractor release.  Patent number: 3179111 Filing date: May 28, 1962 Issue date: Apr 1965
This design was on a Rotary Separator installed in a pull-type combine.

This patent was filed prior to any patents I could find filed by International Harvester or Sperry Rand (New Holland) of Rotary/Axial-Flow patents. First one I found by IH was filed in Aug 1966 Patent # 3,481,342 . New Holland's first was filed in Nov 1969  Patent # 3,626,472. Both patents listed Edward William Rowland-Hill as one of the inventor. New Holland's patent  # 3,626,472 was for the Auger Flight feed. I'm not saying this is 100% correct.  IH and NH might have owned patent other than what I could fing . But, I find it interesting none the less.

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3179111_THRBSHINO_CYLINDER_IN_COMBINATIO[1] Pulltype_Page_3 web.jpg (93KB - 1047 downloads)

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3179111_THRBSHINO_CYLINDER_IN_COMBINATIO[1] Pulltype.pdf (323KB - 1128 downloads)