library(stringr)
parts <- c("6 4- to 5-mm-diameter plugs", #1 6 4- to...diameter
"6 large bricks", #2 6 large
"1 1/3 shipment concrete", #3 1.33 shipment
"1 (14- to 15-oz) gold bars", #4 1 (14- to 15-oz)
"16 3 1/2- to 4-inch-diameter caps", #5 16 3 1/2- to...eter
"1 1/2 tons sand", #6 1.5 tons
"2 1 1/4- to 3-inch diameter caps", #7 2 1 1/4- to...eter
"1/3 shipment cement")
m <- str_match(parts, '^(\\d+(?:\\s+\\d+/\\d+)?|\\d+/\\d+)\\s+((?:\\d+(?:-?in(?:ch)?|")?\\s+)*\\S+(?:\\s+to\\s+(?:\\d+(?:-?in(?:ch)?|")?\\s+)*\\S+)?)')
qty <- m[,2]
unit <- m[,3]
qty
unit
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