Good evening,
I think I managed to solve the problem: your advice proved providential.
I did some tests after rebooting the kindle, specifically:
- I tried saving the files on the hard disk from the Calibre library, saving the entire library and correcting the books that had cover and metadata errors;
- I deleted the *.partial files in the 'thumbnails' folder, a hidden subfolder of system, and deleted two empty folders there.
I think this last step proved decisive, because now the Kindle mounts smoothly, and the covers, with calibre, are generated.
Honestly, I still don't quite understand why every time I unmount and re-mount the kindle in aeroplane mode, these *.partial files are generated. It's not connected to the internet!
Anyway, it works now! Thanks!