Valve assemblies and manually operable handle assemblies for beverage dispensing machines

A beverage dispensing machine comprising:

• a valve housing that defines a cavity;
• a valve body disposed in the cavity and configured to receive a first fluid and a second fluid and dispense the first fluid through a first orifice and the second fluid through a second orifice;
• a first valve seal movable to open and close the first orifice;
• a second valve seal movable to open and close the second orifice;
• an arm pivotally coupled to the valve body, wherein pivoting of the arm relative to the valve body moves the first valve seal and the second valve seal and thereby opens the first orifice and the second orifice;
• a solenoid valve configured to pivot the arm;
• and
• a handle pivotally coupled to the valve housing and including a leg extending from the handle, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the valve housing into and between a rest position in which the valve seals are closed and an active position in which the valve seals are open, and wherein as the handle moves from the rest position to the active position the leg acts on the solenoid valve such that the arm pivots and the valve seals gradually open.

A beverage dispensing valve comprising:

• a valve body configured to receive a first fluid and a second fluid and dispense the first fluid through a first orifice and the second fluid through a second orifice;
• a first valve seal movable to open and close the first orifice;
• a second valve seal movable to open and close the second orifice;
• and
• an arm pivotally coupled to the valve body, wherein pivoting of the arm relative to the valve body moves the first valve seal and the second valve seal and thereby opens the first orifice and the second orifice, and wherein the arm acts on the first valve seal before the arm acts on the second valve seal.