Quantitative division unit, quantitative division method, and food production method

A quantitative division unit comprising a quantitative division device that feeds a predetermined amount of a paste ingredient, wherein

• the quantitative division device comprises:
• a peripheral wall portion that has a hollow shape and includes an internal space extending in a first direction, a first port via which outside communicates with the internal space, and a second port via which outside communicates with the internal space and which is provided at a position different from the first port in terms of the first direction,
• a first plunger and a second plunger that are arranged to face each other in the first direction in the internal space and that are provided to be movable in the first direction, and
• a drive unit configured to move the first plunger and the second plunger in the first direction,
• the drive unit configured to
• i) move at least one of the first plunger and the second plunger to shift the first plunger and the second plunger from a first driving state where the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged in such a manner that a space or a contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is located at a position facing the first port, to a second driving state where the first plunger and the second plunger are separated from each other, so as to introduce the paste ingredient between the first plunger and the second plunger via the first port due to a negative pressure generated in an area of the internal space between the first plunger and the second plunger,
• ii) move the first plunger and the second plunger to shift the first plunger and the second plunger from the second driving state to a third driving state where at least a part of the paste ingredient between the first plunger and the second plunger is disposed to face the second port while the first plunger is kept separated from the second plunger, and
• iii) move at least one of the first plunger and the second plunger to bring the first plunger and the second plunger close to each other to shift the first plunger and the second plunger from the third driving state to a fourth driving state where the first plunger and the second plunger are arranged in such a manner that the space or the contact surface between the first plunger and the second plunger is located at a position facing the second port, so as to feed the paste ingredient between the first plunger and the second plunger to outside via the second port,
• wherein the drive comprises a first plunger drive unit configured to move the first plunger in the first direction, a second plunger drive unit configured to mover the second plunger in the first direction, a first coupling drive unit that is coupled to the first plunger drive unit to move the first plunger and the first plunger drive unit in the first direction in an integrated manner, and a second coupling drive unit that is coupled to the second plunger drive unit to move the second plunger, the second plunger drive unit in the first direction in an integrated manner, and a single common coupling drive unit, and
• both the first coupling drive unit and the second coupling drive unit are configured to be moved by the single common coupling drive unit, so that the common coupling drive unit moves the first plunger, the first plunger drive unit, the second plunger, and the second plunger drive unit in the first direction in an integrated manner.