Upon generation of a prescribed condition in an image forming apparatus, when a download request of configuration data associated with that condition is sent to a configuration data management apparatus, the requested configuration data of those managed by the configuration data management apparatus are downloaded to the image forming apparatus. The LCD device includes a first electrode on a first substrate having a plurality of slit patterns, a second electrode on a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer having different alignment directions by each slit pattern, and at least one light-shielding layer below the first electrode. The force transfer device is an energy transducer when the material containment is filled with highly viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, mastics or lubricating greases.